Chapter 161
“Daddy!”
“Mikael.”
As Mikael came running, arms outstretched, Kazhan naturally picked him up. To anyone watching, they looked like a close father and son.
“You busy?”
“I am busy, but I still have time to have meals with my family once in a while.”
“My cookie!”
“So it wasn’t me you missed, but the cookies?”
“Zooom too!”
“Not even denying it. Zoom is off-limits now, so I’ll play with you with something else.”
“Uuuu…….”
Thanks to Mikael rushing out first, Ysaris missed her chance to greet them and awkwardly watched the two.
When she thought about it, Mikael had spent a significant portion of his life with Kazhan. From the time he started recognizing people and communicating, their life in the imperial palace had been longer than their time in Lena’s cabin, so it was only natural for him to be accustomed to his father’s presence.
Kazhan’s kindness toward Mikael also played a big part. At first, he had been awkward at taking care of the child, but now he could hold him comfortably with one arm. Without considering his position as emperor, he played with his son at eye level, embodying the ideal image of a father.
“What did you do with Mommy while I was away?”
“Ppiu pretty!”
“Ah, I see. Is the bird doing well?”
“Ppiu is Ppiu!”
“I see. I’m glad it’s doing fine.”
“Hungry?”
“It means doing well. You must be hungry, so let’s eat while we talk.”
“Okay.”
Ysaris watched Kazhan, who skillfully led the conversation and sat down with Mikael, with a strange look in her eyes. Just a month or two ago, he couldn’t communicate properly, but now it seemed he had mastered the baby’s language. Although Mikael had grown quickly, it seemed true that Kazhan had been secretly reading parenting books recently, as he had hinted.
Whether she liked it or not, Kazhan was a good father. She felt guilty enough to consider separating Mikael from him.
“My lady, please sit down.”
“……Huh? Yes.”
Lost in thought, Ysaris reacted a beat late to Kazhan’s call. He had always used nicknames when addressing her, so for a moment, she thought he was calling someone else.
The empress was always referred to as the empress, so the only person he could be calling “my lady” was her.
“…….”
Suddenly, Ysaris felt uncomfortable with that thought. Was it really this awkward to feel that Kazhan was her husband and she was his wife?
In noble society, marital relationships were not easily broken. Marriages were often entangled with various interests, so most conflicts were endured and overcome.
If Kazhan had called her “my lady” to emphasize that, Ysaris was ready to snap back at him. But Kazhan, who had immediately turned his attention back to Mikael, didn’t address her again. Instead, he cut his son’s meat into small pieces and engaged in various conversations.
“Mikael, I’ll pack some pudding for you when we leave. It’s your favorite, right?”
“Yay! Poo-ding!”
“A new toy will arrive soon. It’s a popular new item among kids these days. I hope you’ll like it.”
“Daddy yay.”
“…….”
Ysaris listened to their conversation and felt a strange emotion. Putting aside the inexplicable sense of exclusion, she wasn’t sure if it was right to leave them like this.
Kazhan was the enemy of her childhood friend. Yet, she couldn’t comfortably watch or stop Mikael, who had no connection to that past, from getting along with him.
This wasn’t what she had expected. She thought Kazhan would be cautious around her, sharing awkward meals or taking time to explain himself.
Not ignoring her like this and focusing solely on Mikael.
“Mommy!”
“Yes, Mikael. Are you enjoying your meal?”
“This!”
“Are you giving it to Mommy?”
“Mine!”
Ysaris’s thoughts were interrupted when Mikael held out a fork with meat. She pushed aside her complicated thoughts, smiled brightly, and leaned forward to take a bite of her son’s gift.
Chewing quietly, the tender meat melted in her mouth. The rich juices blended with the sweet sauce, creating a fantastic flavor.
The imperial palace’s food was always delicious, but today it felt particularly energizing. Or was it just her imagination that it seemed tailored to the child’s taste?
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