Chapter 122: A Night Talk with Charlotte and a Reward for Her
Nighttime
Inside the room, Leon sat quietly on the sofa, cradling a cup of coffee in his hand.
His expression was calm and relaxed, as if he were sinking into deep contemplation.
To his right sat a little girl with long white hair neatly arranged in a bun, her cute round face belying a surprising maturity.
The little girl sat quietly, her hands wrapped around a cup of warm white milk, taking occasional sips as she cast glances at Leon. Her curiosity shone through her gaze, quietly observing him.
After a moment, she carefully set her cup down on the table before the sofa and returned her attention to Leon.
“Daddy, is there something on your mind?” This little girl, who was none other than Charlotte, inquired, her calm demeanor and faint smile revealing her anticipation.
Moments earlier, her father had summoned her to his room for what seemed like an important conversation, sparking her curiosity.
After all, this marked the first instance her father had called her at such a late hour, and it was also the first time she had witnessed the gravity in his expression when he requested her presence in his room.
Yet, despite her confusion, she complied and went to his room.
Moreover, she herself felt genuinely joyful, relishing the chance to be alone with her father, free from the usual interruptions of her two sisters!
Upon hearing Charlotte’s question, Leon, who had been lost in thought, gradually emerged from his contemplation and set down his coffee cup.
Locking eyes with Charlotte, he responded with a gentle smile playing on his lips.
“You’re correct, Charlotte. I’ve been pondering something, and it’s exactly what I wanted to discuss with you,” Leon responded, his expression tender as he regarded her.
Charlotte gazed at him with curiosity but refrained from asking or speaking further, confident that her father would offer an explanation without her needing to prompt him.
Leon paused for a moment before revealing, “Your mother will be leaving for a while and won’t be at the palace during that period.”
Upon hearing this, Charlotte widened her eyes in disbelief and questioned, “Leaving? Where is she going? Why didn’t Mommy discuss this with us?”
Her expression carried a hint of anxiety, as if she struggled to believe the news.
Normally, whenever her mother intended to depart from the palace, she would notify both her and her two sisters.
Now, upon learning that her mother was departing without a word to them, a sense of unease crept over her, fearing that something was amiss.
Observing her tense and nervous demeanor, Leon offered a gentle smile and tenderly stroked her head.
“Well, there’s no need for such worry. Your mother simply went to the outer palace to attend to some matters,” Leon reassured in a soothing tone, instantly easing Charlotte’s tension and prompting her to relax.
She had feared her mother was venturing to a distant locale, but learning she was only attending to matters in an outer palace nearby brought immense relief.
With a curious expression, she glanced up at Leon and inquired, “Daddy, did something bad happen that prompted Mommy to go to the outer palace?” Her tone carried a sense of curiosity.
Recalling that her mother’s visits to the outer palace were often accompanied by expressions of anger or furrowed brows, as if trouble brewed, she couldn’t help but wonder if a similar situation arose this time.
In response to Charlotte’s question, Leon simply smiled, offering no words.
Explaining to Charlotte that Liliana had returned to oversee the impending war affairs was out of the question. Not only would it be futile, but it would also only serve to incite anxiety and panic within her.
Furthermore, despite Charlotte’s precocious maturity, Leon couldn’t ignore the fact that she was still just a three-year-old child.
As a caring and handsome father, he couldn’t bear the idea of burdening her with thoughts beyond her years.
Thus, instead of providing an explanation, Leon posed a question: “Charlotte, are you aware of your mother’s status and true identity?”
Charlotte’s eyes instantly sparked with excitement, and she eagerly responded, “Of course, Daddy! Mommy is revered as the most esteemed figure among the entire Demon race, also known as the Demon Emperor!”
Her response elicited a small smile from Leon, who then gently stroked her soft, white hair.
“Well, you are absolutely correct,” Leon replied lightly, then continued, “Your mother is the Demon Emperor, the esteemed leader of the Demon race, commanding the respect of millions, or perhaps even hundreds of millions, of beings.”
“She is a figure of great power and admiration. However, despite her greatness, as the leader of the Demon race, she is incredibly busy and has numerous responsibilities to attend to, including matters at the outer palace related to governance. So, do you understand now why she had to go to the outer palace?” Leon explained gently, concluding with a question.
Charlotte gasped softly, her mind reeling as she absorbed Leon’s explanation.
She finally understood the reason behind her mother’s perpetually gloomy expression whenever she ventured to the outer palace—it was the weight of her responsibilities as the Demon Emperor that cast a shadow over her demeanor!
Reflecting on it, Charlotte couldn’t shake off the feelings of both sadness and guilt that welled up within her.
Sadness welled up within her at the thought of her mother’s burdens as the Demon Emperor, while guilt gnawed at her for ever doubting her mother’s love for her and her sisters due to her lack of time spent with them.
‘I’ll apologize to Mommy later,’ Charlotte murmured to herself.
Gradually emerging from her contemplation, she fixed Leon with a determined nod and affirmed, “I understand now, Daddy!”
Leon, unaware that his casual explanation had caused Charlotte to instantly feel guilty about Liliana, simply smiled and gently rubbed her round, chubby face.
“By the way, Charlotte, I’m a bit curious. When I called you here, why didn’t Fiona come as well?” Leon changed the subject; his curiosity piqued.
Typically, whenever Charlotte visited his room, Fiona would inevitably follow suit.
After all, the little girl was deeply attached to him and couldn’t bear to be away from him for too long.
Upon hearing Leon’s question, Charlotte’s expression instantly pouted, and she shot him an annoyed glance.
“She’s sleeping in the room with Iris,” she replied, her lips pursed in frustration.
“Hm? Sleeping already? At this hour?” Leon exclaimed in disbelief, glancing at the clock, which still read 8 p.m.
Charlotte lazily rolled her eyes and remarked, “Fiona is asleep because she’s been crying since this afternoon. And the reason she’s crying? It’s all your fault for not keeping your promise in the dining hall to play with her.”
Upon hearing her words, Leon was immediately dumbfounded, his forgotten promise to Fiona flooding back to him.
‘Oops! I completely forgot!’ Leon exclaimed inwardly, slapping his forehead with a slightly panicked expression.
Caught up in discussions about the impending war during his meeting with Liliana in her workspace earlier, Leon had completely lost track of time, resulting in him forgetting his promise to Fiona to play together.
Inevitably, guilt washed over Leon, prompting him to immediately look at Charlotte with a sense of embarrassment.
“Ahem! I was so busy talking with your mom about a few things that I completely forgot about my promise to Fiona,” Leon confessed, a blush creeping up his cheeks as he coughed lightly.
Charlotte sighed softly, glancing at Leon with a gentle shake of her head.
“Don’t worry, Daddy. It’s alright; I get it. I’ve been looking after Fiona and keeping her entertained all day,” Charlotte reassured in a calming tone, instantly easing Leon’s worries.
“Thank you, Charlotte,” Leon grinned, affectionately pinching her chubby cheeks.
He found great comfort in Charlotte’s presence; she not only looked after her two sisters but also lent him a hand whenever needed.
“You’re welcome, Daddy. But since I came to your rescue, I think I deserve a little reward, don’t you think?” Charlotte teased with a mysterious smile dancing on her lips.
“A reward? Absolutely! Tell me what you have in mind,” Leon replied casually.
Charlotte smiled, a slight flush coloring her cheeks, as she leaned in and extended her right cheek towards Leon.
“I want you to kiss me,” she whispered softly.
This marked the first time she had ever made such a request to her father, leaving her feeling extremely embarrassed.
Leon was surprised, not expecting that Charlotte’s desired reward would be a simple kiss on the cheek.
Yet, since it was what she desired, there was no way Leon would deny her request.
*Cup~*
Leon leaned in gently, planting a kiss on her chubby cheek, eliciting a beautiful smile from Charlotte.
“Did it make you happy?” Leon inquired, a faint smile gracing his lips.
“Mm-hmm! I’m really happy!” Charlotte giggled, her small frame swaying from side to side, a clear indication of her joy.
Her embarrassment melted away, swiftly replaced by an overwhelming sense of joy.
Having witnessed her father frequently kiss Fiona, she sometimes felt a twinge of jealousy.
Now, experiencing it firsthand, she was filled with immense happiness.
Observing her sheer happiness, Leon chuckled, recognizing that this little girl shared certain traits with Fiona.
Taking the coffee cup from the table and sipping it, Leon’s expression gradually calmed.
“By the way, Charlotte. I’ll likely be busy over the next few days, and I may not be leaving the room much during that time. So, I might need your help,” Leon explained as he placed his coffee cup back on the table.
Upon hearing this, Charlotte snapped out of her reverie and looked at Leon with confusion.
“You may not be leaving the room much? What are you planning, Daddy?” Charlotte furrowed her small eyebrows, astonishment coloring her voice.
Leon smiled slightly, meeting her gaze with calm assurance as he answered, “I want to brew a potion to regain my power.”
Charlotte: (☉_☉)
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