Chapter 212: Fiona’s Innocent Question
“Mommy, are you really going to look for Daddy and Fiona?”
Cradled in Liliana’s arms, Iris looked up at her and asked curiously while licking a lollipop.
Beside her, Charlotte remained silent, but the curiosity etched on her adorable face matched Iris’s.
In response to Iris’s question, Liliana looked at her gently, nodded slightly, and replied, “Of course, I’ll look for them. After all, walking together would be much more enjoyable than being separated like this, right?”
Hearing this, Iris and Charlotte exchanged glances, their small lips slightly pursed in apparent dissatisfaction.
Since their daddy left them to have fun alone with Fiona in the capital, Iris and Charlotte still harbored feelings of upset and anger towards him. This made them reluctant to meet their dad before he came to apologize in person.
Observing her daughters’ anxiety and distress, Liliana offered a faint smile and gently shook her head.
“I understand that you two might still be upset with your dad, but he likely had his reasons for taking only Fiona out. After all, I know him well,” Liliana explained in a soothing tone.
Though she didn’t understand why Leon had taken only Fiona without Charlotte and Iris, Liliana was certain he must have had his own reasons. She had witnessed his deep care for all three daughters, which solidified her trust in him.
Upon hearing Liliana’s explanation, Iris and Charlotte exchanged startled glances, their shock evident on each of their faces.
Their mother’s words quickly made them realize this. Despite their daddy sometimes spoiling Fiona more than themselves, they knew how deeply he loved them both.
Hence, there was no way he would leave them at home and simply go to play with Fiona in the capital without a clear reason.
After exchanging glances for a few moments, they nodded in understanding and turned their gaze back towards Liliana.
“Mommy, you’re right. Regardless of how much Daddy loves Fiona, he couldn’t have done this on purpose,” Iris said in a tone that was slightly indifferent yet serious.
“Yes, I agree with Iris, Mommy. Maybe Daddy has his own reasons that we don’t know about,” Charlotte chimed in, equally serious.
Seeing this, Liliana smiled with relief as she kissed each of their chubby cheeks and whispered, “Good! I’m glad to hear that.”
As their mother, she was determined to preserve the strong bond among her three daughters, including their relationship with their father, Leon. Therefore, she resolved to do her best to maintain their unity.
“Then, let’s go find your father and Fiona,” Liliana continued in a gentle tone.
Charlotte and Iris nodded eagerly together, ready to respond, but their attention was suddenly diverted to a tavern a few hundred meters away.
There, at one of the tables outside, they spotted a handsome man in a white robe feeding a little girl beside him—who turned out to be none other than their father and Fiona!
“Mommy, isn’t that Daddy and Fiona over there?”
Charlotte and Iris exclaimed simultaneously, pointing towards the tavern.
Upon hearing their exclamation, Liliana raised her eyebrows in surprise and turned around, confirming that what the two had said was true.
“You two were right. It really is them,” Liliana said, slightly stunned for a moment before smiling.
Initially, she had planned to look for Leon while enjoying a stroll through the capital with her daughters. However, she hadn’t expected to encounter Leon and Fiona so quickly, which prompted a small giggle from her.
“Alright, let’s go to them,” Liliana remarked gently.
Charlotte and Iris nodded simultaneously, replying excitedly, “Yes, let’s go!”
***
In a bustling tavern filled with visitors, Leon and Fiona sat together at a table adorned with several delicious dishes.
“Wow! It smells so delicious!” Fiona’s eyes lit up as she gazed at the neatly arranged food before her, causing her to involuntarily drool.
While her mother’s cooking in the palace also had an excellent aroma, the dishes in front of her were equally enticing.
Moreover, many of these dishes were new to her, intensifying her eagerness to taste them!
Leon chuckled at her adorable behavior, grabbed a tissue, and gently wiped away the drool forming at the corner of her lips.
“Well, these dishes do look delicious. I didn’t expect the chef at this tavern to prepare such flavorful and aromatic meals,” Leon remarked, a faint smile gracing his lips.
Fiona nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she agreed with Leon’s observation.
“Daddy, can I eat it?” Fiona asked hopefully.
“Of course you can. Just be careful; some dishes might be a bit spicy,” Leon replied casually.
“Okay!” Fiona cheerfully responded and began eating the food in front of her.
Leon watched Fiona closely for a while, making sure she didn’t accidentally pick something too spicy.
Feeling at ease, Leon nodded slightly and shifted his gaze to the little girl sitting across from him—the same girl he had rescued earlier.
Maintaining a smile on his lips, Leon gently remarked, “Why so quiet, little girl? Come, join us for a meal.”
Upon hearing Leon’s invitation, the little girl’s face flushed with embarrassment. She shook her head and replied in a trembling voice, “I’m sorry, sir, but I feel I don’t deserve your kindness anymore.”
Not only had this man forgiven her, but he had also tended to her wounds—a gesture of immense kindness that left her feeling unworthy of further favors.
Furthermore, despite his forgiveness, the fact that she had stolen his pouch continued to weigh heavily on her mind, intensifying her embarrassment.
Observing her refusal, Leon couldn’t help but let out a small sigh of empathy. Despite their brief interaction, Leon had already gained a profound understanding of her.
Although she had faced a lot of discrimination, this little girl was genuinely innocent and kind-hearted.
If there were other demons in her position, they would undoubtedly exploit his kindness without hesitation. However, this little girl’s consistent refusal of his kindness only increased Leon’s admiration for her.
With a sigh, Leon said nothing more and began to serve her some dishes.
“Eat up,” Leon ordered firmly.
The little girl continued to shake her head, refusing, instantly sharpening Leon’s gaze.
“If you refuse to eat, I’ll take you to the Demon Race’s detention center and leave you there indefinitely,” Leon threatened coldly, causing her eyes to widen in alarm.
“S-sir! Didn’t you promise you wouldn’t do that?” The little girl asked frantically, her small body trembling with fear.
“I did promise, but I can also break my promises,” Leon replied nonchalantly, shrugging.
Hearing this, disbelief crossed the little girl’s face before tears suddenly streamed down her cheeks.
“Wuuu~ You’re so mean, sir!” The little girl burst into tears, causing Leon’s indifferent expression to instantly stiffen, his mouth twitching at the corners.
He had only intended to coerce the little girl into eating by threatening her, but he hadn’t expected her to react by crying like that.
“Hah~ Alright, don’t cry anymore. I was just teasing. Let’s eat now, and please don’t refuse anymore. These dishes were prepared especially for you.” Leon sighed softly, his expression softening as he reached out to gently rub her head.
Hearing this, the little girl looked at Leon with innocent eyes, still teary.
“Really?” she asked hesitantly, wiping away her tears.
Leon nodded reassuringly and replied with a slight smile, “Of course. So, let’s eat. Your stomach must be rumbling after all this time, right?”
The little girl’s face reddened slightly when Leon mentioned her rumbling stomach earlier, prompting her to want to hide.
Leon chuckled as he handed her some dishes and encouraged her, saying, “Come on, eat.”
The little girl nodded quietly and didn’t hesitate. Picking up a piece of perfectly roasted wild beef, she took a bite, instantly surprised by its flavor.
“So good!” She exclaimed, widening her eyes in amazement.
For the past two years, she has survived by scavenging leftovers from trash bins and has never before tasted meat so delicious.
“Hap… Nyam~” The little girl eagerly took another piece of meat and savored it with delight.
Watching the joy on her adorable yet thin face, Leon chuckled softly to himself, quietly whispering, “She truly is an extraordinary little girl.”
Her wisdom beyond her years and her polite demeanor, despite the incident of stealing his pouch, further intrigued him about her past.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Leon smiled slightly and turned his hungry gaze back to the food in front of him.
He picked up the fork and brought the stir-fried beef to his nose, inhaling its aroma with a nod of appreciation.
Just as he was about to take a bite, his movement halted abruptly when he sensed someone’s gaze fixed on him.
Glancing to the side, he saw Fiona staring at him curiously, her lip and both sides of her cheeks slightly smeared with food oil.
“What’s wrong, Fiona? Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something wrong with my face?” Leon inquired gently as he wiped her lips clean with a tissue.
Fiona didn’t immediately answer Leon’s question but simply shook her head.
“It’s okay, Daddy,” Fiona replied innocently. “It’s just that I suddenly remembered something Mommy said in the past.”
Upon hearing this, Leon raised his eyebrows curiously and asked, “What did Mommy say?”
Fiona pursed her lips and replied in a hesitant tone, “Mommy once told me and my two sisters that a man who makes a woman cry is a scoundrel.”
Pausing for a moment, Fiona looked at Leon with an innocent and confused gaze before asking, “Daddy, what is a scoundrel? And are you a scoundrel too?”
Leon: “…”
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