Chapter 96: Soothing the Two Whiny Little Girls
Inside the room, Leon sat on the sofa, a helpless smile playing on his lips as he observed Fiona and Charlotte, tears streaming down their cheeks as they clung to him on either side like koalas.
“Alright, alright, please don’t cry anymore. I promise I won’t leave,” he said tenderly, though a tinge of helplessness lingered in his voice.
Fifteen minutes had passed since these two girls had begun crying uncontrollably, and Leon was consumed with regret for causing their distress by pretending to leave.
‘Damn, I’ve really messed up,’ he muttered to himself in frustration.
Had he not chosen this routine, his two little girls wouldn’t be in tears like this.
As Leon reassured them, Charlotte and Fiona, nestled on his right and left sides, gradually quieted their sobs.
“R-Really, Daddy? You promise you won’t go?” Fiona asked, her voice wavering as she wiped her snotty nose and clung tightly to Leon’s arm.
“Of course, sweetie. How could I ever leave you two? I was just pretending earlier, not being serious at all,” Leon reassured with a smile, gently explaining to ease their sadness.
“You’re mean, Daddy…” Charlotte, who had also started to calm down, spoke in a saddened tone, casting a gaze filled with accusation toward Leon.
She had truly believed her daddy was going to leave them, only to discover it was all a charade, leaving her feeling deceived.
Charlotte’s accusation made Leon blush faintly, prompting a cough as a twinge of guilt washed over him.
“Cough! Hey, don’t blame me like that,” Leon said with a feigned sigh, continuing, “Isn’t it because you two ignored me and got upset for no reason first? As your daddy, I felt really hurt, you know?”
Charlotte and Fiona exchanged embarrassed glances, acknowledging the validity of Leon’s words.
Their actions had caused everything.
Looking back, their daddy had already greeted them and asked attentively, but because of their agreement from last night, they pretended to be angry and ignored him.
Feeling the weight of guilt, Charlotte was especially troubled, as she was the one who had initiated and suggested the idea to Fiona.
Thus, she was filled with annoyance toward herself.
Quickly, she clasped Leon’s arm tightly, her big, round eyes still glistening with tears.
“Daddy, I’m sorry for being cold and ignoring you earlier, okay? I promise I won’t do it again. So please, don’t ever think about leaving us, okay?” Charlotte pleaded, her tone tinged with fear.
Even though she understood her daddy was only pretending, she harbored a genuine fear that one day he might actually leave them and never return.
Just the thought of it sent shivers down Charlotte’s spine, and her grip on Leon’s arm tightened even further.
Feeling the palpable fear in Charlotte’s voice, Leon was taken aback, realizing he may have pushed the boundaries too far this time.
He hadn’t anticipated the depth of his daughter’s affection for him.
However, before Leon could respond, Fiona, sitting on the other side, spoke up.
“Sister Charlotte is right, Daddy. I’m sorry too, and I won’t ignore you or wear a sullen expression anymore. Please don’t leave me and my big sister,” Fiona murmured sadly, her lips pressed together in remorse.
“Hah~” Leon sighed softly before enveloping them both in his arms.
“You two aren’t to blame this time. It’s all my fault, so I must apologize. I promise not to leave you two, okay?” Leon’s voice was tender as he gently rubbed their heads.
Feeling the comfort of his embrace and his soothing touch, Charlotte and Fiona’s tense bodies relaxed, and they both nodded in unison, like little chicks.
“Okay, Daddy~” They chimed in sweetly, their voices no longer tinged with sadness.
At the same time, they both affectionately wrapped their arms around Leon’s waist.
Sensing that the tension had dissipated, Leon didn’t want to dwell on the sadness of before.
With a gentle and caring smile, he inquired, “Have you two had breakfast?”
Charlotte released her hug from Leon and shook her head slowly.
“Not yet, Daddy,” she replied softly.
“Um! We haven’t eaten yet!” Fiona added, holding her little tummy with both hands.
Leon smiled warmly and suggested, “Would you two like to have breakfast with me?”
Their eyes sparkled with excitement as they nodded in unison.
“Of course!” They both replied simultaneously, their voices filled with enthusiasm.
Leon chuckled at the renewed excitement of the two girls and gently ruffled their hair.
“Alright, let’s have breakfast together,” Leon said softly before proceeding to prepare the food on the table in front of him.
The spread Celine prepared was abundant and diverse, much like what Lyra had previously prepared for him.
Before Lyra departed the palace to face her punishment, it seemed likely that she had informed Celine of his food preferences, ensuring no deviation from the usual foods.
With everything arranged, Leon served the meal he had prepared to Charlotte and Fiona, and the trio ate in silence, yet within a harmonious atmosphere.
After ten minutes of eating, the trio finished their breakfast, and Leon tenderly wiped Fiona and Charlotte’s mouths with a napkin.
“By the way, I have a question for you both,” Leon said as he wiped the last stain off Fiona’s small lips and settled back into his position.
“Why did you ignore me earlier and become upset? Did I unintentionally do something to upset you both?”
With curiosity, Leon’s gaze shifted between the two girls seated on his right and left.
To be honest, he remained puzzled by the situation, as he couldn’t recall doing anything to upset either of them, except for inadvertently ignoring Charlotte for the past few days.
However, apart from that, everything seemed fine, didn’t it?
Upon hearing Leon’s question, Charlotte and Fiona exchanged glances as if silently communicating.
With a small nod from Charlotte, Fiona looked at Leon with a sad expression and began, “Actually, Daddy, it’s not that you have any problems or faults, but…”
Fiona began to recount the events of the previous night to Leon, explaining how she and Charlotte had attempted to break into his room but encountered a magic barrier that prevented their entry, ultimately resulting in her pink key being broken.
Unaware that the magic barrier was cast by Liliana, as Charlotte had not disclosed this information, Fiona expressed her frustration to Leon, her round eyes welling up with two tears as she explained.
Leon listened attentively to her explanation, sipping his tea, and couldn’t help but choke as he finally understood the entire story.
“Cough!” Leon coughed and choked, looking at Fiona and Charlotte with astonishment.
“Did you two really go to my room last night and encounter a magic barrier?” Leon asked skeptically, and the two nodded simultaneously.
Leon felt the corner of his mouth twitch as they confessed.
Wasn’t it last night when he and Liliana were working and discussing life together?
And these two little girls wanted to break in, only to find a magic barrier blocking their way?
Leon sighed helplessly, realizing he was unaware of the magic barrier on his door.
Aside from Liliana, who else could have done such a thing?
After all, his abilities were now restrained by the poison coursing through his body.
However, he chose not to explain it to the two and regarded them with an amused expression.
“Well, I was indeed casting a magic barrier last night for some reason. Therefore, I apologize to both of you,” Leon said apologetically.
Upon hearing his apology, Fiona naturally accepted it.
“Of course, Daddy~ Fiona forgives you and couldn’t possibly be angry,” Fiona said in a spoiled tone, hugging Leon without a hint of complaint.
On the other side of Leon, Charlotte regarded him with a strange and confused expression.
After all, as the one who had checked the magic flow at the door, she knew it was her mommy’s magic, not her daddy’s.
Yet, before she could become any more perplexed, Leon’s voice rang out again.
“By the way, Fiona, I have a new puzzle toy in the bookcase for you to play with,” Leon said softly.
“What? A new puzzle toy?” Fiona’s eyes lit up, and she asked eagerly.
“Yes! I made it a few days ago and just finished it yesterday. If you can solve it, I’ll give you a reward,” Leon said with a mysterious smile.
“Wow! Okay, Daddy, I’ll finish it!” Fiona exclaimed excitedly, quickly getting off the sofa and dashing towards the bookcase at the end of the room.
Charlotte, upon hearing this, was also immediately excited and eager to catch up with Fiona.
However, she was promptly halted by Leon beside her.
“Wait, Charlotte. Stay here. There’s something I want to discuss with you.”
—————
A/N: Over the next two or three chapters, I’ll be finishing Leon’s arc with his three daughters.
Despite appearing to reconcile with his three daughters (without including Fiona) on the surface, there’s still a lingering gap in their relationship, especially with Iris.
Therefore, I’ll be wrapping up this arc in the coming chapters (around two or the maximum of three chapters)!
BTW, thank you for your support, and stay tuned for more updates!
Ahem! I forgot… Thank you for the golden tickets yesterday!
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