“Your Highness, I’m curious—when will Dad wake up?”
Edwin asked while cradled in Felix’s arms, having already finished getting ready to go out.
He seemed to be trying his best to whisper cautiously, but his voice reached Lowell’s ears clearly through the haze of sleep.
“He seems to be sleeping a bit longer because he’s tired. Are you hungry?”
“No. I ate bweakfast. So, my tummy isn’t hungry.”
Edwin giggled, rolling around in Felix’s embrace.
Usually, at this hour in Nyx, Lowell and Felix would be working while Edwin engaged in play disguised as training, but being together as a trio had him visibly excited.
“Edwin, Dad is awake.”
When Lowell spoke, reaching a hand out from under the covers, Edwin scurried out of Felix’s arms and dove into Lowell’s.
Perhaps because they were in an unfamiliar place, Edwin was acting more clingy than usual.
“Dad, are you hungry?”
Edwin tossed the same question at Lowell, likely remembering the conversation he just had with Felix.
Lowell was about to reflexively say he was fine, but a loud rumble echoed from his stomach.
He hadn’t eaten properly the previous evening while greeting people, and he had spent the entire night engaged in what was essentially a full-body workout, so his hunger was only natural.
“I’ll have them prepare something to eat.”
Lowell grabbed the wrist of Felix, who was about to get up immediately.
“How about we eat outside? You were planning on going out anyway.”
His stomach continued to clamor for food, but Lowell didn’t want to eat inside the room after coming all this way, nor did he want to dine in a restaurant crowded with nobles.
Felix stared intently at Lowell’s stomach before asking seriously, “Will you be alright?”
“It’s not a disaster to be a little hungry.
The festival must be in full swing outside; Edwin can see the sights, and we can have some street food for the first time in a while.”
There was a faint trace of nostalgia in the phrase for the first time in a while.
“It would be nice to watch a play together, too.”
“Then Felix will have to carry Edwin.”
The two exchanged memories like secret codes.
“I love plays!”
They both realized naturally that now that Edwin was born, they could step into those old memories and create new ones.
“Edwin, do you like plays?”
“Yes! I saw one before. There were lots of animals.”
The one Edwin had seen was a puppet show based on a fairy tale that children would enjoy.
“I hope this one is fun too.”
Lowell gave the burrowing child a tight squeeze and climbed out of bed.
Although a slight muscle ache remained, it wasn’t enough to hinder his movement.
‘Moving around is the best way to get rid of this kind of muscle ache.’
Lowell waved his hand lightly to Felix, whose face was etched with worry, signaling that he was fine.
He could feel Felix’s persistent gaze, but the man seemed to relax a little.
“I should get ready to go out.”
“Are you going in disguise again?”
“I wouldn’t exactly call it a disguise. But you two should change into lighter clothes as well.”
Edwin’s eyes went round.
He seemed unable to believe he had to change again so soon after putting his clothes on.
“Why? Why change again?”
“Because you’re supposed to wear more comfortable clothes when you go out to play.”
Judging by how the corners of the child’s mouth dipped slightly, he didn’t seem fully convinced, but Edwin followed Lowell’s lead without further protest.
“If everyone is ready, shall we go?”
The trio’s festival was just beginning.
“There’s so many people!”
Edwin seemed momentarily startled and intimidated, burying himself deeper into Felix’s arms.
Phoebus was already more populous than Nyx, but it was even more crowded due to the festival period.
It was a scale that would understandably shock Edwin, who had only ever lived in a quiet city.
“That’s right. There are a lot of people, aren’t there? They all came out to play, just like Edwin. Once we get away from the center, there are places with fewer people, so it’s okay.”
“To play?”
Edwin peeked his head out, hesitated for a moment, and then wriggled to be let down.
Felix emphasized several times that he must hold their hands tightly before finally setting him on the ground.
“Hold on tight so you don’t get lost in the crowd.”
Even after that warning, Felix didn’t feel at ease, so he tied a tether of black mana to Edwin.
Accustomed to Felix’s mana, Edwin wasn’t surprised; instead, he followed suit, using his own mana to hook a string onto Lowell’s finger.
It was thinner and more blurred in form than Felix’s, but it was an impressive feat for his age.
“Dad, hand! Dad mustn’t get lost either.”
Edwin reached out his small hand to Lowell as if that weren’t enough.
Lowell found him so adorable that he spent a good while squeezing the small hand.
The child found this amusing and laughed so hard his face turned red, his previous tension forgotten.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Apple pie! You know, I want to eat apple pie.”
The child bounced on his feet just thinking about apple pie.
It was as if what he’d eaten while in the womb wasn’t enough; he liked it even more than actual meals.
“Apple pie is dessert. You have to eat lunch first.”
“Mmm…”
Edwin tilted his head, making a sound as he failed to think of other foods he wanted.
There was plenty of food around, but most of it was barbecue.
“How about that chicken dish we had before?”
Felix suggested, looking intently at Lowell’s stomach.
It seemed the sound of the growl earlier had been a shock to him, and he was itching to feed Lowell something.
“I’d like that, but I’m worried it might be too greasy for Edwin.”
“Edwin can have the grilled seafood. They’re selling grilled squid over there.”
Having said that, Felix led Lowell and Edwin toward the stall without waiting for an answer.
Since it was festival food, it was served almost instantly.
The problem was that there were no seats available nearby because it was lunchtime.
“I think it would be better to go over there and eat rather than wait.”
Lowell suggested, suppressing a laugh at the sight of Felix holding the food, which looked somewhat out of place given his large frame.
Felix turned his head to check where Lowell was pointing.
“Do you mean under that tree?”
“Exactly.”
It was an area around the lake lined with large trees.
It seemed Lowell wasn’t the only one eyeing that spot; people were sitting on cloths and eating their meals.
Looking at the scene, Lowell felt his heart flutter with excitement, as if they were on a picnic.
“Sit here.”
Felix set the food down, took off his outer coat, and had Lowell sit on it.
Lowell tried to refuse, saying it was fine, but Felix took his own spot without giving him a chance and pulled Edwin onto his lap.
Lowell decided that arguing further would just delay things, so he sat down quietly and looked around. Sitting in the sunny spot, he had a clear view of the sun shimmering over the lake.
Lowell was suddenly overwhelmed with happiness.
