When Lowell was young, he used to think that if he endured the hard times, happy days might arrive like a gift; as he grew older, he stopped wishing for grand happiness, convincing himself that being realistic was better.
But now, happy events followed one after another like stepping stones, forming the path of his life.
Like anyone else, Lowell still faced sad or difficult moments, but he realized that those moments didn’t make the happiness at his side flee.
“Hurry and eat.”
The man who made this possible handed food to Lowell.
Lowell accepted it with a bright expression.
The savory scent of roasted chicken brushed his nose.
Rapidly hungry, Lowell took a bite, and the greasy juices filled his mouth.
As is often the case with street food, it didn’t taste quite as magnificent as it smelled, but the wonderful scenery served as a perfect seasoning, making it taste delicious to Lowell.
“Edwin, is it good?”
“It’s yummy!”
Edwin, like Lowell, seemed to thoroughly enjoy eating outdoors; even though he wasn’t particularly hungry, he munched on the food with his cheeks puffed out.
“Edwin eats well on his own, so you should eat some too, Felix. I’m worried because it seems your appetite has decreased lately.”
When Lowell spoke, worried that Felix was only taking care of Edwin, Felix laughed softly.
“You’re probably the only person who worries about my meals.”
Given Felix’s massive frame and robust constitution, he had almost never heard such words in his life.
“Then who else would worry if not me? It’s my job to worry about you, Felix—I can’t let anyone else take that away from me.”
With a hint of a smile, Lowell brought a piece of food to Felix’s mouth.
Felix suppressed the urge to kiss him right then and there and obediently ate the food Lowell offered.
“You know, can I go play over there?”
As the peaceful meal continued, Edwin, having finished about half his food, started wiggling his bottom on Felix’s lap, curious about the swans floating on the lake.
Tia, who had noticed the sign from a distance, approached.
“We shall look after him.”
Since Lowell felt a wave of sleepiness hitting him after the meal, he entrusted Edwin to the knights.
“Stay within sight.”
“Yes, sir.”
Once Felix gave his permission, Edwin ran off excitedly, nearly tripping.
If Tia hadn’t skillfully caught him, he would have burst into tears.
“I can’t take my eyes off him.”
Lowell, who had stood up in surprise, was steadied by Felix.
Felix looked at Lowell and replied, “I agree.”
Realizing that the comment was directed at him, Lowell rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.
Edwin, who seemed to be enjoying the lake without a care for the passage of time, returned as one of a pair.
Tia, standing behind them, looked completely at a loss, while the scruffy boy Edwin had brought back by the hand wore a look of irritation.
He was about a head and a half taller than Edwin; judging by his poor state of nutrition, he was likely much older than the height difference suggested.
“Edwin, who is this friend?”
Edwin often brought back insects or animals, but this was the first time he had brought a person.
After all, when they were in Nyx, he spent most of his time in the castle, so he rarely had the chance to meet children his own age.
“I met him over there. He says he’s hungry.”
“Let go.”
The boy shook off Edwin’s hand as if it were a nuisance.
Having rarely experienced someone being so overtly cold, Edwin’s eyes widened.
The boy shuddered at the sight of the hurt Edwin, but he didn’t apologize.
However, Edwin was resilient; he soon took the boy’s hand again with a smile.
This time, the boy didn’t refuse.
‘He’s usually quite shy; this is unexpected.’
Lowell was surprised inwardly but maintained a calm expression on the outside.
“Shall we save the play for next time and head to our lodgings?”
He couldn’t take a boy of unknown identity into the Imperial Palace, so they had to get a separate room.
Since it was the festival period, it was unlikely any high-quality rooms remained, but he figured it would be fine for just one day.
“I’m fine.”
The boy grumbled, but he was no match for the determined Lowell and Edwin.
Fortunately, it was past lunchtime, so they found a restaurant with vacant seats.
Edwin, completely distracted by his new friend, barely noticed whether the food arrived or not.
“You know, are we brothers?”
Edwin, who had been carefully watching the boy, asked in a whisper as he watched him eat.
However, since he hadn’t yet mastered the art of fully lowering his voice, the boy clearly heard him.
“I’m older than you.”
The response to Edwin’s question was a bit off-center, but Lowell brushed it off as typical children’s chatter.
Felix, on the other hand, had a look of serious contemplation on his face.
“Then aren’t we brothers?”
Edwin asked, sounding confused, paying no mind to the reactions around him.
The boy swallowed the food in his mouth and let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“‘Brothers’ is a word for people who share blood or are close. You just met me today.”
“Is that not allowed?”
At Edwin’s innocent response, the boy shook his head with a sigh and went back to his meal.
Felix watched the two of them intently. Lowell read a certain conflict in that gaze.
“Do you have a home?”
Felix, who hadn’t said a word to the boy, finally spoke.
“Why are you asking that?”
The boy asked back boldly, seemingly unafraid of Felix.
When Felix continued to observe him with a expressionless face, showing no sign of being offended, it was the boy—who had spoken so defiantly—who became more tense, clenching his fists.
“Do you know your age? You speak quite well.”
Felix tried to speak as gently as he did with Edwin, but his habitual way of speaking didn’t change easily.
The boy seemed to feel an inevitable sense of intimidation.
“I don’t know.”
The boy set down his spoon and became intensely wary of Felix.
A flicker of anger, as if asking if he was finally showing his true colors, wavered around him.
There was no one at this table so petty as to react to such raw, unrefined anger.
‘It might be better if I speak.’
Judging that Felix’s communication style was insufficient to put a child at ease, Lowell leaned forward and spoke.
“He’s just asking, so don’t worry. Ah, how about Edwin introduces himself first?”
At Lowell’s gentle suggestion, Edwin spoke up as if he had been waiting.
“I am Edwin! Three years old! After my birthday, I’ll be four.”
After finishing his introduction, the child looked at the boy with sparkling eyes.
Edwin’s gaze was practically pleading for the boy’s name and age.
It seemed the boy responded sharply to force but lost his spirit when met with kindness.
This was exactly why Lowell had put Edwin at the forefront.
“I don’t know my age. Probably seven. People call me Tanner. I don’t have parents, but I live in the temple.”
Tanner hesitated at first but soon introduced himself in a clear voice.
‘I did think he spoke too well for his size. Still, that’s not the physical development of a child over seven.’
Lowell barely managed to keep from frowning, and Felix’s jaw tightened.
Edwin was momentarily puzzled, sensing the change in atmosphere, but was simultaneously delighted to finally know Tanner’s name.
Lowell and Felix hurried to compose their emotions.
“Tanner! Tanner-hyung, eat this too.”
Edwin handed over his entire order of apple pie to Tanner.
He had been looking forward to eating it all day, but now that he was captivated by his new friend, the pie had become secondary.
“You eat it.”
“Then let’s eat half-half!”
Edwin worked hard with his small hands to cut the apple pie in half.
Aww 🥰 Edwin found his first friend!