* * *
Every time Leo’s lips brushed against his palm, it tickled, and Ed watched as Leo’s eyes crinkled into a smile.
“I wuv you sho much! Wuv you a wot, Daddy!”
He said it with such enthusiasm that “much” became “ma-ni,” “Daddy” became “Ah-bbah,” and “love” turned into “cho-ah.”
But Ed simply grinned and gave Leo’s little bottom a couple of pats in praise.
When Ed laid his arm down on the mattress, Leo quickly flopped onto it.
He wriggled his head back and forth against the arm-pillow until he found the perfect spot, then lay on his side, wiggling his tiny feet.
He stared quietly at Ed.
Ed gazed back into the child’s bright blue eyes. It was a peaceful moment.
As Leo’s eyelids began to flutter, Ed gave his chubby belly a gentle tickle.
Leo’s eyes popped open, and he giggled, clinging tightly to Ed.
“I thought you said you weren’t sleepy?”
“Mm… Leo not sweepy…”
Even as he spoke, his words grew slurred.
Ed pulled the blanket up and gently patted his back.
It was a cozy northern afternoon, with late winter slowly fading away.
A few days later in the afternoon, after lunch, Ed stopped in the middle of the staircase.
The northern castle was unusually lively.
Leo and Ronen were tearing through the halls playing hide-and-seek.
“Five, four, three…”
As Ronen counted with his eyes shut, Leo tumbled onto the red-carpeted hallway, dusted off his hands, and scrambled to his feet.
The moment he saw Ed, he dashed over.
It was more of a toddle than a run, but this time he didn’t trip—he ran straight into the back of Ed’s legs and clung tightly.
Ed looked down at the panting Leo and let out a soft laugh.
Apparently, as long as his head was hidden, Leo believed he was invisible.
He pressed his face against Ed’s body, swallowing nervously.
‘He’s gripping my pants so hard, but his little feet and hands are still totally exposed.’
Leo’s tense fingers gripped tightly, worried that Ronen might find him.
Hide-and-seek had been Leo’s favorite game ever since he started walking.
As Ed moved slightly closer to the wall, Leo instinctively tucked himself in further, letting his guard down just a little.
‘Still not hidden though, Leo…’
Smiling, Ed looked up.
“Two… one! Leo, are you all hidden?”
Leo nodded firmly, covering his mouth with his hand.
But when Ronen, still facing the opposite wall, suddenly spun around, Leo flinched.
Ronen strutted forward with exaggerated steps.
Even though he clearly saw Leo clinging to Ed, he deliberately opened and shut doors down the hallway, drawing out the game.
“Hmm… Is Leo in here? Or maybe over there?”
Leo shook his head frantically, still covering his mouth, pretending he wasn’t there.
“He’s hidden so well, I really can’t find him!”
When Ronen sighed dramatically, Leo peeked out and quickly ducked back behind Ed.
Ed’s leg itched from the tiny hands squirming on his pants.
Ronen approached, scanning the area.
“Your Grace, have you seen Leo by any chance?”
Ed shook his head gently.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t.”
With a dramatic gesture, Ronen smacked his forehead.
“He’s so well-hidden, I can’t even spot a single hair.”
“Indeed,” Ed replied.
“He’s quite the fast one, our young master.”
Leo’s nanny chimed in with a chuckle, and Ronen nodded eagerly.
“Exactly! I bet it’s because he’s inherited the dragon’s energy. Every time a dragon shows up in his picture books, he jabs his little finger at them—it’s not just a coincidence!”
At that, Leo couldn’t hold back anymore.
Excited that his favorite topic came up, he thrust his hand into the air.
“Leo wuv dwagons!”
But the moment his eyes met Ronen’s, he froze and slowly slunk back behind Ed again.
A burst of laughter echoed through the hallway.
Before they knew it, spring had arrived in the North.
On one such morning, Ed was busy from the crack of dawn.
The Imperial Theatre Troupe had arrived days earlier, and today they were performing in the North.
“Ah-bbah! I go too! Me too!”
“Just wait a bit longer, Leo.”
Leo, cradled in the Duke’s arms, bounced with excitement, eager to run to Ed as he was getting dressed.
The Duke patted his back soothingly.
“Your Grace, allow me to take Leo.”
“It’s alright. I think Ed looks too handsome today—that’s why this little one can’t sit still.”
He booped Leo’s tiny nose, and Leo tilted his head in confusion.
But realizing they were talking about him, his cheeks puffed out in protest.
The Duke gently stroked his hair.
“Leo, didn’t you feel happy wearing your favorite blue clothes today? Then imagine how Daddy feels.”
“Ah-bbah?”
“Yes. When Daddy wears cool clothes and shiny shoes that suit him perfectly, he’s happy too. Just like you were—like flying in the sky.”
Even if he didn’t understand all of it, Leo seemed to get the gist.
He snuggled closer into the Duke’s chest.
“So can you wait with Father while Daddy finishes getting handsome, Leo?”
Trying hard to show his resolve, Leo looked up at the Duke and nodded.
“Yesh!”
Ed smiled at the sight of Leo nestled in the Duke’s arms, then mentally reviewed today’s schedule.
The Northern performance was grand and vibrant—especially since the North was the last place in the Empire to feel the touch of spring.
Ever since the new Emperor’s ascension, the capital had been sending supplies and the theatre troupe every March, marking the arrival of spring and reinforcing the ties between the North and the Imperial court.
A festival was held in honor of the occasion.
The Duke had been busy inspecting the defenses and safety of the region, while Ed had been sorting supplies and personnel arriving from the capital.
Today—the first day of the festival—was the formal gathering of northern elites and capital nobles.
A maid styling Ed’s hair glanced at the Duke, who was still calming down an excitable Leo, and chuckled softly.
“In that case, I’ll speed things up a bit.”
“No need to rush,” the Duke replied.
“Let Ed finish properly, taking his time. He’s handsome even in a simple look, but since we’ve got the time and occasion, let’s make sure he’s fully satisfied.”
Ed’s ears turned red.
The Duke never held back on compliments, especially in private.
And yet Ed was still not used to them. He looked up at the Duke, giving a tiny shake of his head in protest.
“Ah-bbah! You wook coow!”
“How cool is Daddy?”
“Da coowest in da world!”
The Duke, of course, didn’t miss Leo’s enthusiastic cry—and Ed’s ears turned an even deeper red.
“And what should you do for such a cool Daddy?”
“P’otect Daddy wif Asnel Papa!”
“And when Father isn’t there?”
“P’otect wif Wonen Uncy!”
“And to protect Daddy, should Leo eat well at lunch or not?”
“Eat aww the food!”
“You can do that, right, Leo?”
“I can do it!”
Early education was scarily effective.
Leo probably didn’t fully grasp what “protect” meant, but after months of repetition since he was three months old, it came out like a reflex.
He even raised his hand proudly.
The maid chuckled warmly and pretended not to notice Ed’s reddened ears as she continued her work.
Leo clapped his hands with a huge grin on his face.
After finishing lunch, Ed was preparing to leave the Northern Castle when the Grand Duke and Leo trailed closely behind him.
Seeing the Grand Duke finally with some free time again, Ed could feel that spring had truly come to the North.
He had watched the Grand Duke all winter, constantly preparing for the severe cold and ensuring that the northern people had enough food and supplies.
That was why this moment of peace felt especially welcome.
Once preparations were complete and Ed approached the carriage, Ronen greeted him and the Grand Duke with a broad smile.
“Your Grace the Grand Consort, may I offer you my hand?”
“Of course.”
The way Ronen extended his hand was elegant and confident.
Ed could have climbed into the carriage on his own, but he gladly accepted Ronen’s hand.
“Thank you, Young Lord Ronen.”
“Me too! Me too!”
Before Ed could even fully board, Leo’s voice chirped from behind.
“Yes, Leo too.”
“Yay!”
With Ronen’s help, Leo climbed up into the carriage with a delighted little grunt.
Clearly enjoying himself, he shouted, “Again! One more time!”
As a result, just getting into the carriage took longer than expected.
But the laughter never faded, and as Leo sat in Ronen’s lap peering out the window, his wide, sparkling eyes were filled with joy and wonder.
“We’re off!”
The coachman’s voice rang out clearly.
Those seeing them off had warm smiles on their faces as the carriage slowly began to move.
* * *
