Chapter 38

Thus, they headed toward the portrait room. Although Elena had visited the Christian mansion quite often, it was her first time entering the portrait room.

Curiosity piqued, she looked around. Little One, who was quietly nestled in Madam Jane’s arms, poked his head out to survey his surroundings.

The first thing that caught her eye was a family portrait of Felix’s family. Judging by how grown Lindsey and Tony appeared, it seemed to have been painted recently.

“This one was painted last summer.” 

Madam Jane explained, noticing Elena’s gaze.

“I thought so. Seeing how much Tony and Lindsey have grown, it didn’t seem too old.”

“Doesn’t it look nice?”

At her words, Elena examined the portrait more closely. What surprised her most was Felix.

She had expected him to wear his usual expressionless face, but to her surprise, he wore a faint smile. It was so subtle that she almost doubted whether he was smiling at all, but it was undeniably a smile.

‘How unusual. Felix, smiling?’

As if reading her thoughts again, Madam Jane added, 

“Do you know how hard it was to make him smile? Do you have any idea how difficult it is to paint a portrait with him?”

With a sigh, Madam Jane walked further into the room.

“Now, this is a portrait of Felix when he was young. Doesn’t he look just like Roy?”

Elena was taken aback when she saw the painting. As Madam Jane had said, the young Felix in the portrait bore a striking resemblance to Little One.

If someone claimed the painting was of Little One, anyone would have believed it.

Well, except for the expression. Felix’s sarcastic demeanor seemed to have been present even in his childhood, as the young Felix in the portrait had a grumpy face compared to the cheerful Little One.

“It’s fascinating.”

Before she realized it, Elena had echoed Madam Jane’s earlier words.

“They really do look alike.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying. It feels like Felix has returned to his childhood. It’s delightful.”

Madam Jane nuzzled her nose against Little One’s chubby cheek.

“Kihi.”

Little One responded with a giggle.

“Oh, right. There’s a portrait of you two as well. Would you like to see it?”

Madam Jane took their hands and led them to another area. There, they saw portraits of Elena and Felix at various ages.

There were portraits from when they were around Little One’s age, from when they were Lindsey and Tony’s age, and even from just before they entered the Academy.

In the portraits, they appeared quite close. Elena was smiling brightly in all of them, while Felix, though wearing his usual grumpy expression, was holding her hand tightly.

Anyone who saw the portraits might have mistaken them for siblings rather than friends.

‘We had times like that, huh?’

For some reason, Elena felt a ticklish sensation in her chest.

Looking back, Felix had always done whatever she asked, even while pretending to be annoyed.

There was the time he ditched their etiquette tutor to play hide-and-seek in the garden, only to get scolded. Or the time he snuck cookies from the kitchen when she was forbidden from having snacks.

While Elena was often the instigator of their mischief, it was usually Felix who bore the brunt of the scolding.

‘And now he’s helping with Little One.’

He could have ignored it to avoid the hassle, but Felix had willingly stepped in to help.

Well, maybe not “willingly,” but he had still gone out of his way to assist.

‘I’m really grateful.’

As Felix stood with sunlight streaming through the curtains behind him, he seemed unusually handsome today.

For the first time, she began to understand why the girls at the Academy were so smitten with him.

Clutching her chest, which felt oddly warm, Elena gazed at him. Felix raised an eyebrow at her.

“What’s with that face?”

“Well, it’s just…”

“Your ugly face looks even uglier.”

The wave of emotion that had washed over her receded as quickly as it had come.

Elena glared at him, narrowing her eyes.

She must have been out of her mind earlier. To think she had found him handsome.

Ridiculous.

***

In a few days, it would be Lindsey and Tony’s birthday. To buy gifts for the mischievous twins, Elena decided to visit the marketplace with Felix.

“Little One, I’ll be back soon, okay?”

“Baba!”

Little One, cradled in Madam Jane’s arms, waved both hands at her.

Just during Saint Esna’s Festival, Little One had clung to her side, refusing to part. But strangely enough, they seemed perfectly content with Madam Jane now.

It seemed Little One had been instantly charmed by Madam Jane’s expertise in childcare.

‘Why do I feel so hurt?’

Pausing before stepping into the carriage, Elena cast a serious look at Little One.

“Little One, if I leave now, you won’t see me for three hours. Are you okay with that?”

“Hee.”

Little One blinked his big eyes and smiled. Though he couldn’t possibly understand her words, it felt as if he was saying, “I know. It’s fine.”

It was strange. While it was better for Little One to be comfortable with Madam Jane than to throw a tantrum, Elena couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness.

Noticing her feelings, Madam Jane chuckled.

“You’re upset because Roy doesn’t seem to mind, aren’t you?”

“It’s not that…”

“Even if he seems fine now, he might cry later when he doesn’t see you. So hurry along.”

“Alright. Little One, I’m really leaving now, okay?”

“Hurry up and get in. At this rate, the sun will set before we leave.”

At Felix’s urging, Elena quickly climbed into the carriage. The marketplace wasn’t far from the mansion.

“How about this one?”

“Lindsey prefers red over yellow.”

“Really? Then we’ll get red for Lindsey and yellow for Tony.”

Elena and Felix put their heads together, deliberating carefully. Though they were different genders, the twins were still twins, and giving them completely different gifts might lead to a fight.

After much thought, they decided on two large teddy bears.

Holding the teddy bears, Elena fell into thought.

‘It’d be nice to add something to these bears.’

Perhaps a feature where pressing their bellies would make them talk.

The idea seemed promising. Creating a moving train from scratch might be difficult, but modifying a stuffed toy seemed like a good place to start.

“What do you want to do now?” 

Felix asked. Originally, they had planned to browse the marketplace after buying the gifts.

But Elena had changed her mind, influenced by something Madam Jane had said before they left the mansion.

– Even if he seems fine now, he might cry later when he doesn’t see you

Honestly, considering how well Little One had clung to Madam Jane earlier, it didn’t seem likely. But still, she couldn’t shake the thought.

What if, by some chance, Little One cried because she wasn’t there? With that worry in mind, Elena decided to return to the mansion earlier than planned.

“Oh? You’re back earlier than expected, Sir Felix?” 

The startled butler greeted them as they entered the mansion. They passed him and headed inside. Just as they stepped onto the stairs leading to the second floor—

“Waaaah!”

A loud cry echoed from above.

‘Why is Little One crying?’

Worried, Elena rushed toward the sound. She found herself in Lindsey and Tony’s playroom, where Little One was bawling in Madam Jane’s arms.

For some reason, Little One seemed upset, pushing against Madam Jane’s shoulders as if trying to escape her embrace.

“Roy, be good. It’s okay. Hush now.”

“Waaaah, hauuu!”

“I don’t understand why he’s crying so much. He was playing so well before his nap.”

Elena trusted Madam Jane, but Little One was struggling so much that it seemed like Madam Jane might drop him at any moment.

Quickly, Elena called out, 

“Madam Jane! Little One!”

Both turned to look at her. Little One, in particular, reached out with tear-streaked hands, his face scrunched up in distress.

“Ah-ma! Mama!”

It seemed he wanted her. Elena hurried over and scooped Little One into her arms.

Fortunately, Little One stopped thrashing. He buried his face in her shoulder, babbling incomprehensibly between sobs.

Her shoulder was soon soaked with tears and drool, but Elena didn’t have time to feel grossed out. She patted Little One’s back, trying to comfort him.

“Why are you crying, Little One?”

“He must have missed you after waking up.” 

Madam Jane explained, her face looking ten years older from the ordeal.

“After you left, he played well with the twins, but when he woke up and couldn’t find you, he panicked.”

For some reason, the explanation melted away the hurt Elena had felt earlier. She kissed Little One’s chubby cheeks repeatedly.

Oh, how adorable.

“Did you miss me, Little One?”

“Hubu.”

“Alright. I won’t go anywhere anymore.”

True to her word, Elena stayed glued to Little One’s side for the rest of the day. Even during dinner, she had to hold him in her arms.

It was only after Little One fell asleep that she was finally able to put him down. She placed him in the crib in her room, which had been brought in by Madam Jane, just in case Little One woke up looking for her.

She tucked Little One in gently.

“Goodnight, Little One. Sweet dreams.”

***

“Maah?”

Half-asleep, Elena felt something squirming against her side.

What was that? 

She opened her groggy eyes to find Little One rubbing his face against her side.

…Little One?

That was strange. She had put him to sleep in the crib.

Was I dreaming? 

But the warm sensation against her side felt too real.

“Little One, why are you here?”

“Baah.”

No matter how many times she asked, Little One simply nuzzled closer, his eyes half-closed.

‘Did I bring him here?’

She must have brought him over in her sleep when he fussed. Holding Little One close, she patted his back. He whimpered briefly but soon calmed down.

Once he was sound asleep again, Elena gently placed him back in the crib. She returned to her bed and tried to sleep.

But not long after, she was awakened again by Little One’s babbling cries.

And then she saw it—Little One floating in midair!