The Unemployed Prince Covets My Nephew - Chapter 40
Watching from behind, Khalid smiled with satisfaction.
“As expected, he is excessively considerate to be Your Highness’ son.”
“Say that again.”
“I mean, he is truly adorable.”
It was a completely different statement.
Khalid stepped back about ten paces from Axel, reminding the musicians to expect a good performance today.
“It suits you well.”
“Pardon?”
“The hat. It suits you well.”
Holding Theo’s hand and standing next to Axel, Hailey blushed at Axel’s sudden compliment.
It was a compliment that could be given to anyone, but she didn’t know why it made her feel so warm.
Gathering her courage, Hailey spoke to Axel, who was also wearing a hat to shield from the sun.
“You, you look good too.”
“There’s nothing that doesn’t suit me.”
“……”
Should she thank him for cooling her flushed face so quickly?
Hailey glared at the shameless Axel.
After Axel boarded the boat first, he lifted Theo by his sides and placed him on the boat.
When it was Hailey’s turn, Axel tried to lift her in the same manner he did for Theo, causing Hailey to step back in shock.
It wasn’t just Hailey who was surprised. Khalid, who was planning to board another boat, was also taken aback by the prince’s gesture, and a few people murmured behind Hailey.
Why such an embarrassing method! Hailey, with a face red not from the sun, snapped at Axel.
“Just holding my hand is fine!”
“This way is more certain.”
“Please! Just hold my hand! Just my hand!”
Axel reluctantly extended only one hand. Holding Axel’s hand, Hailey boarded the boat.
‘This crazy man.’
Instead of cursing out loud, Hailey bit her tongue and endured.
Hailey had been quite good at swimming in her previous life. Although she hadn’t done it once in this life, she was confident in her ability to swim, and the boat was one she could board without help, making Axel’s earlier gesture truly excessive.
“Is it just us on board?”
“Who else would be? Are you scared? If you are, I can hold your hand……”
“No! I was just wondering how the boat would move without someone to row.”
Axel, looking somewhat disappointed, pointed indifferently to the group standing on the shore with just his finger.
Without a word of explanation, Hailey realized they were mages from the palace. The mages were busily casting spells to move the boat.
Though it wasn’t a kind answer, it resolved her curiosity, so Hailey turned her head.
Sitting beside her, Theo was excited to see the boat and the large lake, which he had only seen in picture books.
Not only that, but they could hear the musicians playing from a boat a little distance away.
Boating leisurely on a quiet lake with beautiful castles and forests in the background while listening to music. Hailey felt her heavy heart lighten a bit.
Meanwhile, Theo couldn’t take his eyes off the flock of ducks floating leisurely.
As the boat started moving, Theo, holding Hailey’s hand tightly, watched with a bit of fear, although there was no danger of falling.
Theo’s eyes widened as he looked at Hailey.
“The ducks are following us!”
They weren’t following them but rather the swan in front, but Hailey didn’t correct him.
Before she could respond, Axel’s voice came out.
“They are following the swan ahead of us, not us. Can’t you see? The swan is ahead of us.”
“They’re not following us? I thought they wanted to be friends with Theo……”
Theo looked at the ducks with a voice full of regret.
Hailey nudged Axel’s long legs with her shoe.
“If the space is tight, you can sit next to me.”
With a slightly pleased face, Axel patted the seat next to him, inviting Hailey. She bit her lip.
‘Enjoy your intimate time! I will go separately!’
Hailey finally understood why Khalid had insisted on boarding a different boat from Axel earlier.
Hailey spoke in a low voice, her lips tightly shut.
“Shut up, please.”
“What did you just say?”
Hailey glanced at Theo, who couldn’t take his eyes off the ducks, and gestured for Axel to come closer.
Axel, trying to hide his anticipation, leaned towards Hailey. She whispered directly into his ear.
“Shut up, please.”
“……”
Treating Axel like a bothersome peddler, Hailey waved him away.
Hailey was slowly learning how to deal with this crazy prince.
Axel felt a bit hurt by Hailey’s harsh words, but he had no choice but to keep quiet and return to his seat.
Hailey and Theo whispered and giggled together. Watching them silently, Axel felt a bit jealous.
“Hey, kid. Want to see something fun?”
“……Something fun?”
“Come here.”
Hailey frowned at Axel’s lazy expression as he crooked his finger at Theo. She didn’t want to send him over out of concern.
But Theo, already curious, carefully stood up.
Using his long, strong arms, Axel lifted Theo again. When he sat Theo on his thigh, Theo’s body rose up.
But Theo wasn’t amused. Sitting on Axel’s leg was something he had done before. It was an experience he had already had.
Seeing Theo’s bored expression, Axel grinned and, using one arm to support Theo’s legs and the other to hold his back, moved him back and forth over the edge of the boat and inside.
To Axel, it was just a slight movement, but to Theo, it was an unheard-of ‘flying giant toy.’
To Hailey, it just looked like a human roller coaster. Hailey was so shocked she could barely speak.
“What, what, what are you doing! Are you really crazy?!”
“Whee.”
Axel didn’t even snort.
At first, Theo seemed scared, but soon he was laughing so hard it seemed like he might lose his breath, raising his short arms in delight.
‘What if he falls into the water!’
Hailey stomped her feet, but excited Theo clung to Axel, asking to do it again.
Axel looked at Hailey with a sly smile as if to say, ‘See?’
The two, satisfied with their crazy play, looked content.
When Axel gently put Theo down, Theo rushed into Hailey’s skirt.
“It was so much fun! Mommy Hailey should try it too.”
“Wh-what are you talking about! No more next time. It’s too dangerous. Got it?”
“But Dad’s arms are huge and strong! I won’t fall!”
Theo pointed to Axel’s arms with his finger.
Hailey, following his gaze unintentionally, was startled and quickly regained her composure, quietly lowering Theo’s finger.
As Hailey awkwardly averted her gaze to the air, dutiful Theo took this moment to pull out his secret snack.
With his tiny hands, he pulled out candy as if playing house.
When the grape-flavored candy came out first, Theo quickly put it in his other pocket before anyone could ask for it. The next candy was milk-flavored.
“This one is for Mommy Hailey.”
“Thank you, Theo.”
“Ah~”
Theo unwrapped the candy with his tiny hands and put it directly into Hailey’s mouth.
Axel, who was watching Hailey smile at Theo while accepting the candy, was momentarily dazed.
‘Why.’
Why doesn’t she smile at me like that?
But Hailey, feeling Axel’s blank stare, thought differently.
‘What’s with him? Is he sulking because he didn’t get any?’
Hailey nudged Theo towards Axel, patting his bottom and indicating with a gesture that he should give Axel some candy too. Theo handed Axel an apple-flavored candy just as he had given Hailey.
Axel continued to stare at Hailey. Hailey, annoyed by Axel’s lack of awareness, kicked his leg lightly.
“Here, here.”
Hailey pointed to where Theo was, indicating for Axel to look down. Only then did Axel notice Theo.
Theo was looking up with his neck stretched and arms extended so far that they were trembling.
At that moment, Hailey realized from Axel’s expression that the self-centered prince was searching for an excuse not to accept the candy.
Before Axel could say anything, Hailey shook her head.
Fortunately, Axel understood Hailey’s intention and reluctantly opened his mouth.
From as far back as Axel could remember, he had never been fed by anyone. Prince Axel had been holding a fork and eating by himself from a younger age than Theo. This was the first time since he was a baby that someone had fed him.
The round apple-flavored candy popped into Axel’s mouth.
To Axel, it was just a slight movement, but to Theo, it was an unheard-of ‘flying giant toy.’
To Hailey, it just looked like a human roller coaster. Hailey was so shocked she could barely speak.
“What, what, what are you doing! Are you really crazy?!”
“Whee.”
Axel didn’t even snort.
At first, Theo seemed scared, but soon he was laughing so hard it seemed like he might lose his breath, raising his short arms in delight.
‘What if he falls into the water!’
Hailey stomped her feet, but the excited Theo clung to Axel, asking to do it again.
Axel looked at Hailey with a sly smile as if to say, ‘See?’
The two, satisfied with their crazy play, looked content.
When Axel gently put Theo down, Theo rushed into Hailey’s skirt.
“It was so much fun! Mommy Hailey should try it too.”
“Wh-what are you talking about! No more next time. It’s too dangerous. Got it?”
“But Dad’s arms are huge and strong! I won’t fall!”
Theo pointed to Axel’s arms with his finger.
Hailey, following his gaze unintentionally, was startled and quickly regained her composure, quietly lowering Theo’s finger.
When Hailey awkwardly averted her gaze to the air, the dutiful Theo took this moment to pull out his secret snack.
With his tiny hands, he pulled out candy as if he was playing house.
When the grape-flavored candy came out first, Theo quickly put it in his other pocket before anyone could ask for it. The next candy was milk-flavored.
“This one is for Mommy Hailey.”
“Thank you, Theo.”
“Ah~”
Theo unwrapped the candy with his tiny hands and put it directly into Hailey’s mouth.
Axel, who was watching Hailey smile at Theo while accepting the candy, was momentarily dazed.
‘Why.’
Why doesn’t she smile at me like that?
But Hailey, feeling Axel’s blank stare, thought differently.
‘What’s with him? Is he sulking because he didn’t get any?’
Hailey nudged Theo towards Axel, patting his bottom and indicating with a gesture that he should give Axel some candy too. Theo handed Axel an apple-flavored candy just as he had given Hailey.
Axel continued to stare at Hailey. Hailey, annoyed by Axel’s lack of awareness, kicked his leg lightly.
“Here, here.”
Hailey pointed to where Theo was, indicating for Axel to look down. Only then did Axel notice Theo.
Theo was looking up with his neck stretched and arms extended so far that they were trembling.
At that moment, Hailey realized from Axel’s expression that the self-centered prince was searching for an excuse not to accept the candy.
Before Axel could say anything, Hailey shook her head.
Fortunately, Axel understood Hailey’s intention and reluctantly opened his mouth.
From as far back as Axel could remember, he had never been fed by anyone. Prince Axel had been holding a fork and eating by himself from a younger age than Theo. This was the first time since he was a baby that someone had fed him.
The round apple-flavored candy popped into Axel’s mouth.