Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 238

“Where did you even get this idea?”

Lloyd tapped his foot irritably.

The adults had decided to step back to create an environment where the children could naturally interact and play, but even that didn’t sit well with him.

To Lisa, he was both friend and protector. Why did she need playmates her own age?

‘This isn’t a playground built for other brats to enjoy.’

In one corner of the Blanchard estate’s garden was a playground Lloyd had personally created for Lisa.

There was a swing hanging from a tree, a small cabin, a colorful tent, and even a seesaw.

“If looks could kill, that prince from Remvi would already be dead, Lloyd,” Lucian remarked.

“Shut up, Sir Lucian. I’m not in the mood to humor your jokes.”

“How rude.”

Despite his words, Lucian didn’t look offended at all. If anything, he seemed amused.

“The moment that brat tries anything funny with the Young Miss, I’ll rush in to stop him. Damn it, Miss, just run away…”

Lucian laughed heartily.

“If you’re going to laugh, get lost!”

“How can I not laugh? This is too entertaining.”

“What’s so funny? A marriage proposal for the Young Miss at this age is ridiculous. She’s only three years old! Damn it, you little bastard, stay away—”

“And what were you doing at three?”

“I don’t remember.”

Lloyd cut him off with visible disdain.

“Was it when we met? Were you six? Or five?”

“I don’t know.”

Lucian smirked knowingly. He still enjoyed bringing up old stories, and Lloyd’s irritation only made it more amusing.

Even if Lloyd knew, he’d probably still fail to suppress his temper.

“You were cute back then too, you know.”

“Are you saying there was a time when you had the emotional capacity to find a human child adorable?”

This guy is full of it too.

“Out of more than ten kids, you were the one I took the most care of, so I must have found you somewhat cute.”

“All I remember is being bullied.”

“Well, so you do remember.”

Lloyd disliked him because he did remember.

Lucian could understand Adeline’s comment that Lloyd resembled an irritated cat.

For two years, Lucian had practically raised Lloyd himself.

The child who never cried or smiled was almost always expressionless and unresponsive to anything.

He only acted when he was offered food.

Having grown up on the streets, Lloyd knew nothing else and moved solely out of the desire to survive.

When given food, he’d shovel it into his mouth with his hands, even when a spoon was right next to him.

“Use the spoon. Eat like a human being.”

“…Am I human?”

“Creatures like you are generally called humans.”

“Even a human who kills other humans—should they still act human?”

“No matter the job, a person is still a person, kid. I’m a person, and I want to live among people who eat like people. So if you want anything from me, learn some table manners.”

At that time, Lloyd’s dark brown eyes were so dark they looked black. His oversized eyes stared blankly, making Lucian want to poke his cheek for no reason.

Lucian genuinely found Lloyd adorable, in his own way.

Lloyd grumbled,

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Your bad feelings are usually pretty accurate.”

Lucian glanced at the two children playing in the distance.

Lisa was like a puppy.

She had once run up to him, smiling like sunlight, and threw her arms around him.

Whenever Lucian went to see Lisa, he would spend hours scrubbing himself clean, worried that she might pick up some unpleasant scent.

Most children were terrified of Lucian.

In all his life, only two children hadn’t feared him: Adeline and Lloyd.

Now, Lisa was the third.

Even though he no longer had a reason to visit Adeline after discovering what she was hiding, Lucian still made up excuses to go.

“Shane has some annoying task for me.”

“I came to see Lloyd.”

Or even,

“I was just bored.”

It certainly wasn’t because he had free time.

Lucian had to admit that the faint bond he had with Adeline was more tenacious than he’d expected.

Still, finding another idiot willing to entrust their life to him while saying they didn’t trust him at all would probably never happen again.

So if he kept visiting, it was entirely Adeline’s fault.

And thanks to her, he had come to know Lisa.

Though it was unsettling how much Lisa resembled her devil-like father, she smiled innocently as she extended her hand first.

With her small, warm, and sticky hand, she held Lucian’s finger.

She had inherited her mother’s fearlessness.

If she knew who he really was, she wouldn’t dare act like this. She would be scared.

Lisa was the only exception to Lucian’s belief that anything adorable must be tormented until it cried.

The mere thought of Lisa crying or getting hurt was unpleasant.

It wasn’t that he loved her deeply—it was just unbearable to see anything mar her fair, round face.

“What are you feeling uneasy about?”

Lucian, confident that he was nothing like this stoic fool who acted as if he couldn’t breathe without Lisa, asked the question.

“That brat might fall for the Young Miss.”

“……”

“No, damn it, he already has, without a doubt.”

At least I’m not that bad… right?

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