IFAHWIPUTML Chapter 27

Verasielle had no choice but to get up from her seat and approach Chayston.

She wanted to know why he kept hovering around them.

Was it possible he wanted to play with Raphel?

Come to think of it, Chayston and Raphel had barely spent any time together until now.

It suddenly occurred to Verasielle that maybe Chayston wanted to get closer to his nephew but was too embarrassed to make the first move.

'Have I been thinking too badly of him this whole time?'

Then again, there'd been plenty of people trying to use a child whose life or death was unknown. So maybe his suspicion was justified.

She didn't like that Chayston had mistaken her for a con artist, but if he was starting to open his heart to Raphaleon, she should actively help from the sidelines.

"Do you want to play together?"

But the answer she received made her expression freeze.

"Absolutely not."

Chayston replied instantly, as if the very idea was preposterous.

"Then why do you keep lurking around? If you don't want to play with Raphel, what's the point?"

Verasielle asked again.

Because Raphel was swinging both legs with a face full of hope, wondering if perhaps his uncle might play with him after all.

"I haven't been lurking. I'm simply walking around my own estate."

Flustered that Verasielle had noticed his attempts at stealth, Chayston launched into a verbal ramble fest.

"Oh, is that so?"

Verasielle answered, her tone dripping with disbelief.

'He came to check if I'm doing anything suspicious with Raphel.'

Of course. That made sense.

Chayston clearly still suspected her.

She felt foolish for momentarily regretting that she'd been too negative about him.

"Then we'll be heading to our room."

She whirled around. Rohan looked at Chayston and opened and closed his mouth like a fish, his face saying he had opinions.

There was no need for such a sharp tone, he wanted to say.

"Play togeder!"

But the cold atmosphere reversed in an instant.

Before anyone could react, Raphel had scurried over and grabbed Verasielle's hand with one maple-leaf hand and Chayston's pant leg with the other.

"Togeder!"

The innocent child's smile turned toward Chayston.

Beaming.

Looking down at the grinning Raphel, Chayston fell silent for a moment.

Those gently curved eyes with their sparkling pupils resembled his brother in childhood so much.

Meanwhile, Verasielle hoped Chayston would refuse.

She didn't want to be around him. He'd rejected her own invitation to play together, after all.

So she made her displeasure abundantly clear.

She even glared at Chayston with eyes that said don't you dare interfere.

"Let's go."

Reading her expression perfectly, Chayston accepted Raphel's proposal without a moment's hesitation.

She was making her dislike so obvious that it made him want to tag along even more.

He was a bit surprised at himself. He hadn't known he possessed such contrary tendencies.

"Wait, you're really coming?"

"Of course. The child wants me to."

Verasielle's face filled with dissatisfaction.

Watching her, Chayston smirked inwardly. Her expressions changing moment by moment according to his answer were amusing.

His world had always been static. Only mechanical, formal routines repeated endlessly.

Normally, he wouldn't have bothered with such annoying matters. He never would have hovered around someone or shown interest in the first place.

But from the moment she'd entered this estate, he found himself unable to simply pass by anything concerning Verasielle.

It was as if she kept dragging out aspects of himself he didn't even know existed—aspects hidden deep within.

The immature, mischievous feelings he'd thought disappeared once he'd matured.

"Hehehe. Hand!"

Raphel giggled and held out his hand to Chayston. He wanted it held.

"What are you doing? Take his hand."

Verasielle scolded him as he stood there blankly.

Chayston carefully reached toward Raphel, who was smiling and offering his hand.

A small, soft hand nestled into his large, hard one.

Snug.

Afraid he might crush Raphel's tiny hand, he drained all the strength from his grip.

His fingertips tingled strangely.

Something clenched in his chest, and an indescribable emotion washed over him. Simultaneously, a deep warmth enveloped his entire body.

Chayston bit his lip hard at this unfamiliar feeling.

"Let's go!"

Raphel marched forward energetically, leading the two people whose hands he'd captured. The three crossed the courtyard and headed into the estate.

And...

"...?"

Rohan stood alone, left behind, looking utterly bewildered.

He'd been standing right next to the three of them, yet not a single person had paid him any attention.

The child, the young lady, even his own master...

Staring forlornly at their retreating backs, Rohan followed the three with lonely footsteps.

"Stars!"

The moment they entered the room, Raphel showed off his gifted snow globe.

"So it was yours."

Chayston muttered to himself.

The snow globe she'd bought at the market had been for this child.

He felt a bit sheepish about his misunderstanding.

"Look at this! Sparkle sparkle!"

"You... like stars."

Watching Raphel turn the snow globe's light on and off, Chayston blinked slowly.

Did all children like stars?

Remembering his brother's words that Raphaleon especially loved stars, it suddenly occurred to him that this child resembled his brother's childhood greatly.

The more he looked, the more he learned, the more the child was the spitting image of his brother.

His brother, who'd been his shield and shelter under their authoritarian, violent father.

"He says stars are the best thing in the world. He hates carrots and baths. I don't think he likes going in water very much."

"I see."

"Yes. And he sings well. He's affectionate, and even though he's young, he's very considerate."

She shared the information about Raphel she'd gathered so far.

She wasn't pleased that Chayston had followed them, but those red eyes staring intently at Raphaleon bothered her.

She didn't know why, but his face looked deeply confused.

As if searching for something in the child before him—distant yet unsettled.

Had he felt the pull of blood ties that couldn't be severed?

Verasielle glanced at Chayston, who'd pressed his lips firmly shut.

Those red eyes, sunken low as if lost in thought, were serious.

'Is he remembering his brother's childhood while looking at Raphel?'

He'd loved and respected his brother deeply.

The original novel had even described that Chayston cherished Raphaleon because he was his brother's child.

His brother had been the only person who'd become Chayston's shield under a father who went beyond strict to outright abusive.

Of course he'd cherish his brother's child like his own son.

'Hmm, since we're in the room together anyway, should I do a good deed?'

Verasielle decided to be generous, though she wasn't particularly inclined.

Chayston would be the person who loved and cared for this child more than anyone once he was revealed as the "real Raphaleon"—but it would be even better if Chayston and Raphel grew closer beforehand.

"Raphel, shall we sing a song for Uncle?"

"Sparkle sparkle?"

"Yes. Twinkle twinkle."

"Good!"

Raphel clasped both hands together neatly and cleared his throat.

Ahem.

Verasielle waved her hand to give the signal. The duke would definitely take a fatal blow to the heart from Raphaleon's cuteness. She had, after all.

"Twinkle twinkle little star, how beautiful you shine~"

Raphel began singing with a serious face, mouth open wide.

It was a song she'd taught Raphel, who loved stars so much.

Verasielle beamed at Raphel, who sang earnestly without missing a single lyric, and sang along.

"In the western sky and in the eastern sky."

"In the westhern sky and in the easthern sky."

Chayston found himself watching Raphel sing earnestly with an indulgent expression before his gaze shifted to Verasielle, who was singing even more earnestly in front of him.

His eyes fixed on Verasielle.

Like a trap he couldn't escape.

Verasielle was smiling brightly while making eye contact with Raphel as she sang.

The streaming sunlight sparkled on her smile.

Her face, more radiant than stars, was clearer than a transparent lake and lovelier than a rainbow after rain.

It was as if a great halo shone behind Verasielle.

Wait, that couldn't be right...

Chayston blinked rapidly.

The halo disappeared, and she'd returned to her usual appearance.

Of course. His eyes had been feeling blurry lately—now he was seeing things.

"How beautiful you shine!"

"Wow! Good job, Raphel!"

Verasielle clapped and showered Raphel with praise.

Raphel grinned and puffed out his small chest toward Chayston. He wanted praise too.

"Your Grace. You should share your thoughts on the performance."

Verasielle glared at Chayston, who was staring blankly without a word.

'What's with him? Why no reaction at all?'

After she and Raphel had sung so hard together... apparently it left no impression whatsoever.

As Verasielle shot him a disappointed look, he finally turned his gaze to Raphel and patted his head.

"Well done."

Then he turned and left the room as if he had urgent business elsewhere.

Cold.

"What is with him, seriously..."

Verasielle narrowed her eyes, displeased with Chayston's attitude.

Even excessive praise wouldn't have been enough—and he just tossed out a perfunctory "well done" and left...

She was fuming inside.

After showing him Raphel's adorable singing, his reaction was pathetic.

"Hiiing... Did Raphel sing badly?"

"What? No! You did really well. Amazing! As expected, our Raphel sings beautifully!"

Verasielle had to work up a sweat consoling the deeply disappointed Raphel.