23 Live Together

"Serin stop playing with food."

"I'm not, not playing."

Serin pursed his lips and pouted, which left Qise dissatisfied. In response, he asked Conrad to fetch the child's utensils while he grabbed a napkin to delicately wipe his host's little hands.

Serin remained still, allowing his system to handle the task of cleaning his dirty hands.

"You're acting like this. What if Xanric saw you eating so messily? He'll probably dislike you since he likes someone who is clean and well-behaved. Didn't he always help you clean?" 

Qise said this in a teasing manner, not expecting that Xanric's name would carry so much influence. The child looked at him with teary eyes, seemingly comprehending the potential consequences of his words.

"W-Will he not marry me anymore?"

Qise was rendered speechless and unsure how to respond.

Conrad, on the other hand, appeared dissatisfied and asked, "Xanric? Is that the illegitimate son of President Strauss?" He seems to remember this certain child who was with Serin when the children were kidnapped. Though acknowledged by the Strauss family, Conrad thinks that Serin liking an illegitimate child is not good and will only bring trouble.

Serin looked at Conrad and blinked twice.

"Illegitimate? Father, what is illegitimate? Is it powerful?"

Conrad choked and looked at Qise.

This time it was Qise's turn to be dissatisfied and glare at Conrad.

Conrad knew he was wrong but still, it's not good to hang a curious child so he could only explain in a non-aggressive way of putting in words. "An illegitimate child is someone who has a different mother but the same father and is born without their parents being married."

Serin claps his hands in understanding.

"I see. So I'm also an illegitimate child!"

This time, the sound of someone coughing was heard. They all turned their heads to identify the source of the noise and found Rhellio covering his mouth while shaking his head. His gesture suggested that he wasn't eavesdropping but had merely arrived at the wrong time.

Conrad's face turns dark.

"Uncle, my dad, and daddy are also not married but they have me, aren't I also an illegitimate child? right?"

"Ah?" Rhellio didn't know how to respond.

He just thought of one thing, that is, this beautiful child might really be Conrad's illegitimate son. After all, the child said to himself that Conrad and Qise had him without being married, doesn't that indicate that his friend impregnated someone without holding a wedding?!

Rhellio looks at his friend as if looking at some scumbag.

Conrad gritted his teeth. "I am not."

Rhellio didn't believe his friend and patted the child's head saying, "Don't worry child you won't be an illegitimate child if your dad and daddy marry each other."

Qise's face becomes redder and redder because of the embarrassment and countless misunderstandings. 

"Conrad you're not allowed to mention those words again."

In front of his host who is a curious baby, Qise avoided mentioning complicated matters. Furthermore, he didn't want his host to view illegitimate status negatively, as it might lead to discrimination. Qise aimed to instill a mindset in his host that didn't judge others based on their birth status. Even if he is aware that his host's character won't remain the same once he regains memories, it's just not right at this current time and age.

Qise calmly mentioned those words, but his serious expression led the two men to believe that he was upset about influencing the child's thoughts in that manner.

Conrad, overwhelmed with guilt and embarrassment, stood up and approached Qise. His trembling hand touched the other's arm as he offered a sincere apology.

"I'm sorry. I was wrong. I won't think like that again, and I won't mention anything negative in front of the child. Please don't be upset."

Qise's heart is shaken.

He couldn't fathom why he felt so vulnerable to Conrad's gentle tone.

Serin, witnessing the tension between his parents, chimed in, "Daddy, don't be mad. I'm a good baby."

A pair of eyes, one big and one small, were fixed on him.

Qise, perplexed by their perception that he was upset, quickly clarified upon seeing Rhellio's awkward expression "No, not really. Don't misunderstand. I'm not mad."

Conrad breathed a sigh of relief.

"Next time, I'll be more careful with my words."

Qise: "Hmmm"

Rhellio looked at his friend in horror, wondering if what he was witnessing was true. He even rubbed his eyes to confirm that he wasn't dreaming.

"Incredible," Rhellio whispered.

His cold friend. The friend of his who doesn't even know how to smile or show annoyance, and only has one expression is now actually looking like a dog who is afraid of being abandoned.

Rhellio's lips twitch and immediately excuses himself to share some gossip.

Qise and Conrad resumed their meal, and afterward, they returned to the palace.

Serin happily shared his drawing with the servants before running off to the exclusive zone to play with his black panther pet. As he frolicked around, a large black snake hanging from a tree hissed down at Serin and the two black panthers.

Sensing the gaze of a predator, Vermont snarled in response.

The snake hissed back.

Two formidable creatures locked eyes, creating an intense atmosphere that could only culminate in one becoming the prey and the other the predator. 

The tension between these animals on the top chain was palpable

"Young master, it's time to go back!"

One of the animal keepers shouted and waved at the child seated on top of the white tiger. Berius growled and nudged the human cub with its nose, conveying a message for the child to heed and return.

Serin was also aware that he couldn't stay there for long, so he bid his goodbyes to the animals.

Rachelle brought the little master to the lounge room set as a resting area. The lounge featured glass walls, allowing occupants to observe various animals while spending time there. Originally intended for the young master to freshen up after playing in the exclusive zone, Qise found the idea of constructing a separate bathing room impractical. Consequently, he upgraded it into a lounge to provide a resting space for the workers in the exclusive area.

The lounge is a spacious facility equipped with a bathroom, kitchen, and bedrooms.

One of the animal keepers emerged from the kitchen, placing a cup of chocolate drink with marshmallows in front of the young master. Serin reached out happily.

Thank you, brother Renzo!"

Renzo, the recently hired animal keeper, blushed while looking at the cute young master before him and replied, "It's nothing, as long as the young master likes it."

After a few minutes of rest and enjoying snacks, Rachelle returns with the little prince inside the palace. In the spacious living room, Qise and Conrad are engaged in a conversation about business cooperation. Both of them look over as Rachelle enters with Serin.

"Mister Qise, Butler Yul mentioned keeping Mister Conrad for dinner," Rachelle reported.

Qise nodded and caught his host as he ran towards him, helping him climb onto the couch, where he sat in between them.

"Daddy, where is my mansion?!"

Serin still hasn't forgotten his request, and seeing his system working, he suddenly remembered the house he would gift to his future wife.

"It's bought but you can't live there."

"Why?!" Serin pursed his lips, "I told Xanric we will live together!"

Qise just hummed, "Wait until you grow up. Besides, it's dangerous to live there since the villa has a low-security system. Wait for me to install one, then you can use it."

Serin let out an "oh" sound.

"It's fine, it's my gift to Xanric, just give it to him."

Qise nodded, "Alright, I'll give him the land title and house key on his birthday."

Conrad leaned over and asked, "Where did you buy a villa?"

Qise glanced at Conrad's handsome face and couldn't help but blush.

"I bought one from Moon State."

After all, properties in Rose State are predominantly owned by wealthy omegas. Suspecting that his host may identify more as an alpha based on the previous character traits, he opts to purchase a property in Moon State. However, the mansion is intended to be gifted to Xanric by his host. He deems it acceptable, considering that, in the original plot, Xanric is portrayed as a dominant alpha. Moon State is just the right choice.

Conrad nodded his head, "Moon State is for Bachelor Alphas, it's a good choice."

He also has a property there but doesn't live much since he prefers his penthouse that is near the institute and Academy.

"Dad you have a mansion?!"

Conrad chuckles, "Yes, want it?"

Serin's eyes sparkle and turn to look at Qise, "Live together! Let's live with Dad in a mansion!"

Qise choked and started to cough.

Serin didn't mind his system and turned to look at Conrad: "Dad can we live in your mansion? I want to live in a mansion because my classmates all live in a mansion while I don't."

A tinge of melancholy laced Serin's voice.

He always feels like he's different and not like his classmates at all so in order to boast he must have what his classmates have to show his greatness. In short, just like his friends, he must live in a mansion! Don't be different! He wanted the same!

Conrad was speechless.

The little prince wanted to live in a mansion that was smaller than this castle.

Qise shook his head, "You can't!"

Serin frowns, "Why?! I wanted to live in a mansion!"

Puffing his cheeks, Serin pouted and looked at his system angrily, "I wanted to live in a mansion!" and raised his hand to hit Qise's chest and thigh.

Conrad frowned, held the child's hand, and sneered.

"If you hit again, I'll tie your hands."

Serin's teary round eyes look at Conrad who is gloomily looking at him. 

Serin didn't understand his mistake and cried, screaming.

Qise massaged his forehead, "Stop crying! If you wanted to live in a mansion then we would go right away but living in a mansion means there won't be Grandpa Butler around, and your sister Rachelle won't also be there to bathe you and play with you. If you are ready to wake up on your own and wear clothes on your own then go, we will go and live with your dad!"

Serin stopped crying and hiccuped.

He looks at his angry system and suddenly realizes his fault.

Living in a mansion means leaving Grandpa Butler and Sister Rachelle here in the palace. He would need to wake up on his own and wear clothes on his own. His Dad and Daddy have works and he'll be alone with no one to play with him.

It's not good at all.

Pursing his lips, Serin crawls and hugs his system: "I'm sorry, I'm wrong."

Qise sighs, "It's good that you know."

Serin hummed, "B-But I just want to live with Dad. M-My classmates, I heard my classmates say that their mom and dad live together, why dad and daddy can't?"

Because we're not married and you're not our child. Qise kept his thoughts.

"Dad can live here if he wants."

Conrad widens his eyes and stares at Qise who is coaxing the child. He didn't expect that he would be given another opportunity to be with Qise, but this time it was twenty-four hours and the rest of the upcoming days. It feels like a dream and right now he really wanted to drag Qise to the altar so they could be together forever.

Serin: "Really? Really?"

Qise hummed and nodded, then looked at Conrad.

The two locked their gaze and Qise was the first to avert his eyes, "It's only valid if your Dad wanted to live here, if he doesn't want we can't force him."

Serin immediately turns around and looks at Conrad, "Dad---"

"I want...." Conrad's steady gaze on Qise's face, "and I will."

Serin burst into happiness and stood on the couch, jumping around.

Conrad and Qise continued to exchange glances, but neither dared to confess. Qise, grappling with the uncertainty of his emotions and the fear of hurting someone with his robotic nature, hesitated to take the plunge. Conrad, on the other hand, was fearful of potential rejection and suspected that Qise might be drawn to him only because of the child. Both remained apprehensive, choosing to withhold their feelings until they were certain they could fully commit.

"Thank you." Qise lowered his gaze, "I'm sorry."

Conrad frowns, "Qise, I--"

"I'm sorry for bothering you. For keeping up in the role for this child."

Qise's face shows worry, "I'm afraid you can't find a partner if you keep being linked to us."

Conrad chuckles angrily, clenching his jaw.

He wanted to grab the man before him and kiss him, telling him how much he wanted him. If it weren't for the child besides them, he would really do it.

What are you sorry for? Conrad only wants Qise in his life.

No one and surely only one.

"Qise, you are the only one who made me patient."