Chapter 21
"We have been very close! She wanted to hold my hand since it has been a long time." Reg lied.
'Does this cub want me to punch him?' Seven was not the one who wanted to hold hands with this cub.
"I am glad that the two of you are getting along very well. It feels like it's been a long time since I last saw the two of you so close." Priti was truly happy to see her son getting along with her little girl. It would make things easier if she could get along with children her age. The mother rubbed her belly, hoping they would get along with the newest family member.
'When were we ever close?' Seven really did not understand how she looked from their view. Perhaps she would look even funnier in their eyes than she thought. 'Why do you people always show up when I want to enjoy my time outside alone?' It was odd. Like they were her stalkers now. If they were, it would not be the first time in her life or second life.
"Did you both want to go and lunch together? I can have the butler prepare the dishes, and we can eat in the main garden." Priti figured it was time for them both to have a good meal. She didn't want them to go hungry, but the little baby in her belly kicked around. It was probably telling her that it was time for a meal.
"Yeah, let's do that. We can only go on with a good meal for today." Reg held onto Seven's hand while his other hand took the other. Informing the butler to set the table with food did not take too long for them to set it up.
The three of them were eating in the garden, with the table set up with all the sweets and meat. Seven started munching on the food while listening, but she heard a loud clink from Reg, who dropped his fork onto his plate. It had actually hurt her ears for some odd reason. 'Did my hearing get better or something?' Seven rubbed her head a bit, feeling the tingling sensation still there with the ringing a bit.
"Sorry, I did not have a strong grip on it like I should have. Paws." Reg waved his paw at Seven, letting her see how it was sometimes tough for him to hold a utensil right. Reg smiled at Seven before eating away at his plate of food. It was just the perfect time to fill up his stomach. He was a growing cub lion, so he needed all the meals that he could take. Cubs around his age right now usually ate a lot.
Priti knew that beast children were just something else; they consumed much more than regular human children would. "Let me know if you both need any more food. We have plenty that we can still eat." She smiled, looking at the two children with a motherly look.
'These are good and delicious food.' Seven could taste the delicious meat in the bread. 'Why does it… taste similar somehow?' She only started to wonder until a hand started patting her head. Staring up, it was Sachin there who patted her little head.
"Father, didn't you have a meeting to attend too?" Reg stared at him, looking at his father, who was rather comfortable now.
"I did. I finished my meeting early. It was not too important as now." Sachin smiled before giving Priti a sweet kiss on her cheek. An affectionate lion, he was only doing so in front of his wife and perhaps his daughter if he had one. The thought ran to his head before looking at the little girl. He had been discussing a lot with his wife and informed her about the girl's name. Sachin and Priti would take a look at each other and knew what they wanted to tell the little girl.
"Sweetie, would it be okay if we named you?" Priti smiled at Seven.
Seven turned her gaze to the both of them, 'What do they want to say?' She clearly understood them, so she nodded her head while taking another bite of her food.
"Would you be okay if we called you Celia?" Priti told her while Sachin waited patiently. His tail was swinging quite a lot.
Seven did not know what to feel about the name; it felt like it should have no meaning, but it did not help that her heart was beating to it. Spotting the tail, she knew for a fact that Sachin had suggested the name. The little girl just turned her face back to the food, trying not to express anything. Yet, the three others at the table could see her ears turn pink and twitch. It only gave them the hint that she was fine with the name. Sachin was hoping for a bigger reaction, but he would get whatever she could show.
"We can start calling you by the name slowly," Sachin said, seeing his wife and son simply agree to it. It was too soon to start calling her by that name. They all decided to go on with the lunch before taking another while. Sachin, on the other hand, would keep going on and urge Priti to rest and stop walking around so much.
Given Celia's new name, the little girl was rather annoyed that throughout her walk, she could hear the couple behind her just keep talking and arguing. 'I feel like this was supposed to be my time to enjoy some peace and quiet outside. Why does my day feel ruined?' The poor girl was annoyed by the bunch; it was strange to have such a happy family like them around. Not like she could remember what her previous family was like.
"Archmage! The Duke of Yuhine is seeking your presence and the girl! He says that the little girl is his long-lost daughter!" The butler came rushing over, hating to disturb them, but the duke was looking for Sachin. Apparently, the duke was saying how the little girl was his child who had been missing.
'Why does this sound so sketchy?' Celia was not having it, and it was more like they were trying to gain something out of this. Her nose twitched with her eyebrows furrowing into discomfort. 'None of this would make sense. The last memory is of two people who did not care and sold her off. I only assume that they were the people who could be her parents. Why come now?' She would let go of Reg's hand, going over to hold onto Sachin's hand.
Sachin was angry, knowing that the Duke of Yuhine wanted to take the little girl when she was in one of the dangerous cases involving Laonn. Once Celia's hand grabbed him, he felt the anger inside calm down. "Did you want to take a look at those people?" Sachin did not know what to think of it. It would depend on Celia if she wanted to meet the people.
Celia, the little girl, nodded her head without hesitation. 'Let's see how they react when they meet me. I doubt they would want me if I acted feral in front of them.' Celia raised her hands, almost like she was trying to signal Sachin to carry her. Pritia and Reg looked jealous, seeing that she wanted to be carried by Sachin. On the other hand, Sachin was confused about what Celia was trying to tell him to do. It took about almost three minutes for anyone to say anything.
"Ummm… father? Are you not going to carry her?" Reg felt bad that Celia had to keep her arms and hands up to his dad for almost three minutes.
"Is that what she wants?" Sachin had never carried her in his arms while she was awake since she always tried to scratch or bite him. Picking up the little girl, he felt that she had gotten heavier since the last time he carried her.
"What did you think she wanted? Now, hurry up and go see what that duke wants. I will not allow them to take her after all she has been through." Priti did not tell him, but she would sneak around and try to eavesdrop on them.
Sachin was not too embarrassed, keeping Celia in his arms while making their way to the mansion's main hall. He had granted the duke access to his home this one time, hoping that he would be able to find out where it all began for Celia. Celia clung to Sachin, and it was almost like her body recalled the trauma. Sachin could feel the little girl hide more in him, making him only want to protect her more.