Cake

"Mister Heusc knows how to bake?!" Athy yelled out with excitement. Claude pulled his head back from the sudden shriek with an annoyed expression on his face. But his heart couldn't help but soften at the sight of Athy's innocents. But his face was still as cold as ice.

"Well I learned a bit from my mother while I was away," Heusc said, Claude's face turned colder at the thought of Heusc getting hurt again. "I think I can bake a decent cake, what flavor do you want?" "Chocolate!" Heusc chuckled at the answer, "Of course, anything for the princess."

Heusc looked back at Claude, "Would you like anything? I'm feeling good today." Claude looked at Heusc, from the past, he heard the servants say that Heusc's goods were great, something they had never seen before. He wanted to try some. "Anything is fine," Claude said. "I knew it, haha," Heusc said leaving to the kitchen.

The chef felt useless in the palace.

Athy looked at the chocolate cake in front of her. Her eyes sparkled as she took a bite of the cake, although it wasn't as good as those made by the professionals it was still good. Plus she still needs to make Heusc like her. "This is so good!" She said, Heusc chuckled at her excitement.

Claude looked at his food. There were many items on one plate. Claude started eating his food, his eyes slightly widened as he realized how different the flavor is. It wasn't from the local area. Claude and Athy continued wolfing down the food until it was all gone. "Athy slows down, don't eat it all... never mind." When Heusc said that Athy has already taken the last bite.

Heusc was glad that he made a small cake, she ate the whole thing and didn't even leave a slice for Claude. "You're hungry this morning aren't you?" Heusc chuckled, grabbing a napkin and wiping Athy's mouth. Everything has changed, there was no plot anymore. He ruined it, but he also made it better in a way.

Athy's and Claude's relationship seems to be better than in the manga. He's the first and only outsider in the story that has interacted with Claude.

Heusc looked at Claude as their gaze met. Suddenly remembering his very inappropriate dream his face turned citizen. He turned away from Claude hiding his face in his palm having an internal crisis over what to do.

It had been a few days since the cake incident when he saw Athy. She was in the arms of Lily as she walked down the halls. "Athy!" Heusc called out as Lily stopped and she turned around to greet him. They talked for a bit but just as Heusc was about to leave Athy clutched his jacket.

"Mister Heusc, join me and Papa!" Athy looked up at him almost begging for him to come with her.

"Wouldn't he mind me interrupting you guys' quality time together?" Heusc looked at her, kneading her small hands. "Papa wouldn't mind!" She knew about the 'little' crush Claude had on Heusc, not to say Heusc's blushing form this morning was also pretty obvious. Heusc was still reluctant when Athy was dragging him to Claude's room.

"Papa! Athy's here!" The little girl yelled running into the room, Heusc was standing outside as the door opened wider. But it seems Claude didn't notice him.

"Nowadays you just come and go as you please, don't you?" Claude said, putting down the tea he was drinking. Athy stood before Claude, her arms spread wide. "All of a sudden I wanted to see Papa, this, this much! So I came here right away!" It only now did Heusc know what Athy was doing. She wants sweets.

"Isn't it a bit early for you to be making all the ruckus?" The father and daughter looked at each other for a few seconds. "Bring it in."

Heusc watched as all types of sweets were displayed on the table as the servants walked past him. "Hm? It seems like you're more excited to see that cake than you are to see me."

"Mister Heusc come look!" Athy was too excited to see the cakes she almost forgot the awkward Heusc who was just standing there. Claude's eyes slightly widened when he heard the name turning his head to the footsteps coming near.

"I'm sorry to disrupt your time with your daughter Claude." Heusc smiled apologetically. "No, it's fine." Claude's calm voice sounded out, he scouted over telling Heusc to sit next to him. A servant brought a cup of tea as Heusc thanked them.

"You two didn't meet anyone on the way here today, did you?" Claude asked, looking at Athy as she ate a mouth full of cake. 'Ahh so it's this episode' Heusc smiled, hiding his face behind the teacup. "Meet someone? Who?" Athy asked, looking at the two elegant males in front of her.

"If you didn't meet them, that's fine. You can continue to ignore them in the future." Claude had a slightly nervous face as he glanced away. Not even Heusc was sure of who it was. A weird glint crept up into Heusc's eyes, it was deep and mysterious. It was signaling danger but people still wanted to approach and get to know him.

Claude looked into those heterochromia eyes as the glint appeared. His heart thumped again and again. "Well I'll go now, papa and Mister Heusc can hang out!" Athy smiled as Claude snapped his gaze to her. She knew what was happening but still pretended to be innocent.

She walked out and closed the door, now Claude and Heusc were the only ones in the room. There was no conversation between the two as they drank their tea. Heusc looked at the leftovers with a bit of sadness. He was always taught to save every piece of food.

Yin suddenly crawled out of Heusc's sleeves. Claude glared at the creature. He thought that darn thing was gone! He hasn't seen it for so long that he almost forgot about it!

Heusc looked as the two once again glared at each other. Yin climbed onto the table and he started eating the leftovers. Heusc didn't do anything as he just watched. It has been quite a while since Yin has been outside, it seems very hungry as it devoured the cake.

Claude glared at the thing on the tea table, harshly. You can almost see the hatred the two have for each other.

"It's still alive?"