— Paul’s Perspective —
That day, I couldn’t hold back and hit Rudy; it was indeed wrong of me.
Even though Luna had already warned me, I still made that mistake.
I have reflected on myself.
To prevent such a tragedy from recurring, I will definitely be a serious and good father.
But having said that, Rudy is excellent to the point of being a bit foreign to me.
It feels as if he isn’t my own child—too mature, too excellent.
He’s far less affectionate than Luna.
She has a very good relationship with me; rather, she has a good relationship with everyone in the family.
She acts like a normal child—she can be naughty, willful, and also understanding.
She is just as excellent as Rudy.
Sometimes I think, did something get mixed up?
Rudy should have been a naughty boy, and Luna should have been a sensible, rational, and polite girl.
But in reality, Rudy inherited Zenith’s magical talent and is quite gifted, being a Water Saint-tier Magician at only five years old.
And Luna is very talented in swordsmanship; I think she might be able to surpass me before she reaches adulthood.
What a pair of children to be proud of.
I don’t even know where my dignity as a father has gone.
“Dad, I’m back!”
Standing at the door was my dear daughter.
She was as lively as Zenith, with an innocent smile always hanging on her face; it felt truly wonderful.
Hmm?
Luna seems different today.
She’s covered in dirt from head to toe, and her face is caked with soil.
Did she go climbing trees again?
It’s quite a headache.
I really don’t have the heart to scold her, but for her to grow up healthy, this is something a father must do.
I have to steel myself, Paul, or else if a tragedy occurs later, it will be too late for regrets.
I pulled a long face, trying my best to look stern.
“Luna, what were you doing?”
“I went to fight.”
My daughter’s innocent, smiling face uttered a word that seemed completely foreign to her.
“What did you say?”
“A fight.
I went to find Somar to fight.”
I thought I had misheard.
Yesterday I wrongly accused Rudy, and today Luna proactively admits to fighting.
What on earth is going on with these two?
In any case, I shouldn’t get agitated.
I’ll ask for the reason first.
I can’t be like yesterday, shouting at the kids without knowing the facts.
“Luna, why did you fight Somar?”
“Because he bullies others and falsely accused Rudy.
He even made a great man like Papa apologize to people like that, so I had to hit him.”
So it was for her family.
What a good child…
No, I can’t think like that.
I have to steel my heart to educate her.
At such a young age, if I don’t proactively correct her, she’ll develop a habit of using force to solve everything.
“Luna, hitting people is wrong.
You shouldn’t use magic to bully the weak…”
“I didn’t use magic.
Besides, the opponent was taller and stronger than me.
I don’t think I was bullying the weak.”
“Even so, you shouldn’t…” I already didn’t know what to say.
“Then does Papa think that if Rudy and I are bullied, or if our family is bullied, we should just endure it?”
“Of course not!
It’s just that you’re too young; you shouldn’t use violence to solve everything!”
That’s right, I’m right this time.
You can’t solve everything with violence.
But then again, Luna is so much like I was when I was young.
Back then, I really did solve everything with violence.
It was the same when I was at the academy for nobles.
If it weren’t for Philip helping me with schemes and advice, I really would have handled every single matter with my fists.
“Oh, so that’s how it is.
Then next time I’ll do it more elegantly and try not to use violence.”
“Mm, exactly.
Now go back and take a bath.”
“Heehee, thank you, Papa!”
My daughter gave me an affectionate hug, and my mood brightened considerably.
Teaching children correct values is what a parent…
Wait, how did Luna manage to slip away?
What happened to the strict lecture I planned?
–Luna Greyrat POV—
With my superb acting skills, I successfully ‘acted cute’ to pass the ordeal and avoid a physical scolding.
Though even if Paul did hit me, he wouldn’t hit too hard.
I’m much better at acting like a child than Rudy is.
Speaking of that guy Rudy, he’s been having a blast playing with his new friend, coming back late every time.
I heard it’s a green-haired little boy.
Does Rudy have issues with his orientation?
It couldn’t be the same as mine, could it?
No, he’s obsessed with Roxy’s panties and is always eyeing Lilia with those lecherous eyes.
There’s no way that guy has orientation issues.
“Rudy, don’t always go off to play with your new friend by yourself.
You should take Luna along too.
Look at how lonely Luna-chan is.”
Rudy glanced at me, then flashed his signature formulaic smile to fool Zenith: “I understand, Mother.
I’ll take Luna to play with me next time.”
Who knows when ‘next time’ will be?
Rudy is still brooding over the fact that I have leverage over him.
As expected, there was no ‘next time.’ Rudy found an excuse and slipped out, not taking me seriously at all.
It’s not that he wants to exclude me; he’s just purely afraid.
Afraid that I’ll expose his secrets in front of our family, and afraid I’ll expose his secrets to his new friend.
Since he won’t play with me, I’ll just go find Paul.
“Papa, Rudy won’t play with me.”
“Then Papa will play with Luna.
What does Luna want to play?”
“Swordsmanship.”
“…”
In the end, I practiced swords with Paul all morning.
The sky gradually grew gloomy, and judging by the humidity in the air, rain was about to arrive.
Sure enough, a downpour started shortly after.
However, I had already returned home and even managed to take a bath.
I wonder if Rudy is getting soaked like a drowned rat.
Lilia seemed to have anticipated Rudy’s situation and thoughtfully began preparing dry towels and hot water.
“Let me do it, Lilia.”
“How could that be?
This isn’t work that Miss Luna should be doing.”
Lilia’s words sounded panicked, but her actual tone was entirely that of an elder advising a junior.
Without realizing it, she seemed to have started treating me like her own child.
“It’s fine.
I can use magic to make hot water.”
Controlling the output carefully, I used a form of Mixed Magic to produce a basin of hot water.
Mixed Magic is a type of magic that usually requires two Magicians, or the assistance of magic items or magic circles to perform.
But for talents like Rudy and me who use Chantless Magic, it’s not that complicated.
One person can cast it using Chantless Magic.
Upon seeing the hot water, Lilia was surprised at first, then gently stroked my head.
Just then, there was a commotion downstairs.
Rudy was back.
“Sylphy, hurry, hurry…”
“Excuse me…”
He wasn’t alone; he had brought back a little boy around the same age.
Is this his friend?
The green-haired little boy politely greeted me.
Wow, looking closely, he’s an incredible bishounen.
Porcelain-white skin, ruby-like eyes, delicate features, green hair, and a pair of long ears.
He’s an Elf…
or as they’re called in this world, the Long-Ear Race.
He’ll definitely be a heartbreaker in the future.
Was Rudy turned gay by someone like this?
He has a very submissive aura.
Rudy must like this kind of little boy.
“Young Master Rudy, the hot water and towels are ready for you.”
“Thank you, Lilia.
Come on, Sylphy, let’s take a bath together.
Dry your clothes and stay at my house for a bit before going back.”
“I…
I’ll do it myself…”
“An opening!”
“Eek!
No…
don’t…
wah!”
With my ear pressed against Rudy’s door, I heard rustling sounds from inside, along with some indescribable screams.
Is Rudy actually doing something beastly to a little boy?
The moment Sylphy let out a tragic cry, I pushed the door open.
No matter what, you can’t force someone into that kind of thing.
The scene was a mess.
Rudy was sitting naked on the floor.
And the little boy in front of him?
No, it was a little girl, curled up on the floor and crying.
“What happened?”
This even alerted Paul.
“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t know…”
Rudy hurriedly apologized to Sylphy—that was the name, right?
“Alright, put your clothes on and get out.
I’ll help her.”
“Oh…”
The little girl was still squatting on the floor, crying uncontrollably.
“I’m sorry, Sylphy.
It’s our Rudeus’s fault.
He shouldn’t have treated you so forcefully.”
I gently stroked her hair.
Fortunately, she didn’t angrily swat my hand away.
Slowly, after she had vented her emotions, she lowered her head and tried to put on her clothes without a word.
“Wait, your clothes are still soaking wet.
You should take a bath here first.
We’re all girls, there’s nothing to be shy about.
I’ll help you dry your clothes.”
“Mm.”
Sylphy gave a small hum and looked up at me.
She really had a face that inspired protective instincts; no wonder Rudy liked this girl.
I took a towel, wiped her back, and washed her hair, just like an older sister taking care of a younger one.
“Thank you,” Sylphy whispered her thanks to me.
“You’re welcome.
You’re Rudy’s friend, which makes you a guest in our home.”
At the mention of Rudy, the little girl went silent again.
Her feelings toward Rudy must be very complicated right now—he’s both someone who helped her and someone who bullied her.
But I think it was definitely caused by some misunderstanding; they’ll probably make up soon.
After Sylphiette put on her dried clothes, she didn’t wait for the sky to clear.
Just as the rain stopped, she gave us a quick word of thanks and hurriedly fled our house.
I went over to Rudy’s side.
That guy was in a state of self-isolation again.
“Speak up, what exactly happened?”
“I-I didn’t know she was a girl, so I forcibly…
forcibly took off her clothes.”
Oh, so Rudy just misjudged Sylphy’s gender.
If it were me, I would have misjudged too.
At first, I didn’t know she was a girl either, mainly because her hair was so short and she was wearing boy’s clothes.
Speaking of boy’s clothes…
“Rudy, do you want to apologize to Sylphiette?”
“I do.
I don’t want to lose this friend.”
“Hehe, then you have to listen to me.
And after this, how about we wipe the slate clean regarding that time you hid Master Roxy’s panties?”
“What exactly are you going to do?”
Rudy looked a bit scared.
Well, I was wearing quite a mischievous smile right now.
???
The next day.
Rudy’s clothes were a bit small.
Is it because girls develop faster?
“Alright Rudy, come on out.”
“Don’t…”
“Didn’t we agree you were going to apologize to Sylphy?”
“But it didn’t have to be like this…”
Rudy’s voice carried a hint of a sob, as if he had suffered some great injustice.
“It’s just cross-dressing.
You’re so young right now, nobody will think you’re a pervert.”
“But there’s no need to cross-dress to apologize to Sylphy, right?”
“There isn’t.
It’s just a whim of mine.”
“You jerk!”
Rudy walked out with a look of shame and indignation.
He was currently wearing a dress I usually wear.
It was a bit large, but it looked quite fitting.
He had completely turned into a little loli with short light-brown hair.
“Let’s go.”
I pulled the bashful Rudy downstairs.
When Paul, Zenith, and the others downstairs saw him, they were instantly dumbfounded.