Chapter 176: Side Story 7

Side Story 7 – Blake has become smaller (7)

TL: Zimming

I decided to make sujebi* today.

*Sujebi is a Korean traditional soup consisting of dough flakes roughly torn by hand, with various vegetables.

I made one extra cauldron, and it was brought here. There is also a furnace, now I can cook with the cauldron.

“Blake, I’m going to put this dough on top of it. Can you do it?”

“Yes, I can do it!”

Blake seems to be happier, but I allowed him to help me cook because it’s not good to treat him as a child too much.

But because the fire is dangerous, he could help me with easier things.

“Hehehe.”

Blake was so excited that he ripped off the dough.

He didn’t do a good job, the size was a mess.

But I’m more happy to see Blake’s like this.

I patted Blake’s head.

“Blake, good job.”

“I did a good job?”

Blake’s eyes twinkled.

“Yes, very good.”

“That’s right, Your Highness, you’re so brilliant!”

“You’re so skillfull.”

Melissa and Terry made a fuss and complimented him.

Hans and Chelsea are taking a video of Blake. They were smiling and focused like parents who were filming kindergarten shows.

Tenstheon couldn’t come because of work, but in fact, he’d rather be with Blake than anyone else.

So I was going to show the video to Tenstheon.

“Wow, are you done already? Now I’m going to put it in the soup.”

I put Blake’s dough into the broth.

The sujebi I boiled in a cauldron has been completed.

It would be delicious to sit around the cauldron and eat it on the floor, but then my Blake might catch a cold.

Me and Blake went into the dining room.

“It’s hot, so be careful.”

“Yes! Ah hot!”

As soon as he put the sujebi on his mouth, he was surprised and let it out again. I was surprised too.

“That’s why I said to be careful.”

I scooped the sujebi with a spoon and blew it.

“Here, ah—“

When I gave him sujebi, which was a little bit cooled, he hesitated a little bit. But soon opened his mouth.

“Dwelicious!”

He smiled broadly as soon as he ate sujebi.

“Really?”

“Yes! It’s mowe dwelicious because Anthia made it!” (Yes! It’s more delicious because Ancia made it!)

“No, it’s delicious because Blake made it.”

I poked his plump cheek lightly.

“Hehe.”

Blake smiled innocently.

Ah, I became energized just by looking at his smile.

No matter how much I think about it, my Blake is the cutest in the world. Small or big, he’s the same.

I smiled happily and fed Blake the sujebi.

I thought the piece of sujebi seemed too big for Blake, but fortunately it fit his mouth perfectly.

How can he eat so well? Just looking at him eating makes me feel full.

“Anthia eat too.”

“Yes.”

“Wife, eat a lot.”

“Alright.”

I started eating with a big smile.

I was about to have dessert after finishing my meal, but Melissa rushed inside.

“Melissa, what’s the matter?”

“His Majesty is here.”

“What?”

Blake and I looked at each other in surprise.

***

Me and Blake hurried outside.

“Father…”

“Youw Majesty…”

Tenstheon indeed came.

“Ancia, is everything all right?”

“Yes, but what brings you here?”

“I want to take a break after a long time.”

He looked at Blake while saying so.

Tenstheon has never been on vacation or travel since he was crowned emperor. Resting is an excuse and he’s worried about Blake.

“Bla…”

“……”

Tenstheon and Blake looked at each other in the eye. But before Tenstheon started to talk to him, Blake looked at the ground and avoided his gaze.

It was more awkward than usual.

Then Tenstheon lifted Blake up.

Good job, father! You did a great job!

I was about to shout “Father, nice shot!” as Tenstheon tapped Blake’s stomach.

“You have a big belly.”

“……”

Oh my god, I feel like he’ll be upset because he worked so hard to make abs since he was young.

I’ve been teasing Blake lately, but I’ve never said anything about his stomach.

It was something that shouldn’t be said. As soon as Tenstheon started the conversation, Blake cut him off.

“You must’ve a lot of meals…”

“Let go! Let go!”

Tenstheon tried to continue asking if he had eaten, but of course he couldn’t do it properly.

Blake struggled, Tenstheon was surprised and put him down.

It seems that the relationship between the two has become further apart than it was seven years ago, or eight years ago.

***

Tenstheon seemed to have done his job in a hurry for Blake before coming to the villa.

He has been working nonstop since he was crowned. I’m sure he made a huge decision.

Therefore, I expected that this incident could lead to a change between their relationship.

However, the reality was not as great as I thought.

“Wife, this is good. Try it.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Ancia, try this,”

“Yes, father.”

He came to the villa from the palace, but there was no dialogue between Blake and Tenstheon.

Even during mealtime, they only talked to me, and didn’t communicate with each other.

When the meal time was over, Tenstheon was stuck in the library to work.

Recently, Blake was in charge of some political affairs. But since he suddenly couldn’t work, Tenstheon had more work to do than usual.

“Blake, why don’t you bring your father some refreshments?”

If Blake gives the tea to him, Tenstheon will love it. But he said,

“Me? I don’t want to…”

He’s a very friendly person, but sometimes he’s surprisingly cold.

Anyway, Blake was on my side all day. He did not want to visit nor talk to Tenstheon first.

Far from showing interest in Tenstheon, rather…

“How long will His Majesty be hewe? Awen’t Siw Collin busy alone?” (How long will His Majesty be here? Aren’t Sir Collin busy working alone?)

He seemed to secretly hope that Tenstheon would leave. He’s not usually outspoken, but he didn’t hide his feelings because he became a child.

“Blake, you don’t like being with father?”

“Yes, I spend less time with my wife.”

“We’re together all the time except for mealtime.”

“I want it to be jwust the two of us.” (I want it to be just the two of us.)

He came towards me and hugged me. I gave him a big hug as well.

I wanted to be with Blake too. However, knowing about their relationship, I couldn’t stay still. I had to come up with something to help them.

***

“Blake, I’ll be back.”

“I’m cwoming with you.”

Blake clung to me when I said I’d go to the capital.

“Anthia, it’s dwangerous alone.” (Ancia it’s dangerous alone.)

What is he talking about?

I decided to go out of the villa for a while to give time for Blake and Tenstheon.

“I need to go back to the capital. You stay with father for a while.”

“……”

Blake was sullen and lowered his head. I don’t know if it’s because I’m away or because he doesn’t like being with father.

“I’m only going out for one night.”

“Hngg.”

I rubbed his plump cheeks and looked at Tensteon.

“Father, I’ll be back.”

“Be careful.”

***

When Ancia left, there was an awkward atmosphere between Blake and Tenstheon.

Breaking the silence, Edon says,

“Your Highness, do you want to go with me?”

“Yes!”

Blake nodded as if he had waited.

Edon, who had been with him since childhood, was much more comfortable than Tenstheon.

“Do you want me to carry you?”

“No.”

“Then give me your hand.”

“No, I can walk alone.”

“But it’s still dangerous. If you fall, Her Highness will be worried.”

“Okay.”

Blake nodded and held Edon’s hand. It seemed that if a stranger saw it, they would think that Edon is Blake’s father, not Tenstheon.

“Your Majesty, we will serve His Highness.”

Edon spoke politely, and Tenstheon gave Blake a big hug.

“Uwaa!”

Blake, who was being hugged tightly by Tenstheon shouted. Tenstheon said,

“I’ll go with you.”