Just you know...

I sometimes wonder where Lulu has learned those words that cause misunderstanding.

Maybe I should start to properly discipline him with his words. I can't spoil and adore him forever you know...

But today I'll let it slide.

I nodded at Leonardo as I carried my little Lulu in my arms. The child's sharp eyes were still on Leonardo who was also observing Lulu. I raised my other hand to pat the child's head to grab his attention.

"Don't worry, that loud uncle will go away now," I said to Lulu who was now glancing at me. "My poor Lulu, because of a Merchant's loud mouth, the baby woke up, shall we go to sleep again?" I asked.

Lulu pouted his lips as he rested his cute little cheeks on my shoulder.

"Mama shouldn't let other boys to enter her room," Lulu mumbled as his eyes went back to Leonardo. Once again, the jewel in his forehead glowed. "Uncle Gabriel will nag you if he finds out and the white-haired unc---."

"White-haired....?" I asked

A memory of a handsome white-haired da-- person, kissing my hand with his lips suddenly entered my mind. I quickly shook my head when I felt that my cheeks burned red. Why am I even thinking about that?

Lulu became silent while staring at me.

"Hahaha."

My eyes went to Leonardo when I heard him laugh. Leonardo covered his lips as he tried to stop his laughter, but he failed. Instead, his laughter became louder which made Lulu and me frown.

"Why are you laughing?" I asked.

Leonardo glanced at me.

"Nothing, it's just amusing that Lulu actually acts like Gabriella," Leonardo told me. "If I am a stranger, I'll probably think that you are actually a mother and son duo."

"I wonder if Lulu is a Velasquez---"

THUG!

My eyes went wide when a bolt of lightning struck in Leonardo's direction, However, before the lightning hits on Leonardo, the Merchant immediately jumped in his reflexes.

Terror was written on my face while looking at Leonardo with my mouth gaped. I hugged my Little Lulu tightly while looking at Leonardo's petrified face.

W-what the heck?

A bolt of lightning...

"Hahaha. Did I just..." Leonardo mumbled with a pale face. "Did I just almost die?"

"Y-yes..." I mumbled stiffly. "I'm surprised that you actually dodged that..."

"Hearing that from you, I don't if I am just lucky or not..."

"Heaven must be punishing Uncle," I heard Lulu speak.

"P-probably..." I agreed, but my eyes immediately glanced at Lulu when I realized what he just said. "Lulu, where did you learn that?" I asked before glancing at the child.

Lulu didn't answer me, instead, he leaned his little face on my shoulder before wrapping both of his hands on my neck.

I glanced at Leonardo who was observing Lulu in my arms, it seemed like he quickly recovered from the lightning incident a while ago. The merchant took a deep sigh before fixing his wrinkled suit.

"Ahem, what a terrifying lightning," Leonardo cleared his throat. He fixed his eyeglasses as his mannerism before turning his eyes on me. "I think I should leave now," He told me. "But before that, I must tell you one more thing, Gabriella."

"What is it?" I asked Leonardo while patting Lulu's back.

Leonardo closed his hand as he climb to the rails of the veranda. The merchant look at the sky when the lightning and thunder started to disappear. "Come back to the banquet after making your son asleep."

A smirk appeared on his face.

"Something interesting happened in the banquet," Leonardo told me. "When the Duke announced the marriage between Gabriel and Lady Maria. The king requested an audience with them. Did you know what your brother did?"

G--Gabriel?

"Your brother asked the King to grant him the golden estate of the kingdom as his gift for his incoming marriage," Leonardo said with a chuckle. "Gabriel also asked if the king could give him one of his portraits to him."

WTF, Portrait?!

Lulu who groggily leaned on my shoulder also glanced at Leonardo.

"You should have seen the King's reaction when Gabriel told him that he'll treat it as treasure and display it in his treasure room. How shameless, we both know what happened to the posters of King Ian in Gabriel's hand."

"What the hell... happened?" I mumbled. I stared blankly at the rails before placing my other hand on my lips. "Gabriel... My little baby brother..."

I know that Gabriel is shameless, but please do not commit an act of treason with Ian's Portrait!

"Just where did he learn that?" I mumbled.

Oh, probably from me...

••••••••••••

"I didn't know that the heir of Marquiss Mikhail Antonio is such a... unique person," Ian dumbfoundedly mumbled while staring at Gabriel who has a smile on his face.

"U-unique... Indeed."

Ian, the king of the Ibanez kingdom, who had faced different kinds of people, couldn't hide his dumbfounded face when Gabriel, the lost heir of Antonio Mikhail, asked him a shameless request about gifting them golden estates and one of his portraits...

After the announcement of Gabriel's return and his engagement with Maria Eleonor, who also previously returned to her father, Ian just wanted to give them his greetings and ask about Gabriella.

However, he was caught off guard when Gabriel asked him this shameless question in front of Duke Evan, Maria Eleonor, and the other members of the Velasquez clan.

"Your Majesty, hand me the golden estate as your congratulatory gift for my incoming marriage with Duke Evan's daughter. Can I also have one of your portraits? I'll treat it as a treasure and display it in my treasure room."

The people who were listening were dumbfounded when Gabriel announced those words in front of him. It was a good thing that only a few people heard that shameless request.

There will be a loud fuss if this comes out to the nobles.

"Pffft, Indeed, how unique of you, Lord Gabriel," A voice of a giggling woman interrupted the awkwardness. "I didn't know that my future husband could make such a cute demand, but you shouldn't ask his highness in that manner."

Gabriel who had a stern look on his face blushed when Maria Eleonor said that. The woman pulled him closer to her as she whispered something in his ear.

"Don't be petty, Gab."

"I am not, I was just kidding," Gabriel mumbled.

"It was nice to see you once again, Lady Maria Eleonor," Ian conveyed as soon as he recover from his dumbfounded expression. "It's been 5 years since we last met, that wasn't a great departure, but... I am glad to see you well, you've changed dramatically."

Maria Eleonor glanced at the King with expressionless eyes.

"Yes, your highness, it's been a while," Maria Eleonor replied. "However, I wouldn't want to recall what happened 5 years ago, it would be better to not mention everything that happened in the past, your highness."

Ian paused as soon as he received that cold reply from Maria Eleonor. This is different from what he could remember about Maria in the past. A cold smile appeared on his face as he nodded his head.

The truth is he wanted Maria Eleonor to apologize for hurting his Queen 5 years ago, but he promised to the Duke that he'll pardon his daughter just for that one event.

That's right, what happened to the past shall be forgotten.

"I understand," Ian replied with a smile. "To change the topic, I would like to converse with your Unique betrothed," the king paused before looking at Gabriel. "Why do you want to have the golden estate?"

Gabriel made a surprised reaction on his face when Ian mentioned the golden estate. He playfully placed his hand on his mouth while staring at the King with wide eyes.

"Why do you... look surprised?" Ian asked.

Gabriel continued to act shocked which made Maria giggle secretly.

"I was surprised that His highness mentioned the Golden Estate..."

"but not my request about your portrait."

Yes, Gabriel is copying his sister's shameless reactions.

When he was younger, Gabriel realized that Gabriella's shameless reaction is effective when you want to make fun of someone without directly offending them, it is 100% effective if you want to act petty safely.

••••••••••

"That Uncwle is funny, he lwooks like Auwntie Gabriella," Yohan, the crown prince of the Ibanez kingdom was watching his father with his Uncle Evan on the side. "He must be her brother."

"Indeed, and he's marrying my daughter, Maria Eleonor."

"Daughter? Unclwe has another daughter and she's marrying Auwntie's brother?" Yohan questioned. "But Uncwle is also marrying Auwntie Gabriella. Unclwe's family tree sounds a little messy."

Evan closed his eyes as he patted Yohan's head.

"But it's owkay, I'll be part of Unclwe's family if your next daughter came out," Yohan mumbled as he stares at Evan. "So, marry Auntie immediately, you like her, don't you?"

Yohan remembered how Evan looked at Gabriella when he saw them in the garden. That's how his father looks at his mother queen whenever they spend time together. Yohan cannot be mistaken, his uncle does like Gabriella.

Like...

Evan became silent for a moment.

He didn't realize that his stoic face was turning slightly pink.

"Like..." Evan mumbled when he recalled Gabriella. "It's not impossible."

"If unclwe is slow, other people will come and propose to her," Yohan told to Evan when he heard what he said. "And Gabriella's child seemed to hate you and me, he's scary, is he going to become my brwother-in-law?"

"Young prince," Evan mumbled with his usual stiff tone. "You are aware that your father will send me to a faraway land for a mission. It will take me a long time to come back," Evan told to the child.

"I can't marry Gabriella."

Yohan's mouth gapped when he heard it.

"Then..." Yohan mumbled. "After Uncwle's mission, come back healthily, I'll give you a reward."

"Reward?" Evan asked.

The next words from the young prince made Evan lose his stern face with a surprised expression on his face.

"Come back immediately, Uncle Evan," Yohan told him with a serious face. "I'll ask my father king to release the order of a marriage decree between Uncle and Auntie Gabriella."

His wife shall be born.

••••••