Seeing the blonde man staring at his Maitea in disbelief, the master chuckled faintly as he said:" ah, little Ma say hello to his majesty".
'Huh?... how did he know?!!'
At that moment, Jennings was covered in dust, wearing simple ordinary clothes and hiding his face under the robes' hood, let alone he did not utter a single word, so how did this man recognize him even though they never met?
However, all these thoughts jumped out of his head when Maitea peeked from behind Bernard with her curious big round eyes saying: "Hello, I am Maitea ".
For an instant, Jennings's knees went soft, he supported his body on the wall as he covered his face in shock.
' How can someone be this lovely!!!!!!!!'
Proudly, Bernard said in a loud voice:" you see!! My baby sister is the brightest star in this universe, the goddess of beauty and cuteness ".
Jennings, with all his might, fought the urge to squeeze that fluff ball to his heart content, luckily, the master's warm voice snapped him to his sense.
" Okay, that is enough. You two go wash up first, I will put out the dinner for you ".
After having a relaxing bath, Jennings went down the stairs with a wide smile of satisfaction on his face, he just had a fierce battle with Bernard to decide who is using the bathroom first, obviously, he won fair and square.
Though it only was rock-paper-scissor game, he still won!
As he walked to the dining room, Jennings heard Maiteas' spoiled voice asking:" master, who is that shiny mister".
' shiny mister?...is that me?'
The master answered:" he is Bernard's friend, also the Emperor of Sitia ".
Maitea:" Emperor ?"
Master: "yes, an Emperor ".
Maitea:" is that why he shines?".
The master smiled serenely as he said:" I am not sure of that, why don't you ask him directly? He has been standing outside for a while now".
Being pointed at, Jennings flinched and hesitated whether to go in or not, but ended up walking inside embarrassed.
' I am an adult and a parent, why would I do such a childish act as eavesdropping!!!!!'
As Jennings cursed himself, Maitea ran out of the room saying:" I will go with brother Ba".
Now that she is avoiding him, Jennings felt an ache in his heart, he at least wanted to stare at this goddess of cuteness for a little longer.
The master gestured for the man to sit at the prepared table, he said:" I was wondering who Bernard was talking to at the forest, but I never expected that he would bring your grace with him".
' you heard us from there?!!! Is that why Bernard was trying desperately to shut me up?!!'
The master grinned as he continued:" I am glad that you trust my disciple but it is still quite risky for an Emperor to wander around defenceless, leaving behind his people and the sublime tour ceremony ".
' am I being scolded? He is scolding me, right? I mean his voice and face are as warm as my mother's embrace that I can't even tell if he is reprimanding me, but....I feel guilty now '
Jennings lowered his head and sighed:"...my apologies, I should have been more responsible ".
As he served food in Jennings plate, the master said soothing:" ah, since you already did the deed, you may as well take it as a time off. But once you return back, your grace should work harder".
' why am I being treated like a child?!! Wait, despite his appearance he is at least a few hundreds of years old. Does that make me look like a toddler in his eyes?'
Jennings said respectfully:" I will sincerely follow your advice ".
Seeing him act all obedient, the master subconsciously patted the Emperors' head saying out of habit:" you got it, boy".
Jennings:"....".
'....wow, now I am a forty years old boy'
At that time, Bernard finally finished his bath and arrived at the dining room with drenched hair. The master sighed at Bernard's appearance, he served food to the man before pulling the towel around his neck and covering his head:" dry your hair properly, the weather is cold at night".
'So the vigorous general likes to be treated like a kid...'
As the three of them chatted for a while, Maitea slowly entered the room like a scared rabbit, gently pulling on her master's shirt saying: "master, it's bedtime I am sleepy".
"Ah, master you should go, it's fine I will clean the table " said Bernard.
The master lifted the little girl to his arms saying with a relaxed tone:" then I will count on you, and his majesty may sleep in Yoon's room since he is not here".
When the master left the room with Maitea in his arms, Jennings turned to Bernard saying in a solemn tone: "your sister is a real piece of art".
Bernard brushed his hair back, confidently saying:" of course she is ".
Jennings paused before asking:" by the way, who is Yoon?".
Bernard answered nonchalantly:" he is master's second disciple, also my junior martial brother".
Jennings:" is he perhaps....dead?".
Bernard sneered:" Nah, I really wish he would, the bastard just went to perform his duty".
'.....duty?'
******
When morning came, Bernard was the last to wake up, he went down the stairs like a lifeless corpse died of hunger, when he entered the room, he was greeted by the scene of Jennings staring at his little sister while she was eating her baby breakfast.
Bernard barged in, and sat between the two of them, he said irritated: "don't look at her for too long, you will dirty her".
Jennings clicked his tongue saying:" don't you have work to do?".
Bernard snapped off it, he turned to Maitea asking:" now that we mention it, where is master?".
Maitea answered, putting the spoon at her lips:" he went to the market, they said there was a Marchant selling talismans without permission ".
Bernard:" it's suspicious that he did not take you with him".
Maitea: "he told me to stay and protect the shiny mister from falling in troubles and getting killed ".
Jennings laughed dryly:" ah, dear Maitea. I still have your brother with me, so it's fine".
Maitea responded blankly: "but brother Ba is the troubles ".
Bernard:"....."
Jennings:"..."
After a moment of silence, the two men glanced at each other then silently admitted in their hearts.
' fair enough, we may start killing each other for real...'