Liam returns right before lunch. He slams the door open and returns valiantly with a roaring laugh, completely opposite to how he silently left this morning. His chest puffs up high, with a hand on his waist and the other holding a bag over his shoulder. Liam just stands at the entrance, posing like a superhero, awaiting due recognition. That is, if his body was not completely bloody, with scratches and bruises all over. The barberic scene freaks Alden out! He was, after all, a young master that was not used to seeing blood in his past life.
"Sylph, I hit the jackpot this time! They discovered a hostile troll's stronghold nearby the town and we suddenly got ourselves couple liters of their blood right here! This should be good for Al! Hahaha! You should have been there to see their stupid face when I broke the leader's neck! A wonderful battle!"
After recalling his monomyth, Liam finally looks around, only to find little Alden standing in a daze nearby, not knowing whether to cry or laugh with his dad. He quickly switches his looks to one of anxiety, dropping his bag and kneeling down to examine Alden's body.
"Ohh! Are you okay already walking around like that Al? Where is your mother or Jenny? Listen here, you just recover so please take it easy son, you should always be next to someone for now? Do you understand? Dad brings back some trolls blood, let's finish 20 litters in the next week, ok?"
"mah…mah…wah…"
With bloody hands touching all over his body, the shocked Alden was on the verge of tears before the maid Charles, notice the scene and quickly shield Alden, fending off Liam with a sorry look.
Sylvia and Jenny, too, quickly rushes out from the kitchen and tackled Liam after just glancing at the situation. It sounds fun and all, but their tackle was so intense that it probably double the number of injuries on Liam's body, explaining to Alden the reason behind Charles's sorry look earlier as he coughed, feeling a bit guilty.
It was a fun workout before lunch.
***
In the afternoon, Alden finally has a chance to take a look around the house. He is a bit of an expert for judging houses, just looking at his background as the owner of a couple of mansions in his previous life alone.
In terms of size, If you exclude the giant garden that is even bigger than the house, and the forest that is bigger than the garden, then the Drukas' manor is a humble size at best, but it is cozy.
Its appearance on the outside is a bit similar to the Neo kind of house in 1960' America with a simple but functional structure. With wood being the dominant constructing material, it will probably look a bit sad if that is all, but the house has plenty of windows and exists harmoniously with all the greenery from the surrounding environment, creating a proper beautiful 'mansion in the jungle' vibe. Vines that grew on the sides, pieces of mosses on the rooftop, and beautiful trees and flower pots being placed here and there. Alen like the house very much.
The ground floor has a big kitchen, a cozy living room with soft blankets everywhere, and a formal dining room that the members seem to rarely use. There is also a study, two restrooms that Alden didn't want to think about, and Charles' room.
If you follow the grand stair in front of the entrance, you can then access the second floor. With 9 rooms that are mostly storage, 2 guestrooms, another small study and Jenny's living quarter. Alden personally loves this floor best, mostly because it is near to where the most books in the manor are. Besides, Alden was already 20-year-old in his soul, and he was already itching for a little freedom after a day of constant doting from his overprotective parents. His own room will no doubt be on the second floor.
Finally, Alden stepped foot on the cozy master's floor. The structure itself is smaller than the other 2 floors and it only has 4 rooms, Alden's nursery, an attic/ reading room, a restroom, and the master bedroom. The attic is where Alden woke up for his third time and he blushed a little thinking about it. But currently, he was too busy facing another crisis.
Alden sighs and stiffly says his prepared line.
"Ahrm… I wil go to mah room now… I am slepy…"
"Oh, of course, son! Let me put you to bed, dad promise to play with Al the whole afternoon, so I will read for you, too."
"Ahrm… nevermyne… no, I wil go to the foress…"
The one who accompanied him throughout the whole tour is, the barbaric model, Liam.
After the bloody fiasco and having lunch, Liam expresses his wish to play with Alden in the afternoon and stick to him ever since. Because there is nothing really on the agenda, most of the time, Liam just showered Alden with love through his intense red eyes. Needless to say, it was really burdensome for Alden, who is clueless about how to treat his new father.
In the household, Sylvia is the one Alden was the most comfortable with as the warm, gentle mother figure. Alden was also not strange to the ideas of maids, so interacting with Jenny and Charles is also fine. But Liam!
Liam and his intense love freak Alden out! He was always somebody that need time to warm up with strangers, and especially so for the newly installed father figure, but Liam and his burning loves have no concept of space!
An incident is bound to occur, and it did.
Around 4 in the afternoon, in the Drukas' garden, a boy could be seen running away as fast as he could, with tears rolling down his face. Behind him, casually following closely with wide strides is a full-grown man, laughing heartily as though he was enjoying a fun activity.
The scene was, of course, noticed by the rest of the household and the pursuer was quickly taken care of.
It was, another fun workout before dinner.
***
The day then quickly passes by without any more ruckus but that night, only Alden and his mom get to sleep in the master bedroom.
Sylvia told Alden a bedtime story today as well. It was a pretty silly story about a friendship between a tree and a frog, with some absurd detail that makes Alden involuntary giggle stupidly a little, leaving Sylvia satisfied. After that, they talk a while before bedtime. It was just idle talk without any meaning, similar to a means of getting closer for two people and the atmosphere was warm. Until a sudden question came up.
"Al, I noticed today that you seem to avoid your dad, right? Can you tell me why?"
The sudden question made Alden uncomfortable, and woke him up from the drowsiness before bed.
"...No, I didnt."
"Hmmm, is this because dad shows up all bloody in front of you? Did dad scare you, Al?
"...No."
Alden hurriedly looked for a way out of this situation.
He didn't want to tell Sylvia that he felt weird around Liam because he was not used to being around a fatherly image yet. Even though he himself thinks that this reason is silly, he still can't help being awkward.
Alden was someone who used to act a lot in the past, the skill [Poker Face] isn't just acquired randomly, he could even treat a thief like a proper king if needed. But facing Liam's soft and warm smile always made Alden nervous without fail.
In the end, he chose the best tactic to avoid talking, constant denial.
"...I did not advoi dad."
Sylvia just nodded with a smile, then pull Alden in her embrace as she speak.
"Hmmm, ok I believe you, Al. But you know, dad also loves you very much, just like me! He shows his affection differently than other people but he is always thinking about you too. His rush to battle with the trolls was to acquire some of its blood for you in the first place, it has wonderful regenerative ability."
"..."
"Your dad might look intimidating but he is just like a teddy inside, that is why I love him, fufufu. So try to get along with him, ok? Dad would love that very very much, too and you can also talk with mom anytime you want. We are not going anywhere, we will wait for you Alden."
"... okei mohm."
Alden buried his face deep in the pillow, his face burning red. His mother soft encouragement and reassurance made Alden embarrass. He was also trying to hide his sad eyes from Sylvia as he thought of his other family left back on Earth.
Unaware of Alden's thoughts, Sylvia just let out a soft chuckle.
"Fufufu, let's sleep, mom's sorry for keeping you up till now. Good night Al."
***
The next morning, at breakfast, Alden toddles stupidly to his seat at the table and gets up with the help of Charles. He drowsily smiled as thanks.
"Thenk you Chares."
"Hahh… The young master is just too cute, he would probably be taken away at the first chance if he just smiled randomly like this. I should start learning some martial arts from Jenny."
Alden flinched inwardly at Charles's negative remark, waking up completely.
'She might be correct… This might not be a blessing after all…'
The first time Alden sees his own face in the bath, he almost wants to kidnap himself and flee. He was just that cute.
With beautiful silky brown hair that was a bit lighter than Liam's chocolate color, and big, ethereal light grey eyes from Sylvia. Coupled with his adorable baby face that has not yet matured and cute nose slope, Alden already looks like a real-life angel, radiating holiness and all that.
Although he was currently a bit malnourished, it was the aftermath of the curse, and it will be cured soon with all the food he is eating. There is no flaw in his beauty, and it will probably be called a weapon in the future, when he is fully mature.
'Tch, those two's genes are really…this beauty is wasted on a cursed baby like me. The gods probably pitied me with this look since I am too unfortunate.'
As Alden lamented about his dark fate, another piece of blood pudding was put on Alden's plate. He didn't even start eating his share yet! The culprit was, indeed, Liam.
"You should eat more trolls blood pudding, Al. Charles is right, I should probably teach you some self-defense as soon as possible. But you have to grow up well first. Although cooking it reduces the regenerative effect, trolls' blood is still the best for recuperation."
Liam looks at him as he cheerfully said, his eyes continuously radiating fatherly love. He had already returned to perfect health, not a single scratch and bruise left from yesterday. A truly monstrous healing speed, but Alden didn't want to point it out seeing everyone's normal reaction. Also, he was busy trying to dodge Liam's heavy love.
Being attacked first thing in the morning, Alden instinctively wants to look elsewhere, finding a place to shelter from his father's burning gaze. That was, until he notice his mother. She was sitting next to Alden and watching Alden and Liam's interaction with adoration and happiness while silently using her meal. Her gentle presence truly pains Alden and reminded him of the talk before bed last night along with his promise.
He sighed heavily in his mind and close his eyes to steel his resolve.
'I can do this! He is my father, I can't hide from him for the rest of my life anyway. What is there to be scared of, it is just love, Alden! Yeah, that's right, this is love! For love!!!'
The nervy Alden controls his baby posture to sit up as straight as he can. He then opens his eyes wide, staring straight at his father, eyes that are burning even harder than Liam's crimson ones. He then screams! What came out of his mouth next is a living traumatic experience.
"Yaaahhh, t-tad, I waht to learh sef-diffeeeent! Wahhh—"
In an instant, the room froze.
"..."
"..."
Everyone stopped at Alden's sudden scream in surprise, even Jenny, who was preparing breakfast in the kitchen rush to the scene.
Alden almost choked. He is only now noticed his unbelievably weird action, and amid the shyness, he subconsciously jumped down from the chair to hide under the table. His face and ears blazing red.
'Stupidddd, I must be around 20 now and still do embarrassing stuff like this. Arghhhh, why am I hiding under the tableeeeee!'
Time simply stopped.
It only started running again after Sylvia let out a laugh.
Her laugh was almost a signal for everyone as they, too, started laughing. Liam roared.
"That is the spirit! Ahem, I will teach you as you want, this father only practices the highest grade martial arts, so be ready! We'll start after breakfast!"
The mood in the room was unquestionably sky-high, until Sylvia dragged it straight down.
"That is impossible, darling, Al is still too weak. He might get hurt training too hard with you. I shall lead him to the forest after breakfast for a stroll, martial arts can wait."
"O-ohh, r-right, I got carried away. Thank you for reminding me, darling. Ahemhem, well, maybe after 20 liters of trolls blood… Al, I accept your sincere request, so you should get out from under the table now, hahaha."
Only then, did the shy Alden face pops up from under the table, his ears is still tainted red. He awkwardly climbs back to the chair and coughs.
"T-tank you, tad. Ahrm…I wil try ma bhest!"
"Alright, that the spirit! Hahaha!"
Alden's face starts to redden again as he resumes eating, laser focuses on finishing his trolls' blood pudding that tastes surprisingly creamy and pleasant. He shot a quick glance toward his mother, only to notice her still giggling while looking at him. Alden's face ripped red like a tomato.
That morning, the atmosphere in the Drukas household was warm.
For the first time after Alden's birth, they acted like a proper family of 5, and everyone was happy. Alden, too, was relieved that he had taken his first step closer to his dad, and gradually accept his intense love.
In the happy atmosphere, more than 3 years quickly passed in a flash. Alden is about to turn 6!