Mama Kael—or rather, Arthur, the name given to him by his mother because she wanted him to grow into a strong warrior—didn't waste any time feeding him.
As for why his father hadn't been mentioned until now, Arthur didn't even know the man.
He hadn't seen or even heard much about the man.
At first, he assumed he was the son of a scumbag, but the words of his grandmother when he first arrived in this world made that seem unlikely.
He didn't think his father was dead either, since his mother often said, "You look so much like your father," though her tone was always reluctant, and she often expressed how much she wished his father was with them.
All in all, it showed his father wasn't a bastard, but something was keeping him away from his family.
Arthur couldn't help but wonder what could possibly be more important than family.
As someone who deeply valued blood relationships—probably because he had none in his previous life aside from his grandmother—Arthur couldn't form a good impression of this so-called father of his.
Especially when his absence clearly made Mama Arthur sad every single time!
Arthur felt full and let go of his mother's breast, much to her disapproval.
"There you go again, pulling away after just a few minutes. Don't you like Mama's milk?" she said with a pout, her voice laced with sadness.
Arthur mentally rolled his eyes.
Maybe it was because he was her first child, but this woman loved a little too much.
Not that he could say he hated it—at least, not for now.
'If I didn't have my wits about me, you'd probably want to feed me milk until I got fat, wouldn't you?'
Arthur felt certain that was his mother's true intention.
Feeling sleepy after the feeding, Arthur didn't bother lamenting his helpless baby body anymore—it was a complaint he'd made countless times in his mind.
He was about to give in to sleep when his mother's next words caught his attention.
"Hmm, I think I can finally take you out now, right?"
Arthur's sleepy eyes trembled.
To be honest, since his birth, he hadn't seen much beyond his mother's room and his own.
He didn't even know what their house looked like, though it had to be massive considering how large his room was.
Hearing his mother's words excited him. His curiosity about this world was endless, and now, the chance to explore it seemed within reach.
Well, almost.
"Seems like you're sleepy, baby. It's okay; I can always take you out later," she said sweetly, looking down at him with fondness as she stroked his small head.
Arthur felt his baby body betray him as the comforting warmth of her embrace and gentle pats shattered his resolve.
'Curse this damned baby body!' he thought bitterly as sleep overtook him.
******
Unfortunately, for the next five days, Mama Arthur said nothing more about taking him out, much to his disappointment.
Though it was tempting to make a fuss about it—perfectly reasonable behavior for an unreasonable baby—he couldn't bring himself to do it.
And so, he remained the well-mannered young master of the Avalon family.
But the situation changed when Mama Arthur suddenly burst into his room five days later, excitement radiating from her as she held a set of clothes in her hands.
Mama Arthur was usually the picture of composure, so Arthur couldn't help but wonder what could cause such a reaction.
Only one thing came to mind.
His father.
Sure enough—
"My baby! Daddy is coming today! Are you excited? Are you excited?"
If Arthur could speak, he'd have replied with a flat "I couldn't care less."
Still, there was something about the news that did lift his spirits.
"We need to get you dressed, baby. You're meeting your father for the first time, after all! And though you're always cute, clothes make the man, don't they?"
'I'm still a baby, Mama. What's manly about this body?' Arthur thought dryly.
Despite his inner sarcasm, the prospect of finally getting a chance to see the outside world filled him with anticipation.
Mira, noticing the subtle change in her son's mood, assumed her excitement had rubbed off on him.
She didn't call any maids to assist her.
Instead, she bathed Arthur herself, her hands careful and loving, before doing the same for herself and dressing them both.
This wasn't her first time doing it.
Though Arthur sometimes felt his mother loved him a little too much—perhaps because he had the mind of a young adult in a baby's body—it seemed more like she was trying to actively embrace her role as his mother.
Arthur, though he wouldn't admit it out loud, found it rather nice and didn't mind at all.
"You really look so much like your father, Arthur. You've only inherited a bit of my eyes after I carried you for so long. Where's the justice?" Mira said with a playful pout as she held him up in front of the mirror.
Arthur had heard nearly everyone he'd encountered so far mention how much he resembled his father.
From his grandmother, whom he barely saw once a week, to the maids and even his personal attendant—it was always the same. "You look just like the Master."
The "Master" was clearly his father.
Arthur sighed internally.
If his father really looked like him, he must be an extremely handsome man…
Arthur stared at his reflection in the mirror.
His small body was dressed in a pristine white outfit, accentuating his soft features.
His hair was a full head of silvery white, and his eyes—a unique greyish-blue—were the only trace of his mother in his appearance.
His skin was pale, so much so that he seemed fragile at first glance.
But Arthur knew better; despite his appearance, he hadn't felt weak since his reincarnation. Strangely, he hadn't even felt as much as a cold or heat stroke at any time.
Mira, on the other hand, had a head full of inky black hair and striking blue eyes. She looked young, no older than 28, and was undeniably beautiful, with fair skin and a dignified presence.
Arthur couldn't help but think his father must have been incredibly lucky to marry such a woman.
Just as Arthur was about to continue observing himself in the mirror, there was a knock at the door.