Into the Rose Garden Novel - Chapter 27.5 - Side story 2 : My Noble Resistance Against Taichi, the Rude, Illegal Occupier - By Lennox Elhime Bendiwind

The atmosphere, which had been so harmonious until the morning, subsided a little. Even though Mother was sad, the wicked Demon King seemed to enjoy his pain. He was truly a bad man. However, I was distracted by the soft feeling remaining on my lips and couldn’t concentrate.
After a quiet evening, everyone went to bed early due to fatigue. In the middle of the night, I woke up again needing to pee and fumbled along the wall, remembering that the villa’s bathroom was outside the room. Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I went to the bathroom and saw a light shining from the far end. I couldn’t see clearly, but it seemed to be Mother in his pajamas. I stood there blankly, and Mother was standing in front of his room, knocking.
“It’s me.”
The door opened slightly, but he wasn’t visible from my side. More light leaked out, and Mother, half-hidden by the door, said something. I don’t remember exactly, but it seemed to be about how he felt good making his legal wife come to an Alpha’s room like a concubine.
With a low, lewd, and utterly wicked laugh, a long arm reached out and wrapped around Mother’s waist. Mother was pulled in helplessly, his slight resistance futile. I was sleepy and didn’t understand what a concubine was, so after Mother entered his room, I returned to mine.
“Oh, right. I should keep an eye on him so he doesn’t torment mother…”
Sleep was just too strong to resist. In my dream, a weeping Mother, a Demon King crushing and tormenting him, and Suu pressing his lips against mine, mixed with something like rabbits, creating a chaotic mess.
It was not easy to protect someone without their knowledge. Especially for a noble with delicate pride like Mother, the very fact of being protected by someone else could be a problem. So, sometimes I stayed by his side. Like now.
“Jester is frowning.”
“It seems you’ve been rude.”
He, who had just been looking at documents, rose from his seat. Throwing his gaze at the documents until the very end, he quickly approached Jester before he could cry and picked him up from the crib. Then he placed him on the small baby table next to him and skillfully changed his diaper. I, smelling the inherent human scent, frowned and stepped back a few paces, but he didn’t even bat an eyelid.
Mother wasn’t home today. He had gone to a regular concert presentation as a member of the Royal Music Patronage Society. He would probably return late. Instead of Mother, the Demon King was home all day today.
After Jester was born, to prevent Mother, who stayed only at home, from feeling stifled, he often stayed home and took care of Jester instead. Of course, he also claimed to teach Eurea and me at the same time, but for me, it was just a nuisance. There was no reason to be with him unless it was for surveillance. I needed to understand him as much as possible to find his weaknesses, so I stayed by his side under the pretext of studying spelling.
Jester, who was always with Mother, seemed very satisfied with his touch and smiled brightly. The one who looked exactly like him also laughed foolishly. Soon after, Martha appeared and handed him a bottle.
“I have an urgent matter right now.”
“I told you before, don’t rely on me. Today, for once, I need some rest too.”
Saying that, Martha left, and he let out a short sigh, then picked up Jester and began to feed him milk. My generally quiet younger brother lay on the lap of the adult man who looked exactly like him, looking up at him and waving his small hands. Then the Demon King, like a very kind father, held his hands and shook them.
No matter how I thought about it, Jester seemed to be on the Demon King’s side. This was problematic. I already had Eurea as a rival, and if Jester also went over to his side, it would be too disadvantageous. I threw aside the drawing I was working on and stood up.
“Father, I want to feed him milk.”
“Really? Want to give it a try?”
At my suggestion, he brightened, sat me on the floor, and placed Jester on my lap. Jester, lying on my folded legs, frowned a little as if uncomfortable, but when I supported his head, he soon vigorously sucked on the bottle again. Even then, his eyes kept rolling to look at him. He, sitting at the table over there, looked at us with a pleased expression, then immersed himself in his documents.
My younger brother soon rolled his blue eyes and looked at me. He also looked at Eurea, who was drawing over there. He seemed very curious. After eating his fill, he no longer wanted the bottle, so when I called Father, he sat Jester upright and patted his back. Soon, an un-baby-like loud burp sounded. Eurea giggled from over there.
“What are you drawing, Eurea?”
“Guess.”
At his question, Eurea held up the drawing she had just been working on. Three brown circles and two yellow circles. And a few crooked black lines. I thought it was a new type of ghost clown mushroom. I had seen it in a field guide.
I secretly anticipated what kind of evaluation would come from his discerning eye, which had called my masterpiece, the golden lion, a “hairy potato,” so I kept my mouth shut. At least something like a rain-beaten, crumpled caterpillar would come out.
“This is me, this is Mom, and Jester, Lennox, and you.”
“Wow, that’s right!”
Gasp. Where is that! And why did he guess it right away!
Feeling unfairly treated, I grabbed my drawing notebook and a pencil. I could draw my family well too! With utmost care, and with the quick, deep strokes of a master, I quickly showed him the drawing.
“Lennox likes plants.”
“No! This is Father, this is Mother. These are my siblings!”
“Oh, really? I thought they were trees and withered flowers… I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize them well.”
Ah. What a wicked Demon King. He must be doing it on purpose! Mother guessed it right away.
Eurea, who came closer to look at my drawing, chattered gleefully.
“Mom once said I have a talent for drawing. But you don’t, big brother.”
Already disheartened, I was truly shocked by those words, feeling as if the sky had fallen. That couldn’t be true. Mother always looked at my drawings for a long time!
“Lie.”
“No. Ask Mom when he comes home.”
Eurea showed a wicked smile. I was engulfed in despair and looked around. Just then, the Demon King approached and patted my shoulder.
“You’re like me because of that.”
Was this also because of the Demon King? Was I talentless in art because of his curse flowing in my veins? What on earth did I possess? If I couldn’t even draw properly, I had no value as a cultured person. I would forever be a noble who drew hairy potatoes.
“Instead, aren’t you excellent in language and mathematics? That’s also a talent.”
“Re… really…?”
“Of course. Especially your mathematical ability, your mother doesn’t even have that. So don’t be disappointed just because you can’t draw well.”
I wanted to shout that I didn’t want to hear such words from him, but somehow, I couldn’t help but feel comforted.
Disappointed, I decided not to draw. Instead, I secretly wrote in my journal while looking at a picture book. Lying on my stomach, with my feet wiggling in the air, I diligently recorded his behavior today. Although there was a mat, rolling around on the floor was a special privilege I could only enjoy when he was around. Mother disliked lying on the floor.
After playing for a long time and even having a snack, drowsiness slowly crept over me. Jester was already sound asleep in a nearby crib, and Eurea, at some point, had fallen face down and wasn’t moving. Amidst the continuous rustling sound of turning pages, I could no longer hold the pencil and fell asleep.
In my sleep, I felt like I was floating in the air. And I smelled books and ink. In my dream, I was defeating drawing monsters with numbers, so I couldn’t identify where that familiar smell was coming from.
When I opened my eyes late in the evening, I was lying on my bed in my room. My clothes had even been changed into pajamas. Rubbing my eyes, I got up and saw that Eurea was not there. I went to the bathroom and then yawned as I left the room. The hallway was bright, so it didn’t seem to be late.
“Are you awake?”
I went to the study, where the family often gathered, and Mother was sitting on the sofa. Normally, I would have given a polite greeting, but I was too sleepy to do so now. I approached and hugged Mother. He smelled good.
“Mom. I love you. I missed you.”
Soon after, Mother’s laughter was heard.
“You’ve suddenly become a baby. I love you too, Lennox. I missed you too.”
Mother hugged me close and patted me, then asked, “Aren’t you hungry?” Thinking about it, I was hungry. When I nodded, Mother stood up. Mother took my hand and left the study. I followed barefoot, continuously rubbing my eyes. Soon, I came to my senses.
The place we arrived at was Martha’s small kitchen. This was also where he cooked for Mother. Eurea was already sitting at the small dining table attached to the kitchen. Jester was also visible in a baby basket opposite her.
“Lennox.”
He was wearing an apron and cooking. When Jester was still in Mother’s womb, he would make something every morning and give it to Mother. Sometimes he gave it to Eurea and me too, and honestly, it tasted good.
As I sat at the table, Mother soon took out plates and cups. While Mother took out a milk bottle and poured milk into my cup and Eurea’s cup, he placed egg dishes on our plates. The steaming yellow lumps looked very delicious.
“Mom. Spoon, please.”
“Here. Lennox too.”
“Thank you.”
Egg dishes and other stir-fried vegetables were also placed on Mother’s plate and his plate. I didn’t particularly like vegetables, but since I would be scolded if I didn’t eat a balanced meal, I reluctantly started by eating the carrots and green beans first.
“It smells plausible.”
“It’ll taste good too.”
Mother picked up her knife and fork.
I don’t know if other families were like this, but Mother and he sometimes enjoyed this commoner-like atmosphere. The Alpha cooked, and the Omega prepared the table.
I had seen it occasionally in picture books, but I already knew from Lord that it was rare in noble families. Perhaps Mother was lowering her dignity to match him, a man from the countryside. Regrettably, Mother loved his rustic cooking, so I didn’t interfere. Besides, this was the only table where I could sit in my pajamas with an unwashed face.
Mother cut a corner of the egg dish, put it in his mouth, and chewed. The Demon King waited for Mother’s reaction. I, who had already eaten three or four bites, thought the egg dish was delicious. Eurea, who was silently engrossed in eating, would probably agree. I thought Mother would say so too.
“Ugh!”
Suddenly, Mother grimaced and covered his mouth with a napkin. Then she quickly stood up and rushed out. Eurea and I were surprised, and the Demon King, even more surprised, followed Mother. The moment I got down from my chair, he turned back and said quickly.
“Watch your siblings.”
Worried about what was happening, Eurea and I froze. Eurea, who had just been shoveling egg dish into her mouth, quietly put down her spoon, and so did I.