The Alchemists

Aleksis was about to change clothes because her body felt sticky from the wine spilled by the mean girl, but then she changed her mind when she heard Lauriel say that 'Nicolae is still single'.

Instantly, her mind was filled with mischief and she wanted to give lessons to the annoying girls who had thought she was a servant. Aleksis knew clearly that the girls were all after Nicolae and she wanted to show them that they all first had to get past her and get her approval if they wanted to approach the heir of the Medici family.

She swiftly walked across the garden and climbed the stage. She then headed towards Nicolae, who still was carrying her children. Smiling broadly, she waved to the guests present.

"As Uncle Lauriel's goddaughter, I am always here if you want fast access to be his future daughter-in-law," Aleksis said playfully, winking at Lauriel and ignoring Nicolae who seemed even more annoyed by what she said.

Lauriel could not hide his joy after seeing Aleksis acting cheerfully and not awkwardly in front of Nicolae. Ahh ... if only Aleksis could also fell in love with his son, he would be very happy. In fact, if his biological son and his goddaughter could get married, he would be the happiest father in the world.

Kit and the other female guests who had thought Aleksis was a servant could not hide their surprise in their faces. They did not know that the host had a goddaughter.

Kit began to feel a little awkward because she had been very arrogant toward Aleksis. The feeling intensified when Lauriel embraced Aleksis warmly and praised the girl in front of all the guests.

"I want to thank Aleksis who had worked so hard to help me prepare this festive event." Lauriel kissed his goddaughter's cheek while giving her a grateful look. "I'm just an old man and am not good at throwing parties. Without Aleksis here, you all would only be eating pizza and drinking wine from the barrels."

"Ah, Uncle Rory ... I'm just here to help," Aleksis said while throwing a glance at the girls from earlier. She was glad to see Kit's face turn pale.

Nicolae just gave the two a look of disbelief. He thought his father was really yearning for him, so he went to a great length to throw a party for him. But from what he saw, Lauriel was still the same as ever and loved Aleksis more than his own son. The two people always looked like they had their own world.

Nicolae did not know why he could not be jealous of Aleksis. It was his father, he should have paid more attention to him rather than Aleksis.

But somehow he could not feel envy for her. 

Suddenly, a naughty idea crossed Nicolae's mind after remembering what Aleksis uttered just now. Anyone who wanted to approach him and become his girlfriend must pass through Aleksis first, huh? 

He walked calmly to Aleksis' side and took the microphone from her hand, then with a big smile he spoke, "Aleksis is right, I believe in her taste. I'm not good at looking for girlfriends. So I will agree with whoever she will recommend. So please go to Aleksis to get her seal of approval."

Aleksis and Lauriel both looked at the young man who was standing casually beside them. Aleksis was just playing around, but Nicolae actually turned her joke into something serious.

"Eh, I was just joking, stupid," whispered Aleksis to him while pinching his arm.

"Mother ... don't pinch Uncle!" Vega scolded her all of a sudden. "It will hurt!"

"Wow, you guys are defending Uncle Nic, huh?" Aleksis replied. "Come on, who will you choose? Me or Uncle Nic?"

Without hesitation, the two children in Nicolae's arms answered in unison, "Uncle Nic."

"Eh? What do you mean?" asked Aleksis, who immediately regretted asking her children to take sides.

"Uncle Nic has a good voice. He sounds like a star," said Altair with sparkling eyes.

Ugh ... Even though Nicolae still couldn't understand what Altair meant, Aleksis could. It was the first time Altair had found anyone with a voice like stars, that was why he had been fascinated by Nicolae.

Aleksis had a voice like strawberry, Vega had a voice like cherry and Grandpa Rory's was like a berry. While Grandpa Caspar had a voice like a rabbit and Grandma Finland had a voice like a rose. Nic's voice is a new and fascinating thing to Altair.

"Uncle Nic is also very strong, he can carry us easily," Vega added. She looked very comfortable in Nicolae's arms.

"You guys ..." Aleksis was speechless.

Nicolae, too, appeared dumbfounded. He didn't expect Altair and Vega to like him that much.

"Wow ... you guys are so cute. If so, why don't you become my children, huh?" he asked the two kids solemnly. He looked at Altair and Vega alternately.

Both of them smiled very broadly and eagerly nodded.

Gosh ...

Aleksis did not expect this to happen. She just casually went on stage to tease the female guests who all seemed to have taken a liking to Nicolae.

For some reason though, she now felt like she had instead lost face by going up like this. Nicolae smiled broadly and gave Aleksis a meaningful look.

"Okay, then. You have chosen Uncle Nic over your Mom. You will stay here with him tonight. I'll go back to Stuttgart alone."

The female guests who had been surprised by the fact that Aleksis was Lauriel's goddaughter immediately turned to her with hostility. They could see the loving gaze from the young man, whom they were all trying to chase. His eyes were only focused on the mother of the two children in his arms.

They knew that there might be no war at all because Aleksis had already won and was even holding her trophy, even though she might not be aware of it.

Even Lauriel realized that his efforts to invite some other girls to Nicolae's birthday party were all in vain. His son still loved Aleksis wholeheartedly.

What should I do? he asked himself sadly.

He was very fond of Aleksis and could not possibly ask her to distance herself from them so that Nicolae wouldn't continue feeling hurt. Nicolae already did it. He went away to escape from his love for Aleksis and he had been gone for almost 6 years.

But now that he had returned, he, unfortunately, still couldn't let go of his feelings for Aleksis. In fact, it seemed to be even stronger, since he had also fallen in love with Altair and Vega.

If only Aleksis was willing to reciprocate Nicolae's feelings, everything would be alright...