The Male Lead Is In Charge Of The Successor

“Argh……!!”

“Come on!”

“…….”

Gerald bit his lip as the voice refused to speak. His hands tightened on Raven’s shoulders. Gerald glanced at Bahidman’s back, who turned away with nothing more to say.

Gerald strode out of the room, leaving his son in the room. Raven, abandoned glanced at Gerald and Bahidman before hurrying after his father. Once they were out of the room, Bahidman sighed and looked at Eisel and Carl.

When he saw Carl’s back looking at Eisel, who had saved him without saying a word, he turned his head.

“Wait, would you like a cup of tea?”

“……Yes.”

Beorik nodded and followed Bahidman out of the room. Once they were departed, Ishmael dismissed his knights and stood behind Carl.

With great care, he placed his palm against Eisel’s pale cheek. Heat rose, and a chill sawped through the hot palm. Carl held his palm to Eisel’s cheek for a long time, warming it, and then she blushed shyly.

“You look like a prince on a white horse.”

Ishmael let out an unspoken shout at the back of Carl’s head as he stared at Eisel with sparkling eyes, but it was inaudible. Carl was already lost in his own world, staring at Eisel as if he were a prince.

“But Ishmael.”

“Huh?”

“You said that earlier, boyfriend? What exactly does that mean?”

What does it mean? Ishmael sighed, looking at Carl with innocent eyes as he asked the question. The strict Byron education forbids opposite sex education.

Ishmael’s small lips twitched as he looked at his friend. He was even more innocent and simple than he was, living in an imperial palace.

“Literally. It means lover.”

“Lover…….”

Carl repeated over and over again, like a baby learning from its mother for the first time, and then chuckled softly.

“I’ve never had a girlfriend before.”

“But, Carl. I’ve been thinking, and I think that’s what she meant when she said that.”

“Does that mean I’m getting married?”

Whether Ishmael thought about it or not, Carl’s imagination was already running wild.

But as he closed his eyes tightly and dreamed of a happy future, he felt a feverish shiver run up his spine. He buried his head in the bed.

“Carl!?”

Ishmael’s startled yell didn’t stop Carl from rolling over and falling asleep. Carl’s lips curled upwards.

***

“Ah, Father.”

Raven followed Gerald as he walked briskly, never looking back, his feet almost running. Anxious and nervous, Raven followed Gerald hoping that he would stop, but he never did.

When Raven’s breathing became ragged and his heavy feet finally stopped, Gerald stopped in front of her, as if he had been waiting. He looked back at him with cold eyes.

It was the coldest gaze I could have imagined looking at my own child. However, Raven breathed a sigh of relief and approached.

“Arbor…….”

“I never regretted having you, but not as much as I do today.”

“What……?”

Gerald’s voice was sharp as he cut off Raven’s helpless words. Gerald narrowed his brow as Raven stammered, unable to comprehend what he was saying.

“Pathetic, stupid bastard. It’s already terrible enough that you can’t see your own way, but now you’re blocking your father’s.”

“…….”

“I truly deplore your existence.”

Raven had been reprimanded countless times in her life, but this was the first time she heard it. Raven rolled her eyes and scratched his cheek with an awkward laugh.

“Ah, …… that’s correct, isn’t it?” “… My apologies…”

Fingers scratched his head and his cheeks shook violently. As his eyes darted between the floor and the sky, they then closed and reopened.

Gerald turned to look at Raven, pitying him as he hung his head, unable to answer his words. This was not the time for this, and it was imperative that he get back and fix this.

Quickening his pace, Gerald walked away from Raven, never looking back, not caring what kind of face his son left behind, hurt by his words. When Gerald left, Raven stood there, all alone.

***

When Eisel woke up, she saw a nameless boy sleeping next to him. Eisel stared at the ash-haired boy through blurry eyes and slowly sat up. She rolled her heavy head and looked around the room, tilting it slightly.

Where am I? Eisel lowered her gaze, remembering the time she’d fallen into the water and passed out. She wore dry clothes instead of wet ones.

“Ouch!”

Raising her arm to touch her hair, Eisel grimaced at the sharp pain. The arm scratched by Raven’s sword a moment ago was wrapped in bandages. Pressing his palm against his arm, Eisel stretched her crinkled brow and looked around the room before reaching for the boy.

Eisel gasped as she realized that the boy she’d saved was now sleeping soundly on the bed.

“But why are you here?”

Eisel thought about waking him up to ask, but gave up. He’d probably freak out, but let’s leave him alone. He’s just a baby.

Instead of waking the boy, Eisel climbed off the bed and grabbed a glass of water to soothe his pouty mouth.

“Huh? What’s up, are you up?”

Eisel’s cup was barely to her lips when the door burst open and she heard a chipper voice. Eisel’s gaze flicked to the side. It was another boy in the doorway.

“How are you? Are you feeling better?”

Eisel thought about shooting back at the boy who made half-assed comments, but she was tired and heavy, so she just nodded.

“Hmph. “

The boy snorted with interest, then turned to Eisel, his eyes twinkling.

“Eisel Letania, right?”

“Yes, but who are you?”

“Me? Ishmael.”

Ishmael stepped away from her, his face impassive. Ishmael rolled his eyes at her movement, this time at the ash-haired boy. The ash-haired boy opened his eyes just in time to see Ishmael and Eisel glance at each other through blurry eyes before pulling back the covers in anger.

“Why are you trying to hide? You were just sleeping next to me.”

Ishmael snatched the blanket away from the hiding boy and pulled him to his feet, then brought him right in front of Eisel.

“Now, come on, talk. You said you had something to tell me.”

“Hey, Ishmael……! Wait a minute……. It’s too sudden…….”

“Come on, we’re running out of time!”

Ishmael is in a hurry and the boy is shy. Eisel watched them interact, then sneaked up on them.

“Are you okay?”

“Uh, huh?”

“Your face is red. Do you have a fever?”

Eisel put her hand on the boy’s forehead to check the heat and shook her head.

“It’s really hot.”

“Oh, it’s just that…… has a cold, so it’s a little…….”

“Then you should be lying down. Why are you standing up?”

As Eisel approached, the stiff-faced boy fidgeted and closed his eyes tightly. Eisel gave him a worried look, thinking he was stuttering because he was sick, not shy.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if you fell into the water after something like that. Go ahead and lie down.”

“Uh, I’m fine……..”

“Hey, you should introduce yourself.”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

From behind the stammering boy, Ishmael jabbed him. Carl’s eyes widened in surprise, and Ishmael gave him a serious look to hurry up. Karl turned his gaze away from Ishmael and glanced at Eisel. He looked at Eisel, who still looked worried, and bit his lip in determination.

“Thanks for saving me today, Carl!”

“Uh, I’m Eisel.”

In response to the abrupt introduction, Eisel was a beat late. Carl beams at the sound of her name, as if he just accomplished something truly remarkable. Eisel tilted her head as he laughed. Just as she wondered what was so remarkable about it, Carl’s eyes lit up and he spoke up.

“How old are you by any chance?”.”

“Me? I’m eight.”

“Hmmmm…… then…….”

Carl, who smiled at Eisel’s answer, quickly wiped the expression off his face, and his brow furrowed.

What are you doing?

Rolling his eyes and calculating something, Carl nodded with determination.

“In about 12 years, then.”

“Twelve years then what?”

“What?”

Eisel’s innocent question made Carl grin innocently.

“Marriage!”

“……?”

Eisel blinked, dumbfounded.

“Fuhahaha!”

Ishmael’s laughter burst out cheerfully.