Funina, please let me steal your heart!

"I'm sorry..."

Alechino put his finger on her lips: "No need to apologize, curiosity is a child's nature."

Luna's face flushed, and the touch against her lips was unique and soft.

But she looked away again, thinking: It seems that no matter what time, she will only regard me as a child...

I have obviously grown up a lot compared to the beginning.

"Um, 'Father' is 'The King', right?"

Alechino moved her hand away: "Yes. As for the next 'king', I am very optimistic about Lini."

Linney is indeed a good fit.

Have the ability and be able to lead other children.

He was born to lead others. Luna nodded in approval.

Her "father" was the current "king", so could she be the "princess"? ——This thought flashed through her mind, but she obviously couldn't ask it out loud.

Instead, there is another problem.

"So am I considered a 'princess'?"

After all, he is the king's child.

Alechino said with interest: "You are the first child who would ask such a question in such a long time. You can think so, but don't forget one thing."

"If you're not careful, even the 'princess' will die." She pressed her fingertips on Luna's neck.

Thump, thump...Alechino could feel the beating of her heart through the blood flow.

Jump very fast.

"Are you scared?" she asked.

Luna shook her head.

“I just feel happy…”

"Happy?"

This answer was beyond Alechino's expectations.

Luna blushed and said, "I like the feeling of being touched by my 'father', so my heart beats fast..."

"Hmm..." Alechino groaned.

Would she find this a little strange? Luna watched Alechino's reaction.

Alechino seemed to be thinking about something. In her peripheral vision, her hand on her neck stopped moving. Luna pursed her lips slightly, afraid that she would take her hand back.

"Indeed, you have never been afraid of me since the first time you met me."

"There will be tension, anxiety, temptation, and hesitation..."

But there is no fear.

Alechino hooked her fingertips, twisted Luna's golden hair and slowly let it flow down.

"Luna, what do you think is a real 'home'?"

A real home? Luna thought about it.

"Home with 'father'."

"...Is that so? But I don't think so. You are old enough to know well what constitutes our Hearth House."

A person who has nowhere to go.

Not only the children, but also herself.

"I will eliminate the unreasonable, establish new rules, sit on the throne, and become your 'father'. This is what I do."

"Luna, if your eyes were sharp enough and perceptive enough, you would be able to see through me and realize the similarities and differences between me and you."

"Then you will understand that what you think of as home is still not really a home."

Luna said softly: "You think so, but for me, where you are, 'Father' is home."

Alechino was silent for a moment, brushing back Luna's bangs with her fingers.

"Is this your answer?"

"Well, that's why I can't become 'King', right?"

Alechino said softly: "A 'king' needs two things, one is 'concept', the other is 'power'. You have your own thoughts on the concept of home;"

"You also have enough potential to become stronger and gain power. You are the best child, Luna. Even Linny and Linnet can't compare to you."

The best, no doubt about it.

"You have the qualities to become a 'king', there is no doubt about that."

"But what really prevents you from sitting on the throne is something lurking in your heart."

Luna touched her chest.

"Hidden in my heart?"

"Yes. It allows you not to be bound by anything. The throne is also a shackle for you. You will only follow this thing hidden in your heart and make your own choices along its path..."

"....I don't quite understand." Luna said frankly.

Instead, it seemed as if "father" understood her better than she did herself.

Alechino gave a very faint smile.

"'Father', do you think this is bad?"

"No, I recognize everyone who knows their fate but still makes a choice and faces its truth. I hope you can become such a person, Luna."

Alechino was silent for a while, then said: "Of course, to do anything you have to pay an equal or unequal price."

"Don't forget the rules of Hearth House, Luna."

Luna nodded slowly.

"Very good. So you seem to want to attack me by surprise?"

Sneak attack!? Luna said hurriedly: "No, I just want to touch your hair."

"This can also be called a sneak attack, but unfortunately your stealth skills are still lacking. Do you know where the shortcoming is?" Alechino asked.

"The aura has leaked." Luna whispered.

“Why leak it?”

"I have no idea."

She had clearly tried her best to conceal her presence and her presence.

"The reason is actually very simple - you 'unsheathed' it too early."

"Unsheathed?"

Alechino's hand gently stroked Luna's neck, and her lips slightly opened: "If you really want to conceal your aura, the most important thing is not the technique, but awareness."

"When you are not close to your prey, you should not pay attention to it or care about it. The instinct of the creature will make it alert to every sight and every smell that disturbs the air."

"Erase the image of your prey from your mind and treat it as if it does not exist."

Her fingertips slid across the skin.

Then he bent his fingertips and pressed his nails on Luna's neck.

"Then strike the moment you get close."

Luna thought for a moment, "Does that mean you want to erase your own sense of existence, and also erase the other person's existence in your eyes...?"

"You catch on quickly."

Luna blushed and said, "I'm afraid I can't do it..."

She kept looking at Alecino. How could she erase Alecino's image from her eyes? Luna felt that this was extremely difficult.

Alechino responded calmly: "That's it."

"Ah."

Luna gently held Arlecino's fingers.

"'Father's' nails are so long." She said curiously, gently scratching Alechino's fingers with her round and beautiful nails.

Alechino did nothing but looked at her quietly, letting her play with her fingers.

"Luna."

"Ok?"

"You said you wanted to see the northern lights in winter."

"Well! After all, 'Father' you said it was beautiful....Will you take me there?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Luna immediately added another sentence.

"Forget it, 'Father', you don't have to take me with you."

Alechino: “...............”

"I would rather go with you, 'Father', not be carried... that is... shoulder to shoulder."

Not being led, but taking steps together.

The only ones who will be taken away are the children.

Alechino did not respond to her, but just put his hand on her head and touched it gently.

"I look forward to your growth."

........................

"Luna, wake up, it's time for breakfast."

Her shoulders were shaken, and Luna regained consciousness.

In a daze, she saw a familiar face.

Chihiro, who was dressed the same as usual, was standing beside the bed, bending over and grabbing her shoulders.

"Chiori..."

"Are you awake? Hurry up and get up."

As soon as she finished speaking, Qianzhi saw Luna stretch out her hands, put her arms around her neck and pulled her gently.

The next second, Qianzhi felt the soft scent and fragrant warmth enveloping her. She was held in the bed by Luna.

"I had a dream about her."

“...........Then?” Qianzhi frowned.

"Then I don't know why I dreamed about Chiori again."

Qianzhi's brows relaxed and she chuckled, "Now that you're awake, do you regret it?"

"Hmm."

Feeling that Luna's breathing became slower, Chizhi turned her head and looked.

Fell asleep again.

She couldn't help but grab Luna's cheek and pull it, "I told you to get up, it's almost noon."

"Wow-Nana, Chiori is bullying me!"

"Huh? Are you a kid?!"

Navia pushed the door open: "Lulu, what's wrong with you!? Wait, Qianzhi, what are you doing? Why are you lying on Lulu?"

Qianzhi had a headache and said, "Ah, it's so noisy..."

145: Clorinde, why are you in her bed?

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