The Asgard completed its sea mission and slowly sailed into the Schicksal Headquarters port. Kael stood on the bridge, looking at the familiar scene, a sense of relief, "Finally home," rising in his heart.
The mission was technically successful, but the process was far more "mentally exhausting" than expected.
The battleship docked, and the handover proceeded in an orderly fashion. As Kael stepped off the gangplank, before he could even take a breath of the familiar air of the headquarters, a silver-white "little cannonball" shrieked and rushed over.
"Uncle Kael!!!"
Kael instinctively crouched down, accurately catching the pouncing little Kiana.
The little one hugged his neck tightly, rubbing her soft little face against his neck, complaining in a milky voice, "Uncle Kael hasn't come to see Kiana for a long, long time! Bad!"
Kael's heart instantly softened, and the fatigue of the past few days seemed to be dispelled by this warm embrace.
He smiled, picked up the little one, and weighed her. "Hmm, a bit heavier. Have you been a good girl and listened to your mom?"
"Yes! Kiana is the best!" The little one nodded vigorously, her bright blue eyes sparkling, and then began chattering about the "big events" that happened while he was away, such as learning new words, breaking her dad's cup, and the little flowers she planted with her mom sprouting.
Kael listened patiently, his gaze gentle.
However, this scene was soon interrupted.
"Ki—a—na—!"
A voice full of "killing intent" came from the side. Theresa had arrived at the port at some point, hands on her hips, glaring indignantly at the little one still clinging to Kael and acting spoiled.
She was still wearing her ill-fitting research lab coat, clearly having run straight from the battleship.
"Get off Kael! He's exhausted!" Theresa tried to show her "mature and sensible" side, reaching out to pick Kiana up.
Kiana immediately hugged Kael's neck tightly, burying her little face, and loudly declared, "No! Sister Theresa is bad! I want Uncle to hug me!"
Theresa: "!!!" She felt her blood pressure rise instantly.
This little brat! How dare she call her bad! And hog her Kael!
Kael looked at Theresa, who was practically fuming, and couldn't help but chuckle, trying to mediate, "Alright, alright, Kiana is still young. Theresa, you must be tired too, go rest first..."
"I'm not tired!" Theresa immediately retorted, then also moved closer, grabbing Kael's other arm and hanging on him like a koala, then lifted her chin at Kiana, "Kael is mine too!"
Kael: "..." He was now holding a child in each arm, feeling like a mobile human ornament.
Kiana saw Theresa also hugging Kael and immediately became displeased, lightly kicking Theresa with her short legs, "Go away! Uncle is Kiana's!"
"No, he's not! I met Kael first!" Theresa glared back, not backing down, even though arguing with a child under one year old was a bit childish, she just couldn't help it!
"Mine!" "Mine!"
The two white-haired heads started arguing in front of Kael's chest. Although their language skills were not on the same level, the meaning of their scramble was clearly evident.
Kael, caught in the middle, felt his head ache, trying to break up the fight, "Stop arguing, stop arguing... I don't belong to anyone..."
"He's mine!" x2
Both retorted in unison, then continued glaring at each other.
Kael was completely helpless. He looked pleadingly at Cecilia and Siegfried, who were laughing and watching the show nearby.
Cecilia covered her mouth with a light laugh, stepped forward, and gently extended her hand to Kiana, "Alright, Kiana, Uncle Kael just got back and is very tired, let Uncle rest for a bit, Mommy will hold you, okay?"
Kiana looked at her mom, then at Kael, seeming a little hesitant.
Seeing this, Theresa immediately hugged Kael's arm triumphantly.
Kiana's little mouth drooped, and her blue eyes started to well up with tears again, on the verge of crying.
Kael immediately surrendered, gently patting Kiana's back to coax her, "Alright, alright, Uncle will hold you, Uncle isn't tired." He gave Cecilia a helpless glance, conveying "I'm fine" with his eyes.
Cecilia smiled, stepped back, and exchanged a "See, I told you so" look with Siegfried.
Theresa watched Kael hold Kiana even tighter, her heart bubbling with jealousy, but she couldn't really argue with a baby. She could only continue to hang on, pouting, staring at Kael with a resentful gaze.
Thus, a strange sight appeared at the port: the respected Captain of the Asgard, the powerful A-Rank Valkyrie Kael, holding a giggling baby in his arms, with a pouting S-Rank Valkyrie clinging to his arm, struggling to move towards the living quarters... In the evening, to celebrate Kael's successful mission, Cecilia prepared a small cake. Of course, Kael was the one who actually made it; Cecilia and Siegfried were only responsible for providing ingredients and... spectating.
When Kael came out with the exquisite strawberry cake, Kiana immediately waved her small spoon excitedly: "Cake! Kiana wants to eat!"
Theresa's eyes also lit up, but then she immediately cast a wary glance at Kiana.
Kael carefully cut a piece for everyone, including himself. He had just picked up his fork when Kiana opened her small mouth: "Ah—Uncle, feed me!"
Kael naturally cut a small piece from his own portion and carefully fed it to Kiana. The little one ate with a beaming smile, her mouth covered in cream.
Theresa watched this scene, her fork in her hand almost bending. She really wanted Kael to feed her too! But she was, after all, a "mature" S-Rank Valkyrie, and simply couldn't bring herself to ask.
She turned her grief and indignation into appetite, fiercely scooped a large piece of cake into her mouth, and then... it had no taste.
Kael noticed her expression, suddenly remembered something, got up, returned to the kitchen, and brought out a much smaller, green, individual cake, placing it in front of Theresa.
"Here, your special, bitter melon matcha mousse, low sugar," Kael said in a normal tone, as if it were just an afterthought.
Theresa stared at the unique cake, made specially for her, and froze for a moment. The sourness and gloom in her heart were instantly replaced by immense surprise and satisfaction! See! Kael really cares about me the most! Only I get a special treat!
She immediately picked up her spoon and took a bite. The refreshing bitterness with a sweet aftertaste was exactly her favorite flavor! She narrowed her eyes in happiness, triumphantly glancing at Kiana and the others who were eating ordinary strawberry cake.
Hmph! Little brat, so what if you get hugs from Kael? The special cake Kael made is only for me to eat! Theresa's mood instantly brightened, and she savored her exclusive delicacy in small bites, her tail almost wagging to the sky.
Kael looked at Theresa's easily satisfied expression, shook his head, but a hint of indulgent smile, which he himself hadn't noticed, played on his lips... It was Kiana's bedtime again. The little one still clung to Kael, insisting that he tell her a story.
With the experience from last time, Kael skillfully carried her to the children's room. Theresa naturally followed immediately, this time bringing her own small stool, sitting right next to Kael, adopting the posture of "I want to listen too."
Kael began to tell a story, this time about a space adventure. Kiana listened intently, but Theresa seemed a little distracted.
As she listened, Theresa's head began to nod, and finally, it tilted, gently resting on Kael's shoulder, emitting even, soft breaths—she had fallen asleep.
Kael's storytelling paused. He turned his head to look at Theresa, sleeping soundly on his shoulder. She looked very peaceful in her sleep, shedding her usual liveliness and boisterousness. Her long white eyelashes drooped, making her appear somewhat docile and... vulnerable? He could also smell a faint, sweet scent in her hair, mixed with the fresh aroma of bitter melon.
He slightly adjusted his posture to make her more comfortable, then continued to tell Kiana the story in a softer voice.
Kiana looked at Sister Theresa, sleeping on Uncle's shoulder, blinked her big eyes, seeming a little confused, but was soon drawn back into the story.
When the story was finished, Kiana also yawned and fell asleep. Cecilia gently picked up her daughter, giving Kael a grateful yet slightly teasing smile, silently mouthing "You worked hard."
Kael smiled helplessly, then carefully, trying not to wake Theresa, lifted her into his arms. Theresa was very light; she curled up in his embrace, unconsciously smacked her lips, mumbled a vague "Kael... mine..." and continued to sleep peacefully.
Kael carried her out of the Kaslana Family home and walked towards Theresa's residence. The moonlight shone on the two of them, casting long shadows.
He didn't see that in his arms, the "sleeping" Theresa's lips were secretly curving into a cunning and satisfied smile, a sign of a successful scheme.
Hunting time? No, for Theresa, sometimes appropriate "vulnerability" and "exclusive special treats" were a more advanced way to capture his heart.
After all, there's a long road ahead. She had all the time and patience to make Kael completely accustomed to her presence, until... he could no longer leave her.
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