He didn't immediately agree. Instead, he extended his pinky finger, a gentle yet solemn smile on his face: "'Forever' is too far, big brother might not be that amazing. But, how about we make a pinky promise? As long as Sirin needs big brother, big brother will try his best to always, always stay by Sirin's side, protect Sirin, and not let anyone bully her. Big brother will definitely keep this promise."
His answer wasn't a vague "forever," but a concrete and firm "companionship and protection."
Sirin looked at his eyes, filled with tenderness and seriousness, then at his extended pinky finger, seemingly understanding the weight of this promise.
She hesitated for a moment, then also extended her own small, somewhat cold pinky finger, carefully hooking it with Kael's.
"Pinky promise..." she whispered.
"Hang, a hundred years, no changing," Kael said with a smile, completing this childish yet solemn ritual.
Sirin looked at their intertwined fingers. Although she didn't get the answer "forever," Kael's solemn attitude and the concrete promise made her feel even more at ease.
She nodded gently and rested her head on Kael's shoulder.
However, this cozy tranquility was completely shattered in the evening... Evening.
Kael had just finished telling Sirin a bedtime story, lulling her into a daze, when a familiar force slammed against the dorm door.
No need to guess, it must be Theresa coming to demand an explanation.
Kael reluctantly went to open the door and, as expected, saw Theresa standing aggressively at the entrance, holding a... bitter gourd pillow?
"Kael! You must explain to me today..." Theresa had just started speaking when another clear, cheerful voice came from behind her.
"Uncle Kael!"
Siegfried walked over, holding a giggling Kiana, a brilliant smile on his face that screamed "I'm finally free!" He directly tucked the little one into Kael's arms: "Cecilia went on an urgent mission, and I'm too clumsy to take care of a child. I trust you the most! Watch out, Kael!"
After saying that, he patted Kael's shoulder, then, without waiting for Kael to react, he slipped away.
Kiana skillfully wrapped her arms around Kael's neck, happily rubbing her face against his: "Uncle! Kiana wants to sleep with Uncle tonight!"
Theresa watched this scene, so angry she almost crushed the bitter gourd pillow in her hand! One little imp wasn't enough, now another! Just as she was about to erupt, an even more unsettling voice rang out.
"Oh my? It's quite lively here."
Bishop Otto, with his characteristic languid and playful tone, appeared at the end of the corridor with Kallen Kaslana, slowly walking towards them.
Otto's gaze swept over Kael, who was holding Kiana at the door, the pouting Theresa, and Sirin, who was peeking her small head out from the bedroom door with a wary expression. A meaningful smile played on his lips: "It seems Captain Kael is quite popular."
Kallen stood behind Otto, looking at Kael, who was surrounded by children, with a complex gaze, containing nostalgia, sadness, and a hint of imperceptible relief.
Kael felt like his head was about to explode - no, four heads! He held Kiana, blocking the doorway, looking at the bizarre "lineup" before him: a furiously jealous Theresa, a curiously peeking Kiana, a scared and wary Sirin at the bedroom door, and Bishop Otto watching the show from a distance with a complex-looking Kallen... Theresa, seeing her good grandma, immediately lost half her momentum, but still glared unwillingly at Kiana in Kael's arms and Sirin at the bedroom door.
Kiana, seeing Otto and Kallen, blinked her big eyes curiously: "There's a pretty silver-haired auntie?"
Sirin, upon seeing Otto, immediately shrank back into the bedroom, leaving only a crack in the door.
Otto chuckled, stepped forward, ignored Theresa's murderous glare, and very naturally said to Kael: "Kallen and I were just taking a walk and heard it was very lively here, so we came to take a look. Captain Kael, won't you invite us in for a sit?"
Kael: "..." He just wanted to close the door and pretend he wasn't home.
But that was clearly impossible.
He could only steel himself, step aside, and say: "Bishop, Miss Kallen, please come in."
And so, Kael's not-so-spacious dorm instantly became crowded.
Theresa sat on the sofa, clutching her bitter gourd pillow, her eyes slowly dissecting Kael.
Kiana squirmed in Kael's arms, pointing at the bedroom door where Sirin was hiding: "Uncle, why won't that purple-haired big sister come out to play?"
Kallen sat quietly on a single armchair, her gaze mostly on Kael, with an indescribable complex emotion.
Otto, on the other hand, made himself at home, leisurely surveying the room's decor. His gaze finally landed on the half-finished puzzle Sirin had been working on earlier, on the coffee table. He picked it up with interest and examined it.
Kael felt like a rare animal being observed.
He placed Kiana on the sofa and wanted to go to the bedroom to check on Sirin, but Theresa grabbed his arm.
"Kael! You're not allowed to go! Explain yourself first!" Theresa hissed, lowering her voice.
"Theresa, don't make a fuss, Sirin is scared..." Kael had a splitting headache.
"She's scared? I'm scared too! You've been completely divided up!" Theresa retorted stubbornly.
Just then, the bedroom door was gently pushed open a crack, and Sirin's timid voice came out: "...Big brother..."
Everyone's eyes instantly focused on her.
Sirin, being stared at by so many eyes, was about to shrink back again, but seeing Kael being held by Theresa, she mustered her courage and said in a soft but clear voice: "...Big brother... you promised... you'd do the puzzle with me tonight..."
Otto chuckled at her words, putting down the puzzle in his hand, his tone clearly teasing: "It seems Captain Kael's schedule is very full. He has to take care of the little one," she glanced at Kiana, "and appease the big one," her gaze swept over Theresa, "and also fulfill his promise to his 'sister.'"
Her emphasis fell on the words "sister," and she meaningfully glanced at Kallen, then looked towards Sirin's direction.
Kallen's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
And Kael felt his temples throbbing.
He now wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. The most urgent task was to soothe the most unsettled Sirin.
He broke free from Theresa's hand, walked to the bedroom door, knelt down, and softly said to Sirin: "Okay, big brother promised you. We'll do the puzzle now."
Then he turned around and gave the "guests" in the living room, who had various expressions, a nearly exhausted, pleading smile: "Um... Bishop, Miss Kallen, Theresa, Kiana... it's getting late, how about... everyone go back and rest first? Another day... another day I'll..."
Before he could finish, Kiana piped up: "No! Kiana wants Uncle to tell her a story!"
Theresa snorted, hugging her pillow and not moving.
Otto just smiled at him, clearly having no intention of leaving.
Although Kallen didn't speak, she also showed no signs of getting up.
Kael: "..."
Oh no! This is going to be a disaster!
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