After Otto's casual announcement that Kiana—now Bianca Ataegina—had amnesia and needed to hide her identity, the scene descended into chaos and sorrow.
Siegfried was so enraged he almost drew his Divine Key, Shamash, on the spot, while Cecilia comforted her husband, her gaze unable to leave her golden-haired daughter, who nestled beside Kael with a blank expression.
In this heavy atmosphere, Otto's gaze drifted lightly to Kael, and in her unique tone, as if discussing the weather, she said, "Then, until Bianca recovers her memory or the external threat is removed, her daily care and guardianship will temporarily be entrusted to you, Captain Kael."
Kael: "...Me? Are you serious?"
He pointed at his nose, his face full of disbelief.
He already had Sirin, who was extremely dependent on him and needed careful nurturing, and he also had to 'rescue' Theresa from being buried under documents from time to time.
Now, he had to add a little Bianca, who had amnesia, conspicuous golden hair, and a sensitive identity?
Otto raised an eyebrow, her tone carrying an undeniable authority: "What, Captain Kael, do you see a problem? You are meticulous, patient, and strong enough to ensure her safety. Bianca also seems to only show closeness to you right now. I wouldn't trust anyone else."
She paused, adding with a hint of meaning, "Or are you willing to see this poor child, in an unfamiliar environment, without even one person she can rely on?"
Kael looked at Bianca, who was clutching his clothes, looking up with anxious and somewhat hopeful golden eyes, then at Siegfried and Cecilia, who were pale with anger but couldn't refute. He could only swallow all his helplessness and protest, turning it into a long sigh.
"...Yes, Your Excellency. I will take good care of her."
Thus, Kael's dormitory officially upgraded from a "single residence" to a "temporary kindergarten," with residents including: one mentally and physically exhausted Captain Kael, one vigilant and clingy purple-haired "pufferfish" Sirin, and one newly added amnesiac golden-haired "goose" Bianca.
It must be said that while Bianca had amnesia, some instincts seemed to remain.
She wasn't as extremely sensitive and timid as Sirin due to trauma; instead, she possessed a straightforwardness unique to the Kaslana Family, slightly clumsy yet endearing.
However, her dependence on Kael was almost innate; wherever Kael went, she followed, like a duckling that had just hatched and imprinted on the first creature it saw as its mother.
Moreover, Kael soon discovered a "new pleasure"—Bianca's golden, shimmering hair, which had become so due to "treatment side effects," felt surprisingly good to the touch!
Soft, smooth, and gleaming with a healthy luster in the sun, it felt like the finest silk, almost addictive.
That afternoon, Kael sat on the dormitory sofa, handling some documents he had brought back, while Bianca sat quietly beside him, engrossed in a picture book.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft halo over her golden hair.
Kael's hands itched, and he couldn't resist reaching out to gently ruffle her head.
"Mmm..." Bianca felt the gentle touch on her head and comfortably narrowed her eyes, like a kitten being petted, even unconsciously rubbing her head against Kael's palm.
Kael couldn't help but smile and ruffled her hair twice more.
Yes, petting golden hair was indeed quite satisfying.
However, this warm scene instantly provoked Sirin, who was quietly doing a jigsaw puzzle on the carpet nearby.
Sirin watched Kael's hand on the golden-haired girl's head, saw the girl's look of enjoyment, and then saw the gentle smile on Kael's face. A strong sense of territorial invasion immediately surged within her!
A flicker of darkness crossed her golden eyes, her small mouth tightened, and the puzzle piece in her hand creaked under her grip.
She abruptly stood up, walked to the sofa, and without a word, squeezed herself between Kael and Bianca, then extended her small head and forcefully, with a hint of petulance, nudged Kael's hand, which was still on Bianca's head.
Kael froze for a moment, looking down at Sirin, who had suddenly squeezed in.
Her cheeks were puffed out, her purple hair a little messy, and her golden eyes stared intently at him, filled with accusations of "me too" and "don't touch her."
"Sirin?" Kael was both amused and a little heartbroken.
He, of course, understood the child's feelings; she simply lacked a sense of security.
He obediently withdrew his hand from Bianca's head and gently placed it on Sirin's purple hair, ruffling it with the same tenderness: "What's wrong? Did you finish your puzzle?"
Sirin felt the warmth of Kael's palm, and the grievance and jealousy in her heart finally dissipated somewhat, but she still clung tightly to Kael, using her body to separate him and Bianca, as if declaring that this was her exclusive spot.
Bianca, suddenly pushed aside, blinked a little blankly, looked at Kael, then at the wary Sirin, seemingly not quite understanding what had happened.
But she didn't get angry; she just moved over a bit, making room for Sirin, then continued to look down at her picture book, though her gaze occasionally darted towards Kael's hand as he stroked Sirin's hair.
Kael looked at the two little heads, one purple and one gold, beside him, feeling like an owner who had two cats of different breeds and personalities, both extremely clingy and prone to jealousy.
He smiled helplessly, and could only use both hands, one stroking Sirin's purple hair, and the other occasionally patting Bianca's golden hair, trying to maintain a delicate balance.
And this scene of "left and right embraces" was witnessed by Theresa, who had finally finished part of her documents and dragged her tired body to Kael, seeking a "recharge"!
Theresa stood at the doorway, looking at the two annoying little girls on either side of Kael, especially Kiana—no, Bianca—who was also monopolizing Kael's attention, while she, his "official" best friend who had known Kael for over a decade, could only struggle miserably with documents!
A huge sense of grievance and imbalance instantly overwhelmed Theresa's rationality.
She threw the document bag in her hand to the ground, rushed over in a few steps, and, to Kael's astonished gaze, grabbed his arm, buried her face in his shoulder, and loudly accused him in a tearful voice:
"It's bad enough that Sirin depends on you! Now even Ki... Bianca is joining in! I depend on you too! Kael! Do you know how scary those documents are! They're going to eat me! I need comfort too! I need recharging! You can't just spoil them!"
Kael: "..."
He felt like he was about to be drowned.
On his left was Theresa, clutching his arm tightly and radiating resentment; on his right was Sirin, vigilantly staring at Theresa while still rubbing her head against his palm; and next to them was Bianca, blinking her big blue eyes, seemingly wanting to join in but not knowing how... Kael took a long, deep breath, and slowly exhaled.
His hanging heart finally died.
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