Everyone enjoyed the meal that had been prepared, with Lucian paying particular attention to Rina, making sure she ate well.
"Brother, did you make this for me?" Rina asked, holding up the roasted fish on a stick. "It’s just how I like it. You even added less spice."
Lucian hummed in response and took the fish from her. "You can eat once I’ve separated the bones."
Rina nodded, enjoying her meal. "You should eat too."
"Lucian, you’d make a great father," Arthur commented. "The way you treat Rina is just like how a father would care for his daughter."
"She’s young, so she needs care," Lucian replied.
"This reminds me of how we used to take care of Erin," Nathaniel added. "Her three brothers and I. I wish she was still that same little girl."
"Don’t worry, you’ll get to take care of her daughter if you miss it too much," Rowan chimed in. "I’m sure my sister will have a daughter just as adorable as she is, and a son just as strong and impressive as their father, Aaron." Rowan glanced at Lucian. "Your experience with Rina will come in handy to help take care of your niece and nephew, so my sister can relax—especially since Aaron doesn’t seem like he has much experience with kids."
Lucian shot him a glare, and Rowan could feel the intensity of how much Lucian wanted to throttle him but was forced to hold back. In response, Rowan offered him a mocking smirk.
"Brother Aaron is good at handling kids too," Rina chimed in, breaking the invisible tension between Rowan and Lucian. "He’s been taking care of me for a few days, and I must say he’s as sweet and perfect as Brother Lucian," she added, looking at Erin. "Lady Erin, don’t worry—Brother Aaron can take care of kids."
Erin didn’t know how to respond to the talk about children. One family member, Lucian, was against her marrying Aaron, while another, Rina, was reassuring her about her kids would be taken care of well. Everything felt like a mess.
Rowan offered a sweet smile to Rina. "Young lady, I must say, you are the smartest and truly know how to comfort people with the right words," he said, clearly pleased. Lucian could do nothing to his own sister, and that made Rowan even happier. "Once Erin marries Aaron, I can entrust you to her without a worry."
"Sure, Brother Rowan," Rina replied.
"Such a sweet young lady. If you were an adult, I’d choose to marry you," Rowan joked.
Rina, delighted by the compliment, exclaimed, "Really?"
"Unlike others, I know exactly what kind of woman I want," Rowan said, casting a glance at the quiet Lucian before turning back to Rina. "But sadly, you’re too young." frёeωebɳovel.com
"How about you wait for me to grow up?" Rina asked with a smile.
"By that time, I’d be an old man you wouldn’t even look at. I’m already in my mid-twenties," Rowan replied.
"I’m sure you’ll be just as handsome when you’re old, Brother Rowan," Rina added cheerfully.
"Little lady, you’re going to be a great flirt when you grow up—unlike my sister, who doesn’t know flirting at all," Rowan teased, looking at Erin. "I should’ve taught you better."
Erin glared at him. "I’m fine as I am."
Rina giggled. "Even my brother doesn’t know how to flirt. Maybe you could teach him too."
Lucian, unimpressed, stuffed a piece of meat into Rina’s mouth. "Talk less and eat more."
Rina obediently quieted and began to chew, while Erin watched Lucian, thinking, He may not know how to flirt, but he sure knows how to intimidate a woman with his stubborn, useless demands.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Devil's Betrothed