A few days after the celebration, the MorningStar palace finally grew quiet again.
No more loud voices.
No more endless guests.
Just silence… and peace.
Lucien lay in his cradle, staring at the ceiling.
Again.
I've been staring at this same ceiling for days now…
His tiny fingers moved slightly.
At this rate, I might go insane before I grow teeth.
"Lucien?"
His thoughts paused.
His mother leaned over him, her dark hair falling gently forward.
"You're awake again?" she asked, smiling softly.
Lucien blinked at her.
She laughed quietly. "You really don't sleep much, do you?"
I would sleep… if I wasn't stuck in tutorial mode.
She carefully picked him up, holding him close.
"You're going to exhaust yourself like this," she murmured.
From the side, his father spoke calmly,
"He's a baby. He'll sleep eventually."
Wow. Such confidence.
His mother glanced at him. "You're very relaxed about this."
"I am," he replied simply.
Then, after a pause—
"…Though he does stare a lot."
Lucien froze.
Excuse me?
"He's observing," his father continued, stepping closer. "Not reacting. Just… watching."
Lucien immediately relaxed his face.
Blank.
Innocent.
His mother gently tapped his nose.
"You're imagining things," she said with a soft laugh. "He's just quiet."
Lucien blinked again.
"…See?" she added.
His father stared at Lucien for a moment longer.
Then—
"…Maybe," he said.
Lucien mentally wiped sweat off his forehead.
That was close. Way too close.
His mother adjusted him slightly.
"Anyway," she said, "even if he's quiet, he's still our son."
His father nodded.
"…That's enough."
Lucien paused.
…Okay, that was unexpectedly wholesome.
For a moment, the room felt warm.
Calm.
And then—
The door BURST open.
"WHERE IS HE?!"
Lucien nearly jumped.
WHAT—
A tall man rushed in—
Then suddenly SHRANK mid-step, landing lightly like nothing happened.
Lucien stared.
No. I refuse to process that.
Standing there, grinning like a child who just found candy, was Sullivan.
"Ah! There he is!" Sullivan beamed.
Lucien's mother stood quickly.
"Lord Sullivan—please don't shout…"
"Sorry!" he said instantly.
Then—he whispered loudly,
"WHERE is the baby?"
Lucien: …This is worse.
His father pinched the bridge of his nose.
"…He's right there."
"Oh!" Sullivan leaned forward—
Then suddenly grew taller again.
Then smaller.
Then leaned sideways to get a better look.
Lucien blinked slowly.
Is this man stable?
Sullivan gasped.
"He's adorable!"
Before anyone could react—
He scooped Lucien up.
Lucien froze.
…I've been kidnapped.
"He's so calm!" Sullivan said, gently rocking him. "Why isn't he crying? Am I not scary enough?"
Lucien stared at him.
Should I cry? Would that help?
He considered it.
Then decided—
No. Too much effort.
Sullivan poked his cheek.
"No reaction? Not even a tiny scream?"
Lucien continued staring.
"…Did he just judge me?" Sullivan whispered.
His mother laughed softly. "He's been like this since birth."
"Since birth?!" Sullivan gasped dramatically.
Then he turned to Lucien.
"Are you secretly an old man?"
Lucien: …Excuse me?
For a brief second—
Lucien forgot to act like a baby.
His expression changed.
Just slightly.
Sullivan paused.
Lucien froze.
…Oh no.
But then—
Sullivan burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! I like this one!"
Lucien mentally collapsed.
I almost got exposed because of THAT question?!
Meanwhile—
Copy available.
Lucien's thoughts shifted.
So… I can copy from him.
He looked at Sullivan again.
Tempting…
But then—
Sullivan suddenly leaned closer.
Too close.
Lucien's instincts screamed.
Yeah… no.
He backed off mentally.
Not worth the risk.
Sullivan tilted his head again.
"Hmm… interesting little guy."
His father spoke from the side,
"You seem entertained."
"Oh, very!" Sullivan grinned. "He's got personality!"
Lucien: I literally did nothing.
After a while, Sullivan gently handed him back.
"Take good care of him," he said cheerfully.
"We will," his mother replied.
Sullivan stretched—
Then SHRANK again slightly as he walked toward the door.
"I'll visit again!" he said happily.
Lucien: Please don't.
And just like that—
He was gone.
Silence returned.
Lucien lay back in his mother's arms.
"…That was a lot," she said softly.
"…Yes," his father agreed.
Lucien stared at the ceiling again.
This world… is full of weird people.
His tiny fingers curled slightly.
Then—
A faint smile appeared.
I kind of like it.