Qiong Xing understood that Katarina and the others truly cared for them, but he felt that there was not much they could give in return.

Even when he asked, they would simply say they did it because they wanted to, which left him at a loss.

"That is not true. If anything, we are the ones receiving more. That smile of Katarina’s only appeared after you all came. Truly, thank you."

He ended up being thanked instead.

Well, as long as they were happy, that was enough, Qiong Xing thought, brushing it off as he glanced around at the suddenly quiet surroundings.

"Is something wrong?"

"...That old man is being creepy."

Hm? Creepy?

"...It seems that lecture was not enough. Do you agree?"

"I-it was enough! It was enough, so— guh!"

Well, that was what he got for saying something unnecessary.

Qiong Xing silently offered a prayer for Narka as he was grabbed by the collar and dragged away.

"You really are a mysterious person, Qiong Xing."

Qiong Xing did not recall doing anything that would warrant being called mysterious.

"I have never seen Mr. Sarin treat anyone other than Lady Katarina so kindly."

"...He has been like that with me from the beginning though?"

At first, Sarin had approached him with a somewhat suspicious smile, but after that, it had simply become the usual gentle one.

"That makes it even more impressive. The moment we met, he told me, ’Disqualified!’"

"Disqualified?"

For what? Had he been testing something?

"I did not understand it either, but I suppose there was something I lacked in Mr. Sarin’s eyes. Since then, I have made sure to train every single day without fail."

Training without even knowing the reason made Qiong Xing think that Rohen himself was rather remarkable.

Rohen seemed quick-witted, but at times he approached things with brute force.

That was probably why he got along with Narka, though it made Qiong Xing a little concerned.

"Well, if that is what led to who you are now, then that is good."

"Yes, I am grateful. The two of them used to train me often, but even now, I do not feel like I could ever surpass them."

Qiong Xing found himself wondering if it was really appropriate to call those two Grandpa and Grandma.

...Well, it was probably fine.

...

"...Grandma."

"I am telling you, I was against it!"

There was no need to say it so forcefully.

Qiong Xing had not even said anything yet.

"Lian, even I cannot do that."

"Mama, no?"

The way Lian tilted her head innocently was so adorable that it made Qiong Xing want to hug her.

It was cute, but as a man, there were things Qiong Xing simply could not concede.

"Grandma said it is cute. So Mama too."

"Ummm..."

In Lian’s small outstretched hand was a cute red ribbon.

As Qiong Xing had requested, Katarina had chosen various girly clothes and hair accessories for Lian and Yue, but for some reason, Lian was now offering part of them to Qiong Xing as well.

As much as he wanted to grant his child’s wish, there were still things he could not give in to.

"If Lian wears it, you will look even cuter. So you can keep Mama’s share, alright?"

"No! I want to match with Mama!"

"...!"

Cute. It was cute, but...

He imagined himself wearing a ribbon on his head.

"...That is not happening."

"Is that so? I think it would suit you."

Before he knew it, Sergei had come up behind him and was peering at what he was holding.

"No, I am a man. There is no way it would suit me. More importantly, I do not even understand the point of wearing it."

Why would he, a man, need to wear something as cute as a ribbon?

"It is for your daughter, is it not? You would be granting your daughter’s cute request. There is nothing strange about that."

No, no, no. That was not right at all.

"It is not strange, but it is strange. Of course I want to grant my daughter’s wish, but there are things I can and cannot do."

He refused to be talked into it.

"It is something you can do, is it not? Just putting on a ribbon."

"...Then why does the Prime Minister not wear it instead?"

He said it half out of spite, but Sergei simply laughed and refused.

"Your daughter is asking you, not anyone else. It would not mean anything if I wore it, would it?"

It was a perfectly reasonable argument, which only made it more frustrating.

Qiong Xing glared at him, but Sergei remained completely unfazed.

"Mama, together, no?"

It was not that he disliked it.

Matching with his daughter would normally make him happy, but this was too much. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Would it not be fine to match with Grandma instead?"

"Ah, I already bought one for myself. Here."

When he looked over, he saw that Katarina had skillfully braided her hair, weaving in a matching red ribbon just like Lian’s.

He should have realized.

There was no way Katarina would not buy matching items with Lian.

There was no escape.

At a loss, Qiong Xing let his gaze wander in search of help, only to meet Sarin’s smiling face.

Help me.

Qiong Xing pleaded with his eyes.

However...

"I would very much like to see it."

He was betrayed without hesitation.

"Even so, that would be a bit too much— guh!"

Narka who had tried to come to his rescue was instantly taken down by Sarin.

Qiong Xing regretted not helping him earlier.

"Rohen! What do you think!?"

Calling out for help as if to his last hope, Rohen glanced at the fallen Narka, his face stiffening, then looked at Qiong Xing with a sympathetic expression.

"...I do think it would suit you, Qiong Xing, but... um... yes. Well... since the color is that, maybe you could try a different color..."

That was likely the best help Rohen could offer.