[BL]The Hero and his Party Won't Let Me Go-Chapter 165: Ch : Charm the Kids - Part 1

While Shuu was sleeping in his room, the imperial palace was in an uproar. All the maids and servants were looking at Prince Caelis and Rin and waiting for them to do something.

But the kids were simply looking at Lady Canarie with tense expressions on their faces.

"Hello, kids. I am Canarie, but you can call me Mother if you like. If not, then you can also call me Lady... or whatever else. I am here to spend some time with you and get to know you better."

Lady Canarie extended her hand toward the kids as a peace offering, but both Caelis and Rin ignored her.

Not only that, but Caelis made sure to step back and drag Rin back as well as his eyes glared like daggers at Lady Canarie.

"Stay back-! Don’t like you-! Guards-!"

"Alright, I get it. I will stay back. So can you please calm down and listen to me for a little bit?"

Lady Canarie quickly stepped back and raised her hands to show that she meant no harm. But Caelis was not amused by her.

"NO-! Get out-!"

He ordered firmly, only for Princess Danielle to walk toward him and place a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

"Caelis, it’s fine. Lady Canarie will not hurt you. She just wants to get along with you for a little bit. So can you try to get along with her? For my sake-"

"NO!"

Those words were firm and resolute. There was no way someone as stubborn as Caelis would go back on his words, and that was a headache for Princess Danielle.

’This kid... why does he not act like a kid? I doubt bribing him like a normal kid would work either. Ugh, what should I do now?’

Princess Danielle felt like she was in a bind, and she exchanged a helpless look with her cousin.

Prince Caelis was refusing to even look at Lady Canarie, much less engage with her. This was not a situation either female expected to find themselves in when they started planning to get the kids on their side.

But they still had a chance to turn things around.

Just because Caelis refused to engage with them did not mean they were helpless. There was one more kid they could try to get on their side—Rin.

Although Rin was a bastard child, he was still Emperor Kaiden’s (allegedly), and Shuu had adopted him (spiritually). Plus, Caelis adored him as well.

If they got Rin on their side, then their chances of getting Caelis on their side would increase as well. So Lady Canarie turned her attention toward Rin instead.

"Ahhh, it looks like you don’t even want to talk to me? Well, that’s fine. I also have some gifts for Rin. Here, for you-"

"NO! Rin, leave."

Prince Caelis had no intention of allowing her to approach Rin either. He grabbed Rin’s hand and dragged him outside before Lady Canarie could give him her gift.

They both watched as the kids left the room, and a tense air overtook it.

Princess Danielle sighed as she looked at her cousin with an almost pitiful expression. She placed a hand on Canarie’s shoulder, and that dragged Canarie out of her shock.

Sorrowful eyes turned toward Canarie, and tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

"D-Danielle, what should I do-? Those kids hate me... they don’t even want to look at me. Just what did I do to them?"

Lady Canarie asked in a tired voice.

"Don’t worry, Canarie. It is not your fault. The kids are just too attached to Shuu at the moment. But give them some time, and they will ease around you as well."

Princess Danielle assured Canarie, and she nodded in understanding.

"I... see... yeah, that makes sense... I can wait for a little longer to get accepted... as long as I do get accepted, none of this matters."

Lady Canarie nodded to herself with a determined expression, and she suddenly looked happy. Her eyes kept looking in the direction the kids had left with a face filled with longing, and Lady Canarie made a quick vow to herself.

’I will get those kids to like me and be on my side, no matter what it takes.’

__________

"Shuu... Back...?"

"Shuu..."

Shuu had a few seconds to brace himself before he felt Caelis’s weight on his back. Rin followed seconds later, but he was more cautious compared to Caelis.

Their combined weight was not too much, but Shuu still felt all the air leave his body at that contact. He gasped out loud, and the two kids quickly got off his back with concerned looks on their faces.

"Shuu, alright?"

"Hurt...? Doctor...?"

They asked at the same time, and Shuu let out a chuckle.

"No, it’s fine. I am fine. I was just a little surprised. There is no need to call for a doctor just yet."

Shuu told the kids, but they did not look convinced. Their eyes were still filled with concern, and it touched Shuu enough for him to reach out and pull the kids closer.

They both let out yelps and protested as they were dragged into Shuu’s embrace. But they settled into it within seconds and started to snuggle back against him.

"You both look exhausted. Let’s go to sleep now."

Shuu told the kids, and for the first time, there was no protest. Shuu relaxed as he watched the kids sleeping in his arms, and all the nasty thoughts left his mind for that duration.

Finally, he felt like he could breathe again, and it even made his headache lessen a little.

’I can take it all... as long as I have these kids here. Kaiden, when will you come back? Just where on earth did you go?’

Shuu asked the question, but he got no answer. Who could even give him an answer at this point?

For now, he could only pray for Kaiden’s safety and swift return. But something about that made his mood sour...

His instincts told him to pray to the Goddess, but a very small part in the back of his mind told him that it was not the best idea.