Chapter 178: Ares’ Daily Life (2)
"Goo goo goo."
Ares snapped out of his thoughts at the soft cooing.
The milk bottle had slipped to Aldwin’s cheek instead of his mouth, and the baby wiggled his head, trying to find the right spot.
Ares couldn’t help but smile.
There were so many strange things in this house, but that strangeness was what made him feel less like an outsider. He wasn’t blending into just one race.
In fact, everyone was different.
Carefully, he rose from the chair, holding Aldwin securely in one arm while balancing the bottle with his other hand.
He walked toward the kitchen, spotting Auntie Wina from a distance. She refused to be called ’Madam’ or ’Milady.’
Everyone in the house—except Gara—called her Auntie Wina. So Ares did too.
"Auntie, look at Aldwin. He’s adorable," Ares said, presenting the baby’s struggle to get his milk, which they found so cute.
Wina’s smile softened as she looked at Aldwin. "My little grandson is growing so fast."
Ares lingered there, showing her every tiny thing Aldwin did, without realizing that the baby’s antics could keep her from feeling the weight of cooking alone in the early morning.
From the indulgent gaze of Wina, Ares would never have guessed Wina wasn’t the triplets’ biological grandmother.
While he played with Aldwin, Ares found himself noticing again how odd this kitchen was. The stove was smaller than usual. There was a separate box just for baking that sat right on top of the stove.
Strange cooking tools were scattered around—things he couldn’t name. He wasn’t a cook, but even he could tell this house didn’t follow the usual rules.
Before long, Della came out of her room carrying Arion. She looked a little surprised to see the new member already so comfortable with Aldwin.
Ares set Aldwin down gently on the rug, laying him beside his sibling.
The werewolf girl, who once never dared lift her eyes whenever he was around, no longer behaved that way. It seemed everyone in this house was slowly growing used to Ares’ presence.
Everyone except the three young men who had only slept in this house today.
Ares and Della stayed near the babies on the rug, watching them in silence. Della fidgeted now and then, her eyes straying toward the kitchen.
Feeling awkward, Ares finally spoke. "If you want to help in the kitchen, go ahead. I can watch them. All I have to do is give them milk if they cry, right?"
Della studied him for a long moment, as if weighing whether the newcomer could really be trusted.
At last, she nodded. "I’ll come the moment I hear them cry."
With that, she left.
Ares thought the babies were remarkably easy. As long as their needs were met, they hardly cried at all.
Hop!
A little white ball bounced toward them. The white squirrels—another of this house’s oddities.
The three tiny creatures scurried up to the babies on the rug, nuzzling their heads against the infants’ cheeks.
These squirrels were incredibly smart. They always knew what to do, even without orders.
They understand people’s speech surprisingly well, though only Gara truly understood their words.
Still, through gestures and chirps, they always managed to make their wants clear.
They looked as if they’d been trained by a professional beast tamer, yet Ares knew their true master was Gara.
That made him wonder—what other incredible things could that man do?
The door to Gara’s room creaked open, though only slightly. Rea slipped out and padded over to join her little ones on the carpet.
The mother of these squirrel kits had been sleeping in Gara’s room since the beginning, even when the room’s owner wasn’t there.
She seems to show that her presence carried authority much like Gara in this home, at least among the squirrels.
Ares chuckled without meaning to, and the clever squirrel turned toward him. Being stared at like that, Ares felt almost caught in the act.
"Uh—hi," he greeted awkwardly.
Rea’s large eyes locked onto him, her head tilted in such a way that she looked irresistibly adorable.
Without thinking, Ares reached out and brushed her soft white fur. It felt silky beneath his fingertips.
When he tried to pull his hand back, Rea leaned in instead, chirping at him in a tone he couldn’t quite understand.
Moments later, her three little ones lost all interest in the triplets and pressed their heads against Ares’s hand, just like their mother.
Ares was a little bewildered, but not at all displeased.
Click.
This time the door opened fully, and Gara stepped out carrying Ava in his arms.
"They like your warm hands," Gara said after hearing Rea’s excited chirps.
Ares blinked, caught between awe and embarrassment.
He’d been praised all his life—for his mind, his talent, his strength, even his looks. But being complimented for warm hands? That was new.
Gara joined them, laying Ava gently down on the carpet.
"Seems like you’ve already blended in with the family," he remarked.
Ares nodded slowly. "Everyone’s been very kind."
"That’s true," Gara agreed with a smile.
That smile caught Ares off guard. Only then did he realize just how beautiful Gara was. The most beautiful man he had ever met—and even compared to women, Gara’s beauty still surpassed them.
"I’m really happy here. There are so many new things to see and learn..." Before he knew it, Ares slipped back into his true self, speaking with excitement and energy.
Ever since leaving dragon territory, he’d rarely spoken much, forced instead to remain silent and expressionless. That was nothing like who he really was.
But with Gara’s warmth and the supportive atmosphere here, it all spilled out like water from a cracked jar.
And Gara didn’t interrupt him, just let the dragon talk to his heart’s content.
"Ahem—sorry to interrupt, but breakfast is ready," Wina’s voice called out.
Ares snapped back, his face burning red. He turned toward Gara and Wina, both of whom wore knowing smiles.
"I’ll watch the triplets. You should eat first," Ares blurted quickly.
It was custom in this house for everyone to take turns eating while someone stayed behind with the babies—so it fit perfectly as his excuse.
...