????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???? | IBTMLAD

Phileo was listening to the orphanage Chief's ramblings about sustaining the kids after another failed attempt at finding a child when suddenly there was a scream.

"LET GO OF ME!"

Everyone's attention quickly turns towards the source of that voice, but Phileo takes a moment to note the look of recognition in all of the teacher's faces, including the chief.

The duke then turns to see a child punching a man's stomach as the little one runs towards him with much fire in her eyes. She does not shout or cry as soon as she sees him, which piques Phileo's interest.

The old Chief panics as he scrambles for his words, "I-I apologise, your Grace! Hurry and put her away...!!"

Phileo holds up his hand to stop the old man from rambling on, his eyes never leaving the source of his curiosity for one moment.

"Rupert." He calls onto his assistant, awaiting an explanation on who this girl might be.

"That child was not on the list," the grey-haired man supplies.

Leonia flinches when she feels someone grabbing her hand and looks up to see Lou standing beside her with resolution.

The older kid that helped the little girl get away suddenly joins her stand on blocking Phileo's path. They both have hair and eyes as dark as his own, he notices ( could they be siblings, perhaps? )

"...nor is that one." Rupert supplies once more.

"T-that... That child is not supposed to be here!" The Chief tries to explain before pointing at Leonia, "and that other child is someone that has no manners and only causes accidents...!"

"So you dare disobey the Duke?" His assistant helpfully cuts the man's incessant rambling. "I've surely made it clear that the Duke wished to meet every child here."

The Chief and the other teachers quickly kneel before Phileo with those familiar words coming out of their mouth.

"I... APOLOGISE! PLEASE FORGIVE US!" The Chief begs.

Phileo stares at the two children as their eyes peak at their former caretakers groveling on the dirt. His interest piques again when he notices the look of amusement that escapes from their previously sharp expressions.

"So," Phielo starts, catching the two's attention, "what's your name?"

"Leonia and his name is Lou," The little girl is the one who answers, with much conviction and bravery on her part.

"Leonia... What an extravagant and unique name." Phileo's gaze sharpens as he focuses on the little Lion. "Does that name suit you, I wonder..."

Phileo slowly garner's his fangs, the heavy and familiar weights encompassing them as he calls on enough to make his presence clear.

".....you seem very bold."

The mood drops as a scary aura fills the air with such intent.

"Do you know whose path you're blocking right now?"

Phileo's fangs make themselves present as he glares down at the two kids, his eyes shining red as he flaunts his authority.

"It wouldn't be weird for you to get executed on the spot."

The boy—Lou's eyes quickly close as soon as his fangs are shown but he stands tall regardless with barely any reaction. The little girl—Leonia, on the other hand, keeps her eyes on him, mimicking his glare however shaky her body gets.

Then, a spark in her eyes catches Phileo's interest. That dormant power that only those from the Voreoti family has control over.

Phileo takes a step forward. Leonia flinches but stands her ground regardless whilst her brother stays beside her like a statue. Phileo would have described his look as a calm one if it wasn't for the frown that formed when he felt Leonia flinch.

Phileo looks at her eyes again, that dormant power still apparent.

"...how brave," Phileo comments as he drops his fangs.

Lou opens his eyes as soon as he does that, Phileo notes. The boy's eyes glances at Leonia first, as if to check on her, before paying attention to him again.

Phileo has decided.

"Leonia Voreoti." He says. "That's your new name."

Leonia looks with wide eyes before shouting, "What about Lou's?!"

"What about Lou?" Phileo raises an eyebrow.

"I'm not going to be a Voreoti if Lou isn't one!"

Phileo is surprised by Leonia's words. Of course he wasn't planning on separating the two siblings, but to deny the Voreoti's name just because of the possibility that her brother not being a part of it astounds Phileo even more.

"Leo..." Lou was about to softly reprimand the little girl when Phileo cut him right off.

"Of course he's also a part of the family, idiot."

"I'M NOT AN IDIOT!"

Phileo picks up the shouting Leonia with both of his hands, surprised by how light she is.

"I should call an etiquette tutor when we get back to the dukedom." He merely talks to himself before moving the struggling Leonia onto one of his arms and grabbing Lou's hand with his other and pulling them onto the carriage.

Both Rupert and Lou don't seem to process what is happening until Phileo and the kids have gotten into the carriage.

"Y-Your grace?!"

"MY LORD??!"

Leonia, who is sitting between Lou and Phileo, is still shouting and complaining because of the older man's actions.

"THIS MISTER!! Are you having fun messing with a child!?" she says as Phileo continuously pokes her head. Complain all she wants but it doesn't seem like she's swatting him away either, unlike earlier.

"It's more fun than I thought," Phileo answers honestly, smirking at his new found amusement.

"THIS MISTER SEEMS LIKE A PERVERT! LOU, HELP ME!" Leonia crawls over to Lou's lap as Phileo closes the door to the carriage.

Rupert stares at the carriage for a moment before questioning if the man he had just seen was actually the duke he has been serving all of these years.

"WAIT A MOMENT! WHAT JUST HAPPENED...!"

The grey-haired man stares at the carriage in disbelief as he goes through the five stages of confusion. His face then turns into concern as he thinks of the future ahead of him. What has my Lord got himself into this time?!