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It's the day Phileo and the Glasdigo Order are set to leave for the monster hunt. The sun has not even greeted the sky and nothing illuminates the world other than the distant twinkle of stars and the moonlight.

The servants are all at the entrance bidding their goodbyes to their master, accompanied with the two new members of the family.

Lou keenly watches Phileo and the knights setting up their supplies and carriages, although he knows the essentials of riding on for days, it's always good to observe the pros for future references.

He's used to waking up at the brink of dawn ( he kind of used to have a wonky sleep schedule so this is nothing to him ) ...his sister on the other hand isn't.

Leonia—who's currently in Lou's arms—loudly yawns as she sleepily lays on, waiting to bid her dearest father her farewell. Phileo's attention is taken by his kids as soon as he hears one of them yawn.

"Why aren't you going back to sleep? Your mouth is going to rip." Phileo comments, walking over to his two children. He caresses Leonia's cheeks in which she, of course, jolts awake from the sudden temperature change.

"THAT'S COLD!!!!!" The girl cries out.

"Give your sister to me, aren't you tired?" Phileo holds out his hands.

Lou shakes his head before handing the girl to her father, "I'm used to waking up this early."

The Duke easily takes little Leonia off of Lou's hands and holds her while petting the boy's hand with his other. He smiles when the boy leans onto the touch more, although it's not that obvious.

"You're leaving...," Leonia says as she rubs her eyes with her cold little hands to wake herself up more.

The man softens at the scene and tussles Lou's hair one last time before grabbing a hold of Leonia's hand.

"Go and get more sleep." Phileo tells both of them off. "Don't force yourself to wake up."

Lou hums in response while Leonia says nothing to acknowledge her father's words. She looks back at Connie and sees her holding the basket of cookies she, Lou and the chefs had made.

"Put me down." Leonia requests which the Duke immediately obliges.

She points at the basket that's in Connie's hands and says, "I'll give you that!"

Phileo looks surprised at the astonishing amount of cookies held in the basket that's even overflowing to the top, "...When did you bake these?"

Leonia yawns as she answers, leaving her completely incomprehensible to everyone except Lou.

The boy smiles as he picks up the loopy Leonia and translates her words, "secretly at night, she said."

"Lou helped too this time," Leonia mumbles in Lou's hold.

Lou watches with a smile as the Duke stares at the basket fiddle with sweets in his hands. He can tell that the man is absolutely surprised. Perhaps no one has been kind to him before, or perhaps this is the first time his heart has melted over someone's act. Whichever it is, Lou knows that the Duke is deeply moved by Leonia's actions which solidifies their bond even more.

I'm glad, Lou thinks to himself.

"I've got a little more for you..." Leonia says drowsily. "The ones which have a black lion drawn on them are ours. I put in two extra cookies."

"Have a safe trip," Leonia weakly waves her father off, "Lou and I will make you something delicious when you..."

"We'll try to make you something delicious when you get back," Lou finishes Leonia's sentence as she falls asleep in Lou's arms.