Red, blue, yellow, and all the colors of the rainbow. Streaks of vibrance and beauty ran throughout the walls as the children ran around the place, creating abstract yet beautiful art. The sound of giggles and excitement filled the air.

It was a new day yet again in Grey and Yuna's life, a few days have passed since their sudden promotion. Though it was a little bothersome with the rumor spreading around, their days have mostly been peaceful, enjoyable as one can be.

Actually, it has been too peaceful, with their work going swimmingly, their hobbies fun as one can be, and their relationship as harmonious as usual. It was as if there were no problems in the world, only fun and excitement with the two of them.

"Big Sis～! We need more red～!"

"Here too～! We need red and blue too!"

"Okay～! Just a minute." ［Yuna］

Now, they are trying to fulfill their promise back at Erdea to paint their walls with all sorts of colors, the children from the orphanage helping them out as they brushed and brushed with bright smiles springing on their faces.

It wasn't really planned, but as they visited the orphanage as part of their leisurely schedule, they saw the children playing around, some bored with nothing else to do. Children whose eyes shone with excitement as soon as they saw them.

They usually played with the children every time they paid a visit so they were easily surrounded by them. With so much free time in their hands, they decided to do something a little different and asked them to paint the walls in their house for fun, with treats and breaks, of course.

"It's been some time since I've seen the children this lively..." ［Sephir］

"Well, it's always a good thing to take some time off from your usual routine from time to time. A break, so to say." ［Grey］

"A break, huh..." ［Sephir］

"Enjoying new and interesting things like this makes life more fulfilling and memorable, don't you think so too, Priest Sephir?" ［Grey］

Commented Grey as he continued his brush strokes, creating delicate lines one after another. To which, Sephir could only look at the smiles on the children's bright faces, nodding soon after with a gentle smile on his face.

"... Thank you very much, Your Highness." ［Sephir］

"Hahaha. I'm just doing what any adult would do. Nothing too special." ［Grey］

Having experienced an endless loop of work and sleep when he was still "Matteo", Grey knew full well how taxing it was to repeat day after day as if it was the most natural thing in the world. An adult like him already finds it difficult, how much more for the children who were still pure and innocent.

And in that boring and monotonous life, only cooking could give him fulfillment. Well, not that it was still the same in this life. With Yuna around, it was never boring, and he wanted to show the kids that they could have a lot of fun as well.

"Look! I made a dragon! It looks cool, doesn't it?!"

"Ehh?! That's not a dragon! That's a weird red bird!"

"That's a worm with wings, isn't it?! Look! It's so thin!"

"No! That's a dragon! Just look at how cool it is!"

Or so the children argued, however, not even Grey could identify what the child really drew, simply tilting his head as he eyed such a masterpiece. He and Sephir could only look at them with warm eyes as they argued.

It wasn't just them, the other children also painted all sorts of things on their walls. Some of them were quite talented, while some... Well, not so much... There were more on the abstract side of the spectrum, weird and irregular shapes everywhere.

Yet strangely enough, despite how chaotic and clumsy their paintings were, there was a strange sense of beauty, harmony, and elegance in them. Just seeing the children have fun was more than enough for him and Yuna.

"Puppy! Here! Here!"

"Hehehe! I caught puppy!"

As for the younger ones, the toddlers, they were playing with the familiars, a couple nuns watching over them. They shouldn't just be left out, after all. Kids their age need to breathe fresh air and feel the warmth of the sun's rays.

Of course, as to be expected, Grey's piece was magnificent as usual, intricate details all over the place as he drew the flowering meadows back in Erdea. A memory which had been etched deep into their hearts, one of the most beautiful there was.

"Big Bro, you're so cool～! I want to draw like that too!"

"Mary, too! I want to draw flowers as well!"

It didn't take too long before the children gathered around him, asking to be taught how to paint as well. With such twinkly and expectant eyes adorned on their faces, there was no way Grey had the heart to reject their request.

"Alright. Line up after one another. I'll teach you all one by one, but make sure to behave, alright? I'll stop teaching if you act too naughty." ［Grey］

"""Okay～!"""

Their cheerful response echoed in the air as their lips broke into lovely little smiles. They then formed a line as Grey had told them, the little ones quickly lining up front, the line getting longer and longer as more and more children gathered.

It may be because they look up to Grey so much that as soon as they heard a word of it, all the children, no matter how old, lined up to be taught by him. Grey was happy, but it was also somewhat overwhelming at the same time.

Click Click Flash Kerchak

And just as the children lined up, a certain elf took pictures of them with her personal camera. The children's smiles, the paintings on their walls, and the children playing around. She caught all such scenes, preserving the memories of the moment,

"Yuna, you sure are having a lot of fun, aren't you?" ［Grey］

"Fufufu! I rarely get to take photos, after all～! This is a rare opportunity!" ［Yuna］

Or so she says, but ever since Grey gave her a camera of her own, she has been snapping photos here and there as if there was no tomorrow. All of which were mostly the dishes they cooked and her time with Grey and the familiars. She had already made a couple albums out of them.

Well, with the amount of pictures she's taken right now, another album was not too far. The children were also following her around, looking at the photos Yuna took with eyes full of awe and amazement, the latter giving them some as gifts.

And so, the painting of the walls continued, the children listening attentively to Grey as he taught them a couple techniques to make their art more beautiful. It has become a makeshift art class, but it was still fun nonetheless.

"Big Bro, is this alright?"

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"Big Bro, look! Look! My butterfly looks weird...!"

"Ah... The paint spilled..."

In fact, the children were too excited, they were basically swarming over Grey, trying to get his attention every now and then. It felt like he suddenly became the father of more than a dozen children, each one needy as one can be.

It was already fortunate that the nuns and familiars were taking care of the little ones, but there were still quite a lot of them. Even the pre-teens were too excited for their own good, also painting about to their hearts' contents like the younger ones.

"Priest Sephir, could you take pictures for us instead? I'd like to help Grey out a little. The children are getting too excited." ［Yuna］

"A-Ah, I would really love to, Your Highness, however... I'm afraid I don't have the knowledge to operate such a device..." ［Sephir］

"Ah! If it's just that, that would be easy to solve. Here, I'll teach you how." ［Yuna］

"It would be my greatest delight." ［Sephir］

It didn't take too long before Sephir learnt how to use the camera and its many basic functions. Yuna only did a quick demonstration and the Priest quickly understood, soon taking a few photos on his own.

Though the pictures were a little blurry and shaky at first, after a tad bit more practice, Sephir was finally able to take clear and pretty shots, perfectly capturing the beauty and essence of the scene, etching it to a piece of paper.

"Then, I'll leave it all to you, Priest Sephir." ［Yuna］

"Fufufu. You can rest assured, Your Highness." ［Sephir］

Yuna was full of confidence, but as soon as she entered the fray, she was quickly surrounded by the little balls of energy. The younger ones were especially excited, crowding over her and watching her paint with eyes full of intent and expectations.

Soon, one whole side of the wall was finally finished, depicting the scenery of Erdea's meadows along with the children's adorable doodles. It was a tasty treat for the eyes, everyone soon moving to another side where Grey started painting the Emerald Leaf Forest where Grey and Yuna once had a picnic.

"Big Bro, Big Sis～! Flowers～!" ［Bella］

And as the fun continued to unfold, a familiar, adorable voice echoed in the air. A little girl with black hair tied in pigtails and red eyes just dropped by, bringing with her a bouquet of beautiful flowers she picked herself.

Of course, it was none other than Bella who has been delivering flowers at Grey and Yuna's residence every week. And it just so happens that today was that day, happily bringing along daisies, lilies, and bellflowers alike.

Though, the scene before her was not what she had expected. The usually peaceful residence was now filled with noise and liveliness, a number of children running all over the place whilst some painted on the walls. Bella was confused.

"Oh, Bella, you're here. Looks like you brought a beautiful bunch again." ［Grey］

"Y-Yes... Thank you, Big Bro Grey." ［Bella］

"Hahaha, I should be the one saying that... Ah! Right... Here's your pay for the week. Make sure to keep it safe, alright?" ［Grey］

"Yes! I will keep them safe!" ［Bella］

Grey handed the little girl a bronze coin, and the latter received it in kind. She then took out her little wallet, a cling and clang echoing as she deposited yet another coin on her wallet, a smile blooming on her face as she shook it.

With how many weeks it has been since she started delivering flowers at Grey and Yuna's house, she has saved quite a few on her person already. In fact, she's already got over a thousand kiels, enough for a luxurious dress or a very fancy dinner.

Normally, people would be worried about sending out a child with such a huge amount on them, but with Grey's eyes, he can always watch over Bella without much difficulty. They even send a familiar to escort her sometimes.

"Right, how are your Mom and Dad doing?" ［Grey］

"Mom and Dad are doing well! They said they're releasing a new product soon! There's also more toys on the shelves!" ［Bella］

"Oh, that's good to hear. It seems like the business is doing well." ［Grey］

"Yes! And! And! We just had a delicious breakfast this morning!" ［Bella］

The little girl kept mumbling and chatting with excitement, but at the same time, her eyes also kept swimming towards the others who were just a little ways away. She was still a child, after all. It was natural for her to be curious.

She tried to hide the fact that she was peeking at them, but she was far too obvious for her own good, eyes always lingering at the others' direction. It only served to make Grey crack a chuckle, gently patting her head soon after.

"Bella, would you like to join us?" ［Grey］

"C-Can I?!" ［Bella］

"Of course! You're more than welcome to join us anytime." ［Grey］

"T-Then! I would like to play too!" ［Bella］

There was only honesty and anticipation in her voice as she nodded her little head aggressively. Before long, Grey held one of her hands and walked her towards the others, then introducing her to everyone, who welcomed her with open arms.

"Good morning, Bella." ［Yuna］

"Good morning, Big Sis Yuna!" ［Bella］

Grabbing a paint brush of her own, Bella then dipped it towards a bucket of red paint, soon creating strokes of her own with a bright smile on her face. And as expected of Marianne and Ross' child, she was quite good at painting.

It was her first time, but she quickly grasped the basics, painting flowers from her memories alone. There were no shades nor gradients in her piece, but for someone who was painting for the first time, it was already quite beautiful.

She drew and she painted, a large smile blooming on her face. Some paint splattered all over her clothes, but there was no need to worry. They were paint created by the Alchemists' Guild which could easily be washed off with a certain liquid. It was non-toxic as well which meant it was safe for the children.

"Waah～... Bella, you're really good at this, aren't you?" ［Yuna］

"Really?" ［Bella］

"Un! I'm sure Bella would be a good painter one day. Would you like to sell your first piece to your Big Sis here?" ［Yuna］

"Yuna, stop spoiling Bella so much. She needs to work hard for money, otherwise, she will have a twisted sense of value when she grows up." ［Grey］

The pot calling the kettle black. He was so confident in his words, when in fact, he should be the one who should reevaluate himself before scolding others. Compared to Yuna trying to Bella, his spoiling of the former was higher by leaps and bounds.

If Helen, Kris, Julius, or anybody else they knew was there, they would have given him irritated and sharp stares, calling him a hypocrite deep inside. He is already a hopeless idiot in love. No one could pull him up from the abyss anymore.

DONGGG DONGGG DONGGG Growwlllll～

Soon, the third bell of the day rang out towards the sky. signaling the clock striking 12 o'clock. Lunch had already arrived, and along the ringing of the bells, the sounds of hungry stomachs rang out in the air, little embarrassed faces blooming everywhere.

"My tummy's rumbling..."

"Fufufu! It's okay. Big Sis here is hungry as well." ［Yuna］

"Alright, everyone. Let's have a lunch break first before continuing. I'm sure we're all starving right now." ［Yuna］

There was not a single second to waste. With so many hungry chicks before them, Grey and Yuna then headed towards the kitchen and let the children play in the living room. Some followed them, but they made sure they stayed a safe distance.

Ready-marinated pork chops, ground black pepper, grated ginger, garlic, honey, spring onions, salt, eggs, flour, and bread crumbs. Grey took out all sorts of ingredients, laying them atop the kitchen table one after another.

As soon as everything was taken out, they then started to cook, the sound of dancing flames and sizzling oil filled the air as a sour and umami fragrance drifted along it. All eyes were on them as they moved their hands.

"Grey, I'll handle the pork chops. Can you prepare the sauces?" ［Yuna］

"Hm, sure. I'll also prepare the rice and sides while I'm at it." ［Grey］

"Okay, thank you." ［Yuna］

First, Yuna took out the pork chops from the marinade and let them sit for a while. In the meantime, she then beat some eggs along with some salt, pepper, and some spices. She beat them until a smooth consistency was reached.

Yuna then dipped the pork chops in a bowl of flour, making sure the piece was covered all over before dipping it into the beaten eggs and bread crumbs soon after. She laid them piece by piece, piling dozens at a time with her lightning speed hands.

With the quick steps now finished, Yuna then pan fried the pork chops, letting them cook until each side turned a delicious golden brown color, the sound of sizzling oil echoing aloud as an appetite-arousing aroma danced in the breeze.

"Mmn～! I can't wait!" ［Yuna］

A smile on her face, Yuna then took out a saucepan, heating it up before combining cornstarch, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and grated ginger until smooth. She brought the mixture to a boil until it thickened, a mouth-watering aroma adding to the fray.

She also chopped some spring onions and set them aside. Not everyone likes them, after all, so she decided to set the spring onions, ginger sauce, and pork chops aside from another, letting the others pick any combination they wanted.

"Alright, that should be enough." ［Grey］

Meanwhile, Grey also finished his part. For the sauces, he made some gravy, soy sauce and lime, and sour cream. The rice was soft and fluffy, a side of steamed vegetables and mashed potatoes along them.

The dishes were done and dusted, soon laid on the dining table. Since there were many of them, Grey took them out to the garden, creating a large and spacious area for everyone to dine in, erecting a barrier for a little bit of shade.

"Everyone, lunch is ready～!" ［Yuna］

"Yaay～! We could eat Big Bro and Big Sis' cooking!"

"Ah! I want to sit beside Big Bro and Big Sis!"

"Children, not too rowdy! You're disturbing Their Highnesses!"

They were as excited as one can come, rushing towards their seats with the little legs of theirs. As for the little ones, the nuns carried them and had them sit on their laps, watching over them as carefully as they could.

Surprisingly enough, Bella was the one who got to sit between Grey and Yunaー or rather, she had already occupied the seat, asking the two to sit with her. She was still a young girl yet she was already so cunning. One could only chuckled warmly.

""""Thank you for the meal!!""""

Led by Sephir, everyone closed their hands for a prayer, their voices resounding as clear as day as cheerful expressions bloomed on their lovely faces. They soon dug in on their meals, and their reactions were as follows...

"Waah～! So dewishoush!!"

"Lily wants seconds～!"

"Oh my, I've never tasted something like this before!"

Grey and Yuna had seen such reactions unfold countless of times already, but they would never get tired of such beautiful expressions. Seeing everyone appreciate their cooking made a warm and fluffy feeling well up in the depths of their hearts.

They soon joined everyone, pouring the ginger sauce over their pork chops and slicing it nicely, a white and tender meat revealed inside. Topping it on a spoon of rice, they then delivered it to their mouths.

The tenderness and juiciness of the pork chops, along with the spice, saltiness, and sweetness, along with the crunchy texture provided by the bread crumbs was a taste to behold. It filled both their stomachs and hearts, dining in so eagerly.

Tasting the sides and dipping the pork chops into the sauces also provided them different flavors and satisfaction. The children were especially excited, even mixing some sauces with one another as if they were little alchemists.

"Children, don't play with the food. That's bad manners." ［Sephir］

"Kids, listen to Priest Sephir. You're good kids, aren't you!" ［Yuna］

"""Okay～!!"""

Thankfully, the children were quite tame and obedient. With just a little request from Yuna, they quickly quieted down and behaved, eating cheerfully as they laughed and chatted with one another over the dining table.

Even the little ones were enjoying themselves happily. Since the meat was tender, there was no problem chewing it, and there was also rice and mashed potatoes to eat them with, all delicious as one can be.

If there was a problem, it is that some children were choosy about the vegetables. Opinions which quickly changed as soon as they had a taste of Grey's special steamed vegetables which he added some diced pork and sauces to suit their tastes.

The sun continued to sink down the horizon, and the afternoon soon arrived. With their lunch break soon over, they continued to paint down the walls, creating more and more beautiful pieces with glee.

Before long, the painting was over. One side was the meadows of Erdea, the other was the Emerald Leaf Forest, there was also the seas of Torogi, and lastly, there was the snowy plains of Kosalvier. All were beautiful sights, the children's doodles by the borders and pillars.

"Waah～! So beautiful!"

"Big Bro! Anna made this one!"

"Me too! I made this cool dragon!"

The children were especially proud of their work. They may not be much in the eyes of the others, but to them, it was their greatest masterpieces, showing them off to the nuns and Sephir after Grey and Yuna.

Even the toddlers were very excited, playing along with everyone as they pointed towards the figures in the wall. What was plain and boring before was now full of life and colors, standing out like a diamond amongst a pile of coal.

"I can't express how thankful I am, Your Highnesses." ［Sephir］

"Fufufu! It's no problem, Priest Sephir. We also had fun too." ［Yuna］

"That's right. We should probably do this again some time later." ［Grey］

"Fufufu. I'm sure the children would love to hear that." ［Sephir］

While it was true that they did it on a whim, Grey and Yuna couldn't be any happier to have decided to paint the walls with the children. Not only for the children, but it was also a nice break for them as well. They've never been so satisfied.

"Kids, now that we're done painting... Who wants to play games～?!" ［Yuna］

"Me!"

"Me too!"

"Arley too!"

The fun had just started, the sounds of cheers and excitement ringing all over the place as the winds blew past them. The sun continued to climb down and the blades of grass continued to dance to the tune of the wind. Another peaceful day yet again.

CHAPTER 294 END