Chapter 188: Chapter : 188 : Spending Some Parents Children Moments!

Aiden walked slow on purpose.

Not because the market was crowded—though it absolutely was—but because Leona kept bouncing in his arms every time she saw something colorful, and Liri kept tugging his hand whenever a new smell drifted through the air.

The capital market of the Albinos Kingdom stretched wide and bright beneath the afternoon sun.

White stone streets gleamed, polished smooth. Tall arches carved with elegant human runes framed the market lanes, banners of pale gold and ivory hanging between buildings.

Everything looked refined, structured, and prosperous. Human voices overlapped constantly—merchants calling out prices with practiced smiles, guards patrolling with spears resting casually on their shoulders, bells chiming whenever a shop door opened.

And yet… there was an ugly truth beneath it.

Every stall had them.

Demon slaves.

Men and women alike, collars glowing faintly with control runes. Some stood behind their owners holding crates. Others knelt beside the stalls, eyes lowered, backs straight from habit rather than pride. Bruises were hidden under long sleeves. Burn marks peeked from collars. Some flinched at loud sounds. Others didn’t react at all.

Aiden saw every single one.

Leona didn’t understand it fully—but she felt it.

Her bouncing slowed.

Liri noticed immediately.

She tightened her grip on Aiden’s hand.

“Daddy…” She whispered. “They look… sad.”

Aiden didn’t answer right away. His jaw tightened, eyes hardening for just a moment before he softened again.

“I know,” He said quietly. L

Leona leaned closer to his chest, small fingers clutching his shirt.

Then—

“Daddy!” Leona suddenly said, leaning toward his face again, eyes sparkling. “That shop has shiny stuff.”

Aiden chuckled softly, grateful for the distraction. “You’ve said that about five shops already.”

“They’re all shiny,” Leona replied very seriously, nodding to herself.

Liri giggled beside him, though her gaze still flickered toward the slaves as they passed. She stayed on his left side, half a step behind, always careful not to bump into anyone. “Daddy… there’s too many people.”

Aiden squeezed her hand back, thumb rubbing small circles against her knuckles. “I’ve got you.”

She looked up at him, searching his face, then nodded. Her shoulders relaxed, just a little.

A stall owner noticed them passing and smiled warmly. “Ah, Sir! Cute kids you’ve got there. First time in the capital market?”

Aiden nodded. “Not really. Thought I’d show them around.”

The man laughed. “Good choice. This place exists to make children happy. And parents poor.”

Behind him, a demon woman adjusted a crate silently. Her wrist bore fresh red marks.

Leona waved at the merchant. “Hi!”

The man waved back, laughing harder. “See? Already working.”

They moved on, deeper into the market.

Food stalls lined the main road—roasted meat skewers sizzling over open flames, fresh bread stacked high, fruit stalls overflowing with reds, yellows, and greens. The air smelled sweet and savory all at once, warm and comforting.

Beside nearly every stall, a demon slave worked quietly.

Some vendors kicked them aside when they moved too slowly.

Others snapped orders without even looking at them.

Leona pointed again, nearly bonking Aiden in the chin. “Daddy! Toys!”

“That one we’re going to,” Aiden said, already turning.

Liri’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the stall, but she didn’t say anything. She just walked a little closer to him, her shoulder brushing his arm.

Aiden noticed.

He always noticed.

He stopped and knelt down in front of her, Leona still perched on his arm like a proud little queen surveying her domain. He shifted Leona slightly so she was secure, then looked Liri straight in the eyes.

“You don’t need permission to want things,” He said gently. “Not with me.”

Liri hesitated, her fingers tightening in his hand. Then she nodded. “Okay…”

They reached the toy stall.

Wooden swords lined one rack, painted shields stacked neatly beside them. Plush animals filled baskets, soft and colorful. Tiny magic trinkets glowed faintly—floating lights in jars, wind-up figures that walked on their own, spinning tops that left trails of light.

A demon boy knelt behind the stall, polishing the wood. His cheek was swollen.

Leona slammed her tiny hand against Aiden’s chest. “Daddy! Bear!”

Liri pointed too, slower, more careful. “That one… it looks soft.”

Aiden laughed. “Two bears it is.”

The stall owner, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, leaned forward. “Good taste. Those are enchanted. Won’t tear, won’t burn, and they glow if dark or if the child’s scared.”

Leona gasped dramatically. “Glow bear!”

“I want glow bear,” Liri said quickly, then froze, eyes widening. “I—uh—only if it’s okay.”

Aiden handed over the coins without blinking. “It’s more than okay.”

The woman smiled knowingly as she passed them over. “You’re doing good, Sir.”

Aiden blinked. “Hm?”

“Kids that feel safe ask for things,” She said simply.

He didn’t reply. He just nodded.

He gave Leona her bear first. It was brown, round, and nearly as big as her torso.

She hugged it immediately, burying her face into its fur. “Bear friend!”

Then he handed one to Liri. Hers was a pale cream color, stitched eyes gentle and calm.

She stared at it for a long moment.

Then hugged it.

Tight.

“…Thank you, Daddy.”

Aiden felt something twist warm in his chest. “You’re welcome, kiddo.”

They kept walking.

The deeper they went into the market, the louder and brighter everything became.

And the uglier parts became harder to ignore.

A demon man was slapped for dropping fruit.

A demon woman was dragged by her collar because she bowed too slowly.

Liri’s grip tightened again.

Leona looked at one girl with horns similar to hers. “Daddy… why she crying?”

Aiden’s steps slowed for half a heartbeat.

“Because some people are cruel,” He said carefully. “But not everyone.”

Leona hugged her bear tighter. “I don’t like cruel.”

“Me neither,” Aiden replied.

They moved on.

“Daddy! Red fruit!”

She pointed so hard her little claw nearly poked his cheek.

Aiden leaned slightly to see what she meant. “That’s an apple.”

“Apple,” She repeated seriously. Then her eyes darted again. “Daddy! Yellow fruit!”

“Banana.”

“Ba-na-na,” she said slowly, nodding. “Good word.”

A fruit vendor laughed softly. “Sharp little one you’ve got there, Sir.”

Behind him, a demon slave wiped sweat from his brow.

Leona puffed her chest. “I’m smart!”

Aiden smiled. “She definitely is.”

They moved on a few steps.

“Daddy! Big hat man!”

Aiden followed her finger. A tall merchant stood nearby, wearing an oversized feathered hat and flashy robes. “Merchant.”

The man tipped his hat dramatically. “At your service, little lady.”

Leona gasped. “He moved!”

Liri giggled, her steps lighter now, less cautious than before.

Then—

“Daddy! Loud man!”

Aiden sighed, already knowing. “That’s a bard. Don’t encourage him.”

The bard, of course, noticed instantly. He spun, lute already in hand, and strummed loudly.

“Ohhh~ a brave father, children bright, A dragon spark and smiles of light—”

Leona clapped enthusiastically. “Loud man good!”

The bard laughed. “Is that a dragon girl? By the stars, she’s adorable!”

A few nearby people turned, smiling instead of recoiling.

One woman said warmly, “Her horns are beautiful.”

Leona tilted her head. “Daddy, am I cute dragon?”

Aiden didn’t hesitate. “The cutest.”

She beamed.

Liri whispered, “Daddy… they’re not scared.”

“Seems like it,” Aiden said quietly.

They moved on before the bard could compose a second verse.

Liri covered her mouth, still laughing. “Daddy… can we get food?”

“Of course.”

They stopped at a skewer stall where meat sizzled over open flames. The smell was rich and mouthwatering. The owner bowed slightly, respectful but friendly.

“Welcome! Meat skewers, fresh and hot! Extra tender today.”

Leona leaned forward so suddenly Aiden had to tighten his hold. Her eyes sparkled. “Meat!”

The stall owner chuckled. “Strong appetite. Must be the dragon blood.”

“Dragon blood!” Leona repeated proudly.

Aiden raised a brow, amused. “You sure you can eat all that?”

“Yes!”

He handed her a skewer anyway. She took two enthusiastic bites, chewing loudly and happily. Then she paused, stared at it, and held it out to him.

“Too big.”

Aiden laughed, took it, and finished it without complaint. “Good try.”

Leona nodded solemnly. “I tried.”

Liri ate more quietly, small careful bites. After a moment, she tugged Aiden’s sleeve.

“Daddy… Mama likes sweet things.”

Aiden blinked, then smiled faintly. “Yeah. She does.”

Liri nodded, brows knitting together as she thought hard. “I want to buy something… for Mama.”

Aiden crouched slightly to be closer to her eye level. “You want to?”

“I want to,” She said, firm but shy. “Because… Mama smiles when she eats sweet stuff.”

Aiden chuckled softly. “Then let’s find something perfect.”

They began searching, moving slowly from stall to stall.

Leona treated it like a mission.

“That candy is shiny!”

A candy seller laughed. “It’s sugar-glass. Pretty, but hard.”

Leona squinted. “Hard candy bad.”

“That one is pink!”

Another vendor leaned forward. “Strawberry cream sweets. Very popular with ladies.”

Leona sniffed. “Smells funny!”

“Honest opinion,” The vendor said, amused.

They passed jewelry stalls, cloth sellers, spice merchants. Aiden bought small things along the way—One by one, he set them aside in his storage.

Liri noticed. “Daddy… why are you buying so much?”

Aiden smiled. “Gifts. For all your mummies.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “All of them?”

“Every single one.”

She nodded slowly, clearly impressed.

Eventually, they reached a pastry stall. Honey cakes stacked neatly, steam rising gently. Golden, soft, and warm, the scent alone felt comforting.

The baker smiled kindly. “For your family?”

Liri stared at the cakes for a long moment, then pointed. “That one.”

The baker carefully packed it, tying the string with practiced hands.

Aiden paid.

Liri held it carefully with both hands, as if it might disappear if she loosened her grip.

“Daddy?” She asked softly.

“Yeah?”

“Can we give it to Mama together?”

“Of course.”

Her smile was instant and wide, so bright it made Aiden’s chest ache.

They kept walking.

Leona finally grew quiet, resting her head on Aiden’s shoulder, bear tucked under her chin.

“Sleepy?” Aiden asked gently.

“No… just comfy.”

Liri leaned against his side, her shoulder pressed into his arm.

“Daddy… this is fun.”

Aiden looked ahead, market noise washing over them, his kids warm and safe beside him.

“Yeah,” He said quietly. “It is.”

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END OF Chapter : 189 : SPENDING SOME PARENTS CHILDREN MOMENTS!

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