The little cottage became lively and festive as everyone praised Little Han for his achievement.
Leon was extremely overjoyed that he called his parents, the Grandmasters and the rest just to announce that Little Han had already said his first word - and that first word was "Daddy!"
Immediately, the cottage was swarmed with people who wanted to see if they could hear Little Han speak.
The elders were so excited that Eli could only helplessly set up a playground in the gazebo as having everyone around could not fit them all in the living room.
Even the Emperor and Queen Tehila sneaked into the cottage to see Little Han.
While Leon and Eli was busy preparing a celebratory feast for Little Han and the guests, the Elders swarmed around Little Han.
"Little Han, let me hear you say 'Grandpa'. Come come.. Let me hear it, grand-pa.." Emperor Valentin, Tyce and General Eugine, squated around Little Han who was innocently giggling to see many people around.
"Am..pa.." As his speech was not yet fully developed, he struggled to mimic the words he heard from the elders.
But who would have thought that his little effort would make the grandpas feel elated! "Good! Good!!!"
The grandmas also didn't want to lose, they cuddled Little Han and tried to teach him to call them grandma.
"Am…ma.." Little Han furrowed his brows trying to mimic their words. This action immediately melted the elders' hearts, they showered him with praises and kisses.
Although the Great Grandpas and Great Grandmas very much wanted to join the fun, they let the next generation enjoy the moment.
It was because although their sons Tyce and Eugine were proclaimed as Eli's adoptive fathers, they spent less time with Eli and Little Han than the rest of the family.
Even the Farauld's youngest granddaughter Estelle, managed to interact with Eli and Little Han more than their sons.
On the far side of the gazebo there sat two gentlemen with handsome faces. One of them was only three fourths the height of the other, but the gentle look on his face could make people look at him with satisfaction.
This was none other than Orion, Tyce's only son and the husband of Meredith, who had been part of Eli's project team.
Sitting beside him was a man, little bit younger looking than him, one could determine that he was around the same age as the Third Prince.
His looks could really be at par with Randel, Olivier and Blaze, who belong to the list of the most alluring and eligible bachelors in the capital.
He had deep set eyes which would immediately bring you in with his golden hazel irises. His features were valiant and lovely, carrying both his mother's beauty and his father's charisma.
The man was none other than Nathaniel Farauld, the one and only son of General Eugine and Dame Aquila, which was also Eli's adoptive brother.
He was staring longingly in Little Han's direction, but he could only helplessly shake his head as he realized how his parents and uncles surrounded the little guy in an attempt to monopolize him.
"Sigh…" Nathan sighed in surrender as he aggrievedly sip the tea on his hand.
"Wanna carry our nephew?" Orion asked teasingly.
He knew that this guy had been so excited to finally meet his new sister and nephew. But who would have known that this brawny guy would act like a shy teenage girl whenever a chance to interact with Eli and Little Han came.
"I-i don't know how to handle infants!" He replied with a rather prideful expression. But in front of his childhood friend Orion, his disguse could be easily exposed.
"Pfttt!" Orion bursted into a hearty laugh as he heard Nathan's reply.
"Hey, can't you even think of a different reason this time? During the winter banquet you only protected Eli from afar and not even attempted to dance with her the entire night. Then you told me it's because you 'don't know how to handle little sisters'!" Orion exposed Nathan without any restraint.
Hearing Orion's words, Nathan flinched and a tinge of redness emerged from his nape and ears, "I-i just don't know how to..I really don't.."
He tried to explain with all his might.
Although he had cousins on his Aunt Janice's side, they were far older than him because his mother and father settled down a little bit later compared to his Aunt.
Then came his nieces and nephews, Estelle and the rest. But how unfortunate he was to be even sent outside for multiple missions and training in his maternal family's estate before he was able to carry them in his arms!
When he came back he could only stand stiffly with three to five year old children, clinging in a silly manner on both of his legs. He didn't even dare to move lest he accidentaly kick them with his strength as a knight.
'I am really unfortunate! Really unfortunate!' He looked at Orion with an aggrieved expression.
Orion also knew Nathan's predicament, he stopped teasing him and tiptoed to pat his shoulders instead, "Then you have to do it now, especially when Little Han is still young and Eli is still staying here in the estate. For if the Third Prince could finally settle the prerequisites of their marriage, you would have lesser to no chance in getting close to them!"
Nathan looked at Orion with a troubled expression. His expression was saying 'But how to do it? I don't know how to start!'
Orion's eye brows twitched, no wonder this man remained a bachelor for a long time that even the famed Barbaric Blood Prince managed to get ahead of him in this area.
It was so hard to accept the fact that the only son of the strongest general alive and the most famous female knight would be such a socially awkward person in actuality!
"Sigh, alright, come with me.." Orion stood from his chair and pulled Nathan towards the direction of Little Han and the elders.
"H-heyyy, stop it, Orion! It's embarrassing!" He whispered in a panicked tone.
Orion, who was known to be gentle and a henpecked husband, imitated his wife's rolling eyes upon witnessing Nathan's gesture.
In his mind he couldn't help but scold Nathan, 'Bro, you are a famous knight brought up by the strongest couple in the Empire and you are allowing yourself to be pulled by me, a weak artisan?! Can't you polish your acting skills? C'mon!'
With Orion's effort in pulling Nathan, the elders also saw them approaching. They looked at them with smiling faces.
"Oh, Nathan, come look at your nephew!" It was Tyce who invited them to join the circle of Little Han's 'playmates'.
These elders knew that Nathan had only arrived in the Capital and was not able to really interact with Eli and Little Han even after the winter banquet.
Thus, they also understood why Orion somehow pulled him into their side.
Queen Tehila was actually the current person holding Little Han. She looked at Nathan and gestured to him to sit beside her.
Nathan blushed shyly and was about to decline when the little guy on her lap looked at him with his shiny crystal blue eyes and a smile so sweetly with his tiny milk teeth.
Nathan's heart melted, 'So cute..'
His body mindlessly sat beside Queen Tehila and reached out to hold Little Han's body when the Queen handed him over.
But being the inexperienced person that he is, his hand remained frozen in air with Little Han 'hanging' between his arms like a lost child.
Nathan was really in a bind, Little Han was handed over with his tiny body facing him. He wanted to mimic how Queen Tehila made Little Han sit on her lap facing everyone.
How can he turn Little Han's body now? He looked at the elders around not knowing what to do.
Little Han also blinked at him in confusion. He tilted his head, observing Nathan's expression then letting out an innocent giggle as he couldn't understand that the person holding him was now having a big trouble on how to handle him carefully.
He just flashed his milk teeth cutely, making his Uncle Nathan flush red upon finding him extremely loveable.
The elders also chuckled and somehow enjoyed watching one of the younger generations become troubled in taking care of children like Little Han.
But seeing that Nathan was about to explode from embarrassment the women patiently instructed him how to safely carry Little Han in his lap.
After the twist, turns and clumsy infant handling, Little Han was finally sitting on Nathan's lap. He was so happy to feel the 'ground' after hanging in the air for so long. He happily lifted his body up and wiggled up and down laughing heartily.
Nathan was in panic for a while but soon he was able to get the knack of it and became more comfortable in holding his nephew. A subtle and proud smile bloomed in his stiff face.
"Alright, Little Han, call this boy uncle!" Aquila was so happy to see his son finally interacting with Little Han, therefore she moved to deepen his son's relationship with his little nephew.
"Boi… um..kle.." Little Han mimicked according to Grandma Aquila's instruction however, he mimicked "Boy Uncle" instead of just the word "Uncle"!
"Pfttt! Hahaha!!! Boy Uncle!! Hahahaha Little Han you are so good!! So good!" Orion was the first one to realize what Little Han did, he was laughing so hard that his dwarf body almost rolled off the floor.
The elders also realized what Little Han said and they also bursted out laughing without holding back.
Little Han thought that he did well after seeing the elders laugh so much, so he also flashed his little milk teeth and smiled proudly.
Nathan on the other hand was at a loss, he couldn't get angry over what Little Han said, but he was aggrieved at how Orion used it to make fun of him. Now he was so embarrased infront of the Imperial Family, the Grandmasters and his elders!
The celebration day of Little Han's first word was spent like this. Bonds were established and strengthened over warm interaction and good food!
Eli and Leon, although helpless, allowed themselves to take a break and follow the suit.
For tomorrow would be another battle for them in order to give Little Han more days like this.
