"What's going on? Did I see that right?" the adjutant wondered. "That doesn't look like a work video."
Unable to contain his curiosity, he took another peek. It was the same familiar Little Mochi from this morning, but instead of a photo, it was a video. She looked even prettier and better-behaved in motion. Just look at how elegantly she sat! The way her little knees were pressed together was simply too adorable. She took tiny bites, her chubby cheeks puffing out into perfect rounds as she focused entirely on her meal. It made him want to scoop her up and give her a giant, squishing hug.
The adjutant was so engrossed that he didn't realize he had leaned halfway across the desk.
Shawn Russell shot him a sharp look. "What are you looking at?"
The icy tone jolted the adjutant out of his daze, instantly wiping the doting smile off his face. He quickly snapped his head back. "I apologize, Marshal!"
He hurriedly set out the food, casting one last reluctant glance at the screen. The Marshal was already playing the video for the third time! Since when did the Marshal have such a peculiar hobby? He actually liked watching Little Mochi-like cubs. And a cub eating with such gusto, at that!
He wanted one too, so badly he could cry. Opening his own terminal, the adjutant secretly scoured the internet for cub videos. However, after watching several clips of cubs destroying houses and fighting until their faces contorted into vicious snarls, he quickly calmed down. As expected, it was impossible for the Starbeast Clan to produce such a well-behaved, cute, and soft cub! Where on earth did the Marshal find that video? He wanted a cub like that too!
Completely unaware that his adjutant was coveting his cub, Shawn hit play for the fifth time. He ate his meal while watching the soft Little Mochi eat hers.
"Lunch seems to taste significantly better today than usual," the expressionless Marshal thought. He glanced at the video he had looped five times and fell into a rare, stunned silence.
His hand... seemed to have a mind of its own.
That independent hand saved both the video and the photos. After finishing his lunch, he resumed working as if nothing had happened. However, his pace was noticeably faster today. Upon wrapping up his duties ahead of schedule, the great Marshal—who normally worked late into the night and sometimes slept at the Military Department for days on end—clocked out early.
The adjutant stared in utter bewilderment as the Marshal gave him brief instructions to handle the aftermath. He watched in stunned silence as the man boarded his hovercar and left the Military Department.
"What just happened? Did the Marshal actually leave work early?!" the adjutant thought frantically. "This is impossible. I must still be dreaming!"
But the truth remained: their workaholic Marshal had genuinely left early.
Meanwhile, at the Marshal's Estate.
"Miss, it's getting a bit chilly out here. Let's go wait inside," the old butler urged gently, handing her a glass of warm milk.
Little Ruby Rowland's fair cheeks flushed slightly. "I'm not cold," she replied shyly in her sweet, milky voice. "Mila is keeping me company."
She didn't mention that she was waiting for her daddy, but the anticipation in her eyes was impossible to hide. Taking tiny sips of the warm milk, Ruby genuinely didn't feel cold at all. Just the thought of seeing her daddy soon was enough to warm her heart.
Seeing her hopeful expression, the butler couldn't help but gently temper her expectations. "The Marshal is incredibly busy every day. It's quite common for him to not return home for days at a time. Please don't get your hopes up too high, Miss Rowland."
Hearing this, the sparkle in Ruby's eyes dimmed with disappointment. "Will Daddy come home today, then?"
The butler didn't know how to answer. He was just about to comfort her when a familiar hovercar sped toward them. Ruby's gloomy eyes instantly lit up. Her little short legs broke into a sprint, the entire Little Mochi practically vibrating with excitement.
The butler, who had assumed the Family Head wouldn't return today, was left speechless. "Not only did he come back, but he returned so early," he thought. "Does this even make sense?!"
Ruby had already stopped a short distance from the hovercar's parking spot, her watery blue eyes filled with longing. Her brows curved and her lips curled upward, making her look exactly like a fluffy, snow-white cloud adorned with a rainbow.
Shawn had spotted the little milky Mochi running toward him while he was still inside the vehicle. On his usually expressionless face, his normally straight-lined lips twitched upward into an imperceptible arc.
The moment he stepped out, the soft little dumpling bounded right up to him, her small face flushed with joy.
"Daddy!" Ruby's tender voice rang out crisply. She tilted her delicate face up to him, her eyes curving into beautiful, clear crescents. "Daddy, you're back."
Ruby was absolutely thrilled. Yet, due to her introverted and easily embarrassed nature, she refrained from throwing herself into his arms, feeling it would be impolite. Instead, she just approached him with quiet, well-behaved caution.
Shawn didn't say much. His expression didn't even seem to change, remaining as cold as ever. But he held out a hand. "Let's go home."
His tone was still aloof, yet Ruby heard the very warmth she had always needed within those words.
Home. It was a simple word, but true fulfillment came from more than just having a roof over one's head and enough food to survive.
Ruby stared at the broad palm presented to her. Her father's hand was calloused from years of training. It looked incredibly strong and offered an immense sense of security. Without hesitation, she placed her tiny hand—which wasn't even a third the size of his—into his palm, allowing his large hand to envelop her fragile-looking one.
Shawn walked forward without a word, the snow-white Little Mochi shadowing his every step. However, her legs were too short, making it hard for her to keep up. Noticing this, the icy man slowed his pace, ensuring that the tiny daughter by his side wouldn't have to struggle.
Watching from a distance, the butler smiled in gratification. He truly hoped the relationship between this father and daughter would only continue to improve.
Upon reaching the entryway, Ruby trotted ahead and pulled her daddy's slippers from the shoe cabinet, followed by her own. "Daddy, change your shoes."
Shawn paused and ruffled her soft hair. "You don't need to do this."
Ruby tilted her head and nuzzled against his palm, the picture of obedience. "Daddy works so hard. This is the only little thing Ruby can do for you."
It wasn't an act of flattery; she genuinely wanted to do something for him from the bottom of her heart. But she was too small, and her capabilities were limited. Unable to help with anything major, she could only find little everyday tasks to do.
Watching him swap his shoes and place his military boots into the cabinet, Ruby padded over in her own little slippers. She gingerly reached out and grabbed her daddy's large hand once again.
He didn't reject her!
She was so happy! If she had a tail right then, it would definitely have pointed straight up at the sky.