Eira stared at her uncle and shook her head again.
"Eira cannot teach Fourth Uncle," she said, her voice soft. "Fourth Uncle cannot be like Eira."
Karl immediately asked, "Why can't I? Didn't you just say I'm handsome as well?"
The little girl nodded again.
And her nod like that only confused Karl more.
"Then why can't I be the same?"
"Because Fourth Uncle isn't the same as Eira," she said. "Eira is small, and Fourth Uncle is big. He cannot be like Eira."
And suddenly, her words settled in.
Karl understood.
And he couldn't refute it.
Loving Eira and adoring her would be of course different from doing the same for him.
How had he not realized it?
His lips pursed, and his expression fell into a sulk. "Then what should I do?" he asked. "Won't Sister-in-law treat me the same?"
Eira thought for a moment before speaking.
"Mama protected you."
Karl nodded.
"Then that means Mama cares for Fourth Uncle too," she added.
And suddenly, that made Karl feel better.
