Chapter 1406

"Hey, my beard!" Dominic cried out in pain, his beard having fallen victim to Galen's playful grasp. Galen, meanwhile, lay sprawled across Dominic's chest, the gray hairs clutched between his fingers. These were Galen's current favorite "toy."

"Where are the toys? Where are the snacks? Did you guys bring them yet?!" Dominic exclaimed. He couldn't bring himself to scold Galen, however, gently rising to his feet. Lily hurried over, gently taking Galen from Dominic, and softly reprimanded him. "You can't do that! It's bad!"

"Bat?" Galen looked around, flapping his arms, his eyes searching for bats. The absurdity of his confusion made Dominic chuckle. "It's fine," he said, rising fully. "He's still a young boy. What would he know? It's my people's fault for being too slow with the toys!"

The servants, already frantically assembling a play area overflowing with snacks and toys, were speechless. This vast, contained space had always been Galen's designated play zone, preventing him from wandering. Whenever he arrived, the servants swiftly prepared it, ensuring he was surrounded by a sea of toys.

Lily was speechless, but Dominic was a different story. He called Galen a punk, and while admittedly afraid of the boy, he also spoiled him relentlessly. Lily's attempts to reprimand Galen were always cut short by Dominic's intervention. Lily concluded it was Dominic's fault Galen pulled his beard—after all, Dominic had initially allowed it. The act had become a bad habit, Galen finding Dominic's beard an intriguing plaything.

Lily shook her head. "I'll need to go to your herb garden in the backyard. May I?"

"Just go! No need to be so polite," Dominic waved casually. He paused, a sudden thought striking him. "Wait. If you go to the backyard..." he pointed to Galen, happily engrossed in his toys, "...he's here, isn't he?"

Lily nodded. "Thanks in advance!"

Without another word, she headed towards the backyard. Though she had her own herb garden, it paled in comparison to Dominic's. They called it a backyard, but traversing it would take an entire evening. Dominic's massive manor, nestled near the mountains, enjoyed a climate ideal for most plants; those needing extra care resided in his greenhouse. The variety of herbs was astonishing; Lily doubted he lacked any, but she was confident of finding most she needed.

She'd studied the plants Anastasia had sent, noting their medicinal properties and forming a rough understanding of the complex toxin created by their combined effects. The antidote required ingredients beyond her own garden's capacity, necessitating a trip to Dominic's for a swift solution. Anastasia's situation demanded immediate attention; Lily had promised to help and couldn't bear to see her suffer any longer. She planned a visit to Burnwken once Anastasia was better, despite her pregnancy and Alexander's requests for her to rest. The uncertainty surrounding Alexander's situation abroad was too much to bear.

"Hey!" Dominic called, attempting to stop Lily, but she was already gone. He turned to the little boy amidst his toys. Galen looked up, their eyes met, and Galen, giggling, stretched out his arms. "Pull, pull..."