Yul saw Inu still looking at him with the same expression. So he started to pick up the rest of the candies from the ground. He put everything in his one hand and extended it towards Inu. "Here… dad will help Inu fill the jar. Take it. I can also buy you another if Inu wants. Come on, take it…"
Inu again looked at his mom. Liya gently nodded her head to make Inu agree. Inu finally took one step towards Yul. The scene looked like as if someone was trying to coerce a scared pet animal with its favourite food. Inu in fact really looked like a scared little rabbit with his large round eyes focussed on Yul's hand in fear as well as doubt.
Yul extended his hand a bit more to make Inu reach the candies. Finally after pondering for some time, Inu took them and put it back in the jar. Yul picked up the jar's cap and gave it to Inu. With his petite hands Inu closed the jar with some effort so as not to drop it again.
Yul slowly made a move and extended his right hand towards Inu in the intention that he could take it. To Liya's surprise without further compulsion Inu placed his left hand over Yul's while he kept hugging the jar to his chest. Yul felt some weird sensation on having a small warm hand on his big stiff palm and looked at it carefully.
Yul carefully pulled Inu towards him and asked holding his hand, "Then did Inu forgive dad?"
Inu nodded yes. But he was actually focussed on the golden brooch on Yul's chest. It was a crescent moon with two smaller stars hanging from it by chain at different heights. Inu wanted to touch it but didn't dare to.
Yul noticed where Inu was concentrated. So he took Inu's hand and made him touch the brooch. "Go on… touch it…" he said gently. Inu looked at Yul then examined the brooch in wonder as if he was really touching stars.
Yul wrapped his other hand around Inu slowly and asked again, "So did Inu forgive dad?"
Inu nodded again. But that wasn't what Yul actually wanted. So he asked Inu in a more gentle and caring manner, "If Inu has really forgiven dad, then can Inu call me dad?"
Liya closed her eyes tightly and clenched her teeth in annoyance on hearing that. 'You really want to go all out, all at once, don't you?' She said in her mind. But it wasn't something she could say to Yul out loud because they had to keep up the story in the most believable way in front of everyone. If they were to meet the guests in person, and Inu still feared Yul, then it would be an unexplainable situation. 'But shouldn't he have tried to coerce Inu before? Why now, like studying for the exam before the bell rings?' She shook her head in disbelief talking to herself in mind.
Inu raised his small head and looked at Yul's eyes. He hesitated to answer Yul. For help he called Liya, "Momma…"
Liya had no choice now. She clenched her fists in anger and then said, "It's okay dear. Go on… call him dad…"
"Dad..." Inu finally said in a very low voice.
"I didn't hear that. Can you say it one more time?" Yul requested.
"Dad..." Inu said with some more voice.
Yul was unexpectedly happy to hear that. "Oh…my pretty boy…" He said. He then picked up Inu and stood up.
Inu suddenly grabbed on to his shoulder not to fall, though there was no chance that he would. As Inu looked around from Yul's hand, he saw how beautiful the garden behind them was. From a height he has never before seen, he saw the garden they had walked through in a new light. Inu was engulfed in seeing different flowers and plants, and he kept on watching them from Yul's height.
Liya could see that Inu has finally accepted Yul, seeing him getting relaxed to look around even after getting picked up by Yul. It made Liya really uncomfortable.
"Let's go back now. We need to hurry; otherwise someone will come looking for us shortly." Yul said to Liya and started walking towards the glass house in the front. Liya followed from behind and Inu was still enjoying the view as everything looked different from a height.
At the palace, everyone had already started to notice the absence of bride and groom. Thamina sensed the questions in the face of others and had quickly dispersed some servants to look for Yul before someone raised the question directly. One of them even came back reporting where he had seen Yul.
Thamina became furious on hearing that Yul was actually bring both Liya and Inu to meet everyone. All she cared for was Inu and wanted to remove Liya as soon as possible. So was the case with others too, they were also eagerly waiting to meet the next heir and not an unknown woman who actually destroyed some possible marriage prospects they had looked forward to.
When Yul and Liya almost reached the glass house, one of Yul's grandmas was already waiting for them on the way. Liya could only recognise the finely aged woman as one of the grandmas but couldn't recognise which one it was. After all he had three, which was uncommon.
She was obviously waiting for them and Yul went towards her with a pleasant face quickly. Liya followed him and greeted the old lady with respect on reaching near.