IBMMLLWAM Chapter 054

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At the sound of the door opening, Cian opened his eyes and raised his head.

Dolorosa’s face, visible through the crack in the door, was swollen with tears.

“Dad…”

Hearing her calling to him, Cian immediately hugged Dolorosa.

“Dolly, Dolorosa…!”

He was touched and overwhelmed with joy that Dolorosa called him ‘dad’, thankful that she opened the door and came out to see him. He had no room for any other thoughts.

Trapped in Cian’s strong arms, she stuttered and struggled to breathe.

“Ooh, huh. Ah, Dad. I-I can’t breathe!”

“Ah. Sorry. I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

Startled, Cian let go of her, and the girl took a deep breath.

“Haa. Haaa. Yes, I’m okay.”

“I’m so sorry. Dad, no, I was so happy, no, I was glad to see you… I shouldn’t have behaved like that suddenly, not without your permission.”

He tried to choose his words carefully, afraid of hurting Dolorosa, but unlike usual, he couldn’t calm down.

Watching Cian stammer and fumble, Dolorosa blushed and laughed.

“Haha. Dad, you’re talking funny.”

His heart ached hearing her clearly call him ‘dad’.

‘She called me Dad. She still calls me Dad, even though she knows everything now.’

Cian knelt down and bowed his head.

He was happy Dolorosa opened her door, grateful she didn’t scold him for hugging her without warning, thankful she called him dad and smiled at him. He was filled with happiness.

Dolorosa, who had been quietly watching Cian with his head down, extended her arms and pulled his head into her small embrace.

“I’m sorry, Dad. You must have been upset because of me, right?”

“No. Dad wasn’t upset at all.”

“Really? Dolly hates lies.”

Cian’s large shoulders shook slightly.

“…I’m sorry. That was a lie. I was upset. It was the first time I felt this much pain and I didn’t know what to do.”

“I’m sorry. Dolly is really sorry. You love me more than anything in the world, but I didn’t realize it.”

“It’s okay. As long as you’re okay, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know how I feel.”

Dolorosa let go of Cian.

Cian lifted his head and met his daughter’s eyes, then smiled gently. Unlike before, he cautiously pulled Dolorosa into his arms. The little Dolorosa nestled perfectly into Cian’s big embrace.

When Dolorosa burrowed into his arms, the inside of her room became visible through the door crack. In the dark room, with the curtains drawn, Cian saw Rachel’s letter, which he’d given to Dolorosa, lying open.

What was in that letter that made Dolorosa cry and open her door?

As he pondered, Dolorosa tugged at Cian’s shirt.

“Dad, I have a question.”

“Ask me anything. I’ll answer honestly, no lies.”

“Why do you collect small and cute things? Like seashells and rocks.”

“Because when I see small and cute things, I think of you. I collect them one by one, thinking Dolly would like them, and if I bring them home, Dolly would be happy.”

“…Then why do you like rabbits?”

“Because they remind me of you.”

“What about summer?”

“Summer was the season you came to me.”

“Why do you like the color blue?”

“Because you like blue. You love the sea and the sky.”

Dolorosa fell silent. The child just let out a sigh of relief in Cian’s arms and didn’t ask or say anything else.

Cian lowered his head but couldn’t see Dolorosa’s face. After observing her child’s movements, he cautiously spoke.

“Do you not like my answers?”

“No! I like them! I like them a lot!”

Her voice raised in protest as she lifted her head, making Cian find her adorable.

“You weren’t saying anything, so I got curious.”

“I had no idea you liked those things because of me.”

Seeing Dolorosa respond sullenly, Cian couldn’t help but laugh.

Even though she seemed mature, she was still a child. Rachel figured it out instantly, but even though he was showing Dolly so much affection, Dolly never knew it was because of her.

“Dad loves Dolly more than anything in the world. Because I love Dolly, I ended up loving everything you love too.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t realize.”

Dolorosa wrapped her short arms around Cian’s waist in a hug. Even though her small arms couldn’t fully encircle his waist, Cian felt complete.

“Countess Rachel wrote it in the letter. Everything my dad likes, he likes because of me. I really didn’t know. I just thought dad was a really cute guy.”

“I should thank Countess Rachel for writing such a letter.”

“I was really shocked that dad lied to me. I thought dad was a liar and got scared, wondering if everything you said about me being pretty or liking me was a lie.”

“Daddy scared Dolly.”

Dolorosa shook her head in Cian’s arms.

” No. It’s okay. I understand now. It couldn’t be helped. It was difficult for you to speak clearly because Dolly was still young, right?”

“Yes. In dad’s eyes, Dolly still looks like a baby.”

“Even though you lied about being my real dad, everything else was true, right? That I’m the prettiest, that you love me the most, that you love playing with me the most.”

“That’s right.”

“Hng. Dad! Me too, me too! I really love my dad! I like my dad even if he’s not my real dad! I’m not going to see His Majesty the Emperor! Dolly will continue to be daddy’s daughter!”

Dolorosa burst into tears, not out of fear, anger, hurt, or frustration, but from relief, joy, gratitude, and apology.

Cian held the child tightly in his arms until Dolorosa stopped crying.

 

* * *

 

Rachel and Graham had been wandering around in front of the mansion for a while.

Today was the day Rachel, Dolorosa, and Graham were supposed to give Cian a cake they decorated together. It was Cian’s birthday.

Graham stomped his foot.

“What if the princess doesn’t come today?”

“Indeed. It would make His Highness happier if we all delivered the cake together.”

“Ugh, why isn’t the princess coming?”

Graham wasn’t told anything. It was unfortunate that the child was anxious, but explaining the situation was up to Cian and Dolorosa, not her.

Dolorosa was smart and had deep thoughts and feelings. If she’d read Rachel’s letter, she would have understood Cian’s feelings and reconciled without unnecessary stubbornness.

Despite knowing this, Rachel was also anxious. The human mind often moves differently from what one thinks.

When it was time to practice swordsmanship, a carriage appeared in the distance beyond the garden. It was a luxurious and beautiful carriage belonging to the Dicarsignac family.

When the carriage stopped at the entrance to the mansion, the driver got down and opened the door.

Dressed neatly in training attire, Cian stepped out of the carriage. When his eyes met Rachel’s briefly, he smiled kindly as before.

Relief flooded Rachel’s heart.

‘Thank goodness. I guess it worked out well.’

Cian, standing on the ground, reached into the carriage. A white, dainty hand came out through the crack in the door and rested on Cian’s palm. It was Dolorosa.

Graham’s lips twisted as if he was about to burst into tears.

“Oh, it’s the princess.”

Rachel bent her knees and greeted Dolorosa and Cian.

“We’re very glad to have you here, Your Highness. And princess.”

Dolorosa smiled shyly as she looked at Rachel and Graham.

“Hello, Countess Rachel and Graham. I feel so embarrassed that you came out and waited like this.”

“Of course we would wait. How are you feeling?”

“Very good. Thanks to Countess Rachel. Thanks to the letter you sent, I learned that dad’s feelings were not lies. Thank you so much.”

Dolorosa folded her hands and bowed her head politely.

“I really couldn’t have imagined it. How did Countess Rachel know that my dad came to like so many things because of me?”

Since she seemed genuinely curious, Rachel blinked and looked at Cian. It was a silent inquiry whether she could tell the truth. Cian tilted his head slightly, giving permission.

“For the Archduke Dicarsignac, who is the most dignified in the Empire, to like such cute things seemed excessive.”

“Really?”

“Wouldn’t all the nobles in the Council be surprised to hear that His Highness collects seashells and likes rabbits?”

“No way! Dad suits rabbits so well!”

Dolorosa turned to Cian for agreement.

Cian shrugged.

“Marquis Dyer might faint from shock if he finds out that dad wears rabbit slippers in the mansion’s office.”

“Wow.”

Dolorosa seemed to have no idea what Cian was doing outside and expressed deep admiration several times.

“I thought I knew dad better than anyone, but I guess I didn’t. Wow. I’ll have to get to know dad better from now on! Dad, please take care of me.”

“I’ll take care of you, Dolly.”

“Hehe. Dad, now you’re going to teach Graham swordsmanship, right? I’m going with Countess Rachel to get my dress fitted…”

As she spoke, Dolorosa looked at Graham and her eyes widened.

“Graham? What’s wrong with your face?”

With red eyes and trembling shoulders, Graham finally burst into tears at Dolorosa’s call.

“Waaah! I thought you hated me! I thought you wouldn’t come to our house to play anymore! Hwaaaah!”

“Oh my, goodness. Graham. There’s no way I could hate you. You’re such a cute boy, why would I hate you?”

“But, but, you didn’t come to our house! I missed you, I was sad you didn’t come!”

“Were you? I’m sorry.”

Dolorosa, who was still a child herself, stroked Graham’s head gently.

“Shush, stop crying. I don’t hate you. How could I hate someone as cute as you? I was just resting at home because something bad happened.”

“Sniff. Really?”

“Of course, really.”

“Princess!”

“Yes, yes.”

As Dolorosa hugged Graham tightly with her small arms, Graham hugged her back with his even smaller arms.

It was at that moment that a strange sound was heard in the background as the cute and adorable children embraced.

“Ugh. Hehehehe.”

Graham and Dolorosa seemed surprised and hugged each other tighter, and Cian sighed deeply.

Rachel raised her head and looked toward the carriage of the Archduke Dicarsignac family, where she heard the sound coming from.

“Yaaawn. Ah, so noisy. You woke me up… Where am I?”

A small head popped up from over the roof of the carriage.

“Oh? Hello, everyone?”

It was Atreille.