I Picked Up My Father Who Left Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Picked Up My Father Who Left Home 22

 

 

 

 

 

“Anyway, I’ll attend the ball alone.”

 

Though she was a bit young to attend the ball, it wouldn’t be a significant issue.

 

After all, she was attending as the head of the Sithran Duchy, so her age didn’t matter.

 

Of course, the thought of attending an event filled with nobles older than her made her feel awkward, anticipating some troublesome experiences.

 

Debut age in high society is typically around sixteen, so there shouldn’t be anyone younger than her.

 

“Are you sure?”

 

Cassian, looking concerned as if worrying about sending a small and adorable child alone into a ball full of hyenas, expressed his concern.

 

“Yes, I’m fine. I am the lady of the Sithran Duchy, after all.”

 

Lia responded with a determined voice. If she couldn’t handle even this much, it would be better to give up the position of the head of the family.

 

“Quite impressive.”

 

As if proud and pleased, Cassian patted Lia’s head firmly.

 

“I wish you wouldn’t treat me like a child.”

 

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable with Cassian’s attitude, which seemed like treating her as his own daughter, Lia spoke a bit assertively.

 

“As if. Our angel baby is already the lady of the Sithran Duchy. So, this is just me being overly concerned.”

 

Regardless of Lia’s age, looking at her willingness to think of the family and take responsibility, she was more than qualified as the head of the family.

 

There might be some areas where she lacked experience, but those were things she could fill in.

 

So, it wasn’t because he doubted or didn’t acknowledge her; it was just Cassian’s pure concern for the lovely girl.

 

“For now, let’s go with that.”

 

“Rather than that, just in case, I’ll send someone to take care of our angel baby instead of me.”

 

“No, there’s no need for that…”

 

“I’ll just be here, seemingly present yet not. If there comes a moment when our angel baby needs help, that’s when I’ll step in.”

 

More competent than anyone else, Cassian believed he could trust and entrust Lia.

 

With a generally laid-back personality, there wouldn’t be anyone thinking that Cassian’s intervention had anything to do with Lia.

 

“… Okay, I understand.”

 

Although she brought up the words considering herself, Lia accepted Cassian’s suggestion as refusing wouldn’t be courteous.

 

This was common sense, and accepting his proposal seemed better than him intervening in case of trouble at the social gathering.

 

“You’re kind.”

 

Satisfied with Lia’s response, Cassian continued to pat her head gently.

 

It was as if he was treating his only beloved daughter.

 

Watching his actions towards his lovely daughter, Lia felt subtle emotions again.

 

Just, how should she put it?

 

It was a nostalgic feeling.

 

As there was no one left to pat her head anymore.

 

So, Lia simply remained there without rejecting his touch.

 

This affectionate gesture was gently soothing her tired heart.

 

In return, Cassian comfortably continued to pat her head.

 

Beyond his rough palm, her soft hair, the small and round head, looked utterly lovely.

 

“But until when will you keep doing this?”

 

Due to the missed timing, Lia, who had been sitting on Cassian’s lap, finally signaled him to let her go.

 

“I haven’t set a specific time.”

 

“I’m not asking about that, I’m asking you to let me go.”

 

“Hm.”

 

At Lia’s urging, Cassian made a slightly displeased expression.

 

Now, the feeling of something filling his empty heart, asking him to let her go.

 

It was regrettable to let her go like this.

 

Ideally, he wanted to hold her in his arms for a lifetime.

 

Although he had never felt such emotions in all his life, Lia was an exception.

 

She stirred up emotions he didn’t know he had, always capturing his attention.

 

‘Is this some kind of protective instinct? No, maybe maternal… paternal love?’

 

Yes, there was something about Lia that oddly triggered that.

 

“Hey, Khal?”

 

Despite asking him to let her down, Lia shivered as Cassian, instead of loosening his grip, held her tighter.

 

However, it didn’t seem like he was hugging her too tightly, yet releasing his arms around her waist was proving to be difficult.

 

“Whenever the angel baby calls me Khal, it gives me a strange feeling.”

 

Was it a nostalgic feeling?

 

Or perhaps the sensation of experiencing something awaited for too long?

 

Regardless, every time she called him, Cassian felt like he was encountering something veiled in mist.

 

“I feel the same way. So, I wish you would stop calling me the angel baby, but it seems you won’t listen.”

 

Cassian pretended not to hear, ignoring Lia’s sulky tone.

 

Filtering out others’ words with one ear and letting them out through the other was something he excelled at.

 

“Anyway, please let me down. It’s time for me to go. I have work to do.”

 

“Just like this.”

 

“Is it uncomfortable?”

 

“I’m comfortable.”

 

Lia was annoyed by Cassian’s confident response.

 

It’s not about what’s comfortable for the house right now!

 

How self-centered a person can be sometimes.

 

“But since the angel baby wants to go down, there’s nothing I can do.”

 

Cassian reluctantly let Lia down with a regretful expression.

 

Even if he couldn’t hear other people’s voices, how could he ignore the words of the angel baby?

 

Other people’s voices might sound like buzzing pig noises, but Lia’s voice was clear and sweet like a beautiful melody.

 

“Thank you again for the gift. Then, please take care.”

 

“… Tsk.”

 

Cassian expressed dissatisfaction with the clear dismissal.

 

His angel baby, affectionate yet incredibly cold and firm.

 

However, recognizing that he could no longer disrupt her while she worked, Cassian left without protest.

 

He had tasks of his own to attend to.

 

One of them was sending a letter to his chief aide regarding her attendance at the ball.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amidst busy days performing her duties as a duke, the day of the ball arrived.

 

“Ah, I really don’t want to go…”

 

Despite having a mountain of unfinished tasks, going to the ball while leaving them behind made her even more uncomfortable.

 

Nevertheless, fortunately, she was somewhat prepared for the event.

 

So, after attending the ball, Lia planned to thoroughly organize her surroundings.

 

Naturally, her first targets would be the distant relatives who had been a nuisance.

 

“Since I don’t need to stay long, I’ll just show my face for a moment.”

 

There was nothing to gain from lingering at a boring ball.

 

With such thoughts, Lia sat quietly in her chair, receiving the assistance of her maids.

 

However, after two hours, she gradually began to feel tired.

 

While she could work for three or four hours without realizing the time, sitting still for dressing felt more boring and tedious than she had expected.

 

Fortunately, the lengthy dressing time ended before Lia’s patience ran out.

 

“Lady of the house, you look truly beautiful!”

 

The maid, who had finished all the preparations, looked at Lia with an admiring expression.

 

Lia was already exceptionally lovely, but after being meticulously adorned for the ball, there was no comparison.

 

The only slightly regrettable aspect was that she couldn’t dress up as much as she wanted.

 

Before entrusting her appearance to the maids, Lia made one specific request.

 

It was about attending as the lady of the house, not as the young lady of the duke. The message was clear: she didn’t want to be overly adorned like a child.

 

Thanks to this, Lia couldn’t choose the most charming dresses and accessories that would accentuate her beauty.

 

The dress had to be elegant yet modest, and the accessories had to convey a mature feeling. Any ribbons or cute hairpins suitable for Lia’s age group were strictly off-limits.

 

“Thank you. You did well.”

 

Lia greeted herself with satisfaction as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

 

Perhaps due to the experienced maids, they perfectly understood and adorned her according to Lia’s instructions.

 

Lia’s reflection in the mirror looked neither too childlike nor overly mature, striking the right balance.

 

Trying too hard to look like an adult in mismatched clothes could be awkward, but the maids skillfully maintained that delicate balance.

 

“We’ve only done what we should.”

 

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

 

After exchanging friendly greetings with the maids, Lia opened the door and stepped out.

 

To her surprise, instead of the knight who was originally supposed to escort her, Cassian appeared.

 

“Why is Khal here?”

 

“I may not be attending the ball, but I can’t miss the precious opportunity to escort the angel baby.”

 

“Still…”

 

“I’ll just escort you, no need to worry.”

 

Ideally, Lia would have liked to follow him all the way to the ballroom, but revealing her existence and the fact that she stayed at the duke’s estate was not something she could afford.

 

“That’s fortunate, then.”

 

“But…”

 

Cassian looked at Lia, who was unusually adorned, with a grave expression. His voice was lower than usual.

 

Lia looked at him with a puzzled expression, wondering why he was acting this way.

 

“It’s said that it’s good to have various experiences when you’re young.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

Lia, looking puzzled once again, couldn’t understand why Cassian suddenly made such a remark.

 

“So, how about considering getting kidnapped for a different experience?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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