I Picked Up My Father Who Left Home 49
“… Alright. Then I’ll go to sleep now.”
Lia nodded as if she understood Cassian’s words.
The drowsiness, already seeping in gradually, suddenly poured over her.
Even if it wasn’t for his words, continuing the conversation in this state was impractical.
“I’ll take you to your room.”
“No, I’m fine go alone.”
“Alright, I’m fine to go there with you too.”
With these words, Cassian lifted Lia, who was sitting on his lap, into his arms.
Lia lightly protested as if she didn’t need it, but it had little effect.
For Cassian, it just seemed like a cute child’s charm.
Realizing her resistance was futile, Lia quickly stopped struggling.
‘Well, it’s comfortable and nice.’
She was feeling drowsy anyway, constantly struggling to keep her eyes open.
Thanks to being able to comfortably reach her room, she decided to think positively about it.
Such thoughts lasted only briefly.
Having never stayed up this late, Lia quickly fell asleep in Cassian’s arms.
Cassian treaded carefully, mindful not to wake Lia. It didn’t take long to reach her bedroom. With a touch as gentle as she was precious, he softly laid her on the bed.
Perhaps worn out, Lia remained undisturbed even in that moment.
She only seemed slightly uncomfortable, tossing and turning.
Cassian stood silently, observing Lia’s peaceful sleep.
What’s special about this child actually.
What makes her so extraordinary, capturing his attention so completely?
Watching her, he felt an urgency not to miss or lose something vital.
Simultaneously, there was an unspoken serenity and comfort in being by her side.
That was why.
Why he couldn’t help but care for her.
Why he couldn’t let even the smallest thing pass.
“I never thought there could be such a lovable presence in the world.”
Lovable seemed insufficient to describe the emotions he felt watching Lia.
Just that expression couldn’t encapsulate the depth of what he felt seeing her.
Even as he continued to gaze at Lia in silence.
As if having a troubling dream, Cassian noticed Lia’s face tensing. He gently reached out to comfort her.
While her expression eased a bit under his soothing touch, there still lingered a discomfort.
Cassian decided to keep watching Lia sleep a little longer.
Pulling a chair close, he sat by the bed, reaching out to hold Lia’s hand.
Sometimes, a touch from someone can bring immense comfort and tranquility.
Even in her sleep, Lia instinctively recognized the touch of someone holding her hand, grasping it tightly.
It was a desperate yet poignant gesture, as if clinging to something with a sense of urgency and vulnerability.
“Sleep well, my angel baby. I wish you always have a wonderful dream.”
She carried burdens beyond her young age, facing trials accordingly.
As much as she endured, Cassian wished for her peace, at least while she slept.
How long he silently watched Lia sleeping, only Cassian knew.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he blinked, falling asleep momentarily.
He dreamed.
It was an exceedingly happy dream, but its joy didn’t last.
In an instant, the scene changed.
Cassian found himself witnessing someone’s death.
No, more precisely, he had to witness the aftermath of a death.
There were no corpses, but the floor was covered in blood, and the once neat space was now in disarray, hinting at the tragedy that had unfolded.
Cassian screamed.
He lamented not being able to protect what he held so dear.
Unable to keep his vow, losing even the body.
Cassian was crumbling, on the verge of becoming stone and crumbling away in the wind.
What held him was the sound of a baby’s cry, echoing from somewhere.
Realizing it, Cassian hurriedly moved toward the source of the crying.
There, a baby, barely three months old, was crying, born into this world not long ago.
This child was the fruit of love between him and his beloved wife.
The child whom he would gladly give all his love without reservation.
Cassian gently reached out and embraced the baby.
‘I will protect you at all costs.’
He would never let this child go as he did with her.
For this, Cassian made a difficult decision.
Everything was for the sake of the child.
Keeping the child with him, after the exposure of her existence, posed a danger.
With that, Cassian woke up from his dream.
Strangely, he couldn’t remember any details of the dream.
What remained for Cassian were the emotions he felt in the dream.
Also, the last commitment.
“… Whom was I trying to protect?”
And again, whom did he lose?
Shapeless memories complicated Cassian’s mind once more.
However, there was one thing he remembered.
He was chasing someone.
Perhaps the person who had hurt him, someone he was pursuing.
Why he was chasing that person and who that person was, remained unknown.
Those details didn’t come to him.
But the strong sense of needing to find that person lingered in his thoughts.
Therefore, regardless of who that person was, Cassian was determined to make them pay for everything they had done.
It was necessary.
That was his ultimate goal.
However, there was one more thing added to it.
The happiness of the child, sleeping so peacefully right in front of him.
Cassian could do anything for that.
***
The next day, Lia greeted the morning.
Perhaps it was because of a later bedtime than usual.
The drowsiness didn’t seem to disappear easily.
But oversleeping at this point would be troublesome.
Lia blinked her eyes and managed to get out of bed.
Then, after a quick meal, she headed straight to her study.
There would be piles of work waiting for her on the desk even at this hour.
How focused was she on her tasks?
Knock, knock.
The precise sound of knocking echoed, almost like a machine.
The door opened, and Cassian entered.
“Angel baby, it’s time for a meal.”
“Oh, is it already?”
Starting the day later than usual seemed to have thrown off her sense of time.
Lia turned her head to glance out the window, noticing that the day had gradually darkened.
Eventually, it seemed like she had just skipped lunch altogether.
Nevertheless, she didn’t feel particularly hungry. Due to having breakfast late, hunger arrived late as well.
“For a growing child, meals are one of the most important things.”
That’s why Cassian personally came to find Lia.
Otherwise, she might skip even dinner just to focus on work.
Hearing that she hadn’t eaten lunch either, it was essential for her to have at least two proper meals a day.
“I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Of course not. Being this young, if you don’t eat properly, you might collapse.”
Even now, don’t you naturally feel sympathy when you look at her?
In that sense, Cassian wasn’t particularly fond of House Sithran.
It’s not like there’s a shortage of talent in the house, so why is Lia the only one working herself to exhaustion?
Isn’t it pitiful that this young child has no time to play and only works?
Of course, Cassian was aware.
The nature of House Sithran’s position.
The fact that Lia wasn’t the only one with a lot of work.
After all, it’s House of Sithran.
Considering the weight that House Sithran holds within the Empire, it was only natural.
However, naturally turning a blind eye to everything that made Lia’s life difficult didn’t sit well with Cassian.
“I, um, am healthier and sturdier than I look, you know?”
She wasn’t originally small and weak. By that logic, does being bigger mean healthier and sturdier?
“Well, I feel like your bones might break if I poke you.”
This was no exaggeration.
By Cassian’s standards, Lia was truly a delicate child who seemed like her bones could break with a single blow.
Since it was very rare for someone not to have their bones broken after hitting Cassian.
“It’s not that bad.”
“You never know.”
If it were someone else, Cassian might have confirmed it by actually hitting her to break her bones, but how could he do such a cruel thing to his angel baby?
Cassian simply let the topic slide.
“Anyway, it’s time to go eat.”
“There’s still a bit of work left…”
With the feeling that if she worked a little more, she could finish soon, Lia hesitated to have a meal now.
It would be more comfortable to finish what she was doing before having a meal.
In response to Lia’s answer, Cassian made a slightly stern expression.
“No. Eating comes first.”
He couldn’t see her neglecting meals while at an age where she should be playing.
Despite Cassian’s words, Lia, with a face showing her reluctance, continued to gaze at the documents on the desk without intending to get up.
Cassian, as if to say he had no choice, walked toward Lia.
Then, he gently lifted Lia into his arms.
“Is it going to be like this again?”
“It’s considerate care filled with my feelings for my hardworking angel baby.”
Even walking on a hard floor seemed strenuous for his angel baby.
“After the meal, let’s continue the conversation we couldn’t finish yesterday.”
It might be good to take a short break from work.
Lia seemed too absorbed in work, like a ghost from a past life who died without working.
No matter how important the duties of a guardian were, it couldn’t justify subjecting a child to exhaustion.
At that age, there were many things that could only be done at that age.
“Got it.”
Lia nodded as if there was no other choice.
The documents still on the desk bothered her, but what could she do?
Cassian wasn’t someone who would easily let her go.
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