I'm Searching for the Villainous Dad's Memories!

Episode 22

“There are so many trees! It’s refreshing! So spacious!”

The lush green scenery filled my view, making my eyes feel cool and relaxed. The rustling of leaves, the moist smell of grass and earth tickling my nose!

A forest right by the house!

Wintervald is truly rich!

And that rich person is my dad!

“Stop squirming. It’s making me dizzy.”

“I want to see the lake! Let’s go!”

Dad scoffed, as if it was absurd.

“Do you think I’ll take you to the lake just because you’re saying that?”

Exactly five minutes later, I was standing in front of the lake.

“It’s so beautiful, the lake…”

“There’s definitely a curse on my legs.”

Ignoring the Duke, who was fighting some unknown sense of self-loathing, I got down from my dad’s arms and started exploring around.

The most impressive thing was the ancient tree that looked like it had been there for hundreds of years.

“Wow… It’s just like Lepi Village.”

There was a tree like this in Lepi Village too.

At the end of a short forest path was a wide open field and a beautiful lake. The surface of the water, tinted with the red of the setting sun, shimmered with golden ripples.

Behind me was the lush green forest, and in front of me, the clear blue waves.

Though the details were different, for a moment, it felt like I had returned to the cabin where I lived with my dad.

I quickly returned to my dad’s side and spoke.

“I have a great idea! Let’s build a cabin here just like the one we had! Then maybe your memories will come back more clearly! We could make a vegetable garden over here, build a well and a storage shed in the back…!”

“No. I’m going to build an annex here.”

“Aw, okay.”

“…?”

At my response, my dad stopped talking and stared down at me.

“Why?”

“You gave up… pretty quickly.”

“I figured you’d say no anyway.”

“…”

I wasn’t a fool.

Just by looking at it, you could tell this was the kind of place where you’d build a luxurious villa or something. Not an old cabin.

I smiled brightly and took a deep breath of the fresh air.

“It’s fine! After all, once the procession is over, we’re going to Lepi Village together.”

We could stay there for a long time!

The house was still there, after all!

I played, stepping on the rustling leaves, discovering flowers, and collecting dew from the blades of grass.

“I really like it here! Did you play here when you were a kid, too? What did you do?”

“Well. I didn’t live here when I was young.”

“Huh? Why?”

Dad answered with a nonchalant face.

“Because children of the Wintervalt family aren’t allowed to enter the main estate until after they turn twelve.”

I blinked. Now that I think about it…

I had heard something like that.

‘The direct descendants of Wintervalt live outside and only come in after their magic awakens.’

Ruska Higgins was walking briskly.

He was worried about his master, who had such a nasty temper.

…Hmm.

Let me correct that.

He was worried that his master, with his nasty temper, might treat Lirin harshly… No, let me correct that again.

He was worried that his master, with his nasty temper, might treat Lirin harshly, and after seeing Lirin downcast, be overwhelmed with inexplicable emotions and take out his frustration on him.

In conclusion, he was worried about himself, so he hurried his steps.

‘And His Grace also dislikes that garden.’

Before long, he was near the lake.

A cheerful voice could be heard.

“Did you play here when you were a kid, too? What did you do?”

‘Huh.’

Ruska’s steps came to a halt.

He looked at Kalec, who was standing tall next to Lirin.

‘He doesn’t usually like talking about his childhood.’

But surprisingly, Kalec was explaining calmly. Maybe it was the influence of the place, but the usually sharp tension around him seemed to have softened a bit.

“Because children of the Wintervalt family aren’t allowed to enter this mansion until after they turn twelve.”

“Huh? Why?”

“When the magic of the heir first manifests, it can clash with the current head of the family’s power.”

“Oh…”

Power manifesting, clashing… Lirin seemed to be repeating the words to try to understand them.

“When a child’s magical power first blossoms, it gradually transfers to the successor after that. The problem is that no one can predict when this ‘first manifestation’ will occur. So, we keep them separated for the time being.”

“Until they turn twelve?”

“Yes. The magic typically blossoms within that time.”

“Since it’s inefficient for the head of the family to live outside the duchy, the child lives away, safely manifests their powers, and then returns…”

Ruska nodded in agreement. Lirin was indeed sharp.

“But… how do you know when the power manifests in the successor? …Oh!”

Lirin suddenly lifted her head.

“The snowflake dragon mark!”

“You’re quite perceptive.”

“Heh. So… in summary, the mark on your back used to belong to Lady Eliza, right? But during the transfer, your and Lady Eliza’s powers could clash, so you had to live separately!”

“Exactly.”

Kalec nodded.

Then, he muttered unconsciously.

“So, you’re the first eight-year-old to step into this garden.”

“Wow,” Lirin exclaimed in awe, her mouth forming a perfect ‘O’.

“….”

Ruska silently adjusted his glasses.

In truth, there was a part of the story Kalec hadn’t shared with the child.

For instance…

How the seven-year-old Kalec, even younger than Lirin, had once tried to sneak through this garden to meet Eliza.

That first and last rebellion had caused a chain of events that resulted in an attack on the duchy by those targeting its successor.

In the end, the nanny whom he had trusted and followed died in Kalec’s place because of that incident.

‘The problem was that I managed to slip away from the bodyguards and only had the nanny with me.’

After that event…

The first thing young Kalec did was discard his most cherished toy soldier.

“If I keep it near me, it’ll just get broken anyway. It’s better not to keep anything close at all. This way, at least someone might pick it up and take care of it.”

From then on, Kalec changed.

He never deviated from his duties or responsibilities. He controlled his surroundings, kept everything in check, and did not allow the slightest error or disruption.

Of course, he was harshest on himself.

‘Ah, poor seven-year-old Kalec.’

But the twenty-seven-year-old Kalec couldn’t care less.

As Ruska cleaned his misted glasses, he watched Lirin’s small figure.

‘One month, wasn’t it?’

The time they had agreed to keep her nearby.

‘After that, I won’t be able to see that sight anymore. And His Grace didn’t seem to expect that he’s recover his memory either.’

He sighed deeply.

‘I’m not sure what changed in His Grace’s heart over the past five years, but… it seems losing his memory brought him back to the beginning.’

Just like the seven-year-old Kalec who had chosen to put away the toy soldier to avoid breaking it, the twenty-two-year-old Kalec also wouldn’t let anyone stay close to him.

Especially if Lirin became important to him.

And yet, Ruska found himself not entirely displeased with the current situation.

At least for now, Kalec’s expression wasn’t as dark as it used to be when he faced this garden, the place tied to such painful memories.

“Dad, want to skip stones on the lake?”

“No.”

“Dad, then how about we search for a four-leaf clover?”

“No.”

Perhaps he could make a different choice now? Maybe the twenty-seven-year-old Kalec had found the answer.

“Dad, should I pick some mushrooms for you?”

“No… Wait. You’re allergic to those mushrooms. Step back, now.”

“Eh? Ah-choo!”

“Let me see. Breathe in. No, what am I even saying?”

“Sniff.”

“Why did you do it?”

“You told me to.”

The heads of the Wintervalt family had never raised their own children.

And it was just as natural for those children not to grow up under their parents’ care. It was as inevitable as the sun rising in the east and a storm following the wind.

But here was an exception.

“Dad! Let’s visit this lake again sometime!”

‘An irony that they could be together because they didn’t share the same blood.’

Maybe it was because of the soft sunset light, but the pink in Kalec’s silver hair looked especially vivid.

‘Perhaps… that’s how families are made.’

Well, life was unpredictable.

Dad! Dad!

Who would have thought such a spring-like voice, calling for her father, would echo through this cold winter mansion?

‘Weren’t you only allowed to call him “Dad” three times a day?’

It seemed that both of them had become so accustomed to it that they didn’t even notice anymore.

Lirin tugged at Kalec’s fingers. Though he grumbled, he made sure to steady her so she wouldn’t fall.

Watching them, Ruska smiled a little.