Episode 34
***
Yahoo!
We’re going to Lepi Village!
I’m going back to the green-roofed house I miss so much!
“Hiiing. Daaaad. Hiiing.”
“Who let a little pony into the carriage?”
I let go of Dad’s waist and grinned.
“I missed you, Alec!”
A glimmering ear cuff shone near Dad’s ear.
The same pink hair and green eyes as mine!
Somehow, Dad had already transformed into the easygoing country youth, Alec Valt.
He said it wouldn’t be good if rumors spread about the Duke of Wintervalt moving around in his usual form.
That’s why even our carriage is a regular one without the duke’s crest!
Of course, in Lepi Village, Alec was supposed to be a man who had died in an unfortunate accident.
So, we planned to keep a low profile, quickly check the cabin, and leave without being noticed by the villagers.
And if we needed to return in the future, we would come and go this way.
Though, honestly, I wouldn’t mind if the villagers found out Alec was my dad!
The coffin that Aunt Masha had inspected at the temple contained a corpse damaged by a beast attack.
After considering factors like gender, general skeletal structure, and personal belongings, they had concluded it was Alec Valt.
But truthfully, that corpse alone wouldn’t have been enough to confirm his identity.
Which meant we could always claim that the body wasn’t Alec’s.
I had even prepared a scenario where he had been caught in a labyrinth, survived by luck, and reunited with us in the capital.
“Hah. What’s this big lump of cheese?”
Dad sighed in exasperation as I clung to his arm, rubbing my cheek against him.
Still, he didn’t push me away.
Was it because his new appearance made him feel more at ease?
Maybe seeing the cabin will bring back his memories!
Wouldn’t that make changing the future a whole lot easier?
I turned to Theo, who was sitting beside me like a doll.
“Theo! Isn’t it great to go back home after so long?”
“Woo!”
Theo nodded eagerly with his bright, attentive eyes.
I quickly turned to the right.
“Dad! You’re definitely going to remember!”
“We’ll see.”
“Come on! Have some hope! And keep looking forward! Look straight ahead!”
“……Haa.”
Dad stared at the mirror mounted on the carriage’s front wall, looking pale.
I had put that mirror there myself.
Since we wanted to trigger lost memories, the best way was to show him things he used to see often!
“Now, look at this nostalgic sight—your own face! Anything coming back to you? Maybe a flood of memories?”
“I do feel like I might lose my mind. Who in their right mind stares at their own face while traveling? I should get rid of this immediately—”
“……”
“……Fine, just sit properly and put your lips away.”
At that moment, the carriage hit a small rock. Thud! It shook.
Dad pressed his large hand firmly against my head to keep it from bumping into anything.
“If you get hurt again, I’m throwing you out immediately.”
“Heh.”
For some reason, that threat didn’t sound serious at all.
Swinging my legs, I hummed a little tune.
“Theo, get off your sister’s lap.”
“Boo.”
Theo, who had climbed onto my lap at some point, snuggled in even tighter. I hugged his warm little body and happily looked out the window. Everything was going smoothly.
If Dad regains his memory like this… I won’t have to be cautious around him anymore!
And if I can stay close to Dad without worrying… I can protect him from all kinds of dangers!
And if I prevent all those dangers… Theo, Dad, and I can live happily together forever!
Just imagining it was perfect!
Somehow, I have a really good feeling about this.
The carriage rolled on without pause.
The sky was strangely clear and bright that day.
That day, when I felt unusually excited and optimistic…
That day…
Ironically, it became the day I cried harder than I ever had in my life.
***
“Eat something.”
“I don’t want to…”
Kalec stared at the small back pressed against the wall.
Placing down the steaming bowl of soup, he let out a heavy sigh.
“Lirin.”
“Just leave me alone… Please…”
She cried, then cried again. Soft sniffling continued on and off.
Kalec opened his mouth to say something but then closed it.
A small arm slowly moved to wipe away tears.
He was suddenly afraid she might collapse from exhaustion.
The maids and Eliza had told him she at least drank some water when they coaxed her.
But he hadn’t seen her eat a proper meal yet.
His gaze fell on the yellow coat discarded carelessly on the floor.
Before leaving the duke’s estate, she had been chirping excitedly in that coat, just like a cheerful little chick.
Damn it…
Now, the bright yellow fabric was covered in soot and dust.
It had been a short trip.
He had even obtained the highest-grade acceleration magic tool—something only the imperial palace used—and attached it to the carriage.
Thanks to that, they had reached Lepi Village in less than two days.
Since he had already conducted preliminary investigations, the journey itself had been smooth.
With the magic tool that altered appearances, there was no risk of rumors spreading about the Duke of Wintervalt traveling to the South without cause.
The carriage had sped on without stopping.
Lirin had stubbornly refused Kalec’s suggestion to take a break.
Anyone could see how excited she was.
He should have tried to calm her down a little.
That way, the shock wouldn’t have been so overwhelming.
They had arrived in Lepi Village at dawn.
Yes, that was when the problem started…
A short path stretched toward a green-roofed house beside a serene blue lake, surrounded by a beautiful forest.
“……Huh?”
What expression had Lirin made at that moment?
It was as if she had seen a ghost—no, something even worse.
If Lirin hadn’t told me, I would’ve never guessed there was once a house here.
He immediately disguised Ruska as a traveler and sent him to gather information.
According to Ruska, Lirin’s… no, their cabin had burned down one night and turned to ashes.
It had been too deep into the night, and the house was too far from the village for anyone to put out the fire in time.
The cause was unknown.
Fires don’t start without a reason.
Kalec’s eyes turned ice-cold.
He immediately ordered Ruska to conduct a more detailed investigation.
Then he picked up the dazed Lirin and brought her back to the duke’s estate.
“Lirin, let’s go home for now. Get up.”
“……A dream…”
Beyond the distant hills, the sun began to rise.
“This feels like a dream, Dad…”
The more the morning light touched her face, the clearer her despair became.
Muttering in a broken voice, she stared blankly, completely lost.
Kalec couldn’t bear to watch anymore. He lifted Lirin into his arms.
At that moment—
Burying her face in his shoulder, Lirin let out a wailing sob she had been holding back.
And now—
Sniff.
Her small back trembled once.
Seeing that stubborn back, Kalec felt a strange sense of impatience.
“Lirin. If you’re going to cry, come here and cry. Why do you keep pressing yourself against the wall…?”
Unable to watch any longer, he clenched his teeth.
He didn’t want to be harsh, but he couldn’t stand seeing her refuse to eat any longer.
…If it were that bastard Alec Valt, would he have comforted her more skillfully?
Kalec’s broad chest rose and fell deeply.
He made an effort to soften his expression as much as possible before carefully placing a hand on the child’s small shoulder. His touch was gentle, and he kept his voice as warm as he could.
“Lirin. Sweetheart.”
At that, Lirin flinched, her back stiffening.
“Look at me.”
Without realizing it, Kalec had referred to himself as “Dad.”
All he wanted was to soothe her.
He gently lifted her onto his lap, and all he could see was the crown of her head, bowed low.
Just as he was about to pat her softly, Ririn mumbled hesitantly.
“…Niya.”
“What?”
“I wasn’t lying.”
Kalec froze for a moment.
Right then, he finally understood why she had kept her face buried in the wall the entire time.
Lirin couldn’t bring herself to look at him.
Because she was afraid.
Afraid that Kalec might get angry.
Afraid that, just like the first day they met at the duke’s estate, he would mock her and say, I don’t believe a word you say.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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