015
Diegon decided to follow Shupetty for now.
If it was sleepwalking, he would confirm where the child wandered and then call a renowned psychiatrist.
‘……..’
Clip-clop.
Shuffle.
Clip-clop.
Shuffle.
Matching the child’s steps, Diegon walked very slowly, almost too slowly.
‘There’s no way that child knows the layout of this mansion.’
He had been informed of all the places Shupetty had been: the dining room, library, heir’s training hall, kitchen, and garden.
The child had wandered around these five places, completely captivating everyone.
‘I’ve never heard of her setting foot in the back garden. How strange.’
The Pashayen Mansion was as vast as the imperial palace.
With the four statuses of Head of the family , next heir of Head of the family, Admiral, and Resonator, each could enjoy their own private garden, but entering these areas without the owner’s permission was strictly prohibited.
Shupetty was now heading toward Diegon’s private garden.
‘Is she really going there?’
Although Diegon was skeptical, Shupetty walked forward without hesitation. The child’s confident steps made Diegon pause.
‘How long has it been since I last went to the garden?’
Diegon tried to recall.
It had probably been six years. In the first year after losing his partner, he practically lived in the garden.
The very fact of being alone in a house without her was unbearably painful, so much so that Diegon couldn’t even lie down on his bed.
He would scrape at his aching chest and eventually end up by the pond in the garden.
There were the Narcissus she had lovingly nurtured, the willow tree where she had rested in the shade, and the only place where he could find a bit of sleep.
However, by the following year, Diegon had banned himself from entering the garden.
It was out of fear that his memories of her would somehow evaporate if he did.
His sons did not oppose his decision either.
They merely dealt with their grief by organizing the Narcissus room, where she had liked to be, and laying flowers there.
Thus, Diegon, Mikard, and Elzen all stopped visiting the garden together.
‘Shupetty.’
Diegon called out quietly from the end of the path, but Shupetty kept going forward without hesitation.
Pushing aside the thick branches that blocked the entrance, the child’s small figure quickly disappeared.
Touching his forehead, Diegon finally followed.
After all, there was a pond in the garden.
He couldn’t possibly leave Shupetty, who was like a child near water, in such a dangerous place.
‘It’s been a while.’
A light breeze carried the scent of Narcissus.
It was a fragrance deeply etched into his memory of her.
The flower, with white petals embracing a yellow star, appeared noble. Even the kind with a darker yellow star within its bright petals looked endearing.
He had never found flowers to be cute before, but she had changed him in such a way.
A partner is inherently such a person.
The world before meeting her was entirely hollow. Loving her, being loved by her, and being influenced and guided by her thoughts—only that world was real to Diegon.
“Here.”
While he was momentarily lost in thought, a clear voice called him.
“Here it is.”
The child, who had sat down by the water, leaned forward as if she was about to fall into the pond.
Diegon quickly grabbed Shupetty by the nape and lifted her up.
“It’s dangerous.”
“But, over there it is.”
“What’s that?”
“A prize….”
Did she even know what she was talking about?
Diegon frowned slightly and then softened his expression, recalling how the child had always imitated his facial expressions.
‘I can’t teach her bad things.’”
The small body in his arms was warm.
The steady heartbeat was clearly audible.
Shupetty, who had wrapped her arms around Diegon’s neck naturally, mumbled in a dreamy voice as if half asleep.
“It’s true… Over there. Someone sang a song.”
‘What song?”
“A moonlit, starlit path, willow tree shadows. In the pond with beautiful flowers, at the bottom, a prize…’
Although it was unclear what exactly she meant, it seemed the child was insisting that something was in the pond.
‘Could that be true?’
It seemed impossible, yet Diegon hesitated for a moment.
After all, his partner had always been a playful person who enjoyed hiding treasures for him to find on special occasions.
He would pretend to have trouble locating the hidden item for about an hour, even though he could find it easily.
She had found great amusement in thinking he couldn’t find it.
“But even if there was something hidden, how could you know?”
His throat tightened, and his chest heaved as he struggled to take a breath.
No, that was illogical.
He needed to think rationally.
This child was merely dreaming.
There was no way Shupetty could know about something hidden at the bottom of the pond she loved.
After all, Shupetty’s background was unknown, and perhaps… perhaps the child could be his daughter.
“There’s a song… Someone sang it…”
“Who? Who sang that song to you?”
“Who…?”
Though he asked firmly, the child only gave him a blank stare. Diegon clenched his teeth, frustrated with himself.
‘Why am I trying so hard to prove that this child is my daughter?’
He shouldn’t do this. His father had cautioned him.
‘Don’t let yourself expect things and then hurt the child by getting disappointed.’
Diegon had not forgotten the warning his father gave when he first accepted Shupetty as his daughter.
Besides, the age didn’t match; if she had survived, she would have been at least nine years old.
“It’s over there. We need to find it and give it.”
“Why are you being so stubborn?”
“Huh? We have to find it…”
“Fine, fine, calm down. I will fetch it.”
Even though it was uncertain whether there was anything there, Diegon eventually surrendered.
Being of Pashayen’s lineage, entering the water was as easy as walking for him.
Diving in the middle of the sea was no problem, so a pond was trivial.
“Stay still.”
He sat Shupetty on a rock, worried the cool air of the spring night might be too cold, and wrapped his shirt around the child.
Then he walked slowly into the pond.
The water was deep enough to submerge his entire body.
As the cold water brushed against his skin, the situation struck him as somewhat absurd.
What on earth was he doing at midnight?
But still, having gone this far, Diegon eventually submerged his head in the pond.
‘Even if there is something, it can’t be something she left behind.’
The bottom of the pond was cluttered with plants and moss.
Initially, there seemed to be nothing, but then, after a few seconds, Diegon’s eyes widened.
He saw a corner protruding from the pond’s bottom. He pulled it out with trembling hands, and mud dripped away.
‘This is… Could it be?’
The silver box’s surface was corroded and discolored, but the lock was still tightly secured.
The magical lock must have kept its contents safe.
“How did you know this was hidden here?”
Darkness surrounded them as Diegon emerged from the water and asked urgently.
Shupetty smiled brightly, and as the clouds parted, the moonlight illuminated the child’s innocent face.
“I’m glad! It’s for giving to sorrow. Now, Admiral, you won’t be sad anymore, right?”
Diegon had often found himself speechless since meeting Shupetty, but now was certainly the most difficult time.
He could not speak and merely kept caressing the box.
Engraved on the bottom of the box were words:
From Aurora, with love to Egon.
The one and only breath of him.
The person he would revive even if it meant giving away his heart.
Forever and always.
Aurora Pashayen.
Shupetty had found the last trace left by his wife.
“You…, what on earth is this… really?”
He trailed off and then very, very gently hugged Shupetty.
“Admiral, are you crying?”
“I am not.”
“Liar! Then what is this?”
“It’s pond water.”
As they headed back, exchanging playful banter, Carmen found them at the door connected to the corridor and gasped.
“Have you lost your mind? Swimming at midnight like this, really?”
