-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: A New Family
-----------------------------------------------------------------
* * *
“…So, you're saying you're going to bring in and raise someone else's illegitimate child?”
Nordic asked. His voice was sharp, on edge.
Enoch, who had been clearing his throat softly while glancing at his father, nodded.
“Yes. If I don't take him in, I can't guarantee he'll survive. For now, I'll be his temporary guardian, and we can think about his future slowly.”
“Do as you wish. You may leave.”
Enoch's eyes widened at Nordic's compliant response.
“…That's it?”
“What else do you need?”
“I mean, after disappearing for seven years and causing you so much grief, I come back only to say something that should make you furious, and you're just going to allow it this easily?”
“At least you seem to have a good objective understanding of the trouble you cause. That's a relief.”
“Ahem.”
Nordic set down his scratching pen, rested his chin on his hand, and looked at Enoch.
‘He never changes.’
His son, Enoch, had always acted in a way unbecoming of a nobleman.
Both are nobles, yet one tries to kill his own blood for the sake of his reputation, while the other pities the child and offers to take him in. Despite knowing it will surely lead to endless gossip…
“You didn't need to come to me for permission in the first place. I already passed this family down to you a long time ago.”
“Come now, it's still an official matter that uses the family name. It wouldn't be right for me to handle it on my own without consulting you, Father.”
“And if I were to object, would you send the child away?”
“Of course not. That's why I came here, all tensed up, ready to persuade you…”
“You call it persuasion, but you were going to do what you wanted anyway. I'm telling you to do as you please because I don't want to waste my breath arguing.”
“Wow… Father, you've certainly mellowed out, haven't you?”
“I'm just getting used to your damn foolishness.”
As he spoke, Nordic let out a soft chuckle.
When Enoch was younger, they had clashed a great deal.
How he had struggled to make his son, who began questioning the country's class system as soon as he was old enough to think for himself, understand.
Fortunately, Enoch had managed to compromise and eventually grew up conforming.
Of course, it wasn't because he had come to understand the absurd class system or the elitist high society.
It was likely just his duty as a son to follow his father's wishes.
“I have always felt sorry toward you. I have regrets, too.”
“Pardon?”
Nordic had no choice but to force Enoch to live a life that went against his beliefs.
That's why his son had always been a sore spot for Nordic.
“Forcing you to have a child…”
“……”
“I regret it. I shouldn't have done that.”
His son had even complied with the arranged marriage, forced upon him for the sake of an heir.
If only he had known that the result would be a seven-year absence…
He wouldn't have forced him.
“Father?”
Enoch studied Nordic's darkened expression, then broke into a smile.
“I am more grateful than anyone for the choice you made back then. If I had been more stubborn about not marrying and not having a child, and had actually won against you…”
“……”
“Wow, that's horrifying. My princess wouldn't exist in this world.”
Enoch muttered with a serious face, then soon chuckled.
“Thank you, truly. My world changed when Lilis was born.”
“……”
“For the first time, I felt like life was worth living. Watching her grow day by day, I realized what it meant to be happy.”
Enoch murmured as if in a dream, picturing his daughter's face.
“I also want to show my child a better world. Well… it won't be easy, but.”
“What's stopping you?”
Nordic added, looking Enoch straight in the eye.
“I'm old now. All that's left for me is the grave, so I won't stand in your way anymore.”
“……”
“It's not too late, so do what you want. Whether you sell off the family name or run it into the ground, this old man won't interfere.”
“Hahaha…”
As Enoch laughed, so did Nordic.
The two men said no more, but a fondness deeper than words lingered between them for quite some time.
* * *
I was lying on my stomach on the bed, drawing with Chessier who had just washed up, when I was surprised.
“What is this?”
Chessier said he'd never seen a jellyfish before.
So I showed him a storybook with a jellyfish in it and told him to copy it…
“What. You don't like it? Should I draw it again?”
I let out a hollow laugh as I looked at Chessier's drawing.
‘Is this some kind of protagonist buff too?’
Hyperrealism that made my jaw drop. On the drawing paper was a photorealistic jellyfish.
Was this a drawing or a photograph?
“Excuse me, this looks nothing like the jellyfish in the picture book… How on earth did you see a jellyfish drawn in a fairytale style and…!”
…draw a hyperrealistic one! At least make the buffs believable!
“……”
Chessier just tilted his head with an indifferent look.
How utterly absurd.
Indeed, it was just like a protagonist with a keyword like #IncapableOfBeingIncapable.
“So. Should I draw it again?”
“Hoo, no. I wasn't saying it's bad. Just that, you're amazing. Yeah.”
Having once again confirmed Chessier's talent, I stealthily covered my own drawing paper.
A world where the line between the protagonist and a supporting character was starkly drawn, right down to our talent levels…
It's truly sad not being the protagonist.
“Why are you covering it? I already saw everything.”
“Yeah, fine… You can laugh…”
“But we were supposed to be drawing jellyfish. Why aren't you drawing one?”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head and looked down at my drawing.
“What do you mean it's not a jellyfish?”
Jeti and Jun, and even Rem the butler and my twin brothers after them, had all asked if it was a jellyfish, so I had just decided to go with it, my…
“Isn't that your father?”
…right, my dad's face!
“Huuuh?”
Startled, I turned to Chessier with wide eyes.
“Th-this looks like my dad to you?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh my gosh! You're right!”
Wow. Such sharp insight to see through my profound artistry.
As expected of the protagonist.
“Ehehe, what a relief. I guess I can give this to Dad as a present then, right?”
My gloomy mood lifted, and I looked at the drawing with a pleased heart.
“…Do you like your father?”
“Huh? What's with the sudden question? Of course I like him, he's my da…”
…or maybe not. It wasn't something I should say so thoughtlessly in front of Chessier, who was abused by his own father.
“Umm, my dad is the kind of person everyone would like. That's why I like him, too.”
“I see.”
“My dad is cool and kind, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then do you want to be my dad's son, too?”
I said to Chessier, who seemed to envy me.
“What?”
“Your real dad is a bad person. Just because he's your biological father doesn't make him a real dad. You should be my dad's son.”
Because that's where you belong.
Chessier, who was staring at me as I spoke so confidently, scoffed.
His face was one that found the words of a fortunate seven-year-old kid amusing.
“You don't believe me? I'm sure my dad would agree to be your family.”
“I don't need it.”
“Huh?”
“I said I don't need things like family.”
“……”
Chessier's reaction was so cold that I cautiously shut my mouth.
“I've drawn all ten pages. I can sleep now, right.”
“Ah, uh-huh. Yeah.”
Handing me the ten sheets of drawing paper, Chessier sat up.
“Where are the servants' quarters?”
“Why the servants' quarters?”
“You said I could sleep.”
I patted the neatly placed pillow.
“Let's sleep here together. Tomorrow, I'll ask Dad to set up a room for you next to mine.”
“……”
Chessier looked back and forth between the pillow and me with a bewildered expression.
“Forget it. How can I sleep in a place like this? Just tell me somewhere else I can sleep.”
“Ahem, Mr. Toy. Didn't you agree to listen to everything I say?”
“……”
“Lie down.”
Pat, pat. As I patted the pillow again, Chessier finally sighed and lay down.
“Heehee. It's so soft and fluffy, right? You'll fall asleep in no time.”
“……”
“Good night, Chessier.”
Lying on my stomach with my chin in my hands, I said good night, and Chessier let out a sigh.
Then he closed his eyes.
I wonder how long I watched his bruised face.
The sound of his even breathing reached my ears.
Realizing Chessier was fast asleep, I got off the bed.
Then I found the leftover Salvacion from when I treated Rico, mixed it with warm water, and soaked a cloth in it.
“He won't wake up, right?”
He must have been exhausted.
With my small hands, I carefully wiped the bruises and cuts on Chessier's face.
‘Wow, look at these results.’
Chessier's wounds healed in an instant, and his handsome face was quickly restored.
“Heehee.”
I put the cloth away, lay back down on the bed, and quietly gazed at Chessier's sleeping face.
“I don't need things like family.”
That's what he said, but…
I knew that Chessier longed for the warmth of a family more than anyone.
Abandoned by his mother, abused by his father…
And yet, I knew why Chessier had never left them first.
“You know, Chessier. I'm going to tell you a super special secret, just for you.”
I whispered in a tiny voice so he wouldn't wake.
“You are the protagonist of this world.”
Hoping he would hear my voice, at least in his dreams.
“Protagonists always have to face trials. But trials always pass eventually. So you don't have too hard a time, I'll, I'll help you… And.”
I carefully pulled the blanket over Chessier's sleeping body and made a promise.
“I'll definitely become your family.”
