Dad is Back From a Deserted Island - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Father has returned from the Deserted Island
Chapter 11

“Welcome to Mirabelle Dressmaking Shop! Kyaaaah!”
The proprietor, who had been greeting the customer with cheerful enthusiasm, locked eyes with Kiki’s blood-red gaze and let out a shriek.
[How rude of this human! To scream upon seeing me?]
Kiki, offended by the reaction, began cackling loudly, only amplifying the proprietor’s screams.
“Please, calm yourself! This is no monster. It’s a monkey—a creature quite common in the distant New Continent. It means no harm.”
“No harm, you say? Look at how viciously it’s screeching! Oh my, what a handsome man.”
The proprietor, who had been unable to compose herself despite Jean’s urgent reassurances, suddenly grew serene upon catching sight of his face.
The dressmaker, whose profession demanded an eye for aesthetics, was naturally drawn to beautiful faces.
The kind of handsome man one would boast about even in their dying breath—”I once knew a man like that in my youth”—and clinging to his hand, a child so adorable it drew gasps of delight.
The proprietor, who had been spending a monotonous afternoon, suddenly felt immensely happy.
“What sort of garments have you come to see? Perhaps something for an outing?”
The proprietor, as if she had never screamed at all, ushered the two inside with a gracious smile.
The dressmaking shop was divided into two spaces.
One area displayed ready-made garments. The more intimate inner space was devoted to custom tailoring.
In the custom tailoring section stood a dress form. Vivian started for a moment, mistaking it for a person.
Opposite it stood a large cutting table laden with bolts of fabric and various tools scattered about.
Jean, feeling bashful at being called handsome, lifted Vivian into his arms and spoke.
“I’ve been away on business for quite some time, and I’ve only just returned. I’d like to have several garments tailored for both myself and my daughter.”
Words as sweet as the trumpet call of angels reached the proprietor’s ears.
A beautiful customer had appeared with an abundance of work to offer.
Fire seemed to shoot from the proprietor’s nostrils.
“Oh my, oh my! Truly? You’ve come to exactly the right place! This establishment houses the finest seamstress not only in Beluang but throughout all of Ravilan County! Ah, do you have a budget in mind? Custom garments do vary tremendously in price, after all! Hehehehe.”
The proprietor, who had been brimming with excitement, belatedly examined the pair’s attire and asked with a somewhat more measured expression.
She harbored a secret ambition to create at least one piece that would exceed the budget, having finally found a subject worthy of her creative passion.
Jean withdrew a small pouch from his breast pocket and offered it.
The proprietor swallowed hard and carefully opened the pouch.
A mesmerizing golden light flooded her vision.

* * *

When the father and daughter left the Mirabelle Dressmaking Shop, their appearance had transformed entirely.
Since custom-tailored garments couldn’t be completed in such a short time, everything they wore now was ready-made.
Yet with selections from the most expensive line and simple alterations fitted to both their frames, the saying that clothes make the person rang perfectly true.
“Our little princess looks just like a fairy!”
“And Dad looks like a prince!”
Vivian, dressed in an outing gown accented with fresh lime green, had even secured a large ribbon adorned with lace in her hair with practiced care.
It was a gift from the shop owner in gratitude for bringing three months’ worth of sales to the establishment.
Though her cheeks hadn’t yet filled out completely, Vivian possessed such an inherently lovely appearance.
Even in tattered, worn clothing she had drawn attention, but now that she was properly dressed, people’s gazes lingered on her with each passing moment.
Kiki, perched on Vivian’s shoulder, wore a checkered cape with equal dignity.
Kiki puffed out her belly proudly and preened.
[Hmph, this one’s standards are hardly met, but I shall endure!]
“Dad, Kiki says she doesn’t like the outfit.”
[When did this one ever say such a thing!]
As Vivian and Kiki bickered back and forth with playful squawks, Jean suppressed his laughter and headed toward the one café that existed in all of Beluang.
After traveling by carriage and walking about on foot, the outing would likely prove rather taxing for Vivian’s stamina.
Besides, he wanted to give his daughter the chance to experience a café.
Before, they’d never had the means to visit such a place, and besides, she’d been far too young to take out on such excursions.
As Jean opened the café door, a bright chime welcomed the father and daughter.
“Welcome. Please, this way.”
Following the courteous Cafe Employee’s guidance to their table, Vivian’s face flushed with excitement as she puffed out her cheeks.
The moment the Cafe Employee left to place Jean’s order, Vivian couldn’t contain her enthusiasm and began bouncing her legs eagerly.
“Wow! Dad! Where is this? What kind of place is it?”
[What a wonderful smell this place has!]
“This is a café—a place where they sell beverages and delicious desserts. You must be tired from our long outing, so I thought it would be nice to rest here for a bit.”
“Wow!”
At Jean’s words, Vivian pressed her flushed cheeks with her palms in amazement.
“It feels like I’m all grown up!”
“What? Ha ha ha!”
Jean burst out laughing at her adorable reaction, and Vivian, seeing her father laugh, giggled along with him.
“Here are your orders.”
The items they’d ordered arrived at the table filled with laughter and warmth.
For Jean, a single cup of coffee; before Vivian sat a large pudding. An identical pudding was placed before Kiki as well.
“Kyaaaa—”
Each time Vivian tapped the translucent, jiggly pudding with her spoon, watching it tremble so delightfully, she continued tapping away until Jean had consumed half his coffee.
Unable to bear it any longer, Jean stopped her, explaining that one shouldn’t play with food like that. Only then did Vivian take a large spoonful—and what a shame it was to mar that smooth, pristine surface!—and eat it.
The soft, sweet sensation enveloped her mouth, with the rich, caramel-like flavor distinctive and luxurious.
“Mmm! It’s sweet! Dad, this feels strange! You try it too!”
“Should I?”
“Yes! Here, say ‘aah’—”
“Aah~”
I accepted the pudding Vivian offered me with the happiest expression in the world. I made such a fuss about how delicious it was that she insisted on giving me more, and I had to stop her.
For reference, Kiki had already finished an entire plate long ago and was now eating the pudding I’d newly ordered for her with complete abandon.
“Our princess should eat it all! It’s so delicious, and Dad bought it for Vivian. Dad wants Vivian to eat lots of delicious things.”
As I watched my daughter happily finish her coffee, I suddenly felt my mouth go dry.
There was something I needed to say.
I’d been turning it over in my mind all this time, but I was afraid to voice it, uncertain how Vivian would react.
I fiddled with the handle of my empty coffee cup before finally forcing myself to speak.
“Um, Vivian.”
“Hmm?”
“How would you feel if we left this house and moved to a different one?”
“A different house?”
“Yes. This house is rather old, isn’t it? Now we can move to a bigger, nicer one. I think it would be good, but… what our princess thinks is important too.”
Truth be told, I desperately wanted to move. Just remembering what I’d seen a few days ago…
I bit the inside of my cheek hard, making sure it didn’t show.

* * *

It was the night of a day when rain had fallen all day long.
Vivian gazed out the window, disappointed that she couldn’t go out to play with Kiki, and fell into a deep sleep.
After confirming she was asleep, I went to the Study to look over the documents I hadn’t finished processing.
“Sigh, this is difficult.”
Though I’m supposedly a returnee, during this period in my previous life I’d been trapped on the Deserted Island where the most important thing was not having my food stolen by monkeys—I knew almost nothing else.
Even after escaping the Deserted Island, before recovering my memories I hadn’t bothered wondering what had happened in the past, and after regaining them and learning about Vivian, I’d moved only for revenge.
Now, understanding the flow of the market was the priority.
To this end, aside from the time I spent playing with Vivian or doing housework, I lived buried in newspapers.
“I’ll stop here for today.”
I pressed my tired eyes and headed upstairs to the bedroom. This fatigue would disappear instantly once I saw Vivian’s angelic sleeping face.
Creak—I carefully opened the bedroom door, minimizing the sound of the old hinges, and tiptoed toward the bed.
“…!”
But on the bed was only Kiki, lying on her back in sleep, with no sign of Vivian.
Wondering if she’d gone to the bathroom, I checked there too, but there was no sound of anyone.
“Vivian!”
My face drained of color as I ran through the entire house calling her name. But no voice answered.
My expression twisted into something fierce.
Was my regression just an illusion? Is my body still trapped in that cold Prison? Am I going insane…?
Gasping for breath, I climbed to the topmost floor where the attic was and, seeing the door slightly ajar, rushed inside in panic.
“Vivian!”
Just then, lightning flashed and illuminated the attic.
I saw Vivian’s small body huddled in the corner of the attic, trembling violently.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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