Dad is Back From a Deserted Island - Chapter 12

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

Father has returned from the Deserted Island
Chapter 12

“Gasp!”
Vivian jolted awake, her fists clenching the blanket with desperate force.
Emerging from a nightmare, her sky-blue eyes—wide with anxiety—darted frantically around the room before panic seized her.
‘Dad… no, Ron and Mary’s bedroom. Why am I here?’
The relentless patter of rain and the unsettling rumble of thunder prevented her from recognizing Kiki, who slept peacefully beside her.
Still trapped in the grip of her nightmare, Vivian held her breath and carefully slipped from the bed. If Ron and Mary discovered her here, she would face their fury.
Tiptoeing out of the bedroom on the balls of her feet, Vivian bit her lower lip hard, easing the door shut without a sound.
Because of this, Kiki never noticed that Vivian had awakened and left.
Returning cautiously to her own room, Vivian flinched as she reached for the doorknob.
The door was locked.
‘You’re so mean. Won’t you even let me go into my own room?’
The truth was that Jang had locked the door out of heartache, knowing Vivian had been sleeping in the storage room all this time, but Vivian misunderstood it as Ron and Mary punishing her.
Rumble, crash—
Thunder so loud it shook the entire house. Vivian swallowed a whimper and climbed the creaking stairs.
On a night like this, with rain and thunder, falling asleep in the open hallway or living room felt far too terrifying.
The Attic Room was frightening too, but at least there were cloth coverings to wrap around herself, and Peter wasn’t there.
With an eerie creak, Vivian opened the door and entered the Attic Room, dragging a dust-laden cloth to a corner where she curled herself into a ball.
“Ugh…”
When lightning suddenly illuminated the attic, Vivian buried her face against the floor.
Thunder so deafening it felt like it would split her ears followed immediately—the lightning must have struck terrifyingly close.
‘I was having such a happy dream, I thought…’
Dad came home, and I made a small, adorable friend.
But reality was a nightmare.
Vivian wept bitterly, resenting her father for not returning.
Her small, exhausted body grew even more confused between reality and nightmare.
Vivian could not hear her father’s desperate voice.
Unaware of her circumstances, Jang felt his heart plummet and shatter the moment he saw his daughter’s state.
“Bibi!”
Jang rushed over and pulled Vivian into his arms.
Trapped in the nightmares of the past, Vivian trembled pitifully like a frightened small creature, unable to meet Jang’s eyes.
“Sob… Dad… Dad…”
“Vivian, Dad is here. Dad. I’m right here. My daughter. Okay? Open your eyes for me.”
“I’m scared… Dad, when… when did you come…?”
With trembling hands, I gently stroked Vivian’s hair.
I cleared my throat several times, struggling to keep my voice steady so that the choking sensation wouldn’t force out words I didn’t want to speak.
“Vivian. It’s alright. Dad won’t go anywhere now. I promise….”
My voice cracked in the middle, but whether Vivian’s ears caught those words, her trembling body gradually subsided.
Her eyes, which had been squeezed shut in a frown, slowly opened, and tears that had pooled at the corners spilled down her plump cheeks.
“Dad…?”
Having exhausted herself emotionally, Vivian fell into sleep as if losing consciousness after uttering just that one word.
“….”
I remained seated for a long time, unable to rise, holding my daughter’s body close as I stared blankly ahead.

* * *

“…Dad?”
“….”
“Dad!!”
“Huh? What? Did you call me, princess?”
Even recalling it now, my heart seemed to drop at that memory.
Vivian’s cheeks puffed out as she watched me, lost in thought, remaining blank even after calling for me repeatedly.
“What is this? You ask first and then ignore me. If you’re going to do that, why ask in the first place?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, princess. Dad made a mistake. Now, what was I…? Right. Moving. We were talking about moving. Our princess…what did you say in response?”
Vivian, who had been glaring at me with a pouty expression, brightened immediately upon seeing my face, as if she’d never been upset at all.
“I like it! I like the new house. We get to live in a better place with Dad, right? That house was nice too, but it was nice because Dad was there. If I can keep living with Dad in the new house, then I like it!”
Vivian didn’t remember that rainy night, but even if she had, her answer wouldn’t have changed.
Since birth, Vivian had lived in the same house. Everyone did. Only nobles and wealthy merchants could afford to move between multiple estates and villas.
Because of that, living in a different house was something she’d never even imagined.
In the back of the house hung a wooden swing I’d made for Vivian.
From my bedroom balcony, we’d studied constellations together under the same blanket, gazing up at the night sky until sleep finally claimed us.
When Mary would scrub the bedding that had accumulated dust over winter, I’d watch Vivian chase the soap bubbles floating through the air with a helpless smile before helping with the work.
It was a space filled with such happy memories.
Yet on the other hand, it was also a place that gave her nightmares.
There wasn’t a single spot in this house that Vivian hadn’t scrubbed and cleaned.
Her once-soft hands had become rough and cracked from the work, and laboring without rest from morning to night meant her seven-year-old body had to endure joint pain.
She could only remember enviously watching Ron, Mary, and Peter enjoy meals together in the warm Dining Room, unable to enter herself.
The low, harsh voices of adults. Hands swung threateningly. The mocking laughter of a boy.
To escape those sounds, and to do so with Dad beside her.
There was no reason to refuse.
Looking at Vivian, I suddenly felt tears welling up in my eyes.
“Ugh.”
“Oh, Dad’s crying?”
I wanted to cry out to the world.
“Th-this such a wonderful child, my, my daughter…”
I watched my father suddenly burst into tears, unsure how to console this precious little one trying to comfort me.
I wanted to show her off to everyone.
“Sniff. Dad, don’t cry…”
As my tears continued unabated, Vivian’s face began to crumple as if she might cry too.
I hastily wiped away my tears, rose to my feet, and knelt on one knee before Vivian to meet her eyes.
“Dad’s fine! Vivi. I was just crying because Dad is so incredibly happy right now. People naturally shed tears when they’re extremely joyful or happy. I wasn’t crying because I’m sad or hurting.”
“Really?”
“Of course! Dad is so happy right now!”
“Hehe—”
As I broke into a wide grin, Vivian’s tears dried and she smiled brightly back at me.
“Abubub!”
Unable to resist her adorableness, I peppered Vivian’s cheeks with kisses, then suddenly felt a gaze upon me and looked up.
Everyone in the Cafe was watching us with warm, contented smiles.
The striking beauty of a father and daughter was already impossible to ignore, but with tears glistening like fresh peaches on their skin, all eyes were drawn to them.
When our gazes met, some even offered gentle applause.
Vivian and I flushed crimson and hurried out of the Cafe.
[I had only just finished my pudding and was about to rest!]
Kiki, unbothered by the attention, grumbled in confusion at why the two of them were acting this way.

* * *

“Yaaaawn.”
Back home after washing in warm water and changing into fluffy pajamas, Vivian stretched luxuriously as she lay upon the soft bed and yawned.
“Vivi, you must be exhausted. Let’s get you to sleep.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Vivian nodded in response, her mind already half-drifting into the realm of dreams.
“Well then, see you tomorrow, Vivi… Oh. She’s already asleep.”
[Sleeping with your mouth open makes you look foolish, little human.]
Even so, Kiki nestled into Vivian’s embrace and closed her eyes, ready to sleep as well.
I smiled and carefully repositioned Vivian’s head on the pillow, then drew the blanket over her.
Certainly, it must have been a grueling day for such a small body to endure.
In truth, after leaving the Cafe, Vivian had only vague memories of rushing about mindlessly.
Finding servants and searching for a new house to move to were tasks far too complex and difficult for Vivian to comprehend.
Vivian’s consciousness, smiling unconsciously at the soft comfort of pillow and blanket, sank completely into darkness…
And awakened in a beautiful Garden shrouded in mist.

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