Dad is Back From a Deserted Island - Chapter 16

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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 16

The earth had collapsed.
The sky and earth that Ron, Mary, and Peter had destroyed and Jang had painstakingly rebuilt shattered once more.
As Vivian stared with eyes brimming with loss, caught between shock and dismay, Kiki’s flustered voice cut through the silence.
[I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you’ve got it all wrong. Vivian!]
“You… you abandoned me…”
[Abandoned? That’s not it at all!]
“You be… betrayed-”
[No! That’s not what happened!]
Here’s how the whole affair unfolded.

Yesterday afternoon.
“Miss! If you’ve finished your meal, would you like to play with me… oh my.”
Anne had approached warmly in an attempt to grow closer, but Vivian merely shook her head several times and slipped away into the Garden.
It wasn’t quite open hostility, but her reluctance to let Anne near her prompted a sigh from the latter.
Jang watched the scene with concern.
“It seems the young miss doesn’t care for me…”
To Anne, who lamented that her heart was breaking from being rejected by such a lovely princess, Jang spoke with careful deliberation.
“As I mentioned in my letter, Vivian has endured many terrible experiences at the hands of previous servants. She wasn’t always this cautious with people.”
“Of course I know. Truly! Those wretched people—where did they find the cruelty to torment someone so small and precious! I’m sure they’re paying dearly for it now, aren’t they?”
“Yes. Both of them are rotting away in Prison.”
Since Vivian’s tragic death had never come to pass, no further punishment was possible. Had Lamber not been a mere figurehead noble, things might have been different.
Jang clenched his fist so tightly that the tendons stood out visibly on his hand.
Anne, who had been stealing glances at Vivian’s retreating figure with wistful eyes, suddenly gasped and clapped her hands together.
“Say, what if we did this?”
Children love fun things. They especially love doing them without their parents knowing.
If they do something fun without their parents knowing, they absolutely adore it.
So if Jang suggested doing things without Father knowing while he was away, and allowed her to do things she normally wasn’t permitted to do, she would surely open her heart to them.
“Hmm. Do you think it will work?”
“I’ve never met a child who didn’t love this!”
It was persuasive.
The memory of how happy she had been as a child sneaking extra snacks without her parents’ knowledge remained vivid even now.
However, there was one being whose permission they needed to carry out this plan.
“Divine Beast, Divine Beast.”
Deep in the night.
A voice stirred Kiki awake from slumber in Vivian’s arms, oblivious to the world around us.
“Huh?”
Without Vivian present, Ron couldn’t understand Kiki’s speech, but simple nods and shakes of the head sufficed for basic communication.
“There’s something I’d like to tell you without Vivian knowing. Could you come with me for a moment?”
“Squeak.”
Kiki, rubbing sleepy eyes and blinking drowsily, quietly slipped from Vivian’s embrace.
When Ron offered a bribe of sweets, those half-closed eyes snapped wide open.
“Munch munch.”
Though Ron couldn’t decipher the words, the satisfied tone allowed him to relax somewhat.
“As you know, Vivian has been quite reluctant to warm up to the new governess. I thought it would be wonderful if the two of them could grow closer, so I’ve devised a plan-”
Ron explained that he would be stepping out on an errand, and asked Kiki not to let Vivian be too wary when Anne approached.
Ron explained earnestly to Kiki, who merely pretended to listen while munching on sweets.
“If you show Vivian that you trust Anne first, I think she’ll let her guard down a bit.”
Hearing the worry in Father’s voice, Kiki finally lifted his gaze from the sweets and glanced at Ron.
He nodded once.
That single gesture was enough to make Ron’s face bloom like a flower.

[Your father asked me to do this! He begged and pleaded with me to help you spend time with this woman so you two could become close!]
“Really? Father did?”
[That’s right, Vivian! Even if humans betray you, I would never abandon you! How could I ever betray the one who awakened me from my Egg and showed me the light of this world!]
Is that so?
[Yes!]
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
When Vivian hesitated and tilted her head uncertainly, Kiki let out a sharp screech.
At the same moment, Anne also shrieked.
From Anne’s perspective, who couldn’t understand Kiki’s words, it appeared that Kiki was clawing at her shoulder with his talons, squeaking frantically before suddenly letting out a piercing cry.
Anne trembled like an aspen leaf, her voice quavering.
“Oh, Miss! Kiki seems… no, Lord Kiki seems angry! I’m so scared! Please tell me he’s never hurt anyone before…!”
“Kiki! That’s enough. Come here. You’re scaring her!”
[Hmph. This human has the courage of a pea. As if this adorable form could be frightening. Of course, my dignity cannot be concealed by such a trivial appearance!]
“Stop your nonsense and come here!”
When Kiki slyly hopped back onto Vivian’s shoulder, Anne collapsed onto the floor.
“Huff, gasp, pant. That was truly terrifying, Miss.”
Watching Anne smile despite the cold sweat streaming down her face, my towering wariness toward her began to crumble ever so slightly.
When I stepped closer and wiped the sweat from her face with my sleeve, Anne barely stifled an escaping cry of joy.
Such a kind young lady!
I couldn’t let Vivian, who had approached me first out of kindness, run away in fright.
Anne, dancing with joy only in her mind, stood up and straightened her disheveled skirt.
“…Though things didn’t go quite as planned! But I can’t give up here. Miss, would you like to go out and play with me without telling Lord Ron?”
“Without Father knowing?”
“Yes! You couldn’t go outside alone because it’s dangerous, but if an adult like me is with you, you can go anywhere! I’ll braid your hair with flowers, and teach you how to play grass flutes! And.”
“And…?”
Though no one was around, Anne lowered her voice anyway.
Vivian whispered along conspiratorially.
“We’ll eat lots of candy when we get back to the Mansion!”
“Candy…!”
Ron would do anything for Vivian, but he forbade her from eating more than three candies a day, fearing her teeth would rot.
“But then Father will scold me.”
Despite her stern expression, her cheeks trembled slightly as she fought the urge to give in.
I wanted to bite those cheeks.
Thinking of the trouble she’d be in if Vivian found out, Anne responded with practiced nonchalance.
“We’ll keep it a secret! Of course, if I notice your teeth might rot, I’ll tell you. So you can eat without worry!”
This was an agreement she’d made with Ron.
After eating candy, she would make sure Vivian brushed her teeth very thoroughly.
Vivian’s reaction was beyond words.
It was explosive.
“Shall we go then, Miss? We’ll need to hurry to finish everything before Lambert returns!”
“Yes, yes!”
Vivian’s cheeks flushed a rosy red.
[Hmph. I didn’t need to lift a finger after all.]
Kiki, having made this smug remark, observed Anne from atop Vivian’s shoulder.
As a divine beast, Kiki could instinctively sense malevolent emotions in humans, yet she detected nothing of the sort from this Anne.
This very fact was why Kiki had agreed so readily to Ron’s request.
[Serve my Vivian well, human.]
“Oh my. Miss, Kiki is staring at me so intensely.”
Anne had grown somewhat wary of Kiki, but Kiki naturally paid her no mind whatsoever.
That day, Vivian enjoyed everything Anne had promised, and she was so delighted that she fell asleep before Ron even returned.
Anne had completely won Vivian’s heart by skillfully performing ten famous children’s songs on the grass flute.

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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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