Dad is Back From a Deserted Island - Chapter 25

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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 25

Vivian’s bedroom was the sunniest room in the entire mansion.
Pure white lace curtains hung from tall, expansive windows, swaying gently in the breeze.
An ornate vase—far more elaborate than those in the corridors—graced the windowsill, and the delicate fragrance of flowers lingered in the air.
Above the bed, an intricately crafted canopy draped gossamer fabric like a cloud.
On the side table beside the bed sat an ornate candlestick and a charming porcelain doll dressed in an adorable gown.
Vivian, who had never owned such a room before—indeed, who had never even known such rooms could exist, complete with an adjoining chamber for servants—could scarcely contain her excitement as she bounced in Ron’s arms, her joy beyond words.
“Papa! Papa! Papa!”
Vivian pounded Ron’s shoulders with her small fists to express her exhilaration, and the moment he set her down, she bolted toward the bed.
The bed was so plush and high that Vivian could not climb onto it in a single leap.
But a small step stool stood right beside it, and Vivian immediately buried her face in the mattress.
Even the delicately embroidered quilt carried a wonderful fragrance.
“Sniff.”
Vivian made a soft crying sound, her face still buried in the bed.
She was so happy.
She felt like a princess from a fairy tale.
“Am I really a princess…?”
“Hmm? Of course. You’re my princess.”
Ron answered as if he had always called her that, and Vivian lifted her face from the quilt.
“But am I really a princess? Is it okay for me to have such a wonderful room even though I’m not?”
Watching his daughter’s face, glistening with tears of joy, Ron felt both pride and a piercing ache in his chest simultaneously.
‘Soon I’ll be able to give you something far better than this.’
Ron sat beside his daughter, who questioned whether she deserved something so wonderful, and gently stroked her hair.
“Of course. From now on, I’ll give you even better things, Vivian.”
“Better than this?”
How could that be possible?
Vivian was genuinely curious.
Everything here was already so beautiful, so magnificent, so wonderful!
But Vivian asked no further questions.
There was something sad in her father’s expression as he stroked her hair.

* * *

After touring the Mansion—though I hadn’t even seen all of it—I had exhausted myself so thoroughly that the moment I finished the exquisite dinner Karen had prepared, I surrendered to deep sleep.
The instant my head touched the impossibly magnificent bed, I drifted into the realm of dreams, where a familiar visitor awaited me.
“It’s been a while, Vivian.”
A mysterious garden shrouded in mist.
A boy with hair like obsidian, possessing beauty more befitting a fairy or angel than a human.
The moment I saw his face, all my memories awakened.
How could I have forgotten a boy who made such an intense impression?
“Diti!”
A flush of joy bloomed across my plump cheeks.
Though this was only the second time I’d seen him, I felt the delight of reuniting with a dear friend.
Watching me express my joy without hesitation, a faint smile appeared on Diti’s face.
“I missed you. Have you been well all this time?”
“Yes! Oh, I moved! Do you know what moving is, Diti? Have you ever done it?”
“No, I’ve never done it before.”
“Really? You should definitely try it! It’s amazing. You leave your old house and go to a different one, and you get to live in this incredibly wonderful house. Waking up early and riding in the carriage for so long was a little tiring, but it wasn’t boring because I got to ride with Father and my sister.”
“Your sister?”
Diti, who had been quietly listening to my excited chatter, questioned this unfamiliar presence.
“Yes. Father brought her as my governess. Her name is Anne, and she plays with me so well! And I met lots of other people too, but I haven’t memorized all their names yet.”
“Ah, your father brought them.”
For some reason, Diti seemed satisfied by the mention of people Father had brought, even though he’d never seen them before.
But I had no time to question this, as I found myself captivated by the boy’s beauty.
Not much time had passed since I first saw him, yet somehow he seemed even more handsome in that short span.
As if an artist blessed by the gods was carefully sculpting him with each passing day.
Normally, when one receives such an openly admiring gaze—like someone appreciating a work of art—embarrassment or awkwardness would be the natural response, but Diti seemed unbothered.
Rather, he appeared quite accustomed to such reactions, resting his chin on his hand as he faced me with a composed expression.
“I’m glad you like my face.”
“Huh?”
“But I’m worried you might react this way to other people too.”
My ears grew hot.
‘Hmm, why do my ears keep tingling?’
Seven years old.
Still too young to understand what an exciting flutter meant, I could only think my body was acting strange.
I scratched at my ears for no reason.
Of course, no amount of scratching relieved the tingling sensation.
“This is strange, Diti.”
“…What is?”
“When you say things like that… it makes me so tingly! It’s like bugs are crawling all over me!”
“Bugs.”
Laughter suddenly escaped from the boy’s lips, which rarely showed expression.
“Me too.”
“Huh?”
Diti pressed his snow-white hand to his chest. Indeed, his fingers were as delicate and refined as porcelain.
“Whenever I see you, I always feel this ticklish sensation. Even now.”
“Really? Then there really are bugs here?”
In the Lamber Family Garden, one could easily spot butterflies, bees, ants, and ladybugs.
Having been bitten several times before, Vivian naturally glanced around in search of the culprit—or rather, the insect culprit.
But all she saw was the serene and beautiful landscape of the garden.
No butterflies, no bees, no ants, no ladybugs.
Not even a single antenna could be found.
It was peculiar, but Vivian failed to notice this oddity and simply examined her own body carefully for any insect bites.
Diti tapped her forearm gently to draw her attention back to him.
“That’s not it. ‘Bugs’ can’t come near me. As for what this feeling is… well, that’s the thing. I don’t know yet either. Someone was supposed to explain it to me, but they disappeared.”
“Oh. So you don’t know either. Then I’ll have to ask Father. I’ll ask him and tell you what he says!”
“Yes. Please do tell me.”
The way he looked at me while saying that was so unbearably ticklish.
Vivian made a deliberate effort to change the subject. Fortunately, she had just the right topic in mind.
“D-Diti! I-I can talk to Cat?”
“To Cat?”
“Yes! Since Cat lives in the same village, he knew who I was. Oh no. Now that we’ve left the village, will I never see him again? That’s sad… Oh! Father told me not to tell anyone!”
Vivian covered her mouth with a soft gasp, her round eyes rolling about in panic.
Jean’s Wife had thoroughly frightened her, warning that if others found out she possessed such an unusual ability, they might capture her.
“It’s fine. I won’t tell anyone.”
“Really… truly?”
“Yes. I don’t do things you ask me not to do.”
There was such conviction in his voice that Vivian found herself nodding involuntarily.
Her round lips curved upward, and her face bloomed with an endearing smile.
“Yes! I trust you!”
Diti gazed at that lovely smile—like a flower bud bursting into bloom—for a long while without speaking.
When the boy’s lips parted again, it was to speak of parting.
“It’s time for me to go. Vivi.”
“Huh? Already? I don’t want to leave yet!”
“I don’t want to let you go either. But it can’t be helped.”
Above Vivian’s head, expressing her reluctance, the boy’s farewell descended.
“See you again. Vivi.”

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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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