Dad is Back From a Deserted Island - Chapter 32

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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 32

At the sound of crying, Jean de Lamber’s gaze snapped immediately toward the children. His nerves sharpened—could it be Vivian weeping?
Upon confirming the face of the crying child, Jean de Lamber’s expression grew troubled.
It was a relief that Vivian wasn’t the one crying, but at first glance, the child appeared to be weeping because of Vivian—or more likely, with very high probability, because of Kiki.
He had only just arrived at the gathering when this erupted. Clement intercepted Jean de Lamber as he moved to console the child.
“Oh my, Vi—”
“It’s quite all right, Lord Jean de Lamber.”
“I, I beg your pardon?”
“We’ve held these gatherings since the children first began to walk. When children are together, one of them is bound to cry. But they’ll soon laugh and play together again—that’s simply how children are.”
“Our Manon does tend to shed tears rather easily! It’s perfectly fine!”
The man who appeared to be the crying child’s father even burst into hearty laughter.
These were responses Jean de Lamber didn’t know how to navigate. Were they truly unconcerned? And yet, if they declared distance afterward, what then?
“Wait. That child is beginning to say something.”
At Eduard’s words, everyone’s attention turned back to the children.
“Kiki isn’t something you can buy. She’s my friend. She can be a bit fierce, but she won’t hurt you, so don’t cry.”
“Waaaah!”
“Really. Kiki is incredibly clever. She doesn’t just attack anyone. Never.”
“Waaah… *sniffle*, you, you really mean it?”
As Vivian explained calmly without panic and soothed the child, he quickly stopped crying and asked with a sniffle.
“Yes, really. And monkeys are animals that live on the New Continent, I’ve heard. You’ll have a hard time meeting one anywhere else.”
“Ooh?”
Kiki looked up at Vivian in sudden surprise.
Had Jean de Lamber ever given Vivian such an explanation?
He had explained it in front of others, but never directly to Vivian.
He’d said one mustn’t speak carelessly in front of a young child, yet Vivian had remembered her father’s words all on her own.
“Kiki is my closest friend. So I’d like it if you weren’t afraid of her. As long as you don’t say disrespectful things about Kiki, she won’t screech like before. Her temperament is just a little difficult, that’s all.”
[What’s wrong with my temperament!]
As Kiki screeched, Vivian shrugged her shoulders and looked at the child.
“See? She does this to me too. She’s not trying to attack you.”
“Oh, oh I see. Wow, wow! How did you, um, meet her?”
“My father brought her to me.”
“Your father? That’s amazing!”
The child began asking Vivian all manner of questions, his eyes now brimming with curiosity instead of tears.
Witnessing it all, Jean de Lamber found himself speechless with astonishment.
“Your daughter is remarkably intelligent! So young, yet she knows how to comfort her friends with such composure.”
“I’m quite surprised. At first glance, she appears to be around the same age as our children.”
The others in the gathering were astonished, but no one was more shocked than Jean de Lamber.
“When did our princess become like that…?”
Clement, who overheard Jean de Lamber’s quiet murmur, let out a soft laugh.
“Children grow so quickly, you know. When their parents aren’t watching.”
“That’s certainly true…”
Jean de Lamber still wore a bewildered expression. So this was how Vivian appeared among her peers.
Until now, I had only seen her being childish and clingy, yet she seemed to have grown so much that a strange emptiness crept into my heart.
The gathering’s attendees, as seasoned parents, burst into laughter at Jean de Lamber’s reaction.

* * *

“The New Continent? Well, that would certainly be difficult to obtain.”
“Harriet, don’t speak of people like they’re objects.”
The boy standing beside Elise stopped the child. Their hierarchy was already established between them—the child called Harriet could only pout her lips without protest.
The boy introduced himself to Vivian in a gentle tone.
“Hello? I’m Luca. I’m thirteen. Grandfather told me to look after the new arrival, and it’s you. Ah, my grandfather is over there.”
The person Luca pointed to was Eduard.
Luca with his brown hair and Eduard with his white hair seemed to share no resemblance at first glance, yet when placed side by side, their blood relation was unmistakable.
With the appearance of this kind older brother, Vivian’s earlier composure vanished entirely, replaced by shy bashfulness as she twisted her legs and fidgeted.
It wasn’t that her heart was racing with admiration.
Though Luca was often called a beautiful boy, Vivian’s eyes had long since soared far beyond such clouds thanks to Jean de Lamber and Diti.
It was simply that being treated kindly by an older brother felt strange and unfamiliar.
“What do you like? Drawing pictures? Reading fairy tales? Do you enjoy playing the piano?”
“The piano?”
The piano was quite an expensive instrument.
House of Lamber was not in such dire straits as to be unable to afford one, but since no one could play it, there was no need to purchase it.
The newly moved mansion had no piano either, so Vivian had never seen one before.
Perhaps only in illustrations within fairy tale books.
“Oh, you don’t know how to play the piano? Would you like me to teach you?”
Elise quickly joined the conversation, her eyes gleaming as she spotted an opportunity to display her piano skills.
“Yes! I’d love to!”
Thanks to Anne, Julie, and Leah, Vivian was accustomed to dealing with older sisters and readily accepted this offer.
With such a doll-like pretty child being so affectionate, Elise’s heart was immediately won over.
“How wonderful! You’re so adorable. I’ll teach you really well. Wait, there’s no piano in this room. …Father! I want to teach Vivian the piano—may we go to another room and play?”
“Of course. Play wherever you’re comfortable. Just don’t do anything too dangerous!”
“Yes!”
“Come on, follow me. Everyone, let’s go!”
As the house’s master led the way, all the children followed Elise in a rush.
“Yes! Hey, while Elise plays piano, let’s play knights!”
“Great!”
Some of the children were making plans to play separately among themselves.
“Vivian, come. Take my hand.”
“Okay!”
Luca, worried that Vivian—visiting this mansion for the first time—might fall behind, took her hand and looked after her.
The adults smiled and chatted at the sight of the children getting along so warmly.
“Haha. The children seem to have become friends already.”
“That’s thanks to your sons taking such good care of my daughter.”
Jean, watching Vivian blend naturally into the group and leave the room, wore a pleased smile.
But that smile didn’t last long.
The moment Jean saw Luca gently take Vivian’s hand and lead her away, fear gripped him.
‘Vivi! No ticklish, no fluttering, no heart-pounding!’
Ticklish, fluttering, heart-pounding.
Vivian was experiencing all three sensations.
What relieved Jean was that she was directing them not toward a person, but toward the piano.
“Wow! Sister, you’re amazing!”
Elise possessed piano skills worthy of a master despite her young age, and Vivian was instantly captivated by the instrument’s charm.
At Vivian’s genuine admiration, Elise held her head high with pride.
The other children gathered here had heard Elise’s playing many times before, so none of them offered such passionate praise as Vivian did.
“This much is nothing. You’ll be able to play it soon too. Come, Vivian. Sit here.”
“Okay. But, sister.”
“What?”
“Could you… call me Vivi instead? I like it better when you call me that.”
As Elise asked shyly, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt, Elise clutched her chest.

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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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