Dad is Back From a Deserted Island - Chapter 73

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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 73

Vivian was taken aback by the sight of Kiki trembling in distress, having completely forgotten the dignity befitting a divine beast.
It was the first time she had ever seen Kiki shake so pitifully.
“Your Highness, I apologize. Kiki has never been like this before… Let me move to another room for now, and I’ll come back later to offer my proper gratitude.”
“No. I’ll go inside instead.”
Dietrich spoke as though it were nothing and rose from his seat first.
After all, he had come to the Garden in the Mist only to show Kiki to Vivian, so there was no regret in leaving.
Vivian bowed her head respectfully as she watched Dietrich depart, Kiki still clinging to her hair.
Back in her Bedroom, she gently pried the creature from her head and cradled it in her arms, patting it for a long while until Kiki’s trembling finally subsided.
“Are you alright now?”
[…How are you so unaffected? You’re truly not bothered at all?]
Once Kiki had regained composure, embarrassment at having shown such a state overcame the divine beast, and it leaped from Vivian’s embrace.
A smile bloomed at the sight of Kiki grooming its fur with that familiar awkward manner, though it faded quickly as Vivian nodded.
“Yes. If anything, your reaction was the most… intense. Even the Castle Steward didn’t tremble like you did when he saw the Prince.”
[W-What? Are you saying I’m a coward?]
“Who said that? I just thought it was strange. I told you—you’re a divine beast created by the Dragon. Since the Prince apparently has a similar aura to the Dragon, I thought perhaps you two might recognize something in each other.”
Before Kiki could protest that the Prince was nothing like the Dragon, Vivian seized the moment.
“I don’t mean he resembles the Dragon! I’ve never even seen the Dragon myself, so how would I know what that feels like? I’m simply curious about the identity of the Prince, given the reaction you’re showing.”
Kiki, having only recently awakened, struggled with a mind that wasn’t yet functioning properly.
Vivian reached out toward the distressed divine beast.
“In any case, he’s not truly dangerous, so you can rest assured. He’s a good person.”
[Your judgment is questionable.]
“He helped wake you up! And he doesn’t act all pompous about being a Prince… Come here!”
Vivian scooped up the sulking Kiki into her arms.
The overwhelming emotion she had momentarily forgotten came rushing back like a tide at the sight of Kiki in its usual state.
A sense of stability, as though everything had finally found its rightful place.
Her eyes grew moist with gratitude so profound she felt compelled to offer prayers of thanks to the heavens themselves.
At the sound of her voice trembling with tears, Kiki did not push away the sudden embrace but nestled quietly against her.
“I was truly so afraid… that you would never open your eyes again…”
[…Is that why you left a farewell message beforehand? In case I slept for an eternity.]
A divine beast’s sensibility differed slightly from that of humans. Vivian briefly considered whether to bite this infuriating creature who didn’t even understand her own heart.
[By the way, has only a month truly passed? It feels as cold as winter.]
“Ah, this place is naturally cold. I traveled all the way to the Northern Region searching for a clue to wake you.”
[To think you’ve been staying in such a desolate place… Let’s return at once.]
Kiki apologized in a way that was unlike her. I couldn’t even fathom how terrible Dietrich must be.
“We can’t leave right away. It’ll take a month to return to the Capital, so we need to pack our things. That’s right! Father, I need to tell Father that Kiki has awakened.”
Belatedly remembering Jean de Lamber’s existence, I opened the door and found him standing in the corridor, pacing anxiously with a worried expression.
“Father!”
“Vivian, has something happened? Earlier with the Crown Prince—”
“Kiki has awakened!”
I thrust Kiki forward from my arms.
Kiki lifted her chin, playing along.
Jean de Lamber’s eyes widened. He had been anxious, worried that something serious had occurred when I rushed out without even hearing him call for me.
“Kiki…?”
[Indeed.]
The expression of surprise was identical to Vivian’s.
Like father, like daughter.
Watching Kiki behave so calmly, as if she had only just fallen asleep, Jean de Lamber’s thoughts momentarily halted before a smile bloomed across his face.
“You’ve awakened! I’m truly relieved. How can I ever repay this debt—”
At the same time, tears welled up in his eyes.
Kiki shook her head in disgust.
[Tell him to stop crying at once. I have no desire to see human tears.]
“Ah, Father. I’m sorry, but Kiki says not to cry.”
“…”
Though Vivian, being considerate of Jean de Lamber, didn’t explain the reason, Kiki’s expression spoke volumes.
The tears that had been about to fall simply vanished from his face.
Jean de Lamber awkwardly composed his expression and bowed his head toward Kiki.
Regardless, Kiki was Vivian’s benefactor. Jean de Lamber had never been discourteous to her, but he resolved to treat her with even greater reverence from now on.
Kiki grew exasperated as Jean de Lamber stood there muttering words of gratitude for over five minutes.
[My ears are ringing! Tell him to hurry and let’s depart.]
“Ah.”
The dutiful interpreter Vivian faltered.
[She’s urging us to leave?]
Even with Kiki’s urging, the words wouldn’t come easily. Of course, I didn’t dislike returning to the Capital. And yet.
“Then we should begin preparing to depart! …Vivian? Why do you look like that?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
I had to leave that lonely Crown Prince behind in this Castle. For some reason, the taste in my mouth had turned bitter.

* * *

Vivian lay in bed with a troubled expression, and Kiki naturally curled up beside her head.
Ordinarily, I would have embraced Kiki, delighting in that warm, soft sensation, and rubbed my face against theirs without restraint—but my expression showed no sign of brightening.
Eventually, Kiki could bear it no longer and asked.
[Why have you worn such an expression since earlier?]
“Hm? What’s wrong with my expression?”
It was Dietrich who had troubled my expression.
When I left Kiki behind—though they disliked it, grumbling about why I would deliberately go see that ominous thing—and went to meet with him, I broached the difficult subject of needing to return.

‘Farewell, Vivian.’

That was the response I received.
Not a trace of reluctance in those words—how disappointed I felt.
Even after dining and returning to my bedroom, that disappointment had not faded.
Yet we had gone on a picnic together and exchanged flower rings.
Of course, the ring held no particular meaning.
Even though I had rested my face against his shoulder.
I thought we had grown quite close.
“Surely we could at least exchange letters?”
[What are you suddenly saying?]
“It’s nothing!”
Vexed with myself, I pulled the blanket over my head entirely.
Poor Kiki bore the brunt of my frustration.
As I huffed indignantly and closed my eyes, consciousness slipped away—as though someone were drawing me into the realm of dreams.

And I awoke in an unfamiliar place.
“Where am I now?”
It was not the Garden in the Mist, now as familiar to me as home.
A corridor somewhere.
The lofty arched ceiling was adorned with delicate gold leaf, and the massive columns lining the walls were of smooth, white marble.
Vines and floral patterns were carved into the surface of the columns as though alive and breathing, stirring in me an irresistible urge to trace them with my fingertips.
The floor, carpeted in deep crimson, swallowed my footsteps softly, and from the golden candelabras placed on either side drifted the subtle fragrance of scented beeswax.
“I’ve never seen this place before.”
Finding myself in unfamiliar surroundings, I felt no alarm. Even when not in the Garden in the Mist, dreams had always carried me to the most extraordinary of places.
But this time—
“Kiki?”
[Hm? Where is this, Vivian?]
“Why are you here?”
I was not alone.

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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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