Dad is Back From a Deserted Island - Chapter 86

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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 86

Vivian tied her hair back firmly, her determination burning bright.
“You’re feeling alright today, aren’t you? You’re not about to collapse or running a fever or anything like that?”
“No.”
Dietrich nodded obediently.
The two of them stood in a practice studio within the mansion that Vivian had prepared to teach dancing.
Though calling it a practice studio was generous—it was merely a long stretch of tall mirrors arranged along one wall.
Dietrich stood in the center of the room.
He stood awkwardly rigid, like someone who had no idea how to position himself.
“Why are you standing like that?”
“You told me to stand here.”
“I told you to stand, not to stand there all stiff and uncomfortable. Are you nervous?”
Dietrich gazed down at Vivian without speaking. His expression remained impassive, yet an unmistakable discomfort lingered beneath the surface.
“Are you really nervous?”
“It’s not so much nervousness as… is dancing really necessary?”
“Of course it is. Think about how many dances you’ll need to perform—from group numbers to waltzes.”
Vivian spoke with conviction and positioned herself before him.
“Your hand.”
Dietrich extended his hand. Vivian took it and raised it, placing it upon her own hand.
“Like this. Don’t grip too tightly.”
“Understood.”
Vivian drew his other hand toward her waist. In that instant, Dietrich’s movements visibly stiffened.
“What’s wrong?”
Vivian tilted her head curiously.
“Is this not how you normally do it?”
“What do you mean? This is the basic position.”
….
“Is something uncomfortable? Are you unwell?”
“No. It’s not that… Have you danced with other people before?”
Vivian nodded with pride. Despite her fall, she recalled the memory of dancing brilliantly at the Petit Debutante with such confidence.
“Of course. Trust me, Diti. I’m quite skilled at dancing, you know.”
At that answer, Dietrich’s expression grew even more sullen. Yet Vivian, focused on teaching him the steps, failed to notice.
“Now, let me teach you the basic steps.”
Vivian moved her feet slowly.
“Forward, to the side, together. Now back, to the side, together.”
Dietrich followed my movements quite well. For someone learning to dance for the first time, he neither missed a beat nor stepped on my feet.
The problem was—
“Puhaha!”
His movements were so stiff that I burst into laughter. Every time he moved, it sounded as though something were creaking.
“Oh, I’m sorry. You move exactly like a broken wind-up doll, and it’s just too funny. No, wait. For someone learning for the first time, you’re doing incredibly well. You’re doing so well, but— ahahaha.”
“…It’s harder than I expected.”
“You’re still doing great. You’ll pick it up in no time.”
“Like a broken wind-up doll, you said.”
I burst into laughter again.
“It’s only because you move so stiffly with such a serious expression. It’s fine, really. Once the movements become natural, it’ll improve. The fact that you’re not stepping on my feet is already impressive. Hmm, hmm. Let’s go again. Ready, one, two—”
Worried that Dietrich’s determination to learn might falter, I began the steps again. This time, I slowed the pace further. I made my movements larger so he could follow along.
Slowly, repeatedly.
The same movements continued over and over.
The stiff motions that resembled a broken wind-up doll gradually became smoother. Dietrich’s gaze lifted from his feet and turned toward me.
“You’re doing well. …Should we rest for a moment?”
I lifted my head with a pleased expression at the much-improved movements, only to realize how close Dietrich and I had become. His gaze fixed on me without a single blink, and I startled, releasing his hand and stepping back.
“Um, how was it? Manageable?”
“The movements aren’t difficult.”
“Right? You’ll be able to learn it quickly. Once you master just this step, there will be many songs you can dance to.”
Phew, dancing made me hot. I murmured to myself as I opened the window. Warm air rushed inside.
“Diti, don’t you get hot?”
“A hot summer like this has been a long time coming, so I’m not quite sure. It seems like it was that way before.”
It made sense—I’d been in Norvalang all this time. Even though he’d recovered considerably, his body was still frail, so I needed to be careful about him not suffering from the heat. I was making this resolution when—
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
“Come in—”
“Young Lady, a letter has arrived, and I believe you should open it right away.”
“Hm? What kind of letter?”
An unfamiliar seal was stamped on the envelope. My eyes widened as I read the name written beneath it.
“Alençon? You mean that strange grandfather?”
It was a letter from the House of Alençon.
A letter from that eccentric grandfather. I was almost afraid to open it.
I grimaced as I opened the envelope and began reading, my eyes growing wider with each word.
“What’s wrong? Is there something strange written in it?”
“Well….”
[What? I thought that old man wasn’t quite right from the moment I first saw him, but he dares to write such strange things in a letter? Go find that man at once—]
Kiki, who had been drowsily basking in the sunlight, suddenly sprang up in indignation.
“No, it’s not strange things like that… He’s inviting me to his estate.”
“What?”
[What?]
“I’d really love it if you could visit the mansion.”
All three of us blinked simultaneously.
Kiki spoke in a bewildered voice.
[Senility? Is that what happened?]
Vivian couldn’t bring herself to deny it.

* * *

Either way, I couldn’t refuse the Duke’s invitation.
With gathering forces for Dietrich being the urgent priority, I couldn’t afford to miss an opportunity to forge connections with such a high-ranking nobleman.
“Are you sure you’ll be alright on your own?”
Jean asked with a worried expression.
The invitation bore only Vivian’s name. It would be discourteous to bring someone else without permission when visiting another’s mansion.
“I’ll be fine. He didn’t invite me just to cause trouble. I’ll do well and come back!”
I answered Jean cheerfully, deliberately projecting confidence. I tapped Kiki perched on my shoulder, adding reassurances.
“Kiki will be looking after me. Right?”
[Of course. As long as I draw breath, not a single hair on Vivian’s head will come to harm.]
“You heard that? So cheer up, Diti.”
Dietrich had worn a sullen expression ever since the invitation arrived. He disliked that Vivian was taking risks because of him.
[Vivian. Get in the carriage quickly. That fellow keeps staring at me like I’m about to wake him again.]
“When did I ever—”
I retorted shamelessly, though my gaze toward Kiki turned sharp. I soothed Kiki and waved to both men.
“Come on, whether you like it or not, there’s nothing to be done! I’ve already sent my acceptance and they’ve sent a carriage. I can’t back out now. I’ll return safely, so don’t worry too much. Father, please look after Diti!”
“…Travel safely, Vivian.”
Dietrich reluctantly waved back to me. As I leaned out of the carriage to bid farewell and turned the corner, my expression grew tense.
[Tsk. If you’re going to be that nervous, why pretend to be strong?]
“What else could I do? If I’d kept showing my anxiety, he never would have let me go.”
[Fair point.]
Kiki, thoroughly fed up with Jean’s overprotectiveness, conceded.
The Duke of Alençon’s mansion in the Capital wasn’t far from the Lamber Family Estate. It was surprising that I’d never encountered it before.
Nothing dared block a carriage bearing the House of Alençon’s crest. The carriage crossed through the mansion gates in the blink of an eye.

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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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