I Summoned the Demon King and Got a Dad - Chapter 71
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
71. Temple (2)
“I’m sleepy…”
And so, on the day of departure.
Shuria yawned repeatedly while being held in Theodor’s arms.
Both Theodor and Elisia had told her until their ears were sore to go to bed early since they would be departing today, but Shuria had no intention of sleeping early.
Until midnight last night, Shuria had been secretly reading books.
Though she usually didn’t read much, strangely it felt fun when she read in secret.
Shuria thought she wouldn’t get caught, but the two adults knew that Shuria hadn’t fallen asleep until late yesterday.
“That’s why Daddy told you to sleep early.”
Theodor said while turning away from Shuria, who was approaching him with arms spread wide, wanting to be hugged.
This was because he had heard from Elisia that it wasn’t good to give in to everything during adolescence.
But to Shuria, Theodor’s attitude only felt confusing.
“Hug me.”
Acting cute with all her might, Shuria spread her arms toward Theodor.
Theodor felt his heart weakening.
There was no need to be strict from the very beginning, was there?
At ten years old, she was still a child.
Theodor slowly approached Shuria.
“No.”
But Elisia was not lenient.
Reaching out to grab Theodor’s wrist, she spoke in a firm voice.
“Yesterday, did we tell you to sleep early or not?”
“You did…”
“Then who went to bed late?”
No answer came from Shuria.
With her head lowered, Shuria was already avoiding her gaze.
Seeing Shuria looking completely dejected, Theodor couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.
Theodor slowly moved away from Elisia and spread both arms.
“Just for today, let’s overlook…”
But Theodor couldn’t finish his sentence.
“Duke, who am I?”
Because Elisia interrupted him and spoke in a firm voice.
“You are Her Highness the Princess.”
“No, I am Shuria’s tutor. I have a duty to take responsibility for Shuria’s education.”
It meant not to interfere with her.
In the end, Theodor couldn’t help Shuria.
Theodor stepped back, and realizing the situation, Shuria looked at Elisia with teary eyes.
But she was no longer at an age where tears would work.
Elisia was disappointed by Shuria’s attempt to get out of every situation with cuteness and tears.
“I think I’ve been too lenient with you lately.”
“Sister.”
“From now on, call me teacher again.”
At some point, Shuria had started calling Elisia “sister,” and Elisia hadn’t made any particular correction about it.
This was because the Empire’s mandatory education lasted from age thirteen to nineteen.
So she hadn’t bothered to correct it, not wanting to insist on such formal titles with young Shuria.
But now hierarchy was necessary.
“…I understand.”
“Good, go get in the carriage first.”
After confirming that Shuria had entered the carriage, Theodor blocked out external sounds.
But he didn’t know what to say to Elisia.
Because he too knew that her actions were right.
“Duke.”
“Yes.”
“Do you think I’m being too harsh?”
“To some extent, yes.”
But Elisia was Elisia.
Having already noticed his feelings, Elisia spoke up before Theodor did.
“Shuria is the daughter of the hero who saved the Empire, and my student. And she’s also the Duke’s daughter. A crown carries weight accordingly. We have a duty to guide her down the right path.”
“…I understand.”
At Theodor’s answer, Elisia smiled.
At some point, that dejected look he only showed to her had started to feel cute.
Without realizing it, Elisia reached out and patted his head.
It was an action she herself wasn’t conscious of.
Reading the confusion in Theodor’s eyes, she naturally thought he would avoid her, but.
Theodor didn’t avoid her.
Instead, he lowered his head to match her height.
The well-maintained short hair that touched her fingertips was soft, but definitely different from a woman’s.
The first to pull her hand away was Elisia.
Theodor raised his head.
But now it was Elisia who was avoiding his gaze.
With the hand that had just been patting Theodor’s head clenched tightly.
“Now, I think it would be okay to go comfort her.”
Elisia said this while turning her head and leaving the spot.
And Theodor also couldn’t catch Elisia as she left.
Because he too was flustered by his own actions.
His head.
One of every living being’s weak points and a part as important as the heart – his head.
Shuria had been the only one he’d allowed to touch such a place.
But why on earth.
Theodor buried his face in both hands.
Strangely, his face felt hotter than usual.
After finding his composure through deep breathing, Theodor moved his steps.
Entering the carriage, he saw Shuria quietly looking out the window.
“Shuria.”
“Mm.”
Though resentment could be heard in Shuria’s voice, she seemed to recognize her mistake.
“Do you hate Daddy?”
At Theodor’s question, Shuria shook her head.
Turning her head, Shuria approached him and hugged his waist.
“I don’t hate you, I’ll listen well from now on.”
At Shuria’s answer, Theodor smiled.
She was still a good child.
Theodor thought this until Shuria raised her head and suddenly started sniffing.
“It smells like Teacher.”
Apparently when she patted his head earlier, the scent had transferred.
“…Because we were together.”
At Theodor’s words, Shuria shook her head.
She buried her face in Theodor’s chest and hugged him tightly.
“I like Daddy’s scent.”
For better or worse.
No, she was now a daughter who wouldn’t wear them.
Theodor held Shuria as she was and let her lean against him.
“Can you sleep while we travel?”
“Yeah.”
Just as Theodor was watching Shuria squirm and settle into position in his arms, the carriage door opened.
It was Elisia.
She had brought a blanket and a doll, which she covered Shuria with.
“Thank you.”
Still seeming to harbor some resentment toward Elisia, Shuria’s gaze wasn’t directed at her.
Elisia was also aware of this fact, and though she felt hurt as well.
She didn’t bother to show it.
Someone had to do it anyway.
Elisia thought this as she sat across from the two of them.
Soon the carriage departed, and while Shuria fell asleep before long, the two adults could not.
Elisia read documents.
Theodor also read documents.
This was a common occurrence for the two busy people.
But perhaps because of what happened earlier, the atmosphere felt particularly awkward today.
“You don’t need to work while traveling.”
At Theodor’s words, Elisia lifted her gaze from the documents and looked at him.
But Theodor was looking at his documents.
That fact strangely bothered her.
“I’m just planning to finish up, so you should at least rest.”
At her words, Theodor looked up.
But Elisia’s gaze was already directed toward her documents.
“Are you experiencing any motion sickness?”
It was such an absurd question that even he felt stupid for asking it.
There was no way someone with divine power like her would suffer from motion sickness.
Why did such words come out, Theodor thought he couldn’t understand himself when Elisia burst into laughter and looked up.
“Shouldn’t you be more worried about the Duke getting motion sickness than me?”
Sometimes asking such foolish questions seemed fine too.
Theodor found himself smiling without realizing it.
But the problem appeared from an unexpected place.
Theodor looked at Elisia swaying back and forth with worried eyes.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
The problem was that the road the carriage was traveling on was seriously bumpy.
Just seeing Elisia sway like that made Shuria, who didn’t wake up, seem remarkable.
He wanted to support her, but he couldn’t because Shuria was sleeping in his arms.
Elisia’s body lifted lightly in sync with the bumping carriage.
Theodor could no longer watch her looking like she might hit her head on the carriage ceiling at any moment.
Theodor prayed that Shuria wouldn’t wake up as he freed one arm.
“Mmm.”
Shuria, who had shown no reaction despite the carriage shaking so much, opened her eyes.
But before Theodor could panic, Elisia got up from her seat and raised her hand to cover Shuria’s eyes.
Theodor and Elisia held their breath and watched Shuria.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————