I Summoned the Demon King and Got a Dad - Chapter 8

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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8. The Demon Lord and the Princess (2)

The words that he was the same as them rose to the tip of his tongue.

Because he was just like them.

No, pretending to care for Shuria in order to return to the Demon Realm made him worse than them, not better.

Yet he couldn’t understand why Shuria trusted and believed in him to this extent.

Since there was no other option right now, Theodor opened his mouth to comfort Shuria.

“I won’t leave.”

Even if the contract ended and he returned to the Demon Realm, he intended to leave her with some servants from here.

Perhaps by then, she might have become a grand duchess.

“How can you promise that?”

But Shuria, who had already experienced one separation, had come to realize.

The fact that the nanny and maids had cared for her not because they loved and cherished her, but because of money and contracts.

And though Theodor didn’t know what Shuria was thinking.

“Daddy has a lot of money.”

Fortunately, he chose the right answer.

At his confident and shameless response, Shuria shook her head.

“What if you go bankrupt?”

“I won’t go bankrupt.”

Theodor could guarantee that this planet would collapse faster than he would go bankrupt.

Perhaps that confidence worked, as Shuria, who had been looking at the maids, gave her answer after a moment of consideration.

“Then, I like that sister.”

The person Shuria chose was the youngest-looking of the three, a woman who was just beginning to show signs of adulthood.

Shuria’s reason for choosing her was simple.

Since all the nannies and maids who had left her when she was still the princess of Kantarella were middle-aged, she chose the one who seemed most distant from them.

Theodor honestly didn’t like the most delicate-looking maid among the three, but since he had given Shuria the choice, he couldn’t refuse it.

“Alright.”

There shouldn’t be any problems within the manor, but I’ll need to assign a knight to her later.

Theodor thought this and brushed it off lightly.

There were too many urgent matters to attend to, and he couldn’t stay by her side any longer.

For a week, he had been with Shuria all day long.

Honestly speaking, taking care of a child was more difficult than he had imagined.

She asked questions all day, got bored easily, and yet never got tired, running around here and there.

Even though he had never experienced exhaustion in his life, Theodor could deeply understand what it meant to be drained during the week he spent with Shuria.

Thinking he could finally get some rest, Theodor gave his final instructions.

“I’m counting on you all from now on. Now everyone return to your duties.”

After dismissing all the servants, Theodor looked at Shuria in his arms and hesitated for a moment.

She was unusually dejected. This was the same Shuria who hadn’t been afraid even when he, a demon lord, used his powers.

Seeing Shuria burrow into his embrace as if asking him not to leave, Theodor sighed.

Though there were many matters he needed to focus on immediately, his feet wouldn’t move easily. In the end, Theodor had to make a choice for Shuria, knowing he would regret it.

“Show us around the manor.”

He commanded while still holding Shuria in his arms.

He convinced himself it was unavoidable since he needed to look around the manor at least once anyway.

“Shuri, we should know the house where we’ll be living from now on.”

He comforted his daughter with a quite affectionate voice.

Theodor had become quite father-like in this short period of time.

While being guided around the manor with Shuria, Theodor thought.

Not bad.

Since it was a manor given as a reward by the imperial family, the interior had also been renovated and decorated.

The paintings, flower pots, curtains, and wallpaper were all clearly top-quality items at first glance.

Thinking this would be fine for a temporary stay, Theodor smiled with satisfaction.

But the most important thing in this manor was something else.

“And here is the young lady’s room.”

Antonio’s hand grasped the door handle as he said this.

Click.

With the sound of the door opening, Theodor felt nervous for the first time in a while.

Shuria’s room was the place he had paid more attention to than anything else in the manor, even more than the room he would use.

All potentially dangerous objects had been removed, and it was filled with fairy tale books, numerous toys, a dressing room full of cute clothes, and even large dolls.

Thinking she would surely like it, Theodor looked down at Shuria, but she showed no interest in the room and kept her face buried in his chest.

Ah, why, again.

Feeling slightly annoyed, Theodor spoke in the kindest voice possible.

“What’s wrong?”

At Theodor’s words, Shuria finally raised her head and looked around the room.

“…Is this my room?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, I understand.”

After answering, Shuria tapped his arms as if asking to be put down, and when he set her on the floor, she toddled over to the bed and hugged the bear doll that was on it.

Just as Theodor felt relieved, thinking she seemed to like the room.

Shuria opened her mouth.

“Is it okay to go out to the garden?”

At this incomprehensible question, Theodor asked back.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I have to stay only in my room from now on, right?”

The answer that came in response to Theodor’s words was so unexpected that he was momentarily speechless.

“That’s why you assigned a maid sister to me too.”

Just where did it all go wrong?

Even he, who had only known this child for about a month, felt his heart soften at such behavior and actions.

How could they have treated their own daughter like this?

“There’s nowhere in this manor that you can’t go.”

And at Theodor’s answer, Shuria’s eyes widened.

“Why?”

“Because this is your home.”

“It’s not mine, it’s Daddy’s house.”

“And you’re my daughter.”

But no answer came from Shuria.

Sighing softly, Theodor walked over to her and carefully sat beside the bed.

“I promised, didn’t I? That I would be your daddy.”

“Mommy was my mommy too.”

The boundary between a guardian who literally only provided protection and family who gave love and affection.

And the boundary between neglect and abuse.

Shuria had lived on that subtle boundary.

And Theodor finally realized this fact.

For someone who had asked to be loved most in the world, Shuria knew as little about love as he did.

“…That person doesn’t deserve to be called that.”

Then did he deserve to be called daddy?

Theodor deliberately ignored that question that arose in his mind and spoke.

“Come here, this is the house where we’ll live.”

At those words, Shuria nodded and came back into his embrace.

Thinking that the familiar soft and warm feeling now seemed comforting, Theodor stroked her head.

Perhaps having regained some spirit from Theodor’s words, unlike before when she had stayed still in his arms, Shuria raised her head and faced the manor.

With a smile filling her face, unlike before.

Theodor burst into laughter at the sight of Shuria’s eyes sparkling with curiosity as she asked Antonio questions whenever something caught her interest.

She’s enjoying this so much.

That sight is both pitiful.

And adorable.

She’s enjoying this so much. That sight is pitiful but also adorable in a way, so Theodor quietly watched Shuria’s smiling face.

“Wow!”

The moment they finished touring the manor and went outside to look around the garden, Shuria opened her mouth wide in amazement and tried to jump down from his arms.

Like a puppy that found water, she spread her arms and urged him to put her down quickly, making Theodor sigh softly as he set her down.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, Shuria ran toward the playground piled with colorful sand.

Watching Shuria swing on the white wooden swing decorated with flowers, smiling the brightest he’d ever seen, Theodor thought.

…So this is what it feels like to think raising a child is futile.

Unaware of his inner thoughts, Shuria just struggled with the swing that wouldn’t move and shouted loudly.

“Daddy, push me on this!”

I really want to rest.

Even as Theodor thought this, he approached Shuria and dutifully pushed the swing.

After swinging for quite a while, when Shuria asked him to stop, Theodor caught the swing and she swayed as if she had motion sickness.

Seeing her looking like she might fall over at any moment, Theodor sighed softly and picked up Shuria as he spoke.

“From now on, swing in moderation.”

“Mm, hold me.”

At her response, feeling like she definitely wouldn’t listen to him, Theodor still picked up Shuria.

And at that moment, a rumbling sound came from Shuria’s stomach.

“I’m hungry.”

Still like a little animal…

“Alright.”

We’ve almost finished touring the manor anyway.

It’s better to change cooks quickly if I don’t like them, so having a meal now wouldn’t be bad.

“We’ll look around the garden a bit more before going. Prepare the meal.”

After giving Antonio those instructions, Theodor slowly strolled through the garden while holding Shuria.

Unlike earlier, watching Shuria properly tour the manor, Theodor asked again.

“Do you like the room and the manor?”

With a slight expectation that this time he might get an answer.

And in response to Theodor’s question, Shuria gestured for him to come closer.

After hesitating briefly, when he lowered his head toward Shuria.

With a soft sound, something tender touched his cheek and then pulled away.

Startled by the unexpected situation, when Theodor looked at Shuria, she was smiling even brighter than before.

“I like the room, the playground, everything. Thank you.”

Behind Shuria as she spoke, the red sunset was shining.

The chirping of birds happened to sound pleasant.

The wind was just right.

Really for no other reason.

That’s why Theodor thought he somehow wouldn’t be able to forget today.

“I see.”

It was natural for him to receive thanks from her.

He had done things that ordinary people couldn’t even imagine. Yes. Even though it was natural thanks, why did it feel so good?

If the voice announcing that all the food was ready hadn’t come at that moment, Theodor probably wouldn’t have been able to hold back his laughter.

When they entered the dining hall together with Shuria, a lavish feast that clearly showed great care had been taken greeted them.

The plating isn’t bad.

Unlike Theodor who casually assessed it, Shuria couldn’t collect herself at the sight of the splendid feast she was seeing for the first time in her life.

“Is it really okay to eat this?”

“Yes.”

“It looks really expensive??”

“Not really expensive.”

“You’re lying. If we eat this, we’ll have to starve tomorrow, right?”

…They didn’t feed the child for all sorts of reasons.

He wasn’t even annoyed anymore.

Instead of getting angry, Theodor stroked Shuria’s head and cut a piece of the most delicious-looking steak and put it in her mouth.

“Is it delicious?”

“Yes, totally.”

I don’t need to change the cook.

Thinking this, Theodor cut the other dishes into easy-to-eat pieces and placed them in front of Shuria, and she ate them one by one with a happy expression.

And so the meal ended.

Having postponed his delayed work again, Theodor spent time with Shuria until it was time for her to sleep, and when he confirmed she was starting to get drowsy, he headed to the bed.

After carefully laying Shuria on the bed so she wouldn’t wake up, Theodor placed his hand on her forehead.

There were too many suspicious points.

Bright light began to emanate from his hand and filled the dark room.

When darkness settled in the room again, Theodor was nowhere to be found.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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