One Day, My Dad Disappeared - Chapter 28

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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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Chapter 28
After that, the Light Bulb shone for approximately one hundred hours before gradually dimming to nothing.
In any case, since I’d obtained the desired results, Aidan and I no longer had reason to linger in the Laboratory.
“Ugh, I’m exhausted.”
So it should have been natural to head home.
“Why does it feel so empty?”
Someone was beside me every day, and now they’re not—maybe that’s why. I thought I’d grown accustomed to being alone at home by now, yet it still feels unfamiliar.
“Is it because Father isn’t here?”
I picked up the framed photograph on the windowsill. The most recent photo of Father and me was from my Academy entrance ceremony. Of course, Father no longer appears in the picture itself.
There I was in my uniform for the first time, holding the Yellow Bouquet Father had given me and smiling—Father gazing back at me with that warm smile. That photograph is what I’d framed and kept.
But after Father disappeared, only I remained in that photograph.
If I open a Gate and bring Father back, will he reappear in this photograph?
“If not, so what.”
Once I find Father, I can take as many new pictures as I want. When that day comes, I’ll have them printed large and hang them all over this house’s walls.
“Then I’ll make sure he wears something truly wonderful—not those mercenary clothes~!”
He’d shown up to my graduation ceremony in mercenary gear, after all. Aidan would’ve surely gasped at the lack of propriety.
“Ah, Aidan…….”
My father doesn’t need to make a good impression on Aidan, does he? Why did I even think that?
“Because that man’s always lecturing about propriety and etiquette the moment he gets a chance…….”
Perhaps I was worried he might find some fault with Father too. After reaching that conclusion, I sat down in front of the Mirror. As I slowly combed my hair, Aidan’s face materialized in my mind—reflected in the glass.
Those spring-like green eyes, warm and full of light.
My cheeks burned again.
“Why does he have to look at me like that!”
This is the same man who usually gazes down at people with contempt written all over his face.
“Maybe he was just pleased because the research succeeded?”
How much money had Aidan invested in this project? Of course he’d be happy it worked out. I would be too.
Besides, since we’d been assigned the task of finding the Core, he’d have no choice but to want this to succeed. So he must have wanted my paper completed more than anyone else.
“Yes, that must be it.”
That thought put my mind at ease. I’d almost gotten worked up over nothing.
“Wait.”
I was bewildered by my own reasoning. Worked up? Me? Over Aidan?
“Am I losing it?”
Sleep deprivation must be cutting off oxygen to my brain, making rational thought impossible. I wrapped my hands around my head.
“I need to sleep. I really need to sleep.”
I drank Chamomile Tea, known to aid sleep. I burrowed under a plush pillow that smelled of sunlight and a cozy blanket, even lighting the Scented Candle I only burn on special occasions.
It was perfect. My body felt heavy as lead, and my sleep debt was considerable—if I could just drift off now, it would have been a perfect day.
“I can’t fall asleep.”
But sleep wouldn’t come. Every time I closed my eyes, all I saw were green irises.

In the end, I only managed to drift into a light doze as dawn broke, stumbling into the Laboratory looking absolutely wretched.
“What’s wrong? Didn’t you get proper rest yesterday?”
Aidan frowned at my appearance. It was clear to anyone that I hadn’t slept well, was it? I wiped my face awkwardly and forced a smile.
“Ha, haha. The research was so successful that I was too excited to sleep, apparently.”
Aidan looked as though he’d slept perfectly well—his face had an unusual glow to it today. Still, he seemed satisfied with my explanation and nodded.
“It really was a remarkable result. This will definitely win an award.”
With that, Aidan handed me the experimental records we’d been keeping all this time.
“Now all that’s left is to compile our research findings into a paper.”
“Yes, we can do it.”
We’d meticulously documented even the failed experiments, and between the two of us, we had genuine skill in synthesis and organization, so writing the paper didn’t take long. We were able to finish it well before the Academic Conference’s submission deadline.
Aidan closed the final page last, checking one more time for any typos or incorrectly recorded numbers.
“Carbonization conditions of the bamboo used, Filament thickness and length, voltage and current, vacuum pressure and ignition duration. Variables and controls included. Flawless.”
A flawless paper, approved by the perfectionist Aidan himself. Those words alone made all our hard work feel rewarded. He picked up his pen and opened to the first page of the paper.
“Then let’s write in the authors. After that, we’ll submit it today.”
Without hesitation, Aidan wrote my name.

[Cynthia Violeta.]

Then he set the pen down.
“Wait—what about your name?”
“Why would I write my own name?”
He gave a light shrug.
“You conceived the research in the first place, and you were the one who thought of bamboo for the filament material. I simply provided the necessary funds and equipment.”
“But…”
Without Aidan, there’s no way I would have succeeded.
“Research isn’t done with money alone. You’re the one who conceived the idea and proved it.”
I understood what Aidan was saying, but why did my conscience prick so sharply at putting only my name on this paper?
“I’ll submit this paper to the Academy myself.”
He said this while organizing the manuscript.
“You’ve worked hard all this time, Cynthia Violeta.”
“You’ve been the one truly putting in the effort, sir.”
“Well, this place is finished now.”
At Aidan’s words, I took a slow look around the Laboratory.
The desk charred from heating glass tubes over flame, bamboo filaments changed out countless times, glass tubes and failed prototypes piled in the corner. All the tears and laughter we’d shed here lingered in this space.
I’d spent so much time with Aidan in this place.
“What happens to this room now?”
“There’s nothing left to do, so I’ll just sell it. I already have my own research facilities and plenty of buildings anyway.”
“What about the things here?”
“I’ll just throw them out. There’s nothing particularly important here anyway.”
His casual attitude toward the objects reminded me once again that he was a wealthy nobleman. If this were my father, he would have fussed and gathered up every intact item, wondering why on earth they’d throw away perfectly good things.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you leaving?”
“Yes, I should go.”
I was about to follow him out the door when I stopped and turned toward the wall instead.
“Wait, that mirror there.”
“Hmm? What about it?”
“Are you throwing that away too? Or selling it?”
It had no ornate patterns, but since it was one of the items the Winslow Family had provided, I asked just in case.
“Selling it would be more of a hassle. I’ll just discard it.”
Aidan seemed not to remember it clearly, since it wasn’t something he’d bought himself.
“Then… can I take this?”
“This? Do you need a mirror? I’ll buy you a new one.”
“I like this mirror!”
“…Really?”
Aidan’s expression showed genuine bewilderment, but he didn’t press further and simply nodded.
Once I confirmed his permission, I carefully removed the mirror and cradled it in my arms. It seemed a bit heavier than I’d expected.
“Let me take it.”
Seeing me struggle, Aidan sighed and took the mirror from me instead.
“Should we carry it together?”
“No. It’s easier for me to carry alone.”
I followed behind him as he walked with long strides.
It really would be wasteful to throw away something perfectly fine like this. We don’t have a mirror this large at home, so it’ll certainly be put to good use.
‘Yes, that’s why I’m taking it.’
There was absolutely no other meaning to it. Not even a little.

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The Academic Conference selected five finalists from papers that had passed the first round of judging, ranking them by merit. These five would then directly demonstrate what their papers described, answer questions, and finally be scored to determine the Best Paper Award.
In other words, I had to demonstrate the light bulb in front of an audience today.
My throat went dry and I swallowed hard, my lips parched from nerves. Since this Academic Conference featured Doctor Helico’s prized possessions at stake, it was drawing considerable attention. Newspaper reporters kept snapping photographs, and murmurs rippled constantly through the gallery.
“…Cynthia Violeta.”
The moderator called out the name of the first presenter. It was my turn.

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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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