Star Child's Parenting Diary - Chapter 1

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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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Episode 1
Chapter 1. The Condition for Title Succession (1)
At last, the thick, suffocating silence broke.
“There’s a condition.”
Ethan faced his counterpart with the calm demeanor he always wore.
His expression radiated the certainty that no condition, whatever it might be, would pose any obstacle to him.
But this time, Ethan’s certainty was wrong.
“Adopt a child.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me perfectly well.”
The Emperor set down his teacup.
“Adopt a child. That’s the condition for me to approve your Title Succession.”
Without the Imperial Family’s approval, no one could have their succession to a title recognized.
In other words, the Emperor had just played his strongest card, holding it like a weapon over Ethan’s head.
Ethan’s lips twitched as if he had much to say.
Yet he couldn’t force out a single word.
‘So even the great Ethan Aibeck can wear such an expression.’
The Emperor hid his amusement and maintained an air of composure.
“Your Majesty.”
After a moment, Ethan—barely having collected himself—finally spoke.
“Why?”
“Have you taken leave of your senses?”
“No. I’m perfectly rational, Ethan.”
“I believe you’ve misunderstood something.”
“You’re aware that’s heresy, aren’t you?”
As the Emperor raised an eyebrow pointedly, Ethan’s brow furrowed sharply.
“My wife is at home waiting for me in perfect health, and you’re asking me to adopt and raise a complete stranger?”
“Yes.”
“Are you aware that this wife is your one and only sister?”
“I haven’t forgotten that fact either, so don’t worry.”
“It seems your mind has truly broken. I shall summon your physician at once.”
Ethan shot to his feet.
The Emperor watched his irritation with an amused smile.
“This is an imperial decree.”
At his unrelenting tone, sparks flew in Ethan’s eyes.
“Is this her request?”
……
“Blast! I should have silenced those doddering old fools’ tongues long ago.”
Ethan spoke harshly, running a hand through his hair.
Unsatisfied with that alone, he even loosened the Cravat that had been constricting his neck.
“I’m telling you I’m fine—so why, exactly?”
“Ethan.”
At the soft call, Ethan barely swallowed his anger.
“She’s the one who asked me to tell you this.”
“I have no need for a child.”
“Setia needs one.”
The Emperor smiled bitterly.
Setia Caelus Aibeck.
The Emperor’s younger sister and Ethan Aibeck’s wife, she had been frail since childhood—so weak that she could never bear children.
Despite knowing Setia’s condition, Ethan had taken her as his wife.
Naturally, fierce opposition followed from the Senate and the Assembly.
They insisted daily that the succession of the heir to the most powerful house supporting the Imperial Family could not be allowed to break.
Under that pressure, Setia had recently begun bringing up the subject of children more and more often.
‘So they’ve resorted to this.’
Grinding his teeth savagely, Ethan left his seat without another word.
‘I’ve told her a hundred times that this is enough.’
He wanted nothing more than Setia. She alone was all he needed.
If she would simply remain at his side, that would be enough.
‘What is it that troubles you so?’
Ethan went straight home.
“How was your meeting?”
Setia greeted Ethan from where she sat propped against the headboard.
When Ethan saw his wife’s parched white lips, his competitive edge faltered.
He suppressed a sigh and settled on the edge of her bed.
“I just heard the conditions for Title Succession from His Majesty. It’s quite demanding.”
He brushed her hair back gently, and she accepted his touch with familiar ease.
“Is that so?”
Yet she played innocent without a trace of guilt.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know, Setia.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re the one who asked for this.”
……
“What are you thinking? I told you I need only you.”
“Ethan.”
Setia gently covered his mouth with her hand.
“It’s not about me.”
……
“I want someone to be by your side someday… when I’m gone.”
“Setia.”
Ethan squeezed his eyes shut as though he’d heard something unbearable.
“Please.”
……
“Yes?”
Setia’s expression had turned pitiful, like a kitten caught in the rain.
Ethan had no defenses against her like this.
“Damn it.”
He muttered the quiet curse and dragged his hands roughly across his face.
“Fine. I understand. But only one child.”
In the end, Ethan Aivek yielded to his beloved wife’s plea.
* * *
The promised day to visit the Orphanage had arrived.
“I’ll adopt an older child.”
He had no intention of wasting time caring for a small one.
Ethan looked up at the weathered brick building.
‘Old, worn.’
Inside the hardly-there fence, the clamorous voices of children leaked through.
“Hello!”
A bright voice seized Ethan’s attention.
“Are you Duke Aivek?”
An intelligent-looking girl approached him holding the hand of a tiny creature.
Ethan’s gaze fixed on the small one without his realizing it.
“I’m Lily. The Director told me we’d have a guest today, so I’ve been waiting for you.”
The little mite clinging to the girl’s side pressed a hand barely large enough to span an inch against her cheek.
“Hi.”
‘That’s supposed to be a greeting.’
Their eyes met across the space.
The tiny creature was in the midst of a growth spurt, hugging a loaf of bread nearly as large as her own face.
The way her small mouth worked busily at it was oddly endearing.
Her kinked golden hair had been gathered into two braids that bounced like antennae—the sort of thing that made you want to touch them.
“Ah, this child is—”
“Where is the Director?”
Noticing that his gaze had settled on the girl, Lily moved to introduce her, but Ethan cut her off firmly.
“She’s preparing refreshments upstairs. I’ll show you the way.”
Ethan behaved as though he had no interest in the small one whatsoever.
He had no intention of adopting that tiny creature.
‘How long would it take to raise something so small.’
* * *
Berta. Affectionately called Bell.
The youngest child in the Orphanage, not quite two years old.
Gripping her favorite older sister’s hand tightly, the child’s eyes never left Ethan.
‘That face.’
Bell looked at the stranger who had come to the Orphanage, studying their features.
Then at Sister Lily.
Then back at the visitor’s face.
Her gaze flicked even to the person clinging to them like a growth.
‘I can see it.’
It was the first time.
Apart from her own reflection in the mirror, another person’s face had ever come into such sharp focus.
Was this person special too?
Bell watched the pink cloud’s movements as it circled around the visitor’s face.
[Truly a curious human,]
the Spirit agreed, seeming equally fascinated.
[Their Ether hasn’t been tainted at all.]
The pale pink cloud drifted back to Bell’s side.
[The vessel that holds Ether is vast, and the purity is high. And what’s more…….]
The cloud brushed past Bell’s cheek like a caress.
[This human controls it all perfectly.]
Bell didn’t quite understand what “control” meant, but she grasped that this visitor was just as special as she was.
Bell studied Ethan’s face carefully, comparing the differences to her own.
Her eyes were violet. His were teal.
Her hair was coarse and golden. His was straight and silver.
Her skin was cream-colored. His was dark as whole wheat bread.
She was small. He was impossibly tall.
And then…….
“Your Highness.”
“What.”
“That expression of yours — perhaps try something else.”
“What’s wrong with my face.”
“You look like you’re about to commit some terrible wickedness, Your Highness.”
“Shut it, Aspe.”
“Very good, sir.”
That expression wasn’t improving.
Bell watched the person whispering in Ethan’s ear.
Around his face hung a thick black fog.
She couldn’t make out his features or expression at all.
To Bell, this was the natural state of the world.
Murky gray storm clouds and ominous black mist covering everything, devoid of any color — a dark…….
A perfectly colorless world.
Only her own reflection in the mirror and the Spirit carried any hue.
Or so it had always been.
Bell’s gaze and Ethan’s met in empty air.
“……What are you staring at.”
[Seems like this one has a temperament problem, little star.]
“Mm.”
She should stop looking.
Bell quickly straightened her head and bit into the bread she’d been clutching to her ribs.
‘Last time.’
Just one more glance, last time.
Bell stole a quick look at the visitor, her eyes catching every detail down to the fine wrinkles between his brows, then swiftly turned her head away.
‘A face, like this.’
And she quietly mimicked Ethan’s expression.
‘This is a bad face.’
She’d never seen one like it before.
Before long, they had arrived at the Director’s Office.
When Lily knocked, the door opened as if someone had been waiting.
“Welcome.”
A round frame, a gentle voice, and a light gray mist around the face.
This was the Director.
Bell released Lily’s hand and rushed into Teresa’s arms.
“I am Teresa, the Director of this Orphanage.”
“You’ve already heard about it, I’m sure. I’ll be direct.”
Ethan lifted his chin with an air of authority.
‘What kind of expression is that?’
Following his lead, Setia raised her chin and lowered her gaze.
For Setia, who had never seen another person’s face before, Ethan was the most fascinating person in the world.

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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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