Star Child's Parenting Diary - Chapter 23

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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 23
Chapter 6. The Vanished Mage’s Trail (3)
It was no surprise who won the battle of nerves.
“Sigh!”
It was Bbubbu.
Bbubbu heaved such a deep sigh that his round belly trembled, then crawled down from the bed.
“You’re sighing? At me?”
Ethan stared at the back of Bbubbu’s small head with disbelief.
As if he cared.
Bbubbu scurried to a corner and rummaged through his own small bag.
The bag had sat in the same spot untouched ever since Bbubbu arrived at the Estate.
The reason he’d never opened it was simple.
Setia had procured everything the child needed brand new, so there was no reason to look inside.
Thanks to that, he’d forgotten the bag existed altogether—but it seemed Bbubbu needed something after all.
“What are you looking for?”
A stuffed animal of indeterminate shape—neither bear nor raccoon—tumbled out from inside the bag.
Bbubbu shook the toy with delight and cried out.
“Bbubbu!”
“This is Bbubbu’s favorite toy. He can’t sleep without it, so please take care of it…….”
“Ah, right. The toy.”
Ethan, belatedly recalling Lily’s reminder, rubbed his face with a dry hand.
‘Though he sleeps fine without it.’
Maybe it was just one of those toys he asked for from time to time.
Either way, he’d need to keep it safe.
He’d even wash it properly once.
Bbubbu proudly hugged the toy and returned to bed.
After tucking himself in neatly and pulling the Bbubbu doll close as well, he looked back at Ethan.
“What is it now?”
Ethan answered with reluctance.
Bbubbu pointed at the wall with his tiny finger.
“Bu.”
“……Turn off the light.”
“Mm.”
The audacity of asking him to turn off the light.
‘In every way, he’s reckless.’
Ethan was exasperated, but he grudgingly rose from his spot.
“Done?”
“Mister.”
“I’ve told you a hundred and twenty-two times—it’s not mister.”
“Coco.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Bbubbu’s friend?”
But Bbubbu shook his head firmly.
“So what? Spit it out already.”
Bbubbu tapped his own belly with his small hands.
……
It took Ethan a moment to understand the gesture.
“Pat your belly?”
“Mm.”
“You never stop, do you.”
Left with no choice, Ethan wedged himself onto one side of the wide bed and lay down.
Bbubbu squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the patting to begin.
‘Tiny thing though he is.’
It was both amusing and outrageous how confidently he made his demands.
Pat, pat.
Ethan’s hand moved in a steady rhythm.
Bbubbu soon sank into a deep sleep, but Ethan’s hand continued its gentle tapping for some time after.
‘……He sleeps well.’
The child’s belly was so small that more than half of it was hidden beneath his palm.
With each soft breath the boy exhaled came a warm, sweet scent, and his body was warm and tender.
Quiet settled gently across the night.
Ethan’s hand, which had been moving in a steady rhythm, gradually slowed before coming to rest.
* * *
When I opened my eyes, Lily was gone, but Bbubbu lay curled up beside me instead.
“Bbubbu.”
Hehe. I laughed happily and pulled Bbubbu into a tight embrace.
“There you go, Bell. It’s a gift. From now on, whenever you sleep, you’ll sleep right next to Bbubbu, yes? Do you understand? Promise.”
Bbubbu had been made from scraps of clothes I could no longer wear, carefully stitched together.
Ever since Bbubbu came into being, I’d stopped waking in the middle of the night hungry.
I was grateful I could sleep so soundly now, but somehow I’d completely forgotten about it.
“Mew.”
I pressed my lips against Bbubbu’s as an apology, then burrowed back under the blanket.
And whoosh!
With just my eyes peeking out, I could see Ethan sleeping beside me.
“Ethan.”
“…….”
“Snoring?”
I asked, but Ethan didn’t answer.
“Ethan’s sleeping.”
I explained to Bbubbu that Ethan was asleep and turned the doll around so it could see him too.
“Shh.”
Since he was sleeping, we had to be quiet so we wouldn’t wake him.
After promising Bbubbu, I suddenly noticed that Ethan was sleeping without even a blanket covering him.
“Oops.”
Being a thoughtful little child, I wriggled my way back out of the blanket.
Then I grabbed the edge of the still-warm blanket and draped it haphazardly over Ethan’s body.
“Sleep.”
Just like Ethan had done yesterday, I gave his belly a gentle pat, and that should’ve been that.
But still, I couldn’t bring myself to leave.
“Hmm.”
I crossed my tiny arms and thought for a moment.
And then I reached a decision.
“Okay.”
This was just a special exception, a one-time loan.
I carefully tucked Bbubbu between Ethan’s arms.
Hands on hips, I gave a decisive nod of approval before awkwardly climbing down from the bed.
The handle was too high, so I had to jump up to reach it.
Slipping out through the gap as the door slid open, I toddled down the familiar corridor alone.
My disheveled yellow hair, sticking up every which way, looked just like a chick that had been licked all over by a cat.
“My goodness!”
“You’re awake, Miss?”
“Hi.”
It was the maids who found this brave little chick that had ventured out of its nest alone.
Since breakfast had just been prepared, they’d been heading to wake me anyway, and they quickly gathered around me.
“Looks like there’s a bird’s nest in your hair.”
“Chirp?”
“Yes, chirp indeed.”
They squealed delightedly and fawned over me.
After running their fingers through my tangled hair for a while, the maids hoisted me up and started walking.
Naturally, our destination was the very room I’d just snuck out of.
“Shall we wash you squeaky clean, get you into a pretty dress, and have some breakfast?”
“Yes!”
Back in the room, I pointed at Ethan, who was still sleeping.
“Ethan. Sleeping.”
“Oh!”
The maids’ light footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
Another maid following behind bumped her nose right into the first maid’s back.
“What’s wrong, all of a sudden?”
“Sir is sleeping.”
“Huh?”
“He must have been exhausted. He’s not waking up.”
The maid who spoke that way carefully stepped backward.
“He seems to have fallen into a deep sleep, so let’s leave quietly.”
Speaking in hushed murmurs, their voices dropping to barely a whisper, they were just about to close the door again when—
“His Lordship is sleeping? Still? At this hour?”
“Huh!”
Aspe suddenly poked his head in from behind them.
The maid almost shrieked, but managed to clamp her mouth shut in time, pressing a hand to her startled chest.
“It’s quite rare. His Lordship sleeping without waking.”
Whether the maid was surprised or not mattered little to Aspe.
He simply said what he wanted to say.
“He’s usually sensitive to any sound.”
“We know that too. Since he seems to be sleeping well for once, perhaps we should come back later—”
“Ah. No, that’s all right.”
Aspe held up his palm to the maids and smiled in his friendly way.
“Sir, surely you’re not—”
“Don’t you dare. His Lordship has been so busy lately!”
“I’ve been just as busy. I even got scolded for it. By that man.”
Aspe grinned widely.
Tucked under his arm was a thick stack of Documents.
“Your Lordship! Your Lordship! Something terrible has happened!”
“Yow!”
Startled by Aspe’s sudden shout, Lily frowned and quickly jammed her fingers into her ears.
“Eek!”
My ears are going to fall off!
Lily protested, but Aspe didn’t hear her.
He had begun shaking Ethan awake directly.
“Get up already. What’s this thing doing here anyway? It doesn’t suit you at all. Have it thrown out.”
“Bbubbu! Beep beep!”
“Tch, this damned—”
“There’s a lady present.”
“What is it.”
Ethan’s voice, forced awake at last, was still thick with sleep.
“I’ve been doing my job far too well.”
“You’re insane.”
“Look here.”
“You’re like a complete lunatic.”
“Yes, and this lunatic is doing his work incredibly, incredibly well.”
Aspe, shamelessly talking back, shoved the Documents into his just-awakened superior’s hands.
Ethan stumbled to his feet, scratching the back of his head, and Bbubbu tumbled from his forearm to the floor.
“…? What’s this now.”
“Isn’t that yours, sir?”
“It must be mine. But why is Bbubbu here.”
“Pardon? Bbubbu…?”
Ethan ignored Aspe’s hesitation and felt around beside him.
“Where is she… Ah, there.”
“Hiya.”
“Look at your hair. A bird could nest in it.”
“Mr. Ethan.”
The moment Ethan finished speaking, Lily pointed at him with her index finger, sharp as a blade.
“Your Lordship’s hair is just the same.”
“Shut up.”
“I will, just take a look at this first.”
Aspe smoothly deflected and thrust the Documents forward.
Meanwhile, the maids took Lily and headed to the Bathroom.
‘Strange… my body feels refreshed.’
“…?”
As Ethan stretched languidly while holding the Documents, his pupils dilated.
A sudden sense of déjà vu washed over him.
‘…The Ether….’
Despite not having been deliberately refined, it was stabilized far too much.

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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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