Star Child's Parenting Diary - 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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Episode 28
Chapter 6. The Vanished Mage’s Trail (8)
Setia greeted Lili with a broad smile.
“So you must be Lili. I’ve heard so much about you—that Bel adores you. Have you come to visit?”
“I was worried about how Bel was doing. I apologize for arriving unannounced.”
“Please, don’t apologize. I’m delighted we have this chance to meet.”
“Right, enough pleasantries. Let’s continue this in the Dining Hall. The little one’s crying, and her stomach’s growling loud enough to wake the dead.”
“Oh? My dear Bel, did you cry?”
“I did. I didn’t want Sister Lili to leave.”
“Goodness.”
Setia let out a soft laugh and gently stroked Bel’s damp cheeks.
As if in answer, Bel’s stomach rumbled again.
“Yum-yum.”
“Hehe. Shall we go eat, then?”
At Bel’s plea, everyone moved to the Dining Hall.
“Bub!”
“But… buh.”
“Bubuh.”
“That’s right.”
Once the food arrived, Bel’s earlier tears quickly gave way to good humor.
Or rather, she seemed even more delighted now that Lili was here.
Setia watched with amusement as Bel bounced excitedly in her seat, pointing out each ingredient in the dish one by one, and gently urged Lili to eat.
“Please, make yourself comfortable, Lili.”
“Thank you for your kindness. The food is delicious.”
“Gank-yu.”
Lili bowed politely at the gleaming table.
Seeing this, Bel quickly dipped her head as well.
Setia laughed softly at Bel’s bow.
“Let’s see how well our little Bel can eat all by herself, shall we?”
“Huh?”
At Lili’s challenge, Bel swallowed and promptly settled into her seat with perfect manners.
“Mine.”
And she began eating with focused determination.
Setia watched the scene with fascination.
“Bel really does listen well.”
Lili’s skill in caring for Bel was exceptional.
She understood every babbling word instantly, and she had a gift for guiding Bel toward solving problems on her own.
Bel, in turn, hung on Lili’s every word.
“I suppose things will be easier now.”
Ethan, resting his chin in his hand as he observed the scene, let the remark slip out.
At his words, Bel’s eyes went wide, and she thrust her hand toward him.
Her cheeks and hands were smeared with food.
“Song.”
Not a single word escaped her—quick to ensure he didn’t feel left out.
Already Bel showed the makings of a devoted daughter.
Ethan let out a dry laugh at the sight of that confident palm and unfolded a fresh napkin.
He cleaned carefully between each small finger while muttering his complaint.
“You keep making me wait on you like this, but let me be clear—I’m only doing it until you’re ten.”
“That’s quite a long time already.”
“Ethan, shouldn’t you keep doing it until at least thirteen?”
From across the table, Argares and Setia each added their own remark.
“…Fine. Thirteen, then.”
Ethan ignored the dragon’s words entirely and replied only to Setia.
At his gruff answer, Lili broke into a soft laugh.
“Forgive me for laughing. You all seem to get along so well.”
As attention turned to her, Lili’s eyes softened.
“I don’t know if I have any right to say this, but I’m grateful that you’ve become such a good family to Bel.”
Ethan’s gaze grew complicated as he watched Lili bow her head.
“It seems like she still likes you more, though.”
“Pardon?”
“Bales seems to think of you more like family.”
Ethan returned the fork to Bales’s cleaned hand as he spoke.
“Still, he calls me ‘sir,’ and he doesn’t even miss me when I’m not around.”
“Ah. Well…….”
“It’s probably just a matter of time.”
Realizing he’d been complaining to a child, Ethan shrugged and changed the subject.
But Lili seemed troubled by his words.
Watching Bales chew earnestly, his plump cheeks working, Lili opened her mouth.
“But I think Bales has opened his heart quite quickly. He was never the kind of child to cling like this before.”
Bales, understanding that she was talking about him, looked toward Lili.
Lili gently stroked his hair and smiled softly.
“At the Orphanage, there aren’t many people who can stay close and care for a child like this, and since everyone there is a child, each one has to manage on their own. In truth, I only ever helped them learn to do things independently.”
“…….”
“The matter of what to call me might simply be that words like ‘mother’ or ‘father’ feel strange to him. At the Orphanage, we rarely use such titles.”
A faint bitterness crept into the girl’s words.
Ethan, noting Lili’s distant expression as she seemed to recall something, took a short drink of wine.
“I shouldn’t have said anything. Eat your food. The meat gets tough when it cools.”
“Ah, yes! It’s delicious even when cold.”
“Why did you have to say such things? Now the child can’t eat.”
Aspe, who had been serving from behind, gently rebuked Ethan.
And as if on cue, Ethan’s knife flew through the air and embedded itself in the wall.
“Eek!”
“Aren’t you going to eat?”
“……I don’t want to eat with you. I think I’ll get indigestion.”
“Then starve.”
“Ruthless employer.”
Aspe pouted and muttered his complaint.
Seizing the moment to clear the air, Setia clapped her hands lightly.
“By the way, Lili. How is life at the Orphanage? Is there anything you need?”
“Oh, the Orphanage Director asked me to convey her sincere gratitude for the donation last time.”
Understanding Setia’s intent, Lili answered brightly in turn.
“Thanks to it, we replaced the old bedding with new, and all the children got new clothes too. They’ve been walking so carefully, afraid of dirtying them. Usually they’re quite a handful.”
“How lovely. What else? How are your studies going?”
“The Orphanage Director helps us with the basics.”
“I believe you mentioned she’s a physician?”
“Yes. I’ve been learning a little by watching over her shoulder.”
“Are you interested in medicine?”
“Only a little. I thought it would be nice if I could be of help to the Orphanage Director.”
“That’s admirable.”
Setia said this with genuine appreciation.
“If you ever want to study more formally, just say the word. Sponsoring an Academy education isn’t difficult for me.”
“What? Oh, no. You needn’t go to such trouble…….”
At the sudden offer, Lili’s expression stiffened noticeably.
“Would the Temple be better than the Academy for medicine, do you think? What’s your opinion, Ethan?”
“In terms of resources for sponsorship, the Temple far outpaces the Academy.”
Ethan offered his opinion with a touch of humor.
“Well, as I thought. Lili, would you be interested?”
“No!”
The girl’s voice rose sharply.
Lili, startled by her own outburst, opened her eyes wide and hurried to apologize.
“I apologize for raising my voice so suddenly. My throat must be dry. Ha, ha…….”
Lili gave an awkward laugh and quickly reached for her water glass.
In the way she drank eagerly, there was none of the bright, chattering cheerfulness from just moments before.
“Don’t feel pressured, Lili. After all, I myself began research at the Temple today using my standing and influence. It was my first visit. Of course, I also paid an enormous sum in donations.”
Suggesting that seizing opportunity when it arose was also a form of wisdom, Setia urged Lili gently.
She had simply assumed the girl was merely reluctant due to politeness.
“Really. It’s the restoration of research that was conducted by a magician named Bales Code…….”
“Setia. Don’t say anymore…….”
Eager to open the path of learning to such a clever girl, Setia had let slip far too much information.
Ethan, unable to bear it, moved to stop her.
“Pfft!”
Lili spewed water across the table.
As if that weren’t enough, she’d choked on it too, coughing fitfully while tears pricked her eyes.
“My goodness. Are you alright?”
“Two children now, is it? Should I be amused as well?”
“Oh, no. I’m so sorry. I drank too fast, I think.”
“Go upstairs later and change your clothes.”
Ethan’s flat voice carried an order to the butler to prepare pajamas for her.
Lili let the words wash over her, gripping her racing heart tightly in her fist.
* * *
“This one’s mine. This one’s Lili’s.”
This is mine. This belongs to my big sister Lili.
Bales divided two of the pillows from his bed, setting them aside for Lili.
The smaller pajamas the servants had brought were his.
The larger ones were for big sister Lili.
The indoor slippers and the milk before bed split evenly between them.
“Lili, here!”
Even the bed, divided in half!
Bales patted his side of the wide bed with glee, beaming.
‘Now big sister Lili lives here with me too!’
He was thrilled.

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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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