Star Child's Parenting Diary - Chapter 29

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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 29
Chapter 6. The Whereabouts of the Vanished Mage (9)
Lily, perched on the edge of the bed, asked warmly.
“Thank you, Bell. Are you sharing all of it with me?”
“Mmhm!”
“What a good girl. My dear.”
“Hehe.”
Bell, who received a kiss from Lily, giggled brightly as she returned one.
Then she wondered if there was anything else she could share with her.
‘Toys are already split fifty-fifty.’
What else could there be?
Bell recalled, one by one, the things she had received since arriving at the Aibeck Duke’s Residence.
‘Oh! Books!’
Come to think of it, Lily really loved books.
And she was the second smartest person at the Orphanage, after the Director.
‘I should share them with her.’
If she didn’t give them to Lily soon, Bell worried she might leave again.
Bell, who had resolved to make this place unmistakably Lily’s home, climbed down from the bed.
“Lily. Come on!”
“Huh? Where are we going?”
“Come on!”
Let’s go out and come back.
Bell grasped Lily’s hand firmly and marched purposefully into the corridor.
Bell’s playroom was right next to the bedroom.
Bell pulled every single picture book and storybook from the low shelves and puffed out her chest proudly.
“Mmhm!”
“Do you want them, Sister?”
“Mmhm!”
“Pfft. No, it’s okay, Bell. These are for you.”
“No. These for Bell. These for Lily.”
I only need this much.
Bell carefully selected only a few picture books full of colorful illustrations, then pushed all the rest to Lily.
Since she couldn’t read yet, this was enough for her.
But Lily didn’t seem pleased.
“No, really, it’s okay. They’re all yours.”
“Aw.”
A little disappointed by Lily’s refusal, Bell hesitantly flipped through a picture book.
‘It’s fun though.’
Maybe it was because there were no words.
Bell remembered watching Lily read difficult letters effortlessly alongside the Director.
“Hmm.”
After a moment of thought, Bell made a decision.
“Come on!”
Then let’s go over there!
She knew a place that had plenty of books Lily would love.
There would certainly be something perfect there.
Of course, it wasn’t Bell’s room, nor were they Bell’s things, but……
“You can come visit anytime you want.”
……since she had said that, it should be fine!
And so Bell’s eager steps led to none other than Setia’s Study.
Tap-tap.
Bell knocked politely on the door, then sprang up and dangled from the handle.
The smooth handle slid downward, and the door opened naturally.
“Mmhm!”
“Is this a room you can just barge into?”
“Mmhm.”
“Whose room is it?”
Instead of answering, Bell slipped right through the open door.
With no choice, Lily carefully pushed her upper body through the doorway after her.
The mysterious room inside was, as expected, spacious and brightly lit.
Furthermore, it was decorated with an air of quiet, serene comfort.
“A study?”
“Yep. This one. Lily likes it.”
Ethan approached the bookshelf that lined one entire wall and thrust out his chest proudly.
This time, he seemed to have truly caught Lily’s interest.
It was clear from the way Lily’s eyes danced across the room, her exclamations flowing without pause.
“Mm!”
Ethan plucked one of the books within arm’s reach, yanking it out with all his might.
The book was heavy, crammed as it was among so many others, and he tumbled backward—but it didn’t hurt one bit if it meant pleasing Lily.
“Lily! This one.”
Ethan flipped through the pages and pointed to a small drawing of leaves sketched in a corner.
Unlike Ethan’s book, this one was dense with text, its illustrations tiny and sparse.
It resembled the volumes in the Director’s study.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s a botanical text. A guide to Edible Plants imported from abroad, it seems.”
Lily leaned in beside Ethan to study the book, pointing at the leaf illustrations.
Though she didn’t quite understand what edible or plant meant, the fact that Lily seemed delighted made Ethan happy too.
“Edible means something you can eat. It’s a plant you can eat.”
“Nom-nom?”
“Yes. Nom-nom.”
Lily nodded and turned through several more pages.
“It’s a wonderfully organized book.”
“Mm-hmm!”
“But it looks expensive. We shouldn’t damage it—let’s put it back.”
Lily carefully closed the book and slid it back into its place on the shelf.
Ethan’s shoulders sagged as he watched.
“Aww.”
Did she not like it either?
He’d thought she would.
But Ethan was a spirited child, and his disappointment didn’t last long.
‘Then let me try another one!’
He took a few steps along the shelf and pointed to yet another book.
“This one!”
“That one says ‘Myths of the Ancient Empire.'”
This time too, Lily shook her head.
Ethan tried several more times, moving from section to section, but each time Lily simply declined with a shake of her head.
“We shouldn’t, Ethan. These aren’t our books. This study belongs to the Duke or the Duchess, doesn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“We shouldn’t enter rooms without the owner’s permission. Let’s go back to our room.”
“But…”
Yet she had said it was fine to visit anytime.
Feeling wronged, Ethan approached a desk tucked in one corner of the study.
He remembered when Setia had told him he could come whenever he wished, and had let him sit here beside her.
“I sat here too.”
She’d really said it was okay.
She really had.
“No. Come on, Ethan.”
But Lily was resolute.
“We need to go to sleep.”
“Hmm…”
“We’ll come back for the books later, after we ask permission. Understand?”
As Lily approached the desk to gather the reluctant Ethan, she froze suddenly.
Ethan, stretched out his arms toward her as if it were the most natural thing, tilted his head in confusion.
“Lily?”
“This is…”
“Lily. Pick me up.”
Though Ethan whined to be held, Lily didn’t respond.
After a long moment of stillness, her hands moved toward the papers stacked neatly on the desk, and toward a strange box beside them.
Lily opened the box, and her breath caught short.
“Lily.”
What’s wrong?
Ethan noticed the change in Lily too.
The Black Mist surrounding her had begun to ripple rapidly.
Ethan reached out and gently took hold of Lily’s hand.
Her hand was trembling faintly.
“Cold?”
Are you cold?
The moment Ethan asked, Lily’s grip tightened.
And a familiar voice drifted in through the open doorway.
“Oh? Why is the door open?”
Startled, Lily quickly returned the materials she’d been examining to their proper place and closed the box lid.
“It was Ethan.”
“Hi there.”
“Lily’s here with me too.”
“I’m sorry for coming in uninvited.”
“Not at all. It’s perfectly fine.”
Setia replied with a warm smile.
“Were you two looking around the residence together?”
“There are quite a few books in the Director’s room. They seemed similar, so I wanted to show them to Lily.”
“Feel free to explore. If you find any books you’d like, you’re welcome to take them.”
“Oh, no! Your kindness alone is more than enough.”
Lily bowed deeply to Setia and took Ethan’s hand.
“We don’t want to interrupt your work, so we’ll be going now.”
Ethan followed without protest as Lily fled the study like she was escaping.
Clutching Ethan’s hand and hurrying away, they arrived at Ethan’s bedroom.
Leaning her back against the door, Lily sank slowly to the floor and exhaled deeply.
“Phew.”
“Lily. Sorry.”
I’m sorry.
Seeing Lily look so unwell, Ethan apologized.
He thought it was his fault for suggesting they visit another room, which had upset her.
“No, Ethan. The books were really interesting.”
Lily, who had managed to find the presence of mind to comfort the child, pulled his warm small body close and held him tight.
“Should we sleep now?”
“Mm-hmm!”
The moment they lay down side by side on the bed, Ethan stared at the ceiling while Lily gazed at Ethan.
Having handed Pupu to Ethan, Lily gently patted the plump belly with familiar affection.
“Ethan.”
“Hmm?”
“Can you keep it a secret from the Duke about the treasure inside Pupu?”
“I promise.”
“Yes. A secret from the Duke. And the Duchess too.”
Ethan gazed quietly at the ceiling for a moment, then nodded.
“Mm-hmm!”
His grip on Pupu tightened.
“Shh.”
“Right. Shh. It’s a secret.”
“Mm.”
Ethan locked pinkies with Lily, making a solemn vow.
Pupu is our secret.
Never let the Duke find out.
* * *
Meanwhile, in the study where Lily had fled, Setia was swallowing back a wave of loneliness.
“She really shouldn’t feel burdened at all…….”
As she murmured to herself, Ethan quietly revealed his presence through the slightly open doorway.
“What are you doing here?”
“I had something I wanted to look at.”
“All right then. I’ll look for you, so you go get some rest.”
“What’s the use of that?”
At Ethan’s absurd suggestion, Setia burst into bright laughter.
Ethan stepped into the study with a soft thud and naturally positioned himself behind his wife.
His hand settled naturally at the curve of her slender waist, and as he drew his lips gently to her earlobe, a tender affection shone through in every gesture.
“I know you’re exhausted.”
“I only went out for a bit…”
“Don’t make excuses. Your complexion is so pale that a ghost would come knocking to ask for friendship.”
“What kind of thing is that to say?”
At Setia’s ticklish laugh, his lips finally curved into a soft smile.
“Sleep tonight. Whatever’s troubling you can wait until tomorrow.”
Ethan gently urged her forward, quietly guiding Setia toward the door.

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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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