Star Child's Parenting Diary - Chapter 3

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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 3
Chapter 1. The Conditions of Succession (3)
On a harsh night when storms raged, a newborn still trailing an uncut umbilical cord had nestled in Terisa’s arms.
“This child will resolve every calamity that befalls the world.”
The woman who spoke those tender words had scattered like starlight and vanished.
Having witnessed that sight, Terisa could not deny Bell’s extraordinary nature.
Terisa found herself reconsidering whether she ought to send Bell out for adoption.
The prospective family was none other than House of Aybeck.
‘I’ve heard the rumors well enough.’
Terisa exhaled slowly, turning over the parting words Bell’s birth mother had left.
In the Oriana Empire.
Especially in this capital where the Imperial Capital stood, few had never heard the name Ethan of House of Aybeck.
He was the mightiest knight who had subdued a dragon crazed and consumed by a curse’s contamination, and he was the hero who had lifted the calamity that hung over this realm.
Terisa knew that Bell was an exceptionally special child.
Precisely because of Bell’s existence, the orphanage itself might face crisis.
‘If Bell were adopted into House of Aybeck…….’
His exceptional martial prowess and formidable soldiers, his towering renown and vast fortune.
All of it would protect Bell.
‘But he stands at the very center of power.’
The problem was that the position of a ducal house might become a double-edged sword for Bell.
If Bell’s specialness were to become known…….
And if she became part of a heroic lineage…….
Everyone would naturally demand sacrifice and duty from Bell as easily as they drew breath.
“Mmm.”
After much deliberation, she finally reached a decision.
‘Very well. I’ll send her.’
After all, Bell had chosen Ethan, and Ethan seemed fully prepared to care for her well.
‘Bell is a child blessed by the stars, after all.’
Still, just to be certain, she intended to check in on Bell herself from time to time.
“I simply sign here, then?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
At last, Ethan’s handwriting was impressed deeply onto the final line of the adoption papers.
Terisa gazed at that signature and bowed deeply to Ethan.
“Please care for her tenderly.”
Ethan regarded Terisa’s gentle smile quietly before answering gruffly.
“I’ve no intention of mistreating a child.”
It was very much like him to say so.
Ethan maintained his characteristic blunt demeanor, gathered the adoption papers, and stepped outside.
Lily, who had packed Bell’s belongings, handed them to Ethan.
“This is Bell’s favorite doll. She can’t sleep without it, so please take care of it and wash it thoroughly once a month.”
“You’re asking me to do laundry?”
“And this is…….”
Though Ethan protested, Lily pressed on with her instructions regardless.
“Please look after her.”
Lily finally released him only to pull Bell into a tight embrace.
“Travel safely, Bell. You must be happy.”
“To hear her talk, anyone would think she was sending you off to some dreadful place.”
“You say such things.”
At his sarcasm, Aspe’s eyes narrowed sharply.
Regardless, Ethan casually glanced down at the tiny Bell’s crown of her head.
Bell’s gaze never left Lily.
She looked as though she might cry any moment.
“Let’s depart now. We have other places to attend to.”
Lest he reconsider at the last moment, Ethan decided to leave at once.
He tucked the small child under his arm and strode toward the carriage.
He settled her properly in a seat, but Bell immediately stood and pressed herself against the window.
“Don’t step on the chair with your shoes on.”
Ethan offered only a verbal warning.
“Safe travels!”
“Goodbye!”
“See you again, Lily!”
Lily rose onto her tiptoes, pressed herself against the window, and received the enthusiastic farewell.
“……Bye.”
At the small, hollowed voice, Ethan’s gaze flicked toward the child’s diminutive head.
‘Not crying.’
Thankfully, Lily wasn’t weeping.
She simply remained plastered to the window until the Orphanage disappeared from view.
Her small, endearing hands waving busily all the while, like maple leaves in the wind.
* * *
The Orphanage grew smaller and smaller, then vanished beneath the winding road.
“You’ll fall off.”
“Mm.”
Ethan peeled Lily away from the window and settled her onto his lap.
‘Not comfortable.’
Lily’s lips pouted out.
Squirming to find a more comfortable position in her rather awkward seat, she suddenly saw a large loaf of bread thrust into view.
“Here.”
Its appetizing golden surface gleamed with a lustrous sheen, and the lingering warmth carried the sweet, toasted aroma of fresh bread.
“Wow!”
Lily quickly reached out with both hands and seized the bread.
Without hesitation, she bit into it.
“……!”
“Think it was worth following along? I told you so, didn’t I?”
Ethan asked smugly, watching Lily’s widened eyes.
Nod, nod.
Lily readily bobbed her head in agreement.
Regardless of what she thought of this man’s character, the bread truly was magnificent.
Ethan seemed to be an adult who kept his promises. That was fortunate.
Munch, munch. With each movement of Lily’s mouth, her plump cheeks jiggled.
The Spirit clinging beside Lily rippled and undulated in sympathy.
[Ohhh……!]
Its cloud-like, nebulous surface grew smooth, and its hazy presence gradually solidified.
It hardened further with each moment, slowly taking on the shape of a human form.
[Little star.]
The Spirit gazed at the newly formed arms and hands stretching before it, then looked down at Lily.
[Now I can finally hold you.]
Its slender arms mimed an embrace around Lily.
She felt nothing physical, yet the warmth remained.
The stormy, grey world seemed to brighten with color all at once.
“Dad.”
Lily tugged at Ethan’s sleeve and promptly held out an empty hand.
“……Already?”
“Uh-huh.”
“How much can something so tiny eat?”
Ethan grumbled even as he produced another loaf.
This one was dusted with sweet syrup, unlike the first.
Lily opened her mouth wide to bite into it, but she managed only a bite the size of her fingernail.
Seeing this, amusement played at Ethan’s lips.
“Huh?”
Lily promptly narrowed her eyes and glared at him.
Her expression struck him as so amusing that Ethan began poking her soft cheek with his index finger.
“What? Glaring at me?”
“Grr.”
“Such attitude for something so small.”
Lily wrinkled her nose and fixed him with a hostile look.
‘Stop pestering me!’
Whether she did or didn’t matter.
Ethan was too busy chuckling and teasing her.
“His Majesty awaits you in the Reception Room.”
By then, the carriage had arrived at its destination.
Ethan, who had been teasing Lily all along, suddenly scooped the child up and tucked her carelessly against his ribs.
Lily clenched her grip tightly, unwilling to let go of the bread.
[Our little Star, hold her properly, you person with a character problem!]
The Spirit rebuked him, but Ethan’s ears were deaf to it.
Lily herself was unfazed.
The sight before her eyes mattered more than his handling.
‘Where is this?’
It was a place she had never seen before.
An enormously massive building and an vastly sprawling courtyard seized her attention.
‘Black.’
The landscape was blanketed in a deep, intense black—darker than ash.
Dense Ether rose from the ground and smothered the building in a way that felt thoroughly ominous.
“Black,” Lily said.
But Ethan was busy conversing with the person beside him.
Could Ethan not see that dark pall overhead?
He walked toward the contamination-ridden building with an unbothered expression.
[Little Star. Something is wrong here.]
“Mm.”
The scene inside the building was even more striking.
Black fog clung to every corner, and even the people moving about appeared pitch-black like shadows.
Even if Lily’s world had always been colorless, it had never been like this.
There was definitely something wrong.
Sensing the danger, Lily began eating the bread she held in her arms with even greater urgency.
“More!”
“You’ll get sick if you overeat.”
Ethan chided her lightly even as he handed over the last remaining piece of bread.
Munch-munch.
While Lily busied herself filling her belly, Ethan strode purposefully into the Emperor’s Reception Room.
“Heavens above. To think I would live to see a child cradled in your hands.”
“Since you have witnessed it, shall I take my leave, Your Majesty?”
“Ha-ha!”
The Reception Room door opened, and a dark figure seated on the sofa greeted them.
[That human appears to be the Emperor—the ruler of this nation. And yet…….]
The Spirit’s form grew faintly more defined, its face growing grave.
[Just as I thought. The Ether is contaminated. The entire Imperial Palace is. This must have caused difficulties in channeling Ether as well.]
Yet none of them seemed to have noticed this Contamination.

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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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