Star Child's Parenting Diary - Chapter 32

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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 32
Chapter 7. If You Wish Hard Enough (1)
Before entering the Warehouse.
The girl’s eyes lifted to the sky, a motion born of habit.
She scanned the sparsely scattered trees and rooflines around her, then slipped quietly into the Warehouse and shut the door firmly behind her.
‘Good. Let’s finish this quickly.’
In a corner of the Warehouse floor lay a secret known only to Lili—a secret no one else possessed.
The girl carefully moved the stacked supplies aside and lifted the floorboard beneath them.
When she dug out the soil below with the spade, a small pouch emerged from the earth.
Its contents were modest.
A pair of spectacles with black-tinted glass to protect against glare, and something resembling a fountain pen.
The pen-like object was actually a Magical Tool crafted by Bales.
Made solely for processing Magical Stones, it bore a delicately honed blade like a needle at its tip.
Lili withdrew a stolen Magical Stone from the pouch and donned the dark spectacles.
Click-whirrrr.
As the blade touched the Magical Stone, gears within the pen barrel began to spin furiously.
A brilliant light flashed where the blade made contact with the stone.
But thanks to the darkened spectacles, her eyes remained unharmed.
Click. Whirr-whirrrr.
The Magical Stone sliced away beneath the blade like soft fruit.
Lili carved away at the stone’s surface bit by bit, envisioning the shape of the mechanism she held in her memory.
With great delicacy, so the Magical Stone would not fracture.
So the Magical Tool could function properly.
She worked until deep into the early morning, stifling yawns, yet managed to complete only about a tenth of the stone’s processing.
Halfway through, drowsiness had nearly caused her hand to slip against the blade.
“Ow.”
Lili brought her cut finger to her mouth, sucking gently at the wound.
‘I’ll finish the rest tomorrow.’
I can complete it within ten days.
Measuring time against her progress, she reluctantly set aside her regret, reburied all the tools and the Magical Stone in the earth.
After restoring the Warehouse to its original state, she slipped back to her bed unnoticed and lay down.
Sleep claimed her in an instant, weighing her eyelids with sudden, irresistible heaviness.
* * *
The household of the Aybeck Duchy flowed peacefully through another day, as always.
Setia moved busily between the Temple and the Duchy for Magical Tool Research, while Ethan juggled childcare and administrative duties with equal diligence.
Berdia, too, was navigating her own hectic rhythm.
‘Morning!’
Her eyes snapped open, and sure enough, Ethan lay sleeping at her side.
Berdia had tucked Ppupu beneath her pillow instead of lending it to Ethan.
“You’ll keep the treasure inside Ppupu a secret from the Duke, won’t you?”
Ppupu was a secret, after all.
Not once since she’d made that promise with Lili had she lent Ppupu to Ethan.
Moreover, whenever she wasn’t holding Ppupu, she always tucked it carefully beneath her pillow.
‘Perfect!’
Now no one would ever know.
After checking twice that Ppupu’s limbs hadn’t worked loose, Berdia climbed over Ethan’s stomach and slipped down to the floor.
The next thing to do was pull the cord attached to the bedside.
If she pulled it earnestly, steadily tugging….
“Young Miss. You’re awake?”
The maidservants would arrive!
“Hiya.”
“Good morning.”
“The Duke is still sleeping, I see.”
“Raising a child must tire him out.”
The maidservants smiled warmly, then quietly scooped Berdia up and carried her to the Bathroom.
She laughed merrily with them as they washed her face and groomed her, then dressed her in soft, adorable clothes.
“Young Miss. Do you think the Duke has woken up yet, or not?”
“Hmm.”
Berdia, deep in thought, threw one hand up high and answered.
“Cuckoo!”
Correct! Still sleeping!
If Ethan is awake when she comes out of the bath, they have breakfast together, but if he’s still asleep, she doesn’t wake him.
It was a rule just for them, born from sleeping together with Ethan almost every day.
Breakfast posed no problem with the maids on hand.
“All right. So what’s the answer?”
“Ta-da!”
“Poof!”
Ding-dong! I got it right!
Lili giggled softly to herself, whispering with delight.
Hand in hand with the maid, she made her way toward the Dining Hall.
Each time she passed a butler or someone else in the Corridor, Lili pressed her hand cheerfully to the side of her face and greeted them brightly.
“Hi there!”
“Good morning, Miss.”
“What lovely weather we’re having today, isn’t it?”
They all returned her greeting with beaming smiles.
Lili loved the warmth and brightness in their faces.
“This way, Miss.”
“This morning we have flounder with lemon butter sauce and those fluffy eggs in soft, moist bread that you so enjoy!”
“Ooh!”
Soft, freshly baked bread like cake, drizzled with sweet honey, served alongside fish golden and crispy outside, tender within.
Vegetables were a must.
A nourishing meal prepared with Lili in mind.
“Itadakimasu.”
I’m grateful for this food.
“Take your time and eat plenty, Miss.”
The cook, beaming with pride at her careful preparation, poured juice into Lili’s Teacup.
Lili accepted each bite the maid offered, eating happily.
“How is it tasting, Miss?”
“Yummy!”
“I’m so glad. Would you like some more of this fish?”
“Yes!”
Munch, munch.
As she ate, her thoughts drifted to Berdia.
If she had been here beside her, she would have praised how well Lili was eating and rejoiced at her vigor.
“Berdia…”
“Hmm? Would you like some béchamel sauce, Miss?”
She missed her.
She’d said she’d be back soon.
When would she return?
Since living with Ethan, there had been countless good things, but still—parting from so many people was bittersweet.
She could only see Lili once every ten days now, and Berdia still hadn’t come back…
“Whimper.”
Just as Lili’s shoulders began to sag under the sudden wave of longing—
“Ah, here it is. What good timing—I’d prepared some for lunch,” the cook said warmly, sprinkling the pale sauce lightly over the fish.
The cook, returning quickly, drizzled white sauce over the fish.
“Miss, say ‘ah.'”
“Ah.”
The maid quickly cut the fish coated in white sauce and popped it into Lili’s mouth.
“Mmm!”
What is this?
It’s incredibly delicious!
“Oh!”
Captivated by the rich, savory depth of the béchamel sauce, Lili quickly shook off her melancholy.
After finishing her breakfast with both mouth and belly content, she brushed her teeth thoroughly.
They’d told her that if she skipped brushing, black spots would appear inside her mouth.
‘That absolutely cannot happen!’
“Mm.”
Determined not to let her mouth turn black, Lili obediently submitted to the maids’ brushing.
Playtime came next.
Usually, Lili’s playtime was supervised in rotation by knights who stopped by to see her or maids who had a free moment.
“Miss, I’ve arrived.”
“Squee!”
“Hehehehe. So you’re happy to see me?”
“Miss, me too. Me too!”
“Hi there!”
“Oh, how adorable!”
Today’s playmates were Zen, whose fur was wonderfully fluffy, and his companion—both equally entertaining.
Lili gripped their hands tightly and carefully selected toys from the Playroom to bring along.
The reason she’d deliberately returned to the Bedroom was that Ethan was still asleep.
She didn’t want to wake him, but she did want to be in the same space as him.
“Shh.”
Lili made a silent promise to keep her voice soft and began a tea party game.
“Bring that chair over here.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The knight lifted with one hand the chair that Lili couldn’t budge with all her strength, and in an instant he’d arranged a small tea table.
He spread a Tablecloth over the modest round table and positioned a chair that matched its height perfectly.
Zen placed a small Vase in the center, and Lili arranged a children’s Tea Set beautifully around it.
“Hmm.”
Something was still missing.
Sensing the lack, Lili rummaged through drawers and the wardrobe.
What she produced were Ribbons and hair ornaments the maidservants used when braiding her hair, an adorable red polka-dotted Handkerchief they’d once tied around her chin, and a pretty, large sky-blue Ribbon among other things.
“Mm!”
“So these are for me?”
“Mm.”
Zen lowered himself without complaint for Lili.
Lili placed the red polka-dotted Handkerchief on top of Zen’s russet hair, where it suited him beautifully.
He tied the ends into a knot himself.
“Mm!”
“Is the Ribbon for you?”
“Mm.”
“I’ve never done this before.”
The knight beside him shyly placed the sky-blue Ribbon on his own head.
“Ah, adorable!”
Pretty, so pretty.
Just as the maidservants did for her, Lili wrapped her arms around Zen and the knight’s necks and praised them both.
Now it was time to have tea with the gentlemen who’d been made beautiful.
As Lili picked up the empty Teapot, Zen quickly reached for a Teacup.
The delicate Teacup looked even smaller in his powerful grip—hands that seemed strong enough to crumple an iron pot like paper.
“My, miss. How generous of you to serve such fine tea.”
“Hot.”
“Yes, yes. I’ll be careful since it’s hot.”
“Mm. Here.”
“Oh! Are you giving me some too?”
The knight, constantly adjusting his slipping Ribbon, pretended to sip from his empty Teacup with relish.

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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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