Star Child's Parenting Diary - Chapter 33

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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 33
Chapter 7. When You Wish Upon a Star (2)
“Ahhhhh.”
“Hey. What kind of lunatic makes that sound while drinking tea?”
“Then how should I do it?”
“Drink it properly. Tsk.”
Jen demonstrated, insisting she watch carefully.
With a delicate teacup saucer held in one hand, Jen tilted the cup with practiced grace, her eyelids fluttering with deliberate allure.
“The tea has such a wonderful aroma, Miss.”
“Mm. Thank you.”
I’m glad you enjoy it. Thank you for the kind words.
Vales Code recalled Setia’s manner as she offered her thanks with grown-up courtesy, then handed them a model cookie.
“Yum, yum.”
Do try this as well.
Their elegant tea party was in full swing when it happened.
“What are you doing?”
A familiar voice cut through the air, sharp and accusatory.
Turning, Vales Code saw Ethan sitting up, his hair disheveled from the pillow, staring at them with bewilderment.
“This is ridiculous.”
“Oh. You’re awake, sir?”
Jen replied with cheerful brightness.
Beside him, another unwilling participant who’d been sipping from an empty teacup saluted smartly, a sky-blue ribbon perched neatly atop his head.
“Good afternoon, Your Excellency.”
“Good? I thought I was having a nightmare.”
“Surely dreams like this are pleasant ones?”
“Have you looked in a mirror?”
“I have. Doesn’t this sky-blue suit me well?”
It’s adorable.
At the knight’s self-satisfied remark, one of Ethan’s eyelids twitched involuntarily.
Slowly, his gaze shifted toward Vales Code.
“You.”
He’s a late sleeper, apparently.
Vales Code cut him off before he could speak, stealing his words first.
“You really do turn this Mansion upside down every time you’re here.”
“Mm.”
“I’m just glad everyone had fun.”
“Mm.”
After nodding, Vales Code retrieved one more empty teacup from her supply.
“Here.”
Now you have some tea too, sir.
She trotted over to Ethan, pressed the cup firmly into his hand, and made a show of pouring.
“Mm.”
Go on, drink it.
Vales Code urged the tea upon Ethan, who stared down at her with a vacant expression.
He let out a hollow laugh, then reluctantly raised the cup to his lips and took a sip.
And what did he say?
“The tea is terribly bitter.”
A completely uncalled-for complaint.
The problem was that Vales Code’s vocabulary didn’t include the word “bitter.”
Vales Code tilted her head in confusion.
“Bitter?”
“It tastes bad.”
“No!”
That can’t possibly be true!
Smack.
Vales Code swatted the back of Ethan’s hand and glared at him fiercely.
Ethan stared down at her in disbelief.
“You’re mean!”
“Don’t make such an ugly face, now. Open your eyes nicely.”
“Idiot.”
Hiss. Vales Code exhaled an angry breath through her nose and turned back among the knights, plopping down into her seat.
Behind her, she caught the sound of Ethan stifling a laugh, but she pretended not to hear it.
“Oh, someone’s sulking.”
“My lady. I am delicious.”
Seizing the moment, one of the knights who had deftly earned a favorable impression from Vales Code proudly extended the teacup that had been empty from the start.
Vales Code was pretending to pour fresh tea into his empty cup when—
“My lord. His Majesty has sent a letter.”
Aspe appeared holding an envelope.
Vales Code reflexively turned her head to watch Aspe and Ethan.
“It bears a pink seal. No ornaments on it.”
“Tell him I’m busy. Send a reply in my stead.”
Ethan answered offhandedly.
“You’ll likely be summoned to the Imperial Palace again soon.”
Aspe shrugged as if he’d expected as much.
At the same time, Vales Code’s shoulders also bobbed up and down briefly.
“Still, we should check the contents first.”
“There’s no point. It’s bound to be something tedious.”
Even as he grumbled, Ethan reluctantly took the letter.
At the sight of this, Vales Code quietly lifted herself up and approached the bed again.
“What? You want to read it too?”
“Mm.”
Ethan noticed Vales Code and asked.
“Uncle. Pick me up.”
Lift me up for you.
When Vales Code stretched out both her hands, Ethan effortlessly lifted the child’s body with one hand.
Settling herself familiarly on his lap, Vales Code pretended to read along with the letter she couldn’t actually read.
The paper was covered in a thick black haze.
“Dark.”
Vales Code pointed at the paper with her finger, quickly lost interest, and buried her face in Ethan’s chest.
How was one supposed to read this boring black paper?
Ethan rustled through the paper for a moment, then handed the letter back to Aspe.
“See? Completely pointless.”
“Should I change the content of the reply, sir?”
“Just write that I’m well.”
“Very good, sir.”
Aspe nodded and left the room again.
In the meantime, Ethan transferred Vales Code to Jen and slipped into the bathroom.
Vales Code gazed after Ethan’s retreating form, then lifted her head to stare at Jen’s beard.
“Soft.”
“Ahhh! It’s the fluffy, bushy-bearded monster!”
“Eeeee!”
Reaching out to touch Jen’s plush and fluffy beard, Jen made a playful face.
At his tickling, Vales Code burst out laughing and bounced her feet.
“Hehehehe.”
He really is a fun mister.
“You’re nice.”
“Hahaha! You like me, do you?”
“Mm. Soft.”
The soft and fun mister with the bushy beard.
Vales Code reached out and gently stroked the hair on Jen’s arm as well.
By then, Ethan had washed up quickly and emerged, tucking Vales Code under his arm.
“Where’s your commander?”
“He went out, sir.”
“Tell him to report when he returns.”
“He won’t be back today.”
“I see.”
Only then did Ethan understand why Jen had been here playing with Vales Code.
He’d come to report, but finding Ethan asleep, he had played with Vales Code instead of waking him.
“Next time, wake me.”
“Is that acceptable, sir?”
“Wake me up. I’ve been sleeping too much lately.”
“Raising children is the hardest thing in the world, sir.”
“You too?”
“Of course. Caring for children is such exhausting work — I’d rather spend a month rolling around on a battlefield.”
Jen chuckled softly as he tidied away the toys.
“Children are prettiest when they’re sleeping, aren’t they? Though they’re lovely awake too, of course — but when they sleep, they look just like little angels.”
“Heh.”
Am I angelic?
The unexpected praise warmed Belle’s heart, and her cheeks flushed.
As she twisted shyly in place, Ethan decided to tease her again.
“I wasn’t talking about you. Your sleeping habits are awful.”
“That’s not true!”
Smack!
Belle swatted Ethan’s forearm where it rested around her middle.
Hiss.
“Ow!”
You only say mean things!
“I’m pretty!”
I’m so pretty!
Her fierce insistence made Ethan laugh mischievously as he pinched her cheeks.
“Look at you, already getting so much praise and confident as can be.”
“Mm!”
“What’s that noise? Come on, let’s go.”
“Mm……”
Am I cute?
The word “cute” melted Belle’s resistance, and she dangled contentedly from Ethan’s side as they walked along.
But Ethan wasn’t heading to the dining room — he was going to his study.
He set Belle down inside a child’s pen and spoke to her gently.
“Play here for a bit. I have work to do.”
“Uncle eat breakfast?”
Aren’t you having breakfast, Uncle?
“Lunch will be here soon enough, and then I’ll eat twice as much.”
“Okay.”
Ethan returned to his desk, and shortly after, Jen and the knight entered the study.
“Jack!”
Uncle Jack!
Belle reached out in recognition, and Jen gave a small wave in return.
But he didn’t come to play — he went straight to Ethan’s desk.
Belle sat alone in the pen, watching them talk.
“What have you found?”
“We’ve completed the composite sketch and distributed wanted notices across the major cities, and we’ve hired mercenaries to continue the search. However, given the many casualties since the Calamity, locating the target has proven difficult.”
“What about Vales Code?”
“We’ve obtained testimony from neighbors confirming that she disappeared shortly after vanishing. Her whereabouts remain unknown.”
The adults exchanged difficult words, speaking to one another for quite some time.
“Eeh.”
Feeling left out, Belle clung to the pen and whimpered.
What? Let me join too!
Before long, Belle began crawling up the side of the pen like a caterpillar.
The rattle of the pen cut through their conversation.
“Belle!”
Almost at once, Belle’s body tilted, and she was suddenly lifted through the air.
Crash!
With a loud noise, the pen collapsed.
“Eek!”
That startled me.
It all came down.
Belle blinked in confusion at the ruins of the pen.
A sigh poured down over her head.
“Sigh. You nearly got hurt.”
“……Meow.”
Bell, who had been rolling her eyes in a panic, quickly offered an apology.
Ethan, unable to scold the child, simply brought Bell back to the desk and resumed his work.
“Continue.”
“The priestess apparently handled accounting matters for the Merchant Guild. So we’re keeping the possibility open that she settled in another city with the help of merchants, and we’re conducting searches accordingly.”
“Find out the route—where they went and where they were headed. Either way, those two are dea…….”
Ethan stopped mid-sentence, his gaze drifting down to Bell.
Jen and the knight noticed too.
Feeling their attention suddenly upon her, Bell flushed crimson, embarrassed by the unexpected focus.
“Heh-heh.”
“Why are you getting shy?”
Ethan found Bell’s reaction bewildering.

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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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