The Youngest Member Filming a Parenting Show is Adorable - Chapter 102
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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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【102】
Father! That’s a terrible thing to say!
But I couldn’t boldly declare that I was succeeding.
I exhaled a long breath and opened my mouth with a dejected expression.
“It’s still a failure.”
“As expected.”
Father nodded as if he’d known it all along.
“Yesterday, I told you about a poor puppy I met on the street, but you didn’t understand why a puppy with an injured leg deserved pity.”
“He’s my father, but his fundamental premise is so flawed that he’ll never accept that all life has value, not even until death.”
In other words, the Grandfather Personality Rehabilitation Project.
It was an effort that had persisted steadily from when I was four years old until now, at nine.
Iliad, who watched from the sidelines, said it was like an impenetrable shield clashing against an unstoppable spear—Grandfather and I simply refused to give up on each other.
Even crabs can molt in three years!
A full five years!
Five years have passed, yet there’s been no progress in Grandfather’s character.
Of course, that won’t make me quit.
“I wanted to transform Grandfather into a warm person before Cecilia returns… If five years isn’t enough, then I’ll do it for another five years!”
“She’s my daughter, but I truly think that perseverance is remarkable.”
Father clicked his tongue in admiration.
“Iliad even made a wager on it.”
“I’ve heard about it.”
Everyone in this household knew that I visited Grandfather almost daily.
It felt like they all watched me with the sense of someone hugging onion-flavored corn chips.
Then around last year, Iliad proposed what he called a “household bet,” though it wasn’t official.
“Either my dear father learns to understand people’s hearts even a little, or you give up first and surrender completely. The bet was on which one would happen.”
“Which side did you bet on, Father?”
“Without a moment’s hesitation.”
“Without… hesitation?”
Surely it wasn’t the latter.
I looked up with eyes full of trust, but Father’s lips curved into a crooked smile.
“I bet on the latter.”
Thump!
“Father, I hate you.”
Sulking, I pouted my lips.
Father made a scissors gesture with his fingers and tapped my lip playfully.
“How cute. I didn’t think you’d give up… but that old man doesn’t seem like he’d change either.”
Father held a firm distrust of Grandfather.
‘But I have a feeling Grandfather might change.’
Just a little.
Even just a tiny bit.
“So you’re heading to the Office again today?”
“Yes. Hale really loves the walnut cookies I made. I’m going to bring them to him.”
After visiting every day for about five years, I had grown quite close to Grandfather’s aides.
At first, they all had stern expressions, but now whenever they see me, their faces light up with smiles.
The retriever that Rondel keeps gave birth to puppies last month, and Darius wears a purple hat every Thursday—he takes quiet pride in that hat.
Christopher needs to drink very strong coffee every morning, and Hale says that eating the cookies I make while working late is his greatest pleasure in life.
Knowing such trivial details about them, I naturally came to learn many things about Grandfather as well.
“Grandfather, well… he doesn’t cry. He doesn’t shed tears even when watching sad novels or plays, and he can’t empathize.”
“That’s right. That man probably hasn’t cried since the moment he was born. His tear ducts must have dried up long ago.”
I wanted to deny it, but it seemed somewhat true.
I once deliberately dragged Grandfather’s hand to watch a sad play, but he yawned and nodded off.
Was that my birthday last year?
I had suggested ‘watching a play together’ as a birthday gift, but it was a spectacular failure.
“And when I found a baby squirrel and showed it to him, he looked at it like an object, and when I showed him a drawing I made of him, he just laughed it off.”
“He lacks emotional empathy, and he also lacks cognitive empathy. While one can hide insufficient empathy through social skills, a Household Master has no need to hide such things, so it shows.”
Grandfather neither understands nor cares to understand others’ emotions. He’s in a position where he doesn’t need to.
Naturally, he couldn’t put himself in someone else’s shoes either.
Why?
Because there’s no reason to!
“He’s the type who expects others to adapt to him—that’s how he became so stubborn.”
“I see…”
When I see something sad, I feel sad.
When I see something joyful, I feel joy.
When others cry, my nose stings in sympathy, and when others laugh, I want to laugh with them.
“I know Grandfather doesn’t necessarily have to change.”
“That’s right. Being rational and cold-hearted is a quality befitting a Household Master.”
“But still… when I think that even if I disappeared from this world, Grandfather wouldn’t feel sad at all, I hate that. With Grandfather as he is now, he would only feel regret at losing something expensive and valuable.”
I puffed out my cheeks, then let out the air with a soft sound. Then I clenched my fist and shook it with determination.
“If five years isn’t enough, I’ll do ten! If ten years isn’t enough, then twenty will work!”
“You really seem like you’ll do it. Then you need to gather your strength. Here, eat some peach.”
Father had peeled the peach perfectly for me to eat.
I took a big bite of the soft peach and steeled my resolve in my heart.
While thinking that I should also bake a peach pie for Cecilia later.
* * *
“Alright, Tosilya. It’s time for the decisive moment.”
“Older Brother will lose this time too.”
“Who knows! This time I’ve brought a dress that’s perfectly suited to Tosil’s taste!”
Early evening found me sitting dazed, surrounded by my older brothers.
Mikard, who had finished training early, grinned widely while holding a large box.
Elzen had hidden a bundle behind his back and was mocking Mikard, while beside him stood the twins, Iliad and Naiad.
“I bet you’d like what we prepared more. Honestly, Mikard has failed ten out of ten times.”
“That’s true.”
So here’s what happened—
My older brothers in this household had a habit of bringing me a dress whenever there was a banquet, presenting it for my consideration.
Then they’d wager on whose dress I’d choose, and unfortunately, Mikard ranked dead last in this particular field.
He always brought something far too childish.
Whether it had strawberries embroidered on it, or tiny bear dolls dangling from the hem. Or was it something else last time?
I think there were bells attached.
They jingled with every step I took.
“I’m not wearing anything childish.”
When I spoke firmly, Mikard held out a box.
“No, this time it’s truly ladylike.”
“Can I trust you?”
“Of course!”
…I had absolutely no faith in that claim.
So I opened what my twin cousin brought first.
“You mentioned once that you wanted to wear a checkered dress. Here it is.”
“Wow!”
What my twin cousin prepared was a neat design with an elegant beige top and a brown checkered skirt.
The ribbon at the waist was quite large, but thanks to the color scheme, it looked cute rather than childish.
“My, young lady. If you pair this with white stockings and Mary Jane shoes, it would look lovely. Like a baby bear, wouldn’t it?”
“A baby… bear?”
I, who had been brightening up, faltered at Lina’s remark.
No, I want to look like a lady!
“If you wear a ribbon headband in your hair or tie it in pigtails, it would be adorable.”
“Hmm.”
Five out of ten points.
Having decided that, I opened Mikard’s box next.
I was a bit worried about what outlandish thing he might have brought this time, but surprisingly, what emerged was a more ordinary dress than expected…?
Huh?
Wait a moment.
“Why is the back like this…?”
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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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