Chapter 29

* * *

“…So, you’re going to bring in and raise someone else’s child?”

Nordic asked. His voice was sharp.

Enoch, who had been nervously observing his father’s reaction, nodded.

“Yes. If I don’t take the child in, I can’t guarantee the child’s safety. I plan to temporarily become the guardian and think about the child’s future gradually.”

“Do as you see fit. Get out.”

Nordic’s quick agreement made Enoch’s eyes widen.

“…That’s it?”

“Do you need something else?”

“No, after being gone for seven years and causing so much trouble, I thought you’d oppose me right away, but you’re giving your permission so easily?”

“At least you seem to have a good grasp of what you’re doing, which is a relief.”

“Hmph.”

Nordic put down the pen he had been holding and propped his chin on his hand, looking at Enoch.

‘Always the same.’

Enoch, his son, always acted in ways that were unbecoming of a noble.

While one side of the nobility would kill their own blood to maintain their reputation, the other side would pity the child and take them in. It was clear that this would bring endless gossip….

“You didn’t need to come to me for permission. I’ve already given you this family long ago.”

“Well, it’s a public matter involving the family name, so it wouldn’t be right for me to handle it on my own without consulting you.”

“If I opposed, would you send the child away?”

“Of course not. I came here tense, trying to persuade you….”

“Persuasion, my foot. You’re going to do what you want anyway. I just don’t want to argue, so do as you please.”

“Wow… Father, you’ve become much more gentle?”

“I’ve just gotten used to your crazy antics.”

As he spoke, Nordic smiled.

When Enoch was younger, they had clashed a lot.

How much effort he had put into trying to understand his son, who questioned the country’s class system as soon as he grew up.

Fortunately, Enoch eventually compromised and conformed.

Of course, it wasn’t because he understood the unjust class system and the noble society filled with a sense of superiority.

It was just his duty as a son to follow his father’s wishes.

“I always feel sorry for you. I also regret it.”

“Pardon?”

Nordic had to force Enoch to live a life that went against his beliefs.

That’s why his son was always a source of pain for Nordic.

“Even forcing you to marry….”

“…”

“I regret it. I shouldn’t have done that.”

Enoch had also conformed to the arranged marriage for the sake of the heir.

If he had known that it would create a seven-year gap….

He wouldn’t have forced it.

“Father?”

Enoch, noticing Nordic’s darkened expression, laughed.

“I’m more grateful to you than anyone for your decision back then. If I had stubbornly refused to marry and have children, and really won against you….”

“…”

“Wow, it would have been terrifying. Princess Lilius wouldn’t have existed in this world.”

Enoch, with a serious face, muttered to himself and then laughed.

“I’m really grateful. Lilius’s birth changed my world.”

“…”

“For the first time, I felt like I could live. Watching my child grow day by day, I realized what true happiness is.”

Enoch, recalling his daughter’s face, spoke dreamily.

“I also want to show my child a better world. It won’t be easy, but….”

“Why not?”

Nordic, looking directly at Enoch, added.

“I’m old. I’m only left with the task of entering the grave. I won’t stand in your way anymore.”

“…”

“Do what you want. Whether you ruin the family or sell it, I won’t interfere anymore.”

“Hahaha….”

Enoch laughed, and Nordic joined in.

Though they didn’t say much more, a deep affection lingered between them for quite a while.

* * *

I was lying on the bed, drawing with Cheshire, who had just finished washing, when I was surprised.

“What’s this?”

Cheshire said he had never seen a jellyfish before.

So I showed him a picture book with jellyfish and asked him to draw one….

“Why? Don’t you like it? Should I draw it again?”

I burst out laughing at Cheshire’s drawing.

‘Is this a protagonist’s buff?’

The hyperrealism was jaw-dropping. On the canvas was a hyperrealistic jellyfish.

Was this a drawing or a photograph?

“Hey, this looks completely different from the jellyfish in the picture book…. How did you…!”

…draw a hyperrealistic jellyfish! Give the buff a bit more plausibility!

“…”

Cheshire just tilted his head with an indifferent look.

It was truly absurd.

Indeed, a protagonist with the keyword #Can’t Do What They Can’t Do.

“What? Should I draw it again?”

“Huh, no. I didn’t mean you couldn’t draw it. Just, you’re really good. Yeah.”

After reaffirming Cheshire’s talent, I subtly hid my canvas.

In a world where talent values and the distinction between the protagonist and supporting characters are clear….

Not being the protagonist is truly heartbreaking.

“Why hide it? I’ve already seen it.”

“Yeah, sure…. You can laugh….”

“But you said we’d draw jellyfish, and you didn’t draw a jellyfish.”

“Huh?”

I tilted my head and looked down at my drawing.

“Not a jellyfish?”

I had decided to just call it a jellyfish because it looked like Jetti and Joon, and even the butler Rem and the twin brothers behind them were jellyfish….

“Isn’t it your father?”

…Yeah, it’s my dad’s face!

“Eh?”

I was startled, my eyes wide as I turned to Cheshire.

“Does this look like my dad?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow! It really does!”

Wow. His sharp insight that saw through my deep artistic vision.

Indeed, the protagonist.

“Hehe, great. Then I can give this to my dad as a gift, right?”

Feeling better, I looked at the drawing with a contented heart.

“…Do you like your father?”

“Huh? What’s with that sudden question? Of course I like my dad….”

…But it might not be true. It wasn’t something to say carelessly in front of Cheshire, who had been abused by his father.

“Hmm, my dad is someone everyone likes. That’s why I like him too.”

“Okay.”

“Is my dad cool and kind?”

“Yeah.”

“Then would you like to be my dad’s son?”

I told Cheshire, who seemed to envy me.

“What?”

“Your real dad is a bad person, right? Just because he gave birth to you doesn’t make him your dad. Be my dad’s son.”

It’s your rightful place.

Cheshire, who had been staring at me intently, sneered.

He looked amused by the naive statement of a lucky 7-year-old.

“Don’t believe me? My dad will definitely accept you as family.”

“I don’t need it.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t need a family.”

“…”

Cheshire’s reaction was so cold that I cautiously closed my mouth.

“I’ve finished all ten sheets. You can go to sleep now.”

“Ah, yeah. Okay.”

Cheshire, who had handed me the ten sheets, got up.

“Where are the servants’ rooms?”

“Why do you need to know the servants’ rooms?”

“To sleep.”

I fluffed the pillow.

“Sleep here with me. I’ll ask my dad to decorate a room next to mine for you tomorrow.”

“…”

Cheshire looked at the pillow and me with a bewildered expression.

“Fine. I can’t sleep here. Show me somewhere else to sleep.”

“Hey, toy. Didn’t you agree to do everything I say?”

“…”

“Lie down.”

Fluff. After fluffing the pillow again, Cheshire finally sighed and lay down.

“Hehe. Isn’t it soft and fluffy? You’ll sleep really well.”

“…”

“Good night, Cheshire.”

As I propped my chin on my hand and said goodnight, Cheshire sighed and closed his eyes.

After watching his dazed face for a while, I heard his steady breathing.

Realizing Cheshire was sound asleep, I got out of bed.

I found the remaining salve that I had given to Riko and mixed it with warm water, soaking a cloth.

“He won’t wake up, right?”

He must have been very tired.

I gently wiped the bruises and wounds on Cheshire’s face with my small hands.

‘Let’s see the effect.’

Cheshire’s wounds healed instantly, and he quickly regained his handsome face.

“Hehe.”

I put the cloth aside and lay down on the bed, gazing at Cheshire’s sleeping face.

“You said you don’t need a family.”

But I knew that Cheshire longed for family more than anyone.

Abandoned by his mother and abused by his father….

Yet, why didn’t Cheshire leave them first?

“There is, Cheshire. I have a huge secret to tell you.”

I whispered very softly so as not to wake him.

“You are the protagonist of this world.”

I hoped he would hear my voice even in his dreams.

“Protagonists face trials. But trials eventually pass. I’ll help you so you don’t suffer too much…. And.”

I carefully covered Cheshire’s sleeping body with a blanket and promised.

“I will definitely become your family.”