Chapter 24

24

"Father."

At Sharent Clowen's soft question, Deshar Clowen straightened his bent waist.

The hand he had just extended had sliced through the air as the child hastily retreated.

Deshar Clowen, who had been staring at his empty, wrinkled hand, turned his head to look at his son.

"Judging by how you can distinguish between good and bad, you are certainly someone who can take care of yourself."

Deshar Clowen's voice sounded particularly lifeless as he said this.

Hearing the subdued voice, Sharent Clowen looked at Shrina, who had fainted in Vera's arms.

"Kant, call Lino."

"Yes, sir."

Kant, who was standing nearby, bowed.

The butler turned and quickly moved out of sight with measured steps.

Vera, with a tense expression, held Shrina in her arms and lowered her eyelashes.

"Kai Shan."

Sharent Clowen looked down at the child standing at his feet, holding onto his pants.

"Yes... Father."

At the child's listless voice, Sharent bent down and picked him up with one arm.

Kai Shan's curly hair tickled Sharent's cheek.

He stroked his startled son's back with his large hand.

"How did you meet that child?"

"Yesterday..."

The child mumbled in a barely audible voice.

"Because I couldn't sleep... I came out secretly, and the baby was wandering around..."

"Where was the baby wandering?"

"Here!"

When his father asked in a gentle voice, Kai Shan relaxed and pointed to where he was standing.

Sharent Clowen's gaze slowly moved between the second-floor stairs and the first floor.

"So you took the baby to your room?"

"The baby was cold, so I took him to the fireplace! And because I was scared... I asked the baby to sleep with me."

Kai Shan blushed and whispered.

Sharent Clowen alternated his gaze between his son and Shrina, who was in Vera's arms.

"When I woke up, the baby was burning hot... Is the baby sick?"

Sharent Clowen gently stroked Kai Shan's hair and then put him down.

"It's almost time for your teacher to arrive, so go get ready, Kai Shan."

"...Yes."

Instead of a direct answer, Sharent Clowen smiled.

After sending Kai Shan to his teacher, Sharent Clowen looked at Vera.

He quietly looked at Shrina in her arms and then opened his tightly closed lips.

"When the doctor arrives, send her up. You may go now."

"...Yes, thank you."

Vera bowed hurriedly and quickly retreated.

Her every action was filled with urgency, clearly afraid that they might do something to the child.

'...She mentioned that she had a miscarriage after a fall.'

Perhaps because of this, her affection for the child was particularly strong, despite not being related by blood.

Thinking that he had chosen well, Sharent Clowen looked at the still silent Deshar Clowen.

"Father, you should go rest now. I will handle the rest."

Deshar Clowen was still staring at his hand.

The small child had recoiled in shock from his extended hand, which must have been a shock.

Sharent Clowen clicked his tongue in disapproval and straightened his disheveled hair, which had been caught by Shrina's small hand.

He turned to the man standing like a statue, frozen in place.

A hint of irritation crept into his lips, which then formed a cold smile. The coldness disappeared as his eyes softened.

"I believe Lord Sullivan understands my words well. If this kind of impolite behavior happens again, I might get angry too."

"...I will keep that in mind."

Lord Sullivan, seeing Sharent Clowen's smiling face, bowed and limped out of the mansion, hiding his bandaged hand inside his sleeve.

As he disappeared from sight, Sharent Clowen's smile vanished.

A maid approached and handed him a warm wet towel. After cleaning his hands, Sharent Clowen handed it back to the maid.

"Have it changed."

Thinking of the dirty living room, Sharent Clowen said with a displeased expression.

He approached Deshar Clowen.

"Father."

"Yes."

"A mere half-formed child, it doesn't seem like something you should be concerned about... If it bothers you, I can have him educated."

"No need."

Deshar Clowen turned abruptly.

* * *

'Painful...'

Faintly, I saw fragmented black souls in my blurred vision. These were soul fragments, soon to become my magic power.

I slowly waved my hand in the air.

I still can't see clearly.

Thud.

Something touched my hand.

'Cool...'

I stood still in the air and grabbed it with both hands, pulling it towards me.

Use...!

Your...!

It wouldn't budge.

No matter how much I struggled with my arms and legs, it wouldn't come closer, and frustration rose to my throat.

Heat rushed to my eyes, and soon hot tears streamed down my cheeks.

"Sniff..."

Tears poured out.

My head felt numb. My body, acting on instinct, was unfamiliar.

When I realized something was odd, a large hand was already covering my forehead.

"Being so hot must be uncomfortable."

The coolness moved away, and then a soft cloth touched my forehead.

The cold, cool, and soft cloth gently wiped my face and arms.

As the cloth slowly moved away, I stretched my short arms and waved them vigorously.

"They say it's a mysterious fever, so you should rest more."

A cool hand touched my forehead.

The gentle strokes on my head were very affectionate, and I unconsciously lowered my waving hand.

With the cool hand there, there was no need to search for coolness.

After blinking a few times, I slowly closed my eyes. Rubbing my cheek against the coolness, the hand on my cheek stiffened.

When the hand stopped moving, I felt reassured.

At the same time, sleep quickly overtook me.

* * *

"Ahh..."

I'm so bored.

Sucking on a pacifier, I rolled around in the baby crib and sighed deeply.

'I'm so bored.'

How can I be this bored?

My body is almost back to normal, but Vera doesn't seem to want to let me out.

Not only that, but she sticks to me 24/7, leaving no room for any other thoughts.

She only leaves for a brief moment when she goes to get meals, and even then, she returns within 30 minutes.

Fortunately, Vera is not here now.

I sighed deeply inside the wooden baby crib.

'My magic power hasn't stabilized yet...'

If I use magic, my body will surely explode.

So, I'm a pitiful prisoner in this baby crib. All I have is a bottle and a pacifier...

Sigh, today, as usual, I'm just sucking on milk to relieve my boredom.

'It's delicious, though.'

It's creamy and perfect as a snack.

When Vera always gave me a bottle as a snack, I didn't pay much attention, but now that I keep eating it, it's really delicious.

"Serina!"

I was tilting my head back with the bottle in both hands when I scowled.

Looking down, I saw Sharent Clowen's son standing near the baby crib.

"Good morning!"

"Ugh."

This great uninvited guest always brings a book and gives it to me every day.

The pile of picture books and fairy tales is growing, and I'm starting to feel sick of them.

"Another book today! Look, this one! I got it from Father's library!"

You're trying to kill me with a strange method, aren't you? If you get caught, I think Sharent Clowen will kill you.

Excitement makes his usually clear pronunciation run together.

With the bottle in both hands, I looked at Sharent Clowen's son with a dubious expression.

'...Oh, this one.'

I blinked in surprise and looked at Sharent Clowen's son.