In the sunny mansion of Desmond Olivia.


    Darbav, who had nted an array of colorful flowers in the yard, wore a satisfied smile.


    Holding a hoe in his hand and wiping the sweat off his forehead, Darbav.


    Not something usually held by the head of a prestigious family, yet Darbav was delighted to be able to decorate the mansion with his own hands.


    Perhaps it’s because he’s getting old.


    Lately, Darbav found beauty appealing.


    “Splendid.”


    “…”


    “Doing it myself really is the best.”“…”


    “Even though I nted them, the colorfulbinations look quite pleasing.”


    . Darbav smiled and spoke to Olivia, who was sitting clumsily in the yard.


    “What do you think? Do you like it?”


    Olivia, holding a hoe with a sullen expression, looked at Darbav and said.


    “No.”


    “…!?”


    The ground where Olivia sat was full of marks where it had been savagely dug up.


    Even though she had been told to nt flowers, Olivia had be the plow herself and tilled the ground, causing Darbav to give a satisfied smile.


    ‘At least she didn’t pluck the flowers… admirable.’


    Olivia threw the hoe on the ground and wiped the sweat off her forehead with an irritated expression.


    “It’s no fun.”


    Watching Olivia dere a strike in a fit of pique, Darbav asked.


    “Why so?”


    “Working under the zing sun is hard and hot.”


    “Didn’t you ask for an allowance?”


    “Isn’t allowance given for free?”


    “No, it’s not.”


    “Dad, you’re stingy.”


    “I can’t help it.”


    Olivia stretched the face of Darbav, who had moved in close, showing her slight dissatisfaction.


    “Eeeek…”


    Olivia was bored.


    ying with Dad was fun, buttely, the butler didn’t y with her, leaving her feeling bored.


    In a fit of pique, Olivia confided her true feelings to Darbav. She expressed that the butler seemed to be neglecting his dutiestely.


    “Dad.”


    “What is it?”


    “Ricardo doesn’t y with me.”


    “I see.”


    “Says he’s busy these days and doesn’t hang out with me.”


    “That’s not rted to the flowers, is it?”


    “This is more important than the flowers.”


    Hearing Olivia’s words, Darbav nodded with a sullen expression.


    “It’s more important to your dad though.”


    Olivia shook her head and replied.


    “It’s more important to me.”


    Knowing well that he couldn’t bend his daughter’s stubbornness, Darbav crouched down beside Olivia and listened to her concerns.


    Sitting on the dirt, something unthinkable for the head of Desmond family, but what could be done? He wanted to do it.


    Darbav gestured to the bewildered servants that it was okay as he opened his ears to Olivia’s words.


    “It can’t be helped. He lives a very busy life; I can understand that.”


    “How can you understand? I should be the one to understand.”


    “Don’t you understand too?”


    At Darbav’s question, Olivia nodded and nestled her face against Darbav’s shoulder.


    “Yes. I just wanted toin once.”


    Darbav felt touched seeing Olivia’s growth.


    In the past, she would have cried out, ‘I’m bored!’ but seeing his daughter now understanding Ricardo’s situation, Darbav felt a fatherly pride.


    Raising a daughter well seemed like a task aplished.


    Olivia muttered in a sulky voice.


    “Ricardo seems really busy. I told him to work a little less, but he didn’t listen.”


    “What about worrying about Dad? Dad is also working a lot.”


    “Dad should work less too. Health is more important than money.”


    “…”


    Darbav’s eyes began to redden.


    Perhaps it was because he was getting older; Darbav, filled with rich emotions, felt that raising his dutiful daughter made the world not seem so envious.


    Rumor had it that the Histania family hadn’t raised good children.


    Recalling the face of his old Academy ssmate, a rigid fellow, Darbav shook his head.


    -I exist for the family.


    He had Darbav nod in understanding.


    Look at him now.


    Of course, victory in this silent duel with his rival family, the Histania.


    Raising children.


    Social standing.


    Even his wife’s appearance.


    He was still winning.


    “Heh heh.”


    “Dad is having a mental victory.”


    “No, I’m not.”


    “Then why are you smiling?”


    “I just feel good that you’re worried about me.”


    “Am I nice?”


    “…”


    Darbav found himself unable to answer.


    Because he too had a conscience.


    “Why aren’t you answering?”


    “Our daughter is the most beautiful in the world.”


    “I know.”


    “I don’t know who she takes after, but she’s smart too.”


    “Takes after mom.”


    Darbav sighed with relief.


    “And also takes after dad.”


    Darbav inhaled the breath he had exhaled.


    “Isn’t your personality more like your mom?”


    “No, takes after dad too.”


    “You should reconsider.”


    “Why?”


    “…”


    Darbav had a conscience.


    Time flowed, and as the afternoon sun began to embrace the darkness.


    “Oh?”


    In the distance, a familiar face with a pleasant smile started walking towards them.


    A man carrying shopping bags in both hands.


    Olivia reacted faster than Darbav. Like a dog catching a delicious scent, Olivia, who had been dozing off on Darbav’s back, quickly lifted her head and shouted upon seeing the red-haired youth approaching.


    “Dad! Ricardo ising.”


    “I see.”


    “Dad, let’s go.”


    “…”


    Darbav felt a twinge of regret.


    “Let’s go!”


    Nheless, he felt good.


    “Ugh! Go!”


    Because his daughter was alive.


    And because a reliable ally was by her side, Darbav felt at ease.


    *


    Another peaceful day at the Desmond mansion.


    Sitting on the bed with the youngdy after a long time, I was grinning, listening to today’s events from her.


    “So I asked Dad for an allowance for free, and he said he could only give a little.”


    “I see.”


    “Yeah. I told him to give Ricardo a sry too. I told him since he had already decided to give me some, to just give a little more….”


    “Oh… it’s indeed something your father would say.”


    “Right? I think so too.”


    “That was not apliment.”


    “Wasn’t it?”


    “No.”


    The youngdy was smiling sheepishly and talking to me.


    to the youngdy talk about today’s events with a huff of satisfaction, I couldn’t help but smile constantly.


    The youngdy candidly shared her feelings with me.


    -Ricardo hasn’t yed with metely, so I feel a bit lonely.


    -But I understand Ricardo. He’s busy, just like I am. I can understand that because he’s busy too. I’ll earn a lot of money in the future and support Ricardo. So just endure a little longer.


    -I didn’t go to earn money.


    -Then?


    -I went because of a friend.


    -Does Ricardo have friends?


    -That statement is hurtful, you know?


    Though I was slightly scratched by the naive remark from the youngdy, her maturity and understanding deeply moved me.


    Knowing rowth was gratifying.


    I liked the youngdy who openly expressed her emotions.


    Instead of silently brooding over her dissatisfaction, I liked the youngdy’s openness in stating the things that upset her.


    I liked the youngdy’s jealousy over less ytime, and I liked being able to talk with her face to face.


    I smiled at the youngdy.


    As I listened to her story, looking into her bright eyes lying in bed, I focused on the narrative.


    “Ricardo.”


    “Yes.”


    “Are you not busy now?”


    “Well… it seems like it. I’ve received the money I was owed from the Academy and resolved my friend’s concerns.”


    “Then…”


    The youngdy cautiously started to speak, watching my reaction.


    “What are you doing tomorrow?”


    Raising the nket up to her lips, the youngdy asked shyly, and I smiled as I replied.


    “I n to go downtown tomorrow.”


    “Downtown?”


    “Yes.”


    “Who are you going with?”


    The youngdy averted her gaze, clutching the nket tightly. Her honest demeanor, clearly displeased if she wasn’t the one apanying, made me suppress a risingughter and decide to tease her.


    “Well, with someone really pretty, I think.”


    “…Someone pretty?”


    “Yes.”


    “Prettier than me?”


    “Hey, there’s no one in the world prettier than the youngdy.”


    “Hehe… that’s true.”


    Wearing a joyful smile, the youngdy stared straight at me.


    “So, who is it?”


    I looked at the youngdy and said.


    “I haven’t received permission to say yet.”


    “Hmm…”


    “Then what are your ns for tomorrow, youngdy?”


    “I was thinking of having chocte with Ricardo.”


    “I see.”


    I looked at the youngdy and said.


    “Then, do you have time tomorrow?”


    “Huh?”


    “I’m nning to go shopping tomorrow with the youngdy; to buy pajamas and chocte….”


    “Am I the really pretty person?”


    “Yes.”


    The youngdy pulled the nket over her head and punched it with her fists.


    -Thud.


    After punching the nket for a while, the youngdy showed her face again, smiling warmly.


    “I know.”


    I looked at the youngdy and asked.


    “So what’s your answer?”


    “Hmm…”


    with difficulty.


    “Okay.”


    “I’m honored.”


    “I’ll specially apany you.”


    I gave a small smile and thanked the youngdy.


    “Thank you, youngdy.”


    *


    And so the next day arrived.


    The youngdy caught a cold.


    “Ugh… Ugh! Achoo!”


    A terrible cold, indeed.


    End of Chapter