#128. Real Dad
Asherad looked at Olivia, who was sleeping. It was as if he had gone back in time. He could hear her breathing. He reached out and touched Olivia’s hair. It was quite long. There was a time when he had been impatient to touch this golden thread.
He looked at Olivia's face as she continued to sleep, then he pulled up her hair and kissed it devoutly.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating Olivia's sleeping figure.
It's morning. Wake up.
However, he could not say that. This fragile peace could only be maintained if Olivia were asleep. If Olivia woke up, she would look at him like that again.
Asherad knew it well.
So he went to the window and drew the curtains, afraid that Olivia would wake up. The room where morning had come was once again plunged into darkness.
“Ian!”
Olivia shouted and hugged Ian. Ian looked neat. His shaggy hair was neatly styled, and his clothes were those worn by nobles.
Olivia hugged her son tightly as she saw his somewhat unfamiliar appearance.
"Mom!"
The child's voice was still clear. Yesterday, she really thought she had lost Ian. Olivia stroked Ian's head.
“What did you do out yesterday?”
“I played with Leon.”
“Did you have fun?”
“Yeah. I told him I was hungry, so he brought me bread and soup.”
Olivia looked at Asherad's attendant standing behind him. Leon bowed his head obediently.
“I will prepare the clothes and servants for you soon.”
“...”
Olivia didn't answer. She gave a faint smile to Ian, who looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“Where is Asherad?”
Asherad. Leon flinched at Olivia's words, not calling him Your Majesty. But Olivia didn't care.
“He is dining with His Majesty the King of Pindus.”
"Yes..."
“Shall I prepare a meal for you?”
"Yes."
Fortunately, Olivia and Ian did not have to attend the dinner. They ate the food the servants had brought. It must have come from the lord's pantry.
Olivia tried not to think about anything else as she ate. She didn't really eat much, but she had to force herself to eat for Ian's sake and find the energy.
"Mom."
"Huh?"
“When are we going home?”
Ian's eyes were shining as he regained complete stability. He had an expression that seemed to indicate that he could return. Olivia didn't know what to say in response.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to go back.”
"Why?"
“That’s... because I met your father.”
“Then what about dad?”
“...”
“Dad said he was coming back. But you’re following that man?”
Olivia was speechless. She had no idea where to start or what to say. She didn't know what would happen to him either. Derek. Olivia thought about that man.
I need to contact that person.
But what?
Wait, I'll go.
Don't wait for me?
She decided to rely on Asherad's protection. She even played with him, fucking him. And then she asked Derek to wait? It was so pathetic.
“I can’t meet that old man anymore.”
Olivia cleared her throat and spoke coldly.
“I guess we’ll never meet again.”
“Where is that?”
As expected, Ian resisted. But she didn't like the way Ian was craning his neck to wait for Derek. Olivia hated herself for this. Ian immediately ran away.
“Ian!”
Olivia stood up immediately. Ian was as quick as a squirrel. He was out of the castle in no time and disappeared behind it. As she searched for Ian, her neighbor, the seamstress Leah, walked in. She had a piece of cloth in her hand.
“Leah, have you seen Ian?”
Leah faced Olivia. Just as Olivia was about to say something, a pile of clothes came flying at her. Olivia fell down under the heavy pile of clothes without being able to move.
“Leah!”
“What gives you the right to speak to me?!”
“...”
Olivia's eyes opened wide. Leah looked at her with burning anger.
“Everyone knows that you were a spy!”
Olivia had to say no. However, she couldn't say anything to the crowd that was gathering. Asherad kept Olivia alive, calling her a spy.
The rumor spread to the village women who caught it.
“Lady Daphne!”
“Wow, you even lied about your name?”
Leon came running. Olivia stopped him as he was about to say something. She realized. Oh, there was nowhere to go back to. Even if everything ended well and these people went back, she was a traitor.
'You shouldn't go out carelessly, the castle is dangerous.'
Even though his mother urged him to do so, children naturally take advice as nagging. Ian ran like crazy because he couldn't meet Derek. He hated his mother. He was clearly happy that his father would come back in the winter, but he changed his mind all of a sudden like this?!
His mother has no sense of loyalty.
How much does Dad love Mom?
'Ian, you have to look after Mom when I'm away.'
Ian still remembers Derek's soft voice and the hand stroking his hair. He remembers Derek carrying Ian on his back when they moved to the city. He was such a strong person...
Ian went into a corner behind the castle and sobbed. I hate Mom. Why can't you go home? Why don't you live with Dad? You met my real father, so you're abandoning him? Really?
It was heartbreaking that he couldn't meet the person he thought was his 'father'. That's why Ian kept crying and crying.
“Ian, Ian!”
Ian heard my mother's voice calling for Ian from afar. Ian hid behind a wooden box, as if he were ignoring her. When he heard the voice again, his heart weakened. After a while, when he was about to leave, he saw someone's feet.
As Ian looked up at the shadow that blocked the sun, a green-eyed man, his father, came into view.
“What are you doing here?”
Ian flinched at those words. It was only then that he realized that he had been wrong.
“I should have asked?”
But the presence of a man looking at him with eyes that lacked even warmth aroused a strange sense of repulsion. My father is Derek. Ian ran out again. Ian was quicker and more nimble than his peers. Naturally, this man...
But Ian's clothes were already caught. Huh? This isn't it? Asherad grabbed Ian's waist and lifted him up. Wow, tall. More than Dad had lifted him up.
“How many times do I have to ask, ‘What are you doing here?’”
"That is..."
"That is?"
Father's eyebrows rose. Ian mumbled. There was an irresistible power in those green eyes.
“Because Mom abandoned Dad...”
"Me?"
Ian flinched at those words. He knew there were things he shouldn't say.
“I see, you’re not talking about me.”
“...”
“Who is it?”
“...”
“I won’t scold you, just tell me.”
Asherad set Ian down and smiled. Ian felt relieved by his sweet voice.
“There’s a guy named Derek.”
"Derek?"
"Yes."
“What did he do for you?”
“He bought me presents, patted my head, and called me dad.”
“Did you live together?”
The tone was sharp. When Ian flinched, Asherad smiled with his eyes. Ian shook his head.
“He came home sometimes, but we didn’t live together completely.”
"I see."
Asherad stroked Ian's hair.
“Do you know that I am your father?”
Of course. I heard my mother screaming. As Ian nodded cautiously, Asherad said.
“Your mother is right. From now on, I am your father.”
“...”
“So, of course, you should call me dad.”
He seemed angry, but for some reason, he wasn't scared. Ian stubbornly shook his head.
“No. My dad is Derek.”
Ian was stubborn. Asherad bowed his head at his stubbornness. Ian also knew. This homeless man, no, his father, was a high-ranking person. Even more so than the lord. That's why he ate delicious food and wore nice clothes.
“I want to go home.”
Asherad said at Ian's words.
“I’ll treat you so well that you won’t have to go back.”
“...”
“I can pat your head, too. If it’s a gift, I’ll give it to you without any regrets.”
Ian flinched at the affection. The man also stroked his head. Ian's heart weakened.
“You are my son.”
“...”
“So, I wish you were with me.”
It was a very cautious voice. Ian couldn't bring himself to say that he was going back. Was this why his mother said she couldn't go? It was strange. He also thought that if he rejected this person, his father would be very sad.
Ian unconsciously hugged the man's leg.
He still wanted to go home. He wanted to see his father, Derek. But Ian realized he didn't really hate this guy.
Asherad looked at Olivia, who was sleeping. It was as if he had gone back in time. He could hear her breathing. He reached out and touched Olivia’s hair. It was quite long. There was a time when he had been impatient to touch this golden thread.
He looked at Olivia's face as she continued to sleep, then he pulled up her hair and kissed it devoutly.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating Olivia's sleeping figure.
It's morning. Wake up.
However, he could not say that. This fragile peace could only be maintained if Olivia were asleep. If Olivia woke up, she would look at him like that again.
Asherad knew it well.
So he went to the window and drew the curtains, afraid that Olivia would wake up. The room where morning had come was once again plunged into darkness.
***
“Ian!”
Olivia shouted and hugged Ian. Ian looked neat. His shaggy hair was neatly styled, and his clothes were those worn by nobles.
Olivia hugged her son tightly as she saw his somewhat unfamiliar appearance.
"Mom!"
The child's voice was still clear. Yesterday, she really thought she had lost Ian. Olivia stroked Ian's head.
“What did you do out yesterday?”
“I played with Leon.”
“Did you have fun?”
“Yeah. I told him I was hungry, so he brought me bread and soup.”
Olivia looked at Asherad's attendant standing behind him. Leon bowed his head obediently.
“I will prepare the clothes and servants for you soon.”
“...”
Olivia didn't answer. She gave a faint smile to Ian, who looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“Where is Asherad?”
Asherad. Leon flinched at Olivia's words, not calling him Your Majesty. But Olivia didn't care.
“He is dining with His Majesty the King of Pindus.”
"Yes..."
“Shall I prepare a meal for you?”
"Yes."
Fortunately, Olivia and Ian did not have to attend the dinner. They ate the food the servants had brought. It must have come from the lord's pantry.
Olivia tried not to think about anything else as she ate. She didn't really eat much, but she had to force herself to eat for Ian's sake and find the energy.
"Mom."
"Huh?"
“When are we going home?”
Ian's eyes were shining as he regained complete stability. He had an expression that seemed to indicate that he could return. Olivia didn't know what to say in response.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to go back.”
"Why?"
“That’s... because I met your father.”
“Then what about dad?”
“...”
“Dad said he was coming back. But you’re following that man?”
Olivia was speechless. She had no idea where to start or what to say. She didn't know what would happen to him either. Derek. Olivia thought about that man.
I need to contact that person.
But what?
Wait, I'll go.
Don't wait for me?
She decided to rely on Asherad's protection. She even played with him, fucking him. And then she asked Derek to wait? It was so pathetic.
“I can’t meet that old man anymore.”
Olivia cleared her throat and spoke coldly.
“I guess we’ll never meet again.”
“Where is that?”
As expected, Ian resisted. But she didn't like the way Ian was craning his neck to wait for Derek. Olivia hated herself for this. Ian immediately ran away.
“Ian!”
Olivia stood up immediately. Ian was as quick as a squirrel. He was out of the castle in no time and disappeared behind it. As she searched for Ian, her neighbor, the seamstress Leah, walked in. She had a piece of cloth in her hand.
“Leah, have you seen Ian?”
Leah faced Olivia. Just as Olivia was about to say something, a pile of clothes came flying at her. Olivia fell down under the heavy pile of clothes without being able to move.
“Leah!”
“What gives you the right to speak to me?!”
“...”
Olivia's eyes opened wide. Leah looked at her with burning anger.
“Everyone knows that you were a spy!”
Olivia had to say no. However, she couldn't say anything to the crowd that was gathering. Asherad kept Olivia alive, calling her a spy.
The rumor spread to the village women who caught it.
“Lady Daphne!”
“Wow, you even lied about your name?”
Leon came running. Olivia stopped him as he was about to say something. She realized. Oh, there was nowhere to go back to. Even if everything ended well and these people went back, she was a traitor.
***
'You shouldn't go out carelessly, the castle is dangerous.'
Even though his mother urged him to do so, children naturally take advice as nagging. Ian ran like crazy because he couldn't meet Derek. He hated his mother. He was clearly happy that his father would come back in the winter, but he changed his mind all of a sudden like this?!
His mother has no sense of loyalty.
How much does Dad love Mom?
'Ian, you have to look after Mom when I'm away.'
Ian still remembers Derek's soft voice and the hand stroking his hair. He remembers Derek carrying Ian on his back when they moved to the city. He was such a strong person...
Ian went into a corner behind the castle and sobbed. I hate Mom. Why can't you go home? Why don't you live with Dad? You met my real father, so you're abandoning him? Really?
It was heartbreaking that he couldn't meet the person he thought was his 'father'. That's why Ian kept crying and crying.
“Ian, Ian!”
Ian heard my mother's voice calling for Ian from afar. Ian hid behind a wooden box, as if he were ignoring her. When he heard the voice again, his heart weakened. After a while, when he was about to leave, he saw someone's feet.
As Ian looked up at the shadow that blocked the sun, a green-eyed man, his father, came into view.
“What are you doing here?”
Ian flinched at those words. It was only then that he realized that he had been wrong.
“I should have asked?”
But the presence of a man looking at him with eyes that lacked even warmth aroused a strange sense of repulsion. My father is Derek. Ian ran out again. Ian was quicker and more nimble than his peers. Naturally, this man...
But Ian's clothes were already caught. Huh? This isn't it? Asherad grabbed Ian's waist and lifted him up. Wow, tall. More than Dad had lifted him up.
“How many times do I have to ask, ‘What are you doing here?’”
"That is..."
"That is?"
Father's eyebrows rose. Ian mumbled. There was an irresistible power in those green eyes.
“Because Mom abandoned Dad...”
"Me?"
Ian flinched at those words. He knew there were things he shouldn't say.
“I see, you’re not talking about me.”
“...”
“Who is it?”
“...”
“I won’t scold you, just tell me.”
Asherad set Ian down and smiled. Ian felt relieved by his sweet voice.
“There’s a guy named Derek.”
"Derek?"
"Yes."
“What did he do for you?”
“He bought me presents, patted my head, and called me dad.”
“Did you live together?”
The tone was sharp. When Ian flinched, Asherad smiled with his eyes. Ian shook his head.
“He came home sometimes, but we didn’t live together completely.”
"I see."
Asherad stroked Ian's hair.
“Do you know that I am your father?”
Of course. I heard my mother screaming. As Ian nodded cautiously, Asherad said.
“Your mother is right. From now on, I am your father.”
“...”
“So, of course, you should call me dad.”
He seemed angry, but for some reason, he wasn't scared. Ian stubbornly shook his head.
“No. My dad is Derek.”
Ian was stubborn. Asherad bowed his head at his stubbornness. Ian also knew. This homeless man, no, his father, was a high-ranking person. Even more so than the lord. That's why he ate delicious food and wore nice clothes.
“I want to go home.”
Asherad said at Ian's words.
“I’ll treat you so well that you won’t have to go back.”
“...”
“I can pat your head, too. If it’s a gift, I’ll give it to you without any regrets.”
Ian flinched at the affection. The man also stroked his head. Ian's heart weakened.
“You are my son.”
“...”
“So, I wish you were with me.”
It was a very cautious voice. Ian couldn't bring himself to say that he was going back. Was this why his mother said she couldn't go? It was strange. He also thought that if he rejected this person, his father would be very sad.
Ian unconsciously hugged the man's leg.
He still wanted to go home. He wanted to see his father, Derek. But Ian realized he didn't really hate this guy.
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