Chapter 17

“Take a moment to check the documents piled on the desk. I’ve managed the urgent matters roughly, but the things on the desk are ones I find difficult to decide on.”

“…hmm.”

His father returned after almost a week, yet his words were so curt.

Kael’s expression showed a hint of hurt.

But Kael knew. Despite his seemingly indifferent demeanor, his son was more worried about him than anyone else.

His face, now thinner and paler than before, indicated as much.

Yet, despite those feelings, he couldn’t help but feel somewhat disappointed as someone who had been longing to engage in various conversations with his son, whom he hadn’t seen in a while.

With that sentiment, Kael called out to Carren.

“Son.”

“If you have something to say, please do.”

It was an indifferent attitude, as if he had nothing to say himself but would listen if his father did.

“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

“Should there be?”

“Whether I’m okay, or if it’s been difficult without me around?”

“… are you feeling alright?”

Carren asked with a sigh, knowing that given his father’s personality, he would keep holding him and not let him go until he told him what he wanted to hear.

‘Do I really have to ask?’

Just returning safely was enough.

Moreover, his father seemed completely fine now, even the previously injured areas looked perfectly okay.

Was that all?

Having struggled through a trap, he might have some bruises on his face, but his father seemed to be glowing, as if he had just returned after a good rest and meal.

That’s why he hadn’t asked.

“I suppose apart from wanting to see my son, everything seems fine.”

“Good to hear.”

Brushing off Kael’s response indifferently, Carren seemed to have nothing more to say as he turned to leave the study.

But there was still a conversation Kael wanted to have with Carren.

Even if that wasn’t the case, he didn’t want to end the reunion with his son so quickly after barely seeing him after a week.

“There might be other things you’re curious about. Like, for example, about the child I brought along.”

“Should I really know about that?”

Carren furrowed his brows as if he couldn’t understand why he should be curious about that.

Whatever the reason his father brought the child for, it was his father’s decision.@@novelbin@@

Given his father’s character, he wouldn’t bring a child along just out of whim or pity.

Wasn’t he someone who felt more responsible for the family than anyone else?

So, while Carren couldn’t understand Kael’s decision, he simply accepted it, thinking there must be some reason behind it.

After all, there was no point in trying to reverse his father’s decision now.

“You said she’ll become part of the family.”

What that meant, why his father brought the child, he might wonder about it.

He thought his son might not react much, but Kael was slightly disappointed by his son’s seemingly indifferent response.

“Are you considering adoption then?”

“I’m considering it.”

Because he was more drawn to the idea of having a daughter-in-law than adopting a daughter.

From Kael’s perspective, Leciel was a suitable match for Carren.

But for that to happen, the consent of both Leciel and Carren was necessary.

As much as he liked Leciel, he couldn’t make decisions disregarding the feelings of the parties involved.

Especially, Kael hoped that Carren would find a partner he genuinely liked and have a happy marriage, rather than enduring an emotionless strategic marriage.

Curious about how his son would react this time, Kael looked at Carren.

“It seems you quite like that child.”

He had a vague idea since he brought the child home unexpectedly, but he didn’t expect Kael to seriously consider making her his daughter.

This wasn’t a trivial matter to brush aside.

Therefore, Carren’s expression showed a slight surprise. But there was no change in his outward expression. Only his eyebrows twitched slightly.

“I quite enjoy her company.”

A natural smile formed on Kael’s face as he spoke.

Kael genuinely liked Leciel, and the time spent with the child was enjoyable.

The sincere responses and honest attitude whenever he interacted with her made him not notice the passage of time.

“She seems to be.”

Even Carren, who rarely showed any emotions, momentarily looked surprised at his father’s clear smile.

Although it was a short period of time, but considering how his father had treated Leciel, it wasn’t unbelievable.

Kael usually didn’t express his emotions openly, so it was surprising to see him so different in front of the child. His face was more relaxed, and a slight smile was there.

To the point where he doubted whether he was the father he knew.

It was fascinating.

The intimate atmosphere and informal conversation between the two people felt like they had known each other for a long time.

To the point it was hard for even him, his own son, to easily intervene between the two.

If someone else had seen it, they might have doubted if they were really father and daughter.

Therefore, from his son’s perspective, there might have been some jealousy towards them, but Carren didn’t feel much jealousy.

Because there was no need for that.

No matter how much the father liked the child, there was no way his affection towards himself would disappear, and their relationship wouldn’t change either.

He would continue to be the beloved son of his father.

And in a way, the arrival of the child turned out to be advantageous for him.

From now on, it seemed that his father would bother him less because he was more concerned about the child.

His father probably wanted to establish an affectionate father-son relationship, but from Carren’s perspective, it was somewhat bothersome.

Sometimes, even though he didn’t explicitly express it, there was a subtle nuance of expectation that was burdensome for him to address, things that were difficult for him to listen to.

However, now that there was someone else who would deal with such a father, even if it wasn’t him, he could at least feel comfortable in that regard.

“You’ll probably come to like the kid too.”

Kael said while looking at Carren, who seemed lost in thought for a moment.

“That’s a confident statement.”

Carren looked at Kael with an unfamiliar expression on his face.

Since his father wasn’t one to easily express certainty, his words seemed even more unfamiliar.

What was it about that child that made his father so confident?

So, he suddenly became curious about the child.

“Why did you bring her here?”

“You really want to know, huh.”

Kael said in a teasing tone.

There was a hint of warmth in Kael’s smile as his son’s question was finally directed towards the child.

“Seems like you have something to say.”

Carren said bluntly, not wanting to let his father know that he was interested in the child.

If his father found out, he knew he would show unwelcome interest, and that would be bothersome for him.

It was just a small interest after all, and he hoped his father wouldn’t unnecessarily interfere.

Interest was just interest; he didn’t necessarily want to become close to the child.

However, despite Carren’s efforts to hide it, Kael could read his subtle interest and curiosity in his question.

With his son’s blunt personality, even if he seemed to have something to say, he wouldn’t listen to a topic he wasn’t interested in.

And he didn’t directly ask if there was something to say, nor did he express it in such a way.

‘He can’t be honest.’

But that made him even cuter.

Anyway, it would be best to pretend not to notice, lest he inadvertently stimulate his indifferent son and the fleeting interest quickly wither away.

So, with an indifferent voice, Kael continued.

“She’s the child I met in the monster forest. She’s also my lifesaver.”

Carren’s eyes widened in surprise at Kael’s words.

How did he meet a child in the monster forest? He never thought there would be a child there.

‘But….’

A child in the monster forest.

It didn’t make sense according to common sense.

No matter how young she was, she should know what the monster forest was like, yet she still went there.

Carren never thought that Leciel lived there.

For a moment, Carren had a question.

‘Why would the child be my father’s lifesaver?’

Given the situation, if the child was his lifesaver, it meant that he had received help from her, not the other way around. On the other hand, it was unlikely that he would receive help from a child.

However, his father never lied.

Carren furrowed his brows at a question for which he couldn’t find an answer.

“It seems like you have something you’re curious about… shall I tell you?”

Even without hearing the question, Kael, who understood what Carren was curious about, asked playfully.

“… I don’t think you’ll just tell me.”

Remembering the times he made unreasonable demands while making such expressions, Carren frowned.

“One question, one cutesy, how about it?”

“… just forget it then.”

With an expression that said, ‘well then’, Carren turned away without any lingering thoughts of fulfilling his father’s wishes.

Although he was curious about what was happening between the two, he had no intention of giving his father what he wanted.

His aversion to cutesy was greater than his curiosity.

In response, Kael didn’t insist on keeping Carren.

What could he do if he didn’t like it?

Of course, for his son’s sake, he could have just told him without any conditions. There was no need to hide Leciel’s abilities from others, let alone from Carren.

Nevertheless, the reason he offered to answer the question was to stimulate Carren’s curiosity and interest in Leciel.

That way, Carren would take an interest in Leciel and could become closer to her as he wished.

Given Carren’s personality, he wouldn’t approach Leciel on his own, and on the contrary, there was a high chance he would avoid her if she approached him first, saying it was bothersome.

However, now that he had become curious about Leciel, he would maintain his interest until his doubts were resolved.

Carren was the type who couldn’t stand his curiosity being unsatisfied.

‘Now that I’ve laid the groundwork, the rest depends on the child.’

So, whether the two would become close depended on the child.