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Chapter 33
‘…Is this a split personality?’
Even though he was already the most handsome man in the Empire, when he smiled, it felt like a thousand lights lit up around him.
‘So he can smile like that.’
“You came earlier than planned.”
“Yeah. Of course. My wife is waiting…!”
Dad came running in a panic—and twisted his ankle.
My goodness, is this really the same person?
The way he talks too…
‘His silliness is off the charts…’
Mom burst out laughing.
“Take your time. There’s nothing so urgent.”
She didn’t forget to playfully scold him.
“When I see you like this, I’m reminded you’re younger than me.”
“…That’s so cruel, Arin. You’re bringing up the one flaw I’ll never overcome?”
“It’s not a flaw.”
When a beautiful woman laughs, it’s like the world lights up with her.
Dad came up in one stride, crouched in front of Mom, and gently leaned his head on her knee.
Mom chuckled softly and brought her hand to his cheek.
“You’re like a puppy.”
Dad smiled with his eyes closed.
“…Yeah. Take care of me.”
“With lots of love?”
Dad’s cheeks turned bright red.
His ears and neck too.
“…I don’t even know how to react when you say things like that.”
“Because you’re so happy?”
“Yeah…”
He looked completely flustered.
With a face red like a maple leaf, he muttered shyly.
“…Why are you so pretty today too?”
“And you’re still just as silly. Who’d believe you’re the Empire’s coldest dark marquis?”
Agreed, Mom.
Even if someone told me this was his identical twin with the same face, I’d believe it.
Dad pouted.
“I don’t care what others think. As long as I’m good to you, that’s all that matters.”
“You’re the best husband.”
Looking satisfied, Dad placed his hand over Mom’s.
“Thanks for running away with me.”
Huh? I opened my eyes wide. What’s that supposed to mean?
Did you two have some grand love story?
“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely get Mother’s permission. And I don’t care if my eldest sister opposes us.”
“…Haha, breathe between words, will you?”
Mom smiled and shifted her posture.
“Stop staring at my face and look over here too. Our daughter finally opened her eyes.”
“Ah…”
Dad looked at me, bundled in a blanket, with a dazed expression.
“Hurry up and hold her.”
“W-wait a minute!”
Then Mom just shoved me into his arms.
Totally different from the gentle and shy side she just showed. He held me awkwardly, stiff as a wooden doll.
‘…That’s a lot more human.’
The way he held the baby—it looked like he was holding a giant hotdog.
“Oh my, look at her staring with her eyes open. Is Daddy fascinating to you? He’s pretty, isn’t he?”
“Wueehh!”
“Marquis, our daughter smiled. She has good taste. I wonder what kind of son-in-law she’ll bring home.”
“…What? I’m not letting her go.”
“Hmm?”
“She’s going to stay with me forever.”
My heart ached.
My eyes stung, probably because I’d just seen something so strange.
It really hit me—that you once looked at me with such love, before you lost your memories.
‘You terrible person.’
I bit my lip hard.
For a moment, I thought Mom and I made eye contact. I flinched.
Mom paused mid-smile. She looked surprised.
But she wasn’t looking at me. Her gaze was on Dad.
“…”
Dad was holding me, staring down at me in a daze. As if he’d never done this before.
And then—
“…I’m happy.”
Tears began to drip from Dad’s eyes. Mom just smiled as if to say, “What can I do with you?”
“You silly man, really.”
A strange feeling welled up in me.
‘This… this is just too different.’
While my heart still throbbed, a sadness lingered.
Because he had to lose all these memories—again and again—to become the person he is now.
‘And then…’
The image of Dad tearfully holding me, and Mom smiling like a painting, began to fade and blur.
‘…So I did have a mom and dad.’
That realization stayed with me even as I felt myself returning to reality.
A version of me with parents—something I’d never experienced even in Korea.
A me who was loved.
‘I’m supposed to be healing Dad, but I’m the one feeling fulfilled…’
I slowly opened my eyes.
Drip. Drip.
Just like before, tears fell.
Last time, Dad had remembered part of his past and looked stunned. What about this time?
A glimpse into the past—his and Mom’s fragments.
A warm family. What could’ve happened to tear them apart?
His demeanor then was so silly and sweet—so different from now.
Nervously, I raised my head. But then I froze.
My eyes grew wide.
“D… Dad…?”
Soaking wet. Dad was silently crying.
It wasn’t like the comical tears he shed in his memories.
He looked sorrowful, almost resigned—maybe even pained.
He lifted me up.
“You must be so sad.”
His wet body felt cold.
I could only stare in confusion, unable to ask anything.
He smiled—but it wasn’t a real smile.
“Having a fool like me as your father.”
His hand clumsily stroked my head.
“This time, I saw you. But still… I didn’t feel like you were my daughter.”
“…”
“That… made me feel sorry. For the first time.”
“…”
“A father who forgot even your birth.”
He looked at me with quiet eyes.
It was as if he didn’t even know he was crying.
He just said that waking up felt like his heart was being torn apart.
“Meeting you might be the last stroke of luck in my life. If it weren’t for you, I would never have had the chance to regain my memories.”
He murmured.
“…You were right. You’re a genius.”
His hand, still stroking my head, was wet.
My hair got soaked too.
“I abandoned and neglected you in the past, but you still came to find me.”
It was all part of a scheme.
That’s what it was supposed to be, but… my chest wouldn’t stop pounding. Like there were waves crashing inside my heart.
“I’ll try to remember. Thank you.”
As if making a promise to himself, he repeated:
“I’ll try to remember.”
Then he lowered his head to meet my eyes.
“On the day I finally remember you…”
It wasn’t the same warm, gentle expression from the memory.
But with a slightly softened look—
“Call me Father.”
That hit something deep inside me. I bit my lip.
He already heard me call him “Dad” before, so he didn’t mean it literally.
“…You better remember everything first.”
Suddenly, I became curious.
What did Dad think when he saw Mom and me—our past selves?
‘How ironic… now I want to blame him for every mistake from his previous life.’
So don’t forget again, Dad.
* * *
“You don’t remember anything?”
A while later, Dad and I were back in his quarters, sitting side by side with towels on our heads.
“That’s right.”
Fresh from his bath, Dad shook his hair dry as he spoke leisurely.
“It’s different from last time. Then, the memories came back clearly.”
Dad looked down at his hand and frowned slightly.
“This time, I do remember seeing something… but it’s vague. No, more like… limited?”
“What do you mean?”
Dad briefly explained.
“Hm… so someone was holding a baby, and that baby was me? The voices were kinda there, kinda not?”
“Yeah.”
Dad’s expression softened as if he were trying to recall something.
“…I saw myself.”
“Uh-huh.”
“And I thought, ‘Who’s this idiot?’”
“Cough!”
