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Chapter 79
Mehen quietly pondered.
“Mehen, have you ever liked anyone?”
“…?”
“L-like, love or something.”
Why was our cute young lady suddenly asking this?
He had the sudden urge to summon the childcare squad and hold an emergency meeting, but he suppressed it and instead gave her a bright smile.
“I’ve only ever lived with paperwork.”
“Oh.”
“Unfortunately, I haven’t even been in a relationship yet.”
“Ahh.”
“I’m not even married, but I already have a kid tagging along.”
Arellin blinked. Her big round eyes, wide with surprise as she looked at him, were so cute. With a sorrowful expression, she hesitated.
“Dad, should I beat them up for you?”
That was the conclusion she came to after all that thinking?
This must be the joy of raising children.
“It’s all right. I already beat myself up for it.”
“Wow.”
Arellin gave him a double thumbs-up. Mehen’s smile deepened.
“Why are you suddenly curious about that?”
“Mm…”
Perhaps finding it hard to answer, her pretty brows furrowed. Pressing those brows down gently, Mehen tried to reason it out.
‘Did Arellin fall for someone?’
He went back over her recent behavior. Nothing in particular stood out.
At the last tea party, she had stammered excessively in front of Crown Prince Pession, but that was probably because she was unsettled by his sudden appearance, so he dismissed that.
‘Then is it because of me?’
If he fell in love with someone, was she worried he might leave her?
“So in short, you haven’t?”
Seeing Arellin’s anxious eyes darting around broke his heart.
He’d tried so hard not to make her feel insecure, yet he must have failed again.
He hugged his adorable daughter tight and patted her back.
“…?”
She looked puzzled, but clung to him happily.
She never did this with others—only with Mehen. It was as if no amount of affection he gave her was ever enough.
Where did this affection deficit even come from? Was it karma for the mistakes he’d made in the past?
“That man’s arrival doesn’t change anything. The childcare squad will still watch over you, and I will too.”
Arellin rubbed her cheek against him and replied,
“As long as I have you, Mehen, that’s enough.”
“The squad will be hurt if they hear that.”
“I mean it.”
The sincerity shining in her bright eyes filled Mehen with a faint sense of pride.
Since she usually spent more time with the squad, he had always felt he had to work harder to keep her affection directed toward him. But it seemed he was still safe, for now.
He smiled to himself with quiet satisfaction.
“Mom, I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“I love you so, so much, Mom.”
Sometimes he wondered if he was worthy of receiving such pure, unfiltered love.
Each time he realized how lacking he was as a guardian, his heart ached. Compared to the affection she gave him, what he gave back felt far too small.
Still, he had to keep trying.
Born with little, Mehen had always proven himself through effort.
“The childcare squad is worried about you. They say you haven’t been eating well, or sleeping properly, or exercising.”
“Ah, that…”
“Is it because of Valere?”
…Who?
His garnet eyes were filled with curiosity, but soon realization dawned.
“Ah, Father.”
“Shall I bury him for you?”
Startled by the sincerity in the question, Arellin froze.
Mehen’s smiling face looked dangerous.
“…No, it’s fine.”
“Just tell me anytime you want him buried.”
Gently stroking her small head, Mehen spoke kindly. Rolling her eyes, Arellin thought,
Wasn’t Mehen the one who actually wanted to bury Duke Halbern?
“If Valere bothers you, please tell me right away.”
Arellin gave an awkward laugh.
He doesn’t seem interested in me at all.
Maybe they’d just continue ignoring each other.
That’s what she thought—until it happened.
She ran into him.
The man himself!
Duke Halbern usually hid himself away out of sight.
Rumor had it he stayed in the portrait chamber in the inner annex, which explained why Mehen often cursed and stormed off in that direction.
It was a restricted room, inaccessible to anyone but direct bloodline members or a formally appointed heir—
A secret room filled with portraits of successive Halbern heads. Tempting, sure, but not tempting enough to risk running into “Father.”
And yet—
I actually ran into him.
In the corridor, no less.
During one of those rare, fleeting moments when she wasn’t accompanied by the childcare squad!
Just my luck.
“…”
“…”
Contrary to her assumption that he’d ignore her or walk away, Duke Halbern stood still and stared at her intently.
This is uncomfortable.
Becoming the object of such scrutiny made cold sweat trickle down her back.
And now that she thought about it, she’d felt this way since their very first meeting—
This really isn’t the way a father should look at his daughter.
Her dad from her previous life might have been obsessed with her mom, but it wasn’t that he didn’t love his daughter. He just loved her mom a hundred times more.
She didn’t mind—she loved her mom a hundred times more than her dad anyway.
But this man’s gaze? It was… frightening.
Should I run?
She held her ground, not wanting to look like she was avoiding him first. But the dissecting stare was weakening her resolve. Honestly, what was wrong with running?
Perhaps noticing her inner conflict, Duke Halbern moved first.
Flinch.
He strode forward and stopped right in front of her, then went down on one knee to meet her eyes.
“Why does my daughter keep avoiding me?”
Stunned, she only blinked.
She hadn’t avoided him at all!
“What, does it disgust you when some stranger shows up and claims to be your father?”
Why say it like that?
That only made her feel more wronged.
“I never said that!”
“Didn’t you? Your eyes did.”
He smirked, his expression unreadable—teasing, mocking, or something else. Either way, she couldn’t help but admire him.
Wow. With a face like that, anything comes across as art.
Caught off guard, she almost let herself get swept away, then quickly shook it off.
Whoa, almost fell for his looks. Am I really that shallow?
No—anyone could be mesmerized by beauty. That was human nature! She wasn’t at fault!
“Such an amusing expression.”
“…”
Glaring at him so hard it almost burned, she watched him chuckle.
“At least you’re willing to talk to me, my daughter.”
“Hah, really.”
How dare he act like some father unfairly scolded by his daughter? Ridiculous.
Was this really her fault?
“This is the fourth time we’ve met.”
“I know.”
“And that’s somehow my fault?”
“Probably?”
“…”
She looked at him like he was trash. In response, Duke Halbern extended a hand.
“What if you get lost wandering around like this?”
“This is inside the estate.”
“The main building is huge.”
“Are you… worried about me?”
She asked skeptically. The biological father nodded.
“Yes.”
But his clear violet eyes remained so calm that she couldn’t read any true emotion there.
What was with this man? He was seriously strange.
No wonder Mehen cursed about him all the time.
Conversations with someone this unpredictable were exhausting.
“Why are you worried about me?”
“Because I’m your father.”
“You don’t like me.”
“I don’t dislike you.”
“You do.”
Her instincts, sharpened to sense hostility better than anyone, told her so. Every time he looked at her, there was a subtle rejection in his gaze.
She reached up and touched the corner of his eye. His long lashes trembled slightly.
“Isn’t that so?”
Even the lightest touch made him flinch.
He fell silent, lowering his eyes. Beneath those elegant lashes, his violet eyes were unusually dark.
Every time he looked at her, those eyes deepened, like ink spreading through water. It was impossible to believe he liked her.
“…”
“…”
The sudden silence stretched on.
An unspoken staring contest began.
His enigmatic violet eyes searched hers, and she clenched her fists, unable to look away.
Caught in the whirl of emotions swirling there—too many to name—she suddenly felt choked up, even regretful.
How long would this silent battle continue? Just as she wondered—
A pale, slender hand flicked her forehead.
“No.”
Then his large hand gently covered hers, still resting on his cheek.
A faint smile, tinged with helplessness. His violet eyes grew even clearer.
That fleeting smile was far too seductive, melting away her stubborn frown.
“If I disliked you, I would’ve ignored you altogether. I’m the type who never does things I hate.”
Then why did he look at her that way?
“And what about you? Are you avoiding me because you’re afraid of me?”
“I’m not.”
But even as she said it, her body was already edging backward. She couldn’t help it—it was instinct.
What could she do? She really was uncomfortable.
“Call me Dad.”
That moment, his mischievous eyes locked onto hers.
