Chapter 237 - A Breakthrough

Once the meal was over, I forced a smile and announced, “Daddy, Max and I will go for a walk!” It was awkward as I wasn’t used to calling him “daddy,” but I was determined to use the term whenever possible. That would be the only way both of us would become familiar with it.

Looking at me, he sighed and nodded, “Sure.”

Frankly, I wanted to stay home to spend some time talking to Dad. However, I decided that there would be more time we could spend together from now on. In fact, there was plenty of time as I was planning to stay by his side for a while. ‘We’ll make new memories from now on.’ I watched my father in contentment with these thoughts. That was when he reminded me about something.

“You better wear a thick coat.”

He sounded indifferent, but I knew that he was concerned about my well-being. “Of course. It is chilly outside, after all.” He looked a bit surprised at my nonchalant response. “Thank you for worrying about me, Dad,” I said.

Although our relationship was still awkward, for some reason, I felt that I could tell him anything.

* * *

Watching his daughter and disciple leave the mansion, Regis clenched his fists.

Daddy—it was what Jubelian used to call him when she was a child. To him, she was the most lovable child in the whole world. The name was unfamiliar at first, but Regis had gradually gotten used to it.

He would feel that his mansion was like a prison at times. On the days he would come back from butchering his prey, he felt like a hunting dog being forced to return to its cage. His only salvation was…

“Daddy!”

Whenever his little girl called him, Regis would feel that he was home. His precious child liberated him from his chains, yet he had ruined their relationship. To be precise, it was not his will to do so. Regis, however, blamed himself for the disaster that happened in the past.

‘I do not deserve your affection…’ Veins bulged from the back of his clenched fists. Soon, a teardrop fell onto the floor. ‘Am I allowed to be happy?’ He was constantly tempted to get along with his daughter. He wanted to act as if he knew nothing about what had happened. Wearing a bitter smile, Regis realized, ‘Once you come to know the truth… You will resent me.’ Retrieving the pendant from his pocket, he pledged, ‘I will never use this again, and…’

“…Can I keep calling you ‘daddy’ or ‘dad’ from now on?”

Clasping the necklace, Regis spoke despairingly, “I will make sure that you are happy this life.”

* * *

The silvery moonlight illuminated the grass and leaves. As expected from our gardener, Paul—who always boasted about the landscaping—the garden was beautiful in the evening as well. Once I spotted a bench, I dragged Max by his hand and sat him down.

“You’ve been through a lot today.”

“I suppose.” I turned toward him only to notice he looked slightly depressed. After studying his expression for a moment, I rested my head on his shoulder. He flinched and then called, “Jubelian?” Until now, I had never leaned on the person I was dating like this as I had been afraid of them thinking I was childish and dependent. But I knew now that Max didn’t mind. I knew that he would never try to harm me.

“Max.” He flinched once again at my call as if he had done something wrong. I grabbed his hand to squeeze it and reassured him. “It’s okay.” Even if Max was not on par with Dad in terms of swordsmanship and the people believed the terrible rumors about him, even if he was an arrogant and foul-tempered person—I liked him as he was. Thanks to the attention and care he had given me, I had been able to learn how to love properly as well. “I like you just the way you are.”

Instead of answering, he squeezed my hand back. I smiled. ‘He must have been feeling down because of what happened in the drill hall. I hope I gave him the confidence boost he needed.’