Episode 154

Translator: Missme

Editor: Aru

Sidestory 8. Winter passed, Spring comes (4)

Eugene, who saw the childs blue eyes sway, felt something unusual.

So he got closer to the bed and made eye contact with the child.

To find out what caused the anxiety in those eyes.

What happened during the day?

The child opened his eyes wide.

As if Eugene hit the nail on the head.

After checking the childs expression, Eugene sighed and put his hand on the childs head.

Can you tell me whats wrong?

A small silver head nodded.

And the child moved his lips, which had been tightly closed.

Duke.

Yeah.

Actually, Jack, he couldnt meet his mom, right?

Eugene thought the child would be able to cope with whatever he brought up.

But the moment he heard the childs story, he realized it was his own arrogance.

thats.

He tried to put on a quick look, but it was too late.

The childs eyes were glowing with resignation.

As expected, they cant meet.

The calm voice of the child squeezed Eugenes heart.

Contrary to her low voice, his blue eyes were clearly agitated.

Eugenes head is spinning.

What do I have to say to reassure you?

No.

It was a lie that came out of his mouth after all.

Youll be different.

The child looked up at Eugene.

The childs pupils were no longer shaken.

Eugene was therefore more anxious.

He felt like the kid had given up.

My mom must have hated me.

did you know that?

Yes.

The child answered with a nod.

At the end, she said this to me. If you sleep well, shell be back the next morning.

It was a false promise.

Now the child knows.

That his mother will never come back.

Duke, I heard it.

The childs fist-clenching his sleeve was tightened.

Eugenes heart seemed to sink in a fragile and desperate touch that contained nothing of anger and coercion.

Im going to be sent away soon.

Eugenes eyes fluttered.

If he says how did you know that? here, its nothing but a reflection on the harsh reality of the child.

But saying no, its not was like lying like a mother to a child.

I heard some peopletalk about nursery.

It seemed that the child had overheard what the users were saying.

When did he hear that?

Perhaps from then on, this child was afraid of being left alone.

Duke, you read to meand youre not even angry.

The childs voice began to tremble.

So I thought that Duke was a good man Maybe youre different from my mom.

..

Tears slowly began to gather in the childs blue eyes.

Here, in the eyes of a child who never cried before.

If the Duke leaves this room, you wont come back

His mother, who went out after closing the door, never came back.

And he woke up in a place he didnt know and met strangers.

In this darkness, this child would have thought that the same thing would happen.

I cant sleep, its too dark and scary here.

Eugene knew the child wasnt afraid of the night and the darkroom.

This child who was afraid of being abandoned, trying his best not to be abandoned somehow.

Somehow, he was trying to put another being next to him.

So can I not go?

Transparent tears fell from the childs blue eyes.

Eugenes breathing became rapid.

Why..

When he saw the crying childs face, his childhood memories that had been sealed deep hit Eugene.

When he was four years old, he was caught reading a fairy tale book without memorizing the magic circle and was trapped in a dark room.

Then Eugene knocked on the door with his small hand and cried.

Im sorry, I wont do it again, Father!

Repeating words that will never reach anyone.

It wasnt because he was afraid of the darkroom that he cried, asked to get him out.

It was because he was afraid that his father would think that he was a failure and abandon him.

Why didnt I realize it until now?

The anxiety that joined him as a child was caused by the fear that his father might abandon him.

The pressure of playing a perfect son in order not to be abandoned and not to be alone ate him up.

And the fear this child has now is not much different from the fear he had.

A large hand wrapped around the childs hand with his sleeves folded.

The blue eyes, which did not contain lies, looked at the childs tearful eyes.

I wont go.

The child raised his head at Eugenes unwavering voice.

A tear rolled down the childs eyes.

His eyes, not yet sure, looked up at Eugene.

Really?

Yes.

Eugene took out a handkerchief and wiped the childs eyes and said.

If you want, Ill stay with you.

The child hesitated and opened his mouth.

Tomorrow, too?

Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and forever.

Nursery.? What about there?

You dont have to go.

Yes?

Obviously, this might have been a hasty move.

It might be unreasonable.

Nevertheless, Eugene had no intention of changing his decision.

Fear of being thrown away is too painful and too heavy for this child to carry.

Because I cant leave this child alone in that fear.

So Eugene chose a different path.

Aster.

In the name of the first child, Eugene felt something emotional in his mind.

If you dont mind, would you like to stay in this castle with me?

The childs eyes twinkled as her life began to flow.

The child, who still couldnt let go of his sleeve, nodded in tears.

The child did not meet his mother after all.

But that night, spring came to the child.

* * *

It eventually happens.

Eugene bowed his head still at Ricktuaniss tongue-tapping words.

Well, Im glad you decided now.

Upon hearing that Eugene had decided to adopt Aster, Ricktuanis ran from his annexe to Eugenes castle.

It was an act of a person who was very interested in the succession issue.

Where is the child now?

Hes still sleeping. He must be tired because he cried a lot yesterday.

Hes still sleeping!?

Ricktuaniss voice changed sharply.

Wake him up. He should start training today.

Training?

Eugene doubted his ears.

No matter how interested his father was in his successor issue, he did not think he would train a child who had not yet completed the adoption process.

If hes four years old, then its too late. If he wants to follow Aces succession class properly, training all day will not be enough.

..

Ill take care of the childs training for the time being. The rest, Eugene, you take care of it.

Finally, Eugene, who couldnt stand it, got up from his seat.

Thats enough.

What?

Ricktuanis squinted and asked.

Looking down at the blue eyes spouting a sharp chill like an awl, Eugene said in a chilly voice.

Thats enough. Ill take care of the child, so you dont have to look after him.

What do you mean? Even if the two of us stick together and teach, there wont be enough time.

No need for that.

In an instant, the air in the office cooled.

Towards her father staring at him with ferocious spirit, Eugene said in a quiet voice.

Aster will never grow up like me.

It was enough for him to suffer alone.

Eugene wanted to end the pain in her own teenage years.

Ricktuanis snorting.

Its stupid. Do you really think its for the childs sake to be pushed and ignored by other successors?

Now Eugene wasnt the only one standing up.

You know that, dont you?

Ricktuanis, who stretched his back and stared at his son, was as strong as a young man.

Im just doing it the same way I did it for you, for the child whos going to be your successor.

Nevertheless, Eugene was never shaken.

No.

Eugenes shrill voice resonated in the room.

Its not for the childs sake who has no place to lean on.

What?

Ricktuanis asked back with a firm face.

What youve done to me, and what youre trying to do to my child, is for you, not for us.

It took me as long as 17 years to realize that.

Even after learning that, Eugene never told anyone about it.

But now he could say for sure.

It was abuse.

Eugene said, looking directly into Ricktuaniss eyes, who was getting cold.

He didnt mind being slapped here.

Because he was convinced that he was right.

So, youre going to choose your own way?

Yes.

Ricktuanis warned with his eyes full of life.

You will regret your choice.

The decision was not made with the determination to be swayed by such a petty curse.

It was the same last time he heard that.

No, Ill never regret it.

Thats how the rich mans conversation ended.

Ricktuanis would have known.

He cant change Eugenes mind.

Thats why he closed the door with a frown without further argument.

I had no intention of persuading you anyway.

Eugene knew that he and his father would never understand each other.

Like parallel lines, the fact that itll never meet.

Hell be quiet for a while.

Since Eugene is the current head of the household, it was difficult for Ricktuanis to break Eugenes will.

It was all for notification that he would not follow his fathers parenting style.

The option of persuasion did not exist in the first place.

Is this all for today?

Just then, he heard someone knocking on the door.

Come on in.

Eugene smiled lightly when he saw a small silver-haired child sticking out his head through the door.

Did you sleep well, Aster?

Yes.

As he approached Aster looking around the office, Eugene bent down and grabbed the childs hand.

If you want to look around, you can take a look.

Can I look around the desk over there?

Eugene burst into laughter when he saw Aster answering quickly.

Yeah.

Eugene gave Aster a good look at the desk and put him on his lap.

Wow

Amazing?

Yes.

Asters hand, which was gazing or picking up the object on the desk, turned to the locket in the corner of the desk.

Can I open this?

Eugene, who thought about it for a while, soon nodded.

Aster, who found a picture of a woman smiling brightly in a locket, looked up at Eugene with clear eyes and asked.

Who is this?

A woman with purple hair and starry red and purple eyes.

She was the only person Eugene had ever kept a picture of.

The person who taught me about spring.

The person who told him how warm spring is.

The person who brings spring to their surroundings.

She is such a person.

Aster, nodding his head still, carefully closed the lid of the locket and placed it in place.

She must be a very nice person.

Yeah.

Eugene replied, stroking Asters silver hair.

Suddenly, he thought the back of his neck was warm.

Looking back, bright sunlight was flowing through the window.

Not long ago, the snow piled up on the branches was slowly melting.

Aster.

What?

Turning so that the child could see out of the window, Eugene said in a calm voice.

Spring is finally here.