Diegon brushed past Carmine, ignoring his impudence.
Carmine, still in his pajamas, trailed behind him, bombarding him with a barrage of questions.
“What are you holding? Don’t tell me you went to the private garden? Did you have a sudden change of heart… Please, don’t tell me you’re leaving tomorrow. If so, let me know in advance. I’ll need to find another job.”
Diegon finally reached his limit with the noise. He stopped and turned, his voice dropping to a dangerous low.
“Quiet.”
“Yes, sir. I’m just so curious, that’s all.”
They reached his bedroom, where Diegon set Shupetty on the sofa before signaling to Carmine.
“Watch the kid.”
“Yes, sir. I was just sleeping, but I’m always happy to look after Young Lady Shu.”
Diegon left the muttering aide behind and carried the box into the dressing room. He had used the excuse of changing his wet trousers, but the truth was—
*‘I can’t even bring myself to open it.’*
He wanted to study this precious box, the last remaining trace of Aurora, and if only for a moment, he wanted to let himself break.
* * *
While Carmine entertained Shupetty with a spirited game of *sese-se*, Diegon pulled himself together. He had already mentally cataloged how he would address this shocking occurrence.
“Wait, you mean if that’s true, then Young Lady Shupetty is…?”
“It is not something to be spoken of lightly. Investigate her birth mother in secret.”
“Understood. However, even if we don’t know her origins, the Young Lady’s background is certainly clean. Cedric went to great lengths to dig into it personally.”
“I am not doubting that. It is something else entirely. What if Shupetty is….”
The two men held a quick, hushed conversation in the small study nook off the bedroom so the child wouldn’t hear. When Carmine saw the box Shupetty had found, his expression hardened. This was no ordinary matter. If Shupetty wasn’t Aurora’s daughter, how could she have possibly known about this?
“Hmm. Perhaps the Water Spirit King told her.”
“…That could be it. It is the most plausible explanation.”
Diegon agreed. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t considered it—he had simply turned away from the thought because the hope was too overwhelming to bear.
“The Young Lady is not yet at an age to provide detailed explanations; she only says things like ‘I sang a song.’ Since the item was recovered from the pond, it is reasonable to assume the Water Spirit King guided her.”
“Yes.”
That had to be it. Having finally steadied his pulse, Diegon stared blankly at the box.
“When do you intend to open it?”
“It is only right to open it in front of the one who found it.”
He meant to do it now. Respecting his master’s intent, Carmine nodded.
“I can’t remember her face at all, yet I miss her. Aurora-nim was truly an extraordinary person.”
“Especially her appetite.”
“That is true. She was remarkably proud of being a glutton. I don’t recall her expression while eating, but I do remember that whenever our navy returned from battle, she would always prepare a lavish table and serve us until we were stuffed.”
Carmine bowed his head. Aurora had been a woman who held total sway over the hearts of everyone in the Pashayen estate. Even the prickly Cecilia would complain while still letting her get close. It was a marvel that Diegon was holding his sanity together at all—he had lost the people he loved, yet he couldn’t even summon their faces to memory. In his dreams, Aurora was always a blank void.
*‘Even after all this time, the longing swells, swallowing me whole, and it seems to have no intention of spitting me back out.’*
He was still drowning in the deep sea. Perhaps a depth from which he could never emerge.
Diegon rubbed his face with his hands, settled the tempest in his heart, and stepped back out. The little creature was dozing off on the sofa, making soft *kuu-kuu* sounds. He looked down to see her plump, rosy cheeks rising and falling.
He gave her a gentle poke, and her eyes snapped open.
“Shurimp Fry!”
“Shrimp fry?”
“I was just about to put it in my mouuuuth!”
“My condolences.”
Shupetty was wide awake and different from before. The strange, ethereal aura had vanished, and she was her usual, sparkling self.
“I’m going to open this now.”
“What’s that?”
“The thing you found.”
“Chu did…?”
Shupetty looked blank, as if she didn’t remember the events of earlier at all. That only deepened their conviction that the Spirit King had been at work.
“Carmine, bring some snacks.”
“Understood.”
Carmine tactfully slipped out, leaving them in silence. Shupetty peered at the box with wide, curious eyes.
“A box containing precious items is usually sealed with a magic lock to keep the contents safe.”
“Ooh.”
“Whatever is inside, I will give to you. Thank you, little one. You’re a good girl.”
Gratitude warmed his chest. As Diegon stroked her pink hair, he reached toward the lock.
*Click.*
The mechanism disengaged. The lid fell away.
And inside was…
“Baby clothes!”
A swaddling garment from his lost daughter, a single letter, and a music box.
* * *
*‘Whew, I’m full.’*
A while later, I patted my bulging belly. Mister Carmine—my second favorite person—had brought a heaping pile of shrimp fry, and I hadn’t left a single crumb.
“You have some on your face.”
“Wipe it for me.”
I giggled and tilted my cheek toward the Admiral. To my surprise, he didn’t scold me; he just wiped it away. I stared at him, bewildered.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nooo, I’m just happy.”
My tummy is full, and for once, the Admiral is actually being kind. My mouth keeps curling into a grin. *‘Come to think of it, I don’t remember.’* What was I doing before I came to the Admiral’s room? *‘They say I found that box…’* Well, I like being praised, so I’ll take it.
*‘The mood is good. Can I ask him something I’ve been curious about?’*
While the Admiral wiped my mouth with a handkerchief, I cleared my throat, sneaking glances at him. I wanted to do a grown-up “Ahem,” but it came out as a squeaky “Kom-kom.”
“What is it, little crab?”
“I have a question.”
“Speak. I will answer you.”
He really is in a generous mood today.
“I saw in a book that, you know, bijou… you should only let your special partner touch them.”
“That is correct.”
“Why?”
It was something I had been curious about for a long time. The Spirit Kings kept their mouths shut as if they’d made a pact, but the Admiral… he’d tell me.
“And they say if you get all excited, the bijou comes out.”
“Hmm.”
“It’s not allowed to let others touch the bijou, so why is the partner allowed?”
[Ah, the time has finally arrived! Another difficult stage of child-rearing! The ‘Question Bomb’ phase…! (；◔д◔)]
At that moment, Eupheros appeared, spilling a flurry of sparkling orange letters into the air.
[And she’s even asking ‘that question’! Will our Dad be able to get out of this one? Dun-dun-dun-dun! ʅ（´◔౪◔）ʃ]
Behind the floating letters, I could see the Admiral looking thoroughly embarrassed. Seeing him struggle was hilarious.
“That is…”
“Tha-at is?”
I giggled, latching onto his hesitation. The Admiral rubbed his chin and let out a long sigh.
“You will understand when you meet your partner.”
“Why? Why will I understand?”
“Because a bijou is precious. You only show it to the person who is most precious to you, and you give them permission to touch it.”
“Whyyy?”
I actually half-understood, but it was just fun to play parrot. I asked again, tilting my head.
This time, the Admiral lifted me up and tickled my stomach.
“Kyaa!”
“You little rascal.”
After laughing for a long time, all my energy drained away. The Admiral held me close, his expression turning serious once more.