Chapter 54
After fiddling with her teacup for a while, Daisy finally spoke.
“…It’s about River.”
“..I’m listening. Go ahead.”
Carlyx put down the beer as soon as she mentioned the child. He had barely taken a sip of it and he already set it aside as if he lost the mood to drink.
The rain was still pouring outside the window.
“As far as I know, River began carrying the messenger bag after the accident that damaged his legs.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Daisy noticed Carlyx’s expression that seemed to question where she got that information.
“Luciana told me.”
Carlyx raised his eyebrows for a moment as if he didn’t expect it. He naturally walked to her. As he narrowed their distance, Daisy muttered in a quieter voice than before.
“What happened when he started limping?”
It was natural that a child who used to run around on two legs would be very shocked that he suddenly couldn’t walk normally.
But Daisy thought that may not be all.
He was a Young Master who lived his whole life in a safe mansion, after all. That much could relieve his shock even a little bit.
However, River’s obsession with his messenger bag had grown to the point it was worrying.
It hadn’t seemed that intense in the beginning. But it was very shocking to witness what happened in Itarin.
River usually listened to Carlyx, but at that time, he didn’t listen to Carlyx no matter how sternly Carlyx rebuked him. He also refused quite strongly.
She was going to overlook the matter as long as the problem didn’t get bigger, but now she couldn’t.
A heavy silence fell.
In the silence following her question, Carlyx folded his hands and began to talk slowly.
“I couldn’t tell you for sure at what point he began to change. But I will tell you what I do know so far.”
Carlyx forced himself to stir up the painful memory. It was a memory that he had visited again and again until he lost count of the times.
After the accident, his ex-wife, Vera, did not visit River for a long time.
And he wasn’t there at that time.
“River’s accident happened when I was on the battlefield. I tried to return as soon as possible after receiving the news….but it wasn’t easy.”
Daisy flinched. She didn’t know that Carlyx was on the battlefield at that time. No wonder Carlyx looked so exhausted when he said it wasn’t easy.
At that moment, she recalled what she read when she did a background check on Carlyx.
[They were in a disadvantaged position and the frontline troops had been pushed back by the enemy, but a miracle at the very last moment allowed them to gain victory. All the credit belonged to the Knights of Notics. The Avalrevan Empire threw a festival to celebrate the victory. On that day, Logan screamed his head off, saying that all the credit belonged to Carlyx. But nobody was buying his claim.]
At that time, Carlyx brought the miracle, not the Knights of Notics.
She only knew that much, but she didn’t know about much else.
Far from a miracle, he fought out of desperation.
It must have been hopeless. He must have been so desperate to overcome everything. That’s what he could think of.
“Vera didn’t visit River for a long time after the accident. But one day, she went to visit River of her own volition, but soon after, she ran from the room with a shocked face.”
Carlyx raised his hand to cover his lips. Pausing between words, he looked more distressed than ever.
His long fingers trembled slightly.
“After that, sometimes…..no, it’s not sometimes.”
Carlyx paused for a moment. His purple eyes also shook subtly. For the first time, the shaking didn’t stop for a long time. There was a certain fear embedded inside it.
A strained voice squeezed out his lips.
“She went to visit River quite often, but not everyday. When she was alone with him, abusive language could be heard vaguely.”
Carlyx swept his lips down. Then he patted his chest as if suppressing his overflowing emotions. He didn’t want to be drowned in it.
Daisy pushed the teacup toward him silently.
“Sometimes, Tyler would follow and stop Vera, but Vera threatened to fire him. Vera was in a position where she could make good on her threat, so Tyler judged that he had to endure first.”
Carlyx hesitated as he looked at the teacup Daisy handed him. He broke down, clenching his fist tightly.
Eventually, he didn’t touch the teacup. His every little gesture seemed to scream pain.
“Maybe, it’s because of what she repeatedly said to River back then.”
His face was covered with shame and guilt. It felt like Daisy could hear what he said inside.
If only….
If only she hadn’t said that….
If only I hadn’t gone to war….
If that was the case, then probably….
His expression looked like he tried to act as calmly as possible.
But his heart was empty, like a neatly packed box seen from outside.
“A brat like you is lacking because you limp on one leg. You are worthless compared to other kids.”
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Daisy clenched the hem of her dress. One side of her chest was throbbing.
She couldn’t bear to picture River’s expression upon his first time hearing that abuse.
At first, River tried his best to put up a front and did his best to conceal it.
Knowing River, she could clearly imagine it. Carlyx knew it better than Daisy and still hid his agony.
“You used to be perfect, but you’re lacking now. A child like you should at least have something else to make up for your flaws.”
His voice trembled as he became emotional.
“You’re supposed to be perfect. What have you become now? You’re hopeless. Do you know that?”
Carlyx’s voice died down at the end. He swept his mouth as if to hide his overflowing feelings. The tip of his closed lips trembled in agony.
And Daisy watched him quietly just like that.
“….It’s not your fault.”
It was the same thing she said as last time, but she said after so much hesitation unlike last time.
The more she knew what kind of father he was, the more she wanted to say this.
“….I know,” he murmured.
But Daisy didn’t believe he believed himself.
How am I supposed to comfort you? What can I say to touch your heart?
She thought of many things to say, but she didn’t want to act rashly.
That didn’t mean she was helpless.
‘This is also for my own sake.’
River and Luciana were her children. It had already been half a year since she married Carlyx. And she was worthy enough to earn the title of ‘mother’ after creating so many happy memories with them.
When the children get better, Carlyx will slowly realize that it wasn’t his fault. Their change would console him more than any words could.
“In addition to the gardener and chef, there’s someone I really want to hire.”
Daisy recited in a calm but firm tone.
He stared back at her in daze, but she just smiled.
She didn’t want to instill hope until she found the person that she wanted.
‘I’ll find you for sure.’
A determined voice echoed in her mind.
***
“You can remove it in a week.”
The doctor said as he put a new bandage on his arm. He wondered how much harsh training Carlyx went through for him to have such solid muscle.
“But until then, please be careful as you always have been.”
The doctor’s eyes reached Daisy as if asking her a favor. Daisy carefully wrapped the bandage on his arm with a deep smile.
“Don’t worry. I also want Carlyx to take off the bandage quickly.”
A smile spread over the doctor’s face as he saw them. When the doctor left, Daisy let go of her grip on Carlyx. Soon, she recited as if she had waited.
“I’ll make an appointment for you to meet Viscount Riol in two weeks. It’s a place that is famous for its beautiful scenery, so I want you to replenish your energy there.”
It was something that no one could ever have imagined happened for Carlyx.
Especially recently.
He was known as someone who endlessly went to war.
He who had never been injured was injured due to a natural phenomenon.
It was convincing enough because natural disasters were common in the Avalrelvan Empire.
Then Carlyx spoke.
“I wanted to ask you something.”
“Hmm? Tell me.”
“Do you think Viscount Riol will buy my excuse? Upon closer look, I didn’t think there was even a guard to have a match against.”
Not long ago, after a conversation with Daisy, he ran a background check on Viscount Riol.
He thought there would be a knight that he could contact, but there was no one like that.
Viscount Riol resided in a quiet and secluded place. Even if they weren’t as isolated as the marquisate. The word on the street was they didn’t like to mingle with other nobles.
Daisy nodded firmly.
“They will. I don’t know about his wife, but Viscount Riol has quite the obsession with the knights. He’d be amazed by your title as a commander.”
It didn’t seem like Viscount Riol was a person who would blindly hate Carlyx. However, she decided not to say it because she couldn’t be sure about Viscountess Riol.
After a short pause Daisy continued.
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“And we have something to do before you get too busy again.”
“What’s that?”
“Hide-and-seek. We’re going to play that with River and Luciana.”
Daisy folded her arms to forestall any refusal Carlyx might offer. All the servants were already informed as to what kind of game they were playing. The roles were also properly determined.
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