Chapter 6
First, auntie. Next, mom. I would approach her that way.
I was worried that a bold approach would make Luciana extremely cautious.
“Yes, auntie.”
Luciana twitched her lips and constantly looked around her surroundings.
It felt as if she was looking for someone.
Daisy tried to follow her gaze, but all she could see were statues that were built sparsely.
‘Ah, I see why you’re doing this.’
“Luciana.”
“Yes, auntie.”
She looked startled as she replied. Still, she kept looking sideways as if she didn’t really want to be here.
She looked anxious rather than uncomfortable.
“Did your father say that you shouldn’t meet me?”
Her big, round, deer-like eyes slowly widened.
At a similar pace, her small and endearing mouth gradually opened.
Her honest expression matched her age.
Luciana hardened like a block of ice and even forgot to blink.
“That’s true-”
Oops! I shouldn’t have said that! It’s supposed to be a secret!
Luciana, who realized that she made a slip of tongue, covered her mouth in slow motion. Her pupils shook like an earthquake.
Daisy, who watched her behavior, had no choice but to think this way,
‘You look like a sloth!’
Oh no. So cute!
I thought she would resemble her father, Carlyx, who was as dry as a dessert and as cold as ice.
I was even thinking about how to educate her if she turned out to be a cheeky child.
But she wasn’t like that.
God must have helped me! Luciana was the exact opposite of Carlyx.
“I’m glad you don’t resemble that person.”
Pardon? Luciana’s eyes were filled with questions.
Daisy smiled and continued the conversation.
“A cute little child like you doesn’t have to know.”
Carlyx didn’t even have an ounce of cuteness. He was boring, dull, and frightening.
At least, he should be grateful that his face was like a sculpture.
‘Anyway, what should I do with her?’
When I looked at Luciana, the answer came out easily.
This little girl was caught making a secret with her father, and she was bewildered that the target of that secret somehow knew about it.
It was only natural. Because for a child, a promise you made with your parents was like keeping a treasure.
I had to be careful because I didn’t think that Carlyx was kind and sweet toward children.
‘Let’s comfort the child first.’
It was neither my fault nor Luciana’s fault. It was entirely Carlyx’s fault.
“Actually, your father also told me that secret story.”
Daisy lowered her voice as if she was telling a secret.
Luciana only blinked at my words while still covering her mouth.
Her eyes spoke as if she said, ‘Is that so?’.
She was so lovely that I had fun guessing what was on her mind.
“Yes, and he told me this morning that I could meet his children and say hello.”
How could I tell her the rest of the story?
Carlyx must have emphasized to them that it would take a long time before they could meet me.
Therefore, a convincing reason was needed.
Ah, I know.
“I’m quite a capable and incredible person that your father never met before. So, he spoke to me seriously and acknowledged me. He said he’d like to introduce his children to me.”
Normally, I wouldn’t have exaggerated this much and go as far as lying.
It was an act of small revenge because he upset me a few days ago.
“Your father told you not to be curious about me, right?”
Blink-! It seemed like I hit the bullseye. Luciana shook her head slowly whenever she blinked.
I think the way she moved slowly had become her habit, but it was crazy cute.
‘Let’s break the earth!’
(T/N: It’s an expression one says if someone can’t handle the cuteness.)
Daisy tried hard to conceal her strong inner thoughts.
“Your father told you not to consider me as your real mom, didn’t he?”
Blink-! I got it right again.
I became so excited because I felt like I was in a quiz competition.
After that, Luciana lowered her hand and uttered.
“Whoa.”
Luciana straightened her curled shoulders and looked at Daisy as if she was relieved.
But that only lasted for a short time.
Luciana bowed her head and fidgeted with her little hands. The child’s tiny lips puckered between her pinkish-white cheeks.
“But still, I broke my promise first.”
“What do you mean? Can you tell auntie about it?”
“….Well, my father told me not to come out recklessly, but…”
“But?”
“My little brother said he wanted to see auntie because he was so curious, so I came out to see auntie in his place.”
I thought she was a child who liked to keep her promises, but I couldn’t believe she came out solely for her brother.
How could your heart be this beautiful?
Daisy comforted Luciana with a gentle smile.
“No. I think your father won’t be angry.”
“Really? Do you think so?”
“Of course! I talked to your father this morning. Your father says that you won’t get in trouble if you come out for your brother.”
“Why?”
Luciana’s expression gradually became lively. The child, who was only looking at the ground, finally raised her head.
“Since you have such a beautiful heart, he wants to compliment you.”
“Really?”
Luciana, who quickly livened up, suddenly avoided Daisy’s gaze again. Her chubby cheeks that were puffed up like a dumpling suddenly shrunk again.
Luciana, who hesitated for a while, said cautiously.
“But my father never complimented me.”
“That’s because your father is very shy.”
Here comes my second revenge. Whether he was the war demon or whatever, Carlyx has to be a shy person.
It was a lie, but I did not feel ashamed. Originally, humans should live with a spirit of a winner like this.
“Are you talking about my father? Doesn’t being shy mean something like embarrassed?”
Luciana asked if she understood the meaning of ‘shy’ correctly or not.
“That’s exactly what it means.”
You even understood the concept of synonyms! How could you be so smart?
‘Is she a genius?’
At Daisy’s positive answer, Luciana’s face brightened.
“Then shall we go together?”
When Daisy reached her hand out, Luciana extended her small hand.
The tail of Luciana’s lips had risen before I knew it.
‘Look how happy you are for not getting in trouble.’
Daisy gently held Luciana’s white hand with a motherly smile.
“Where are we going, auntie?”
“We’re going to get your compliments.”
Luciana, who was nervous like a rabbit, smiled bashfully. Her bright smile was as free as a butterfly.
“Yes, auntie.”
“Let’s go.”
Our destination was Carylx’s office, the place where he was enjoying his peaceful time.
The reason why I took Luciana to Carlyx was obvious.
‘If I just let go of Luciana like that, I don’t know what Carlyx might say or what kind of misunderstanding will arise.’
He didn’t even talk about his children in front of me.
There was no way Carlyx would let me meet his children.
If I stayed still, I wouldn’t be able to talk to his children until at least half a year later.
‘In order to take the lead in this situation, I should act before him.’
With Luciana there as a witness, Carlyx would be forced to follow my will.
‘I should force him to make my lies in front of Luciana come true.’
It was easy to think about it, but in reality, it would be hard. The time was short, and the road to get there was long and rough.
‘I can do it.’
Daisy cooled down her head.
She called one of the servants and ordered.
“Bring a herbal tea to Carlyx’s office.”
***
“It’s not break time.”
Despite the unexpected visit, Carlyx spoke as if he knew who came in.
The expressionless man kept his hands on the documents and added.
“Get out.”
At that moment, Luciana hesitatingly withdrew her hand.
“Daddy…!”
Carlyx’s expression subtly changed at the familiar voice. The calm before the storm settled on his face.
Carlyx, who finished organizing the documents neatly, finally raised his eyes.
“Luciana.”
Contrary to his gentle voice, his gaze was directed straight at Daisy.
Carlyx contorted his lips.
‘I don’t know what you’re thinking. Did you purposely go to see the child? How the hell did you find her?’
The answer to his questions came out right away.
She must have asked the servants.
Although he already warned them in advance, the servants would have no choice if Daisy urged them.
Anger that couldn’t be suppressed gradually rose.
After getting up from his seat, Carlyx tried to ask calmly.
“Why is Luciana here?”
“You said it would be nice if I met Luciana, didn’t you?”
‘Why are you lying? Aren’t you an honest person?
He thought she was a crazy person so many times, but sometimes, he was rather comfortable with her.
But definitely not today.
One beat later, Carlyx said in a tone that tried to suppress his rage.
“I never said that.”
“Daddy?”
Luciana, who was running towards Carlyx, stopped her steps.
As if she didn’t know what to do, her head turned slowly a couple of times on both sides.
“No, you did say that. We talked about it this morning.”
“I don’t think I’ve talked to you today.”
Daisy smiled slightly at Carlyx’s knife-like answer.
He walked closer to her.
She had expected it.
As Carlyx said, they didn’t talk at all this morning. Originally, they woke up and did their own business.
He just hugged her as usual when he sensed the maids’ movements.
“But that also counts as a conversation, isn’t it?”
Even when she tried hard to hide her fear, she skillfully put the puzzle pieces together.
She whispered a secret with a provocative smile.
“We talked with our bodies.”
Now they were close enough to feel each other’s breaths.
Daisy put her slender hands on his chest. Perhaps because she was nervous, it wasn’t as lukewarm as it was before.
“Get your hands off.”