Dad Came Back from a Deserted Island Chapter 12

“Gasp!”

Vivian woke with a start, clutching her blanket tightly.

Still shaken by a nightmare, her anxious blue eyes darted around the room before fear washed over her.

This is… Uncle Ron and Aunt Mary’s bedroom, not Daddy’s. Why am I here?

The heavy rain and unsettling rumble of thunder drowned out the sounds around her, keeping her from noticing Kiki sleeping peacefully beside her.

Still trapped in the nightmare, Vivian slipped out of bed without making a sound. If Ron and Mary caught her in their bedroom, she would be in terrible trouble.

She tiptoed out, biting her lower lip as she carefully closed the door behind her. As a result, Kiki never noticed that she had woken up and left.

When Vivian reached the room she used to sleep in, she froze as she turned the doorknob.

It was locked.

Th-That’s so mean. They won’t even let me into my own room?

In reality, Jean had locked the door because he couldn’t bear the thought of Vivian sleeping in the storage room any longer. But she mistakenly believed Ron and Mary had locked her out as punishment.

Rumble! Crash!

Thunder shook the entire house, and Vivian swallowed a frightened squeak as she climbed the creaking stairs.

With the rain pouring and thunder roaring, the thought of sleeping in the open hallway or living room was terrifying.

The attic was just as frightening, but at least there was a piece of cloth to cover herself with—and Peter wouldn’t be there.

Creeeak.

The door groaned as Vivian opened it and stepped inside. Dragging a dusty piece of cloth behind her, she curled up in a corner.

“Uuu…”

A flash of lightning illuminated the attic, and Vivian buried her face against the floor.

A deafening clap of thunder followed, as though lightning had struck somewhere nearby.

I’m sure I was having a really happy dream…

Daddy had come home, and she had even made a small, adorable friend.

But reality was a nightmare.

Vivian sobbed for a long time, resenting the father who never came back. Exhausted from crying, her little body could no longer distinguish reality from the nightmare haunting her.

She couldn’t recognize the desperate voice calling her name.

Jean, unaware of what was happening inside his daughter’s mind, felt as though his heart had dropped to the floor and shattered the moment he saw her.

“Vivi!”

He rushed forward and gathered her into his arms.

Still trapped in the nightmare of her past, Vivian trembled pitifully like a frightened little animal, unable even to meet his eyes.

“Sniff… D-Daddy…”

“Vivian, Daddy’s here. I’m right here, sweetheart. Okay? Open your eyes for me.”

“I’m scared… Daddy, when… when are you coming home…?”

Jean raised a trembling hand and gently stroked her hair. He struggled to steady his voice, clearing his throat several times as the words threatened to choke him.

“Vivi. It’s okay. Daddy isn’t going anywhere anymore…”

His voice caught halfway through, but somehow, Vivian heard him. Gradually, the trembling of her little body began to subside.

Her tightly shut eyes slowly opened, and tears spilled from their corners, rolling down her plump cheeks.

“Daddy…?”

She must have been utterly exhausted, because after uttering that one word, Vivian fell asleep as though she had fainted.

“……”

Jean remained seated for a long time, holding his daughter close and staring blankly into space.

 

***

“……ddy?”

“……”

“Daddy!!”

“Huh? Oh! Did you call me Princess?”

Even now, remembering that night made his heart plummet all over again.

Vivian puffed out her cheeks at her father, who had been lost in his memories and hadn’t responded no matter how many times she called him.

“What iiiis it? You asked me a question first, then ignored me. Why ask if you’re not gonna listen?”

“Oh, Daddy’s sorry. What were we talking about…? Right, moving. We were talking about moving, weren’t we? And what did our princess say?”

Vivian had been looking at him sulkily, but one glance at her father was enough to make her smile brightly again, as though she had never been upset.

“I like it! I like the new house. I can live with you in an even nicer house, right? I like our old house, too, but that’s because you’re there. As long as I can keep living with you in the new house, I’m happy!”

Vivian didn’t remember that rainy night, but even if she had, her answer would have been the same.

She had lived in the same house her entire life, as most people did. Only nobles and wealthy merchants could afford to move between multiple estates and villas.

The idea of living somewhere else had never even crossed her mind.

There was a wooden swing in the backyard that Jean had made just for her. On the balcony of his bedroom, they used to snuggle under a blanket and study the constellations until Vivian drifted off to sleep.

When Mary washed the thick blankets that had been stored away all winter, Vivian would chase the floating soap bubbles while Jean watched her with an indulgent smile before helping with the heavy work.

The house held so many happy memories.

But it was also a place that haunted her nightmares.

There wasn’t a single corner of the house that Vivian hadn’t been forced to sweep or scrub. Her once-soft hands had become painfully rough and cracked, and the endless work from morning until night had left her seven-year-old body aching at the joints.

She remembered peeking enviously into the warm dining room, watching Ron, Mary, and Peter enjoy their meals together while she was forbidden from joining them.

The harsh, low voices of adults. Hands raised threateningly. The mocking laughter of a boy.

She could leave all of that behind—and, more importantly, do so with her father.

There was no reason for her to refuse.

Jean stared at his daughter, overcome with emotion, and suddenly his eyes filled with tears.

“Ah…”

“D-Daddy, are you crying?”

I want to shout it out to the whole world.

That such a wonderful child… is my daughter.

He wanted everyone to know about this precious little girl who was now desperately trying to comfort him.

“Hic. Daddy, don’t cry…”

When Jean couldn’t stop crying, Vivian’s expression grew tearful, too.

He hurriedly wiped his eyes, then knelt on one knee in front of her so they were at the same height.

“Daddy’s okay, Vivi! I was just so happy that I cried. People can cry when they’re extremely happy, too, you know? I’m not sad or hurt.”

“Really?”

“Of course! Daddy’s incredibly happy right now!”

“Hehe…”

Jean flashed her a broad grin, and Vivian, who had been on the verge of tears, smiled right back.

“Abububu!”

Unable to resist her cuteness, Jean peppered her cheeks with kisses. Then he suddenly noticed the eyes watching them and looked up.

Everyone in the café was gazing at the pair with warm smiles.

The strikingly beautiful father and daughter had been shedding tears as tenderly as ripe peaches glistening with dew. It was only natural that they’d drawn attention, and a few patrons even gave them a little round of applause when their eyes met.

Blushing furiously, Jean and Vivian fled the café.

AndjustwhenI’dfinallyfinishedmypuddingandwasabouttoenjoyalittlerest!And just when I’d finally finished my pudding and was about to enjoy a little rest!

Only Kiki, completely unconcerned with other people’s stares, remained confused and indignant about why the two humans were acting so strangely.

 

***

 

“Yaaawn.”

After returning home, washing in warm water, and changing into fresh pajamas, Vivian stretched out on the soft bed and yawned.

“Vivi, you must be tired. Let’s get you to sleep.”

“Mmm…”

Vivian nodded, already halfway to dreamland.

“All right, see you tomorrow, Vivi… Oh my, you’re already asleep.”

Sleepingwithyourmouthopenmakesyoulookfoolish,littlehuman.Sleeping with your mouth open makes you look foolish, little human.

Despite its remark, Kiki closed its eyes, apparently intending to sleep in Vivian’s arms as well.

Smiling, Jean adjusted Vivian’s head on the pillow and tucked the blanket around her.

It had certainly been an exhausting day for such a young child. After leaving the café, Vivian barely remembered anything beyond wandering around from place to place.

Finding servants and looking for a new house were complicated matters far beyond her understanding.

As Vivian smiled unconsciously at the soft pillow and cozy blanket, her consciousness sank completely into darkness…

And she awoke in a beautiful, mist-shrouded garden.