~Chapter 49~
Leah smiled faintly as she watched Johann and Raphaella walking toward the mansion, both wearing flower crowns.
Johann looked awkward with the flower crown—it was like putting flowers on a lion’s mane—but seeing the father and daughter looking so alike with matching crowns was a cute sight.
“I didn’t expect him to be that happy just because Rafi called him ‘dad.’”
He really had changed.
Leah had worried that Johann and Raphaella might not grow close before she had to leave, but those fears were starting to fade.
No matter the goddess’s mark, the change in their relationship genuinely made her happy.
“Mom! Hurry up!”
Raphaella shouted excitedly when she saw Leah lagging behind.
Leah walked over and gently took her daughter’s soft hand.
They were on their way to the kitchen to get a pie Leah had made.
To be exact, a pie Leah had made just for Raphaella.
“I’ve been so busy lately, I barely had time to play with Rafi.”
After thinking it over, Leah had decided to make Raphaella’s favorite dessert since arriving here—lime pie.
Raphaella loved anything tangy and always preferred tart desserts.
“I don’t even like tangy things. I guess she got her taste from her dad.”
The head chef of the mansion, like the head gardener, was happy to let Leah use the kitchen to make it.
Not only that, he even enthusiastically explained how to make it.
Thanks to his help, she made the lime pie the night before.
It was best served cold, so the chef had stored it in the kitchen’s special ice magic stone fridge.
When Leah arrived, the chef personally brought her the pie, along with plates and forks on a tray.
“If you’d called from your room, I would’ve brought it to you.”
“I wanted to give it to Rafi myself.”
“I see. Enjoy!”
“Thank you.”
Leah returned with the tray and went with Johann and Raphaella to Raphaella’s room.
“Rafi, enjoy your treat.”
Leah placed a slice of the lime pie on Raphaella’s plate.
“Thanks! I’ll eat it well!”
“You too. I don’t know if it’ll be to your taste, but give it a try.”
She also placed a slice on Johann’s plate.
“Mmm! Mom, it’s super tasty!”
Raphaella beamed, bouncing in excitement and giving a big thumbs-up.
“You like it? I’m glad.”
“It’s the best in the world!”
Johann watched her happily as he brought his fork to his slice of pie.
Leah and Raphaella both silently observed as he took a bite.
He didn’t say anything right away.
Both Leah and Raphaella were nervous because of his silence.
“…It’s pretty good.”
He finally spoke.
“Hehe! Mom, Dad say it’s good too!”
Raphaella grinned at Leah, then happily ate more of her pie.
Though he only gave a short compliment, Johann was actually very impressed.
It wasn’t just good—it was perfectly suited to his taste.
Better, even, than the pies the chef sometimes made.
“It’s my first time eating food she made, but it feels oddly familiar. Comforting, even.”
She probably never made lime pie in that remote mountain village…
“Mom, aren’t you eating?”
Raphaella asked with cream on her lips.
“I’m not really into tangy things. You eat lots, Rafi.”
“…So, you don’t like tangy flavors.”
Johann quietly repeated her words to himself.
That day, he ended up eating two more slices of Leah’s lime pie.
Not to be outdone, Raphaella ate just as much.
Leah watched them with a warm smile, happy they were enjoying it so much.
—
Right before Johan left the room, he surprised Leah with an apology.
“If it weren’t for you, Penelope’s condition might have gotten worse.”
He had been getting daily reports about his sister Penelope’s health from Samuel.
Even though they hadn’t spent much time together growing up, he still cared about his younger sister.
“I want to apologize for what I said to you before.”
“When?”
“…Back when you first told me you wanted to help Penelope.”
“…Ah.”
“I know it’s late, but I’m really sorry.”
He looked her in the eyes as he apologized.
Leah hadn’t expected this at all and was a bit taken aback.
“…Okay. I accept your apology.”
“Thanks for that.”
Feeling a bit dazed, Leah saw him out of
the room along with Raphaella.
Seeing how different his attitude was—not just toward Raphaella but toward her as well—felt a little unsettling.
—
That night, as usual, Johann couldn’t sleep.
He went to the training grounds to exercise alone and only fell asleep at dawn.
And then, for the first time in a while, he had a dream.
A memory that had been buried deep in his mind came back.
“Abba, Abba.”
Baby Raphaella was in his arms.
“Leah, did you hear that just now?”
Johann asked excitedly.
“Huh? Wasn’t that just baby talk?”
Leah tilted her head.
“No, she said it clearly—‘Abba.’”
He was slightly offended that Leah dismissed it as babbling.
It was definitely “Dad!”
“Abba!”
Raphaella said it again.
“See?! You heard it this time, right? She
called me Dad!”
He looked at the baby clinging to his sleeve with such love.
Leah gently wiped under his eyes.
He hadn’t even realized tears had welled up.
“Geez, you really are a crybaby.”
The young couple laughed happily together.
And Raphaella giggled along with them.
A warm afternoon sun bathed the three of them in light.
——
When Johan woke up, he wiped away tears that had formed.
The dream felt so real.
As with all his returning memories, Leah’s face was still a little blurry, but baby Raphaella and her voice were crystal
clear.
Still… to actually cry in his sleep?
“…Maybe I really am a crybaby.”
These days, anything involving his daughter makes him emotional.
“If someone found out, that would be awful.”
He had a quick breakfast, worked out with his knights, and went to his office.
But the memory from the dream stayed with him all day, no matter what he did.
Even during training, the emotions from the dream lingered.
He was supposed to spend the afternoon with Raphaella—what if he ended up crying in front of her?
“That’d be a disaster.”
He shook his head, trying to get rid of the thought.
Knock knock knock.
“Your Grace, it’s Samuel.”
“Come in.”
Samuel entered the office in a hurry.
“What’s going on?”
“Your Grace…”
“Speak.”
“We’ve received news from the Imperial Palace.”
Johann looked up from his paperwork.
“From the palace?”
“Yes. Princess Patrizia and Prince Florian will be returning from their travels soon.”
Johann raised one eyebrow.
Princess Patrizia had gone on a grand tour a year after their engagement.
She had been annoyed that Johan kept putting off their wedding.
“You’re delaying our wedding because your sister’s sick?”
She had said bitterly.
“Yes,” Johann replied in a cold, businesslike tone.
“Then I’ll just go on a trip until she gets better.”
She had kicked him out of her parlor without even offering him tea.
And left on her trip soon after.
Her younger brother, Prince Florian, had gone with her.
Now they are finally returning.
“Sounds like the Empress heard Penelope’s getting better and told them to come back.”
“Your Grace… If the princess visits the duchy, will everything be okay?”
“…Damn it.”
Johann frowned deeply.
At first, he’d only seen Raphaella as a way to break off his engagement to the princess.
“That’s all she was supposed to be. Damn it.”
He should’ve been more careful, considering how the Empress and Princess Patrizia were.
If the princess saw Leah and Raphaella…
“Who knows what kind of chaos she’ll cause.”
He could barely stop himself from cursing his past self for being so reckless.
Now, Raphaella wasn’t just a pawn.
He truly wanted to be a good dad to her.
And lately… he’d been caring more about Leah too.
If the princess hurt either of them—
He wouldn’t hesitate to go against the royal family.
😍😍😍😍👍👍👍