GTMDWH | Chapter 65

~Chapter 65~

Leah wore a shimmering ivory-colored dress. She looked a little shy, blushing and fixing a few loose strands of hair.

He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

He raised a hand to his chest.

His heart was still racing.

There had to be something wrong with his health.

No way would his heart beat this fast otherwise.

‘…I should probably get checked later.’

He forced himself to look away from her.

“Raphaella, happy birthday,” he said, turning to his daughter.

“Thank you! But Dad—doesn’t Mom look just like an angel today?”

Raphaella pointed at Leah, clearly wanting to show her off.

“…Yeah. That dress suits her,” he replied in a stiff tone.

It was obviously forced, and Leah’s smile dimmed just a bit.

He didn’t even notice—too busy trying to ignore his feelings.

“Happy birthday, Raphaella.”

“Happy birthday, Rafi.”

Isabella and Penelope each kissed her cheeks.

Once everyone sat down, the servants brought out the meal.

All of Raphaella’s favorite dishes.

After the meal, the head chef personally brought out the cake.

“Happy birthday, Lady Raphaella,” he said politely and placed the cake in front of her.

“Wow!”

It was a three-tier strawberry pistachio fraisier.

Seven candles were stuck on top and lit.
“Whoo!”

Raphaella closed her eyes, made a wish, and blew them out.

Everyone clapped and smiled.

Then came the gift-giving.

First, Leah gave Raphaella a gift.

“Wow, a Tosooni dress!”

It matched Leah’s outfit in color and design.

“You’re the best, Mom!”

Raphaella jumped up and hugged her.

Penelope gave her a bracelet made with emeralds—May’s birthstone and the same color as Raphaella’s eyes. It even had a cute little bunny charm.

“Hehe, thank you, Aunt Peppy.”

Raphaella blushed as she put it on.

Now it was Johann’s turn.
He took a deep breath and handed her a sword wrapped in fine fabric.

“I got this for you since you’ve been interested in swords lately.”

Raphaella unwrapped it.

He swallowed hard. His palms were sweating.

Even his first monster hunt didn’t make him this nervous.

“…I love it so, so much!”

She hugged the sword tightly.

It had been specially crafted to resemble Johann’s own, with the family crest—the black wolf—on the hilt, and an emerald embedded in the pommel instead of a ruby.

A sword made just for Raphaella von Blumhardt.

To his surprise, she smiled wide, her face glowing pink with joy.

“Thank you, Dad!”
She climbed off her chair and ran to him.

Seeing how happy she was made him
choke up.

‘I remember feeling this way before—crying because she was happy.
What is this?’

“…Raphaella, I’m glad you like—ugh.”

He stood up to hug her, but suddenly staggered.

A sharp pain hit his head.

“Damn it…”

He grabbed his head and sank back into his seat.

Everyone stared at him, alarmed.

“Johann, what’s wrong? Are you feeling okay?”

Isabella half-rose from her seat, worried.

Her voice felt distant. Even Raphaella’s image looked blurred, like a memory fading.

Then memories began flooding back—

“Happy first birthday, Rafi.”

In the memory, he kissed baby Raphaella’s chubby cheek.

“Papa!”

She giggled and called him.

He had carved her a rabbit-shaped wooden toy as a birthday gift.

Even as a baby, she’d gripped the oversized toy tightly.

“My Rafi is strong, too. Let’s play with this together every day, okay?”

“Mm! Mm!”

She waved the toy with a bright smile. He teared up just looking at her.

“Daddy will always love you and be by your side. So just grow up healthy, okay?”

He hugged her tight.

She was so small, so warm, so precious.

The moment he saw her, he’d loved her more than anything.

The sensation of holding her came back clearly.

He’d completely forgotten—his daughter, Raphaella.

“…”

A tear fell from Johann’s eyes.

He didn’t even think to wipe it away.

Raphaella’s face came into focus again.

She looked worried, checking his face.

He swallowed hard.

“…Rafi.”

His throat burned.

He hadn’t used her nickname before—it felt too intimate.

But in the memory, he had always called her “Rafi,” lovingly.

‘…Now I understand why she said I wasn’t enough. I used to be so kind to our daughter it was almost embarrassing.’

But after they reunited… he’d been so cold.

“…Are you okay, Dad?”

How scared she must have been when her father suddenly changed.

He had no memory of her—that must have hurt so much.

‘I was such a terrible father.’

“…Ahem. I’m fine, Rafi.”

He gently stroked her hair.

‘Damn it, I’m going to cry again.’

He bit his lip hard to hold it in.

“You really called me ‘Rafi’?”

She smiled so brightly, her cheeks puffing up with joy.

“…Is it okay if I call you that again?”

Seeing her happy made the tears fall again.

Isabella, Leah, and Penelope all gasped softly, covering their mouths.

Johann—always so stoic—was crying.

“You can call me that every day, so don’t cry, Dad.”

Raphaella gently wiped his tears with her small hand.

“…Rafi.”

He stood from his chair and knelt on one knee on the grass, hugging her tightly.

“…I’m sorry,” he said, voice thick.

“For what?”

She tilted her head.

“…For everything.”

He felt the tears run down his cheek.

“For forgetting you… and for hurting you because of it.”

He paused, taking a breath.

“For breaking the promise I made—that I’d always love you and stay by your side.”

Raphaella gently patted his back.

“…But you won’t do that anymore, right?”

She comforted him.

“No, never again. I remember you now, and from now on, I’ll always love you and protect you.”

He said it like a knight swearing an oath.

“Hehe, you just need to stay with us, that’s enough.”

Raphaella hugged him again.

He pulled her closer.

The touching scene made everyone’s eyes glisten.

Leah, who had already cried as much as Johann, turned her head and wiped her tears.

“…Johann, are you remembering things?”

Isabella dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.

“…Not everything, but some memories are coming back,” he said, sitting with Raphaella on his lap.

“Is that true?”

“Yes.”

He kissed Raphaella’s head.

“That’s wonderful. It’s so good to hear your memory is returning.”

“Brother, I’m so relieved!”

Penelope clasped her hands in front of her mouth.

“I hope my gift for Raphaella helps your memory, too.”

Isabella still had her gift left to give.
Johann looked puzzled.

A gift that helps with memory?

“Rafi, you said you wanted to spend a whole day with your mom and dad, right?”

“…Yes!”

Raphaella nodded eagerly.

“Then my gift is to make that wish come true.”

“Really?”

“I couldn’t do much last-minute, so I prepared a villa outside the capital.”

“A villa?”

Johann asked.

“Yes. To spend time alone with Leah and Raphaella, a quiet villa is perfect.”

“But that place has been empty for a while…”

It would’ve taken a lot to get it ready.

“That’s why the butler and head maid worked really hard.”

“You mean it’s ready already?”

“Yes. You could leave right now if you wanted to.”

Isabella winked at Raphaella.

“Thank you, Grandma!”

Raphaella ran over and hugged her.

“Next time, I’ll find an even nicer place.”

She kissed her granddaughter’s forehead.

“How about today? I think you could go right now.”

“We can go today?”

Before Johann or Leah could say anything, Raphaella asked excitedly.