~Chapter 5~
“Huff, huff…”
“Ready, even if it’s hard, just eat a little more, okay?”
I rubbed my cheek against the cool hand on my face without thinking.
I felt like my fever was burning up. Dad was frowning again.
“D-Dad… I’m okay…”
I tried to smile.
Healers don’t die easily.
Also, I can’t use my power on myself just by will.
It only activates on its own if my body gets really bad.
That’s why I didn’t use my power much in my past life, and my lifespan got shorter fast.
So if I leave it alone, I’ll get better.
At least until my life runs out.
“You’re not okay.”
With a low voice, my body was half lifted up.
Something on a spoon touched my lips.
When I opened my mouth, a bitter taste spread inside.
“Ugh…”
Yuck, it tastes awful.
“Shh, it’s okay. Try eating a little at a time.”
It’s super bitter!
It feels like I’ll die from the bitterness!
I closed my eyes tight, feeling like crying, and swallowed hard.
I took one bite, but then another spoon came.
“Ugh…”
“That’s right, good girl. Let’s try a little more.”
“So bitter…”
“I’ll make it sweeter next time.”
Dad patted my back and tried to comfort me with a soft voice.
But seriously, it’s so bitter.
With blurry vision, I opened my mouth again somehow.
When I swallowed, Dad patted my back like he was proud.
“Good girl, baby.”
“…Ugh.”
“Be good and rest a little more. You’ll get better soon. Don’t play outside so much next time, okay?”
Dad hugged me warmly and patted my back.
Was he always this kind?
I don’t really remember clearly when I was sick.
Crackle, crackle—the firewood burned brightly.
After laying me down and covering me with a thick blanket, Dad added more firewood.
The feeling of his pats on my chest was nice.
I smiled slowly and closed my eyes.
Sleep came quickly.
After seeing the kid asleep, the man, Klein Tigreto, slowly got up.
I remember storing some seeds in the old room.
He hadn’t wanted to go to the main building much, so he hadn’t visited yet.
But now he had no seeds to use.
No choice then.
He clicked his tongue, added some firewood, pulled the blanket tighter, and left the annex.
He was surprised his daughter, who came in with cheeks red from playing outside yesterday, started getting sick at night.
Klein had learned medicine for the kid and read almost every medical book he could find.
It was a relief he could take care of her himself when she was sick.
Better that than letting some random people check on his daughter.
He even made the medicine himself.
Should I add some honey to make it sweeter?
Was honey okay for kids?
She’s not a baby, so it should be fine…
He slowly brushed back his falling black hair.
Underneath, his pink eyes, just like his daughter’s, shone coldly.
It was the first time in a while he came to the main building.
Ignoring the soldiers greeting him, he went inside.
Going up to the second floor and entering the room, he saw it was still clean and well kept.
Looks like they keep cleaning it.
He searched around and found the seed box in a drawer of the desk.
It was a collection of various plant seeds he used to collect as a hobby.
His power was to make plants grow fast.
Usually, powers are random, but this was pretty weak for the old Tigreto family.
Unlike his siblings, his eyes weren’t red.
That made him stand out as an odd one in the family from childhood.
He was the shame of the family, not living up to the heroic father’s reputation.
He wasn’t good at much, had no motivation, and was cold—so people always pointed fingers at him.
But he didn’t care about those trivial feelings because he was bored of everything.
The only thing he had was his already dead wife, whom he never even married properly, and the daughter he took in.
His place in the family got smaller, but he only needed a safe space to take care of his daughter, so it didn’t mean much to him.
Unlike his brothers who made achievements, he always wandered outside.
Click—
He opened the tightly closed box.
The seeds inside were still good even after 10 years.
He closed the old box and tucked it under his arm before leaving the room.
At the same time, he met an unwanted figure not far away.
The head of the Tigreto family.
His father.
The world’s recognized hero, Magnum Tigreto.
He remembered his brothers who struggled to get his recognition.
Klein glanced at the head but pretended not to see him and passed by.
“…Now you don’t even greet your own father when you see him? Who told you to come in here?”
“Long time no see. You look healthy, that’s good. I just came for something I needed. It’s not bought with the family’s money but collected by me, so don’t worry.”
Klein added calmly and bowed slightly.
Then he turned and started walking toward the stairs.
Magnum chuckled dryly.
After years, he sees this guy and wonders what he’s doing here.
“Klein Tigreto.”
“What is it? I’m busy.”
Klein stopped and turned back from going down the stairs.
He looked thinner and more tired than the last time.
Magnum’s favorite and youngest son.
He never did what Magnum wanted and barely showed emotion.
For some reason, after growing up, he started wandering outside on his own, and one day he left home saying he liked someone.
A few years later, he came back with a kid no one knew about and has been stuck in the annex for years.
Magnum was willing to forgive if he asked. So he spoke coldly and only gave him a few maids.
That was mercy for this ungrateful son who ran wild.
But he never stepped foot near the main building after being told not to come.
Watching that stubbornness made him…
“You, how dare you let your daughter come here?”
Even from his mouth came no kind words.
For the first time, a subtle emotion showed above his bored look.
“…What do you mean?”
“I told you clearly. Don’t come near the main building. Your daughter came yesterday. She asked for the newspaper I was reading to be brought with her meal.”
Magnum laughed scornfully seeing the expression on his son’s face, cold and like a doll.
“How badly did you raise her to beg for something like that here? It was already a mess when you became a parent. If you’re going to raise a kid with no roots like that…!”
He thought of giving up on the kid or telling him to come to the main building and live properly.
But looking at his son’s twisted expression, he was at a loss for words.
That kid didn’t usually show emotions like that.
“…My apologies. I’ll make sure to tell the child firmly.”
He glared fiercely at Magnum and spoke through clenched teeth.
He looked hurt, furious, and upset all at once.
“Don’t ever set foot here again.”
He snarled the words and quickly turned around.
“Klein, what are you saying to your father…!”
“Who? Father? Duke?”
“…”
“Count how many times you told me I’m not your child.”
Magnum paused at Klein’s sharp voice, which was usually calm and indifferent.
“If the child ever comes again, tell her firmly. Like you always tell me.”
“…”
“You’re not even my granddaughter, so don’t ever show your face here again.”
