Chapter 45
The doll, its two legs bound together as if tightly hugging Vanilla’s waist, was something I had never once seen during all the times I’d met her.
‘But Elstern clearly said that Vanilla doesn’t like dolls.’
So… was that not entirely true?
Curious, I glanced at Vanilla and asked casually.
“Miss Vanilla, what’s this doll’s name?”
“Uh… ah!”
Vanilla looked down at the doll hanging from her waist, then gasped and hurriedly tried to cover it with both hands.
I wondered what that was about—but her next words quickly cleared it up.
“My Meong-meong! They said if you keep looking at Meong-meong, it’ll wear out! Don’t look!”
“I–is that so?”
“Mm-hm. They said precious things have to be hidden and only looked at secretly. Otherwise, bad people will steal them!”
“Bad people will steal it?”
Who had told her something like that?
As if it were the most precious thing in the world, Vanilla even put down the excavator and quickly hid the doll behind her back.
“Mm-hm. That’s why Dazar lost that person.”
“…?”
Dazar’s name suddenly came up out of nowhere, and I blinked.
That person? Who was she talking about?
“Who is that person?”
“…Umm.”
I asked gently, but Vanilla only furrowed her brow and didn’t say anything more.
Talking about someone when they weren’t present didn’t feel right, so I closed my mouth.
Instead, I deliberately turned my head away, pretending not to notice the doll.
“I see. Then I won’t look. How about we keep playing with this instead?”
“Mm!”
My effort must have worked—Vanilla relaxed and resumed playing with the excavator.
I didn’t know who “that person” was, but since she said they’d been lost, it didn’t seem like something to approach lightly.
I pushed Vanilla’s words out of my mind and focused on playing with the children.
“Ua!”
“Right. You hold it there. Mm, good! Okay, here we go!”
After playing for quite a while, it was time for Vanilla to head back. Lunchtime was approaching.
When she saw the attendant who had come to fetch her, Vanilla rubbed her foot against the ground.
She clearly didn’t want to go.
Smiling gently at her, I pointed to the excavator lying neatly on the ground.
“How about coming out again tomorrow at this time? Let’s play together.”
“Y–yeah!”
Vanilla beamed with pure happiness and followed the attendant back to the mansion.
That was when we started playing together every morning.
At the promised time each day, we’d meet at the open lot piled with sand and play together.
“Hehe! Sillia! Sion! Look at this!”
“Wow, Vanilla. You made this really well. Is this… Meong-meong, by any chance?”
“Mm!”
Vanilla was very good with her hands.
Watching her recreate Meong-meong’s face with surprising accuracy using those tiny hands, I clapped enthusiastically.
As we spent time together, I learned just how attached Vanilla was to the doll named Meong-meong—and also that someone had given it to her.
One day, while we were deeply absorbed in piling sand with the excavator, Vanilla made a suggestion.
“You know, Sillia… is it okay if I bring Meong-meong too? Because… Meong-meong might feel sad that it didn’t get to play in the morning.”
It seemed mornings were originally Meong-meong’s playtime.
I nodded without hesitation.
“Of course. I’m sure Axion would be happy to play with Meong-meong too. But if you bring it outside like this, we won’t have a choice but to see Meong-meong. Is that okay?”
“U–uh-huh! Sion and Sillia are okay!”
From the next day on, Vanilla started bringing Meong-meong with her when we played.
True to its name, Meong-meong was a dog-shaped doll.
Judging by the worn nose and tail, it seemed she’d had it for a long time—but it was clearly a high-quality doll.
‘Who gave it to her?’
The thought crossed my mind.
Maybe it had been a gift from her biological parents?
But for some reason, I didn’t ask out loud.
Perhaps because sometimes, Vanilla would look at Axion and me with oddly subdued eyes.
More precisely, she looked at me while I played with Axion.
Receiving that gaze, the thought occurred to me that Vanilla also needed a parent who would play with her.
Yes.
‘She needs Dazar.’
* * *
“…What?”
Clatter.
The pipe clenched in Dazar’s mouth fell to the floor.
“Ack—hot!”
It seemed the embers inside had fallen out. Dazar hurried down from the window frame and blew on his hands.
“Why are you so surprised? Is it really that shocking?”
“You suddenly say the four of us should go on a picnic. How could I not be surprised?”
“What’s so surprising about a picnic?”
“….”
Unable to respond, Dazar picked up the pipe from the floor, placed it back on the window frame, and brushed his fallen hair back.
Then he muttered, as if changing the subject.
“She won’t like it.”
“Who? You don’t mean Vanilla?”
“Yeah. That’s why there’s no way she’d go—”
“She said she’d go. Don’t you want to get a little closer to Vanilla while you have the chance?”
Dazar’s eyes widened.
Last time, he’d bickered with Vanilla easily enough, so I thought his usual abrasive attitude carried over to her as well—but seeing how careful he actually was around her made me feel strangely unsettled.
It was like I’d accidentally discovered a vulnerable side of him.
I stared at his dazed expression, then spoke quickly, worried I might grow attached if I lingered.
“So let’s go together. To the back hill. Be there by 9 a.m. tomorrow.”
“…!”
And with that, I left before Dazar could say anything.
He always spent his time lazing around anyway—he’d surely have the time.
“Alright, Vanilla. Are you ready?”
“Mm! Is Sion ready too?”
“Ua!”
The next day, we gathered at the meeting spot to go on our picnic.
Vanilla was bursting with excitement.
She raised both hands high and shouted,
“Picniiiic! I read about it in a book! It looked so happy!”
“Is that so? Let’s have a fun picnic today.”
“Mm! Let’s go!”
The most excited one—Vanilla—took the lead, followed by me carrying Axion.
And behind us…
“What am I, some kind of pack mule?”
There was Dazar, grumbling as he followed along.
He looked awkward, clearly unfamiliar with a situation like this.
Though he complained, it seemed more like a defensive reaction—his way of getting through the awkwardness.
“So you finally realized you’re the pack mule? How else are the three of us supposed to carry all this? Of course a picnic needs one pack mule.”
“You’ve got those black hawks. And that butler of yours.”
“Oh my. Black hawks? How could I let such trash appear in front of children? And besides, Kal is elderly. Don’t you know how to respect your elders?”
“…Let’s just stop talking.”
Bickering like that, we soon reached the top of the back hill.
The Siastar family’s back hill wasn’t very high—barely a fingernail compared to nearby mountains—but it was perfect for a picnic with children.
“Uwaaa! Look, Sillia! You can see the lake over there!”
“You’re right. You can see the lake. It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
“Mm! Sion, the lake sparkles like your eyes. It’s pretty.”
Wow.
Such a poetic expression.
Children’s words could be surprisingly beautiful.
I admired Vanilla’s phrasing—then admired again when I saw the two children sitting side by side, holding hands.
If things kept going like this, their future would be just fine. Hehe…
“Why are you smiling so creepily?”
“…When was I?”
“Just now. You were smiling like that. You do that sometimes—especially when you’re lost in your thoughts. Every time, I want to show you a mirror.”
“….”
That jerk.
“If you’re here, hurry and sit next to Vanilla. I want to take a picture.”
“…A picture?”
“Yes. I borrowed a special magical item from Elstern just for today.”
I took sandwiches, bottles of milk, and napkins out of the picnic basket.
Then, from the very bottom, I pulled out the long-awaited rice cakes and honey.
“Vanilla, I’m not sure if this will suit your taste, but would you like to try some?”
“Mm?”
Vanilla, who had been holding Axion’s hand and gazing at the lake, turned her head.
She blinked first at Dazar, then at the rice cake in my hand.
“Here. Dip this in the honey—it’s very tasty. Try it.”
“Waa.”
Holding the rice cake with both hands, Vanilla stuck out her tongue and licked the honey, then gathered her courage and took a small bite.
Her eyes went round.
“It’s yummy!”
“I’m glad. Then shall we all gather together like this?”
With Axion in front of me, we huddled close.
Dazar hesitated, then quietly sat down beside Vanilla, who was completely absorbed in her rice cake.
While that happened, I quickly pulled out the magical item I’d packed in the picnic basket.
It was something Elstern had handed over with teary eyes, insisting it was extremely precious.
“Alright, everyone—look over there!”
“Ua!”
“…Hmph.”
When I pressed the button, click—the sound of magic activating echoed as the picture was taken.
“Elstern said he’ll develop the photos later. So let’s take as many as we can!”
You’ve got to get your money’s worth!
I planned to take as many pictures as possible and give them to Vanilla and Dazar.
After all, what remains are photos—and those become memories.
And the more memories you make, the closer people become.
Of course, I’d take lots of pictures of Vanilla and Axion too.
“…Well. It’s not bad.”
Watching Vanilla laugh happily, Dazar muttered those words.
Despite his worries, Vanilla approached him far more easily than he’d expected.
She’d even held his hand while climbing the hill.
And when we took the photo just now, she’d leaned against his knee.
We’d only come out for a short picnic, yet the atmosphere between the two of them was completely different from their usual bickering.
They almost looked like a real father and daughter.
It made me feel strangely content.
* * *
…That was what I thought—just earlier today.
“Waaah! Sillia! Sob… waaah!”
Why… was Vanilla crying so bitterly in front of me now?
