Chapter 19
“Flynn, put us down right now!”
“Hii, Fwin uu! (Waaah, Flynn, put me down!)”
Floating in the air, we struggled and whined at Flynn. But it was useless.
“No! You two will stay like that until you hold hands and say you’re sorry.”
Contrary to our expectations, she stood firm.
Her determination made me hesitate.
‘Should I make up with him? Or not?’
It was a moment of choice. I could apologize now, get down, and leave peacefully in Flynn’s arms—or go outside still like this without reconciling.
‘What is little brother doing?’
I turned to look at Levi. He was biting his finger, clearly conflicted.
‘Should I apologize? Or not?’
While I was watching him closely, our eyes met.
Levi snorted and turned his head away, as if apologizing first would hurt his pride.
“Hmph!”
Hmph? Is that a challenge?
I was stunned by his reaction.
‘I was going to apologize first, and that’s how he acts? Fine. Let’s see how long you can keep it up. Let’s go like this!’
“Bbu! (Hmph!)”
Granato Ducal House – Indoor Garden
Iello’s birthday party was held in the indoor garden next to the main building.
“Son, are you really satisfied with this?”
Lucero looked around and asked Iello with regret in his voice.
“Yes. This is more than enough, Father.”
Iello smiled as if to say it was fine.
“But… it’s too simple! If I hadn’t been so busy with work, I would have prepared more….”
Lucero let out a long sigh.
I looked around the garden.
Colorful flowers and lush green trees filled the space. It felt as if a piece of nature had been brought indoors.
‘I think it’s beautiful.’
On one side, there were blooming roses, lilies, and tulips. On the other side stood a goddess statue with a fountain. Behind it grew boxwood—the birth flower of Iello.
‘Maybe it feels special because it’s my first time seeing it?’
To them, it might be an ordinary sight, but to me, it felt like another world.
‘I thought an indoor garden wouldn’t be anything special….’
But once I started looking around, my eyes kept moving everywhere.
“If you’re satisfied, then I’m satisfied.”
Lucero still seemed regretful.
“It’s a quiet meal with just family. That’s enough.”
Even though Iello smiled gently, Lucero still didn’t look fully pleased.
“I even considered going to the villa….”
“Father, I like it like this. And this year is my first birthday with Alle.”
“Son…”
‘Oppa….’
I was touched. The way he spoke was so warm and thoughtful.
“Let’s eat first, Father.”
“Yes, let’s.”
The meal began. On the table were butter-scented steak, fruits, cheese, salad, soup, and many other dishes.
“Will my daughter have some soup?”
“U! (Yes!)”
Finally! Starting this year, I could eat bread, soup, cheese, and other delicious food.
‘Last year, I could only swallow my saliva… and now I can finally eat!’
Of course, I couldn’t eat everything freely. Some foods had to be cut small or eaten little by little.
‘Still, this is heaven compared to last year.’
“I want to eat quickly.”
“Pa, ppai! (Papa, hurry!)”
At my urging, Lucero held out a spoon.
“Here, say ah.”
“U! (Ah!)”
Thinking about my life before regression, I might seem childish… but it couldn’t be helped.
‘Try living as a baby for months. Of course your mental age will feel younger.’
It might sound like an excuse, but eating, playing, and sleeping every day naturally made me act like a baby.
“Is it tasty, my daughter?”
“U! (Yes!)”
“Shall we try cheese next?”
“U! (Yes!)”
I nibbled like a little chick as he fed me.
‘It’s delicious!’
The soft, savory taste made my eyes widen.
“Pa, do! (Papa, more!)”
“More?”
“U! (Yes!)”
“Then eat a piece of bread first, and then cheese.”
“Uu! (Okay!)”
While leaning against him and eating, I made eye contact with Levi.
“Hmph.”
He snorted and turned away.
‘Still sulking?’
After Flynn dragged him over, he had kept his mouth shut the whole time. Seeing him act like that suddenly ruined my appetite.
“Geuma. (I’m done.)”
“Daughter, are you finished?”
“U. (Yes.)”
Levi immediately said,
“Father, I’m done too.”
“Really? Then before we finish, shall we present Iello’s gifts here?”
As soon as Lucero finished speaking, he used his ability.
“Anerpion.”
The boxes beside the fountain instantly moved in front of Iello.
“Son, happy birthday. I hope you like the gifts.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Iello began opening the boxes.
‘Oh my… how much is all that?’
A golden key, gold bars, gold mine contracts—gift after gift related to gold poured out.
‘Wow… this is on another level.’
I knew the Granato family spent money generously, but I never imagined it would be this much.
Levi’s eyes were wide as well.
“Father! Why are hyung’s gifts so fancy? Isn’t that too much?”
Exactly! Even I thought it was excessive.
“We kept the party simple, so of course I should give this much.”
Lucero spoke as if it were obvious.
‘After seeing that, my drawing looks so shabby….’
Suddenly, my picture felt pitiful.
‘I worked hard on it though….’
I felt gloomy.
‘Should I give it? Or not?’
I hesitated.
“Alle, don’t you have a gift for me?”
Did he notice my hesitation? Iello asked gently.
“Iu. (I do.)”
“Then will you give it to me now?”
I looked at Lucero. He nodded and handed my drawing to me.
‘If I’m going to give it, I’ll give it now!’
I handed the paper to Iello.
“Oba tseumeu. (It’s your gift.)”
“Thank you, Alle.”
He smiled warmly.
‘Hehe, thank goodness.’
He paused for a moment, but still smiled gently at me.
“Hyung! I have one too!”
“Thank you, Levi.”
Levi handed over his drawing. Iello paused again before smiling.
‘Why is his reaction the same as before?’
“But what did you both draw?”
“Hyung!”
“Oba! (Big brother!)”
“Huh? This is… me? That’s me?”
Iello looked at our drawings with trembling eyes.
“Yes, it’s you.”
“U! Oba. (Yes! It’s you.)”
“I see….”
He trailed off thoughtfully.
‘Does he not like it?’
His reaction was lukewarm.
“Hyung, don’t you like the drawing?”
Levi asked directly.
“No. It’s not that… it’s just fascinating.”
Fascinating? Was his sweet potato drawing that fascinating?
“Right? Even I thought the youngest’s drawing was fascinating! A potato, really?”
I almost laughed.
‘What? Mine is a potato? You drew a sweet potato!’
I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“Oba geui gouma! Goma! (His is a sweet potato! A sweet potato!)”
“What?”
“Sweet potato? Did she say stop? Stay still?”
“Maybe she’s telling you to stop, Father?”
Levi looked dumbfounded while Lucero and Iello tried to interpret me.
“I told you many times, mine is not a sweet potato!”
Levi stood up angrily.
“Goma! Gouma ma! (Sweet potato! It is one!)”
“No!”
“Ma! (It is!)”
“It’s not! What does someone who draws potatoes know!”
As we started arguing again, Lucero and Iello hurried to stop us.
“Both of you, stop. It’s your big brother’s birthday.”
“Yes, you both drew well. Why fight?”
Then Levi and I asked at the same time,
“Then choose who drew better!”
“Abu! (Yes, choose!)”
We both stared at Iello.
“Hmm… do I really have to choose one?”
“Yep!”
“U! (Yes!)”
We were firm.
‘This is about pride!’
We stared at him intensely.
Perhaps feeling pressured, he suddenly stood up.
“Oh, right. I forgot I had an appointment.”
“What are you talking about? You’re free today!”
“U! Meuu! (Yes! You said no schedule!)”
“Thank you all for celebrating my birthday. I have a prior engagement, so I’ll take my leave now.”
“Oba! (Oppa!)”
“Hyung!”
In the end, Iello left the party, saying he had an appointment.
