Chapter 16
“Details are a secret!”
“That’s mean! Tell me. Huh? Our baby lion~”
“Secret!”
Solphy pressed her lips together and giggled quietly to herself.
The rhythmic clatter of the carriage and the comfort of being in her dad’s arms made her feel safe…
“Solphy?”
She had fallen asleep. Marcelo looked down at his sleeping daughter and smiled.
“Sweet dreams, my daughter.”
The children got a stern scolding from their parents.
“But it was fun!”
“Adventure is the best.”
“Ugh… I got my butt spanked a lot.”
Rariet rubbed her sore backside and added softly.
“Well, when else would we get to experience something like this?”
For the children, the “Candy Tree” incident had become an adventure story to remember.
On the day the Candy Tree reopened after repairs, Solphy brought her friends to visit.
“Wow. So many candies!”
“Miss Solphy. Is this enough?”
“Yes!”
Solphy filled a basket with all the candies from the Candy Tree.
“All of this is mine!”
Bert grabbed lots of chocolate-flavored candies and jelly, while Rariet picked a handful of fruity candies.
“Solphy, pick a candy with a cute candy message for me.”
Lycoris stayed close to Solphy, asking about the candy messages.
The candies she chose included cloud candy with a message saying “Sweet Dreams” containing gum, and plum candy with a message saying “Send a Letter.”
“Solphy, I’ll give you my plum candy.”
“Okay.”
Solphy unwrapped the plum candy right there and popped it in her mouth. The rich plum flavor spread across her tongue.
‘I should draw a plum on the letter.’
Lycoris loved the candy messages Solphy added. She even made a big folded paper “Candy Message Book” from them.
“Candy messages? What’s that?”
“Solphy! Tell me the candy messages of the candies I picked.”
Bert and Rariet also got curious and asked Solphy about their candies.
‘See? Everyone likes it.’
Everyone except Joshua liked candy messages. Maybe he didn’t even like candy at all, since he wasn’t here.
When Solphy told them she had saved the Candy Tree and got a golden ticket:
[Don’t need it.]
Joshua seemed to live in a world ruled by “needs.”
‘Then why did he protect the Candy Tree? Was that something he needed?’
He was truly a hard-to-understand child.
So Solphy picked a special candy for him. A “curious” candy message candy—its flavor was a secret until you put it in your mouth.
‘I’ll sneak it into Joshua’s bag.’
Just like when she hid the prophecy book.
“The lemon candy says ‘Be Healthy.’ It has vitamins, so it’s perfect if you catch a cold… Huh?”
Solphy, excitedly explaining candy messages, noticed a doll she had never seen before.
“This is…”
It was a doll of the children throwing candy with slingshots, and it looked familiar.
“This is… us, right?”
“Oh? Really.”
As the children looked at the dolls, the shop owner approached.
“While we were repairing the shop, we put our craft skills to use. They look quite similar, don’t they?”
“Yes! They look exactly like us.”
“Even after we graduate from kindergarten, these dolls will stay here!”
Hearing the noisy excitement, Solphy poked the doll that looked like her with her finger.
“Let’s come here more often. See the dolls and eat candy!”
“Not too often. You’ll ruin your teeth.”
“Lyco can eat often. None of her teeth have fallen out yet.”
“Good luck. Let’s see if you can still say that after losing teeth from cavities.”
“Huh… what do you mean?”
Lycoris asked nervously, and Bert and Rariet told scary dentist stories.
Solphy mostly agreed but thought the part about dentists chasing kids with drills in both hands was exaggerated.
“I-I won’t eat candy….”
Lycoris turned pale and shivered.
Should Solphy tell her properly or not?
‘Lyco will take care of her teeth, so it’s fine.’
Solphy shrugged.
Even after she graduated from kindergarten, the Candy Tree would stay here, keeping the memories of her childhood and the times she visited with her mom.
Then Rariet shouted, “Ah, right!”
“I have to go quickly. I’m going to see a puppet show with my mom.”
“Really? We’ll be going too. Thanks for the candy!”
The children ran out of the Candy Tree.
They started racing each other to the kindergarten entrance, leaving their parents behind.
“Lyco, don’t run! You might fall… oh no.”
As soon as Lycoris’ mother shouted, Lycoris tripped and fell.
“Lyco, hold my hand.”
“Mm…”
Solphy offered her hand to help Lycoris up.
The candies that fell from Lycoris’ pocket rolled around, and Rariet picked them all up.
“Piggyback!”
Bert carried Lycoris on his back, running straight to the carriage. They arrived at the same time without stopping.
The parents watching laughed.
“They get along so well.”
“This is the first big trouble my child has caused.”
“Good thing the knight captain was there.”
The parents chatted as they followed the children.
“Well, this is all part of growing up. That’s what they said in the parent class last time.”
Marcelo shrugged.
But he got an unexpected response.
“Parent class? Was that a thing?”
“Oh, the form came, but since few attended, it was canceled…”
The parents looked puzzled.
Marcelo instinctively knew this information couldn’t spread.
“Oh, I see! They read it in the book, haha.”
“Ah~ I get it.”
Marcelo quickly recovered, smiling, but secretly worried about Solphy.
‘Solphy! What kind of trouble are you causing!’
[Free if you wait] Future Vision
A notification appeared after three nights had passed.
Solphy, now used to seeing the future, touched the floating letters while brushing her teeth.
‘What will show up today?’
In the box appeared the future:
【Hello. I’m Teacher Serena from the palace kindergarten. It’s an honor to do a parent education session with you.】
Solphy’s eyes lit up.
‘Right! The knight order was going to hold a parent class!’
This was a chance for her dad to meet Teacher Serena!
The knight hall was large and elegant. Unlike the kindergarten hall, it was neat without small clutter.
The long desks were full of people—half in knight uniforms, half in civilian clothes, likely the knights’ spouses.
‘One, two… ten people, five sets!’
Solphy counted with difficulty, smiling brightly.
In the future she saw, fourteen people gathered. Now, in the present, only Marcelo and Silas—just two. But in the vision, there were fifty people!
‘Even with so many people, she’s confident! Teacher Serena is a real teacher to adults too!’
Solphy waved her toothbrush like a cheering stick.
After the enthusiastic class, Serena answered questions. But…
‘What’s with that man? Why so many questions?’
He was taller than her dad!
Better looking than her dad!
A strong knight, though not her dad.
“Hmm.”
Solphy narrowed her eyes, glaring at the knight on the screen.
‘Why ask about the wife dying? Why ask twice if he should remarry for the child?’
Don’t bother my teacher!
She stomped her foot in frustration.
Even Serena answered kindly, laughing at the knight’s silly jokes.
“Uh-oh…”
What if more rivals appeared?
Solphy understood the feeling. She hadn’t just picked Serena randomly as her “mom” figure.
It wasn’t just that Serena was a teacher—she understood Solphy perfectly.
‘Half of the teachers were nice, but Teacher Serena is different.’
Kind, pretty, and most importantly, she understood Solphy’s heart.
Solphy was determined not to lose. With her clever plan and her handsome dad, she had a good chance.
When the parent class ended, Marcelo approached Serena.
‘It’s dad!’
【Hello, Giraffe Class Teacher.】
【Mr. Solphy’s Father! Hello.】
【Thank you for your lecture. Everyone liked it, and I also learned a lot.】
The warm atmosphere made Solphy grin.
The knight who had been bombarding questions to Serena disappeared when Marcelo arrived.
‘Yes! Keep it going!’
【Um, if it’s alright…】
Serena hesitated, looking nervous.
Solphy peeked through the screen, curious.
【Could we visit the knight order?】
【Huh? Of course.】
【We want to play “Knight Order” with the kids. Many dream of becoming knights…】
【Certainly. I’ll escort you.】
Marcelo extended his arm politely, and Serena carefully placed her hand on it.
‘Even without me, the atmosphere is good.’
Solphy happily watched her dad introduce the knight order to Serena.
This was no illusion—they were clearly flirting.
‘My plan to make Teacher Serena a mom isn’t a dream.’
