Ch.367Chapter 367: Epilogue – Invitation (2)

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Stopping Alcor from continuously downing drinks after his first taste was an incredibly difficult task.

Well, considering he was drinking kvass with such a low alcohol content, it wasn’t really something to be seriously concerned about.

“A true drinker naturally cures a hangover by drinking again in the morning after drinking all night.”

He spoke with such fervor, as if it were a sacred duty, that I sensed a kind of fanaticism beyond mere devotion, making it difficult for me to even attempt to dissuade him.

Still, I could see that Alcor eventually gave up on his stubborn insistence to drink kvass.

It wasn’t because I had successfully persuaded him to stop drinking.

It was a small, cute voice from an unexpected direction that crushed Alcor’s grand(?) ambition(?).

“Daddy… are you drinking?”

The voice that came from behind Alcor, who had been sitting on the bench passionately explaining the “way of alcohol” to me with an increasingly elevated tone, was just a simple question without any coercive force.

“…Flora.”

Yet it possessed enough power to transform Alcor from a drinker into a caring father as he turned properly toward his daughter and spoke, as if he had never been enthusiastically discussing drinking philosophy.

“When did you get here? I thought you were having breakfast with Altair.”

“We finished. Altair will be here soon too.”

He was the very picture of a caring father having an ordinary conversation with his daughter, but I could see a drop of cold sweat betraying his considerable discomfort with the situation.

It was amazing. From a drinker subtly emphasizing his voice while discussing alcohol philosophy…

To a caring father who instantly changed his demeanor and acted naturally in that role.

Normally, a daughter seeing her father like this would show no particular suspicion and would forget what she had asked earlier, being absorbed in conversation with her father.

“But…”

As Flora postponed her enthusiasm for talking with her father and opened her mouth with a suspicious tone, Alcor’s shoulders trembled slightly, confirming that this child was indeed not ordinary.

I can’t back down now!

Even from a reasonable distance, I could clearly see the urgency in Alcor’s expression as he reached out and tried to open his mouth to somehow defuse the situation.

“Mom’s been really worried about how much you drink…”

Though mild, Flora’s plea, tinged with the faintest hint of tearfulness, blocked all of Alcor’s attempts.

“I see. Were you worried I might drink?”

In an instant, it transformed the would-be alcohol philosopher into a father.

Alcor reaches out his arms. Not just his voice but his expression shows his intention to embrace and comfort his daughter, whose face now shows signs of tears.

That gesture conveyed not a hasty attempt to cover up his mistake, but genuine remorse and apology toward his daughter.

And understanding the meaning behind her father’s gesture, Flora gradually reduced her tearful expression and accepted her father’s outstretched hands.

Eventually, guided by her father’s hands, Flora was fully embraced in his arms.

“Yes, Daddy’s sorry. I won’t touch alcohol at all, so don’t worry.”

Alcor gently comforted his daughter who had come into his embrace, patting her back with one hand.

Seeing Flora’s expression, which had seemed on the verge of tears, gradually soften…

Even I, watching from a proper distance, couldn’t help but smile.

That’s what family is, that’s what a father-daughter relationship is.

I have family too, with whom I can exchange such emotions.

A father who worries about his children even while struggling with demanding work.

An older sister who, despite pretending otherwise, takes delicate care of her younger sibling.

And Excel, who cherishes me like her own body, though we’re not related by blood.

Finally, Shizuka, with whom I’ll build a family going forward.

The scene before me, of Alcor and Flora, was so much like the ideal family image I had dreamed of that I naturally wanted to create such a family if I could.

My idealistic view was slightly cracked when I noticed a brief winner’s smile on Flora’s face as she accepted her father’s gesture, realizing this was Flora’s plan to stop her father’s rampage(?) with tears.

But since there was no malice in her actions, and I realized Alcor knew this and was playing along anyway, the warmth of the moment wasn’t dramatically diminished.

A father who knowingly gives in and a daughter who knows exactly what to do to appropriately check her father…

Though it felt somewhat strange, the warmth emanating from such a scene was nothing but the unvarnished truth.

Barely suppressing the corners of my mouth from curving into a smile, I could contentedly watch the father comforting his daughter, and the daughter occasionally flashing a triumphant winner’s smile, if only for a fleeting moment, as she received her father’s sincere gesture.

…Though I also harbored a hope that if I ever had a daughter, she wouldn’t show such fox-like behavior.

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After Alcor, who had been burning with enthusiasm to invite me to a drinking session, calmed down on his own…

“I’ll see you later. I’ve already had breakfast with the children, so I’ll wait. Take your time, there’s no need to rush.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

After exchanging brief greetings and parting ways, I hurried toward the guest room where Shizuka was sleeping.

Considering what happened last night, even though I had spent some time downstairs with Alcor, she was surely still wandering in dreamland, so I needed to go wake her up quickly to keep on schedule.

With that thought, I hastened my steps, but a scene naturally came to mind without slowing my pace.

It was the sight of sleeping Shizuka that I had seen first thing this morning.

She looked so pure and cute that it seemed like a lie that last night’s intense events had happened.

If time allowed, I had a small desire to take in that sight a bit longer.

But as if to tell me that such a selfish wish wouldn’t be fulfilled…

“Ah, you’re here, Cal.”

Shizuka, visible through the carefully opened guest room door, wasn’t asleep but already dressed neatly and fixing her hair.

Though I was disappointed not to see her sleeping like an angel again, seeing her well-groomed appearance was just as much a feast for the eyes.

“You’re up,” I greeted calmly, keeping my expression as neutral as possible.

Normally, she would have asked where I’d been since I woke up before her.

“Help me fix my hair.”

Instead, Shizuka asked me to help her with her hair rather than inquiring about my whereabouts.

It was as good as showing that she firmly believed I wouldn’t do anything to worry her, no matter where I went.

Without hesitation, I stood behind her and helped fix her hair at her request.

Actually, although she asked for help, I noticed her beautiful hair was almost completely styled already, so I didn’t think there would be much for me to do.

“It’s hard to do properly looking in the mirror, so please help.”

As she handed me a comb and pointed to the spots she wanted carefully combed, I gently took the comb and brushed her hair.

“Hehehe…”

When I saw Shizuka’s reflection in the mirror, making an adorably deflated-sounding laugh…

The thought that I should fix Shizuka’s hair with my own hands every morning became deeply rooted in my mind.

Today was the first day, albeit in a one-sided form, of the ritual of spouses fixing each other’s hair upon waking in the morning.

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After easily fixing Shizuka’s hair, we should have gone to the dining hall for breakfast, but…

“Hmm…”

Our schedule was slightly delayed as Shizuka read the invitation in her hand with a long sigh.

I had planned to explain while eating at the dining hall.

But Shizuka, who had been smiling contentedly at her well-groomed hair, asked me about the invitation with that same expression, leading to this situation.

Since it wasn’t something to hide and, as I mentioned earlier, it was a matter to be discussed immediately…

I handed Shizuka the contents of the already unsealed invitation.

And that’s why Shizuka is now staring intently at the invitation.

Although the elegant yet splendid handwriting might captivate her…

The content of the invitation wasn’t that long, so it shouldn’t take much time to read, and I was concerned as Shizuka studied it intently.

Finally, having apparently finished reading the invitation, Shizuka carefully put it back into the velvet envelope, her eyes sparkling.

“Let’s go,” she strongly advocated for accepting the invitation, which made me feel relieved.

They say travel always brings unexpected experiences.

But this time, I feel my heart racing like never before, as this experience seems to be leading us toward heights beyond our comprehension.

I wonder what events and beings await Shizuka and me.