Chapter 14

“So, your ability manifested after you suddenly fell ill?”

“Yes.”

I was sitting in front of Dad, getting what could only be described as a light interrogation.

In front of me were sweet cookies and a mug of hot cocoa with marshmallows floating on top.

A thick blanket was wrapped snugly around my whole body, and the crackling fireplace filled the room with warmth.

“You’re saying it’s a healing ability?”

“Yes.”

“…I see.”

Dad crossed his arms and turned his head to look out the window.

Snow was falling thick and fast outside.

I had expected Dad to be happy when he heard about my ability, but instead, his expression had grown strangely serious.

‘Elliot and Second Uncle looked completely shocked though.’

I glanced sideways at Dad, but there wasn’t a trace of joy on his face.

“Isn’t a healing ability supposed to be rare?”

“…Yes, it’s rare.”

“Then why…”

Why do you look so gloomy?

Even though I didn’t say it aloud, Dad seemed to understand and gave me a faint smile.

“I’m worried about others coveting my daughter’s exceptional ability.”

“…What?”

Yeah right.

I shook my head. People might want to take advantage of it, but it’s not like I planned to use it recklessly anyway.

‘It’s my life force and I don’t have much left.’

I let out a quiet sigh and sipped my cocoa.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Hmm?”

“Can’t we move into the main house now?”

Dad froze at my words.

“The main house…? You mean the main estate?”

“Yes. Grandpa said he wanted to talk with you. He didn’t seem like he hated you deep down…”

I swallowed and watched him carefully, worried he might get angry.

Thankfully, he didn’t. But he looked genuinely caught off guard as he met my eyes.

“Why…”

“Huh?”

“Why did you suddenly think of that?”

He looked confused.

I stared at him quietly, then lowered my head a little.

‘…Because you were alone here until I died.’

Dad had lived in this annex, barely leaving, right up to my death.

All ties were severed, and the rift between him and the family was so deep it was beyond words.

Everyone gossiped about him, pointed fingers, and even the servants looked down on him.

I hated it.

Dad isn’t pathetic or stupid. He’s not trash, and he’s not worthless.

He’s not a loser.

“I don’t want people to look down on you anymore, Dad.”

He had only ever cherished me.

Or maybe it was just a small sense of responsibility. But I didn’t realize any of it until the end.

He stayed by my side when I was sick.

He tried to make medicine to cure me.

Even the harsh words he threw at me were to keep me safe.

That’s why…

“This time, I’ll protect you. I won’t let anyone talk badly about you. I have a healing ability now.”

“…!”

Dad’s eyes widened.

“So… can’t we move into the main estate instead of staying in the annex?”

I hopped down from the chair and grabbed his sleeve.

I wanted him to be free. I didn’t want his life to disappear, spent only on me.

“…”

Dad lowered his gaze and looked at me.

“I don’t like your grandpa, sweetheart.”

“…Really?”

I knew that if he said he hated it to his core, there would be nothing I could do.

‘Maybe it’s too soon?’

Maybe if something happened later, or if there was some kind of crisis, he might move back in.

‘Hmm.’

I folded my arms and nodded thoughtfully.

“This family has always valued talent above everything else. If you don’t achieve results, you’re treated like garbage. A useless failure. I grew up surrounded by that kind of prejudice.”

“Yeah…”

Maybe I should resent Grandpa a bit more.

Seeing Dad wear that sad expression made my chest tighten.

“The things your grandpa said hurt me a lot when I was a child. I don’t want those wounds passed on to you.”

“…”

“He doesn’t know how to be kind. No matter what his intentions are, everything that comes out of his mouth feels like a blade.”

Dad reached out and gently patted my head.

Then he lifted me onto his lap and tapped my back softly, the same warm touch as always.

“…If you don’t have an ability, are you treated that badly?”

“Yes.”

Maybe if I had been born with a power earlier, Dad might have been treated better too.

“If you don’t want to, that’s okay, Dad.”

I decided to take a step back.

It’s not something I could change immediately, and I couldn’t force him either.

“I just… want people to treat you a little better.”

I slowly closed my eyes, then opened them again.

‘Dad gave up all his rights as a direct heir.’

Even so, he had to stay in the annex because he needed the environment.

To raise me.

If it weren’t for me, he probably would have left this family a long time ago.

Gasp.

I shook my head vigorously.

‘I can’t start getting depressed now!’

I need to work on Dad’s cure first.

Then I’ll sell the medicine and make a fortune.

‘And I need to invest too.’

I’ll fill Dad’s pockets with money.

Then we’ll invest and play the money game for real.

“It’s okay. Then let’s make a lot of money and leave this house! How about we live together, just the two of us?”

Dad’s eyes widened at my words.

There was a second reason he’d never left the annex.

It was because of all the research equipment in the basement.

It would cost a fortune to move it all, and finding a house that could accommodate it was no easy task.

‘It’s not like he’s broke…’

But if he’d been pouring everything into research, it made sense that he had no spare funds.

Since he gave up his inheritance, he didn’t receive any money from the family either.

“I’ll help you make tons of money!”

“…Haha.”

Dad let out a laugh and tilted his head.

Seeing that hint of amusement on his face made me grin too.

“What do you think?”

“Yes, that sounds nice. We’ll have to move into a huge house to relocate my lab.”

“Yeah. And we’ll live together until I’m grown up.”

After that, I’ll die.

‘Though I don’t even know if I’ll live that long…’

But there’s no need to tell him that.

I’ll disappear quietly, with a proper excuse.

“Hey, Dad.”

“What?”

“How much money do you have?”

“…What?”

“I was just wondering how much. I found this amazing investment opportunity!”

Dad gave me a blank look, then chuckled and ruffled my hair.

“I’ll figure out how to make money.”

“Nooo, I’ll help you.”

“Go brush your teeth and get to bed.”

He pressed his finger lightly against my forehead.

“Come on.”

Then he scooped me up under his arm and headed to the bathroom.

“Nooo!!”

I squirmed, but he didn’t even flinch.

Clearly, everything I said had gone in one ear and out the other.

‘Ugh!!’

This is the downside of being too young.

He doesn’t take my words seriously.

“You have to believe me… mmph!”

Dad ignored my protests and stuck a toothbrush in my mouth.

* * *

And the next day,

I secretly slipped out of the house without telling Dad.