Chapter 23 (2/2)

“I did it because I was afraid Daphne would be cold!”

“I did it because I wanted to carry my baby around.”

As if they had given up on changing subject, they are now piling their excuses.

When Ricarda, Lennox, and Mom’s excuses continued, I laughed as if I had no choice.

“What’s that?”

Even the excuses that they took out to save themselves were because they were worried about me.

If they are this warm-hearted, I can’t get angry at them anymore.

For some reason, I had a hunch that I could make a natural smile now.

Not the awkward smile that I practiced looking in the mirror one day, but a kind of smile that could come out naturally without shaking.

So I smiled with the feeling that I felt right now.

Curl your eyes and gently lift your mouth so that you can return back the smile that they showered upon you.

“Welcome back home.”

Lennox blinked wildly at my smile.

Ricarda fumbled and rubbed his eyes asking if he saw something wrong.

My mom opened her eyes wide and smiled with me.

And she answered me.

“Yes, I’m back.”

Mom came up to me and opened her arms.

I asked you to hug me until yesterday, but today my mom asked for a hug first.

And I like my mom’s arms, too.

I rationalized myself and was held tightly in my mother’s arms.

So what if you’re a little embarrassed and shy?

I like it.

As if they had finally came back to their senses when they saw me being held in mother’s arms, Lennox and Ricarda also greeted me.

“I’m home, Daphne.”

“Me too, me too. I’m back!”

Soon after, the Office could be filled with everyone’s laughter.

Of course, my smile was included in it.

***

“No.”

Winston’s report, about how the day was yesterday, seemed to have reached her.

With breakfast in front, my mother said firmly not to ever go near that boy.

“But it’s cold and lonely there…”

“But if I said you can’t then you can’t. You don’t know yet how dangerous a child who grew up as an assassin is.”

When she said that because she worried for me, I had a thought that I would not be able to get her permission even if I tried to be stubborn until the end.

My mother’s attitude was stronger than I thought.

‘First of all, I have to get close to him and…be nice to him…’

In addition, he may skip his meals again….

I don’t think he is going to take his meals if I don’t go.

Looking at the warm breakfast in front of me, I raised my head. Mom was looking at me with a determined look.

I also spoke with a firm expression.

“Then I’ll use my wish! My second wish.”

“Daphne.”

Lennox tried to stop me, but Ricarda dissuaded him, saying they should hear it first.

“I want to use the second wish to spend time with him, and I’m sure he’s going to starve without me, and he might be scared being there.”

As if she found my words naïve, my mother sighed.

“Even if the brainwashing was cleared, something dangerous will remain unchanged.”

Upon her worried voice, Lennox and Ricarda nodded hard like they sympathized her words.

“Baby, Mom doesn’t want you to get hurt anymore. The marks on your neck still haven’t disappeared.”

“He didn’t do it. And I promised him that I’d visit him again.”

My mother’s eyes headed for a dainty handkerchief around my neck.

Under the cute pink handkerchief, there were still bruises left from the man’s strangulation last night, which was enough to worry about.

I understood why my family was worried, but I couldn’t back down on this opinion.

“It’s because I can’t wait to be friends with him.”

“Friend? He’s an assassin…”

“I’m not going into the cage, and I’m not going to open it. If you’re worried, I’ll only go there when I’m with someone else!”

As my words continued, my mom just listened quietly.

Then Lennox next to me tried to persuade me as if the permission shouldn’t be allowed.

“But if he doesn’t change, and still threatens us, when that time comes, even I’ll give up.”

“Do you feel sorry for him?”

“A little bit.”

Finally, with my final words, she surrendered.

“It’s your wish, so you can have it your way. But you have to keep your word.”

“Yes!”

Lennox frowned upon my mother’s permission and my ecstatic response.

“Mother, but…”

“And Ricarda, stay with her today.”

“Yes…?”

But it’s mother’s turn today…

Ricarda nodded his head as he sensibly looked at mother, Lennox, and me at once.

“I’ll go and make sure it’s clearly taken care off.”

I guess you’re going to check if the brainwashing magic worked out well.

Anyway, with a little excitement after my second wish came true, I told Ricarda.

“Ricarda! Come on, let’s go.”

“Wait, you have to have your morning breakfast.”

“Ah!”

The hand, that was spoon-feeding the soup, got faster.

The reason the soup was especially delicious today, was probably because of my mood.