Chapter 53
I don't remember when I fell asleep today, either.
I was definitely reading the Kingdom newspaper, but when I opened my eyes, I was in bed.
Until just last week, I would have brushed it off as me being too tired lately, but that was no longer possible.
Because I had a pretty good idea why.
And it was for a reason I'd never even considered.
Muttering, 'Please... It can't be...' I turned on the phone I'd secretly set up, my hand trembling...
[Hehe, Father…]
There was Cecilia, caught on camera.
My stomach twisted.
I clutched my trembling legs, got up, and walked to the door.
-Rattle-rattle
“Haa…”
It was locked as tightly as it had been before I went to sleep.
I walked to the window to check, and the windows were the same.
These locks were security devices that combined the kingdom's finest technology and magic.
That was why my room was a sealed chamber that absolutely no one could enter unless I opened it myself.
Or rather, it was supposed to be one.
Yet Cecilia opened the door as naturally as if such devices were child's play and entered my room.
There was no way I could make sense of it with my common sense.
“What the hell…”
Even more astonishing was that I'd already fallen asleep before she came in.
The kingdom's vaunted magical security was not even the level of a child's toy to Cecilia.
“Haha…”
Even in a situation like this, I found myself laughing proudly at Cecilia's outstanding magical ability.
But the sight of Cecilia's continued actions on the screen brought my laughter to an abrupt halt.
My daughter laid me, still asleep, on the bed, then naturally took off my pants and underwear.
She had definitely done this more than once or twice.
“Ugh, ngh…”
Stomach acid rose, burning my insides.
My heart ached at the betrayal of the daughter I'd trusted.
At the same time, I felt disgusted with myself for getting aroused and erect at such an act.
-Smack!
Unable to watch any longer, I threw the phone away.
The shock was too much to bear. I felt like continuing to watch would only deepen my self-loathing.
[I love you… More than anyone… I love you, Father.]
But the video kept playing.
Just as she had in the infirmary, she began servicing my dick.
The filthy sound of her sucking my dick came from the phone.
Oddly enough, even that sound seemed lovely when I thought of it as something Cecilia was making.
“I think I'm really going to lose my mind…”
If I kept listening, I felt like I would develop a mental illness.
I thought I should watch it only after I'd sorted out my feelings for Cecilia, at least.
Thinking that, I walked toward the bed to turn off the video, but Cecilia in the video brought up something different from last time.
[When the next full moon rises, everything will come true.]
[Then I'll be able to proudly ask for Father's love.]
[You liked Miss Luina Aubert's looks, didn't you, Father?]
[So I'll become Miss Aubert.]
I stopped in my tracks.
My mind went blank.
I couldn't understand what Cecilia was saying.
“What… What do you mean by that?”
But I knew it instinctively.
I didn't understand it, but I realized what she meant.
[If I take over Miss Aubert's body, I won't have to sneak in to see you anymore, right?]
[Hehe.]
“That… that's a lie, right?”
Her next words confirmed my suspicions.
My stomach acid churned again.
The burning in my stomach made me feel as if I were about to throw up.
But Cecilia on the screen was smiling more brightly than anyone.
To think she could say something so terrifying with such a cute expression…
Dizzy, I staggered before barely making it to the bed.
Thankfully, there were no more bombshells after that.
After she finished, Cecilia left my room with a satisfied expression.
“Phew…”
I closed my eyes for a moment and steadied my breathing, then gathered my thoughts.
Cecilia likes me—no, she loves me.
She sees me as someone to marry, not merely someone to date.
But Cecilia and I are father and daughter, so we can never be together.
That was why Cecilia intended to take over Luina Aubert's body and be with me.
“This is making me dizzy.”
I thought I could somehow endure being the person she wanted to marry,
but taking Luina's body… was difficult to understand.
Does she love me that much…? The fact that she loved me that much made me happy, but the method…
My thoughts grew tangled.
What would happen to ‘Heroine Netori’ if she took over Luina Aubert's body?
And when she says she'll take over her body, does she mean they'll exchange bodies?
No, more importantly, if that happened, wouldn't Cecilia Asil cease to exist?
My head felt like it would split from all the questions that kept surfacing.
The fun, comforting ‘Heroine Netori’ I'd been enjoying had suddenly turned into a serious story.
Is this what romance fantasy is…? Was this not something to take lightly?
What exactly did Cecilia's words mean,
what consequences would come from doing that,
and how should I treat Cecilia from now on?
No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn't come up with an answer.
But one thing was certain.
I didn't want to lose Cecilia Asil.
If Cecilia became Luina, she wouldn't be Cecilia anymore.
“That can never happen.”
Even if I accepted Cecilia's feelings, I would never allow her to turn into Luina.
Regardless of public opinion, I didn't want to lose Cecilia over something like that.
“But… how am I supposed to tell her that?”
A sigh escaped me.
In the end, I would have to clear my head, meet Cecilia, and have a serious talk with her, but I couldn't bring myself to start the conversation.
Was I supposed to go to my daughter and ask, ‘Do you love me?’
“This is insane…”
I feel like I'm going to lose my mind!
I really am going to lose my mind!
“Ahh… I want to see Sophia.”
-Knock knock!
“Father! It's Cecilia. I've come because there's something I need to tell you.”
“Ugh!”
Just because I'd thought of another woman, Cecilia had come looking for me as if she'd sensed it.
Did she hear me? Had she even set up eavesdropping magic?
No, no… There hadn't been any sign of that in the video.
My guilty conscience was getting to me.
“C-Could you wait a moment?”
Why had she come? How terrifying. Was she going to put me to sleep again?
Or had she really only come to ask me something? But what did she want to ask?
About Luina Aubert?
The questions wouldn't stop.
Once one question arose, other questions followed in a chain.
Before I knew it, I had lost the courage to open the door.
Could I look Cecilia in the eye now, pretend nothing was wrong, and pretend I knew nothing?
No, putting that aside, I had no idea what expression I was supposed to wear when facing Cecilia.
What would happen to our relationship if Cecilia realized I'd figured it out?
And what would happen to this round of ‘Heroine Netori’?
I didn't want to abandon it pointlessly, like last time in ‘Heroine Netori.’
“Father? Aren't you going to open the door? I'm still waiting.”
In the end, I had to face her honestly.
If she saw through my terrible acting, that would be worse than telling her the truth.
I should tell her everything and figure out what to do next together with her.
But… I just couldn't do it.
I hadn't finished sorting out my feelings yet!
Cecilia! I do love you!
But I still don't know whether I love you as a father or as a man!
“…I'm sorry, Lia… I'm really sorry…”
“…Yeees?”
So… could you give me just a little time?
My head's too muddled to see you right now.
I'll answer you once I've sorted everything out.
So…
[Pause Ticket Used]
Please wait just a little longer.
====
====
[Achievement Unlocked: ‘Forbidden Love – Father and Daughter (Stage 1)’]
[Achievement Unlocked: ‘Protagonist Training (Stage 1)’]
[Achievement Unlocked: ‘50 Virgins Conquered’]
“Phew…”
I truly disgust myself.
How could I, who was at least a real man in ‘Heroine Netori,’ end up acting like Siwoo…
If I ever enter a classic hero story, I'll look out for you.
Now that I'm actually in this situation, I ended up acting just like you.
I'm sorry… I won't be greedy over the sub-heroine; I'll pair her with you right away.
“Pathetic. Damn it.”
I should have a drink.
-Bzzz
-Bzzz
-Bzzz
-Bzzz
“What the?”
I was heading to the kitchen when my smartphone suddenly started buzzing.
I'd set it to vibrate, but its whining made me think of Siwoo whining and running away; it felt like the phone was mocking me, which put me in a bad mood.
Irritated, I opened the chat and saw:
[Mister! Thank you for yesterday!]
[(A cat bowing its head emoji)]
[The hangover food was amazing, too!]
[(A photo of an empty pot)]
[Thanks to you, I'm completely recovered!]
[(A cat saluting emoji)]
[But… I didn't do anything embarrassing yesterday, did I?]
[I can't remember, ahaha…]
[(A cat looking sheepish emoji)]
[If I did, don't hide it from me—please tell me!]
[And…]
[As a thank-you, may I buy you a meal today?]
[(A cat grinning emoji)]
[It was supposed to be a celebration for you, but I didn't even get to congratulate you properly!]
[So today, I'll really treat you!]
[Mister?]
[Are you still not awake?]
[(A cat looking curious emoji)]
[You must have been really tired.]
[That was all because of me, right?]
[(A cat looking teary emoji)]
[I'm sorry…]
[Oh! The 1 disappeared!]
[Are you awake?]
[(A cat getting excited emoji)]
[Is your stomach all right?]
[Mister?]
[Ugh… Leaving me on read is a bit much!]
[(A cat getting angry emoji)]
[Are you seriously going to keep this up?]
[(A cat getting angry with its face flushed emoji)]
[Oh… Are you mad at me, by any chance…?]
[As I thought, I must have messed up yesterday…]
[(A cat covering its face with both paws emoji)]
[I'm sorry ㅠㅠ… So, to apologize!]
[I was going to treat you to a meal today…]
[(A cat peeking over shyly emoji)]
[Do you have time…?]
Lee Hyun-ah had been messaging me.
No, she was still messaging me.
“……”
What is she up to this time?