By Zephyria Wait a minute, what am I doing right now.
For a moment, Yu-jin, who had lost his mind at the sight of the child’s cute appearance, hurriedly regained his composure. The fact that such a large man was squatting down and playing house made him laugh involuntarily, but now was not the time for that. He was worried and curious about Angela’s reaction, so he quickly composed himself and peeked inside the door again.
The child’s face was clearly showing signs of embarrassment. What on earth is this person doing? When Yu-jin was about to enter the room immediately, seeing the thoughts revealed in her expression.
“Um, I think the tea leaves are old, Sebastian.”
Instantly, Yu-jin paused. It seemed that the child had decided to continue this game of house. Perhaps she thought there was no other way. It was difficult to judge which was her true intention, and on the other hand, he was also curious about Winston’s reaction, so he decided to watch a little longer for now. He didn’t forget to switch the cell phone’s camera to video mode and capture their 모습 without missing a thing.
“I see. It seems I stored them improperly. I’m sorry.”
Seeing Winston even apologizing politely, Yu-jin was shocked. The child also had the same reaction as Yu-jin. Yu-jin suddenly came into view in the child’s wide eyes, which were wide open. He could see Angela pausing for a moment after discovering Yu-jin, who was hiding behind the door and only showing part of his face. Yu-jin was momentarily flustered, but soon asked with his lips.
‘Should I go in?’
When he appealed that he could end this situation at any time if the child wanted, Angela seemed to hesitate for a moment, but soon made eye contact with Winston and opened her mouth.
“Then bring me another tea. Really, Sebastian, you can’t do anything right.”
Yu-jin unconsciously covered his mouth. The words Angela had said were exactly the lines that the young lady in the historical drama that the child liked used when scolding the servants. Once he remembered that Sebastian was also the name of the Butler who appeared in it, he finally felt relieved. It seemed okay to watch a little longer for now.
What will he say this time?
Waiting for Winston’s answer, he pricked up his ears, and soon he answered.
“I’m sorry, Princess. Shall I spend the night under the ramparts like last time?”
Yu-jin barely managed to resist the urge to slap himself on the cheek. He couldn’t believe that this was really happening.
Even Winston is immersed in the role play?
Yu-jin blinked his eyes several times with a bewildered face. It would be nice if he could see his expression, but it was a pity that he was turning his back.
Thanks to that, I can also peek like this, though.
Comforting himself like that, he continued to watch them, and Angela, who seemed to be in serious thought, began to speak.
“I’ll forgive you today, Sebastian. Instead, go to the kitchen and bring me 10 cheese rolls, along with hot chocolate.”
At those words, Winston paused. Angela pointed her finger at the door as if to show whether he was really supposed to bring them or whether this was also part of the setting.
“Hurry, quickly. I’m hungry. If you’re late, I’ll punish you again.”
“Um… I understand, I’ll be back soon.”
Winston, who had made a sound as if he was thinking for a moment, soon got up. Surprised, Yu-jin looked around and hurriedly hid in the next room.
With only a hair’s breadth of difference, Winston came out of Angela’s room, and the sound of footsteps that passed in front of the door where Yu-jin was hiding soon disappeared into the distance.
After confirming that the surroundings had become quiet, he carefully opened the door and checked outside. As expected, the wide and long hallway was empty. He immediately rushed into Angela’s room, and the child, who was sitting on a chair and catching her breath, jumped up and ran towards Yu-jin with a bright expression.
“Daddy!”
“Angie, my daughter.”
He wanted to hug the child right away, but he couldn’t because his wound was still throbbing. Instead, he knelt down and spread his arms to match the child’s height, and he hugged his daughter, who came into his arms, with all his might.
“What happened? Daddy was so surprised to see you playing house with Winston.”
When he asked with a smile, Angela moved away from Yu-jin and confessed honestly.
“Well, actually, I was playing alone, and he suddenly came and said that it wouldn’t be fun to play alone. So I told him that if Georgina was here, we would have played house together, and he asked me how to play house, so I taught him.”
“So you made him be the Butler as you told him to?”
At Yu-jin’s question, Angela nodded her head, saying yes.
“He also tied my hair, like this.”
The daughter, who spun around in his arms as if to show off, looked at Yu-jin’s face again. Yu-jin looked at his daughter’s hair with a dazed feeling. Winston braided her hair so perfectly like this? Really?”Not someone else? Winston?”
The daughter answered Yu-jin, who asked again, unable to believe it, with a serious face.
“Mr. Campbell did it for me. Isn’t it pretty? Don’t I look like a princess?”
Angela, her cheeks flushed, turned around again. Yu-jin examined his daughter’s head more closely this time as she walked slowly like a ballerina doll. What fixed her hair up was a tiara-shaped hairpin. Several large pearls were stuck around it, which was studded with numerous jewels, making her hair even more gorgeous, but Yu-jin decided not to think about whether this dazzling hairpin was real diamond. The important thing is that the child likes it and it suits her so well.
“It’s pretty, Angie. It suits you.”
Yu-jin said so with a smile and stroked the child’s flushed cheeks.
“You’ll be okay even if Daddy doesn’t watch you?”
“I’m okay.”
Angela answered bravely.
“Don’t worry, Daddy. I’m an adult now. I can do it myself.”
Yu-jin’s heart fluttered at the words of the mere four-year-old who puffed out her chest. He hugged the child tightly without saying a word and added kindly.
“Okay, I’ll be in the next room instead. Come to Daddy’s room right away if it gets hard, even a little bit.”
“Okay. Don’t worry, Daddy.”
Angela, who hugged Yu-jin, stepped away first. He was about to get up and leave, but suddenly the child called him from behind.
“Oh, and.”
As Yu-jin paused and looked back, Angela continued.
“It’s okay if I have a baby now. I’m not sad.”
Angela continued, looking at him in surprise.
“The baby is waiting hard to meet me now, right? So I’m going to love the baby when it comes out, too. Because it’s my sibling.”
Yu-jin forced a smile, thinking if his comfort had soothed the child’s heart.
“Thank you, Angie. The baby will be happy, too.”
The last words came out with great difficulty. Yu-jin hurriedly left Angela’s room, feeling like his tongue was getting heavy.
The lie is getting bigger and bigger.
As soon as he was alone, anxiety and guilt came at the same time. His heart ached uncontrollably at the situation where he was even deceiving Angela.
It’s almost Christmas.
Yu-jin checked the date and gnawed at his fingernails. It is the season when the streets are most crowded with people throughout the year. He couldn’t miss this opportunity.
I should bring it up again today.
If it doesn’t work, then I’ll have to use another method. His heart, setting the D-day while looking at the calendar, was beating madly with tension.
* * *
When Winston returned to the room with a tray of cheese rolls and hot chocolate, Angela was changing the clothes of her favorite doll. Angela, who placed the doll on top of a large toy castle that was as tall as her, did not spare praise for the Butler who faithfully performed his work.
“Good job, Sebastian. This was a success.”
Angela, who took a bite of the cheese roll, nodded as if she liked the taste. Winston smiled, confirming that the child was in a good mood.
“Thank you for your compliment, Princess.”
What on earth is this?
Complex emotions were mixed up in him in a complicated way. All afternoon schedules were canceled and all he does after coming back is playing house.
But what really makes his heart disturbed is the fact that he doesn’t hate this game. Rather, seeing Angela enjoying it, he felt relieved and even had the determination to get along with her more diligently. Winston watched the child eat her snack and opened his mouth.
“Princess, what are you going to do this Christmas? Have you decided on the gift you want?”