Chapter 194 : Dream (1)
Dream (1)
'It's dark.'
In a deep, dense darkness with no discernible end.
'I can't breathe.'
Ian felt a suffocating tightness in his dazed spirit.
A stifling sensation, as if buried in a bottomless swamp.
― Ian! Iaaaan!
From somewhere, a desperate voice called out to him.
'Who is that...?'
A nervousness stabbed at his heart, as though he must get up immediately and run toward that voice.
But he couldn't muster any strength in his whole body.
He felt so lethargic and heavy he couldn't even move a finger...
Above all, he was overwhelmingly sleepy.
'Ahh...'
It was then, while his consciousness continued to sink endlessly.
― Ian!
.
.
― Dad! Daaaad!
At some point, the desperately crying voice transformed into a bright and bouncy one that struck his ear.
"Dad! Get up!"
Someone was shaking Ian's shoulder vigorously.
"... Mmm?"
Ian forced open his heavy eyelids.
― Tweet tweet! Tweet!
Warm, dazzling sunlight.
Birds chirping cheerfully.
As his blurry vision gradually cleared, he saw a little girl standing with her back to the sunlight, looking down at him.
"Dad! If you sleep here, a bear will come and take you away!"
A young girl with both hands planted firmly on her waist and her cheeks puffed up, scolding him with nagging words.
"Really! What will you do if I get married someday?"
"... Huh?"
Ian blinked at the girl.
Hair as dark as tidal flat mud.
Jet-black eyes like obsidian.
A child who looked exactly like him.
'Who is she?'
Oh.
'My daughter.'
Ian's one and only daughter, ari.
'... Just how deeply did I fall asleep?'
Ian swept a hand across his face.
Apparently, the spring sunshine had been too warm, lulling him into a very deep sleep.
Otherwise, there's no way he wouldn't recognize his precious, beautiful daughter even for a second.
"My dear daughter!"
Ian immediately reached out and pulled Ari into a tight hug.
"Kyaa! Dad!"
"As expected, the only one in the world who worries about me is my lovely daughter!"
"Ooh! Dad, your beard is prickly! Get off!"
Ari giggled, pushing at Ian's chest with her small hands.
"Stop messing around and get up! Mom told me to call you for breakfast!"
Ari grabbed Ian's big hand firmly and pulled him up.
"Oh, is it already that late...? What's for breakfast to make my daughter so impatient today?"
"Chicken potato soup! Dad, it's our favorite! Hurry! Hurry! Or the soup will get cold!"
Ari hopped up and down, urging Ian.
"All right, all right. Wow! My daughter is strong! Dad's going to fly away!"
Ian brushed the dirt from his pants and matched steps with his daughter.
Bright sunlight, wind pleasantly grazing his cheek, the small warmth of his daughter's hand in his palm.
It was peaceful.
But.
'... Hmm.'
Ian furrowed his brows.
Everything was peaceful and happy, but still, a sense of unease lingered in a corner of his heart.
'It feels like I forgot... something really important.'
A vague emptiness at his waist.
A feeling as if there was a big hole somewhere in his mind.
It was as if there was something he must do, or he'd lost something important.
"Dad? What's wrong?"
As Ian slowed his steps, ari tilted her head, looking up at him.
"Uh... I think I just woke up, maybe that's why, but it feels like I forgot something important and just can't remember what."
Ian pressed at his temple.
Ari, seeing her father, rolled her eyes for a moment, then clapped her hands as if she'd come up with something.
"Aha! I think I know!"
"Huh? You do?"
"Yeah! Today's the day you're supposed to milk the goat! I was waiting to help you, but you never came so I fell asleep too!"
"Ah...!"
Ian's eyes widened.
"That's right...! I was on the morning milking duty today!"
"See? I told you! You're helpless without me! Ufuufu!"
As Ari puffed her chest out with pride, Ian awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
Perhaps that lingering discomfort was just from skipping a household chore.
"Maybe I'm catching a cold. Today feels weird. ... Did Mom get mad because I forgot my job?"
Ian asked cautiously, watching Ari.
"No? Mom didn't seem mad at all. She just said Dad must be tired and to let you sleep."
"Aha... that's a relief."
Ian sighed in relief, pressing a hand to his chest.
"Your mother is truly an angel. She's never gotten angry at me."
"That's right! Mom is the best! When I grow up, I'll be as beautiful and gentle as Mom!"
Ian smiled lovingly at his daughter.
"Our Ari will definitely be as beautiful as her mom."
Even though Ari had inherited Ian's dull hair and eye color, her delicate, mysterious features were a perfect match for her mother's.
When she grew up, the boys in town would swarm around her.
Maybe even a city noble would hear of her beauty and send a proposal.
He'd have to start worrying about that already.
"We're here! Home!"
Coming out of the forest path, a cozy and pretty cabin came into view.
Smoke curling from the chimney, through the open window came the rich aroma of savory soup.
"......"
Ian stopped in front of the house, staring at the cabin with a strange expression.
'... It's like this again.'
Once again, that unfamiliar feeling crept in.
His own house, to which he returned every day.
A home he'd built with his own hands, cutting down the trees himself.
But today, this house, this scene, felt so strange.
It was an awkwardness like standing in front of someone else's home.
"Mom! I brought Dad!"
Ari ran ahead, flinging the door open and dashing inside.
His wife's kind voice welcomed their daughter from within.
"My princess. Good work. Wash your hands first, okay?"
"Yes!"
Hearing that voice, the odd discomfort that had been disturbing Ian's heart melted away like snow.
'Maybe I'm just groggy from sleep.'
Ian splashed cold water on his face, breathing in deeply.
He also brushed off dirt and grass from his clothes.
Even though he'd been married for years and now had a child so grown, he still didn't want to show a messy appearance in front of his wife.
His wife was always dazzlingly beautiful, and he wanted to be her reliable, handsome husband forever.
After tidying his clothes, Ian smiled as he opened the door and stepped inside.
"Honey, I'm home."
The house radiated gentle warmth.
Appetizing food filled the table.
His wife, wearing an apron, turned from the pot she was stirring.
"Welcome home, dear."
Silky, shining silver hair.
Clear blue eyes, like a bright sky.
A beauty impossible to craft from any jewel in the world.
His beloved wife, Lilith.
"You must be tired. Shall I get you a cool towel?"
Setting down the ladle, she walked over on tiptoes, cupping Ian's cheek.
― Smack.
Their lips met softly and parted.
"Just sit down. I'll serve you some soup first."
Lilith stroked Ian's chest with a smile in her eyes.
At that moment, the very last bit of discomfort in Ian's chest melted away completely, like spring snow.
'That's right... This is my home.'
The place with his beloved wife Lilith, and his cherished daughter Ari.
A precious haven he wouldn't trade for anything in the world.
Feeling his heart overflow with happiness, Ian sank comfortably into the chair his wife pulled out for him.
* * *
Time in the peaceful forest cabin passed swiftly.
Ari had grown another year, and the couple now had a second precious baby.
One deep night.
After the children had fallen soundly asleep, the couple spent a secret, passionate time together.
"Haa..."
After the heat had died down, Ian caught his breath, looking at his wife who lay in his arms.
Lilith's sweat-damp silver hair clung to her forehead, making her more beautiful than ever.
Ian gently stroked his beloved wife's panting, rounded shoulders.
Just then—
"... I'm sorry."
A small, trembling voice slipped from Lilith's lips.
"Hmm?"
Ian raised his eyebrows.
"Sorry about what?"
Lilith pressed her face deeper against Ian's broad chest, mumbling.
"Just... Everything. I'm sorry."
"......"
Ian's brow creased slightly.
Lately, Lilith apologized like this more and more often.
Like someone who'd committed a great wrong.
Or like someone about to leave at any moment, with a sad voice.
Whenever she apologized, Ian felt a strange discomfort he couldn't quite explain.
'It's happening again.'
A sense of having forgotten something important.
An unpleasant discomfort, as if a vital memory had been forcibly cut out of his mind.
But as always, this discomfort would soon dissolve like mist the moment he embraced Lilith and breathed in her sweet scent.
"What is there to apologize for? There's nothing for you to feel sorry about."
Ian chased away the fading unease, hugging Lilith even tighter around the waist.
"All I ever feel is gratitude for you."
"Truly? Even if I had done something... would you never hate me?"
Lilith lifted her head slightly, meeting Ian's eyes.
In her blue, moist gaze, fear and deep affection mingled and undulated.
Ian met her eyes gently, answering resolutely.
"I could never hate you. No matter what you've done, it doesn't matter."
Ian's large hand warmly cupped Lilith's cheek.
"You are the woman I love. The happiness I feel now... would have been impossible without you. I'm happy. Thanks to you, Lilith."
"Ahh..."
At Ian's sincere confession, the tears that had welled in Lilith's eyes finally flowed down her cheeks—Drrrrip.
"Wh-why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?"
Ian, flustered, wiped her tears with his fingertips.
Whenever his usually calm and gentle wife cried so sadly, Ian would become extremely anxious.
"Sob... Huuh..."
Lilith pressed her face to Ian's hand, weeping miserably.
"Just one more day..."
"Huh?"
"Please, just one more day... Allow me to be with you, Ian..."
"......"
Ian couldn't understand what Lilith meant.
Just one more day, she said.
Almost as if everything would end tomorrow...
That sense of unease returned, deep in his mind.
But for now, calming his heartbroken wife was more important.
He hugged Lilith tightly, placing a gentle kiss on her hair.
"Don't be silly. Not just one day, but for decades, no, for a lifetime— even the next— I'll stay by your side. Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."
"Huu, uuh..."
At Ian's tender whisper, Lilith said nothing more, only squeezed his back as if she were desperately clinging to a dream she never wanted to wake from.