SWNOVELXO Chapter 207.2
* * *
At ten, Leticia caught a severe cold. Collen wasn’t home that day. After suffering all day, Leticia murmured.
“I’m sorry, Zion. Keep it a secret from Dad.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He’d hate to see me being a bother. I’m usually strong. I don’t know why I caught a cold.”
Realizing that the feverish child was being so considerate, Zion felt a heavy weight on his heart.
* * *
Leticia, who had been sick all night, felt a cold hand on her forehead. Collen came to Leticia’s room after hearing about her from Zion.
“I’m sorry, Dad.”
“What do you mean?”
“You hate seeing me sick. I didn’t want to remind you of your childhood… so… I’m fine.”
Collen paused.
Such a mature child can be heartbreaking.
He sighed. Leticia was worried about triggering Collen’s trauma.
How much did she go through to get here? How much did she grow, looking out for others?
“Leticia.”
Collen whispered, covering her eyes.
“When you’re sick, I see nothing else but your pain.”
Perhaps, she was sent to make me a father.
‘It feels like Popo is scolding me.’
Because I hadn’t been a proper father to Jade. Maybe the deceased Popo sent Leticia.
“So go to sleep. I will always protect you.”
Leticia’s breathing became steady.
Without thinking of changing his blood-stained clothes, Collen gently stroked Leticia’s forehead.
Was that the moment? I realized that there’s something wrong in my life.
‘But still, nothing will change in my life.’
How could one child change anything? Collen thought back then.
* * *
Leticia became an adult, and it became harder for Collen to commit murders.
Then, on a day he stopped killing and starved for a year, although his body suffered, his mind felt at ease.
He looked at Leticia. As always, she sat on a soft carpet in Collen’s library, reading.
For this moment, he could admit that the life he lived was wrong.
Leticia began to nod off as the candlelight dimmed.
“Leticia, sometimes you…”
“Dad?”
“You seem like the child sent to save me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Never mind, go to sleep.”
A warm hand covered Leticia’s head. The whispering sound of Collen was pleasant just before falling asleep.
“I didn’t know… that I’d cherish you so much…”
Leticia smiled.
“I like being your daughter.”
Thank you for protecting me. So… I’ll protect you too. Leticia thought with a hint of the old sorrow she once felt.
It was the love of a family for the father who changed her life.
* * *
“Dad, what’s the biggest mistake you’ve ever made in your life?”
“…”
“Dad?”
“Why ask that all of a sudden?”
“Just curious. I heard that Marianne almost lost her divine power in an accident and Jade almost failed in his experiment and couldn’t become a wizard. Is it common for those with powers?”
“Oh, I remember. Both Marianne and Jade collapsed at the same time, causing chaos in the Duchy. I was sick too then.”
“Why were you sick?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I tried to terminate the contract with the demons but failed.”
“Oh, you did mention sending the demons away.”
“I almost naturally died then. It wasn’t a mistake, more like failing to die… In hindsight, that was foolish too.”
“So even you make mistakes.”
Leticia tilted her head.
“But you said three people collapsed simultaneously? And they were drained of both magic and divine power?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s strange… It’s like the goddess said…”
“The goddess?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Huh, I wonder…
Various pieces of the puzzle seemed to fit together in Leticia’s mind, but she chose to ignore them.
“Are you feeling well now?”
“As you can see?”
“Don’t do anything reckless again.”
“Okay.”
Leticia smiled.
Her Dad had indeed changed. But what did it matter? Her family and Collen were no longer suffering. That was all that mattered to her.
So Leticia was happy.