03.

Four years later.

A large ship was heading toward Erikson Island. It wasn’t the regular route that traveled once a day between the port and the island, but a noble’s private vessel.

“Dad, hold me please.”

Isabel stretched her short arms toward Dain.

“Want to watch the seagulls?”

“Yes!”

Dain lifted Isabel up, supporting the child’s bottom with one hand, and walked toward the ship’s rail. Then he showed the child the seagulls flying over the sea.

“Wow, this is fun.”

Isabel flapped both legs and spread her arms to both sides, imitating a seagull in her delight.

“Dad, I wish I could fly in the sky too.”

“That’s a bit……. Instead, we can climb up tree branches.”

“But I still can’t climb up trees.”

Isabel pouted.

“You’ll get good at it soon.”

“Like big brother Remy?”

“That’s right.”

While Dain and Isabel looked at the sea, Liana and Remy sat on the sofa in the cabin reading books.

“Remy, what book are you reading these days?”

“I’m reading a history book of the Empire.”

“I see.”

Liana looked at her son with a pleased expression.

The son she had raised alone with difficulty was now a dependable ten-year-old. He had grown taller and more robust compared to his peers. And taking completely after his father, he studied diligently and was good at everything—swordsmanship, archery, horseback riding.

“Do you remember when you were little?”

“I don’t remember when I was very young, but I remember when I first met Father.”

“You didn’t know he was your father. How did you feel when you first saw him?”

Liana’s light blue eyes sparkled.

She leaned her upper body toward Remy. She was curious about what Dain had looked like to Remy.

“I didn’t know at first, but I could feel that Father really treated me well. So later I thought maybe that gentleman was the dad I’d been waiting for.”

Liana was so surprised her heart dropped to learn that young Remy had sensed Dain was his dad.

‘Blood truly can’t be deceived.’

This was the first time she was hearing Remy’s true feelings.

The child had recognized his own father before she had regained her memory.

“Even if we’d met later, I probably would have recognized Father. And Father would have been the same.”

Remy spoke in a serious tone, sounding mature.

Liana recalled when she had reunited with Dain on Erikson Island.

How much must he have wanted to tell their son that he was his dad……. Honey had dripped from Dain’s eyes as he looked at the child back then.

Sometimes sad, sometimes happy—that kind of gaze.

“I see.”

Liana moved closer to Remy and hugged the child tightly. She felt proud and grateful for the thoughtful Remy.

The place they were heading now was Erikson Island, where Remy had been born and raised. They had originally intended to visit often, but it hadn’t been easy.

This was the first time since Isabel was born. They hadn’t been able to go at all when the baby was young, but this time they were on their way to a family vacation to commemorate their 5th wedding anniversary.

Hoooot— Hoooot—

Just then, the ship’s horn sounded vigorously.

“We must be arriving.”

Remy’s face brightened, seeming happy to come to his hometown.

“It seems so.”

Remy smiled broadly and opened the cabin door to go out on deck.

Liana also followed the child outside. The refreshing smell of the sea filled her nose.

“Isabel, were you watching the sea?”

“Yes, look at that, Mom.”

Isabel pointed at the island that had appeared before their eyes while feeding the seagulls.

“That’s where Mom and Big Brother lived.”

“Really? What about Isabel?”

Isabel tilted her head.

“You weren’t born yet then.”

Dain smiled and stroked Isabel’s head.

“Oh……”

Isabel nodded for now with a puzzled face.

When they disembarked at the dock, familiar faces could be seen.

“Welcome. Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”

“It’s good to see you. Aunt Mary.”

Liana hugged Aunt Mary and caught up after a long time.

“Remy, do you remember Aunt Mary?”

“Yes, I do.”

Remy stood in a dignified posture but was soon pulled into Aunt Mary’s embrace. Remy shook his head, embarrassed, but stayed quietly in her arms.

“My goodness. You’re taller than me. How did you grow so much?”

“He’s grown a lot, hasn’t he?”

“What’s the secret?”

“Just eat a lot. Hahaha.”

Remy answered with a laugh.

Helen and the villa servants had also come out to the dock to warmly welcome them.

⁕⁕⁕

A few days later. A child with white hair and light blue eyes toddled alone through the forest of Erikson Island.

“Krrr.”

The girl flicked her tongue and looked at a bird sitting on a tree branch. The girl’s gaze was quite sharp.

“Birdie, play with me.”

Isabel’s current interest was flying in the sky.

The memory of riding the ship when coming to the island was really good too. Being held by her father on the ship’s deck and watching the seagulls flying in the blue sky made her feel like she was flying in the sky too.

Recalling that moment made Isabel feel as good as if she were really flying.

The frightened bird flapped its wings and moved to another tree.

“I said play with me.”

The girl ran toward the next tree. The girl’s shadow headed deeper and deeper into the forest.

⁕⁕⁕

“Isabel. Where did that child go? She was just here a moment ago.”

Liana had been making strawberry cookies in the kitchen after a long time and walked around the villa looking for her daughter.

“Did Isabel disappear again? I’ll go find her.”

“Would you do that?”

Remy had been practicing archery and swordsmanship with Dain at the training ground and went back outside the villa. He had to quickly bring Isabel back before his father got angry.

“She’s so little but really diligent.”

Isabel went outside whenever she had the chance. She transformed into a baby snake and slipped out, so Liana and the servants were fooled into thinking the child was in her room.

Remy came outside the villa and flicked his tongue into the air to catch Isabel’s pheromones. Her pheromones came on the gentle breeze.

He immediately ran toward the nearby forest.

Under a tree in the forest, a small white snake with light blue eyes wriggled and struggled to climb up the tree. But the speed was extremely slow, as if it was too difficult.

Remy hurriedly removed the white snake from the tree and picked it up. Then the white snake soon changed into a small child.

“Isabel, why did you come outside?”

Remy stood the child up properly and scolded her with his hands on his waist.

“Big brother.”

“Mother will scold you if she finds out.”

Remy had grown up on Erikson Island and knew bird species well. Large birds caught and ate young snakes, so one had to be careful.

“You’re still young, so you can’t come outside. If you’re in baby snake form, a big bird will take you.”

“But I want to play with birds. Why would they eat me?”

Isabel looked up at him with an innocent face.

At times like this, she looked exactly like their mother. Unlike their gentle mother, Isabel was a child who really didn’t listen.

“That’s……. You’ll understand when you’re bigger.”

Remy shrugged his shoulders.