âDaddy!â
âThereâs no way she didnât hear it, but she still greets me with her usual look. The red eyes facing me are so clear. Maybe thatâs why I canât open my mouth easily. I canât ask her if she saw it.â
âWhatâs the matter?â
âItâs nothing you should worry about.â
He even got surprised by that cold answer. He didnât mean to say that, but for a moment, he was embarrassed and shut his mouth, but fortunately, Ria didnât seem to care much. She just tilted her head in wonder.
âReally? Well, then I worried for nothing.â
He feels relieved at her usual appearance. Then he felt more miserable with that smile.
In the beginningâ¦it was uncomfortable seeing those eyes full of complete trust and endless affection.
âYou donât know what kind of person I am, and you donât know if Iâll kill you.
She gives a endless trust to a man who could easily break her by just give some strength in his hands. What a stupid thing to do.
But then when those moments that he wants to destroy something, her small breath calms him down. He didnât press it on purpose, but it slowly dies down.
âWhat, were you arguing with your subjects again?â
ââ¦Iâve been thinking things whenever I see these eyes.â
âI want to seem like a good person. No, I want to show her only good things. What do I call this feeling? I have no idea what this is. But one thing is for sure. I donât want to let those eyes see any bloodshed.â
ââWhy, do you want to be a good father in front of your daughter?ââ
âI can hear a sneer from inside, yet I canât deny it. Right. I donât want to betray the trust shining inside those eyes.â
âYou were throwing another tantrum again, werenât you?â
It is funny to see the child nodding like if she know something. Caitel finally let go of his hardened expression. When Caitel finally smiled, Ria approached and held his hands as if she was excited.
He paused since that hand was bloody earlier, Caitel soon found himself melting into the warm warmth of his hand.
âBut Daddy, you knowâ¦I hope youâll be a good person to everyone.â
The child looks up with bright eyes.
The pure gaze seems to tighten around his throat.
âWhy? Do you feel ashamed if Iâm a bad person?â
The child shook her head with a smile when he said a sharp, not sincere words.
âNo.â
The child was so beautifully bright at that moment.
âBecause I donât want to see a person I love being hated.â
âHer pure smile shines in my heart. Iâve never wanted anything like this before, yet this child makes me want to become a better person. Itâs the first time that Iâve wanted to become a good person.â