Chapter Text
Why is looking after a child so hard?
But the way they call you "Dad" or "Mom" is always sweet.
"Pure Vanilla! Everything's okay, right?"
White Lily glanced at Pure Vanilla, who had his eyes glued to the papers during the meeting; witches knows when he had last gotten a decent night's sleep.
"Pure Vanilla?"
Silence.
"PURE VANILLA!?"
He lifted his head from the papers.sighed then looked at his friends.
"sorry...I think I got distracted."
Hollyberry giggled,"Did you get distracted? I think White Lily has been calling out to you for twenty minutes." She looked at Blueberry Vanilly Milk, who was playing with her teddy bear on the floor, then turned to Pure Vanilla: "When was the last time you slept? Please, don't worry us."
Pure Vanilla sighed. "Look, I'm really... I'm really fine. I didn't mean to worry you; I'm okay—"
"You 'definitely' not okey,we can see that!Tell us truth!"
Golden Cheese then crossed her arms.Waiting for answer.
"If you don't tell the truth, we'll seriously worry even more."
Dark Cacao nodded in agreement but said nothing.
"Okay...I think it's been a week-"
"HUh!?"
"or two."
...
Golden Cheese laughed, "That was a good joke; tell the truth."
Pure Vanilla sat Blueberry Vanilly Milk—who was tugging at his robe—on his lap.
"I am not joking?."
"Um... if you like, we can look after this"
Golden Cheese pointed to Blueberry Vanilla Milk.
"She has a name"
"I know,I wouldn't call something that resembles that beast by their name."
Silence fell over the room; Pure Vanilla stood up, papers in one arm and his daughter in the other.
"Even if she resembles Shadow Milk, she is my daughter; and until you all show her respect—or at least call her by her name—I...Idon't think I'll be attending these meetings. I have you all, but she... she doesn't even have a 'complete' family. I don't blame my daughter, and I don't blame Shadow Milk either...I suppose I'm the one responsible... *sigh*..."
He turned around and looked at his friends; he expected anger from them, but the opposite happened; they looked at him with respect and understanding.
White Lily stepped forward and smiled. "You can come to us whenever you like—I want you to know that. Also, I suggest you hire a nanny for Blueberry Vanilly Milk; we want you to look after your own health, too." Then, she tucked one of the bellflowers she had brought with her into Blueberry Vanilly Milk's hair. "This is a small gift from me; I hope I can prepare something better by the time I visit again."
They were all gone; he was alone again.He wanted to cry but didn't want to appear weak.He went to his bedroom and sat on the bed, placing Blueberry Vanilla Milk on the floor and giving her a few toys to keep her occupied... It had been six months... Six months since Shadow Milk had abandoned her daughter as if she were something worthless... Whenever he remembered that day, he wanted to scream and ask why it had happened... Why had he left her? Had he really not loved his daughter? His mind was filled with a whirlwind of thoughts.
...He looked at his daughter and felt a pang of pity; she had been abandoned when she was only six weeks old, yet she had come to her true home—to her father's side. That day—amidst those lilies—he had sworn an oath. ...He had vowed to always protect her; his heart had ached when he looked at that tiny face. The day he brought her into his palace, the day he held her hand... he could never forget the trust in his baby's eyes as she gazed at him... as if she already knew he was the only family she had. He did not know what she had endured in that Spire, but a feeling deep within him told him that nothing good had happened there.
And there it was again... that little face looking at me, and... oh... Is she holding out her teddy bear to me? I checked my face; it was wet... had I been crying without realizing it, or was it sweat?... I took the teddy bear and smiled; my daughter smiled back. I would give the world to see that sweet smile every day...♡
"Um... why are we here, Master Shadow Milk?"
"YEAH!!!I WANNA GO!"
*hadow Milk slapped his forehead with his palm "Candy Apple, shut up, or you'll turn into a card! What do you expect us to do!? Anyway... we might have handed the kid over to Pure Vanilla, but her personality is definitely just like mine! Plus, our powers are the same—I've told you this countless times!"
Black Sapphire shoved Candy Apple: "I told you to shut up so many times!" He looked at Shadow Milk: "Master... I said we shouldn't have left her to P—"
"Black Sapphire... are you questioning me?" Shadow Milk turned around and looked straight into his eyes. "Wow... you're actually questioning me!?"
"No master..."
"Good."
Shadow Milk looked at the castle again. "Why won't she come out? It's not like I'm going to kidnap his daughter! He's acting as if she's someone important!"
And the moment he had been waiting for arrived; they stepped outside, and he looked at his daughter... Are you seriously trying to make my daughter just like yourself, Pure Vanilla? Even her attire—a white dress like those villagers wear, and... a bellflower? That half-baked cookie, White Lily, has given her something again... She is MY daughter! They are trying to make her just like them—
"Hello,Shadow Milk."
...should I turn back?...
"SHADOW MILK!WHY!?"
Trying to be angry?phew,I am master of deceit,I won't fall for that
"ANSWER ME!You've been nowhere to be found for six months, and... you want to come back *now*!? What is your problem!? What kind of parent abandons their child—"
"I WAS SO SCARED OKEY!?LEAVE ME ALONE!YOU TRAITOR!YOU LEFT ME AND TRICKED ME AND...AND YOU..YOU..!"
He looked at his daughter... Wow, Shadow Milk... you even scared your own daughter. He looked at Pure Vanilla. "We were just getting supplies and passing through here—*lie*—and don't try to stop me now! ...And get that ugly kid out of my sight."
*Slap*...
Shadow Milk clutched his face... that scum... who does he think he's slapping?!
"YOU-"
"Don't you dare to call MY daughter ugly..."
Shadow Milk clenched his fist and looked at Candy Apple and Black Sapphire standing behind him, then at Blueberry Vanilly Milk—he was the one who had given her that name, just as he had named the others. His daughter’s hair was the color of a deep, dark blueberry; her body was as delicate as milk; she had possessed such softness when she first came out of the oven... and then, the betrayal... He could not forget; he would never forget a thing.
"She is my daughter too,stop being selfish..."
"I am not being selfish...I am just being a father,which you not."
"Stop.talking.NOW!"
Pure Vanilla looked at Shadow Milk... whether it was pity or a challenge, no one could say. "I am simply stating the truth, Shadow Milk... truths you do not wish to hear. You can never be a perfect father... you know that, don't you? Though I suppose you don't even care; you abandoned your daughter among the flowers with nothing but a ridiculous note... you are truly heartless."
"I loved her..,when you were truthless recluse."
"But you don't love her right now...but I love her FOREVER.."
...
Shadow Milk paused for a moment, then let out a laugh that shook the everywhere "You'll regret saying those words! You can't take my daughter away from me! She still loves me! And she won't be like you—DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?"
Then they left... Pure Vanilla couldn't tell where they were going. He looked at his daughter; she seemed to recognize Shadow Milk by his voice—after all, she had lived with him. As Shadow Milk walked away, she began to cry... perhaps she wanted her father back, or her older brother. Pure Vanilla let out a deep sigh; it seemed he would have to reunite this family—that way, his daughter might find happiness. But then again, who would want a father who had abandoned his own child?
Four years had passed—four challenging years for Pure Vanilla, involving the demands of raising and feeding a child, and, worst of all, the "terrible twos." Yet, in the end, he had successfully raised a healthy daughter; she had grown into a truly adorable girl—kind, helpful, and respectful. Shadow Milk had been completely wrong; her personality was the exact opposite of his, and Pure Vanilla was delighted by that.
Blueberry Vanilly Milk got out of bed; it was her birthday, and she was overjoyed. A few maids got her all dressed up and brought her down to the kitchen to see her father. Pure Vanilla was drinking his coffee and smiled when he saw his daughter; Blueberry Vanilly Milk squealed with delight and ran to him. "PAPA!! DOES THIS DRESS FIT ME? DO I LOOK PRETTY?"
Pure Vanilla smiled and kissed his daughter on the cheek. "You are the most beautiful girl in Earthbread, my dear."
The kitchen was filled with soft laughter; at that moment, Pure Vanilla was more peaceful and happy than ever before, and she wished for this moment to last forever.
It was midday, and as usual, Blueberry Vanilly Milk had gone outside and was wandering among the flowers; however, a blue cookie approached her. Blueberry Vanilly Milk was captivated by their appearance: "Why do you look so much like me? Could it be... are you my mother!?"
Cookie just smiled. "I don't know, but you can call me Lady in Azure."
Evening fell, and everyone had brought gifts for the princess of the Vanilla Kingdom; upon seeing the presents, Blueberry Vanilly Milk offered a charming "thank you" and opened them. Lady In Azure came forward to present her gift—it looked like a small blue gem, yet it was exactly like the one her father possessed. The girl looked at the woman and asked, "What is this?" tilting her head in curiosity—just like him...
Lady in Azure smiled. "Don't show this to your father... I'll tell you the truth in three years... See you ...my daughter.."
Blueberry Vanilly Milk was curious, but she put the jewel in her bag and returned to the guests.
Wonder what this jewel was used for?
★