Chapter 100: Release of Feelings and Mended Father-Daughter Relationship
“Daddy, I’m sorry.”
Leon’s heart raced the moment those words escaped Iris’s lips, scarcely believing what he heard.
The seemingly simple phrase “I’m sorry” bears a weighty burden and proves difficult to utter.
Yet he never anticipated hearing those unbelievable words escape Iris’s lips first.
Therefore, how could he not be shocked and astonished?
Leon felt a sense of daze washing over him, as if he were caught in a dream.
As he began to drift into reverie, Iris beside him lowered her gaze and confessed, “In these past few days, I’ve realized I don’t hate you, Daddy. It’s just… I’m dissatisfied.”
“You, absent during the births of my two sisters and me, never fulfilled the role of a caring father to the three of us, evoke feelings of resentment and discontent within me,” she paused, her lips pursed in contemplation.
“Yet, I understand why I harbor such deep-seated dissatisfaction with you. It’s not solely because of your physical absence during our developmental years, but also because your absence shattered my idealized image of a father. My unmet expectations transformed into bitterness and even a hint of loathing.” Tears welled in Iris’s round eyes as she bit her lower lip.
Her small frame trembled, as if she were battling to suppress the tears on the verge of escaping.
Listening to her heartfelt confession, Leon felt as though his heart were being cleaved by a sharp blade.
He realized the enormity of his sins against Iris—no, not just Iris, but Fiona and Charlotte as well—for never standing by their side.
However, was it intentional on his part? Certainly not!
He was completely unaware that he had fathered three daughters with Liliana, the result of an incident four years ago.
Not only was he unaware of having three children with Liliana, but he also didn’t know her identity at that time.
It wasn’t until his defeat in the Desert of Chaos and subsequent arrival at this castle that he discovered he had three daughters with Liliana, the Demon Emperor of this era.
Could he truly be blamed for this?
From a rational standpoint, it was clear he couldn’t be held accountable, and one could argue it was understandable why he wasn’t present at their births.
Furthermore, given his status as a hero and Liliana’s status as a Demon Emperor—an eternal enemy—the notion of them having three children seemed even more improbable.
However, from Iris, Charlotte, and Fiona’s perspectives, he was undoubtedly viewed as a despicable and neglectful father for forsaking his family.
‘Hah, in both my lives, I never imagined I’d find myself in this situation. Fate works in mysterious ways,’ Leon muttered to himself in resignation.
Naturally, regardless of reality, Leon had no intention of revealing the truth to Iris, Charlotte, and Fiona.
He preferred to keep it to himself until the opportune moment arose.
For now, his primary concern was repairing his relationship with Iris.
With a slight sigh, he gazed at Iris, her bowed head, and restrained sobs, stirring a profound sense of guilt within him.
Observing her in this state, Leon couldn’t shake the feeling that he was the most sinful father in the world.
Having previously caused Charlotte’s tears, now witnessing Iris’s sorrow only compounded his remorse.
Is there any other father in the world who manages to bring tears to the eyes of both his daughters simultaneously, beside him?
With guilt welling up within him, Leon extended his hand and gently stroked Iris’s small head.
“You don’t need to apologize, Iris,” Leon said softly, then added, “It’s all my fault for failing as a father to all three of you.”
“Therefore, if you hate me, I won’t be angry with you; instead, I feel that’s what I deserve,” Leon expressed, pausing for a moment before releasing a small sigh.
“However, I hope you can at least forgive me for what I did to you all these years,” he added with guilt in his voice.
Upon hearing this, Iris finally couldn’t hold back her tears and threw herself at Leon, embracing him tightly.
“Sob… I forgive you and I won’t hate you anymore, Daddy! Sob… I was wrong too, and I’m sorry! Sob…” Tears flowed down her cheeks like a rushing river, her emotions breaking through like a dam breached by an unstoppable force of water.
Iris disregarded her past arrogance, focusing solely on channeling all her emotions and heart to Leon, her father.
The nights spent tossing and turning, consumed by these tangled emotions, left her feeling utterly helpless.
The prospect of finally reuniting with her father, whom she had longed for but also harbored resentment towards, left the young girl feeling ensnared and tormented by conflicting emotions.
Moreover, witnessing her two sisters happily recounting their experiences with their father and discussing new activities they enjoyed together filled her with such envy that she often cried silently, overwhelmed by her emotional turmoil.
Now that she had expressed what she had been holding back and wanted to say to Leon, it brought a sense of clarity and relaxation to her young heart and mind, a feeling she had never experienced before.
Leon offered no words, simply returning her embrace while tenderly patting her back.
As he had mentioned earlier, crying served as the best way to release pent-up emotions.
Iris’s loud cries evidenced the depth of emotion she had long suppressed and concealed.
With his eyes closed, Leon continued to offer comfort to Iris in his embrace until her crying gradually subsided to a mere whimper.
Sensing her growing calmness, Leon smiled and asked softly, “Are you feeling better?”
A moment of silence passed before Iris finally nodded slightly in his arms.
“I’m okay, daddy,” she replied softly, devoid of the cold indifference she had displayed before.
Shortly after, Iris inhaled the comforting scent of Leon’s body and nestled her small face into his belly, a gesture reminiscent of the habits of his other two daughters.
‘Do triplet daughters share the same behaviors and habits, or is this merely a coincidence?’ Leon chuckled softly to himself as he pondered.
Despite their distinct personalities, he couldn’t help but notice certain commonalities in their behaviors.
With a gentle sigh, Leon proceeded to stroke Iris’s little head, adorned with a red headband, tenderly.
“Thank you for forgiving me, Iris. I promise that I will never leave you or your two sisters again and will take care of you for the rest of my life,” Leon said firmly and resolutely, though deep down he doubted his ability to keep this vow.
After all, he was now officially an enemy of Velix and the palace, making him an enemy of the entire Holy Empire of Elysium and humanity itself.
Despite possessing unusually formidable strength at his previous peak, Leon himself was unsure whether he could defeat the Holy Empire of Elysium single-handedly.
Certainly, if he sought the aid of Liliana and the entire Demon race, he could effortlessly overthrow the Elysium Holy Empire.
Yet a premonition lingered within him, warning that such an act might incur the wrath of the gods and bring forth punishment from the Zenith Holy Sword.
Though vague, Leon couldn’t shake this unsettling premonition.
As Iris listened to Leon’s words and his vow, a happy smile spread across her face, and she hugged him even tighter.
“Thank you, daddy~ I will trust you,” Iris replied happily before adding, “Besides, even if you don’t promise, I won’t let you leave us again. If you dare to leave, I’ll arrest you and lock you up in room so you won’t even think about abandoning us, the three sisters~”
As Iris spoke, Leon’s smile instantly froze, and he felt a violent twitch at the corners of his mouth.
For some inexplicable reason, her words sent shivers down his spine.
Quickly, Leon coughed and hastened to change the subject.
“Ahem! By the way, do you and Charlotte work together?” Leon asked casually.
Iris slowly released her embrace of Leon and lifted her small head to gaze at him.
“Um! Sister Charlotte was the one who persuaded me to apologize to you and arranged for me to meet you in this garden, daddy,” Iris confessed honestly, beginning to explain everything.
After hearing the entire story, Leon gained a complete understanding.
His initial assumption was correct, yet he hadn’t anticipated Charlotte’s role in persuading Iris to reconcile with him.
‘No wonder that little girl said I’d be happy with the present,’ Leon chuckled to himself, smiling.
Indeed, his daughter was a remarkably intelligent and wise young girl!
“So that’s it…” Leon feigned a nod, as if taken aback by the revelation.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he gazed at Iris affectionately.
“By the way, in my room, I have plenty of toys, and coincidentally, your two sisters are playing a puzzle game I created. Would you like to join them?” Leon’s warm smile accompanied his invitation.
Iris’s golden eyes lit up at the suggestion, and she looked at Leon earnestly.
“Can I play too?” she asked, a hint of caution in her voice.
She was well aware of the puzzle games her father referred to because her two sisters discussed them every night, leaving her to silently listen with envy.
Now, her father was offering her the chance to play, bringing her great joy.
“Pfft! Of course! Go ahead and play with your sisters in my room,” Leon said gently as he rubbed her chubby cheeks.
‘Hmmm… Her cheeks feel just as soft as Charlotte’s but less plumper than Fiona’s,’ Leon thought to himself.
“Thank you, daddy!” Iris cheered happily, planting a kiss on Leon’s cheek before quickly hopping off his lap and darting towards his room.
Observing her enthusiastic dash, Leon smiled to himself, watching her gradually disappear from view.
“By the way, does this little girl know where my room is?” The thought crossed Leon’s mind, momentarily stunning him and sparking a hint of concern.
Yet his worries instantly dissipated when he saw that Iris was indeed heading in the direction of his room.
“Well… now I can relax a bit,” Leon remarked with a smile as he leaned back on the garden bench.
The gentle breeze and warm sunshine gradually eased all his burdens.
Just as he was relishing the tranquil atmosphere of the garden, suddenly a sea-blue butterfly landed on his lap, startling him.
“Hah? A blue butterfly?”
—————–
A/N: Finally, this arc is finished! Although this arc seems simple because it only tells Leon’s interactions with his daughters, it is actually one of the most important in the entire story.
Leon’s three little daughters, Fiona, Charlotte, and Iris, have a very important role in the entire story ahead and are not just side characters. (Sorry if I spoiled a bit, ehem!) Anyway, that’s it!
Btw, thank you, and stay tuned!
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