Chapter 89: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Absolute Dad 89
Meanwhile.
After finishing their nail treatments, Lee Soo-bin and Iriel headed to a nearby café, placing sweet drinks before them as they chatted.
"Do you like them, miss?"
At Soo-bin's question, Iriel, who had been staring intently at her own nails, nodded in response.
"They are beautiful...."
Her nails were meticulously painted in soft pink, adorned with tiny decorative ribbons and heart-shaped charms.
For some reason...
Just gazing at these dazzlingly decorated nails made her feel inexplicably at ease.
Now she understood why the noblewomen of the Anux Empire had been so obsessed with mere "nail decoration."
"See? I knew you'd like them."
Soo-bin was just as giddy—it had been years since she last had her nails done.
"I love them too."
Sitting in the café, chatting away after getting their nails done, she couldn't help but feel unusually lighthearted.
"Ah, this feels nice."
Soo-bin stretched out her delicate fingers, admiring them with a satisfied smile before speaking again.
"There's nothing like nail art for lifting your mood. How about we do this more often, just the two of us?"
After a moment of thought, she continued.
"Today was nails, so next time, maybe we could go to a salon and get our hair done? And after that, maybe some shopping in the underground mall...."
Iriel listened attentively, nodding repeatedly before replying in her usual polite tone.
"Yes, I would be honored."
Then she added.
"Her Majesty seems pleased as well."
Soo-bin gave a bittersweet smile and nodded before cautiously voicing her thoughts.
"I just never had the time to indulge in things like this before. But the truth is, I really enjoy dressing up."
Iriel replied discreetly.
"I had no idea."
It was rare for the Emperor's sister to wear makeup, unlike other noblewomen.
Her attire was similarly modest.
Always dressed simply and comfortably, no one would have guessed she had any interest in adornment.
"Then all the more reason we should do this more often—just the two of us, for 'mood-lifting.'"
Soo-bin agreed with a cheerful "Sounds good," taking a sip of her iced americano when—
"Lady Soo-bin."
Iriel's tone turned serious, prompting Soo-bin to look up.
"You consider me a friend, do you not?"
"Huh? Yes...."
"May I ask you something?"
Soo-bin blinked in confusion.
"Do you... have something troubling you?"
At that, Soo-bin hesitated.
"Where is this coming from...?"
Iriel continued.
"Lately, you seem... darker in expression. Lost in thought more often than before. I dared to ask because...."
"Ah...."
"Friends share their burdens, do they not? If you truly see me as a long-time companion...."
A brief silence passed.
"Whatever weighs on your heart, I wish you would confide in me."
After a long pause, Soo-bin finally spoke haltingly.
"It's just... I feel like Kang-jun is hiding something from me. I can't put my finger on what exactly, but it's definitely something important...."
Iriel answered immediately.
"My lord has already revealed all truths to you, as far as I recall."
"Huh?"
"If I may add... sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction."
She continued.
"Please do not forget that."
As Iriel gave vague, almost cryptic answers, Soo-bin could only mutter blankly, "Uh...."
"Milady, didn't you once say life before my lord's return was like a 'nightmare'?"
"Maybe...."
"Then you've long since awakened from that nightmare. Why do you still feel uneasy?"
Soo-bin fell into thought.
What am I so afraid of?
Now that she thought about it, everything had improved so suddenly.
And that was exactly why...
It felt like it could all go wrong just as quickly.
"Just keep living as you are now."
Iriel gestured to the peaceful cityscape and passersby visible through the café window, speaking softly.
"Isn't this peace wonderful?"
"Yes...."
"It will remain so."
She added.
"Because my lord is here."
After murmuring, "No...," Iriel smiled faintly and corrected herself.
"Because Her Highness is here."
Soo-bin found herself smiling too.
All she had done was share her worries with Iriel...
Yet her heart felt lighter already.
"Oh, right."
Soo-bin suddenly pulled out her smartphone, fiddling with it as she asked.
"Miss, should we take a selfie to commemorate today?"
"Forgive my ignorance, but what is this 'selfie' you speak of...?"
After a moment's thought, Soo-bin explained.
"Well, a selfie is a way to capture memories."
She immediately scooted next to Iriel, holding up her phone high in the air.
"Miss, could you look here for a second?"
As Iriel stared at the camera lens—
Click.
The shutter sound echoed as the photo was taken.
"I think it turned out great!"
Iriel gasped in awe, staring intently at the image now displayed on the screen.
"Lady Soo-bin, if it's not too much to ask...."
"Yes?"
"Could we... capture another memory?"
Soo-bin immediately agreed, snapping more selfies with enthusiasm.
Selfies....
At first, Iriel had been stiff and unnatural, but soon she was mimicking Soo-bin's poses.
How amusing....
She was utterly enchanted by the charm of selfies.
Bzzzzzt—
A sudden message caused the phone on the table to vibrate.
"Ah."
Kang-jun quickly grabbed it to check the notification.
[Delivery completed at your door.]
As expected, it was a message confirming that the pizza he had ordered had arrived.
Thump, thump.
His heart pounded as he glanced sideways at Seol, who was engrossed in TV Animation on the living room sofa.
Luckily, she seemed completely absorbed.
Perfect timing....
Suppressing his presence, Kang-jun slipped to the front door, retrieved the pizza, and stealthily brought it to the kitchen.
"Ouch, hot, hot...."
He transferred the piping-hot pizza onto a large tray, then hid the box out of sight to cover his tracks.
"Success...."
He called out to Seol.
"Seol, the pizza's ready."
"Wow!" she exclaimed, sprinting to the kitchen to inspect the pizza they had "made" together.
"How, how...."
Clasping her tiny hands together, she exaggeratedly declared.
"It looks sooo yummy...."
Kang-jun grabbed a fork and knife, cutting a slice into bite-sized pieces for her.
"Here."
Seol opened her mouth like a baby bird, eagerly accepting the forkfuls of pizza.
Nom, nom....
Watching her chew diligently with her tiny mouth, Kang-jun cautiously asked.
"Seol, is it good?"
"Yummy!" she shouted with gusto.
Beep, beep, beep—
The door lock disengaged, and soon the family members who had been out began filing in.
"Auntie! Miss! Doggy!"
Seol dashed to the entrance, tugging at Soo-bin's sleeve and chattering away.
"Auntie, wanna eat pizza too?"
"Pizza? Since when?"
"Seol and Daddy made it!"
Soo-bin blinked. "Really?" She stepped into the kitchen.
"Wow, it looks legit?"
Her eyes widened at the sight of the combination pizza on the tray. Kang-jun scratched his head awkwardly.
"E-everyone, dig in...."
Seol, already seated and munching on a slice, tilted her head.
"But how come...?"
All eyes turned to her as she muttered seriously.
"How come there's corn now?"
Indeed, the pizza was now inexplicably topped with corn—despite her having supposedly eaten it all earlier.
"Th-that's...."
Kang-jun broke into a cold sweat, unable to conjure an excuse, when Soo-bin intervened.
"Seol, how was daycare?"
Distracted, Seol immediately forgot her question and excitedly recounted her day.
"I studied with friends!"
"Were you scared?"
"Nope! 'Cause Seol's brave!"
She added.
"And Seol made a new friend!"
"Really?"
"Yep! Her name's Banana."
This had puzzled Soo-bin since pickup.
"Her name is really 'Banana'?"
"Yep, Banana."
"How can someone be named Banana...?"
Meanwhile, Marbas sniffed the air, creeping toward the firmly shut oven.
Remembering the "goul corpse residue" still inside, Kang-jun swiftly blocked him with his foot.
"Whimper...."
Later, Crabsley returned home after his usual shift at the convenience store.
"Ta-da!"
He waved a plastic bag cheerfully.
"I brought plenty of expired goods today! Shall we feast?"
The response was lukewarm.
"Eh, not really feeling it."
"Elder, I'm also...."
"Your Grace, I'm already full...."
Crabsley blinked.
"What's with everyone...?"
Then Seol came running.
"Grandpa, welcome back!"
She fidgeted with her fingers, whispering guiltily.
"Grandpa, Seol did a bad thing...."
"Hm?"
"Daddy and I made pizza...."
She added.
"It was so yummy Seol forgot to save some for Grandpa...."
Crabsley muttered, "No way...," before scanning the room with accusing eyes.
"Haha, surely you didn't all eat pizza without me?"
Silence.
"Good heavens...."
He dropped the bag dramatically, kneeling as if his country had fallen.
"You're all so cruel."
"What are you talking about?"
"We left some for you."
"Liar!"
He rushed to the kitchen, flinging open the fridge.
"Not here... where's the pi-zza hidden...?"
He checked the dining table.
"Huh? Not here either...."
Finally, his gaze landed on the closed oven.
"Aha! Here it is—!"
He yanked the oven door open triumphantly.
"Wh-what is this...?!"
Staring at the "goul corpse residue" inside, Crabsley took a deep breath.
Feeling the stares behind him, he slowly turned.
His eyes met Kang-jun's stern gaze.
"Y-your Majesty... what horrific experiment led to this... failure?"
Kang-jun answered solemnly.
"Hard to believe, but that's pizza."
"...Huh?"
"Her Highness and I made it with care."
It was the dough they had prepared earlier—now resembling a decomposed goul corpse after being baked at 220°C.
With Seol watching, Kang-jun had no choice but to pretend to bake it.
The result? A charred, unrecognizable mess.
Kang-jun glanced at the living room before adding grimly.
"Making pizza... isn't easy."
"So...."
"I failed and secretly ordered one."
Finally understanding, Crabsley nodded sagely.
"So that was the secret...."
Kang-jun added.
"Handle the cleanup."
Crabsley gulped.
"Haha, you mean... toss it in the trash, right...?"
Kang-jun shook his head.
"Eat. All of it."
"Wh-what?!"
"Too many witnesses."
"B-but—"
"Take one for the team."
Under Kang-jun's urging, Crabsley reluctantly tore off a piece and forced it down.
"Gag...."
The mushy texture made him retch. Kang-jun patted his shoulder.
"Next time, I'll make a proper one."
Crabsley looked up in horror.
Somehow, that sounded like a threat.
As usual...
It was a peaceful afternoon.