One Step Forward to the Flower Path

Ivanna’s eyes glistened at the sight of the mille-feuille.  Layered pastries with sweet jam and cream filling in between.  At the top, Ivanna’s favorite cream and strawberries were decorated.

Gulp. 

The sound of her swallowing the accumulated saliva in her mouth was very loud.  Still, it wasn’t enough that it seemed like it would spill out of her mouth.

Ivanna tapped at her dad’s legs, where she was occupying and sitting on today like always, and asked him to quickly give her the delicious-looking food.  Dante gladly grabbed the fork.

Crispy.

“Wow.”

As soon as he put the fork on the pastry it didn’t collapse but broke with a delicious sound.  The fork didn’t stop and cut through until the bottom of the pastry.  With her dad’s perfect hand, the cut piece of mille-feuille didn’t crumble even a little bit on the fork.  Ivanna excitedly wobbled herself up and down.

“Ah. Ah.”

The small mouth opened wide, asking for the pastry.  Dante carefully fed Ivanna while holding his hand under her chin to prevent food from spilling.  Even though it was quite a big piece, Ivanna ate everything.

“Is it delicious?”

Both her eyes sparkled prettier.  Ivanna shook her body and nodded her head boisterously as if she had no time to answer.  The whole family likes sweets, but this little one really enjoyed it the most.

The good tea time in the family became a very important routine that no one could ever miss.  Its real intention was to not only fatten Ivanna but also give her emotional stability.  The treatment was very slow because her condition was serious and her mental problems had to be considered as well.  The stiff bandages that were wrapped around both of her arms to fix the bones were already removed a month ago, but that didn’t mean that she was already cured.

Snack time was the most important.  It was the only time for Ivanna, who had to endure a terribly painful treatment, to relax.  It was also a desperate time for Dante and the twins, who could not do anything other than just stay by her side.

“Ivanna, arm.”

After eating three delicious mille-feuilles and emptying the juice clean, Ivanna reached out to Dante.  The big hand held the little arm carefully.

Dante has always massaged her arm since the bandage that fixed her bones were removed.  Even if it didn’t seem like much, he knew that it was very painful.  Ivanna’s white arms had severe bruises all over.  They were the marks of trying to get her misaligned bones to fit properly.   Her arms were bruised so badly that it would hurt just to touch it, but Ivanna didn’t even bat an eye.

Although the pain of matching the bones was a severe one, it seemed okay to rub the bruised area.  Because of it, Dante was in pain.  He knew that it was painful, so he always wanted to do it with his own hands.

“Doesn’t it hurt, Ivanna?”

“It hurts, but I can take it.”

If there is a progress, it is that the child is able to say that she is sick or hurt little by little.  Compared to three months ago, when she couldn’t even say if she was in pain or even cry loudly, it was really amazing.

Three months.

It was hard for Ivanna.  But for Dante and the twins who could do nothing but only stand by her side, it was a terrifyingly long time.

“Dad, it hurts more there.”

Ivanna tapped her finger in one place.  Dante swallowed his bitter feelings and rubbed them a little bit more gently.  The twins were sitting next to Ivanna.  When her face became distorted or when her fingers were noticeably flinching, they would cut their portion of snacks into small pieces and put them in her mouth.  The sugar would make the pain go away for a very short time.

“You are getting well, Ivanna, and you’ll be alright soon.  Let’s wait a little longer even if it’s hard and hurts a lot.”

“Then can I hold the sword?”

“Yes.  Let’s keep eating, playing, sleeping, and getting treated as we are now, and grow up to be healthier.”

“Then I’ll be patient.”

“If you’re sick, don’t hold back and tell me.  Dad, sister, and brother are always with you.”

“Yes.”

Dante kissed the back of her little hand.  The twins came up and hugged their sad and lovely little sister tightly.

Ivanna was neither crying nor in pain anymore.

‘Even if I’m sick, my dad, sister, and brother are always next to me.’

***

After the tea time, Sullivan came.  Ivanna, sitting on her dad’s lap and playing with the Meows, was very disappointed as she knew she had to let go of his warm lap.

“Can’t I stay with my dad?”

Dante was genuinely conflicted seeing Ivanna’s eyes.  He knew it wouldn’t help even if he stayed here because today was a day of counseling, not physical therapy, but what Dad would just let go of such a cute child so easily?

Dante looked at Sullivan, Ivanna’s little hand was holding him really tight.  The unspoken pressure directed at her to hurry up and allow it was harsh.

‘Where did the Duke of Vicente, who was called a monster, go?’

“Eve doesn’t want to play with me?”

Now that he’s gone to another side, Sullivan wasn’t that scared of the Duke unless he exuded his strength.  Sullivan cried out and squatted in front of Ivanna.

Of course, the innocent Ivanna, who did not know that it was acting, quietly started to let go of Dante’s hand but she was still clinging to it. Dante opened his eyes at once, but Sullivan didn’t even blink.

“I was hoping to play with Eve.  I only treat you and haven’t been able to play often these days.”

As Sullivan’s eyes drooped, Ivanna was restless.

“You don’t like me, Eve?”

Ivanna took her hand off Dante completely and wriggled her fingers.  The pretty eyes alternately glanced at Dante and Sullivan.  Since she played a lot with her father these days, she indeed spent a little time playing with Eve.  And she can also see her father at dinner later.  The child’s face was clearly saying so her thoughts.

Dante’s angry gaze caught on Sullivan.  Sullivan laughed at him.

‘I can’t stand it anymore.’  Dante jumped up.  The momentum was very terrifying.

“Ivanna, let’s take a walk with Dad today.”

Of course, just because he was angry, he didn’t mean to vent his anger in front of Ivanna.  Dante spoke very kindly and hugged her.  Ivanna opened her eyes round.

“But what about Eve······.”

“You don’t want to go with Dad?”

Dante’s eyes drooped down just like Sullivan.  Fortunately, Ivanna shook her head immediately.

“Then let’s play with Dad.”

Ivanna glanced at Sullivan.  She was wavering now.  Dante knows that and he starts to become nervous.  Sullivan, who specializes in counseling therapy, could see it as well.  She knew that doing this will make the relationship between the two even stronger.  Furthermore, it was none of Sullivan’s business if Dante will be swamped with work later.  The important thing is always the patient’s condition.

“Sorry, Eve, today I think I have to give way to your Dad.” (Sullivan)

“But······.” (Ivanna)

“Both your Dad and I want to play with Eve.  Your sister and brother were also disappointed because they can’t play with you.  Our Eve is loved a lot.” (Sullivan)

Sullivan laughed happily.

To be loved.

Ivanna blushed at those words.  Now the child was realizing that her mother was not the only one who loved her in the world.  It was quite obvious that Sullivan’s contribution was great.

“Yes.”

Ivanna buried her face on Dante’s shoulder to hide her blushing cheeks.  Sullivan laughed contentedly next to them.  Dante, who later realized her intentions, expressed gratitude with his eyes.

‘You’re welcome.’  Sullivan bowed her head.  No matter how much she was a counseling doctor, Ivanna wasn’t as comfortable with her as she was with Dante, who opened her heart with the biggest contribution.  If so, she can use Dante as the starting point.  There were many different methods.  Same with what she just did now.

“Next time, you must play with me.  I want to play with Eve too.”

“Yes.”

“It’s a promise.”

“Yes.”

Ivanna nodded enthusiastically.  Sullivan smiled, bowed her head to the two, and went out.  It was an excellent exit from a very nice counselor.

***

Dante walked around the mansion with Ivanna in his arms.  When Ivanna comes out of the room, it was an unwritten rule in the mansion to avoid her except for a few familiar faces.  So the maids, servants, and knights were busy running away as soon as they saw the two.  Dante knew all about it.  But without knowing anything about it, Ivanna looked around the hallway with a strange face.

When I first came out, I was scared because I remembered the colorful hallway I saw when I was taken to the temple.  But after a few trips, I now have time to look at it carefully.

First of all, her dad’s house was less colorful than the one that bothered her. That place was all so bright that her eyes hurt, but it was less colorful here.  Therefore, she was able to adapt quickly.

“Where are we going today?”

“I’ll show what Ivanna wants to see the most.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

Ivanna nodded and shook her legs.  Dante laughed lightly because he knew it was a habit when the child expected something.  The two walked slowly and chatted.  These days, the theme they would talk about was the twins’ childhood whom Ivanna did not know.  Ivanna fell in love with her sister and brother’s story.  The twinkling eyes were really pretty.

“Come on, Ivanna.  It’s here.”

Dante’s steps stopped in front of a big door.  It was such a big door that one had to bend his neck for a long time to look up.

“There’s a picture.”

Ivanna touched the door.  They walked slowly over the door.

“This is a room with portraits of people who have made great achievements.”

“Portrait?”

“It’s a picture of people’s faces.  Later, can I draw Ivanna’s, too?”

“Daddy, too?”

Dante blinked his eyes.  Come to think of it, after divorcing his ex-wife, the twins and Dante, the three of them, once posted for a family portrait, but they have never done it again since then.

He originally intended to paint a new one after marrying Louise, but something happened.  Since then, Dante has completely forgotten.

“Can we draw a picture of the four of us, dad, sister, brother, and me?  We draw a family portrait and hang it up big.”

“Family portrait?  All four of us?”

“Yes.”

Ivanna nodded boldly.  The portraits of people’s faces were vividly painted, it was interesting to see, and her face was full of anticipation.  Dante smiled and kissed his daughter’s cheek.

“Come on, Ivanna.  This is what I want to show you.”

Ivanna raised her head.  And she opened her eyes wide.  There is a picture that is much larger than any other picture and hangs in the middle of the wall.

‘The face of my mom that I haven’t seen after those two years was there.’