Chapter 140 – A Summit of Fathers

  That night, Seraphine returned from her quest slightly past dusk.

  Ivaline was waiting.

  “Seraphine,” she said calmly, “someone asked me to become his daughter today.”

  Seraphine blinked.

  “That’s… significant.”

  “Yes. Excluding you, I now have additional family member.”

  “That’s good. Is it a father?” Seraphine asked carefully.

  “Yes. Papa. Daddy. And Father.”

  Seraphine stared.

  “…I’m sorry?”

  Ivaline tilted her head. “Papa, Daddy, and Father.”

  “…Those are three different names, aren’t they?”

  “Yes.”

  Silence.

  Seraphine inhaled slowly. “I should greet him.”

  “Why?”

  “If you are his adoptive daughter, then I would be his daughter-in-law.”

  Ivaline consulted Chronicle as usual.

  ‘Daughter-in-law is the term used for the spouse of one’s child. In this case, Seraphine would be regarded as their daughter-in-law. Since you're the husband.’

  ‘I see.’

  Ivaline asked. “Do you have a quest tomorrow?”

  “No.”

  “Then we’ll visit together.”

  “Papa. Daddy. Father. Huh?”

  Seraphine staggered slightly.

  “…He asked you to call him that?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why does he need so many names…” she muttered, before straightening. “No matter. We’ll greet them properly. Let’s sleep early.”

  “M’kay.”

  Inside her mind, Chronicle was in turmoil.

  Should he warn Seraphine?

  No. It would not help.

  Should he clarify father–daughter exclusivity to Ivaline?

  Too late.

  The die had been cast.

  “…Tomorrow’s Chronicle can deal with it,” he muttered to himself, closing his service early.

  Tomas’ Bakery

  The next morning, Ivaline wore another of Corvix’s dresses—soft cream with pale blue lining.

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  Chronicle advised visiting Tomas first.

  Of the three, he was the gentlest.

  If disaster struck, he would soften it.

  The bell chimed as they entered.

  “Oh! My daughter!” Tomas beamed.

  “Good morning, Daddy.”

  He embraced her immediately.

  Seraphine stiffened.

  “G-Greetings, Father-in-law.”

  Tomas blinked, then laughed warmly. “Ah! So you’re the one.”

  He had seen Seraphine from afar before.

  Never properly met her.

  “Come, come! The wife of my daughter is my daughter as well! Tea? Milk? Coffee?”

  “I’ll have what Ivaline is having, Father.”

  “Milk and cookies it is!”

  They sat at the dining table. Seraphine presented a basket of fruits respectfully.

  Tomas was delighted.

  “I like you very much, daughter-in-law.”

  An hour passed in peaceful conversation.

  Then Ivaline stood.

  “We should leave now.”

  “So soon?” Tomas asked gently. “Won’t you stay longer with Daddy?”

  “I cannot. Papa and Father are waiting for their turn.”

  Silence.

  “…Ha?” Tomas uttered.

  “…Huh?” Seraphine whispered.

  Ivaline blinked, confused.

  Chronicle facepalmed metaphysically.

  Three full minutes passed.

  Tomas quietly stood.

  “…I’ll close the shop for the morning.”

  And he followed them.

  Corvix’s Boutique

  The moment they entered, employees bowed instinctively.

  Again.

  Corvix did not.

  He stared—first at Ivaline.

  Then at Tomas.

  Then at Seraphine.

  “Welcome, my daughter.”

  “Hello, Papa.”

  He stepped forward deliberately, resting a hand lightly on her shoulder in open display.

  A territorial move.

  Seraphine bowed. “Greetings, Father-in-law.”

  Corvix nodded smoothly. “Welcome, daughter-in-law.”

  Then his gaze shifted to Tomas.

  “And who might this be?”

  Ivaline stepped between them.

  “Papa, this is Daddy. Daddy, this is Papa.”

  “…Ha?” Tomas blinked.

  “…What?” Corvix’s smile thinned.

  Employees exchanged alarmed glances.

  Nasha felt her soul leave her body.

  Seraphine tugged Ivaline’s sleeve urgently.

  “You don’t have another papa or daddy… right?”

  “No. Only Father remains.”

  “THERE’S MORE?!”

  “One more,” Ivaline confirmed calmly.

  Corvix’s eye twitched.

  “Very well,” he said smoothly. “Let us meet this… Father.”

  He handed the shop to Nasha and joined them.

  Nasha silently prayed for structural integrity of the town.

  Guild Clinic

  “Welcome, Daughter,” Dr. Suniel greeted as they entered.

  “Greetings, Father.”

  He embraced her stiffly, formally.

  Then noticed the entourage.

  “…I see.”

  He adjusted his monocle.

  “Bubble. Close the clinic for today.”

  “Eh? O-Okay!”

  Once the sign was hung and Bubble retreated, only the five remained.

  Suniel turned to Seraphine first.

  “You wish to introduce yourself as my daughter-in-law, I presume?”

  “Yes. Will you accept me?”

  “An elf who abandoned her lineage for love? I would be heartless not to.”

  Seraphine smiled brightly.

  Then tension returned as Suniel faced the other two men.

  “And now. An explanation.”

  Ivaline stepped forward helpfully.

  “Father, this is Daddy and Papa. Papa, Daddy, this is Father. Please get along.”

  Silence.

  Heavy.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Corvix asked.

  Chronicle sighed internally.

  Clarification

  Ivaline and Seraphine were gently moved aside with tea and herbal cookies.

  The three men stood across from one another.

  “So,” Tomas began carefully, “excluding me… she also has Papa and Father?”

  “This is outrageous,” Corvix snapped. “My daughter is mine. Who are you two to share her?”

  “Calm yourself,” Suniel said evenly. “We ask her.”

  They turned.

  “Daughter,” Suniel began. “Why accept others when you already had a father?”

  Ivaline answered without hesitation.

  “Because I can have multiple employers. Is it different?”

  All three froze.

  “The definition of daughter is a female child who listens and behaves well. A father provides protection. Therefore, I can be a good daughter to all of you while you protect me.”

  “…Ah.”

  Understanding dawned.

  She was an orphan.

  She did not understand exclusivity.

  To her, fatherhood was a contract of care and obedience.

  Not blood.

  Not possession.

  Just mutual roles.

  Corvix crossed his arms.

  “If forced to choose only one of us, whom would you pick?”

  Tomas and Suniel snapped at him but remained silent.

  Ivaline thought carefully.

  “Then I would choose none.”

  Silence.

  “If choosing one harms the others, I prefer to have none.”

  Corvix slowly grinned.

  “That’s my daughter. Greedy and uncompromising.”

  “I also cannot comply with actions that hurt my fathers,” she added.

  Tomas clutched his chest.

  “You’re such a good girl…”

  “And shedding extra protection would not be wise, correct, Father?” she asked Suniel.

  “Correct,” Suniel nodded approvingly.

  Seraphine raised her hand timidly.

  “So… to clarify. Ivaline has three fathers, and I am daughter-in-law to all three?”

  “No,” Suniel said.

  “I am Father.”

  “I am Papa,” Corvix added.

  “And I’m Daddy,” Tomas finished.

  They nodded in unspoken agreement.

  Same role.

  Different titles.

  Shared guardianship.

  Seraphine’s smile twitched.

  Chronicle recited internal sutras in repentance.

  Ivaline?

  She calmly nibbled her cookie.

  Nothing was wrong.

  Absolutely nothing at all.