405 [BABY’S DAY-OFF] (VII)

AFTER spending time at the cat cafe, Astrid and Livi went to the flower garden – the other place that they were supposed to go to. Just like the cafe, the flower garden was also pretty high end. It’s like a place where aristocrats from millenniums ago would go to have a tea party. Maybe the nobles of today also considered this place as such.

The location of the garden was also pretty unique. It was at the top of a commercial building. It encompassed the whole top floor of the said building. The only way to go there was through a special elevator that was only accessible to VIP customers.

Again, it’s a place to show off wealth.

Astrid truly couldn’t understand why Livi’s mother picked those two places. Was it to show to everyone just how rich she was? But just a quick shot of their whole villa could easily show that to people. So, why not just let her son have fun for just half a day?

Was it for control? To teach her son that he couldn’t get away from her grasp? Or was it just a complex case of protectiveness?

It’s truly a riddle for Astrid. He and Reas thankfully grew up in a very normal household. Even though the land encompassing their family’s farm was quite big, their parents didn’t give them a sense that they were above all others. They were taught to be independent at a young age. They did house chores and played to their hearts’ content, not afraid of any scrapes or bruises.

Of course, because of the memories of his past life, he would have grown up as he was regardless. But their parents’ upbringing no doubt shaped who Reas was today. His brother wouldn’t probably be as kind and responsible as he was if not for the way their parents brought them up.

They were protective in their own way but not so much that one would feel suffocated. They gave their children ample freedom while secretly protecting them from a safe distance. They were very carefree but strict when they needed to. They didn’t spoil their children rotten but instead taught them the value of hard work.

The happy childhood that Astrid and Reas had was all because of their parents’ love and support.

…..

And yet he couldn’t see any of those qualities from Livi’s parents. In particular, the kid’s mother.

This might sound judgmental, but based on what he had seen so far, he couldn’t see Livi’s parents as ‘qualified’. It’s probably too early to even make that judgment. But after he saw how Livi reacted from just a simple touch from him, it would be weirder if he didn’t.

The way the boy smiled as if that was the first time someone ever touched his head gently like that already said a lot. He was at the age where he should be showered with affection. A simple loving touch from one’s parents could do wonders for a child. Astrid knew all too well how important that was.

After the parents he had in his past life died, he was deprived of such a simply luxury. How lonely and alone he was back then. He couldn’t remember how much he prayed for someone to come his way and bring him out of that loneliness. But, of course, no one came. He had to work hard until it felt like his bones were breaking just so he could reach a semblance of happiness.

That’s why he was very thankful that he was reincarnated in a family with loving parents and a sibling who cared so much for him. If that was his compensation for all the unhappiness he received in his past life, then it was all worth it.

But Livi was in a different situation. His parents were still alive. And yet Astrid could feel the same loneliness from the child.

He sighed inwardly. It’s not like he could do anything to change the boy’s situation in the long run even if he wanted to. Obviously, Livi’s parents, or at least one of them, was from a prominent family. Maybe even a noble. To continue contacting Livi, Astrid had to get permission from the boy’s parents first. They might as well not allow that if they found out that he brought their son to places they didn’t approve of.

So, where did that leave Astrid? To absolutely nowhere.

Today might as well be the first and last day he spent time with Livi. The only way to go around this was to change how the parents treated Livi. But would that even be possible? No, he hardly thought it would.

The next best thing Astrid could do was to make sure that Livi would enjoy the few hours they still had to the fullest. Then, he would just think of a solution for the bigger problem later.

“Young master, if you have a place in mind you wanted to go to, just tell me. I’ll do my best to bring you there,” he said, calling Livi’s attention.

The boy stopped walking. The two of them were currently looking around the flower garden. Or to be more precise, Livi was just expressionlessly looking at the flowers. Obviously, not very interested with the place they were in.

But after hearing what Astrid said, the expression on his face quickly changed and brightened. He turned to Astrid and asked with an almost sparkling gaze;

“Really? Anywhere?”

Astrid nodded. “Yes. Does the young master have a particular place in mind?”

“Amusement park!” Livi answered as quickly as lightning. As if showing how he had been wanting to go there.

Astrid chuckled. Such a very child-like response. “Then, I’ll search if there’s an amusement park near us.”

He opened his Terminal to search. He saw Livi stared intently at the virtual screen that appeared from his Terminal. As if he was silently ordering the Terminal to show the location of a nearby amusement park.

Astrid almost chuckled again seeing that. Really, what an adorable kid.

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