The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen-Chapter 287: Being a good father

Rowen sat at his desk, flipping through the thick pages of a book with a concentrated expression.

"Hmm..."

The book was as thick as a dictionary, and even though Rowen was used to reading, the increasing weight of the pages only made him sigh. He began to question whether this was the right way to go about things.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

"...This is hard."

[How to Be a Good Father]

Always smile.Provide positive encouragement and support.Listen to your child’s story to the end.

Rowen chuckled bitterly at the unusually difficult content. None of it applied to him.

Everything was wrong. From start to finish. It felt as if the answers were deliberately avoiding him, and not a single one hit the mark.

"Everything’s wrong from one to ten."

Still, Rowen focused, and then focused some more. He thought of this as the first step he could take.

Even if it wasn’t a grand achievement, and even if others laughed at him, Rowen wanted to keep walking, even if only in small steps.

He was trying to become a better father to his daughter and a father who could apologize to the son who had endured so much. Rowen was slowly chipping away at his stubbornness.

There was so much to learn.

He realized he was like a baby who had just taken his first steps. All the knowledge he had up until now had to be erased, and he had to start over from scratch. Rowen gritted his teeth through the pounding headache and concentrated on his reading.

About five hours passed.

With a dull thud, Rowen closed the book, nodding slightly as he muttered to himself.

"I don’t think I can do this alone."

He felt embarrassed, but there was nothing else he could do. No matter how much he read, all he absorbed were the words. His mind understood, but his heart didn’t seem to follow.

Sighing deeply, Rowen lowered his head, frustrated by how disconnected he felt.

"I need a teacher."

Though it was unclear if anyone would dare teach a Sword Master, Rowen still furrowed his brow, determined to move forward, even without brushing back his messy hair.

"...A good father, huh?"

A hollow laugh escaped him.

The rumors were full of lies.

That was how it was with nobles—rumors wrapped in falsehoods and embellishments. It was laughable how they even managed to spread the story that he was a good father. At social gatherings, young aristocrats would go as far as to say, “Your children must be fortunate to have such a caring father as the head of your house.”

What a joke.

Resting his hand on the book, Rowen mumbled quietly, wondering if there was anyone among his acquaintances who could be a teacher.

"Someone I can trust..."

Someone who wouldn’t be intimidated by the Sword Master and who had managed to build a harmonious family. No matter how much he thought about it, no answers came to mind.

"..."

Nobles feared him. He could get caught up in unnecessary gossip. Without a specific person in mind, Rowen sat for a long time, pondering and pondering again.

As darkness slowly crept into the room...

"Ah."

A certain noble who lived without caring about the eyes of others flashed across Rowen’s mind.

—I’ll be a good father. You’ll see. —... —Make sure you come to my wedding. You seem like you’d give a generous gift. —You’re talking nonsense.

Of course, that guy probably wasn’t the best at raising kids either, but he was likely still a better father than Rowen.

And so...

"Hoo..."

Rowen dragged his heavy body out of the chair and set out for his friend’s estate.

 The Desmond Duke’s estate was as peaceful as ever.

Darvav, dressed in his formal uniform, sighed deeply as he looked across the table at his visitor.

"...So, why did you come to see me?"

"I came to learn."

"You’re talking nonsense."

Darvav wasn’t pleased with the unannounced visit. Even if he had been notified in advance, he wouldn’t have welcomed it any more warmly.

Darvav took a swig of his drink and eyed the man in front of him, his words laced with suspicion about the man’s true intentions.

"I thought you were here to inspect me."

"Do you have something to hide?"

"No, but the Empire’s dogs love us so much that I couldn’t possibly imagine it."

Rowen had no response to Darvav’s sharp words and simply moistened his dry lips.

"I’ll try to show them less affection next time."

"You’re hilarious."

To Darvav, the concept of friendship was non-existent, so when Rowenna introduced the man as a friend of Darvav, she had been suspicious from the start.

—Who did you say you were? —I’m a friend of Desmond Darvav. —Don’t lie to me. My husband doesn’t have any friends. —... —Honey!!

After the misunderstanding was cleared, the day’s protagonist, Rowen, was given a warm reception and sat down before the spread of drinks Rowenna had prepared, letting out a deep sigh.

"Do you have no friends either?"

"Don’t lump me in with you, Rowen."

"Apologies."

Sighing, Darvav wore a heavy expression as he turned to Rowen, ready to get to the point.

"Listen, Rowen."

"Go ahead, Darvav."

"Say it again."

"Say what?"

"What you asked me to do."

Without a moment’s hesitation, Rowen answered Darvav.

"I asked you to teach me how to be a good father."

"...Huh?"

Darvav shook his head at Rowen’s words.

"Do I look like a good father to you?"

"..."

"Even the rumors going around should tell you not to say something like that."

After a long silence, Rowen spoke with a heavy heart.

"I want to be a father my daughter doesn’t feel the need to hide from."

"..."

"At the very least, your daughter isn’t ashamed to talk about you."

"...Are you insulting me?"

"I wish it were an insult. I’d like to hear that kind of thing said about me too."

Darvav set down his teacup and shook his head.

"Even so, it’s impossible."

"Why? I can pay you well."

"It’s not about the money. I have plenty of that, Rowen. It’s more that my conscience won’t allow it."

"You have a conscience?"

"...Are you looking for a fight?"

"My apologies."

Darvav sighed and spoke again.

"Personally, I don’t think I’m a good father, Rowen. I couldn’t stop my daughter’s rebellion, and I failed to ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ understand her sorrow."

"..."

"What right do I have to teach anyone? I’m not a good father myself, am I, Rowen?"

"..."

Rowen spoke to Darvav.

"Isn’t there something that can be done?"

Just as Darvav was about to repeat his refusal...

—Father!!! I’m home!!!

A familiar voice echoed from the first floor of the mansion. It was loud and piercing, the voice of a little devil. Rowen furrowed his brow at the sharp voice of Darvav’s daughter.

—Thud.

"Where are you going?"

"My daughter’s here."

Without hesitation, Darvav put down his drink and issued an order.

"Leave. I need to spend time with my daughter now."

"What?"

"You heard me. Do you need your ears checked?"

Rowen glared at his friend with an expression that showed he couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

"Our conversation isn’t finished yet."

"Sorry, but playing with my daughter is more important. If you’re upset, go play with your own daughter."

"...Are you joking?"

Darvav answered with a serious face.

"Does it look like I’m joking? I’m always serious."

As Rowen watched Darvav grab his coat and head toward his daughter, he thought something felt off.

And when he followed, the scene that unfolded before him was almost too much to bear.

"Hihi."

"Olivia!"

"Father, I’m here."

"What brings you here?"

"This."

Darvav’s daughter handed over a paper bag with a smile. Rowen silently observed, amazed by the girl's confident demeanor despite the seemingly simple gift.

"I thought of you, so I bought this."

"But my birthday’s not until later."

"I just wanted to give it to you."

"I’m proud of you."

"Hihi...! I’m proud of you too, Father."

Rowen found it hard to believe the sight before him—his friend, who had never been the smiling type, was beaming. He was surprised at what he was witnessing.

Father? That expression? What was all this?

Feeling the deep sigh rise from within, Rowen watched as Darvav opened the paper bag and pulled out the contents, which only deepened his sigh.

"What is this... A lunchbox?"

"Yeah. I got it for free."

"..."

"It won’t kill you, so it’s fine."

Rowen found the situation overwhelming.

In that moment, his wandering eyes met those of a familiar red-haired man with red eyes.

Ricardo nodded at Rowen, as if to silently ask if the dilemma he had shared with him had been resolved.

'Yes.'

Rowen returned the nod, acknowledging Ricardo’s silent greeting.

—Hehe! Father, where’s Mother? —Olivia! —Eek!!!! Mother’s here...!

The family seemed so warm.

Rowen, sensing the warmth of something he had never felt in his own family, thought he had found the answer and stayed a little longer to observe.

"Father!"

"Yes, Olivia?"

"Have you eaten?"

"I have."

"I didn’t eat so I could have dinner with you."

"...My stomach’s empty again."

Rowen mentally took note of Darvav’s actions.

Consideration. A willingness to understand.

Seeing Darvav’s behavior, which resembled the advice from the book, Rowen chuckled to himself and thought, 'What makes him a bad father?'

"I should get going."

With heavy steps, Rowen left, nodding to himself.

And soon after, he discovered something that made him sigh deeply.

"Hah..."

—This month’s business revenue report. Total: 100,000,000 gold. —Prepared by: Histania Malik.

"I can’t even find the words anymore."

Once again, Rowen affirmed that he was indeed the worst father.