My Dad is the Demon Lord [Season 2]

CHAPTER 21

The moon was exceptionally bright, illuminating his crystal-clear tears as they slowly streamed down his cheek. His eyes, filled with sorrow and regret, gazed intensely, conveying a deeply wounded expression, as if a long-standing wound had been left bleeding.

Estelle couldn't ignore the overwhelming feelings of guilt and loneliness welling up in her heart. How could someone appear so hurt? It was almost unbearable to witness, especially knowing that her words had caused those tears to flow, intensifying the pain in her own heart.

Estelle opened her mouth, as if a long-forgotten word was about to be spoken and remembered once again.

"D... Dad," she called.

Demetrius immediately turned towards her, his face filled with surprise.

"Es... telle?" Demetrius uttered, his voice almost breaking amidst the tears. He couldn't help but feel like he was dreaming, hearing Estelle call him by that name again. It was as if a wave of relief washed away his sadness, and his eyes screamed with longing. It had been a long time since he had heard those words, words that seemed forgotten but were still so lovely to hear.

All he could think about was the sins he had committed against her. One day, he found her and took her with him out of pity and recklessness. He pretended to adopt her just to help her, but deep down, it was his longing for his daughter Amylis that led him to consider replacing her with Estelle. He loved her out of guilt for not showing enough love to his previous children.

Estelle might have already seen it in his eyes, which is why she asked him not to pity her. From that night on, he started to love Estelle for who she truly was, not as a replacement to alleviate his guilt.

As Estelle walked towards him, he couldn't help but groan in pain, feeling the weight of his emotions in his chest. He knew he was drunk, but it didn't matter to him. He couldn't suppress the overwhelming guilt and pain that consumed him.

"I'm sorry...! I'm so sorry... I was wrong. I only wanted to protect you, that's why... I didn't abandon you. I was too afraid to keep you. I couldn't bear the thought of you getting hurt, so I pushed you away, hiding you. I'm sorry... I didn't think properly or consider your feelings first. I'm so selfish. I'm sorry...! I don't know what to do. I can't understand myself anymore. I'm too afraid to choose, so instead, I... sobs... I'm sorry... I'm a fool and a coward. I don't deserve to be a father," Demetrius confessed.

Once again, Estelle was betrayed by her tears, as they began to flow uncontrollably without her consent. It was almost unimaginable to see Demetrius in such a state, weeping and crying as if he had committed the gravest sin in the world. But it wasn't solely Demetrius who had made the mistakes that brought them to this point.

"Do you know how much courage it took for me to trust someone again? I had been alone my entire life, not knowing what love or life truly meant. It was terrifying to suddenly be shown love. The thought of running away crossed my mind, but I didn't. I made the decision to trust you, your actions, your words, and your promise, Dad. I didn't know what was too much or what was not enough because life was something completely new to me. But I took the risk, risking my trust and my heart for that one promise. And it only took one situation to break it.

When I overheard Dena and Ryuu  talking, I didn't want to believe it, but you didn't tell me anything. So, I gave up on expecting too much and convinced myself that you had truly abandoned me. If I hadn't stopped, if I hadn't given up, I was scared that I would be hurt so much that I wouldn't be able to go on living. It may sound silly, but Dad, I was just a child. I wouldn't have understood anything if you hadn't told me."

"That's why I'm sorry," Demetrius said, trying his best to hold back tears but failing.

"Sorry won't be enough," Estelle replied.

"I know... I'm sorry," Demetrius repeated.

Estelle burst into laughter at Demetrius' drunken behavior. He was like a docile dog, too drunk to hide his inner thoughts and feelings. But in the next moment, she found herself crying at the weight of everything. Everything had been wrong from the start, yet she felt a glimmer of happiness.

"Dad, I'm sorry too. Let's start again. Me as your daughter, and you as my father. Let's do it right this time. Promise me once again that you won't abandon me," Estelle pleaded.

"You... You forgave me?" Demetrius asked, almost unable to believe it. He was overwhelmed with happiness and stood up to hug Estelle after such a long time. However, his head grew dizzy from the alcohol, and he collapsed to the ground, completely forgetting that he was drunk and eventually falling asleep.

The next day, Demetrius woke up feeling as if he had just emerged from a beautiful yet surreal dream. But he was certain that it wasn't a dream; he had only just realized that. He had collapsed the previous night, and Estelle must have been the one to bring him back to his room.

However, the most important thing was that he and Estelle had a significant conversation last night, confessing and finding a compromise. Estelle, his daughter, had forgiven him, and he couldn't be more grateful.

Eagerly, he got out of bed and quickly dressed, determined to find Estelle. He couldn't contain the smile that seemed to lift the weight off his chest. They were about to embark on a fresh start, which meant he had to earn Estelle's trust again, and Estelle was giving him a chance. They were both giving each other a chance.

And he won't miss that chance!