The pale morning sunlight tapped gently on Kim Soo-hyun’s eyes, coaxing them open halfway.
The dazzling light filled the room, and the cold air that had settled overnight was slowly warming.
Taking a quiet breath, a fresh stream of air flowed in, spreading through every corner of his chest.
Feeling refreshed in both mind and body, Soo-hyun stretched deeply with a pleased expression.
He slid out of bed and leisurely opened the door.
The spacious living room, easily over 3,300 square feet, was filled with the inviting aroma of delicious food.
Walking across the polished marble floor, Soo-hyun sniffed instinctively.
In the kitchen, Im Hanna, apron tied around her waist, hummed softly as she prepared breakfast.
She spread bright yellow butter on a heated frying pan, then suddenly glanced over.
“You’re up?”
She smiled warmly, amused by the tousled-haired man.
Soo-hyun, who had been gently smoothing the golden ginkgo leaves decorating the doorframe, yawned widely.
“It’s unusually quiet today…”
His voice was still a bit hoarse, as if he hadn’t fully woken yet.
“Is it just the two of us at home?”
“No. Yeon-ju came in late this morning, and Hyun-ah is in her room sleeping with the kids.”
“What about So-young?”
“So-young? She had a moving meeting and left at six this morning… Why?”
Hanna’s eyes widened, sensing something odd about Soo-hyun singling out So-young.
Soo-hyun clicked his tongue and shook his head with a disappointed look.
“Never mind. By the way, are you going to work today?”
“The flower shop’s closed today. But I have a yoga class at the community center around noon.”
“Oh… What about the others? Are they all at work?”
“Of course. It’s still Thursday. And what time do you think it is now?”
Hanna smiled and pointed to the clock on the wall.
Soo-hyun blinked, his eyes widening slightly.
8:30 a.m.
Not late, but considering the daycare bus arrives at 9:30, there wasn’t much time to spare.
Actually, thinking about Soona, it was a bit tight.
He hurriedly turned around.
“The daycare bus comes at 9:15! You have to be at the table at least ten minutes before that!”
Ignoring Hanna’s shout, he pushed open the door labeled ‘Mar♡Soona.’
Inside the sunlit room, a woman and two little girls were sound asleep, completely unaware of the world.
On the bed decorated with cute bear patterns, Yoo Hyun-ah breathed evenly.
On either side of her, Mar and Soona were softly snoring.
Soo-hyun’s steps, ready to gently shake them awake, stopped on their own.
The sight of them peacefully sleeping in his arms was unbearably precious.
He wished he could watch over them like this forever.
But when the ticking clock passed 8:40, he snapped back to reality.
“…Oh no.”
He quietly approached and stroked Mar’s cheek.
“Mm…”
Mar rubbed her cheek against his large palm, as if tickled.
“Yeah, it’s Daddy. Daddy.”
Mar.
Originally, she was the fairy queen destined to awaken with a crown of thorns.
But after the past changed to save Yoo Hyun-ah, Mar’s future shifted too.
With a sacred queen already in place, Mar no longer needed to replace her.
“So cute.”
Soo-hyun’s eyes overflowed with affection as he looked down at the little girl’s twitching lips.
Even half-asleep, Mar smiled brightly at the compliment.
“Uuu…”
At that moment, Hyun-ah groaned softly, eyes still closed.
Apparently, she wasn’t the only one waking up.
“Huh? What’s wrong, Hyun-ah?”
“Uuu~”
“Of course, you’re cute too.”
“Hehe…”
When he stroked her hair, the grown woman smiled shyly, still somehow fitting her youthful appearance.
Next to her, Soona was pretending to sleep, her face full of expectation.
Soo-hyun tilted his head, studying her closely.
“Hmm. That’s strange.”
He poked Soona’s chubby cheeks with a playful grin.
“These two are so adorable… but there’s one little troublemaker here.”
A sudden surge of irritation made his eyelids twitch.
Soona snapped her eyes open and immediately scowled.
“Eek!”
“Haha, just kidding, just kidding. Of course, our Soona is the prettiest.”
“Eeeek!”
“Alright, alright. Time to get washed up, okay?”
Soo-hyun scooped up the protesting Soona in his arms.
Soon after, he lifted the still-drowsy Mar and disappeared into the bathroom.
By the time they were clean and dressed in yellow tops and skirts, and Hanna’s carefully made toast was half-eaten, it was just past 9:10.
“I’m off!”
Mar, wearing a round hat, gave a polite bow.
“Our princesses~ Have fun playing today, okay?”
Hanna sent them off with a gentle smile, planting a kiss on each cheek with a peck loud enough to hear.
Soo-hyun watched the scene with a warm heart.
It was the picture of a peaceful, happy family.
Well, except for Soona, who grumbled about the hat and fussed with it.
Holding his daughters’ hands tightly, Soo-hyun headed to the elevator.
By the time they reached the bus stop, the daycare bus had just arrived.
“Hello! Mar, Soona’s big brother!”
A woman dressed in a white dress that revealed her shoulders and calves greeted them cheerfully.
She looked about twenty-four, with a bright voice and youthful energy matching her outfit.
Soo-hyun smiled awkwardly.
“Not big brother, I’m their father.”
“Oh my, sorry. You’re so young, I always forget.”
The woman laughed with sparkling eyes, then crouched down.
“Hi, Mar, Soona!”
She made eye contact with the girls and greeted them.
“Hello, teacher!”
Mar responded politely.
“Hmph.”
Soona rolled her eyes and climbed onto the bus, ignoring the greeting.
The noisy bus suddenly fell silent.
Moments later, a youthful but loud chorus rang out: “You’re here, sister!”
Soo-hyun felt sweat trickle down his forehead.
The woman kept her attention on Mar despite the commotion.
“Oh dear~ Mar~ Teacher told you to call her ‘Mom,’ remember?”
“Huh, what?”
“Yesterday, she said she wants to be the ‘Mom’ to everyone. Right?”
“Ah, haha…”
The teacher emphasized the word ‘Mom’ unusually strongly.
Mar smiled awkwardly and quietly slipped away into the bus.
The woman pouted briefly, then smiled brightly and stretched her legs.
“Mar is quite shy, isn’t she?”
“Yes, she is. Please take good care of my kids.”
“Of course… Oh, right.”
The woman, about to turn, suddenly wore a serious expression.
“Excuse me for being forward, but… about Soona.”
Her voice trailed off, and Soo-hyun tensed slightly.
A thought crossed his mind.
“What about Soona?”
“Well… um, what should I do? It’s already past 9:20.”
The teacher glanced at her watch, tapping her lips anxiously.
Then, with a look of deep concern, she quickly pulled out her smartphone.
Her movements were natural, as if she’d practiced this many times.
“I think it’s too late now, so we need to leave immediately. Could you give me your personal number?”
“My number? Isn’t it on the daycare registration form?”
“No! I searched everywhere, but strangely, I couldn’t find the father’s number. Anyway, I’ll get the kids settled first, then contact you later. It’s important, so please be sure to answer.”
“Alright. Please do contact me.”
Already distracted by the earlier gang-like greeting, Soo-hyun took the phone without suspicion and entered his number.
“Th-thank you! Finally!”
“Huh?”
“Oh, nothing. Anyway, I’ll definitely call you. Promise!”
“Yes, yes.”
For some reason, the daycare teacher looked overjoyed, as if she was about to fly.
Meanwhile…
“…Hmph.”
Soona, sitting in the very back with her chin resting on her hand, watched the whole scene with a scoffing laugh.
Just as she opened her small, round bag, tiny hands grabbed both her arms tightly.
Mar blinked nervously.
“Wh-what?”
“Soona, you can’t do that.”
“I’m just going to make one phone call.”
“No, you can’t!”
Mar jumped up.
“Our teacher is kind and nice!”
“Funny. You saw it too. She was just messing around.”
“Still…”
“Let go.”
“No way!”
“Please! The teacher has a family too!”
“I don’t care.”
Mar struggled to stop her, but Soona easily overpowered her.
She pulled out a strawberry-shaped phone and pressed the numbers firmly.
The call tone began to ring.
In truth, someone like Soona doesn’t get jealous over humans.
Still, there was a specific reason she was doing this.
To be more precise, the name of the very embodiment of jealousy was flashing on her phone’s screen.
“Hey, it’s me.”
As soon as the call connected, Soona spoke with a distinctly arrogant tone.
“There’s a pest hanging around.”
“My kid’s daycare teacher. You know her?”
“Today, I saw her flirting a bit.”
Soona casually popped a candy she’d been given into her mouth and continued leisurely.
“She calls Dad ‘big brother.’”
“And she tells Mar to call Mom ‘mom.’”
“Oh! I even got Dad’s number.”
Her voice, low and electronic-sounding, instantly sharpened.
“She pretended to want counseling but was just fishing for it. It was so natural.”
Click.
Having finished, Soona immediately ended the call.
Then, watching Kim Soo-hyun outside the bus, who was seeing her off with a worried expression, she smirked slightly.
And Mar, who had been sitting sullenly after being subdued…
“Everyone~ We’re about to depart, so please fasten your seatbelts~!”
She sighed quietly, watching the teacher, unusually cheerful today, bouncing around and squealing with joy.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Really, truly, for real, here begins the final Vivian side story of Real Madrid(?).
It’ll probably have a calm, everyday vibe.
Yeah.
At least for the beginning. (……)