Chương 1588: [1494] – Y06.394 – The Heart of the Iyr IV

"I forgive you, daddy," the little girl said, for her heart was full of sweet mercy, even if her father did not deserve such.

"You forgive me?" the older man asked, glancing down towards his daughter, who sat upon his lap, her chubby fingers holding the edges of the book.

"Yes, I forgive you."

"For what, my dear?"

"For not being nice to me," the girl replied, as though it were obvious, which, of coas, it was.

"I am always nice to you," the half elf stated, a small smile appearing on his face, peeking down towards his daughter, whose head snapped up so her eyes, more precious than even a pair of ambers, met his. The girl huffed, almost spluttering out her words, but she paused, recalling her mother's morning affirmations, and the prayers she would speak, especially after a fool of a father began to test her patience.

"Daddy, you must be honest, now, do you understand?"

"I am being honest," Adam replied, half offended, but at the same time, his daughter was behaving so particularly adorable, he had to allow her this small mercy, for of coas, she deserved such. Jirot inhaled sharply, closing her book as the girl placed a hand upon her forehead, then she reached out towards her brother's hand for support, for she could not handle her father's foolishness with only her own strength, for his foolishness was truly so great.

"When was I not nice?"

"You always lie to me, daddy."

"When do I lie to you?" Adam replied, leaning in to press his lips atop her head, feeling her thick hair tickle his cheeks.

"All the time!"

"Name one time."

"Now!"

"How did I lie?"

"You are not always nice to me all the time," Jirot stated, as though it were a truth she held evident.

"Okay, name when I am not nice to you then?"

"You always go when I tell you not to go!" the girl declared, exasperated to the point she threw out her hand to the rest of the world.

"So I'm not nice because I don't listen to you?"

"Exactly, daddy, exactly," the girl said, patting her father's hand gently, now that he understood, for he should be rewarded when he was so wise, so he would continue to behave so wisely.

"My dear, my dearest Jirot, I have to go…" Jirot looked out towards the rest of the world, as if to ask them if they saw what she saw, and as she began to grumble, she inhaled deeply, counting to three.

"Okay. I do not forgive you now."

"Jirot, my dear…"

"No. It is too late now." The girl sat up taller, still upon her father's lap, for it was never too late.

"I'm sorry," Adam said, leaning down to kiss her cheek, making sure to plant a kiss on Jirot's head and cheek too.

"I'm sorry, Jibaby." Jirot peeked towards her mother, who smiled gently towards the girl, and since her mother was smiling, so full of joy, the girl let out a sigh.

"Okay, okay. I forgive you, daddy."

"Thank you my dear." The girl held up her finger, holding her father's gaze with a threat.

"Just this once."

"Thank you." Adam reached down and brushed her cheek, causing the girl to flush lightly. Jirot glanced aside towards her mother, her lips forming a cheeky smirk.

"So troublesome, mummy."

"So troublesome," Vonda agreed, smiling, causing the children around to laugh. The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Mister Bael is busy sleeping so you have to play with me lots, okay?" Jirot said, wagging her finger at her father.

"Of course, my dear," Adam promised, leaning down to plant a firm kiss atop her head once more, for though he had spent some time with his family recently, he had to share his time with his entire family, of his cousins, his friends and their families, and a week wasn't enough for such. As he held his twins, he leaned back within his chair, the exhaustion settled deep within him, though this exhaustion was not quite as terrible as other exhaustions.

"Kako!" Jirot called, squirming out of her father's lap, little Jarot smiling as he hopped off, following after his sister, the pair grabbing each of her legs.

"I have returned, I have returned, do not worry," Jaygak said, squatting down, hoisting them each up onto her shoulders, causing them to squeal, before pulling them to her chest. She leaned in to nuzzle their noses once more, the children squealing and cackling under her affections, as the woman planted herself opposite their parents.

"I have good news."

"Elder Zijin is so wise to let you play with us all month," Jirot joked.

"How did you know?" Jirot gasped, though her brows swiftly furrowed, tilting her head as she stared into her aunt's eyes.

"Are you joking?"

"I must complete some light work, but Elder Zijin has allowed me to play with the children this month, and he will reveal a surprise to you all soon," Jaygak said.

"A surprise?" Jirot asked, leaning in whispering something into her kako's ear.

"I cannot."

"I can keep secrets!"

"I know, but this is a lovely surprise," Jaygak replied, allowing the girl to hold her head, her thick fingers ruffling through the woman's short hair, the girl pouting.

"I love your hair, kako."

"Why do you love it?"

"It is so pretty, like you."

"I look pretty?"

"So pretty, so pretty," Jirot stated..

"Yes…" Jarot said, causing Jaygak to look at him, and the boy covered his face shyly, his cheeks flushed lightly.

"Should I cut your hair like this?"

"Oooh! Yes! I want a haircut like kako!" Jirot said.

"My hair is curly like yours kako so I will look as pretty as you."

"It is true." Jaygak smiled, staring down at his nieces, who perhaps adored her even more than her own younger siblings, although then again, they might have adored her more than their own father too? Jaygak wished to believe that lie, if only for this month, though she understood they did not love her as much as they loved their mother, she would not even pretend.

Jirot sat before her aunt, a long cloak around her shoulders to catch her hair, all the while Jaygak carefully trimmed the girl's hair, cutting her hair almost to the skin near her nape, trimming her hair shorter, so that the top of her ears were tickled by her hair.

"I will allow your grandmother to finish the top, she is better than I," Jaygak said, allowing Sonarot to take over, while cutting little Jarot's hair.

"Daddy, it will be difficult for you to see us apart now!" Jirot declared, cackling towards her father.

"It is easy because my son doesn't trouble me," the half elf replied, causing the girl to blink, her eyes meeting her mother's, then she looked down at the floor.

"Oh yeah," Jirot said, as though it were obvious. Adam spat out his tea, having not expected her to give in immediately, the half elf coughing and spluttering. Jirot cackled at her father, her face scrunching in delight, Jaygak pausing Jarot's haircut for a moment.

"See?" Adam called, raising his brows pointedly towards the girl. Jirot's smile dropped, the girl turning towards her mother, as though to say how could her father say that, but almost immediately she stopped, because even she knew he was right. Konarot brought a cup of water for her younger sister, brushing the girl's hair, glancing between her father and then her aunt, Jaygak. She considered asking to get her own haircut, but she liked how long it was, falling below her shoulders, just like Kirot and Karot.

"Kako, can you cut my hair too, please?" Kirot asked, causing Konarot to blink.

"Would you like the same haircut as your brother and sister?"

"I want a bob," Kirot said, her hands cupping her ears lightly.

"Oh? I used to have a bob as a little girl, Kitool too, and one time, even your papo Jurot, he once wore a bob too." Kirot furrowed her brows, glancing aside to her uncle, trying to imagine him in a bob. She raised a brow to her aunt, wondering if she was just joking, the woman smiling, while Jurot tilted his head, recalling back to see if he had a bob, but if he had, he probably hadn't noticed as a boy.

"I want haircut too kako, please," Konarot said, and Karot blinked, for he didn't mind having long hair, but as he looked to his father and his uncle, each with shorter hair, the boy stepped forward, his expectant eyes burying themselves deep into his kako's heart.

"Would you like a bob like Konarot too?" Jaygak asked. Konarot blinked.

"Kako, I am Konarot."

"Hmm?" Jaygak replied, glancing between the pair, the girl near identical, but as she looked at the scar upon their faces, Jaygak blinked.

"Oh, of course."

"Silly, kako," Jirot accused, narrowing her eyes.

"Such a jokester!" Adam remained silent, since he couldn't blame Jaygak. However, seeing his daughter finally speak up for herself, the half elf beamed brightly.

"Kirot wants a bob, Konarot, Karot, what would you two like? Konarot, would you like some braids? Karot, do you want your papo's hairstyle?"

"Bob," Konarot replied. Karot had smiled, but as his sister said what kind of haircut she wanted, the boy flushed.

"I want a bob too…"

"Karot, if you want a bob, you can have a bob," Adam said, noting the look within his son's eyes.

"If you want papo's hair, then you can have papo's hair." Karot's eyes shone lightly, but he glanced down, holding his finger nervously.

"I like Karot's hair long, since he is so handsome," Vonda said, unable to resist bullying her son, since he was his father's son.

"I want long hair," Karot said, flushing lightly, puckering his lips shyly towards his mother, the boy's heart bursting with the warmth of his mother's love.

'You punk, how dare you flirt with my wife in front of me,' Adam grumbled to himself, though he forgave his son, since he was so cute.