Honkai Impact 3rd: My Days as a Captain in Schicksal

"Oh..." Karen replied with some disappointment, but she did not whine or beg for her mother to come back, which was very different from children from ordinary families.

Francis picked up little Karen and asked, "Now Daddy will ask again, little Karen, are you full? There's as much sausage and bread as you want, okay? You can eat your fill when Mommy comes back."

Upon hearing this, Karen couldn't help but look at the plate of fragrant sausages, put her right index finger in her mouth, and looked like she wanted to eat them but was too embarrassed to say so.

Francis smiled at this and gently placed little Karen next to the tray: "Then eat quickly, and I'll take you to see your room after you're done."

"Mmm!" Little Karen was actually starving, and after talking for so long, she was also extremely thirsty. She picked up the glass of milk with both hands and gulped it down.

"Drink slowly, don't choke, no one's going to take it from you." Francis gently wiped away the milk that had spilled from Karen's mouth with a napkin. Looking at Karen's happy expression, this man who had spent his life on the battlefield couldn't help but feel a little warmth in his heart.

Watching little Karen wolf down her food, Francis's eyes slowly welled up with tears. He remembered the shyness and excitement of his wife when she told him she was pregnant, the way she stroked her belly and happily planned their child's future education, and the days when he would lie on his wife's belly and listen to Karen playfully kicking her mother's stomach.

He also recalled the despair and pain he felt when he was commanding the Knights of Destiny against the Honkai Beast army on the front lines, and when he learned that his wife insisted on seeing Francis so that he could personally name the child after giving birth, and when he was attacked by Honkai Beasts on his way to the front lines.

His gaze toward Karen softened, as if he were looking at the most precious treasure in the world.

He once thought he had lost his whole world, and he immersed himself in work to numb himself because he was afraid that once he had free time, he would remember the world he had lost.

Now the world has returned to his side.

“Look, this is Daddy’s study. If I can’t find Daddy, he’s probably working here. If I can’t find him here either, then Daddy has gone out on business. Remember, if Daddy isn’t here, listen to Uncle Thomas. He’s the housekeeper here. If you want anything or want to do anything, just go to him.” After dinner, Francis carried little Karen around the castle, introducing her to each room. But there were so many rooms that little Karen had never seen such a big house before, and she was completely disoriented.

Francis found Karen's dazed expression quite adorable, but also realized that the child might not have enough time to remember so many paths when facing a new environment. He shook his head, feeling that he had been too hasty: "How about this, I'll have a servant accompany you. You can just ask her when you want to go somewhere, okay?"

"Huh? Oh..." Little Karen's eyes had turned into mosquito coils, and she couldn't hear what Francis was saying at all.

Seeing Karen's adorable expression, Francis was speechless: "It's getting late, let's go to sleep."

"Hmm..." Little Karen hugged Francis's neck and answered groggily.

Francis tiptoed toward the room prepared for Karen, each step as steady as if carefully measured, as if afraid of waking the angel in his arms.

“Squeak—” Francis pushed open the door to the room next to his bedroom, casually placed the lantern on Karen’s bedside, gently put Karen on the bed, and was about to cover Karen with a blanket when he suddenly realized that Karen was still wearing that somewhat tattered coarse cloth dress.

Francis shook his head and looked around by the dim light of the lantern and the moonlight. He remembered that he had told the servants to prepare clothes for the children. He wondered if the servants had prepared pajamas.

Finally, Francis found two sets of pajamas on the desk, one slightly larger and one slightly smaller.

Francis first picked up the smaller set of pajamas, held it up against Karen, and thought it seemed about right, but a little small.

“The clothes are too tight, they must be uncomfortable…” Francis touched his hair, put the slightly small clothes back on the table, picked up the larger set of pajamas and compared them, then realized with annoyance that the clothes were also a little too big. If little Karen wore them, half of her shoulder would be exposed.

Francis rubbed his head in frustration and finally decided to dress Karen in the larger outfit. Although it was a bit big, loose pajamas would be more comfortable. Anyway, he would call a tailor to make Karen a new outfit tomorrow, and this set of pajamas should be fine for a few days.

But when it came time to change Karen's clothes, Francis hesitated, afraid that his movements would wake her up. However, he knew that the rough clothes would definitely chafe Karen's skin. For a moment, Francis didn't know what to do.

Just then, Karen felt something soft and warm beneath her, a sensation she had never experienced before. She felt a little disoriented and opened her eyes to see where she was.

Then I saw Francis holding the clothes, looking conflicted.

"Daddy?" Little Karen rubbed her eyes and sat up. "Where is this?"

“This is your room. I saw you were sleepy, so I brought you back to sleep.” Francis answered subconsciously, glancing at little Karen’s sleepy eyes, and couldn’t help but laugh. “Perfect, now that you’re awake, come and change into these clothes.”

"Huh?" Karen was stunned when she saw the finely made nightgown in the light of the lantern. She blinked her big eyes nervously. "Such a beautiful dress... can I really wear it?"

“Of course, this is for you… uh, a little gift, a present from Daddy.” Francis held up the pajamas to little Karen again, feeling that they weren’t actually that big. “Would you like Daddy to help you change?”

"No need, no need, I can do it myself," little Karen quickly said. Children from poor families mature early. Since she was two or three years old, she has been able to do many chores independently. Not to mention dressing herself, fetching water and cooking are also a piece of cake for her.

"Karen is such a good girl," Francis said with a smile, ruffling Karen's hair. "Go to sleep now that you're all changed. Daddy's going to sleep too."

"Hmm!" As Francis turned around, he heard the rustling sound of clothes being put on behind him. Just as Francis was about to open the door and go out, Karen's voice came from behind him, "Daddy, look! Isn't it pretty?"

Francis turned around and saw Karen, who was already dressed in her pajamas, standing barefoot on the bed. She looked so cute and adorable. To let Francis see her clearly, she turned over on the bed and almost lost her balance on the soft mattress.

“Beautiful, beautiful! Little Karen is the most beautiful child I’ve ever seen,” Francis replied with a smile, finding it very amusing.

"Um... Daddy..." Karen lowered her head shyly, "Mommy always kisses Karen before she goes to sleep..."

Francis was speechless. He went over, tucked little Karen into the bed, carefully tucked her in, and gently kissed her forehead: "Goodnight, little angel."

"Ok!"

Just as Francis was about to turn and leave the room, he suddenly felt a small hand grab the hem of his clothes.

"Dad, don't you sleep with Karen?" Francis turned around and saw Karen tilting her head in confusion, her bright blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

"Did Mom and Karen always sleep together?" Francis asked rhetorically.

"Hmm..." Karen hesitated before answering, "Mom holds Karen while she sleeps every day..."

Francis gently knelt down beside the bed and gazed at Karen: "But Karen is all grown up now, and when you're all grown up, you should sleep alone."

"Huh?" Kallen tilted her head upon hearing this. "Kallen has grown up?"

“Yes,” Francis smiled. “Little Karen won the hide-and-seek competition, which many adults couldn’t beat. Little Karen is even better than them. She’s just grown up.”

"Oh!" Little Karen exclaimed in sudden realization, "Is Karen an adult now?"

“Hmm…” Francis replied with a smile, “But not entirely. Growing up is divided into many stages. Little Karen has just reached the first stage and can sleep by herself now.”

"What about the next stage?" Little Karen's curiosity was very strong.

"The next stage..." Francis smiled slyly, "I won't tell you, hahahahahaha."

“Daddy bullies people…Mom says it’s wrong to bully people…” Little Karen pouted, very dissatisfied with Francis’s answer.

“Well then,” Francis said, feigning a troubled expression, “once little Karen has learned basic arithmetic, Daddy will tell you what the next stage of growing up is, okay?”

“Yes, yes!” Karen clapped her hands happily in response, “But what is arithmetic?”

"I'll tell you tomorrow," Francis pressed Karen's little head back into the blankets. "Now it's time for little Karen to sleep, okay? Look how late it is. Good girl, you can't stay up too late, okay?"

"Mmm!" Little Karen lay in her soft, warm bed, looking at Francis with her big eyes. "Kalen's so good~"

“Good boy.” Francis felt a touch in his heart and helped Karen spread her long hair on the pillow to prevent it from being smothered.

Just as she was about to turn and leave, Karen poked her head out from under the covers again: "Daddy..."

“Yes, Dad’s here.” Francis turned around again upon hearing this, showing no impatience whatsoever.

"Can you kiss me again?" little Karen asked timidly.

“No problem, my little angel.” Francis smiled and stepped forward to kiss Karen on the cheek. “Goodnight.”

"Goodnight, Dad," Karen's voice came from behind him.

Francis closed the door, stood quietly outside for a few seconds, then suddenly grabbed a pillar by the corridor and shook it, as if it were someone he could talk to.

"Aaaaaaah, my daughter is so cute!!! So cute!!!"

"My daughter is so cute!!!"

Francis straightened his clothes, his face returning to its serious expression, and walked towards his study.

He had to deal with the documents that had been delayed today because of Karen.

Chapter Eighteen: The Tradition of Kaslana

At the meeting on the second day, the nobles and generals exchanged glances privately, all looking at Francis, who sat in the chief seat with dark circles under his eyes and looked drowsy.

“Since there are no new proposals, this meeting is adjourned.” Francis tapped the table lightly with his index finger, and everyone around the round table immediately fell silent.

Francis's dark circles did little to diminish his imposing presence. He slowly stood up, walked out of the conference room, and tripped on the threshold.

"Little Karen? Daddy's home." Francis pushed open Karen's door and saw Thomas and Karen sitting at their desk. Under Thomas's guidance, Karen was carefully writing something, stroke by stroke.

“Sir.” Thomas stood up and bowed to Francis as he entered.

Francis waved his hand and asked Karen, "What are you doing, Karen?"

"Daddy!" Karen jumped down from the stool, which was taller than her, and ran into Francis's arms. "Uncle Thomas taught me to write! I can count to thirty now, and I know all 26 letters of the alphabet!"

"Oh, my sweetheart, you're so great!" Francis picked Karen up. "Have you been naughty, not listening to Uncle Thomas?"

“No way!” Karen exclaimed. “Uncle Thomas is amazing! He can count to a hundred!”

Thomas, the butler, chimed in at the opportune moment: "The young lady is very talented, learns quickly, and is very obedient. She truly is worthy of being the master's child."

“Of course.” Francis laughed and rubbed his stubble against little Karen’s face, making her squeal and try to push Francis’s big face away.

“Little Karen, your birthday is next month. Is there anything you want for your birthday?” Francis asked.

"Birthday?" Karen asked, munching on her hand with a puzzled look. "What's a birthday?"

Francis was taken aback, clearly unprepared for Karen's level of common sense: "It was the day you were born, the day you came into this world."

"Huh?" Karen understood, but was still somewhat confused. "Then I wasn't in this world before I was born? Where was I then?"

“You are with your merciful Father, little angel.” Francis carried Karen out of the room and headed towards the dining room, where a delicious lunch had been prepared by the maids.

"I'm next to my dad?" Little Karen was even more confused.

“No, you weren’t with your father then. You were with everyone else’s father,” Francis explained patiently.

"Karen doesn't understand." Karen suddenly felt incredibly stupid and honestly told the truth.

“It’s okay, no one understands at first. Dad will explain it to you slowly.” Francis craned his neck to look down the stairs as he walked down, afraid that Karen might fall if she lost her balance.

“High in the heavens, there is a merciful and great Father. He is the father of all of us, the creator of heaven and earth and all things. All people in the world come from him, and all people in the world will return to him after they die.” Francis organized his thoughts and replied, “Dad also came from him.”

“Oh…” Karen seemed to understand somewhat, “But Karen doesn’t remember ever seeing him…”

Francis couldn't help but chuckle: "You'll be able to see him when you grow up. You've only been away from him for six years now, while your father has been gone for thirty years and hasn't seen him since."

“Oh…” Karen nodded, her eyes immediately drawn to the fragrant cream soup on the table.

Francis placed Karen on her seat and tied her napkin.

Karen couldn't wait to reach for the steaming cream soup, but she quickly pulled her hand back after being burned.

Francis quickly grabbed Karen's hand, examined it repeatedly, and blew on it until he was sure Karen was not burned.

“Karen, have you ever used cutlery before?” Francis felt he needed to teach her from scratch.

"What are tableware?" Sure enough, Karen's questioning voice answered him.

“Look, this is it. This is called a spoon.” Francis picked up the spoon next to the soup bowl, impatiently teaching Karen, “When you’re drinking something very hot, you should use this. Look how Daddy does it.”