Devil’s Music

Gregory led Geon to the annex on the right side of his mansion. This single-story detached space was filled with the red hues of cyclamens that bloom in winter and had a garden resembling a white temple from Greek mythology. Standing beside Geon, Gregory said, "Do you know the Parthenon Temple in Athens, Greece? It was where my wife and I went on our honeymoon. I wanted to replicate the Electra Palace Athens hotel where we stayed. But the ground here was too weak to support a four-story building like that hotel. It was regrettable, but we had to settle for a single-story building. My wife loved this place before she left. She personally planted the cyclamens."

Geon, holding Kiska's hand with a neutral expression, smiled down at her. Bending one knee to meet Kiska's eyes, Geon gestured towards the house and said, "Kiska, shall we go play over there?"

With an impassive face, Kiska turned her large eyes to look at the house. Gregory crossed his arms and clicked his tongue, shaking his head.

"She won't go. After her mother left, she refused to enter the annex. It has the most memories of her mother. She used to always play in that garden."

As Geon, who had been looking down at Kiska, caught her gaze, her large eyes met with his. Geon stood up and slowly walked into the garden, and Kiska's feet moved slightly but then stopped in place. Gregory sighed in resignation, and just then,

The sunlight reflecting off the windows illuminated Geon's figure amidst the blossoming cyclamens, as if he was the source of the light. Kiska's eyes trembled narrowly, and with a broad smile, Geon reached out to her, shouting, "Kiska! Come here! Let's play!"

As if following a path of light out of the abyss, Kiska saw her brother with the same smile, extending his hand. Kiska's small, adorable feet moved, one step at a time. Seeing Kiska slowly approach, Gregory's eyes widened. Suddenly, with her small fists clenched, Kiska began to run.

"Goodness!! Kiska!"

Gregory exclaimed as Kiska ran past him into the flowerbed, grabbed Geon's offered hand, and hugged him. Geon laughed, kneeling down to embrace her.

Geon, holding Kiska, who was trembling slightly in his arms, stopped laughing and looked serious. He nodded to Gregory, who was watching them from afar with a shocked expression. Gregory quickly came to his senses and ran into the garden.

"What's going on, Kiska? You've never entered this house before?"

After lifting Kiska and standing up, Geon extended a hand and said, "Don't keep asking the child for explanations. There's a limit to what she can explain with her vocabulary. Moreover, children often act spontaneously without organizing their thoughts. Constantly asking for explanations might be normal for children who can rationalize, but for kids like Kiska, it can be harmful."

Gregory seemed to agree with Geon's point, saying, "Is that so? Have you studied child psychology?"

"Ha-ha, no. I'm just speaking from my own childhood emotions. I too couldn't explain many of the dreams I had to adults."

Hearing the word "dream" near her ear, Kiska felt like laughing, thinking her brother also dreamt and met her in those dreams.

"Gasp!! K, Kiska! Kiska is smiling, Kay! Look! K, Kiska is smiling!"

Seeing Kiska's small smile, Gregory pointed and shouted. Geon, without looking at Kiska, continued, "Don't be surprised by minor actions. Otherwise, the child might stop doing things that surprise you. Just treat it as part of her daily life. Keep the surprise to yourself."

Regaining his composure, Gregory lowered his hand. The sight of his daughter, still in Geon's arms and fixing her gaze on his face, felt slightly bitter to him as he muttered, "I'm envious that her smiles aren't for me. Sigh."

"Ha-ha, you'll see them eventually. Let's go inside, oh dear, Kiska is heavy. Is it because she's ten? It's hard for brother, ha-ha."

At Geon's remark about her weight, Kiska blushed slightly and kicked her feet as if asking to be put down. Geon laughed and set her down, meeting her eyes. Kiska turned her head slightly, her face red with embarrassment. Geon pinched Kiska's cheek gently and said,

"Ha-ha, the little lady is already feeling shy? Shall we go inside with brother?"

Gregory, about to shout at the sight of Kiska turning her head and blushing, stopped himself with his hand over his mouth.

"My goodness! You've just met, and you're already showing your feelings? Something I couldn't achieve in four years?"

Holding Kiska's hand, Geon turned to Gregory at the door and said, "Could you open the door, Gregory?"

"Ah! It's open, this is also my house, haha."

"Ah! Right, of course! I forgot we're in a different building, ha-ha. Shall we go in, Kiska?"

Kiska stood at the door, tapping the ground with the tip of her foot. Seeing this, Geon kneeled down again to meet Kiska's eyes, which now looked a bit anxious. With a comforting smile, he softly said, "Is it okay? Should we not go in?"

Instead of simply reassuring her, Geon sought Kiska's opinion. He believed that forcibly reassuring her would only be imposing adult emotions on her. Geon quietly watched Kiska's eyes, waiting for her response. Without any special reaction, but still looking anxious, he took her hand and stood up, walking back into the garden. Gregory, watching silently, asked,

"Aren't we going in?"

Holding Kiska's hand and walking towards the flowerbed, Geon replied, "It seems she's not ready yet. Come, Kiska, let's play here in the garden. See the swing over there? Let's go swing."

Noticing a white iron swing amidst the sprawling flowerbed, Geon took Kiska's hand and approached it. Kneeling down to meet her eyes again, he asked, "Kiska, want to try the swing? It'll be fun if brother pushes. What do you say?"

Kiska, without any reaction, just looked into Geon's eyes. Understanding, Geon smiled as if agreeing and said, "Alright, let's do it!"

Geon lifted Kiska onto the swing, and Gregory asked with a puzzled look, "What are you doing? Kiska has been expressionless the whole time. What makes you think she agreed?"

As Geon went behind the seated Kiska to push the swing, he explained, "Her eyes become anxious when she dislikes something. She was expressionless when I asked about the swing. I take that as a sign she's not against it."

"Really? You seem to understand our Kiska better than I, her father, do."

"Ha-ha, hardly. I'm not certain myself. You should still consult a professional. I'm not a child psychology expert. Wrong actions based on adults' common sense could worsen the child's condition."

"We're already on it. A child psychologist visits twice a week for two-hour sessions of play therapy."

As Geon continued to push Kiska's swing, he asked, "Did the expert give any specific advice?"

Gregory rubbed his chin, saying, "We need to watch for signs of childhood depression. She's too young for antidepressants, so the focus is on family and psychological therapy. There's no biochemical or genetic cause, just environmental depression."

"Has there been any change in Kiska after starting therapy?"

"Of course. She wouldn't even leave her room before. It took over a year of therapy before she could even wander around the house and garden."

"That's progress, at least. Professional help is definitely necessary. If the doctor says anything different, please let me know. I'll keep it in mind."

"Sure, I'll inform you."

"Then, Gregory, shall we go inside? I'll stay with the child."

"Eh? You want me to leave? Why?"

"I want to give the child a comfortable environment to play. You'll be watching anyway, right?"

Geon gestured towards the numerous CCTV cameras installed around.

"There are over ten just in the garden, and inside the house too, right?"

"That's correct."

"Then don't worry and go about your business. I'll take care of playing with Kiska."

"Is that alright? Oh! Perhaps that's better."

"Ha-ha, it seems like you have a lot to do. Please go ahead."

"Alright, then. This is my business card, in case you need to reach me."

Taking the golden business card Gregory offered, Geon chuckled and said, "Such a fancy business card, ha-ha."

Gregory, with an embarrassed smile, said, "Keep it well. If you ever run into trouble in some back alley, showing it might scare off the thugs. Haha. Then, I'll leave you to it."

After Gregory left, Geon quietly pushed Kiska's swing for a while before slowly speaking up, "Signal me when you want to stop."

Kiska, still enjoying the swing without any signal, finally lifted her index finger after a while. Noticing her signal, Geon smiled and said, "Is that a signal? Ha-ha, thanks. Let's stop then."

Geon gently stopped the swing and waited a moment to ensure Kiska wasn't dizzy before helping her down. Approaching Kiska, he kneeled to meet her eyes and pointed towards the door, asking, "Want to go inside now?"

Kiska looked at the door with large eyes. This time, though her eyes seemed a bit shaky, the anxiety that was previously evident seemed absent. Letting go of her hand, Geon moved toward the door alone. Left behind, Kiska fiddled with her hands, seemingly unsure what to do next as she watched Geon's back. Then, standing at the door and looking back at Kiska, Geon extended his hand with a bright smile.

Without saying a word, Kiska ran toward Geon with a smile and let him lift her up.

"That's it! Let's go inside!"

>

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