As Jihoon observes the servants' reactions, he realizes that they must have known the "old" Lord Thorne, the one from the novel he read. They must think it's out of character for him to take care of a child, especially one as sweet and innocent as this little girl. Mr. Jenkins, in particular, seems to be studying Jihoon with a keen eye, as if trying to figure out what's behind this sudden change in behavior. Jihoon starts to feel a bit self-conscious, wondering if he's doing something wrong or if he's just not living up to the expectations of the "real" Lord Thorne.
The child, sensing the tension, clings to Jihoon's leg, looking up at him with big, round eyes. Jihoon feels a surge of protectiveness towards her and decides to ask Mr. Jenkins, "What's her name? Does anyone know who her parents are?"
Mr. Jenkins hesitates, looking around the room before leaning in to whisper, "We don't know, my lord. She just appeared on the steps this morning. But...there's something strange about her. Something that doesn't quite add up."
Jihoon's curiosity is piqued. What could Mr. Jenkins mean? Is there something special about this child, something that goes beyond her mysterious appearance on the manor steps? As Mr. Jenkins asks the child for her name, she looks up at him with tears welling up in her eyes. Instead of responding, she starts to cry, her small body shaking with sobs. Jihoon feels a pang of concern and kneels beside her, trying to comfort her.
"Hey, it's okay, little one," he says softly, trying to soothe her. "We're not going to hurt you. We just want to know your name."
But the child continues to cry, her wails filling the room. The servants look on, unsure of how to react. Mr. Jenkins clears his throat, trying to compose himself.
"Perhaps, my lord, we should give her some time to settle down," he suggests. "We can try to find out more about her later."
Jihoon nods, feeling a bit helpless. He picks up the child, cradling her in his arms, and tries to rock her gently. As he does, he notices that she's clutching a small, tattered piece of fabric in her fist. He gently pries it loose, and to his surprise, it's a small piece of cloth with a name embroidered on it: "Sophia".
"Look, Mr. Jenkins," Jihoon says, holding up the cloth. "I think I found her name."
Mr. Jenkins's eyes widen as he takes in the sight of the embroidered cloth. "Ah, yes...Sophia," he repeats, his voice low. "That's a noble name, my lord. Perhaps she's from a good family?" Jihoon's eyes meet Mr. Jenkins's, and he senses that there's more to the story. But before he can ask any questions, Sophia's crying subsides, and she looks up at him with big, tear-stained eyes.
"Papa?" she whispers, her voice trembling.
Jihoon's heart skips a beat. Papa? Does she think he's her father? He looks at Mr. Jenkins, who raises an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the child's words.
Somewhere jihoon panicked as his not very fond of kids, he thought (papa?... I am not a caretaker) please note that the protagonist may be harsh but is kind and never show to people as the days passes by he realizes that parenting a child in a historical fantasy world is harder than he could have imagined. From learning how to dress her in elaborate period clothing to figuring out what “appropriate” meals were for nobles, he faces comedic and chaotic challenges daily.
Through trial and error (and a lot of help from the household staff), Jihoon bonds with Sophia. Her innocent curiosity and trust in him slowly melt his initial reluctance, and he starts to see her as more than just a responsibility.
One day, as they're playing in the garden, Sophia turns to Jihoon and asks him a question. "Papa, why do you always look so serious?" she asks, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Jihoon is taken aback. No one has ever asked him that before. He realizes that he's been so focused on trying to fit in and do the right thing that he's forgotten how to have fun.
He smiles, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. "I'm sorry, Sophia," he says. "I think I just got a bit lost in all of this. But I'm having fun now, thanks to you."
Sophia's face lights up with a smile, and she throws her arms around Jihoon's neck. "I'm glad, Papa," she says, hugging him tightly.
Jihoon feels his heart melt at the touch of her small arms around his neck. He realizes that he's starting to feel a deep connection to this little girl, and that being a "papa" might not be so bad after all.
As Jihoon and Sophia continue to bond, they start to experience strange occurrences around the manor. Doors slam shut on their own, and objects move around as if manipulated by an invisible force. Jihoon is skeptical at first, but soon realizes that Sophia is exhibiting magical abilities.
