003
After just one night, I’ll be able to go back to the daycare, right?
That’s what I thought, but even after several nights, I was still here.
Duke Pashayen’s mansion.
The teacher of the Carrot Class came in person and explained my current situation in detail.
‘So, Chuu, you’ve been chosen by the Ancestor of Whale. You’re a special child, which is why you’ll be living here.’
I already knew about the Ancestor of Whale.
Every day before meals, we would pray, ‘Ancestor of Whale, thank you for protecting the seas of Pashayen today.’
‘From now on, Lord Diegon will be your dad. Didn’t you always wish you had a dad?’
Dad.
Standing in front of the dining room, I took a deep breath and mustered all my strength.
Then, I whispered ‘Dad’ softly to myself.
But it still felt awkward.
If words like ‘carrot,’ ‘grape,’ or ‘bread’ were as sweet as sugar cubes, then ‘dad’ was more like broccoli or spinach.
And not even well-cooked ones, but the kind that’s still all green and bitter.
It’s something you’d spit out as soon as you taste it.
“Miss Shu is served.”
“Hello.”
There was an extremely long dining table in the room. The gentleman was seated at one end.
I walked confidently to my designated chair, just as I had practiced for the past few days.
My seat was marked by a crab-shaped dish.
“……….”
The man said nothing throughout the meal.
He only watched in silence, with a stern expression, as I put food into my mouth.
Any other child might have choked under such pressure, but not this little foodie!
As I diligently ate, about halfway through the meal, the man finally spoke.
“Although it might seem a bit early, given that you’re an awakened one, there shouldn’t be any issues with your education. Starting today, you will receive lessons along with the other children of Pashayen.”
“Yes!”
I answered energetically.
The Carrot Class teacher had already taught me everything I needed to know about studying with new friends in another classroom.
“At the Pashayen Academy, they select three individuals: the next head of the family, the one who resonates with the Ancestor of Whale, and the admiral who will lead the navy.”
I swallowed the chicken leg I was chewing and nodded.
I wanted to show that I was listening carefully.
But the truth was-
‘I want to become a great chef, a wonderful pastry shop owner. Or maybe the owner of a lovely bakery.’
But the Carrot Class teacher had warned me repeatedly.
“Chuu, you’re fearless. It seems you were born that way. You don’t feel pain as much as others do, except when you’re hungry, right?”
“Yes.”
“So you have to be careful. Pashayen… it’s a scary place. There are good people among the nobles, but you still shouldn’t upset them. I’m very worried about you, especially because you’ve awakened too early.”
I didn’t understand half of what she said, but one thing was clear.
If I mess up, the Carrot Class teacher will be worried!
So, I’ll do my best to be very mature and responsible.
“Most of the students at the Academy are of Pashayen blood, but there are a few like you, chosen by the Ancestor of Whale and given a special fate. They’re treated the same as those of Pashayen blood.”
“Is there a class leader there too?”
The man paused at my question, frowning slightly.
“That… I don’t know. My sons were never close to becoming class leader, so maybe it doesn’t exist.”
“But I am a class leader.”
Ahem.
I puffed out my chest proudly.
Everyone’s eyes turned to the badge sewn onto my pretty dress, the one the maids had put on for me.
“Your Excellency, there is a class leader system. There’s even a vice leader.”
At that moment, Mister Carmen, who had been standing behind like a shadow, whispered something.
Mister Carmen was my second favorite person in this mansion.
The first was Grandfather, who always gave me lots of delicious food.
“Is it true that they’ve never been able to do it even once?”
“Unfortunately, yes. Lady Cecilia’s children have always been the class leaders. The vice-leaders change every three months, so the position rotates frequently. Incidentally, the next vice-leader election is in about two weeks.”
“Hah.”
My ears perked up at the mention of an unfamiliar name.
Who is Lady Cecilia? Her name is so pretty!
“I suppose since Your Excellency is often out at sea for long periods, you wouldn’t have attended the family gatherings… That must be why you don’t know. I’ve heard that Lady Cecilia always boasts about it at the gatherings.”
Now, the man looked quite displeased.
Tap. Tap-tap.
He tapped his fingers on the table and suddenly turned to look at me.
“If you manage to become the vice-leader, I’ll promise additional support for that daycare. What do you say?”
Additional support!
That was something the teachers had always wanted.
“Really?”
“Not only that, I’ll select those with talent and send them to the academy. I’ll also order some boxes of sweets to be sent over.”
That’s an incredibly good offer.
All I have to do is become the vice-leader!
I was about to nod my head instinctively, but then I paused.
Mister Carmen, standing behind the man, was frantically making an X sign with his arms.
He was also mouthing something, which I could clearly read.
‘More?’
Ask for more?
‘But I can’t think of anything else to ask for.’
Even if I asked to go back to the Carrot Class, they wouldn’t let me.
I had been asking for days, but it never worked, so I had already given up on that.
“Ugh…”
I put down my fork and held my head with my small hands.
Then suddenly, something sparkled in my mind.
“There is something.”
“What is it?”
“Come with me.”
“Where?”
I had read about it in a book.
Kids with moms and dads are accompanied to school by them.
I was a little envious of that.
I mean, I live at the daycare, so I don’t need it.
But even though I tried not to think about it, I still felt a bit envious.
“I know you’re not my real dad. But still…”
But if I say this, will he find it annoying?
They said I shouldn’t upset him.
After a bit of hesitation, I looked up at the man.
Then I gave him a big smile.
As our eyes met, the man frowned again.
“The young lady still needs time to adjust. How about Your Excellency personally take her to the Academy for the time being?”
“Me?”
“Yes. She might get lost. Besides, I’m sure she’s actually quite scared deep down.”
“Her?”
The man, about to protest, sighed as if giving up.
Seizing the moment, I quickly spoke up.
“Then, will you come pick me up later?”
“If I have time, I will.”
It was a promise delivered in a flat tone, like a plain piece of bread without any jam on it.
***
Despite everything, the man did come to pick me up.
I was wearing an adorable jellyfish-shaped dress, and Lina had also pinned a dolphin clip in my hair.
Lina, by the way, is the macaron aunty I met a little while ago!
“Sniff. Miss, please be careful out there, alright?”
“Mm-hmm!”
“Don’t let anyone push you around! And if someone bullies you, you give them a good scolding!”
Lina had become my personal maid.
Personal maid means… well, it means she stays with me all the time.
So, in this room as big as the daycare, it was just Lina and me, living happily together.
“So, I just need to take her up to the front, right?”
“Yes, Mister.”
“Mister?”
“Mister, did you change your clothes?”
I asked because he looked much more dashing than he did in the morning!
To be honest, he’s the most handsome adult I’ve ever seen.
His deep-sea blue hair.
Those amethyst eyes with a hint of red deep in the pupils.
And his fearsome aura, like that of a man-eating shark!
When he put on that perfectly fitting white uniform, he looked even more impressive to me.
The man seemed like he had a lot to say, but in the end, he just responded to my question.
“Yes, I changed.”
“Why?”
“…You ask a lot of questions. We’re here now, go inside.”
Although it was called an academy, it wasn’t really a school.
It was just one of the rooms in this vast mansion that they were using as a classroom.
I stared in awe at the huge door engraved with a whale.
Creak.
The door finally opened, and I was met with dozens of eyes glaring straight at me.
At that moment, my feet froze in place.
I had vaguely thought it would be similar to daycare…
‘But it’s not.’
Just then, the man gently placed a hand on my shoulder.
“If anyone hits you, bite them.”
“….…?!”
“Always go all out against them. Otherwise, you’ll get eaten in one bite.”
The corner of the man’s mouth twisted upward as he looked down at me.
‘Ah, I take back what I said about him being handsome! I take it back!’
…Oh no, I feel like I’ve become the white bits stuck between the shark’s teeth!
