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“Shupetty.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you. This music box is yours to keep.”
I know what a music box is. We even had one at the daycare!
“Wow!”
When the admiral wound the key, the dolphins moved as if they were swimming.
I could also hear a tinkling melody!
‘Hmm.’
This tune feels familiar, somehow.
“A lullaby…?”
“Yes, a lullaby. My partner, Aurora, used to sing it to the children. It was recorded.”
Somehow, I felt at ease.
My belly was full, I got a gift.
“I’m so happy!”
Feeling overwhelmed with joy, I shouted, and the admiral slightly raised an eyebrow, then lowered it.
“Both Mikard and Elzen have outgrown lullabies, but you still need them.”
“Thank you!”
Since I received a gift that I loved, I should express my gratitude.
I placed my hands on my belly button and bowed my head. The admiral gave a slight smile.
He didn’t laugh out loud, but I noticed! The corners of his lips curved up.
Still, I pretended not to see it, acting like a proper four-year-old, so he wouldn’t stop smiling.
‘Oh, right. Now that I think about it, I wasn’t the one who had to find the portrait!’
I was told to uncover the family’s hidden story, but I didn’t really understand what that meant.
It was a tough word!
[Family secrets refer to sorrowful stories within a family!]
Just then, Yupyrhos appeared and sent me a message.
‘Is it okay to ask?’
I felt like I wouldn’t have another chance if I didn’t ask now.
So, I took a deep breath and, gathering courage from the fried shrimp, I asked.
“Um, I had a sister, didn’t I?”
“Hmm.”
“What was my sister’s name?”
“Luarel.”
Surprisingly, the admiral answered readily.
Then, he went on to explain things I hadn’t even asked about.
“You must be curious since you saw the portrait. Why Aurora isn’t here. She would have been a good mother to you if she had been.”
Aurora.
I silently mouthed the name.
It felt strangely familiar again.
“It was about seven years ago. Aurora and Luarel went on a vacation and were swept away by a wave.”
“………!”
“At that time, Luarel was very young, barely two years old.”
Luarel.
My sister’s name is Luarel…?
I tilted my head.
‘Our Lu.’
A sweet voice came from somewhere.
It was as soft as cotton candy and seemed like it would melt like ice cream, so I wanted to keep listening.
Unfortunately, it faded away quickly.
“Everyone on that ship perished. Though no traces of Aurora and Luarel were ever found, neither could have survived. Not long after that, Elzen fell ill… and amidst a series of unfortunate events, you appeared.”
What kind of illness did Elzen have?
He coughed a lot and even coughed up blood.
When I looked at him with concern, the admiral gently patted my head.
“Are you worried about Elzen’s illness?”
“Yes.”
“Reflux disease is a rare illness that affects about one in ten thousand. It only occurs in the awakened. The power within the body backflows, constricting the heart and forming blood clots. Once it manifests, life expectancy is five years.”
Scary.
I immediately became very, very serious.
It sounded like it would be terribly painful, and I regretted asking for the book.
I hoped I hadn’t made my brother’s condition worse.
“This is not something for you to worry about. The adults are searching for a solution.”
The admiral, seeing my expression, spoke in a low and firm voice.
I gazed up at his deep violet eyes.
“And… I will protect you, no matter what. Trust in your father. I will surely keep you safe.”
Our eyes met.
Not knowing what to say, I simply nodded my head earnestly.
“Good girl.”
But then, it happened.
☆ Reward ☆
Butter Butter 10g of Encouragement
This butter cannot be used on its own.
When you eat a dish containing this butter, you will feel a temporary urge to help the person who provided it.
With a ‘pop’ sound, a picture of butter appeared before me.
Not actual butter, just a picture.
[Since butter would melt quickly in this weather, Yupyrhos will keep it safe. Please let me know when you need it!]
Phew. I was startled for a moment, thinking he wasn’t going to give it to me.
‘Wait, what about the ‘Well Done’ stamp?’
I still needed to get that!
As soon as I thought of it, Yupyrhos spoke up.
[Tada! I’ve prepared a stamp board for compliments!]
The sparkling letters disappeared, and a large grape picture appeared in front of me.
Each grape on the cluster could hold a stamp, and one had already been marked.
“Hehe.”
“Funny. Now it’s time to brush your teeth.”
The admiral had no idea.
I was so proud of getting the compliment stamp that I could hardly sit still.
I couldn’t hold back and opened my mouth, but all that came out was ‘chirp chirp.’
‘Aww. When will I be able to say it?’
Just like the sparkling letters, it seemed that only I could see the stamp board and the compliment stamps.
‘I am… amazing.’
Saying it to myself like a promise, I drowsily brushed my teeth.
It looked like it was time for the baby to go back to sleep.
***
It rained continuously for a few days.
Classes were put on hold for a while, as something had happened, making Teacher Cedric very busy.
It’s a good thing because there’s still no orca’s sugar yet!
So, I ended up practically living in the kitchen, playing around.
Mixing dough, baking cookies!
“Miss, it’s time to get ready.”
Just as I was busy adding chocolate chips to the scone dough, Lina came in.
“Ready!”
“I mentioned there’s a family dinner this evening, remember?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not a formal dinner, but it’s an opportunity to meet other family members for the first time.”
Yesterday, Lina had given me a special lesson.
It was about the family tree!
The first aunt, Violet Pashayen.
The second aunt, Cecilia Pashayen.
The third uncle, Nine Pashayen.
The fourth is the admiral, Diegon Pashayen!
‘The aunts and the admiral are the biological children of grandfather the family head!’
And my uncle was adopted, just like me.
‘Another important detail.’
Aunt Violet and Aunt Cecilia were currently competing for the deputy family head position.
They should get along, but there was only one position available, so there was no helping it.
‘I have to call Aunt Violet the deputy head, but just Aunt to Aunt Cecilia.’
I remembered everything perfectly!
The morning’s smell of bread put me in a great mood, so I hopped along ahead of Lina.
The aunts cleaning the house smiled warmly at me, and I could hear them whisper about how cute my pigtails were.
Feeling proud, I skipped and danced with my feet.
“Miss, look ahead!”
“……!”
Thunk!
Lina shouted a warning just as I collided with someone around the corner.
I almost fell on my backside but managed to steady myself, rubbing my nose as I looked up.
For a brief moment, the child I made eye contact with let out a delayed scream.
“Ahh!”
“Miss Angela, are you alright? Oh no, your new clothes…!”
“Waaah!”
A sharp voice and a whimper hit my ears at the same time.
I saw the flour from my clothes had stained a red dress worn by a girl I hadn’t met before, and I immediately apologized.
“I’m sorry.”
“Is ‘sorry’ enough? Lina, what are you going to do about this? Why is a commoner wandering the halls freely?”
An adult next to Angela shouted angrily.
Angela had her brown hair tied into pigtails, and her nose was red from sniffling.
‘Wow, she looks tall and pretty, just like the eight-year-old girls at daycare.’
I wanted to be friends with her… Maybe I could just brush the flour off her dress?
“I’ll clean it for you. Sorry.”
“How dare you! Do you know who she is to be touching her?”
Smack!
But as soon as I reached out, I was hit sharply.
Almost simultaneously, Lina ran up behind me, wrapped me in her arms, and shouted loudly.
“Lady Matilda, how dare you strike her! This is Miss Shupetty!”
