068
Today marks the second family meal since Sister Luarel returned.
Normally, I would be overjoyed at the thought of eating delicious food, but today was different.
“I couldn’t give him the gift in the end.”
I even went to the admiral’s bedroom to deliver it, but—
He wasn’t home.
“Quest failed!”
I was so worried about what kind of penalty I might face that I lost my appetite entirely.
To make things worse, I had a nightmare last night.
Lina comforted me as I tossed and turned in distress, then handed me a warm cup of cocoa. But I barely managed to drink just one cup.
Normally, I’d have at least three!
My gloomy mood lasted until this morning.
Even styling my hair in my favorite apple ponytail didn’t lift my spirits much, so I sat in my chair with a slightly sulky expression.
Still, seeing my favorite crab-patterned bowl made me feel a little better.
Even if my pout wouldn’t quite disappear.
As I was picking at my food, appetizers were served, followed by the next course, and then another.
“Ah!”
At that moment, Sister Luarel, who was clumsily using her fork, accidentally knocked over some tableware with her elbow.
The fork slipped from her grip and fell to the floor.
Clatter!
As the fork spun noisily on the ground before coming to a stop, silence fell over the dining table.
“Uh, what should I do… Shupy, c-could you pick it up for me?”
The table, already quiet, turned completely still.
“She’s asking me to pick it up?”
Why?
The first emotion that surfaced was an unexpected wave of displeasure—even I was surprised by how strongly I felt it.
Because I just couldn’t understand.
“You should pick up your own things…”
The words slipped past my lips, edged with dissatisfaction.
“And also, I’m not Shupy. I never gave you permission to call me that.”
If nothing else, I had to make this clear.
Shupy?
Shupy?!
I hate that nickname!
Why does she get to call me whatever she wants?
My name is precious to me!
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ has collapsed, unable to withstand their rising blood pressure.]
[The Fire Spirit King ‘■■■■■’ advises against any movement.]
[The Fortune Spirit King ‘■■■■■■’ suggests glancing at the maid.]
Is the Water Spirit King alright?
Feeling slightly worried, I turned around as the Spirit King of Fortune had instructed.
Just then, one of the maids hurried over and picked up the fork. Another maid brought a new one.
“Here you go.”
“Ah…”
Luarel hesitated, her face turning red all the way to her ears as she took the fork.
“Th-thank you…”
Actually, the maids serving the meal were all close to me.
The one who picked up the fork was named Marin. The short-haired maid who brought the new fork was Daisy.
I had become especially close to Daisy because I found her glasses fascinating and kept asking her about them.
‘Hmph.’
For some reason, I felt like huffing a little.
But since there was plenty of delicious food, I should focus on eating for now.
After a while, the steak was served.
Luarel made a grating noise as she used the knife, struggling to cut the meat. It didn’t seem to be going well.
That was when the family head, who had been watching her closely, spoke up.
“You need to learn proper dining etiquette first.”
“Y-yes!”
“From today onward, I will assign you a private tutor. Learn from them.”
But then… Luarel didn’t answer the family head.
She just sat there, gripping her knife and fork tightly, with her head lowered.
Soon, quiet sobs escaped her lips.
“Hic… I-I’m sorry, Grandfather, Dad…”
“….…!”
“I’m lacking… I’m not good enough… Hic…”
Tears fell like raindrops.
She lifted her head slightly, as if hoping someone would come and comfort her.
But no one in the room stood up or approached her.
“Stop crying now. This is a meal with the family head.”
The admiral spoke sternly, and Luarel, looking frightened, quickly nodded.
“I just… I thought it would be okay since even Shupetty… lived as a c-commoner like me…”
Why is she dragging me into this now?
Feeling a lump in my throat, I set down my fork.
A growing curiosity made me want to hear her out to the end.
“Um… if I did something wrong, I’d like to apologize.”
Did she really need to?
[The Air Spirit King, ‘Shaparsi,’ chuckles.]
[An apology should be accepted.]
‘…Okay.’
If Lord Shaparsi says so, then fine.
Besides, all the adults were staying silent.
“I-I’m sorry, little sibling. D-did I make you upset…?”
Strangely, the way she pronounced ‘little sibling’ wasn’t very clear.
Without stuttering.
I frowned slightly and made eye contact with Angela, who was sitting across from me.
‘Angela, your expression looks weird…’
Half of her face seemed to be smirking, but the other half looked deeply displeased.
Thinking for a moment, I raised my hand.
“What is it, Shupetty?”
“I have something I want to say.”
“Alright, go ahead.”
The owner of this dining table was Grandfather, the family head.
Since he had given permission, I could say whatever I wanted.
“I think Angela should be the one to teach Luarel.”
“What?! Why me? No way!”
The moment the words left my mouth, Angela slammed the table, rejecting the idea outright.
Luarel flinched hard at that reaction.
“That’s because Angela attends social gatherings… right? She’s elegant, and she teaches well.”
Honestly, that was all a lie!
But somehow, I felt like putting these two together would be entertaining.
“Hoh, I see. That does make sense. Since you’re around the same age, it’s a good idea.”
“Grandfather…!”
“I’ll still assign a formal tutor, but you should also take her along and teach her, Angela. That way, you can contribute to the family.”
“…Understood.”
Angela bit her lower lip and bowed her head in defeat.
Seeing how much she hated it… I didn’t feel bad at all.
‘After everything she did to me before? And how she always glares at me whenever we meet!’
Well, I don’t actually dislike Angela, though.
But why does Luarel dislike this so much?
Sigh.
This meal was turning out to be anything but easy.
***
After the family meal, in the family head’s office.
A massive elderly man sat in a chair, his figure cast in shadow by the backlight.
Standing beside him was Diegon, his expression grim.
“Father, what do you think about me personally going to West Gripel?”
“Don’t say something so absurd.”
After a long silence, Galizard cut him off without hesitation.
“Leaving Pashayen—that’s exactly what they want.”
Diegon already knew this.
He was fully aware, yet he still voiced the idea—because he was worried that Shupetty might get hurt.
If Luarel was proven to be genuine, she would have to be acknowledged as a daughter and a way to coexist would have to be found.
If not, she would have to be expelled immediately.
Being caught in between the two possibilities was extremely frustrating.
And what if Luarel really was the real one, but had been raised as a spy under Velarion since childhood?
What if that was the reason they had never found her until now?
‘There are too many possibilities.’
Velarion’s assassins had a notorious reputation, even in foreign lands.
They were known for taking in children and training them to be killers.
There were even chilling rumors that the most exceptional among them would receive the Velarion surname and become part of the family.
“If Luarel is real, but she was raised under Velarion’s influence…”
“Our priority is always Pashayen. That is your duty as an admiral.”
Galizard’s crimson eyes grew cold and sharp.
If Diegon was willing to accept Luarel as his daughter despite her being brainwashed by Velarion, then he would have to abandon his admiral position and turn his back on the family.
Galizard’s stance was unwavering.
To him, aside from his wife, everyone else was merely a tool.
This was the most optimal, rational, and logical decision to protect the Pashayen family.
“What is the easiest way to win a territorial war?”
A moment of silence passed.
“…An infiltrator opens the gates from the inside. At a moment when everyone is off guard.”
