076
When the whole house was turned upside down by the ‘Shupetty Dolphinization Incident.’
Luarel was in the bedroom assigned to her.
“Lalalala~”
Her footsteps danced lightly across the blue carpet.
They were the movements of someone who had trained in dance for a long time—but they were far from aristocratic.
If anything, it resembled a gypsy’s style.
Free-spirited, unrestrained, and whimsical, yet with a distinctive rhythm.
Lifting her chin to the heavens, stretching out one arm, and bouncing as if to call the sky—beads of sweat trickled down Luarel’s nape.
Even without music, her increasingly intense movements created a rhythm all their own.
Thud, thud-thud, thud!
As if a drum were beating somewhere, Luarel pounded her chest and twirled with abandon—until she suddenly stopped.
“…Ah.”
Was it a sob? Or laughter?
Perhaps it was both.
With a small chuckle, Luarel raised her head, her expression refreshed.
‘I feel great.’
The irritation that had built up so tightly, the slight unease—they were all gone now.
Casting away the negative emotions that clung to her like shackles, Luarel hummed to herself as she walked over to the vanity.
Rose extract toner, cotton made from real cotton flowers, lemon cream, burnt twigs to curl her eyelashes, and golden powder to brighten the skin.
Lipsticks that all looked similar but came in subtly different shades.
All of these—she received after entering this household.
She couldn’t be more satisfied.
Back when she lived in poverty, she couldn’t even dream of touching these luxury brands, no matter how badly she wanted them.
But here? All she had to do was mention she needed makeup, and it was provided without question.
‘They say nobles have their own makeup kits from childhood—guess that was true.’
Of course, she wasn’t asking for these products to apply makeup in the usual sense.
Luarel requested them for disguise.
“Lalalala~”
Her singing echoed eerily through the silent bedroom.
The windows were shut tight, curtains fully drawn. After changing into her nightwear, she even dismissed her maid, saying she wanted to be alone.
Alone at last.
Luarel carefully began her skincare routine.
She soaked a clean cotton pad with toner and gently patted her face.
Her youthful face still had the soft fluff of baby hairs—and that was the one thing she liked about it.
“Ah…”
But just then—
Tap.
Maybe she pressed too hard.
Something fell from her cheek.
Her magenta eyes, previously enchanted by her reflection in the mirror, slowly shifted downward.
The crumbling flake—like a piece of bread crust—was just moments ago part of her face.
“This is bad…”
She muttered to herself, but her tone held a chill unbefitting a child.
Setting the cotton pad down, Luarel stared into the mirror.
A crack had formed across her cheek.
If she left it, the split would likely spread toward her nose and cheekbones.
She resumed her makeup routine in silence, and fortunately, it wasn’t too noticeable.
But if she were to come into contact with water…
‘Yeah, I’m going to need a new face.’
Preferably, with better skin.
She had chosen a skin that showed traces of poverty—one that didn’t quite satisfy her—and now, look at this.
It had barely been any time, and it was already falling apart.
‘Good skin’ is supple.
‘Bad skin’ is dry and flaky.
Naturally, the former adheres much better.
‘That girl… what was her name—Angela?’
As expected of a high-ranking noble’s daughter.
Among all the skins she had collected so far, hers was the finest.
Flawless—like freshly fallen snow.
She also liked the plump lips and slightly sharp eyes.
‘If I play it right, I might be able to get it easily.’
But not yet.
Even the head of the Velarion family had said so.
Luarel had decided.
I’ll lay low for now. Until everyone believes and fully accepts that I’m really ‘Luarel.’
‘Yes, I’ll make sure I earn my place in this family.’
Screeech—
With wild eyes glaring at the mirror, Luarel dragged her lipstick harshly across her cheek.
The household had been chaotic today.
No one told her what had happened—but she didn’t care.
‘All that matters is becoming this family’s daughter.’
How much had she suffered to get pink hair and magenta eyes?
So everything she enjoyed now was the fruit of that struggle.
The sweet-smelling sheets, the spacious bedroom, the wealth of the house…
Shoes adorned with gems, dresses trimmed with fine lace.
‘I won’t give up a single thing. There’s no way I’m letting go of a family that gives me everything.’
Because she is Luarel.
Luarel Pashayen.
‘In the end, the one who survives is the real one.’
She wiped away the smeared lipstick, blew out the candle, and quietly climbed into bed.
Out in the hallway of Luarel’s room…
Only after confirming her breathing had settled into the rhythm of sleep did someone move soundlessly.
It was Joy, the pointy-eared being tasked with monitoring Luarel’s presence.
***
Jellyfish floated gently, swaying along with the dappled sunlight filtering through the water.
Schools of fish swam together, puffing up as if they were larger than they were.
And behind them…
The real predator stirred its grand tail with majestic strength.
Interestingly, ocean currents do not flow in just one direction.
Realizing this, water spirits with shells on their backs laughed among themselves.
You haven’t truly experienced the real currents yet, they whispered.
There are currents, they said, that if caught in, would sweep you far, far away.
‘Currents…?’
Curious, I turned to where the spirits pointed.
Cool, gleaming water wrapped around my skin—smooth and glistening.
And within it, I raced forward, wild and free.
Though I had no legs, I had something even sturdier—powerful fins and a strong tail.
And every time I moved, the Admiral was by my side.
We couldn’t speak underwater, but that only taught us something new—even glances could become language.
‘This is fun! I’m happy!’
I swam toward a large coral out of curiosity, but a yellow pufferfish darted away in fear.
I wasn’t planning to eat it.
I was hungry, though.
But as if he sensed it, Brother Elzen always brought me food just in time.
While nibbling on perfectly grilled clams, curious turtles gathered around and blinked at me.
I didn’t hog the food—I shared it with everyone.
After all, there was plenty for all of us to eat our fill!
‘It’s beautiful. Like a dream.’
Oh—light sparkled above me.
The sun viewed from underwater looked just like a pirate’s hidden treasure.
The kind you want to grab in both hands and never let go.
Even though I don’t have hands right now.
‘Wow, a mermaid!’
I had fallen asleep from exhaustion and woke to find a mermaid with a crimson tail.
She’d been communicating with the Admiral through hand signs, but when she saw me, she swam over and hugged me tight.
Surrounding her were lower water spirits—there were so many!
And the amazing part of becoming a dolphin was…
I could see spirits now!
‘You want me to follow you?’
The lush coral fields, tinged with violet and light green, were tended by the mermaids.
As we swam deeper into them, a vibrant scent of life filled the water.
When we passed through a bed of kelp flowing like silk, I could hardly breathe from awe.
‘Whoa… what is that?!’
And then—poking my head out at the end of the coral field—I saw it.
Something vast, no—majestic—a massive whale, like a towering underwater palace.
‘Its eye alone is as big as my whole body!’
And those pure white coral horns sprouting from its head—they were so mystical and grand.
‘Could it be… the Ancestor Whale?’
I’d only ever seen the inside of its mouth before, but now I could see what it really looked like!
Excited, I spun in circles until the Admiral gently calmed me down.
He bowed respectfully, and the mermaids followed suit, using hand signs like he did.
But wait—I don’t have hands right now!
〔Welcome, child born of the sea.〕
It happened then.
The Ancestor Whale slowly opened one eye and looked right at me—not with words, but with a deep wave of meaning that echoed in my mind as if translated.
‘Hello, Ancestor Whale. I’m Shupetty Pashayen.’
Not knowing how to greet such a being, I opened and closed my mouth, replying mentally as politely as I could.
The whale’s deep crimson eye shimmered softly, almost smiling.
〔I’ve been waiting for you. From the very day you left the place where you belonged.〕
