Chapter 7
7
Chapter 2. Experienced Hire (2)
Wentworth Manor is large.
However, the places I could go with my own legs were very limited. Because they were too short and slow. If I decided to explore it thoroughly, it would take a month, wouldn't it? If I hadn't collected Clay, I wouldn't even know the approximate size.
Bbyook! Bbyo-bbyook! Bbyook!
Among them, my playroom and bedroom were located on the third floor, right next to my parents' bedroom. And Dad's study and Mother's laboratory were on the second floor.
Bbyook!
That meant I had to use the stairs...
'Elana Maria, it would be quick if Bailey carried me.'
Bbyook-bbyook.
"Ah, reeeally..."
Just when I was trying to act dignified. I stomped my feet nervously. The bbyook sound got louder.
"Noisy..."
Ever since I started walking and running, Mother insisted that I wear these shoes.
It was because she was anxious about what I might do since I couldn't stay still for a moment. Ella, Maria, and Bailey were always watching me closely, but they were human, so there were times when they would look away for a moment.
Besides, what was I supposed to do just staying still? I, who was caught up in the joy of being able to move on my own, always dreamed of escaping, whether I was crawling, walking, or running.
I wished they would leave me alone for a while, but my parents would never allow it.
Wherever I went, I had to be with one of the three of them.
Whether I was taking a walk in the garden or lying in bed, it was the same.
It might be natural not to leave a baby alone, but not leaving me alone for even a moment felt a bit like surveillance to me. I hadn't even reported my whereabouts to my parents since I was twenty.
These noisy shoes were really not my style, but when I wore them, there were moments when I could get their attention off me, even if only for a short time. And if it was inside the mansion like this, they would allow me to walk alone... Thinking about that, I could put up with it, even if it was childish and noisy.
I walked down the hallway for a long time.
Again, Wentworth Manor is very large. Big and wide.
"Hee, haa..."
I lived a life of exercising as hard as an athlete, but what was with this stamina that made me lose energy just walking down the hallway...?
Still, I finally made it to the stairs.
From a baby's perspective, everything in the world looked big. It felt like I was in an amusement park decorated with the theme of a giant's house. I stood in front of the stairs and felt a little dizzy.
'Why are there so many stairs in my own house...'
Holding onto the wall, I stood sideways and lowered one foot down the stairs. It felt like I had been lowering it for a long time, but I didn't feel it touching the ground.
What, how much further do I have to go...? My legs have gotten a lot longer.
"Woo, woo..."
Just when I was about to give up, my toes touched the ground. I confidently leaned my body forward.
Bbyook!
It touched! I felt relieved and shifted my weight.
'If I'm not careful, my body will tilt because my head is so big...'
I had become somewhat accustomed to this short body, but I didn't know when I would get used to the weight of my large head. The reason why all my actions were slow was this big head.
'What if my head is big even when I grow up...'
I was lucky enough to inherit my parents' beautiful faces.
Having inherited Mother's light blonde hair, green eyes, and white skin, I could confidently say that I was pretty. There was no need to be embarrassed to state the facts. Honestly, every time I looked in the mirror, I looked forward to the future.
It would be too sad if the materials were perfect but the proportions were terrible.
I wasn't even chubby, but why were my cheeks so puffy...?
"Shana, would you like some help?"
Maria, who was passing by, said. I stood holding onto the wall and shouted strongly.
"No! I wanna do it myself!"
"Oh my, how brave."
"Don't touch me..."
"Good luck. I'll cheer you on from here!"
"No need! You can go. I can do it myself!"
Maria struggled to hide her expression that she was about to die laughing and stepped back. Well, it would be funny. A three-year-old child struggling to go down the stairs alone while holding onto the wall.
"It's okay if you fall. Mother has cast Levitation magic on every step."
"...Overprotective..."
"It would be a disaster if you got hurt, right? Be careful."
"I know..."
Nosy. I carefully lowered my foot while speaking. As I slowly went down step by step, there were only a few steps left.
"You're awesome, Shana! Good luck! Yay!"
Maria sat right next to me and clapped her hands.
If it were Bailey, he would have picked me up without asking, and if it were Ella, she would have politely asked and carried me. Maria stayed by my side but let me do it on my own as much as possible.
'Ella must have sent her.'
I wondered why she let me go so easily...
When I finally got down the stairs, Maria clapped her hands exaggeratedly.
"Congratulations! You did it!"
Anyone who heard it would think I had succeeded in college entrance.
"Are you going to see His Excellency? Would you like me to guide you to the study?"
"Do you think I'm stupid? I'm going alone. Maria, go to work."
"Oh my, my job is to take care of Shana."
"Something else!"
"There's nothing else!"
"Eep!"
Then I had to run away. The bbyook-bbyook sound of my shoes was loud. Maria could have caught me just by reaching out her hand, but she smiled and let me go.
The people in this house are too soft on children. It's a good thing I'm a reincarnator, or I would have developed bad habits if I were a real baby.
It was good that I ran vigorously to Dad's study.
I stood there blankly, looking up.
The doorknob was much higher than my line of sight. First, I raised my hand high.
I couldn't reach it.
Hoo, it was a little humiliating, but... I didn't panic and calmly raised my heels. If I stretched my hand out a little more, maybe I could reach it...
The glossy doorknob sparkled as if teasing me.
Even opening the door! I can't even do that!
"Aaaah..."
I couldn't reach it! I couldn't reach it! I'm short!
"Woo... woo..."
As soon as I confirmed that I couldn't do it alone, my nose tingled absurdly. They say that the mind and body go together, and even if I had reason, my tear glands were those of a child, so tears were about to come out easily.
Rather, it was easier to separate them when I was a newborn, but it became more difficult to control them as the days went by.
In the end, I gave up trying to turn the doorknob alone and knocked on the door.
Knock knock!
I wanted to knock loudly...
"Daddyyy! Daddy!!!"
"Shana!"
As if he had been waiting, the door burst open and Dad picked me up in an instant.
He must have really been waiting. I could see that he had been sitting in front of the door, waiting for me to ask for help.
"Shana, did you come all the way here because you missed Dad?"
"Yeah, I missed you!"
It was true that I missed him. Because there was something I wanted. Not only did I nod without hesitation, but Dad looked at me strangely as I reached out and hugged his neck.
"Our daughter wants something from Dad?"
"Uh..."
"What could Shana want?"
"How did you know..."
"Dad knows everything."
It must be because I don't express my affection enough usually.
'But I'm embarrassed...'
Even if I had come to accept my parents as my parents, expressing my affection in a childlike and honest way was difficult separately. It wouldn't be impossible to pretend to be cute if I set my mind to it, but it wasn't easy to accept that version of myself.
"Dad, I wanna learn magic!
"Magic?"
"Fire burst! Light flash!"
I was trying my best to sound like a child with a limited vocabulary.
A troubled look appeared on Dad's handsome face.
"That, I need Mother's permission."
"Can't Dad do it?"
"......"
Perhaps because he couldn't bring himself to say that he couldn't do it in front of his daughter, Dad kept his mouth shut. I could see him struggling between pride and truth.
My dad is cute.
"It's not that I can't do it, but I'm not as good as Mother."
"You can't do it then..."
"That's not true. Shana, there's nothing Dad can't do."
"A lie..."
Oops, mistake. Dad looked hurt.
"Then a little! Secretly."
"You want to make a secret from Mother?"
"Just Dad and me. Huh?"
I whispered a secret story into Dad's ear. In fact, I didn't even expect Dad to be able to keep a secret from Mother.
"Hmm, that's difficult."
This handsome man was a devoted husband who would do anything for his wife.
"But, Mother, doesn't show me."
"It's all because she's worried about Shana."
"I'm curious..."
As I muttered gloomily, Dad seemed even more troubled. It seemed like he would give in if I pushed him a little more.
"Shana..."
"Maria said. Mother is amazing and cool..."
"That's right, that's true..."
"She said she's a reaaaally reaaaally amazing Magician!"
"That's right, she's amazing. Very amazing..."
"Dad is also a high-ranking person, one of the most important people in the country..."
And they muttered among themselves, "Actually, she's a scary person."
This man, who was smiling with a loose face while holding me in his arms, was apparently a cold and expressionless person outside. It was hard to believe.
"Shana wants to see Mother being cool too..."
I gave up everything. The ultimate third-person perspective...
When I looked up at Dad with tears in my eyes, Dad covered his mouth with his large palm. But I could see his mouth wide open through the gaps between his fingers.
He fell for my trap card...
"That's what she says, Anais."
"Ummm."
"Huh?"
Mother was standing with her arms crossed where Dad had cast his gaze. Oops, I got caught.
"Shana, that's sneaky. Not telling Mother directly."
"But!"
"But?"
"Dad was easier than Mother."
"You're cunning."
"I'm Mother's daughter."
Mother and Dad looked at each other and burst into laughter.
"Who else would she be but my daughter!"
Don't underestimate the learning ability of a 3-year-old.
