Chapter 8
8
Chapter 2. Experienced Hire (3)
"My cute Younger sister. Were you curious about magic?"
"Yes! Yes, yes! Will you show me?"
"Really, I have no choice...."
Mother sighed softly. That sigh was as good as a signal that she was giving in to me. I, who had been hugging Dad's neck, reached out to Mother without caring that my body was tilting.
Thanks to my large head, my body easily leaned towards Mother just by reaching out my arm. Mother, who would normally have hurriedly caught me with her arms, didn't move a muscle.
Uh oh. I'm going to fall at this rate!
Wind blew from below, pushing my body upwards. Uh, uh, uh.
"Waaaah!"
I'm floating in the air!
Is she crazy!
I'm really floating!
However, the feeling was more like being supported by the wind than floating.
Whatever. I'm flying in the sky. I've fulfilled humanity's wish! My spine tingled and my eyes seemed to widen. This is crazy. It's so much fun. Roller coasters and Vikings don't even compare.
I flailed my arms and legs as if swimming in the air. My body, which wouldn't budge no matter how much I struggled, moved according to Mother's fingers. Soon, Mother, who was hugging me, said with a sigh.
"You're not even scared. Look how excited you are."
"She's your daughter."
Dad said, trying not to laugh. Mother glared at her husband.
"It's not just because of me. You're just as bad."
"What are you talking about? I'm just an ordinary person."
"Then how do you explain that you were the top of the Knight Division when you were in school?"
"That was a long time ago."
"Who doesn't know that you still visit the Knights Order from time to time?"
"Are you spying on me?"
"You said it yourself.... Who are you calling a stalker?"
Dad just shrugged, but pretending to be cool was no use.
'Are you really living a proper social life outside?'
"It's about time we introduced Shana to the outside world."
"She's only three years old."
"But our Shana is smart."
Dad said firmly and confidently, as if stating the obvious fact that the sun rises in the east.
I was a little embarrassed to hear that.
'It's just because I'm an experienced hire. My brain is good, but it's not like I'm particularly smart...'
My memory was good, but that probably wasn't the criteria my parents used to judge me as smart.
My vocabulary and sentence structure probably exceed the developmental level of a three-year-old.
I don't know the standards for a three-year-old very well, and I've been trying to act like a child in my own way, but I haven't been very thorough.
If I were really at the level of a child in my second life, that would be even more of a problem.
"We can't keep Shana locked up forever. You know that. You've already received thousands of letters from your parents."
"......That's true."
"I know you suspect your family because of that."
"I'm not suspecting my parents. It's that I don't know what might be hidden there. That's why I don't want to go to the territory."
"You are suspecting them, aren't you?"
"It's different. I believe in my parents' innocence."
"What about your relatives or siblings?"
"......"
I blinked. Mother's green eyes shone coldly. Who would believe her words of trust when they saw those eyes?
'Ah, that's right. I heard that the person who kidnapped me was Mother's nanny...'
I heard that the culprit disappeared without a trace. But that's what I was told, and I don't know what the truth is. Somehow, I don't think they would have let it go...
"We can't keep Shana locked up in the mansion forever."
"I don't want outsiders to approach her."
"Are you going to lock Shana up for the rest of her life?"
"......"
"We need to make her some friends her age."
"......"
"Besides, His Highness the Prince keeps asking to meet her."
Ah, that blond kid. What was his name? Raven, was it?
"His Highness is our benefactor."
"I know, I can allow His Highness's visit. Now. Shana has grown up to some extent, and we have enough Protective Magic in place."
"......You're still suspicious, but the Prince will be happy."
I wondered how Raven had grown in the past two years. I listened to my parents' conversation with sparkling eyes and bated breath. Mother, who found me, sighed as if she couldn't help it.
"Look at Shana. She understands everything we're saying and her eyes are sparkling."
"Whose daughter is she?"
"She's my daughter."
"She's my daughter too."
They both gave birth to me, but they're fighting over something useless.
"Shana, let's go to the garden. I'll show you a lot of amazing things!"
"Anais, let's go to the Training ground."
"I'm not going to show her anything too dangerous."
"It's better to do it properly while we're at it."
"Alright, then."
Mother hugged me and naturally kissed me on the cheek. Dad also kissed me on the other side. And then, the two of them lightly kissed above my head.
What a great marriage....
'At this rate, I'll have a Younger sister soon.'
I blinked and said with a smile.
"Shana likes Younger sister."
"......"
"......"
I miss Mina.
"Shield."
When Mother stretched out her palm towards Dad, who was holding me, a transparent barrier appeared in front of me. This is crazy, really....
'It's like a movie special effect. Magic is amazing. It's so cool.'
I reached out towards the sparkling glass barrier. My short arms couldn't reach it.
I threw a Healing Clay at it as a test, and it passed through without being blocked. Does it only block harmful things?
'Is this how you wanted to protect me?'
I quietly watched Mother chanting layers of Protective Magic in a language I couldn't understand. She was going to show me magic anyway, so what was she so worried about?
"Anais, don't overdo it. You'll run out of energy before you even show her anything."
"Don't underestimate me. This is nothing."
"I know how amazing you are."
"Then sit there and watch."
Mother said confidently.
'The more I see, the more I realize she's different from what she looks like...'
To have such a fragile figure and a beautiful face and be stronger than anyone here, I'm going to fall in love with her again because she's so cool.
"Your Excellency, may I join you?"
"Sir Lloyd."
"Greetings, Lady Shana. You look beautiful as always."
A large man with a friendly impression approached. Of course, I knew his face. At first, I thought he was a security guard at this mansion, but he was actually a knight.
His main mission seems to be guarding the mansion, so it wasn't wrong to think of him as a security guard.
"Go far away."
"Can't I go inside the Protective Magic? I might get hurt if a fragment flies."
"What a waste of your size. Are you afraid of a few fragments?"
"Even if I'm big, it still hurts."
Sir Lloyd said confidently. It was an unknightly thing to say, but it was true. Just because someone is big and strong doesn't mean they don't feel pain.
"Then go to the back."
"I don't want to. I can't see."
"You complain a lot. Why do you ask if you're not going to listen to me?"
"I'm just reporting to you since you're my lord."
"Tsk. Shana, you don't have to look at things like that. Just look at Mom and Dad."
"Things like that...? That's harsh. You know how much I want to see Lady Shana..."
"Go see your own children."
"They're already all grown up..."
"I think they're only a couple of years apart?"
"Boys grow up fast."
Sir Lloyd burst into hearty laughter. Dad frowned and covered his ears as if he didn't want to hear the loud noise. I playfully followed Dad and pretended to cover my ears.
Dad said as if to show him.
"See, Shana doesn't want to hear your laughter either."
"Don't wike it!"
"Heh, Lady Shana..."
The big, bear-like man covered his mouth as if he was about to cry.
"Lady Shana, you're too much. You don't understand this loyal subject's sincerity..."
"You're not Shana's knight."
"Well, that's true. I'll raise my twins well and give them to Lady Shana as knights. They're waiting to see Lady Shana right now."
"Ask Shana."
"They're still young, but they'll grow up to be useful. I guarantee it."
"Well, if Shana doesn't need them, she doesn't need them."
I secretly smiled as I listened to Sir Lloyd and Dad arguing amicably. Sir Lloyd smiled and said.
"Of course, it's up to Lady Shana. You don't have to feel pressured. Throw them away if they seem useless."
"What a heartless father."
"I'm only saying that because I'm confident."
"You're not doing your job..."
"My job is to guard the mansion and Your Excellency, so I've come to do my job."
"You're good with words."
Even though he clicked his tongue, he didn't really kick him out. Instead, he just tightened his arms around me a little more.
"I'll invite your twins to Shana's birthday this time. Bring them."
"Really!"
"We can't hide Shana forever."
"You've made a difficult decision."
"I really don't want to let our pretty Shana out into the harsh world."
"......That's true......"
"If they have eyes, everyone will know how pretty, smart, and cute our Shana is. Then they'll definitely be greedy..."
"I can't forgive that."
The conversation seemed to be heading in a strange direction. Before Dad could say any more nonsense to Sir Lloyd, I patted his arms around me so hard that they made a sound.
"Dad, Dad! Look at Mom!"
"I'm looking, Shana."
"...Don't wook at me..."
"I'm looking."
"Wook at Woyd Achi too... Wook ahead..."
"I'm looking, Lady Shana."
Don't just look at me... Look ahead...
