Chapter 43
* * *
"What? Why'd you come to my room?"
She had merely opened the strangely shaped side door in her room, and Seraphin's room appeared.
Of course, she had intended to come find Seraphin anyway.
So she wasn't too surprised to run into him.
"I'm not smiling. I'm absolutely not smiling, so don't misunderstand."
But she hadn't expected Seraphin's mouth to be grinning so widely upon seeing her.
"You know that? Mom and Dad designed it like this so we could play fun together when we're grown up?"
The sudden dive into the topic of parents.
As Iri stayed silent, Seraphin chattered on.
"Well, I didn't really want it. I didn't give any opinions at all. Absolutely none of the doorknobs in this room reflect my input."
"Ah, got it-nimida. Seraphin didn't do anything-nimida!"
She said exactly what he wanted, but Seraphin's expression soured.
He grumbled curtly.
"Tch, fine. Anyway, why are you here?"
"Ah! Right, I'd like Seraphin to help me-nimida!"
"What? Even a genius kid like you needs my help?"
Weird.
Seraphin seemed to feel like the hierarchy had been subtly established?
Iri said seriously.
"Yes, me! I have to do homework diligently-nimida."
"Huh?"
"This homework is observing Seraphin-nimida."
"There's no such homework!"
Seraphin frowned in disbelief.
Then Iri seriously showed him the <Observation Diary>.
"Th-there really is......"
Taking advantage of Seraphin's flustered moment.
Iri, clutching the observation diary and pen to her chest, stared at Seraphin.
*'Same as always! Why is there still magi!'*
Iri decided to politely ask Seraphin for permission.
"Then I'll observe magi...... no, Seraphin-nim once-nimida!"
"Whatever, do what you want."
Seraphin tried to act nonchalant as he walked but lifted his left hand and left foot at the same time.
It was an awkward movement like a little toy soldier.
Seraphin Observation Diary
0. Extremely awkward.
"Not awkward!"
Seraphin looked around frantically as if sweltering.
Then he rummaged through the drawer. It looked like he was searching for a handkerchief.
Iri sharpened her eyes and asked toward Seraphin.
"Can I take a look in the drawer too-nimikka?"
"Go ahead."
It was when Seraphin, saying it casually, plopped down on the bed.
Iri was skimming the drawer and suddenly paused.
"This is......"
It was a bundle of papers with the Academy's symbol drawn on the surface.
And written there was [Summer Homework List].
At first, she tried to pretend not to see and pass by.
But the contents caught her eye!
[Martial arts practice 10+ times: Sent via Messenger Orb]
[Draw Family Portrait: Didn't do! XXXX]
"Y-you really didn't do homework-nimikka?"
"I said I don't! Real men don't!"
Iri, shocked, pulled out the homework list and clutched it tightly.
"I thought it was a lie-nimida! I didn't think there'd be a kid who really doesn't do homework!"
"Here I am."
"Th-the teacher will be shocked-nimida!"
If you don't do homework, terrifying teacher punishment awaits.
'Grandma meeting' or 'parent-teacher conference'.
"Still not doing it! Homework! Great martial artists don't do homework originally!"
Seraphin plopped on the floor and threw his usual tantrum.
Seeing Seraphin's face distort like before every time homework was mentioned.
*'Maybe because he has homework aversion disease, the magi isn't disappearing?'*
That was undeniable.
Because summer homework is something no kid wants to do.
*'Then I have to help.'*
Seraphin flinched at the eerie shadow on Iri's face.
Iri's face momentarily looked like Professor Melern.
"Who's the kid not doing summer homework?"
"......N-no. I mean."
Weird.
Clearly the little sister, yet why did Seraphin keep feeling trapped?
It truly couldn't be anything but strange!
"Is that so? Then let's do homework together-nimida!"
"Hmph. I'm not doing homework! Ab-absolutely not!"
Seraphin was acting strange.
"Don't wanna draw the Family Portrait-nimikka?"
Damn, busted.
The agony over 'family' clouding Seraphin's heart, where only a noble black dragon should dwell.
"Hmm, then-nimida. Does Seraphin not draw well-nimikka? If it's really hard, I can help-nimida."
Did Iri think he wasn't doing homework because he couldn't draw?
Seraphin huffed and yelled.
"I draw well! J-just, I can't think of it!"
"......Pardon?"
"It's because I can't remember Father's face!"
"......!"
"N-not seen him much."
Only then could Iri see the unfinished drawing shoved deep in the back of the drawer.
*'No facial features...... egg ghost?'*
Seraphin knew Declan supported him materially and spiritually.
He also knew he subtly paid attention to him.
But that didn't resolve their awkward relationship.
Observing Seraphin's ever-changing expressions, Iri said innocently.
"Then to draw the Family Portrait, let's go see the adult-nimida!"
"Ah, no way!"
"Why? Scared-nimikka? For reference, I'm not scared at all-nimida."
Iri raised her eyebrows high and made her eyes sparkle.
Seraphin found Iri's expression so aggravating.
Enough to make him forget his awkwardness toward Declan!
"O-okay! Let's just go!"
* * *
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the family conference room was tense.
Today's agenda was discussion on the budget proposal.
But as expected, money matters are sensitive.
Declan flipped through the documented papers repeatedly and muttered chillingly.
"Investment in armor is extremely low. Telling the soldiers to wear rags?"
"Th-that. We did our best."
"Why so much for dignity maintenance fees?"
"But, Duke Your Highness. Isn't maintaining dignity for direct blood relatives important?!"
"If soldiers' morale drops, we'll all die before maintaining any dignity?"
He gestured slicing his throat with his hand.
Right then, the conference room atmosphere froze cold.
With perfect timing, the conference room door creaked open.
"Um, you can't just barge into adults' meetings-nimida!"
"What's the big deal! Let's just start!"
As Declan silently watched by the conference room door.
Furious-faced Seraphin and flustered-faced Iri, held in his hand, appeared.
"What's going on?"
Seraphin always shied away from him.
But now, even with his ears red to the tips, he was staring straight into his eyes.
As Declan's expression turned puzzled at his son's face, which he hadn't faced in a while.
Seraphin walked heavily toward Declan then halted abruptly.
Seraphin's face paled as he stared straight at Declan's expressionless face.
"S-sure enough, going before Father is too much. I was too brave!"
Declan raised one eyebrow watching the terrified, babbling Seraphin.
Then Iri looked around and bowed politely.
"Adult-nim. Sorry to interrupt when you're busy-nimida. But Seraphin-nim said he had something to say-nimida."
"Hey!"
"No yelling in front of adults-nimida."
Then Seraphin, looking extremely wronged, muttered in a very low voice.
"J-just go then."
No matter how willful a brat Seraphin was, he'd never entered the conference room before.
Clearly something important had come up.
"I'll ask again. What's going on."
"Ah, nothing-nimida!"
Declan quickly scanned the children from head to toe.
"That paper in your hand, bring it here."
"Hu, heok."
Seraphin's face turned ghastly pale.
It took only 10 seconds for the attendant to retrieve the paper bundle from Seraphin's hand.
"......Summer homework, draw Family Portrait?"
Seraphin's expression froze solid. A look of utter defeat.
"Ah, no......"
