CVS 03

Chapter 3

I thought that after sleeping for just one night, I would be able to return to daycare.

That was what I thought.

But no matter how many nights I slept, I was still here.

The Pasayen Ducal Residence.

As for my current situation, my Carrot Class teacher came personally and explained everything to me in detail.

“So, Syu was chosen by the Ancestral Whale. Because you’re a special child, you’re going to live here.”

I knew quite a bit about the Ancestral Whale.

After all, every day before eating, I prayed, “Ancestral Whale, thank you for protecting the Pasayen seas again today.”

“Lord Diegon is going to become Syu’s father now. You always said you wished you had a father, didn’t you?”

Father.

Standing in front of the dining room, I sucked in my stomach and puffed out my chest.

Then I quietly mumbled the word Dad inside my mouth.

But it still felt awkward.

If words like carrot, grape, and bread were sweet like sugar cubes, then Dad was like broccoli or spinach.

And not properly blanched, either. The kind that was still all green and bitter.

It felt like I would spit it out the moment I ate it.

“Lady Syu is here for her meal.”

“Hewwo.”

There was an incredibly long dining table in the dining room.

The handsome man was sitting at the far end.

Following what I had learned over the past few days, I walked over confidently and plopped down into the chair that belonged to me.

My seat was the one with the crab-shaped bowl.

“……”

The handsome man didn’t say a word throughout the meal.

He merely watched the food going into my mouth with a stern expression.

A normal child might have gotten indigestion under such a gaze, but a glutton like me was different!

It was when I had been diligently eating and my stomach was about half full.

“It may seem rather sudden, but since you are an Awakened, there should be no problem with learning. Starting today, you will receive lessons alongside the other children of the Pasayen family.”

“Yesh!”

I answered energetically.

My Carrot Class teacher had already explained that I would be studying in another classroom with new friends!

“At the Pasayen educational institute, three people are selected: the next head of the family, the Spirit Resonant chosen by the Ancestral Whale, and the admiral who will lead the navy.”

I swallowed the roasted chicken leg I had been nibbling on and nodded.

It was to show that I was listening carefully.

But actually—

I want to become a wonderful chef, or the owner of a wonderful snack shop.

Or maybe the owner of a wonderful bakery.

However, my Carrot Class teacher had repeatedly warned me before leaving.

“Syu isn’t afraid of anything. It seems to be something you were born with… You don’t even feel pain properly unless you’re hungry, do you?”

“Yesh.”

“That’s why you have to be careful. The Pasayens are… frightening people. They’re good people among the nobles, but you still mustn’t upset them. Teacher is very worried about you. You awakened far too early…”

I couldn’t understand even half of what she said, but one thing was certain.

If I do something wrong, Teacher will worry!

So I had to do my very best and behave like a proper grown-up.

“Most of the children at the educational institute are of Pasayen blood, but there are also a few children like you who were personally chosen by the Ancestral Whale and given a destiny. They are all treated the same as those of Pasayen blood.”

“Is there a class president there, too?”

At my question, the handsome man paused and frowned.

“That… I don’t know. My sons couldn’t even get close to becoming class president. Perhaps there simply wasn’t one.”

“I’m a class president.”

Ahem.

I proudly puffed out my chest.

Everyone’s eyes fell on the name tag that had stubbornly remained attached even to the pretty dress the maids had dressed me in.

“Your Excellency, there is a class president system. There is also a vice class president.”

At that moment, Uncle Carmin, who had been standing behind us like a shadow, whispered.

Uncle Carmin was currently the second person I liked most in this mansion.

The first was Grandpa, who gave me lots of delicious food.

“They have those positions, yet your sons never managed to become one?”

“Unfortunately, that is correct. Lady Cecilia’s children have always been class president. The vice class president changes frequently because the position rotates every three months. Incidentally, the election for vice class president is in about half a month.”

“Hah.”

My ears perked up at the unfamiliar name.

Who was Lady Cecilia? It was such a pretty name!

“Perhaps because Your Excellency spends so much time at sea and doesn’t attend family gatherings… you didn’t know. I hear Lady Cecilia boasts about it quite a lot whenever everyone gathers.”

Now the handsome man looked very displeased.

Tap. Tap-tap.

The handsome man tapped his fingertips against the table before abruptly looking at me.

“If you even become vice class president, I’ll promise additional funding for that daycare center. How does that sound?”

Additional funding!

That was something the teachers always wanted.

“Really?”

“Not only that. I’ll select the talented children and send them to an academy as well. And I’ll order several boxes of sweets to be sent there.”

That sounded incredibly good.

All I had to do was become vice class president!

I was about to nod without thinking when I suddenly stopped.

Behind the handsome man, Uncle Carmin was desperately making an X with his arms.

Then he moved his mouth silently, and I could read what he was saying.

“More?”

More? As in, ask for more?

But there’s nothing else I want.

Even if I asked him to send me back to Carrot Class, he wouldn’t do it.

I had asked him for days, but it had gotten me absolutely nowhere, so I had already given up on that.

“Hmmmm…”

I put down my fork and held my head with both tiny hands.

Then suddenly, an idea flashed into my mind.

“I have an idea.”

“What is it?”

“Come with me.”

“Where?”

I had read about it in books.

Children who had moms and dads went to school together with their parents.

I had been just a little jealous of that.

I didn’t need it because I lived at the daycare.

That was what I told myself, but I still secretly envied them sometimes.

“I know you’re not really my dad. But…”

Would he find this annoying if I said it?

My teacher had told me not to upset him.

After thinking for a moment, I looked up at the handsome man.

Then I gave him a bright smile.

The handsome man met my eyes and frowned again.

“Lady Syu still needs time to adjust. For the time being, why don’t you personally take her to the educational institute, Your Excellency?”

“Me?”

“Yes. She may get lost. Besides, I’m certain the young lady is extremely frightened deep down.”

“Her?”

The handsome man repeated the question incredulously before rubbing his dry face as though he had given up.

I didn’t miss the opportunity and quickly spoke.

“Then will you come pick Syu up later?”

“…If I have time, I will.”

It was a bland promise, delivered in a tone as plain as half a slice of white bread without any jam.

Even so, the handsome man came to pick me up.

I was wearing a jellyfish-like cute dress, and Rina had even put a dolphin hair clip in my hair.

Who was Rina?

The macaron auntie I had met a little while ago!

“Pfft. Lady Syu, be careful while you’re there, okay?”

“Okay!”

“Don’t let anyone push you around! And if anyone bullies you, scold them!”

Rina had become my personal maid.

What did personal mean?

Well… she said it meant someone who could stay with me all the time.

So, in a room almost as big as the daycare, Rina and I got along very well.

“Do I just need to take you to the front?”

“Yes, Mister.”

“Mister?”

“Misteeer, did you change your clothes?”

Why was I asking?

Because he was dressed much more handsomely than he had been in the morning!

The handsome man was actually the best-looking adult I had ever seen.

Deep navy-blue hair like the deep sea.

Magenta eyes with a reddish glow deep within his pupils.

And an intimidating presence like a terrifying man-eating shark!

When that man put on a tight-fitting white uniform, even I thought he looked incredibly cool.

He looked like he had a lot he wanted to say, but in the end, he only answered my question.

“Yes, I changed.”

“Why?”

“…You talk too much. We’re here, so go inside.”

They called it an educational institute, but it wasn’t actually a school.

They simply used one of the rooms inside this enormous mansion as a classroom.

I stared up at the enormous door engraved with a whale, my mouth hanging open.

Creeeak.

Eventually, the door opened.

And I found myself face-to-face with dozens of pairs of eyes glaring at me.

At the same time, both my feet came to a stop.

I had vaguely imagined it would be similar to Ppukkam-Ppukkam Daycare…

I don’t think it is.

That was when the handsome man gently placed a hand on my shoulder.

“If someone hits you, bite them.”

“……?!”

“Always fight with everything you have. Otherwise, you’ll be eaten in one bite.”

The corners of the handsome man’s mouth curled upward as he looked down at me.

Nope! I take back what I said about him being handsome! Take it back! Take it back!

…Mommy, I think I’ve become a clownfish stuck between a shark’s teeth!