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Chapter : 07 Career Veteran, But (2)
Wentworth Manor was vast.
However, the places I could reach with my own legs were extremely limited. Too short, too slow. If I really set my mind to exploring it, it might take a month. If I hadn’t collected clay before, I probably wouldn’t even have had a rough sense of its size.
Pyoik! Ppyobyok! Pyoik!
My playroom and bedroom were located on the third floor, and right next to them was my parents’ bedroom. My father’s study and my mother’s laboratory were on the second floor.
Pyoik!
Which meant I had to use the stairs……
‘If I’m carried by Elana, Maria, or Bailey, it’d be over in an instant.’
Ppyok. Ppyok.
“Ah, seriously….”
Just because I wanted to look somewhat dignified. I stomped my feet irritably. The squeaking sound grew louder.
“So noisy….”
Ever since I started walking and running, my mother made sure I wore these shoes.
It was because I never stayed still for even a moment, and they were worried I might do something unpredictable. Elana, Maria, and Bailey always kept close watch, but even they were human and sometimes looked away for a second.
Besides, what’s wrong with just staying still? I, who had fallen into the joy of being able to move my own body, had always dreamed of escape—whether crawling, walking, or even running.
But they never allowed me to be alone.
No matter where I went, I had to be with at least one of the three.
Even if I was strolling in the garden or lying in bed.
It was understandable that they couldn’t leave a baby alone, but never leaving me alone for even a moment felt a bit like surveillance. I mean, after turning twenty, I’d never once reported my whereabouts to my parents.
These noisy shoes were really annoying, but at least there were moments when people’s attention drifted away because of them. And inside the mansion, I was sometimes even allowed to walk alone…… Thinking of that, I could endure the childish noise.
I walked down the corridor for a long time.
Again, Wentworth Manor is very big. Very wide.
“Huff… huff….”
I used to train like an athlete, but what is this—losing my breath just from walking down a corridor?
Still, I finally reached the stairs.
From a baby’s perspective, everything in the world looked enormous. It felt like I had entered a theme park designed around a giant’s house. Standing before the stairs, I felt slightly dazed.
‘Why are there so many steps for stairs inside a house…?’
Holding onto the wall, I turned sideways and lowered one foot onto the stairs. I felt like I was lowering it for ages, but I still couldn’t feel the ground.
How far down does this even go… My legs are definitely longer than before.
“U, uu….”
Just when I thought about giving up, my toes finally touched the ground. I confidently shifted my weight downward.
Pyoik!
Contact! I sighed in relief and shifted my weight.
‘If I tilt wrong, my big head will throw off my balance….’
I had gotten somewhat used to this tiny body, but I still didn’t know when I’d get used to the weight of my oversized head. Everything felt slow because of it.
‘What if my head stays big even when I grow up…?’
I finally had a beautiful face, taking after my parents.
I had inherited my mother’s light blonde hair, green eyes, and fair skin, so I could confidently say I was pretty. There was no need to be shy about stating facts. Honestly, I looked forward to the future every time I saw a mirror.
The ingredients were perfect, but what if the proportions turned out terrible?
My cheeks weren’t even that chubby, so why were they still so puffed up…?
“Shana-nim. Shall I help you?”
Maria, who was passing by, spoke. I stood holding the wall and shouted firmly.
“No! I c-can do it alone!”
“Oh my, how brave.”
“Don’t tou-ch me…”
“If you fall, it’s okay. The lady has placed floating magic on every step.”
“…overprotective…”
“You never know what might happen if you get hurt, right? Be careful.”
“Okay….”
Seriously, meddling. Even while speaking, I carefully stepped down. Little by little, I eventually reached the last few steps.
“You’re amazing, Shana-nim! You can do it! Woo!”
Maria sat right beside me and clapped enthusiastically.
If it were Bailey, she would have picked me up without even asking, and if it were Elara, she would have politely requested and carried me. Maria, however, stayed by my side while still letting me do things on my own.
‘Elara definitely sent her.’
So that’s why she let me go so easily….
When I finally finished descending the stairs, Maria burst into applause.
“Congratulations! You did it!”
If anyone heard this, they’d think I got into university.
“You’re going to see His Excellency, right? Shall I guide you to the study?”
“I’m not dumb. I can go alone. Maria, go do your work.”
“Oh my, my job is taking care of Shana-nim.”
“Something else!”
“There isn’t anything else!”
“Eek!”
Then I’ll just run away. My squeaky shoes made a loud sound as I dashed off. Maria could have easily caught me with just a hand, but she simply smiled and let me go.
The people in this house were too soft on children. If I weren’t a reincarnator, I’d definitely have turned into a spoiled brat.
It was good that I finally managed to run all the way to my father’s study.
I stood there blankly and looked up.
The doorknob was far above my line of sight. I lifted my hand high.
It didn’t reach.
Haa, a little humiliating, but…… I stayed calm and lifted my heels. If I stretched just a little more, maybe I could reach it……
The shiny doorknob sparkled as if mocking me.
Not even being able to open a door?!
“Uu… uu….”
It won’t reach! It won’t reach! I’m too short!
When I confirmed I really couldn’t do it alone, my nose inexplicably began to sting. Mind and body moved together—no matter how rational I was, tears came easily in a child’s body.
In fact, when I was a newborn, the separation between reason and emotion was clearer. The older I got, the harder it became to control.
In the end, I gave up trying to turn the doorknob and started banging on the door.
Knock knock! Bang bang!
I wanted to bang harder….
“Daaad! Dad!!!”
“Shana!”
As if he had been waiting, the door suddenly opened and my father lifted me up in one motion.
He had definitely been waiting. I could easily imagine him sitting right behind the door, waiting for me to ask for help.
“Shana, did you come to see Dad because you missed him?”
“Yes, I missed you!”
It wasn’t a lie. I had something I wanted. Without hesitation, I nodded and wrapped my arms around his neck. My father looked at me curiously.
“So my daughter has something she wants from me?”
“Uh….”
“What does Shana want?”
“How did you know…?”
“Dad knows everything.”
It was probably because I didn’t usually show much affection.
‘But it’s embarrassing….’
Even though I had come to accept them as my parents, acting openly affectionate like a child was still difficult. If I really tried, I could act cute, but accepting that version of myself wasn’t easy.
“Dad, I want to learn magic!”
“Magic?”
“Fire boom boom! Light flash boom!”
I tried my best to sound like a child.
A troubled look appeared on my father’s face.
“I’d need your mother’s permission for that.”
“Dad can’t do it?”
“……”
Unable to say “no” in front of his daughter, he closed his mouth. I could see the struggle between pride and truth.
Our father is kind of cute.
“I’m not incapable, but I’m not as good as your mother.”
“So you can’t do it….”
“No, that’s not what I meant. Shana, your dad can do anything.”
“Boasting…”
Oops, mistake. He looked hurt.
“Then just a little! Secretly.”
“Are you suggesting we keep a secret from your mother?”
“Just you and me. Okay?”
I whispered into his ear. Honestly, I didn’t expect him to actually keep a secret from my mother.
“Well, that’s difficult.”
Of course. This handsome man was a devoted husband who would melt in front of his wife.
“But Mom doesn’t show me anything…”
“She just worries about you.”
“I’m curious…”
As I muttered gloomily, he looked even more troubled. He was almost about to give in.
“Shana…”
“Maria said Mom is amazing and cool…”
“She is, that’s true…”
“She said she’s an incredibly amazing mage!”
“Yes, she is amazing…”
“Dad is also an important person, one of the most important in the country…”
And then they used to murmur among themselves, “She’s actually terrifying.”
This man hugging me with a dazed, happy smile looked completely different outside—cold and expressionless. Hard to believe, but true.
“I also want to see how cool Mom is….”
I gave up everything. My ultimate third-person emotional attack……
Tears welling up, I looked up at him. My father covered his mouth with his hand—but even through his fingers, his grin was obvious.
He fell for my trap card….
“Is that so, Anais?”
“Hm.”
“Huh?”
At that moment, my mother appeared with her arms crossed where my father was looking.
Ah. Caught.
“Shana, that’s unfair. Trying to ask Dad instead of me directly.”
“But!”
“But?”
“It was easier with Dad.”
“How sly.”
“I’m your daughter.”
Mother and father looked at each other and burst into laughter.
“As expected of my daughter!”
Never underestimate the learning ability of a 3-year-old.
