IPAHW 08

Chapter : 08 I’m a Veteran, but… (3)

“Cute little daughter of ours. Were you curious about magic?”

“Yes! Yes yes! Are you gonna show me?”

“Well, I suppose it can’t be helped….”

Mother let out a small sigh. That sigh was practically a signal that she was giving in to me.

Clinging to Father’s neck, I reached both arms toward Mother without caring that my body tilted dangerously.

Because of my oversized head, just stretching my arms made my whole body lean easily toward her. Normally, Mother would have quickly caught me with her arms—but this time, she didn’t move at all.

Uh-oh. I’m going to fall like this!

A gust of wind rose from below and pushed my body upward.

Eh, eh, eh.

“Waaah!”

I’m floating!

Am I crazy?!

I’m really floating!

But rather than the feeling of floating, it felt more like I was being supported by wind.

Either way, who cares? I’m flying through the sky. I’ve achieved humanity’s dream! My spine tingled and my eyes widened. This is insane. So fun. Roller coasters and Viking rides couldn’t even compare.

I flailed my arms and legs as if swimming in midair. No matter how much I struggled, my body moved exactly as Mother intended.

Soon, Mother—who had caught me—sighed.

“You’ve got no fear at all. Look how excited she is.”

“She’s your daughter, after all.”

Father said, holding back laughter. Mother shot him a glance.

“It’s not just because of me. You’re not exactly normal either.”

“What did I do? I’m just an ordinary person.”

“Ordinary? How do you explain being top of your knight academy class in your school days?”

“That’s ancient history.”

“And who still casually visits the knight order these days?”

“You’re spying on me?”

“You said it yourself. Don’t make me sound like a stalker.”

Father only shrugged, but even if he acted cool, it didn’t work.

Seriously… does he even function properly in society?

“It’s about time we introduced Shana to the outside world.”

“She’s only three years old.”

“But our Shana is smart.”

Father said it as if it were as obvious as the sun rising in the east.

I felt a little embarrassed listening.

‘It’s just because I’m a veteran. My brain’s decent, but I’m not really that smart…’

My memory was good, but that probably wasn’t what my parents meant by “smart.”

My vocabulary and sentence usage were probably beyond what a three-year-old should have.

I was trying to act like a normal kid, but I wasn’t being very thorough.

If I really acted like a proper toddler in my second life, that would be even more suspicious.

“We can’t keep Shana hidden forever. You know that. We’ve already received thousands of letters from your family.”

“…That’s true.”

“I understand why you’re suspicious of your family because of that incident.”

“I’m not suspicious of my parents. It’s just that I don’t know what might be hidden there. That’s why I don’t want to go to the estate.”

“So you are suspicious.”

“It’s different. I trust my parents’ innocence.”

“What about relatives and siblings?”

“……”

I blinked.

Mother’s green eyes gleamed coldly. Who would believe her when she said “trust”?

‘Ah, right… the kidnapper who took me was Mother’s nanny…’

I heard that the culprit disappeared without a trace afterward. But that was just what I was told—who knows what really happened.

Somehow, I doubt they just let it go…

“We can’t keep Shana locked in this mansion forever.”

“I don’t want outsiders getting close to her.”

“So you plan to keep Shana locked up her whole life?”

“……”

“She needs friends her own age.”

“……”

“And His Highness the Prince has been asking to meet her as well.”

Ah, that blond kid. What was his name again? Raven?

“The Prince is our benefactor.”

“I know. We’ll allow his visits now. Shana has grown enough, and the barriers are strong enough.”

“…So you still don’t fully trust him, but the Prince will be pleased.”

I wondered how Raven had grown over the past two years. My eyes sparkled as I listened quietly.

Mother noticed and sighed helplessly.

“Look at Shana. She’s listening to everything and getting all excited.”

“Who do you think she takes after?”

“She’s my daughter.”

“She’s my daughter too.”

You two literally made me together… why are you arguing over it?

“Shana, let’s go to the garden. I’ll show you lots of interesting things!”

“Anaïs, let’s go to the training grounds.”

“I won’t show her anything dangerous.”

“If you’re going to do it, do it properly.”

“Alright then.”

Mother kissed my cheek while holding me. Father kissed the other cheek. Then the two of them lightly kissed each other above my head.

Such a loving couple…

‘At this rate, I’ll get a younger sibling soon.’

I blinked and said with a smile,

“I want a little sister.”

“……”

“……”

I miss Mina.

*****

“Shield.”

Mother said while holding me in Father’s arms and stretching out her hand.

A transparent barrier appeared in front of us.

Insane… seriously…

‘It’s like movie special effects. Magic is amazing. So cool.’

I reached my hand toward the shimmering barrier, but my short arms couldn’t touch it.

Out of curiosity, I threw a healing clay lump at it. It passed through without being blocked.

So it only blocks harmful things?

‘Is this how they wanted to protect me?’

I quietly watched Mother, who was chanting multiple layers of protection magic in a language I couldn’t understand. She was the one who wanted to show me magic, but she looked more anxious than anyone.

“Anaïs, don’t overdo it. You’ll run out of strength before you even show anything.”

“Don’t underestimate me. This much is nothing.”

“I know how capable you are.”

“Then just sit there and watch.”

Mother said proudly.

‘The more I see her, the more different she seems from how she looks…’

Such a slender, fragile body and a beautiful face—yet she’s stronger than anyone here. She’s so cool it’s unfair.

“Your Grace, I’ll join you.”

“Lord Lloyd.”

“Greetings, Lady Shana. You are as lovely as always.”

A large man with a friendly face approached. I recognized him—at first I thought he was just a mansion guard, but he was actually a knight.

His main duty seemed to be mansion security, so calling him “security uncle” wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Go over there.”

“Can I at least stand inside the barrier? What if fragments fly?”

“You’re big. Are you scared of that?”

“Even big people get hurt.”

Sir Lloyd said proudly.

That was true. Being big and strong doesn’t mean you don’t feel pain.

“Then go back.”

“I refuse. I won’t be able to see anything.”

“You’re too noisy. Why ask if you won’t listen at all?”

“I’m reporting to my lord.”

“Tch. Shana, don’t look at that. Just look at Mom and Dad.”

“‘That thing’…? That’s harsh. You know how devoted I am to Lady Shana…”

“Go take care of your own children.”

“They’re already grown…”

“They’re only a couple years apart, right?”

“Boys grow fast.”

Sir Lloyd laughed loudly. Father grimaced and covered his ears as if he couldn’t stand the sound.

On impulse, I covered my ears too, copying him.

Father immediately pointed it out.

“See? Even Shana doesn’t like your laughter.”

“Not like dat!”

“Ku… Lady Shana…”

The huge bear-like man covered his mouth like he was about to cry.

“Lady Shana… that’s too cruel… you don’t understand this loyal heart…”

“You’re not even her knight.”

“Well, yes. But I plan to raise my twins well and make them serve Lady Shana as knights. They’ve been waiting to meet her.”

“Ask Shana first.”

“They’ll grow into fine knights, I guarantee it.”

“If Shana doesn’t need them, then she doesn’t need them.”

I quietly giggled listening to them argue.

Sir Lloyd smiled and said,

“Of course, it depends on Lady Shana’s wishes. Don’t feel pressured. If they’re useless, you can discard them.”

“That’s a rather cold father.”

“I’m confident in them.”

“You never do the job you’re assigned…”

“My duty is guarding the mansion and Your Grace, so I’m doing it properly.”

“You talk well.”

Even while clicking his tongue, Father didn’t actually chase him away. Instead, he held me a little tighter.

“I’ll invite your twins to Shana’s birthday this time. Bring them.”

“Really?!”

“We can’t keep Shana hidden forever.”

“You’ve made a difficult decision.”

“I don’t want to expose our precious Shana to a harsh world…”

“…That’s true…”

“If people had eyes, they’d see how beautiful, smart, and adorable Shana is. Then they’d all want her…”

“We can’t allow that.”

The conversation was heading in a strange direction.

Before Father could say anything more ridiculous, I tapped his arm urgently.

“Daddy, daddy! Look at Mommy!”

“I am looking at you, Shana.”

“…don’t look at me….”

“I am looking at you.”

“Sir Lloyd too… look forward…”

“I am looking, Lady Shana.”

“Don’t look at me… look forward…”