ISDM 29

Chapter 29

Theo was standing still, tightly holding the hand of the maid, Kate.
Because Lilin had collapsed with a nosebleed, they had deliberately isolated him in another room, worrying that he might be startled.
Judging by his appearance, it seemed he had thrown a little tantrum to come all the way here.

“…….”

The child’s gaze barely reached Calek’s knees, meeting him in midair.
His round, honey-colored eyes stared at him as if he were a curious creature, unblinking.
Calek thought it was a rather fresh perspective.

“Your sister’s sleeping. Even if you go in now, you won’t meet her.”

“…….”

Theo blinked once, just like he usually did.
Even to someone who didn’t know him well, it was clear Theo was an unusually calm, almost indifferent baby.
He rarely caused trouble. He wasn’t particularly stubborn or greedy for anything.
Yet, this tiny child had come up to him frowning for the first time.

Thump. Thump.

The little peanut stomped on Calek’s legs as he approached.

“Is he… angry right now?”

Thump. Thump.

“He’s a fireball, huh.”

Then Theo noticed Lilin’s blood on Calek’s sleeve and bit down hard on the back of his hand.

“Oh! Theo!”

“Leave him.”

Calek, hand still bitten, scooped Theo up with the other hand.
When their eyes met up close, he had the absurd impression that the golden eyes were burning like fire.

“Well, you were angry at me from the moment we first met, weren’t you?”

Silent. Just chewing on the back of his hand.

“Why? Did it look like I was bothering your sister?”

Calek knew this little one wasn’t particularly interested in him.
He was just tagging along because Lilin was.

“So, the only one you act cute for is your sister, huh?”

Calek gently tapped the child’s forehead with a smile.
Then he noticed how solid the tiny bones of those small limbs felt in his hand.
When he had held Lilin before, she had seemed so light and fragile it was laughable.

“This one’s going to grow up strong, huh.”

Though too young for his magic to have bloomed, his innate physical condition was excellent.

“Could the fact that he still can’t talk be related to his magic?”

Before he could explore further, Theo struggled violently and landed butt-first on the floor.
The observing butler looked shocked.

“T-Theo! Are you alright?”

But the baby, with his characteristic dazed expression, brushed himself off, then put all his strength into opening the slightly ajar door and went inside.
Without a sound, he climbed onto the bed and curled up next to Lilin.
Soon, two pairs of soft breathing fell asleep in the same position.

Calek watched the whole sequence, laughing in disbelief.

“I thought he was a gentle little dumpling…”

The bite marks left on his hand were quite clear.

“…but he’s a little lion.”

I drifted once again through a world of dazzling, colorful dreams.
Was this a dream that shows the future? Maybe…
This dream was slightly strange.
I had been thrown into a completely unfamiliar place.
A type of iron carriage I had never seen before was racing by at high speed.
People with stiff, hardened expressions were bustling between gray buildings taller than a wizard’s tower.
The sky was a slightly gloomy shade of blue, and the air felt stuffy and acrid.

I was sitting on a small park bench, watching it all.
There was a faint smell of urine and alcohol, but I had nowhere else to go.

“I don’t want to go to school…”

I was about to kick my feet in frustration but stopped.
My worn-out sneakers were stretched tight at the toes, almost ready to burst.
Kids my age had this uncanny ability to spot someone like me, who smelled different, and they were experts at making it painfully obvious.
Well, according to my homeroom teacher, a child is a mirror of their parents. Then whose thoughts were these?
In conclusion, my old sneakers made me a prime target for teasing at school.

“Hey, kid. Why aren’t you at school and hanging around here…?”

Then I saw a woman approaching from afar, looking at me.
Ugh. So annoying.

“I-I was just resting because my legs hurt! And I’m not a kid—I’m twelve!”

I ran off.
Skipping school was considered very bad by adults.
Dodging between towering skyscrapers, I hoped it would soon be time to go home.
Quickly.
If I could get home quickly…

“…because … it’s there.”

Mmm. Nom nom.
I quietly opened my eyes.
In front of me was a round little head.

“……Theo?”

Theo whined briefly and snuggled into my arms.
I had been too distracted to notice, but the maids had brought him over.
It was a night cloaked in pitch-black darkness.
I hugged Theo tightly and yawned quietly.

“What was that dream just now?”

I was still feeling a bit drowsy from the lingering effects of the medicine.
“It felt like a completely different world… was it somehow connected to the dream of the future?”

A sudden shift to another world at the end?
But in my hazy state, no further thought was possible.
I closed my eyes again. The strange dream faded quickly from memory.

A few days passed.
I lay quietly in bed, focusing on restoring my strength.
Many people came and went during that time.
Lady Elisa, the former duchess, visited three times a day, asking how I felt and if I wanted anything to eat.
Especially when she stroked my limbs and shouted, “Do something about these fishbones!” (I’m not a fish…), my plate piled up with food like a tower, which was slightly troublesome.

My father seemed extremely busy.
Yet he made sure to come see me every morning and evening.
Each time, he would spin me around, inspecting me with hawk-like eyes to check for any injuries… over and over… and over… hmm.
It was really annoying.

Anyway, today!
I, Lilin Balt, was finally…

“Hatching!”

Clap clap clap.
I jumped out of bed, stretching my arms wide, and applause rang from all around.
Full recovery! Feeling amazing!

The maids bustled around, excited, drawing back the curtains and changing the beddings.

“Can I have lunch in the dining room?”
“Of course.”
“Yay!”

I sat in front of a large mirror, excited.
Then I noticed my reflection looked very unfamiliar.

“Hmm.”

My hair had been cut short.
I tilted my head, seeing the bob curling around my chin.
The exposed neck felt strange but refreshing.

“Actually… it looks pretty good?”

It felt so light, and I wouldn’t have to wrestle with tangled hair every morning!
“Hmm, great!”

I smiled brightly with unexpected satisfaction. Of course, the maids, including Kate behind me, looked a bit downcast.

“But I can’t do pigtails, ponytails, or cotton-candy hair anymore.”

It wasn’t just a haircut; I had lost part of the innate magic in my body, and it would take a long time to grow back.
Father might be a little sad when he regains his memories.
But there was no choice. It was necessary, so I had no regrets.

“Lilin, I’m really sorry…”
Kate apologized again as she brushed my hair.
She felt terrible for leaving me alone in the park.

“No, I should have waited quietly. I got into trouble because I wandered off on my own.”

I felt a prick of conscience and shook my head.
Then she hugged me tightly.

“Newbies always stumble and cause trouble, right? It’s my job as a reliable senior to watch over you…”

Hmm, was that an insult?
Anyway, Kate said, “From now on, I’ll watch you carefully with wide-open eyes. I won’t miss a single moment,” and brushed my hair neatly.

Then, outside the door, familiar footsteps approached.
My face lit up.

“Lady Elisa!”
“…….”
“I’m fully recovered! Ta-da!”
“…….”

But Elisa didn’t react.
She stood tall, looking down at me with a cold expression.
“Ah, right.”

I remembered something very important that I had forgotten.
I cleared my throat and spoke again.

“Grandmother! I’m fully recovered! Ta-da!”
“Uuuuuh? What did you say?”

Her reaction was immediate.