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Chapter 3
“…”
The aide looked back and forth between my grandmother and me, his face deathly pale.
He looked at me as though I were already a dead child.
I, on the other hand, couldn’t have cared less.
If anything, I was just thinking,
I kind of want to pull out more of her hair.
Thoughts should be put into action.
Just as my tiny little hand shot forward—
Thunk.
A large hand blocked it.
Huh?
So the hair’s off-limits? Or is she finally angry?
Just as that thought crossed my mind—
“Hah… Hahahahahaha!”
Grandmother burst into hearty laughter.
When she finally stopped, her gleaming eyes settled on me.
There was unmistakable satisfaction in her gaze.
“So that lunatic Pierre, who gave up on life… produced something like this?”
Despite her words, her sharp eyes continued studying me with obvious curiosity.
Her wrinkled yet striking face suddenly leaned close.
So close I could clearly make out every crease.
Members of the Orca family could project killing intent through nothing but their eyes.
Her gaze wasn’t filled with kindness alone.
“You’re the first grandchild who’s ever dared pull out my hair, you little dumpling.”
“…Mm?”
Without warning, Grandmother dropped me back into the crib.
It wasn’t exactly how one handled a baby.
Fortunately, the mattress was soft enough that it didn’t hurt.
“Very well.”
“I’ll postpone deciding what to do with this one.”
In every previous life, the very first thing that happened after I regressed…
…was being banished to the most remote building on the estate.
“This summer.”
“Throw her into the training institute.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
Her long, narrow eyes turned toward me.
Beneath glossy black hair as sleek as an orca’s skin, her murderous eyes curved slightly.
“Listen well, you little rice cake.”
“If you fail to produce results at the academy…”
“You’ll be thrown straight into the cold annex.”
“All right?”
Just as always.
Weak.
Unable to awaken the Power of Water.
That was why I’d always been cast aside.
Fine.
Just you wait.
I’ll grow up quickly…
Then I’ll leave this family behind on my own.
Before that…
I wanted to see that old hag frown for once.
I’ll become so powerful it’ll make your jaw drop…
Then disappear as the Dragon’s Bride.
I’ll become the strongest.
No matter what.
And so…
I changed the beginning of this life.
***
A child could only be offered as the Dragon’s Bride after turning ten.
Unfortunately…
Before reaching that age, I had always been sold to another family.
I’d rebelled.
Thrown tantrums.
Tried escaping countless times.
Yet even armed with memories of the original novel…
There was nothing I could do inside the body of a powerless child.
The only reason I managed to escape in my previous life…
…was because I risked my life.
But this time was different.
I’d finally mastered the trick of speaking clearly from an early age.
That alone bought me precious time.
Now…
There was only one thing left to do.
My first goal is simple.
Survive safely until I’m ten.
And before then…
Avoid being sold to any family connected to the original story.
Even though I already appeared exceptionally intelligent…
That alone wasn’t enough.
I need someone to protect me until I turn ten.
My abilities could develop over time.
But until then…
I needed someone strong enough to shield me.
My physical condition is simply too weak.
I inherited that from Father, so there’s nothing I can do about it.
Unlike my three talented older brothers—who either had retainers protecting them or were strong enough not to need protection—
I wasn’t.
If only I’d kept my Power of Water…
So…
Who could help me until I grew stronger?
Most adults wouldn’t willingly become my guardian.
This family valued overwhelming strength far more than intelligence.
I need someone…
Someone with unusual tastes.
Someone indifferent enough to leave me alone.
Luckily…
I knew exactly such a person.
My father.
Pierre Aquasiadel.
My father occupied a rather strange position within the Orca family.
Grandmother had three sons.
The eldest and second son had been fierce rivals since childhood, both blessed with extraordinary talent.
But the youngest…
Pierre…
Had been different from birth.
He was extremely frail.
Unlike me, however, he wasn’t looked down upon despite his weak body.
Because he possessed an astonishing amount of the Power of Water.
The problem was…
His body couldn’t withstand using it.
The easiest way to describe my father was this:
A weapon so powerful everyone feared it…
…but one with a strict limit on how many times it could be used.
Even Grandmother considered him a waste of potential.
Father simply withdrew from the world and shut himself away.
He’d married for political reasons.
Had children.
Yet unlike his brothers…
He never raised them.
None of my older brothers cared about him either.
But right now…
That indifference is exactly what I need.
At the moment, I was being carried back to my room by the servant who had escorted me earlier.
Curiously…
His hands were far gentler than before.
Because Grandmother took an interest in me.
When we arrived, he hesitated before speaking.
“Young Lady.”
“In one week, you’ll be moved to a new residence.”
“I’ll return then.”
Currently, I lived in an old room at the westernmost edge of the estate.
After informing me that I’d soon be relocated to the far end of the main building, he quietly withdrew.
Power really is convenient.
The moment Grandmother notices me, I get a better room.
Well… this place was falling apart anyway.
The instant I was alone…
I began waddling away.
This old building housed a nanny who cared for babies like me all at once.
“Cared” was perhaps too generous.
She simply fed us enough to keep us alive.
Every Orca child began life in this building.
Only those who showed outstanding talent were allowed to leave.
Children born with the Power of Water never had to live here at all.
They were raised in the main estate from the beginning.
I hurried onward.
***
After walking for quite some time…
Little Calypso finally reached the place she had been searching for.
She turned her chubby face from side to side.
He should be somewhere around here…
Ah!
Her face immediately brightened.
She had found him.
Near an old fountain sat the person she had been looking for.
The fountain itself was cracked and weathered.
It looked more like the ruins of something long abandoned.
The man sitting beside it was incredibly tall with broad shoulders.
Yet somehow…
He also looked thin.
His loose, round-necked shirt exposed his prominent collarbones.
A cardigan hung carelessly over his shoulders, adding to his lazy appearance.
His face only emphasized that languid atmosphere.
There was something dangerously beautiful about him.
Almost decadent.
His skin was so pale it looked as though sunlight had never once touched it.
Well…
He is one of the strongest orcas.
No wonder he’s handsome.
Calypso silently evaluated him.
This man…
Was her father.
Pierre Aquasiadel.
Surprisingly…
Across all three of her previous lives…
She had barely ever seen him alive.
The reason was simple.
Before she was sold away, he rarely showed himself.
After she left…
He died from illness not long afterward.
His overwhelming power had eventually destroyed his frail body.
In my previous life…
After becoming Family Head, I only saw his portrait over and over.
This lifetime…
Was the first time she’d actually met him.
She’d even heard he wasn’t present when she was born.
Calypso toddled over to him.
Pierre didn’t turn his head.
Even when she stood right beside him…
He continued staring blankly into space.
“Mister!”
Only when she was directly in front of him…
Did he slowly turn.
“…”
Calypso carefully examined her father’s face.
Seeing Pierre alive felt strangely unfamiliar.
Someone nearly as powerful as Grandmother…
Yet severely limited by his own body.
A man destined to die young.
Whether he knew his fate or not…
He carried an atmosphere that reminded her of a lonely city at night beneath neon lights that didn’t even exist in this world.
“Hello, Mister.”
Calypso smiled brightly, pretending not to know him.
“Do you happen to know where the training institute is?”
“I have to go there.”
Of course…
That was a complete lie.
She merely wanted an excuse to start a conversation.
Pierre stared at her for a long time.
Actually…
“Stared” wasn’t quite the right word.
It felt more like…
His gaze had merely drifted in her direction.
As though he didn’t truly register her existence.
His eyes seemed to pass right through her.
They contained nothing except indifference…
And laziness.
Calypso’s round eyebrows shot upward.
Among everyone in her family…
She had always looked the softest.
Round eyes.
Round features.
She’d always hated that.
Every other orca looked sharp and intimidating.
She alone looked harmless.
At that moment…
She wanted to raise the corners of her eyes in annoyance.
Hey.
I’m getting offended here.
Why isn’t he answering?
Only after another long silence…
Did Pierre finally respond.
“You’ve come…”
“To the wrong place.”
His voice was low and hoarse.
As though he hadn’t spoken to anyone…
For a very, very long time.
