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Chapter 12
Dahlia cautiously glanced around.
“Is something wrong, young lady?”
“Are you looking for something?”
“N-no… it’s not that…”
After hesitating, Dahlia finally spoke in a rush.
“So, dinner… we don’t eat together? In the morning I ate with Ennio and Sandio, and Grandpa was there too…”
That morning had been the first time since arriving at the estate that they had all eaten together.
It was noisy—with the two brothers constantly shouting “soup!” and “fish!” from both sides—but… it hadn’t felt lonely.
But now, barely a day later, she was eating alone again.
Maybe she had done something wrong at breakfast, and now she wasn’t allowed to join family meals anymore.
“Oh my! Of course not, young lady.”
“It’s just the Orcadan family tradition. Breakfast is together, but after that everyone goes their separate ways.”
“That’s right. The young masters are busy with their education, and the clan head is even busier.”
“I see…”
Only then did Dahlia relax and start filling her cheeks with delicious food again.
After finishing dinner, it was time for bed.
“Shall I read you a picture book, young lady?”
“No! I can read it myself!”
“Huh? The young lady can read…?”
“Mm-hm. Ennio lent it to me!”
Dahlia pulled a book from the nightstand.
“The History of the Kingdom of Flyzella”
“Oh my, you’ve already mastered the common language? And that book is quite difficult…”
“You can really read that? Our youngest only managed picture books at age eight!”
Dahlia had originally intended to complain that Ennio was being cruel to her…
But instead, she ended up unintentionally receiving praise.
“Mm-hm… I just… learned it.”
“How amazing! Young Master Sandio only finished that book last year!”
“Sandio is… something…”
Comparing herself, who had once been fifteen, to a real seven-year-old like Sandio felt a bit unfair.
“Still, you’re truly impressive.”
“So clever and well-spoken!”
“Ehehe…”
At this point, Dahlia felt the urge to show off.
She flipped the pages and began reading aloud.
“In the beginnin’… there was chaos. But when Porpose commanded it, the sea and sky were divided. Order overflowed within the waves…”
“Order overflowed within the waves.”
Porpose created life within the sea.
To those he cherished most, he shared his power willingly.
“But peace did not last. Beastmen granted divine powers began to fight and insult one another. The Emerald Coast was stained with blood every day. Porpose became enraged.”
Porpose took away their power.
And cut off parts of his own body to create children.
He gave them the duty of ruling the sea.
“An’ so… the half-god Pose dynasty was born…”
She had only intended to read a few lines—but ended up finishing the whole first chapter.
The kingdom ruled by the divine descendants of Porpose.
The place that governed the Emerald Coast was called Flyzella.
Wait… this is actually interesting.
She had thought it would be boring, but it was unexpectedly fascinating.
Just as she was about to turn the page—
“It’s time for bed now, young lady.”
“It’s late, so please sleep. You grow when you sleep early!”
“Okay…”
Reluctantly, Dahlia closed the book.
And that night, she had a strange dream.
She was deep under the sea—in the kingdom of Pose.
A vast, glittering palace garden stretched before her.
She swam happily with her mother among coral reefs and blooming underwater flowers.
Dahlia, come this way.
Her mother suddenly disappeared into seaweed.
Dahlia lifted her head to follow—
Found you.
A fierce-looking white shark suddenly emerged.
Pii— piiii! (Run away!)
Before she could escape, the shark opened its jaws wide.
A sharp pain spread from the tip of her tail.
Pii… piiii… (Mom… mom…)
She cried desperately, but the shark only dragged her deeper.
Her screams were swallowed by the black currents of the sea.
“Help… help me… Mom… I don’t want to die…”
Dahlia writhed in her nightmare.
“Young lady! Young lady, what’s wrong?!”
“Quick, she’s not waking up!”
The door burst open as servants rushed in.
“Oh my… look at all this sweat.”
“She must’ve had a terrible dream…”
Dahlia trembled in their arms.
Tears kept falling even though she didn’t want to cry.
Soft hands gently stroked her head.
“It’s okay now, young lady.”
“We’re here. It’s all just a dream.”
“Sara… Dala…”
Sara and Dara held her gently.
They didn’t scold her for crying or tell her to be quiet.
They simply waited until she calmed down.
“…Sorry. I was being a bother.”
“Please don’t say that. Taking care of you is our job.”
“That’s right. It’s normal to have nightmares at your age.”
“The shark chased me… and dragged me deep into the water…”
Just remembering it made her want to cry again.
But then, the two servants suddenly spoke angrily.
“That awful shark! If I ever meet it, I’ll crush its nose!”
“I’ll pull out all its teeth!”
“Hic…”
The terrifying words made her stop crying instantly.
She had forgotten for a moment that orcas were even more terrifying than white sharks.
Sniffling, Dahlia looked up at them.
“Shall we go to breakfast now?”
“If you’re not feeling well, you can eat in your room.”
“No! I’ll go!”
She answered bravely, and the two servants smiled.
Clink… clink…
The dining hall was quiet except for the sound of utensils.
Dahlia glanced around at the different atmosphere—and locked eyes with Harold.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Um… where are Ennio and Sandio?”
“They have an exam soon. They won’t be coming here for meals for a while. They did poorly on the last test, so they need to focus.”
“I see…”
Dahlia thought of the stack of books in Ennio’s study.
It seemed a bit harsh for a seven-year-old—but it wasn’t her place to argue.
And today, she also had something she needed to say.
“Um… Grandpa. I have something important to—”
“I’ve been meaning to ask about that.”
Her words were cut off.
Harold’s sharp gaze landed on her, and her heart nearly jumped out of her chest.
