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Chapter 13
“Correct your way of addressing me. I am not your grandfather—I am the head of the Orcadan family.”
His tone was so cold it felt almost frozen.
“…Y-yes, Clan Head-nim.”
Dahlia nodded stiffly, completely frozen.
“Only my direct grandchildren, those who share my blood, are allowed to call me that.”
“I u-understtand… (I understand.)”
She knew.
Unlike the twin brothers, to Harold, she was nothing more than an outsider. A stranger.
Not even of the same family—and not even of the same species.
But… something feels different.
When she glanced up at him, Harold’s face looked chillingly cold.
At first, he had treated her with indifference. But after she handed over the information about the great white shark beastmen, he had at least been somewhat favorable.
He even gave me gifts…
But now…
It feels like he hates me.
Dahlia curled her tiny hands into fists.
“If you have something to say, speak. Is something bothering you? I will repeat myself—you are merely a guest here…”
“Clan Head-nim. You give me delish food every day, warm bath water, and lots and lots of choclat and jelly. Thank you very much.”
“……”
As Dahlia bowed deeply and expressed her gratitude, Harold closed his mouth tightly.
He still looked displeased, but his sharp edge softened slightly compared to before.
Dahlia seized the moment and carefully continued.
“Um… Clan Head-nim…”
The Orcadan family was both prestigious and notorious.
The things their head, Harold, hated most could be summed up into three categories.
First—weakness.
Anything too weak to protect the family was useless. Worse than useless—it was a burden.
Second—disobedience.
In a world defined by hierarchy, order was law.
Defying a superior’s command was a crime deserving death.
And third…
“That child doesn’t seem to be pure-blood.”
“…So you mean a mongrel.”
Harold despised that third category the most.
“Mongrel.”
That single word contained everything.
A product of ignorance that disrupted the order of nature.
Idiots who defied the will of the gods.
The evidence was clear.
About 500 years ago, the war between beastmen that angered the god Porpose.
The beginning of the so-called “Red Sea War” had also started from those damned mongrel bloodlines.
Things that should never be mixed… were mixed.
Younger beastmen of today might dismiss that tragedy lightly, but Harold did not.
The horrific history that turned the sea crimson was a lesson that had to be passed down.
Since that war, “mongrel” had become a term that stripped one of even basic human—or beastman—dignity.
“Damn mongrels.”
That was Harold’s conclusion about Dahlia.
If he had his way, he would have expelled her immediately—but he had made a promise with Ennio, so he held back for now.
Besides, everything would be settled within ten days anyway.
What mattered more was what that mongrel had said at breakfast.
“By the way, Clan Head-nim… the great white shark beastmen, they must be really angry, right?”
“Of course they’re grinding their teeth.”
“Th-then we have to be careful. If th-they hold a grudge and target the orca beastmen…”
“Are you implying that our orca beastmen are beneath those great white sharks? Ridiculous. Just because you helped us once with a minor incident does not give you the right to speak so boldly. I find this unpleasant. I will end my meal here.”
What did a mere sea otter—no, sea otter-like child—know to be speaking so freely?
The more he thought about it, the more irritating it became.
Even if the orca beastmen were not what they once were, they were not low enough to be lectured by some insignificant mongrel child.
And yet…
It was strange.
“…This is unsettling.”
Harold frowned deeply as his butler, Daxton, approached.
“Is it because of what happened this morning?”
“Yes. I assume you heard that insolent brat’s words as well.”
“Please ignore it. It is merely a child’s imagination. At that age, children have very vivid fantasies.”
“Of course I think so too. However…”
Harold reconsidered the source of his discomfort.
“The great white sharks are not the type to sit quietly and do nothing. They should have already started making moves. The fact that they are so quiet is what bothers me.”
“If you are concerned, I can increase surveillance at the border zones. We could expand patrols into the Gray Zone as well. However, with our current manpower, that may strain the soldiers. We would have to reduce leave days or cancel them entirely…”
Harold waved his hand sharply.
“Enough. Stop. It’s not as if they are about to start a war immediately. I must be overthinking things due to age.”
Even if the peace treaty was only superficial, they were not reckless enough to break it outright.
Skirmishes and petty retaliation were common enough already.
It would be foolish to drain military resources over the words of a four-year-old child.
“You seem troubled, Clan Head-nim.”
At the butler’s concerned voice, Harold closed his eyes.
Beyond his wrinkled eyelids, someone’s face flickered in his mind.
“Father.”
“Leviathan, you foolish son! You intend to disobey me and go to the palace anyway?”
“I must pay for my sins. With my life.”
And the shadow of that foolish son who had left…
“Haahhh… what should I do…”
Back in her bedroom, Dahlia stared out the window and sighed repeatedly.
“Young lady, what are you thinking about so deeply?”
“Ah! Sara!”
Sara approached with a gentle smile and sat beside her.
“How did you know I was worrying…?”
“It’s written all over your face, young lady!”
“Eek!”
Dahlia quickly raised her tiny arms and covered her forehead.
“Fufu, I was joking. Your expression is just very serious. So, are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”
“It’s a secret…”
The baby sea otter hesitated.
She wanted to talk about it—but wasn’t sure if she should.
“I promise I won’t tell. And there’s a saying, isn’t there? Even a seashell feels lighter when shared!”
“I knooow that sayiiing!”
“Oh my, how intelligent you are.”
As Sara praised her, Dahlia suddenly became shy again.
“…I’ve never heard it used like that before.”
In her past life, anything she said was met with insults.
“Don’t act smart, you idiot.”
“Shut up and disappear.”
Because of that, praise felt unfamiliar—almost embarrassing.
Still, she changed the subject to ease the awkwardness.
“Sara and Dara… you’re sisters, right?”
“Yes! We don’t look alike at all, so people usually don’t notice until we tell them. But you noticed right away, young lady. As expected, you’re very smart.”
More praise.
“I don’t think so… you look really similar…”
“What makes us seem alike to you?”
“Your voices, your hands… and your way of speaking… and how kind you are…”
“Oh my, is that so? So our voices sound kind?”
“Mm-hm. When I listen, it feels like my body is melting like jelly.”
Sara burst into laughter.
Dahlia pouted slightly—she was telling the truth, but no one seemed to believe her.
“Hey… why are you two so nice to me?”
At the question, Sara’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.
