Chapter 16
I hurriedly dipped my hands into the silver basin and splashed water on my face.
It wasn’t cold water—it was warm, and I felt like jumping in for a bath right then and there.
With one eye closed, I raised my head, and a soft towel touched my cheek.
“Here, close your eyes, silly.”
“I can do it myself…”
“With those tiny hands? When are you ever going to finish wiping?”
Erev didn’t even listen to me and started roughly rubbing my face with the towel.
“Puh! Get off! I said I’ll do it! Who even rubs a towel that hard?!”
I almost suffocated to death.
“I didn’t even use any strength.”
Then Erev wiped his own face just as roughly with the handkerchief and looked at me.
“Young Lady’s skin is still delicate. Such rough friction may be painful for her,”
Sara chimed in gently from the side.
See?! I gave Erev a fiery glare, and he flinched before setting the towel down.
“I’ll try to be gentler tomorrow.”
I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t even speak.
Then, as if giving up, I muttered,
“Do what you want, dummy.”
Erev’s lips curled into a pleased smile.
When I first saw Erev, his face looked like a boy’s, but his size and height were so massive—like Mr. White’s—that I assumed he was an adult. But it turned out he was only seventeen.
He had a huge greatsword taller than me and was apparently a former dragon knight who had been in a deep sleep. He said he woke up because he heard me calling.
But I never called him.
I had only prayed while holding the blue capsule.
I don’t know how it happened, but what’s clear is that—just like Mr. White—Erev firmly believed I was his little sister.
“We’ve got a lot to do today. Come with me.”
Erev reached out his hand.
I quickly stepped back.
“I’m not going. Just go by yourself—”
That was when—
“Good morning, my daughter! Did you sleep well? Let’s have breakfast together with Dad.”
Mr. White walked in through the open door, beaming.
Oh, that’s right—Mr. White wasn’t around when Ereb was summoned yesterday, so this was the first time the three of us met.
Should I introduce them?
I mean, this connection happened because of me.
But Erev raised his hand in front of me to stop me.
“I’m having breakfast with her.”
Huh…?
Before I could say anything, Erev growled, blocking Mr. White.
“I asked to have breakfast with my daughter. Why are you getting in the way?”
Huh??
“Because I’m her older brother.”
“I’m her father.”
W-w-wait a second.
Why are you two suddenly fighting?
This is strange…
There’s no reason for you to be at odds, right?
I looked back and forth between the two men, who were glaring like they were about to bite each other.
“Even if you’re her father, it doesn’t matter. I was here first. I even helped her wash her face.”
“I was the one who sang her a lullaby until dawn.”
Oh, Mr. White must’ve carried me to my room yesterday. That must’ve been hard for him!
Even though they were clearly fighting, the two of them were trading jabs so smoothly, it was like they’d been doing it for years.
“Uh, um…”
Hello?
I tugged on Erev’s clothes, and he smiled brightly as he took my hand.
“See? She chose me.”
No, I just grabbed whoever was closer!
But he held on tight and wouldn’t let go.
This stupid strong guy!
“I saw you grab her by force.”
“That’s slander.”
Sara, help me.
I turned my head, but Sara had already distanced herself, awkwardly smiling as if she couldn’t possibly intervene against her master, Mr. White.
Sensing this wasn’t going to end anytime soon, I leapt between the two of them.
“Wait a minute!”
They froze instantly.
“Daddy.”
“Ion?”
I spread my arms wide and stood between them. Taking a deep breath, I shouted:
“Let’s just all eat together!”
In the dining room.
We successfully managed to sit in a triangle.
“Sweetheart, I’ll cool your soup for you.”
“Silly girl, eat the pieces I cut for you.”
“…”
I thought the fighting was over, but nope. It just picked up again in the dining room.
They started trying to take care of me like it was a competition. As a result, I’d only taken one bite, but the food was already piling up in front of me like a mountain.
Every time Mr. White and Erev made eye contact—crackle! A silent battle of wills erupted between them.
The servants serving the food didn’t even bat an eye. This must’ve been nothing new to them.
I really didn’t understand why the two of them acted like sworn enemies.
What was really strange was how in sync they were.
When Erev cut the meat on my plate, Mr. White followed by cutting the vegetables and placing them on top.
What the…
I stabbed the neatly cut food with my fork and put it in my mouth.
Their gazes turned to me at the same time.
Gulp.
I hadn’t even tasted it yet, but I gave a nervous smile and spoke.
“I-it’s delicious.”
They both smiled brightly.
“Right? Eat lots, sweetheart.”
“If you need more, just say so. I’ll give you everything. Father, maybe you should focus on your own meal.”
“Why don’t you finish the pile of vegetables in front of you first?”
“…”
No matter how you look at it, this is weird…
I knew my family wouldn’t be ordinary, but I didn’t expect them to be this far from normal.
After that chaotic breakfast, Mr. White was called away by Tail, and Erev tried to drag me off but failed. He then said he was going to train with his sword.
Thanks to that, I was finally free.
“Hm… Well, still.”
Getting this much attention wasn’t so bad.
They piled my plate with perfectly cut meat and vegetables…
And every time I coughed, a glass of water appeared in front of me.
Aside from the bickering, I actually wouldn’t mind eating together like this every morning.
Though I’d never tell anyone that!
Exhausted from the hectic breakfast, I wandered down the hallway.
The new dress Sara helped me into after the meal fit my body perfectly—it was kind of amazing.
But when are we going to look for Callisto again?
It had only been a day, but the money I received made me nervous.
He fell into the water yesterday—what if he caught a cold?
Well, Mr. White did dry me off, so maybe he’s okay?
Before I get another task from Mafios, I should figure out a way to leave the house freely.
Earlier, when I asked how to go out, both Mr. White and Erev jumped up, insisting they’d escort me themselves.
But I can’t always go out like that. And I’m really good at sneaking out, so I won’t be in much danger.
Most of all, I’m more comfortable on my own.
I looked down at the large sigil drawn on my wrist.
“When the Feather stirs, I’ll inform you. You’ll have to find it and pass it on through the Connet.”
“It’s not going to move around or anything, right?”
“It’s just a component. But someone could be holding it.”
Well, that’s what they said.
Maybe I’ll wait a bit longer.
I should go look at that pretty fountain.
I stood to leave, but suddenly a shadow loomed over me.
Huh?
I looked up to see an upside-down face.
“Kyaa!”
I was so startled I nearly toppled over.
“What are you doing, silly?”
It was Erev.
“You can’t just sneak up like that!”
“How else was I supposed to come? What are you doing here?”
He sat down casually beside me, completely unbothered by how much he startled me.
I scooted away from him.
“It’s my business.”
I snapped without thinking, and Erev stood up.
A shadow instantly fell over me again.
“If you’ve got nothing to do, let’s go.”
And with that, he grabbed me under the arms and effortlessly lifted me up.
This stupidly strong idiot.
Doing whatever he wants again!
“I’m not going! Where are we going?! Put me down!”
I kicked my legs and demanded to be let go, but Erev just kept walking, holding me up like it was nothing.
