Why… is he not reacting at all?
It felt like we had been locked in eye contact for at least two minutes. It was a bit scary that there was still no reaction, but I had no intention of looking away. I had a strong feeling that if I looked away first, it would be the end of my life here. And I couldn’t let that happen.
So I glared at him even harder.
Though let’s be real—how threatening could a baby’s glare even be?
“Rita.”
My father, who had been watching me intently, suddenly smiled softly and called out.
“Yes, my lord?”
“‘Senika’ would suit her well.”
“…Pardon?”
“Remember the child’s name.”
He gently pulled his finger from my grasp, tapped my cheek lightly, and left the room.
I was dazed for a moment at the sudden turn of events, but snapped out of it quickly. Rita had pulled me into a tight embrace.
“Young lady…! You finally have a name!”
“Oong?” (Why’s that a big deal?)
“Being given a name means the Lord has acknowledged you as the heir of House Evienne!”
Rita’s more excited than me as she spun us around the room with joyful steps.
In contrast, I was a little shaken.
So I really had gone this whole time without a name? I had nearly been kicked out of this house for real?!
If I wanted to stay here for long, I have to stay on my handsome father’s good side!
***
Squeak squeak—
I didn’t realize it before, but dragons seem to grow fast.
Just a week ago, I couldn’t speak or walk. Now, though still wobbly, I could manage to walk and even talk—though not fluently.
“Rit-taa.” (Rita)
“No, young lady.”
“Wanna go ou’side.” (I wanna go outside)
“I said no.”
“Why-y!” (Why!)
I had plenty to say in response, but with barely any teeth and an underdeveloped tongue, talking was still a struggle.
The more I tried to push myself, the more frustrated I got. But I couldn’t give up.
I turned my back to Rita and sat down, sticking out my lips in a full-body expression of “I’m mad.”
So what if I can walk now? I can’t even leave the room.
Since Rita was always by my side except when I slept, sneaking out was practically impossible. Why wouldn’t they let me leave the room? I don’t fall anymore! I even promised not to run!
Sure, I may have broken that promise a few times… but still! Locking me up is too much! I’m the child who’ll lead the future!
With unshaken determination, I stood up again.
Squeak squeak squeak squeak—
I hurried toward the door, but these noisy shoes always gave me away.
“Young. Lady. Se. Ni. Ka.”
There she goes—saying my name syllable by syllable with hands on her hips.
Guess today’s escape plan is a bust again. Time to droop my shoulders and act pitiful so she gives me extra snacks.
Just as I was finalizing that plan—
“Young lady, your wish is finally coming true.”
“Wish?”
“Yes. You’ll be having dinner in the dining room tonight, not here.”
“Really? I can go ou’side today?” (Really? I can go outside today?)
Squeak squeak squeak squeak—
Overjoyed, I bounced in place. The room filled with loud squeaks, but no one seemed to mind.
From that moment on, I spent the whole afternoon eagerly waiting for dinnertime. Funny how time moves slower when you’re waiting.
“Young lady, don’t let go of my hand until we arrive, okay?”
“Okay!”
“I’ll say it again—the mansion is like a maze. If you let go, you’ll get lost.”
“I go’ it!” (I got it!)
She must’ve said that line a dozen times. I told her I wouldn’t let go, so stop worrying!
Only after gripping my hand tightly did Rita open the door.
The hallway was familiar. I’ve seen it often through the gap when the door opened and closed.
“Rit-taa, fasterrr!”
“You’ll trip if we rush.”
Rita walked slowly for my sake, but it still felt way too slow to me.
Even though she just smiled at my whining, her pace didn’t change.
We followed the corridor and eventually reached a staircase.
It looked like it went down quite a bit—more than usual for a toddler like me.
Rita glanced at me, clearly wanting to carry me.
No way! I’ll show I can handle this on my own!
I stepped forward and began going down, carefully placing one foot at a time. I don’t know what floor I was on, but we descended two full levels.
Note to self: ask to be carried back up later. These little legs won’t make it twice.
“Here we are.”
“Mm! But is it just us eating?”
“No. You’ll be dining with the Lord.”
“With Daddy?”
Huh?
This sudden meeting caught me off guard.
I hadn’t seen him for a week—I thought he’d forgotten about me.
My father, Hale Evienne, head of the Baekryong Clan.
As soon as I learned to talk, I asked Rita for his name. Though I say “Daddy” out loud, I plan to call him by name until I get used to it in my head.
As I nodded like I understood, Rita opened the door slowly.
The first thing I saw was an enormous, extravagant chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
“Woooow…”
I was mesmerized by how bright and beautiful it was. If Rita hadn’t softly called my name, I might’ve stayed frozen there.
I shook my head and walked towards Hale who sat at the head of the table.
“She’s grown a lot.”
“They say it’s about three years old in human age.”
“Still so small.”
“She’ll keep growing rapidly from here.”
“She better.” He muttered as he watched me approach.
Ugh, if I hear “small” one more time, I’m going to develop a complex.
I ignored the comment and headed to the chair I assumed was mine… but it was way too tall. What kind of place doesn’t consider a child’s height?!
“Senika, why don’t you eat with Daddy?”
“……”
Hale teased, knowing full well I couldn’t reach the seat.
I was sure he had done this on purpose.
“If you don’t want to, you can eat from the floor.”
As I kept staring at the chair, he added more fuel.
My lips pouted without me realizing.
I guess not seeing him for a whole week had left me more upset than I thought.
“…Why didn’t you come?”
“Hm?”
“Why didn’t you come see me for a whole week?”
I bit my lip and looked at Hale instead of the chair, but I couldn’t read anything from his gaze.
After all, he was the head of the family.
From experience, I knew it was always hard to deal with people at the top. Especially when they were family.
In my past life, my father had been an emperor. In this life, it was Hale, a family head. Both were powerful and distant figures. Though Hale seemed gentler, their positions were still the same.
And that meant their personalities were likely similar too…
Back then, when I whined, my father would scold me.
“You’re the princess of the empire—how dare you act so childish.”
So I was sure Hale would be the same—
“Senika, come here.”
My head shot up.
That was not what I expected.
“Come on now.”
Even as I looked at him in surprise, Hale coaxed me forward. Maybe he was hiding it well, but… still. He hadn’t scolded me.
He was different. So very different from the father I once had.
It felt like the locks on a tightly shut box in my heart were slowly opening.
Right. I’m a daughter. It’s okay for a daughter to be a little clingy with her dad.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad…
To build the family I never had.
I ran straight to Hale. He gently picked me up and placed me on his lap. Then he stroked my platinum hair and said—
“Were you upset?”
“…No.”
“I’ve been very busy. I’m sorry.”
…When he apologizes that easily, it’s hard to stay pouty. I knew how demanding his role must be.
I shouldn’t hold a grudge.
“…Okay.”
“I’ll visit you once a day from now on.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Really.”
“You don’t have to push yourself…”
“It’s not pushing myself.”
“…Then pinky promise.”
I turned halfway towards him and stuck out my pinky.
Hale looked at my hand, then at me.
A pinky several times larger than mine reached out and wrapped around mine.
“It’s a real, real promise now!”
“Yup. So shall we eat?”
“Yeah!”
I turned forward again.
A fork with meat appeared in front of me—fully cooked and without a trace of pink.
Just a week ago, all I had was formula. Now, thanks to a few growing teeth, I could finally chew meat. Yes, this is what I’m talking about! Meat never gets old!
“It’s yummy!”
“Eat lots.”
When I ate in my room, I had to feed myself. But now with Hale feeding me, it was so much easier.
Wait… am I the only one eating here?
Isn’t Hale hungry too?
I pushed away the fork that approached again and reached for one about three times larger than my usual one. I wanted to return the favor and feed Hale some meat…
“…Blood?”
“This one’s mine.”
Hale pushed his plate just out of my reach.
“It’s too bloody. You have to cook it more!”
“Daddy can eat it like this.”
…Can he really?
He smiled and coaxed me to take the bite I had rejected earlier.
As I chewed, I found myself thinking again.
Somehow, the longer I live as a child, the more my thoughts start to feel like a child’s, too.
