Chapter 7
“Did you, did you just hit me?”
Arius clutched his stinging cheek, his mouth agape.
It was the first time. The first time anyone had ever hit him.
Why? Why would you hit me?
Unable to fully process his shock, Arius looked down at Daphne. Daphne met his gaze with a sly grin.
“You hit me, so isn’t it only fair that I hit you back?”
“You, you…!”
Arius ground his teeth.
“No matter what, how could you hit your older brother!”
“…Older brother?”
Daphne looked at the boy, who bore no resemblance to her body, with a sullen expression.
Back when she was a dragon, if asked what she was most curious about, she could answer without hesitation.
“Family.”
Since she didn’t even know how she came to be, or whether she had parents, she couldn’t help but be curious about the concept of family.
So, sometimes, she would cast an invisibility spell and sneak into human homes to observe them.
Humans fought, got angry, and sulked, but because they were bound by the tight-knit community of family, they never completely abandoned each other.
No matter how big a fight, they ate dinner together. No matter how angry, they didn’t ignore each other. No matter how upset, they still cared for one another.
Thus, she defined family as people who cherished each other, no matter what happened.
But…
Now that she was in this body, it seemed this family didn’t act that way.
The warrior, her so-called father, showed no reaction even when his daughter died and came back to life, and this so-called older brother hit her the moment he saw her.
How could this be a normal family?
“I’ve never had a rude older brother like you.”
So Daphne narrowed her eyes sharply and said,
“If you’re family, you should’ve been by my side when I died and came back to life. You never once visited me, did you? I’ve never had an older brother like that. Don’t ever come looking for me again.”
“…”
Arius’ mouth fell open.
They said she’d changed after dying and coming back, but this wasn’t just change—it was like she’d lost her mind.
“How absurd.”
Arius let out a hollow laugh and ran a hand through his hair.
“Hey. I don’t think of you as family either.”
Instead of responding, Daphne stared at him intently.
For some reason, looking into Daphne’s clear green eyes made Arius feel a wave of shame, and he clenched his fist tightly.
“Get a grip, you halfwit. You’re a disgrace to the Akion family. And you dare talk about family?”
Of course, as an adopted son, he had no right to say this to Daphne, the biological daughter.
But didn’t his mother say?
Arius, you are the pride of the Akion family. No matter what anyone says, you are our son…
Recalling his mother’s words, Arius sniffled.
Then he shot a sharp glare at Daphne, who was still staring at him.
“Enough. Get lost. I came to use the training grounds.”
Ptoo!
Arius spat at Daphne’s feet. It felt a bit harsh, but who cares? He tried to ignore the pang of guilt.
That’s when it happened. Daphne, who had been standing still, moved.
“What, what are you doing… Argh!”
Thwack!
Arius grabbed his shin, hopping in pain.
“You, you…! You hit me again?”
“Yeah. I hit you again.”
Daphne crossed her arms and raised her chin defiantly.
“I hit you to shut that rude mouth of yours. Got a problem with that?”
“Ugh…!”
“Right. Returning one hit for one received isn’t polite. Returning it twofold is the proper way.”
“Hey!”
Arius, fuming, raised his fist but hesitated.
Unlike earlier, when it was playful, this time it felt like it could turn into a real fistfight.
So Daphne kicked Arius in the shin again.
“Argh!”
Arius hopped around once more.
“You, seriously…!”
Let’s have it out. I’ll teach this insolent halfwit a lesson!
“Don’t cry after you get hit!”
Arius charged at Daphne. Daphne, too, was growling, ready to counter him.
At that very moment.
“What are you doing right now!”
A booming voice rang out.
Damn it.
Recognizing the familiar voice, Arius ruffled his bangs and scowled.
Daphne tilted her head at his reaction.
“Who’s that guy?”
“You forgot even the Knight Commander’s face? You’re really hopeless.”
“Shut up. Want to get hit again?”
Daphne raised her foot, and Arius instinctively flinched, then grabbed his forehead at his own pathetic reaction. Ugh, this isn’t right!
“But why’s he so mad?”
Daphne asked innocently. Arius answered calmly.
“Probably because you and I are fighting.”
“We’re not fighting—you’re the one getting one-sidedly beaten. Get your facts straight.”
“Hey!”
This is ridiculous!
Just as Arius raised his hand to actually strike Daphne,
“Quiet!”
The Knight Commander, Lloyd, dashed over and stood between them.
Lloyd narrowed his eyes, looking back and forth between Daphne and Arius.
The man appeared to be in his early thirties. His short, cropped hair clashed with his clear, hazel eyes, which were overshadowed by his tanned skin and muscular build.
It was as if someone had stacked a pile of rocks and placed bright, doe-like eyes on top.
Having finished observing the man, Lloyd, Daphne pouted as if disappointed. It was obvious he was going to stop the fight.
“I, Lloyd, am truly disappointed.”
But what followed was not what Daphne expected.
“Fighting in the sacred training grounds without even holding swords!”
“…What?”
Daphne rubbed her ears, wondering if she’d misheard.
But Lloyd seemed serious.
“Here.”
Thud.
Two wooden practice swords meant for children fell in front of Daphne and Arius.
“Now fight with these swords.”
“…”
Is this guy insane?
Handing kids wooden swords and telling them to fight?
What kind of family is this?
Daphne let out a disbelieving laugh.
But Arius seemed used to this. He skillfully picked up the wooden sword.
“Perfect.”
Pointing the sword’s tip at Daphne, he said,
“You’re going to get beaten by me today.”
Arius’ eyes gleamed.
“Since you’ve never even properly held a sword, there’s no way you’ll beat me.”
He seemed eager to take revenge for the three hits he’d just taken.
Daphne smirked.
“You idiot older brother.”
Then she, too, picked up the wooden sword.
“That’s my line.”
Pointing the sword’s tip, Daphne beckoned with her finger.
“Come at me.”
***
The Knight Commander, Lloyd, stood quietly, observing Daphne and Arius.
In truth, five-year-old Daphne was no match for Arius. Her frail body had kept her far from swordsmanship, and above all, she lacked perseverance.
Knowing this, the reason he threw them the wooden swords was simple.
He could no longer stand by and watch Daphne.
Daphne was the sole heir of the Akion family, but at the same time, she was its blemish.
What were the rumors circulating inside and outside the estate? They were all about Daphne’s nasty personality.
Known as the Akion family’s troublemaker, Daphne wreaked havoc as if nothing could stop her.
Toying with the knights and hitting the maids had become all too common.
Ordered by the duke not to touch Daphne, Lloyd had endured it begrudgingly, but now she had crossed the line.
Hadn’t she fearlessly stormed into the duke’s meeting room not long ago? And for some reason, she’d been coming to the training grounds for days, disrupting the atmosphere, and now she was fighting with Arius.
She was already irritating and disgusting to look at, so he decided it was right to teach her a lesson this time.
The thought that it might be excessive for a mere five-year-old crossed his mind, but strangely, Lloyd couldn’t make a rational judgment.
He hated Daphne. He couldn’t stand the sight of her.
As if manipulated by some created emotion, Lloyd’s heart was swept away, and so he ordered Daphne and Arius to duel.
At least Arius was kind and warm, so he would handle Daphne appropriately.
He’d give her a moderate lesson.
If it seemed dangerous, he could step in.
With that thought, Lloyd turned his gaze to Daphne.
Daphne was frail.
Having been bedridden since birth, it was only natural.
Even holding a child’s wooden sword seemed difficult for her.
But that was exactly why she needed to be disciplined. Acting like a troublemaker while hiding behind the family’s authority despite her weakness.
As a cold glint settled in Lloyd’s eyes, that very moment.
“…Huh?”
Lloyd was startled.
Daphne’s stance…
‘Wow, it’s perfect.’
It was perfect, unlike anything you’d expect from someone holding a sword for the first time!
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By Anna 💓
