Episode 44
“Yes. Child.”
Head of the House Ocula smiled leisurely, resting her chin on her fingertips.
Unlike the demeanor she had shown until now, her tone was subtly softened.
“Your tongue still moves quite smoothly today.”
“You flatter me.”
“Indeed. Good.”
Ocula straightened her back.
“Everyone must be so curious about the whim this old woman indulged in today that they are likely cursing me.”
“How could that be possible, Mother?”
A slick voice drifted in.
It was Calypso’s uncle,Biyo, who had remained silent until now.
He was a man reputed to be even more dull-witted than his elder brother, Rodesen.
“I see.”
Ocula tilted her head.
“I hear that something interesting happened at my family’s educational institution?”
“…….”
“All parties involved, come forward.”
The direct attendants moved with clockwork precision.
“Please step forward, Princess.”
And so, Calypso had to stand up again, not long after she had sat down.
‘No, if this was the plan, why make me sit here in the first place? It’s obvious. She’s just a crone who loves a petty power struggle, now and forever.’
I didn’t fail to see the reason.
She must have been displeased with Dad, who showed his face for the first time in a long while.
She deliberately placed me in this spot to break his spirit.
“If you are worried about the seat, there is no need.”
“No need?”
“Because the moment will come when it disappears.”
Hearing Pierre’s words, Calypso realized it immediately.
‘Right, if the disciplinary committee is held here, the Chairperson must call me to hear the story.’
Furthermore, if the vassals present here are to play the role of jurors, a setting must be provided where everyone can hear the testimony.
‘It starts now.’
Head of the House Ocula crossed her legs.
“Now then, you little brats who haven’t even dried the blood behind your ears.”
It was at that moment that a frost-like chill permeated the old woman’s voice, which had sounded relaxed until then.
“Let us hear the reason why you dared to cause a ruckus at the solemn educational institution managed by my person.”
* * *
I remained silent for a moment.
The place where I stood was the spot assigned to Agenor.
Naturally, I came to face Bayan and his gang on the opposite side.
While I stayed silent, Bayan, amidst his gang, raised his hand high.
“That, Grandmother. No, Head of the House…!”
At the same time, he even jumped up from his seat.
Whether he thought he had obtained Grandmother’s implicit consent, he quickly opened his mouth.
“A ruckus? Actually, I do not know why it has been so exaggerated, but it was just a minor ‘accident.’ I am truly frightened by how terrifying rumors are, considering how such a small accident grew large enough to reach the ears of the Head of House.”
Bayan’s voice grew louder and clearer as he continued.
When Grandmother listened in silence, he seemed to think this was his chance, and an even more confident expression appeared on his face.
“An accident?”
“Yes! That is right. How could this not be an accident? As Grandmother knows, for us Killer Whales, life is a battle, a war, and no different from a struggle. Yet, to hold a Supreme Disciplinary Committee just because we hit and fought each other? It is truly incomprehensible.”
It was a claim he prattled on about excitedly, completely ignoring the fact that the opponent he “hit and fought” was a three-year-old.
‘A plankton would be smarter than that bastard.’
To me, watching him, it was not only absurd, but I would have believed it if someone said his head was filled with nothing but shrimp dung.
It only became a “fight” because it was me.
If I were an ordinary Killer Whale or just a little bit weaker, this wouldn’t have been a fight—it would have devolved into one-sided violence.
‘Well, if that were the case, I wouldn’t have even made it to this seat.’
I would have been lying down somewhere crippled or dead.
‘Bayan, that guy didn’t just occupy that seat for nothing. He’s really working that tongue. Wow.’
Bayan had now become a grand orator with his hand over his heart.
What was even more ridiculous was the sight of the eldest uncle looking at his son as if he were beyond proud.
Instead of making any expression, Grandmother slowly crossed her arms.
“Do you know the rumors that have spread grandly through my family, including the educational institution, over the past few days?”
“……Yes, I know.”
Bayan flinched but quickly nodded.
“I know very well which rumors you are referring to. Because I have heard them as well. However, respected Grandmother, it is nothing but deplorable that the rumors spread far enough for you to know are… actually heavily exaggerated and false rumors mixed with bold-faced lies.”
Next to the eldest uncle, I saw the eldest aunt I had seen at the Supreme Disciplinary Committee earlier.
Next to her sat a pretty girl with a ribbon in her hair. She was the eldest uncle’s daughter.
The younger uncle nearby, his first son Sorte, and a few small boys were just watching blankly or with displeased expressions, but they didn’t seem inclined to interfere.
“False rumors?”
“Yes. In those rumors, I appear as an incompetent, stupid guy who only knows his fists.”
Bayan gnashed his teeth.
“It must have been spread by those who don’t even know the context!”
“Is that so? Then what are the actual circumstances?”
At that, Bayan’s black eyes gleamed.
I know that expression. The look of one who has seized victory.
“First, I believe it is necessary to explain the events of that day in detail from the beginning. It is true that I initially headed to the Junior Institution with my dear friends and juniors. But that was not to engage in the fight spread by current rumors, but simply….”
Bayan’s eyes glanced toward me.
“I merely wished to see the new cousin who had been the talk of the town for some time.”
Don’t give me that, you should just be a land animal, you fish bastard.
Where do you get off lying without even wetting your lips?
“Ah, it’s nothing special, I just don’t want any more nuisances at the family meeting. Follow me. A refusal… means watching this tiny brat’s head burst.”
‘Just looking at what he said that day, he was a guy who intended to take me somewhere and either cripple me or kill me.’
However, I could clearly see it.
As expected, this was his space; I could feel an atmosphere favorable to him.
Furthermore, whatever she was up to, Grandmother was listening to all his bullshit without a word.
“But the thing is.”
This alone gave even the vassals and collateral branches who were not on Bayan’s side a reason to take his part.
“When I finally faced my younger female cousin, the moment she saw me, she acted haughtily and insulted me… and then she even disgraced my father?”
“…….”
Bayan’s eyes turned toward Dad, beside me.
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
“Perhaps she wanted to brag excessively that she is the daughter of Lord Pierre, who is close to being the strongest in this Killer Whale family.”
What is this son of a b*tch saying?
“Aah? Right. Good. It means she isn’t that Pierre guy’s child for nothing.”
He was the one who started the insults about parents.
I knew it already, but he had a filthy tongue.
He continued to lay out natural-sounding lies shamelessly.
“Well, I can understand. There were widespread rumors that my uncle, who never took an interest in anything in the world, strangely took an interest in my cousin. Looking at it now, those rumors seem to be true. However, Grandmother. It is fine to insult me. But I could not tolerate the mockery of my father, who has lived a distinguished life!”
When should I step in? I narrowed my eyes.
Sliding my gaze to the side, I saw Agenor frowning.
Turning to look at Dad next, he just had the same expressionless face as usual.
“Furthermore, my dear friends and juniors who went with me were insulted even in regards to their parents, simply for being with me. No matter the distinction between the direct and collateral lines, is that child not an ‘inexistent person’ who hasn’t even been formally introduced yet?”
“That is true.”
“Yes, Grandmother. My friends and juniors are of the collateral branch, but they are individuals whose excellence has been recognized in the Intermediate Institution. It is a self-evident fact who is useful to this family.”
Grandmother, far from stopping Bayan’s words, even chimed in leisurely with “Oho” and “Is that so?” in between.
At this, Bayan’s face became increasingly triumphant, even regaining its arrogance.
“Right, the explanation of the situation is enough now. Lengthy stories are just rambling. So, putting your claim aside.”
“…….”
“Is the evidence to prove your claim prepared?”
Bayan flinched at Grandmother’s words, which carried a hidden weight, but he soon nodded with a confident face.
“Of course, Grandmother. How could I not even prepare when I am before your presence? I wish to summon a witness to support my claim. Please grant permission.”
“I permit it.”
A witness? I frowned slightly.
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