Chapter 36
My face hardened like stone.
I slowly turned my head, my neck moving with a creak.
“The Princess must also bring her parents.”
That meant I had to bring Pierre—my dad.
No, they were saying it was absolutely necessary for the disciplinary committee.
My jaw dropped involuntarily.
……How on earth am I supposed to bring that man here?!
***
*Click.* The door to the disciplinary room closed.
Standing in front of the door, I let out a long, heavy sigh.
‘Hah, what am I supposed to do about this?’
My head was a mess of complicated thoughts.
‘I didn’t think this far ahead when I was starting the group fight.’
What I had planned was exactly up to the point of the disciplinary committee being held.
I had no idea that at the highest level, it would be accompanied by a “Bring your parents!” rule!
If I had known, I would have chosen Option B: following them quietly and then just beating them all up.
Of course, I don’t know how the results would have turned out because of Bayan!
But surely I would have made it out alive!
‘Damn, I’ve been to a disciplinary committee before, but since parents weren’t required back then, I didn’t dream of this.’
As I mentioned before, when the disciplinary committee I knew of was held, they didn’t specifically summon the parents.
It’s flustering, but since the situation is what it is, let’s think of a solution.
There must be a way, right?
The hallway was silent.
Naturally, everyone had gone home long ago. I was the only one left because I had to explain things to Laila.
Fortunately, I finished the remaining explanations successfully, and Laila’s reaction wasn’t bad.
Laila is also one of the typical killer whales.
But apart from that, she is a person as sharp as a blade when it comes to fairness, so she will surely take my side in this situation.
Doubtful as it is, there must be orders given by Dad as well.
“Ugh, ouch.”
Perhaps because I had put strength into my lips without realizing it, they hurt.
Then, I suddenly whipped my head around.
‘A presence.’
It was because I felt a presence.
To be precise, I had felt a faint presence from the moment I opened the door and stepped out, but I had been ignoring it, thinking it had nothing to do with me.
Now, it had become something I could no longer ignore.
I widened my eyes upon seeing the person who approached.
“Hello, Princess.”
It was a low, soft voice.
I could even feel a melody, almost as if he were singing.
I blinked as I looked at the hair as white as cotton.
If Luga and Luba grew up just like this, wouldn’t they look exactly like him?
‘Those kids will live their lives being constantly spoiled about how they’ll look in 10 or 20 years.’
The man standing before me was the twins’ father.
“How are Luga and Luba?”
Rather than a greeting, I quickly asked after the twins’ well-being.
Had he not taken the twins home? Why was he here?
Perhaps sensing my doubt, the twins’ father gave a bitter smile.
“The Head of the Family came and took them.”
The Head of the Family—the twins’ mother. I felt a small sense of relief.
“Make sure they get treated quickly. Kids are vulnerable to concussions. Especially belugas of this age will be even more vulnerable to impacts to the head.”
“…….”
The man looked a bit surprised, then nodded.
“You know a lot about us.”
“A little.”
“……Indeed, it seems my children weren’t exaggerating. You don’t need to worry; when the Head of the Family took them, a doctor accompanied them. Fortunately, they said that externally, there seems to be no major issue with their heads or their lives.”
If so, that was a huge relief.
“And I heard you knew a lot about the children’s specialties. Luba said while crying that thanks to you, they escaped a crisis.”
“Well, that did happen.”
I had only heard stories about it, so I didn’t know if it would actually work.
“But I really didn’t know it was possible. Usually, it’s said that whale children’s specialties can only be used skillfully after the age of eight, but it was impressive.”
“It’s because they are excellent children, enough to enter the Alpha Class.”
What kind of disaster did such excellent children meet because they got involved with me.
Feeling as if bitter water would come out if I pressed my chest, I lowered my head and then lifted it again.
“First of all, I apologize. I’m sorry.”
The man was not flustered.
Instead, he gazed at me fixedly.
“Forgive my presumption, Princess, but may I dare ask what you are apologizing for?”
He was quite a fascinating person.
The reactions of vassals when facing a direct descendant of the Killer Whale family were generally one of two types.
Either being extremely uncomfortable or being paralyzed with fear.
Given my age and appearance, there would be no reason to be uncomfortable or paralyzed with fear, but even considering that, he was calm and at the same time politely respectful without overdoing it.
‘Usually, those who are smart tend to be calm and peaceful in any situation.’
“First, Luga and Luba got caught up in my business. I feel sorry about that.”
“Since it wasn’t something the Princess desired, there seems to be no reason to apologize…….”
“And I apologize on behalf of the killer whales who are utterly stupid.”
The man’s eyes widened slightly.
As if he had misheard.
“Pardon?”
“Sometimes—no, quite often—killer whales think that as long as they are strong, they can ignore anything. Morality, goodness, ethics, rules. Things like that.”
Those children had absolutely no reason to be beaten by Bayan.
Since I know well what Bayan did to the belugas in the previous life, it weighed on my mind even more.
“It’s quite regrettable to be the same kind of killer whale as those idiots. But I’ll apologize on behalf of them for Luga and Luba getting caught up in such wickedness. I’m sorry.”
I quietly lowered my head and then lifted it.
“You can put their medical expenses on my tab.”
I said after a moment’s thought.
“I can’t pay the money right this second, but I’ll be coming into some money soon. I’ll pay you back then.”
“……I had heard the stories. But I must admit that sometimes rumors can be an understatement.”
I let out a small laugh.
“Why? Am I too well-spoken?”
“No, I was surprised by your thoughtfulness. I thought that killer whales and goodness could not coexist, and I believed that morality and ethics could not walk the same path as a killer whale.”
I briefly glanced down the hallway.
At the same time as confirming that no one was there, words flowed from the man again.
“The ones who should apologize are Lord Bayan, who wielded ruthless violence, and the killer whales under his command.”
Clear words. But they weren’t words that could be easily said.
After all, this is the Killer Whale family.
‘I really liked shifters who spoke such upright words. I miss the previous life.’
Kids like this speak their minds and hold onto their convictions even if a knife is at their throat.
In other words, if you gain the trust of such a person, they will offer their loyalty until they die.
Perhaps if I were aiming to be the Head of the Family in this life as well, I would have coveted him.
“What is your name?”
“Oh, in my haste…… I am late in introducing myself to the one who saved our children. I am Loba Beluga.”
The moment I heard the name, I blinked.
Oh.
‘It was this person?’
Hearing the name, a slightly troubled feeling came first.
Understandably, I have already mentioned that in the previous life, the belugas were eliminated at Bayan’s hands.
It was because as I gradually searched my memories, the incident that was the initial cause came to mind.
“The belugas? They’re truly pitiful people. Among them, there was one guy who was so smart that even the former Head of the Family kept an eye on him. But somehow that human Bayan found out and went there first to threaten him.”
“Threaten?”
“Yes. Saying, ‘Don’t talk back and follow me.’ But why would a talented person be a talented person? Especially since belugas are kids who value freedom, would they follow such a violent master? Naturally, he refused, and that’s when it all started.”
“That guy Bayan has quite the heavy karma.”
“Right. That guy the former Head of the Family was watching was a friend of my younger brother, so I still remember. He was named Loba. He was very young.”
I had half-forgotten the words of the subordinate who chattered away after that, but more came to mind as I squeezed my brain.
“He was a beluga, but he was good at combat too.”
I scratched my cheek.
Well, yeah. Looking at him now, I could easily imagine what kind of things he would have said in front of that guy Bayan.
This person was the type of human who would never get along with Bayan in a million years.
“Um, Loba, was it? This is sudden, but are you good at combat by any chance?”
“Pardon? Pardon? Um, uh…… I wonder if I can dare compare myself to a killer whale, but I am the best warrior within the Beluga family. I am also the guard protecting the Head of the Family.”
“I see.”
Subordinate, you said he was a young guy.
You didn’t say he was a father of two.
I cast my gaze toward Loba with a momentarily troubled face, then nodded my head.
“Right, anyway, it was nice to meet you. I hope Luga and Luba are treated well and stay safe. Put the medical expenses on the tab…….”
“You do not have to pay for the medical expenses. As I said, the Princess was not at fault in any way. However, there is one thing I am curious about…… may I ask?”
“Sure, ask away.”
Loba held out a handkerchief to me before asking.
Seeing how everyone, including Laila earlier, is holding out handkerchiefs, it seems I don’t look very good.
“What do you plan to do from now on, Princess?”
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