Chapter 48
Yeah, this is exactly the feeling.
If you regress, there has to be this kind of thrill too. Right?
It was the exhilarating taste of victory that I had felt in the previous timeline.
Grandmother laughed for quite a while as if it were amusing, then soon looked at someone.
“Pierre, what do you think?”
At Grandmother’s question, I looked at Father.
Father met my eyes for a moment, then turned toward Grandmother.
“She is my daughter.”
A low and firm voice.
“I do not make wrong judgments.”
“……”
It was a conversation between two arrogant powerhouses.
“This child resembles me.”
As I listened to this, it felt strange.
‘On my side.’
It felt as though Father had declared that.
The feeling of my chest trembling was unfamiliar.
So I ended up frowning deeply.
“All parties have finished speaking.”
I did not know how to process this kind of thing in this world.
I took a breath in and let it out.
“I will deliver the verdict.”
Even without hearing it, the atmosphere was already clear.
Because over on Bayan’s side, it felt like a funeral.
“Bayan Aquasiadel ignored the order to never waste strength and inflicted fatal injury upon the child of a key retainer.”
Bayan’s hands were trembling, and the elder uncle wore a face filled with immense despair.
“Furthermore, he violated the strict rule between the beginner institution and the intermediate institution that must absolutely be upheld. Not only that, instead of confessing his own crime, he spoke falsehoods in this sacred council and dared to deceive the head of the family.”
“……”
“Taking all of this into consideration…….”
Turning what was not originally a trial into a grand courtroom was no different from displaying the power held by the head of the family.
“I order Bayan Aquasiadel to be expelled from the intermediate institution for three years and to undergo one year of probation. All external activities, meeting people, everything is prohibited.”
“……!!”
“M-Mother! Please wait a moment!”
The intermediate institution was not merely a place where orcas received education.
Whales formed social circles there, which would later become connections when they became adults.
Orcas proved their excellence by how well they completed this place.
In particular, direct-line orcas proved their uniqueness depending on the age at which they graduated.
For Bayan, who had likely even skipped grades or expected early graduation, this was nothing short of a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
Moreover, one year of probation was essentially like cutting off his limbs.
‘Whew, this is better than I expected.’
As far as I remember, in the previous timeline, even when that guy beat beginner institution kids nearly to death under the pretense of hunting play, his punishment did not go as far as expulsion.
‘About half a year of probation.’
Even that was a disadvantageous punishment for someone who had been a strong candidate for successor, but it was by no means a sufficient punishment for the children who had nearly died that day.
“Th-this cannot be. Mother. It is true that Bayan made a mistake, yes, but considering his past performance, could you please reconsider just once?”
“Is that Bayan’s final plea?”
Grandmother listened to the elder uncle, then turned toward Bayan.
His face, trembling with anger and even despair, nodded hurriedly.
“Yes, that is correct. Grandmother!”
Grandmother cast her gaze this way.
I thought she would speak to Father again, but the question was directed at me.
“Calypso Aquasiadel, what is your opinion?”
Oh my. What is this? She even called my full name?
I suppressed a smile and calmed my expression.
“I have no objection to the punishment of the head of the family.”
I glanced at Grandmother cautiously and continued.
“But.”
Oh dear, look at that old woman turning cold the moment someone tries to add anything to her decision.
No matter how many timelines pass, she really is a tyrant who acts alone.
“I was not the only party in this incident. Shouldn’t we also ask for the opinions of my Brother Agenor here… and Ilia Beluga, the guardian of the beluga twins Luga and Luba, who suffered the greatest damage?”
Agenor’s eyes sparkled when I included him.
Ilia, who had been standing quietly, looked quite surprised.
“Because Grandmother also said that Bayan using violence against the Luga and Luba brothers was ‘a misuse of strength,’ didn’t she.”
As if she had heard something completely unexpected.
“That makes sense.”
When Grandmother nodded, Agenor quickly responded.
“I have no objection. I agree with Ca—Calypso!”
Of course, he almost said younger sister, then hurriedly corrected himself, which surprised me.
“…I also have no objection, Head.”
After hearing Ilia’s words as well, Grandmother stood up as if she would hear no more.
Now it was the turn of the many collateral members and retainers who had been sitting like an audience.
“Those who object to the punishment, raise your hands and state your opinion.”
The disciplinary committee basically included nobles who served as a jury.
When the chair determined the level of punishment at the end, the jury would discuss whether it was appropriate, or whether it should be reduced or increased.
‘But.’
Where is this?
This was already neither a disciplinary committee nor a trial.
This was a place where one simply obeyed when Grandmother commanded.
A place where the power of the head of the family was absolute.
‘Once Grandmother decided to punish him, the game was already over.’
As I felt satisfaction, Grandmother stomped her foot.
Thud!
The enormous hall trembled.
A shiver ran through me.
‘…This is Grandmother’s true power.’
Fear? Dread? No, it stirred my competitive spirit.
If I had fought her in the third timeline, when I had become the strongest and even the head of the family, what would the outcome have been?
It felt like my blood was boiling.
“Father, this power is insane. Right?”
“……”
At some point, I could feel Father staring at me, but I ignored it and stared intently at Grandmother with sparkling eyes.
“Since there are no objections from the jury. I will pronounce the sentence.”
“……”
“The punishment remains unchanged. Bayan Aquasiadel is to be expelled from the intermediate institution for three years and undergo one year of probation. All external activities, meeting people, everything is prohibited.”
The same sentence was declared once more.
Even once would have been enough to feel like one’s mind was shattered, but twice?
‘This feels like chugging a whole bottle of soda.’
In truth, if he were truly capable, he would succeed in returning even after such punishment.
Or if he were even more capable, he might find a way to catch Grandmother’s attention during the punishment period and have it lifted.
Because both giving punishment and withdrawing it depended on Grandmother’s will.
But would there even be a place left for him to return to?
That guy was not in that position by his own ability.
He was merely the eldest, born with a good bloodline and fortunate enough.
I shifted my gaze to one place.
The boy who had been quietly watching ever since speaking to Grandmother earlier.
My eldest brother Bellus came into view.
“……”
Bellus, as if sensing my gaze, turned his head.
‘Bellus will make sure that Bayan cannot return.’
I know.
How cunning and strong that quiet eldest brother is.
The current succession structure was Bayan at the top, followed by Sorte and Bellus, forming a one-strong, two-mid system.
Bayan had been dominating based on the power held by the elder uncle, but starting today, that would change.
And Bellus was not someone who would miss an opportunity.
‘Grandmother is not unaware of this.’
In the end, although it seemed like merely expulsion and probation, it was no different from deciding whether he would fall off a cliff.
‘But more importantly, why is Bellus alone?’
I looked around.
Because the situation had been moving so urgently earlier, I had not paid attention.
Originally, there should have been one more person near Bellus.
‘That guy must have also entered the succession competition. Even if not, he would have already been acknowledged by Grandmother.’
My second older brother, Atlan.
‘There is no way he wouldn’t have come here.’
But he was nowhere to be seen.
“And one more thing.”
Meanwhile, Grandmother, who had practically destroyed Bayan’s career and pushed him to the beginning of the abyss, continued calmly.
The retainers who had relaxed thinking the agenda was over hurriedly straightened their backs and corrected their posture.
“From this moment on, the ‘Calypso Aquasiadel’ present here is officially recognized as a direct-line orca.”
I widened my eyes.
Of course, I cheered inwardly.
‘It’s done!’
The ultimate purpose for which I wanted to attend this family council.
That was to be introduced to the retainers.
From this moment, a direct-line orca is finally acknowledged as a full direct descendant.
However…
‘I didn’t expect such a flashy debut?’
I had only planned to attend the family council and be recognized by Grandmother as, “Ah, there was such a one.”
I had not planned such a grand finale.
‘The plan was just for that guy to be casually mentioned as the new newcomer.’
Well, it wasn’t bad.
Being the main character is always thrilling.
‘So this is how it felt when I became the head of the family in the third timeline.’
I smiled, recalling that moment. There is no need to shrink here.
Be confident.
I deserve to receive these gazes.
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
