Chapter 50

Calypso thought it was to be expected.

After all, Belus had been the same in the previous cycle.

She could tell for sure.

Indeed, it seemed that family affection did not exist among her older brothers.

'I have to fix that guy's personality before I leave this mansion.'

His wicked mouth had been the same in the previous cycle.

Moreover, Belus was the last of the three older brothers to be broken.

He had only knelt and pledged loyalty after a fierce battle.

'Phew, he was the most troublesome opponent.'

Calypso shook her head, recalling the previous cycle.

From the occasional laughter of her grandmother, it seemed that he had already made a good impression on the head of the house.

'Phew, look at him, trying to smooth things over and show off his fins.'

There was a reason she had headed toward Belus.

Her father's gaze had become intense during the break, and she wasn't ready to face him yet.

No, it wasn't about readiness; she needed time to process what had just happened.

Moreover, the vassals and the gray-haired orca collateral relatives who were circling around were also a concern.

'They all look like they want to talk to me.'

It was a familiar sight.

She had seen it so many times during the previous cycle when she was the head of the house.

What was strange was that Iliya had not returned to her seat even after the break.

She had a deep, thoughtful expression, so Calypso didn't approach her.

Her husband, Roba, only smiled when their eyes met.

"Agenor."

"Yeah? Yeah? Hey, little sister, look at them. They're from the 'Quair' family, and they're staring at us persistently. They seem to want to talk. Ah, they're among the higher-ranking collateral relatives…."

"I know, they're one of the higher-ranking collateral families."

"You know? You know this too?"

Agenor's eyes became even brighter and more intense.

Oh, why is this third brother becoming more obsessed with eyes?

"Actually, I have a question."

"Yeah, what is it?"

"Where is Atlant?"

I looked for him during the break, but.

He still wasn't visible in the first row.

It was strange.

Not attending would mean falling out of favor with grandmother, right?

"Yeah? Where is he? He's right there."

But I couldn't see him in any of the seats where he should be.

Agenor pointed to a spot innocently.

It was the third row.

There, a boy was just waking up.

His hair, with black and white spots, was characteristic of the orca direct line.

His eyes, filled with sleep, were fierce.

Below them, his red eyes blinked.

It was definitely Atlant.

'What, why is he sitting there?'

According to what I knew, there was no way he would sit there.

"That's impossible… Why is he there?"

Atlant was the most competitive and ambitious among the three older brothers.

He had been particularly passionate about the competition to become the head of the house.

So, he was sitting there now?

He would never sit there out of pride.

"Oh, the seat? Well, he wasn't there from the beginning. If you have the ability, what does it matter? He fell asleep during the meeting and fell out of favor with grandmother."

...What? Is this a story about an orca grazing?

I was full of questions, but the meeting resumed without time to ask more.

And I couldn't focus on the meeting.

"Esteemed head of the house. Before we start the agenda, may I, this humble vassal, speak cautiously?"

As the meeting resumed, Iliya, who had been lost in thought, raised her hand.

It was the moment when grandmother had just announced the start of the meeting.

"What is it?"

Grandmother responded, though she showed a displeased expression.

...That's strange.

Grandmother seemed unusually kind to the white whale head of the house.

'I wasn't wrong.'

Iliya had already left before the break ended, saying goodbye.

I don't know what she was thinking, but she left, saying she would see me again.

'I thought she was angry because she didn't like the punishment.'

Honestly, as a parent, would you be satisfied with any punishment for the one who hurt your child?

Moreover, the parents of the Lugauruba seemed to be very loving parents.

"I am deeply grateful for the opportunity, and I apologize for causing any disruption to this sacred meeting."

"Enough with the formalities. Just speak."

"Yes, head of the house."

Iliya bowed gracefully and then turned her head slightly.

Why is she looking at me?

"The head of the house once said to me and my mate, and to the white whale family, long ago."

"..."

"Once, you said you would respect our choice."

Choice? I blinked.

I glanced at Agenor, but he shook his head.

I looked at my father again, but he looked the same as always.

He only gave me a brief reprimand with a glance.

"Focus."

"...Does Dad know what's going to be said?"

Then, a blue gaze fixed on me.

"The 'choice' the head of the house gives to the vassals. Does anything come to mind?"

"Ah, you don't mean…"

You don't mean….

My surprised expression and Iliya's words came almost simultaneously.

"We choose. The Beluga family, led by me, will follow… Lady Calypso Aquasiadel."

In fact, being formally recognized as a direct line in the family meeting meant being listed in the succession competition.

Of course, not everyone could become the head of the house, so ultimately, only the top contenders would compete fiercely.

The rest would only have their names listed in the succession competition.

As time went on, the direct lines would naturally serve the successor they chose.

Just like my brothers, who had ultimately submitted and pledged loyalty in the previous cycle.

"We support her as our successor."

There were times when a family would publicly support someone in the family meeting.

I had seen this scene when I returned to the family in the previous cycle.

"I, representing all the whale families, support Lady Calypso as our successor."

In the third cycle, if I had to name the subordinate closest to me.

I had to mention my secretary and right-hand butler, who sometimes even served as a valet.

The whale siren. I didn't expect to hear the same lines he had said again.

This time from the white whale family.

...It felt like a role reversal.

"Hmm, since I said it myself, I won't question it."

Grandmother stroked her chin, her displeasure gone.

Her wrinkled face smiled slightly.

"Supporting a newly recognized, inexperienced orca cub? Do you have no regrets about your decision?"

Her voice was stern, warning that the decision was irreversible.

Iliya smiled brightly with her cute face.

"Since we are a family that lives by our wits, how could we not calculate this, esteemed head of the house?"

Grandmother laughed heartily and accepted it.

Actually, it was a pretty cool scene.

'But, the problem is!'

I was only three years old!

'What are they talking about?'

I was not just surprised but utterly bewildered.

The reason for this bewildered feeling was.

'...I don't want to be the head of the house.'

It was because they were grabbing a stock that was about to be delisted, not just a loose end.

* * *

The meeting ended.

'I'm crazy, I don't even remember how it ended.'

The remaining agenda had nothing to do with me, so I only half-listened.

In my mind, only the words of the white whale family's leader, Iliya, kept replaying.

I almost pulled my hair out but stopped myself, aware of the gazes on me.

"The meeting is adjourned."

When the meeting ended, grandmother left without hesitation.

The orcas, especially Baiyan's parents, hurriedly followed her.

Especially the uncle, who looked like a fish shocked by electricity, was busy chasing after her.

Baiyan glared at me and then followed his father.

The only one left from Baiyan's family was a small girl.

She seemed younger than Belus and about the same age as Atlant.

I had recognized her earlier; the pretty orca girl was the second daughter of the uncle.

'She…'

As soon as our eyes met, the girl turned her head and calmly followed her parents.

I felt the gaze of my uncle and his son, Sorde, but only for a moment.

"Let's go."

If Dad hadn't said it, I might have forgotten.

Ah, if I go back like this, I'll end up at Dad's place.

Ugh.

Dad's face seemed to say,

'We have a lot to talk about.'