Chapter 52

"No?"

They're asking to avoid meeting them, right?

I have no intention of going.

I'll live a life like a meteor until I'm ten, and then I'll be killed by the Duke of Dragons.

Regardless, Iliya smiled and spoke cautiously.

"In any case, now that it has come to this, if Lady Calypso falls, we will fall as well."

"......"

"But if Lady Calypso becomes the head of the family, we will gain everything."

The more I listened, the stranger it sounded.

In the end, this choice is a problem on a different level from the way ordinary families support their successors.

'If we compare it to gambling, it's an all-in, isn't it?'

Especially, unlike ordinary families who can change the successor they support if they think it won't work out,

These people can't change their decision once they declare it.

If the successor they support fails, they will sink with them.

And the White Whale family is now betting all their assets on a ship that is destined to sink.

What can I do to make you realize that the stocks you've bought are just pieces of paper?

'Can I tell you in a way that's less shocking?'

I pondered seriously.

"Don't worry too much. We are close to the Whale family, so we plan to arrange a seat with them. Is that okay?"

As soon as I heard the word 'whale,' a bitter feeling washed over me.

Among those whales, there might be someone from my past.

'But in this round......'

No, I have to meet him.

There are reasons to meet that whale subordinate, even if it's not for the position of head of the family.

"......What made you choose like this? You could have thought more about the announcement."

"Ah, I was waiting for that question."

Iliya, who I thought would be flustered, just smiled.

"My child almost lost his life. We are a species that doesn't mate well, so if we lost our children, there would be no next one."

"What do you mean? Lobah said there was no danger to his life."

"Oh, that. Lobah, out of concern for the Lady, told a white lie. I deeply apologize on behalf of my partner. But now he has recovered and there is no danger to his life."

Iliya's words meant that when they first brought Ruga, he had a delayed panic attack and almost lost his life.

"If you had told me earlier, then......"

At that moment, I clenched my fists tightly.

"I wouldn't have let the punishment for that kid end just like that."

"......"

Iliya looked at me without blinking.

Satisfaction crept into the corners of his upturned mouth.

"What can I do, when the next head of the Beluga family insists that only a successor who thinks like this will do?"

"......"

"In fact, we were given a choice, but we weren't very positive about it. We know that there are many excellent successors in this generation. But who among them would think about not just the killer whales but also the weaker whales, and even the weaker aquatic animals?"

"......"

"Here, I say this cautiously, but we do not believe that the killer whales have a sense of morality and goodness. Or rather, everyone knows that they know but find it cumbersome and do not consider it important."

No, what's cautious about this? You're not being cautious at all.

'I'm glad I came to a quiet place.'

If the aggressive killer whales had heard this, they wouldn't have let it go.

"Being a mother, I can't help but be soft on my children."

"......"

"Like how Pierre, who had been in seclusion for a long time, put aside his beliefs for his daughter and came to this meeting today."

This statement, though said playfully, had a serious look in his eyes.

"Hey, you know I'm three, right?"

"Of course, I know. Don't worry. We are intelligent enough to understand that a young successor is at a disadvantage in this structure."

"But didn't you break that limit today, Lady?"

Even if it wasn't intentional, as someone who made a grand debut, I had nothing to say.

Because it was true.

Iliya smiled.

"As I said, what can we do if the next Beluga heads insist that only the Lady will do? My children are already recognized by all the Beluga people as the next head."

"......Don't say that with a smile. You're asking a lot from a three-year-old who has just been recognized."

Despite my sarcastic remark, she kept her smile and tilted her head slightly.

"Whether we have lost this bet or found a gem will be revealed by time. In any case, we will do our best to assist Lady Calypso from now on."

"No, it's fine."

"If you need help, just let us know."

"No, it's fine, I said."

Iliya clapped her hands.

"I can't tell you where the other seven families are, but I can give you a hint. We can use our wits for that much."

......It's fine, I said.

But no matter what I said, it seemed to fall on deaf ears with the determined mother of the cute-faced Lugrub.

As I watched the two of them leave, I pondered.

'Should I make Agenor the head of the family?'

While I was thinking, my body swayed slightly.

Looking around, I realized that the background was moving.

Dad was walking quietly.

"......"

The sudden silence made me close my mouth.

I couldn't avoid it, but this moment had come.

'Can't help it.'

Dad, sensing the atmosphere, asked.

"Where are we going?"

He turned his eyes to me for a moment.

"Back home."

Home. I felt a strange sensation, of course.

When he said it like that......

It felt like our home.

It didn't take long to get back to Dad's place.

It would have taken me a long time to walk, but the difference in size made a big difference.

'How nice it would be to grow quickly.'

Dad put me down.

I felt instinctively that this was the beginning.

"You and I have something to talk about, don't we?"

Sure enough, Dad spoke first.

'Sigh, can't avoid it now.'

There was no way around it.

I nodded.

"What is it?"

"Well, let's start with the issue of how to address each other."

I was a bit surprised.

I expected him to be angry and start questioning why I had deceived him.

Dad's expression was as usual, indifferent to the world.

But there was no anger or frustration anywhere.

......This was even stranger.

'Why?'

So I chose to confess everything.

"What do you mean by how to address each other? Like, pretending not to know that I know you're my dad, or spreading rumors behind your back?"

I emphasized that I had deceived him, but Dad's expression didn't waver.

"Are you pointing out that I deceived and misled you?"

"......"

It didn't matter how strongly I said it.

Instead, Dad, instead of answering my question, stared at me and said something else.

"Did you know I was your dad?"

"......Yes, I knew from the beginning."

By saying this, I was admitting that my approach was intentional.

What could I do? Now, it was better to be honest rather than try to deceive him.

Dad wasn't an easy person to deal with.

"......How?"

"How could I not know? You're my dad."

Pierre's expression became subtle.

I had already accepted that our relationship would change in some way after today.

In the worst case, I might not see him again.

'Then I need to find a guardian until I'm ten.'

Probably, I revealed my face too much today.

'I will surely face countless assassination threats.'

Since I was officially recognized as a direct descendant, I expected the forces of my uncles and aunts to come after me.

Perhaps even Belus might step in.

At least, I learned this from the current situation.

'No matter where I go, I won't let them get the better of me!'

Thanks to Dad's training.

But there was still a problem.

Namely, I'm still three years old.

What do I mean?

'I have physical limits.'

That's right. No matter how skilled I am, can I really take on multiple adults? It would be a stretch.

'If I can't see Dad anymore, I might have to move to the main house.'

While I was thinking this, Dad remained silent.

Until I felt cold sweat on my back.