Chapter 78

"I'll pretend I didn't hear what you just said. I've only recently realized this..."

Dad stared at me intently, then reached out and pinched my cheek hard.

It didn't hurt, but the stretched-out cheek made the serious atmosphere suddenly collapse.

"You need to act more like a child."

"Huh?"

"I admit it. Even I couldn't do as much as you did at three. I'm aware that geniuses tend to be precocious. In such cases, it's important to provide education at their level and also show them what their peers enjoy."

...What are you talking about?

As Dad continued speaking, my doubts soared, and I found myself looking around him.

Since the moment I entered the room, the thought of getting straight to the point had dominated my mind, so I hadn't noticed the surroundings at all.

'Books?'

Near Dad's legs, a book was lying upside down, as if he had been reading it.

Reading the title, I was seized by an indescribable feeling.

"How to Raise Your Child Properly"

I blinked.

Honestly, the first, very honest thought that came to mind was:

"It doesn't suit you."

Pierre, of all people, reading a parenting book? No one would believe it if I told them.

And I'm not a genius, just a reincarnated person.

Sorry, but the idea of growing up properly is something that became impossible a long time ago.

"Even after neglecting me so much, do you think reading such a book now will make you a good parent?"

"Probably not. But what's wrong with trying? Did you think I wouldn't even make this effort?"

"Yeah."

"......I see, I've been given a very poor evaluation."

"If you had cared from the beginning, you should have treated me like a three-year-old. What difference does it make now?"

I wish you had cared from the start of my first life.

What difference will it make now, no matter how hard you try?

I firmly decided to go home. This change won't change my mind.

Dad stretched out his arms, lifted me up, and examined me from all angles.

"Is it because of the long journey? You don't look well today. Are you sick?"

"Thanks to whom, I'm so tough that a little travel won't tire me or make me sick. Didn't you see me kill a fox at the restaurant earlier?"

Dad chuckled.

"Yeah, it was refreshing."

"......"

I admit it.

If we had become this close a little earlier, I might have thought differently.

No, at least if I had lived to be ten, it might have been different.

'Arriving in the City of Dragons too quickly.'

It was something done for me, but it became a reason we couldn't be together.

With the path home right in front of me, why are you giving up?

'But the look you had just now was not normal...'

It felt like if you told me to go back, something terrible would happen.

I need to be careful.

After a moment's thought, I came to a simple conclusion.

I'll pretend I didn't notice.

It'll work out somehow.

It wasn't just resignation or a delay.

'Because I haven't met the Dragon Duke yet.'

Everything will be clearer after I meet the Dragon Duke.

Still, I stared at Dad as if I had some lingering attachment.

"......Master, be nice to me."

Saying this, I was a blue whale.

The obsession of a blue whale is best known by a blue whale.

If you had been a caring father from the start,

You wouldn't have died of illness.

I might not have let you die, no matter how much you suffered from your illness, do you understand?

We're better off this way.

"Sure. I'll think about how to be better every day."

I didn't answer.

I also decided to quietly ignore how warm his embrace was.

* * *

That night.

When it was very late, I opened my eyes.

Actually, I had been waiting for time to pass with my eyes wide open.

'Glad I took a nap earlier.'

After the awkward and complicated conversation with Dad, I went back to my room and lay down.

I forced myself to sleep to avoid the strange feelings that would arise from thinking too much.

"Goodness, our princess must be very tired."

"Indeed, she's dozing off! So cute......!"