Chapter 10

"Retti!! I'm home. How have you been?"

Five days later.

If I waited at the castle gate, Papa would come down from the carriage with a big smile, holding souvenirs for me in both hands.

He had returned from negotiating to sell salt to other territories.

He is a handsome man with short silver hair.

"I missed you. Did you get hurt? Did you do anything reckless again?"

As he said this, he picked me up while dropping the gifts he was holding.

I needlessly worried if the contents of the dropped items were safe.

"Can't you do something about your doting parent act?"

My best friend and merchant, Sector, who was in the carriage with him, gave him a sidelong glance.

Papa's best friend usually accompanies him on negotiations.

He is a blond, blue-eyed man.

"It's unfair to call me a doting parent."

Carlo suddenly became serious and replied to Sector.

"Who else would you call a doting parent if not someone like you?"

"What are you talking about?

I don't want to be lumped in with just any doting parent.

My love for Retti is beyond that."

Papa protested to Sector with an unnecessarily handsome expression.

From a third-person perspective, he is clearly a pretty boy but a disappointing character.

Still, I was happy to see him as always.

"Papa, welcome back!!"

I smiled and replied.

"I'm home, Retti. Were you a good girl?"

"Yep! As usual!"

When I said this,

"Doesn't that mean you were a bad girl?"

Sector pointed out to me.

"Sector, that's harsh."

I pouted.

It's probably because I usually behave badly.

"That's right! Sector.

Retti is cute, including her tomboyish side!"

Papa also protested on my behalf.

...But, is he really complimenting me?

"You're still a doting parent.

You'd probably say you wouldn't mind if she were in your eye."

When Sector said this,

"What are you talking about?

There's no way Retti could fit in my eye."

Papa replied with a straight face.

...Yeah. Papa might be a bit clueless.

Still, I'm happy he's back.

It's been a month.

Today, I want him to read me a story and tell him I've been studying hard!

I suddenly stopped my movements.

"Huh? What's wrong, Retti?"

Papa looked at my face and asked.

"Oh, um.

Sorry, it's nothing!

I'm just happy you're back, Papa!"

I hugged him as usual.

Still, what should I do?

As soon as Papa came back, I unconsciously reverted to my pre-memory state.

I feel a bit restless now.

I'm supposed to be 24 years old inside.

"By the way, Lord Carlo. How about the salt?"

Lord Radius asked, and Papa shook his head.

"No, it didn't work out.

Everywhere is short of salt, and there's no spare to send to us."

He said this and looked down.

"That's good."

Lord Radius smiled.

Papa and Sector exchanged glances at his words.

■□■

"Really!? That's amazing!?"

After Lord Radius reported about Glen's magic, Sector happily exclaimed.

Papa was also examining the salt made by magic closely.

"This is impressive. The purity seems quite high."

He marveled, sifting it through his fingers.

After that,

I asked Glen to take credit for the idea.

That way, it would be easier for him to go to school.

If I said I came up with it, I'd be questioned about where I got the knowledge, which would be a real problem.

It's best not to stand out.

"This magic is relatively simple, so even children can learn it.

I think the children with free time can handle the salt needed for the territory."

When Lord Radius announced this,

"I would like to meet that child.

It's impressive that they came up with such an idea."

Mireille said.

"Anyway, I want to hear more about this magic, Carlo."

"Me too! I want to be with Retti!!"

"Are you an idiot? We need to see how much seawater is needed to make it!"

Papa was dragged away by Sector.

...Darn. I wanted to spend more time with Papa.

I suddenly realized.

No, even though he's called Papa, he's a stranger, right?

In terms of my soul.

I'm a 24-year-old from Japan.

Lately, I feel like my thoughts and memories are reverting to my pre-memory state...

Could I be regressing to a younger state?

I pondered this.