Chapter 10

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Patience... I must be patient.

The situation I find myself in now is one that requires such patience.

There is not a shred of malice.

On the contrary, everyone is acting out of kindness, compassion, and other warm feelings.

So, why does it feel so unpleasant...?

As the saying goes, even well-intentioned actions can be bothersome at times. Warm feelings like kindness and compassion can sometimes be nothing but a nuisance depending on the time and situation.

But, their actions themselves are driven by such warm feelings... which is why it’s so difficult to deal with.

To be more specific, the situation is...

The "Skinship Festival" is in full swing, and touching is allowed.

This might sound erotic, but it’s not at all like that.

First, everyone, including parents, older siblings, and nannies, takes turns hugging, rubbing cheeks, and kissing the forehead or cheek.

During this combo, they say things like:

"You're so cute."

"You're so smart for a one-year-old."

In short, I was showered with a large amount of insincere praise.

There were about 100 people, far more than the rough estimate, and hugging is something that’s usually only done between lovers or close acquaintances, so I wasn’t used to it.

By the time it reached 30 people, I was starting to feel overwhelmed.

To be honest, it was annoying.

If it were just beautiful people, it might have been okay.

Of course, that’s not the case.

My family might be particularly good-looking, but not everyone is. It would be strange if every person I met was a beauty.

If that were the case, I’d probably end up saying something like, "It’s a beauty festival."

"Wait, wait, calm down. It’s not time to panic yet."

A certain sweaty 1000-dao person appeared in my mind, moving their hands and staying cool.

Thanks, 1000-dao person. It’s not time to panic yet; the party has just begun.

Yes, our party has just begun!

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After being hugged, cheek-rubbed, and kissed...

Now, my mother Claire and father Alex are receiving birthday presents one by one. The presents they receive are piled up on a table or something behind them, though I can’t see it clearly, but they’re definitely not just on the floor.

I can faintly hear the sound of my parents placing the presents carefully behind them, and my older brother and sister are also helping to arrange them neatly.

I, who was quite exhausted by the three major festivals, am just staring blankly into space.

Honestly, I underestimated it.

Annoying? That feeling disappeared long before the 50th person.

Actually, after being hugged, cheek-rubbed, and kissed by over 100 people, you realize how ridiculous it is.

Isn’t this too much for a one-year-old?

My quiet and expressionless character backfired. Because my expression doesn’t change even when I’m tired, people don’t realize I’m exhausted. I could have said something or shown my displeasure, but with the constant three-combo, I didn’t have the chance.

Somehow, I managed to get through the entire festival. Thanks to my daily magic (provisional) training and hand-holding training, my stamina was surprisingly useful.

By the end, I was in a state of emptiness.

Thinking about it is a loss, thinking about it is a loss.

Being hugged, cheek-rubbed, and kissed.

This is a reminder that I’m in a different country from where I used to live.

I’ve come a long way...

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While staring blankly into space, someone picked me up. I moved my neck slightly, but I didn’t need to confirm; it was my mother, Claire.

The gift-giving ceremony seems to be over.

Good job, Mom.

"Thank you all for gathering to celebrate the first birthday of Lilianne La Christophe, the second daughter of the Christophe family. We have prepared a modest meal for you, please enjoy it."

Claire expressed her gratitude.

"Lilianne La Christophe"

This seems to be my official name.

My full name, which I learned for the first time at the age of one.

Is "La" a middle name? The family name is Christophe? I’m not sure if "La" is a middle name or not, as I come from a country where middle names are not common.

This is the name I’ll be using for the rest of my life, so I’d like to know more about it.

But, it’s fine to learn more about it when I’m a bit older.

While lost in thought, Claire and Alex were feeding me finely cut food.

Munch, munch, squish, squish.

My teeth have been growing rapidly lately, and I can now crush and eat slightly textured foods. However, I still can’t handle hard foods, and they need to be cut into pieces slightly larger than minced.

Since it’s a birthday party, there are many foods I don’t usually eat, which are a bit more expensive and have a richer flavor.

I eat a variety of foods without much preference, but I’ve developed a preference for more vegetables and fruits.

I don’t dislike meat or fish, but the food here tends to be bland overall.

Do they not use many spices or seasonings?

Is it because they prioritize the natural flavors of the ingredients?

It’s not just baby food; I’ve tried some of what Theo and Elly are eating, and the difference in taste is minimal.

But it’s delicious, and once you get used to it, it’s quite good.

I think it’s about time I start eating on my own, but Claire and especially Alex seem so happy to feed me.

When they have such doting expressions, the idea of grabbing a fork and eating on my own moves to the back of my mind, and I end up sitting in a pouting position.

It will take some time to recover.

Since it’s a birthday party, and Alex doesn’t usually get to have such close contact due to his busy schedule, I’ll endure it this time.

While thinking this and enjoying the delicious food, something fluffy and soft was brought to my mouth.

It smelled sweet.

Without much thought, I ate it.

"Ah!"

I couldn’t help but make a sound.

No... I just announced the end of my quiet and expressionless character, didn’t I?

It’s okay to make sounds and laugh.

But the character I’ve been maintaining for a year is surprisingly stubborn. I was quiet and expressionless except for that unexpected "cute" comment.

Because of this, making a sound during meals... or in life in general... is rare, so when Claire heard it, she broke into a wide smile.

"Lilianne, you like this cake? Hehe, it was worth the effort to make it."

Claire, placing her hand on her cheek and releasing magic (provisional).

Even without hugging, she can release it...

While marveling at this new pattern of release, I continued to munch on the fluffy and soft, sweet treat.

It’s really delicious.

What is it? It’s fluffy, soft, smooth, and sweet.

Claire’s homemade touch definitely adds to the deliciousness.

I can’t help but relax my expression.

My expression must have relaxed, because I heard a lot of excited voices from around me.

I’ll just ignore it.

More importantly, I want more of this fluffy and soft treat! Dad! Another one!

I started banging on the table to ask for more.

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After the meal, the three major festivals by the party participants resumed.

I thought the festival for everyone was over, what’s going on?

Being hugged, cheek-rubbed, and kissed.

I just let it happen, but I was really tired...

My stomach was full, and if they did it too intensely, I might throw up.

Even with the stamina from magic (provisional) training, I’m still a baby.

I’m almost knocked out, on the verge of falling down, my life is almost at zero.

My consciousness is fading.

My eyelids are getting heavy...

Ah... I want to eat that fluffy and soft treat again...

When I realized it, I was about to be put in the baby bed.

I opened my eyes with a snap.

If this were a manga, there would be a "Ka!" sound effect.

Since they were about to put me in the baby bed, I happened to make eye contact with Ena.

She looked a bit surprised but quickly returned to her usual gentle smile.

"Did you wake up? Lilianne, it was your first time in a crowded place, so you must be tired. Go to sleep, okay?"

She said it as if scolding me, but honestly, I was wide awake.

When I woke up, a beautiful and dignified lady was right in front of me. Even though I see her every day, it’s enough to wake me up.

Also, I had an impulse to point out that I was tired because of the "touching allowed" festival.

In fact, that impulse completely woke me up!

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One of the results of my training is a significant increase in my recovery rate.

I’m not tired at all now!

So, I just stared at Ena.

This is usually how I request a reading.

When I stare, she usually brings toys or books.

Communicating without speaking is quite difficult, but I succeed about 70% of the time.

Even if I fail the remaining 30%, if I keep staring, it usually works out.

This time was no exception.

"Looks like you’re fully awake. What should I read to you?"

The reading request was successful.

After the reading, as usual, I sit on Ena’s lap for reading time.

Although my hearing is almost perfect, I don’t need to focus on picking up words or sentences, so I do simultaneous magic (provisional) training and hand and foot exercises.

Reading time is not about sitting still and listening quietly.

I always move my hands and feet during this time, so I’m used to it now.

Ena reads the chosen book without much thought.

What’s her choice this time?

"Well, this is one of my recent recommendations, 'The Life of a Clam - Intermediate Edition.'"

As usual, Ena’s choice is a marine creature.

My brother Theo is into trees, my sister Elly is into flowers, and Ena is into marine creatures.

The range of her interests is far broader than my siblings.

It seems to cover almost everything that lives in the sea.

From marine fish to deep-sea fish, seaweed, shellfish, and even plankton, she reads a variety of books.

She seems to particularly like shellfish.

Bivalves, gastropods, chitons, cephalopods, and even soft-bodied creatures like sea slugs and snails are considered shellfish to her.

Even squid and octopuses are included in her definition.

I’m not sure if classifying squid and octopuses as shellfish is correct, but I don’t know the details, so I can’t say for sure.

According to her:

"If it’s a member of the shellfish family, it’s a shellfish."

She said something that sounds like a profound quote, even though I didn’t ask for it.

Anyway, the content of Ena’s choice, "The Life of a Clam - Intermediate Edition," is...

It starts with a super dramatic opening where a clam living in a sandy bottom stands up on its two shells.

Wait...? This feels like déjà vu... Clams are bivalves, but...

Is this author... could it be the same person who wrote that famous work?

They’re even writing about shellfish...

While doing magic (provisional) control training and hand and foot exercises, I listened to Ena’s reading.

My focus was about 3:1:6, with more emphasis on the reading than usual.

It’s rare for the reading to take up more than 30% of my focus, as I usually spend 70% or more on magic (provisional) control training since my hearing has improved.

The story progressed.

The standing clam grows and guides its childhood friend, a neighboring clam, to school, and they go through a青春 (youth) story with a bit of erotic elements.

A clam’s youth story.

Thinking too deeply about it is a loss.

As the story approached its climax, with the clam trying to end a messy love triangle with another childhood friend, my mother Claire entered the room.

"Lilianne, you’re awake? Ena was reading to you?"

I was a bit curious about the ending of the love triangle, but the reading time was over.

Claire took over, and she said that the party guests were mostly taken care of, and the rest was left to Alex.

It must have been tiring with so many people.

I was almost knocked out, too.

But, looking up at my mother’s face, there was no sign of fatigue.

Ena then said she would help with the cleanup and left the room, giving me a kiss on the forehead.

"Happy birthday, Lilianne."

She waved cheerfully and went to help with the cleanup.

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In the room with just the two of us, Claire was hugging me happily, releasing magic (provisional) full blast.

I wonder if it’s really okay to release so much, but this person is amazing, as she shows no signs of fatigue no matter how much she releases.

The release of magic (provisional).

A technique I struggled with and finally managed to do thanks to a sudden opportunity.

That’s right... I might be able to do it now.

Once I thought that, I couldn’t stop.

I tried to release magic (provisional) with the image of the warm, fluffy feeling that Claire was releasing.

In my murky eyes, the magic (provisional) released by Claire and myself looked like white snow.

"I feel like I’m being enveloped by Lilianne... Hehe... So happy..."

She let out a contented sigh, her face a blissful, melting smile.

However, her words passed through my ears without registering.

Because...

There was something else.

Something that appeared in my murky eyes, which only show darkness and magic (provisional).

The thing in that position is the window.

The wall, which has no magic (provisional), is naturally invisible.

Even though it’s invisible, it doesn’t allow me to see through to the outside, so I can’t see things with magic (provisional) on the other side.

The window, which I’ve touched while being held, has a glass-like texture, but I can see through it.

Sometimes, I see small clumps of magic (provisional) in the shape of birds flying by at a considerable speed.

It was indeed in the spot where Ena always cleans the window.

Small hands and feet.

Comparing the window’s position and the visible object to my siblings, it’s clearly smaller.

By my estimation, it’s less than 20 cm.

On its back, it has thin, insect-like wings.

It looks human.

Like something from a story, like something from a certain Neverland.

A fairy...?

I muttered in my head, stunned.

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This concludes Chapter 1.

I didn’t write a subtitle for Chapter 1, but I thought it might be okay without one.

The subtitle is:

First Year

I didn’t write it because it would give away the end of the chapter, but maybe I should have.

I wrote Chapter 1 with a plot that I developed in my head on a whim. I hope you enjoyed it.

The next part will be an interlude from a different perspective.

I look forward to your comments and feedback.

3/9 Punctuation and spacing corrections

3/10 Typographical corrections

5/3 Typo corrections