Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 173

173

Lilly couldn’t say anything; her pink cheeks drained of color at my question.

She’s a smart child who understands everything I say.

She knows how to be wary of people, and in the original story, she was quite clever in her own way before being adopted.

‘Yes, but she trusted me so easily.’

Why didn’t I realize this simple fact from the start?

‘Because she’s the heroine?’

I was lost in thought and didn’t pay attention to Lilly.

When I looked back, I saw the baby barely holding back her tears.

As if she would be scolded if she shed a single tear, she held them back tightly.

Her pale cheeks were flushed red from holding her breath.

“Why are you crying?”

At my gentle voice, tears streamed down the child’s large eyes as if she had been waiting for it.

Before I knew it, her tiny hand was lightly gripping my sleeve.

So weakly, as if she would fall away immediately if I shook her off.

“Ugh…”

I held back a groan that almost escaped my lips.

‘It reminds me of Ekion, making me feel weak….’

“Come here.”

I called Lilly over and wiped away her thick tears with the hand I was playing with.

“Don’t cry.”

Nod, nod.

Lilly nodded diligently, tears streaming down her face sorrowfully.

‘It’s no use wiping them away like this.’

I enjoyed being the villain in front of Palaya, but being the villain in front of Lilly isn’t so pleasant.

“Sniff….”

I pointed to Lilly’s hand, which was tightly holding onto me.

“What dragon made me so weak to this kind of thing?”

Lilly’s face softened slightly as I smiled comfortably.

I really don’t want to see the child being so cautious.

I’ve lived my whole life being careful of others. I don’t want to see another child doing that.

“So, can you answer my question?”

If Atlan saw this, he would have stared with a dumbfounded expression.

It’s rare for me to ask so gently.

“I, I wike Unnie….”

It wasn’t an answer to my question.

Instead of being disappointed, I tilted my head.

“Why?”

What I thought of was Palaya tied up and collapsed on the floor.

“Please tell me just one thing. Why… why are you being so nice to Lilly?”

In fact, just before I parted ways with Palaya this afternoon, he grabbed me as I turned around.

Then he asked this. Palaya looked like he was dying of curiosity.

I didn’t answer Palaya.

I looked up and stared at the small child.

“Why awe you being so nice to me?”

…Is this how Dad felt when he first saw me? It wasn’t a question a three-year-old should be asking.

“Sometimes, a small act of kindness can be a great comfort to someone.”

“…….”

“A comfort that will never be forgotten.”

I also think this way.

What was so special about that small act of kindness that this child showed me?

But what can I do?

I was a regressor [someone who has been reborn or traveled back in time].

Some memories, even if you want to forget them, you can’t, and you live the next life with them.

That was just your small act of kindness.

“I wike Unnie. I thought Unnie wouldn’t huwt Lilly.”

“…….”

“Wike the gowden haiwed peopwe….”

Lilly let go of my sleeve, grabbed her own clothes, and trembled.

“But Lilly, you saw Palaya tied up, right?”

“…I, I saw.”

“Why aren’t you scared?”

“…….”

“We can do that to you too, Lilly.”

It’s cruel to tell a three-year-old not to trust anyone.

Do I have to be cruel to this child?

“Unnie saved me.”

“…….”

“You nevew huwt me.”

Lilly hesitated and then spoke.

Palaya was a good brother, but he couldn’t stop the Duke.

Lilly’s story was disjointed, but it wasn’t hard to understand.

She brought up what happened at the Black Panther mansion and then talked about when she first opened her eyes in our carriage.

“I dweamed about Unnie.”

“……What?”

“Unnie, in my dweam, you wewe cwying. A wot.”

“…….”

The child’s kind and gentle eyes turned to me.

“I hope you don’t cwy.”

I could feel her determination to speak clearly.

I stared at her quietly and then nodded slowly.

“Okay, that’s enough.”

I wiped away her tears and patted her. Soon, with a pop! A small baby squirrel was in front of me again.

“Stay comfortable until your brother comes to pick you up. That’s all we want.”

The baby squirrel snuggled into the empty space in my arms, burrowing inside and shedding tears.

I stroked her gently while pondering.

‘Me crying.’

It might just be a dream, but I didn’t take it that way.

If that was the previous life.

‘Why are people who remember the past life appearing?’

Atlan already remembered his previous life.

I seriously pondered.

The next day, we took the carriage again, and after running and running, we finally arrived in Aquasiasdel.

For a long time.

* * *

“Lady Calypso, how do you plan to get the remaining ingredients?”

“Well, I have something in mind.”

We arrived at the Aquasiasdel territory.

I looked at the familiar mansion and answered Levi’s question.

We will arrive at the mansion soon.

“Whale, are you feeling okay?”

“Ah, uh. I’m fine.”

“Thank you for healing Tooth. I will definitely repay your kindness.”

When I smiled and nudged Whale’s shoulder, Whale turned his head with a blunt expression for some reason.

“…I wanted to do it.”

As a kind white whale, he couldn’t bear to leave the poor patient in front of him.

Still… I’m grateful.

“Orcas always repay grudges and kindness. Decide what you want in advance.”

I said cheerfully and looked out the window.

When we finally arrived at the mansion, we were able to hear the news of the Dragon City not long after.

After we left, the uprising in the Dragon Castle was suppressed.

However, the citizens of the Dragon City refused the rule of the Black Panthers and no longer followed the land beasts.

The land turtle beastkin [people with turtle-like animal features] declared that they would take care of the Dragon Castle’s internal affairs until the Dragon Duke returned.

As proof, they presented a document with the Dragon Duke’s own handwriting.

What I gave to the land turtle beastkin was not just a letter.

‘They’re using it effectively. Well, that’s what I gave it to them for.’

When even a document with the Dragon Duke’s signature appeared, the Black Panthers, who had lost the public’s support, no longer made unreasonable claims.

Since it was a city supported by the citizens, they couldn’t do anything more.

It may have been that the city people supported the land turtle beastkin. They must have been worried that if they massacred the territory’s people like this, they would incur the wrath of the dragon.

They must have known.

If the Dragon Duke learned to speak and awakened his reason, he would soon learn anger and might go on a rampage if the city was harmed.

‘Knowing the dragon’s rampage, they can’t move rashly.’

Hearing this, I gave a bitter laugh.

‘How ridiculous.’

They kept the Dragon Duke locked up so that he wouldn’t even know how much the citizens loved him.

Now that they have judged that he has begun to learn wisdom, they are changing their attitude.

‘Despicable bastards.’

I gritted my teeth. But retribution was not my responsibility.

The price for making the Dragon City like that will be paid directly by the grown-up Ekion.

Do they even know that they have ultimately created a tremendous ally for me in the form of the Dragon Duke?

“Calypso?”

“Calypso! Your expression is scary!”

I stroked the identical face in front of me with both hands.

“Seeing you like this, you look like brothers. Really.”

“No, I’m Dragon Duke, Tooth’s owner.”

“Yes, yes. Weren’t you reading a book to Ekion? Keep going.”

Currently, we had safely returned to Dad’s mansion.

I was planning to report to the head of the family that I had returned in about a day or as early as half a day.

“Lady Calypso, Pierre. The head of the family is looking for you.”

That’s what I was thinking, but the old woman was more impatient than I thought.

I had to have an audience with the head of the family less than an hour after unpacking.

Besides.

“It would be better for you to go alone.”

Because Dad sent me alone, I had a private meeting.

I immediately understood Dad’s intention.

‘He’s trying to give all the credit to me.’

The events that took place in the Dragon City must have already reached Grandma.

As expected.

When I arrived at the head of the family’s office, I was faced with the old woman’s expression that I had never seen before.

“Oh, a hero has come.”

The head of the family, who was sitting with her legs crossed, stood up.

“Calypso Aquasiasdel.”

Rice cake, pebble, stone, boulder…….

My name flowed from the head of the family’s mouth. I stared at her calmly.

“How do you like the work I’ve done?”

As the question was thrown, a hearty smile spread across the old woman’s face.

“We should revoke your qualifications as the Dragon’s bride.”

There was something in her eyes that hadn’t been there before as she scanned me.

Satisfaction. Contentment.

“You’re too good of a talent to give to a Duke locked up in the castle.”

It wasn’t there when she saw Baiyan, who was the closest to the position of successor in the previous life.

It wasn’t even there when she saw Velos.

“I regret not seeing the faces of those land beasts, especially those arrogant Black Panthers, with my own eyes.”

“…….”

“Well, I acknowledge your contribution in kicking those smelly asses.”

A powerful voice echoed through the office. I could feel how good Grandma felt.

I guessed what would come next.

“Is there anything you want?”

Yes, I knew you would ask this. Instead of smiling brightly, I raised only one corner of my lips.

“Yes, there is.”

Let her laugh to her heart’s content.

Because she won’t be able to laugh for long.