Since Rita had drawn a bath for me ahead of time, I was able to wash off the sweat right after my lesson.
Thanks to that, I enjoyed a refreshing and leisurely bath. Come to think of it, I really seem to love water in this life.
In my previous life, I hated it because I had once fallen into it.
“Huh? Daddy!”
When I stepped out of the bath, Rita was nowhere to be seen and surprisingly, Hale was standing there. Lately, he had been so busy I didn’t think he could come by at all.
With a happy heart, I ran toward him, leaving wet footprints on the carpet.
“You take long baths.”
“Yup! But what brings you here today?”
“I feel like I haven’t been keeping my promise lately.”
I knew full well how much responsibility came with being the head of a clan. I didn’t mind that he hadn’t kept his promise to see me once a day, not even a little.
But how can you look that handsome and make such an apologetic face? Makes me feel like I should forgive him even if he did do something wrong. What, are you trying to seduce your own daughter or something?
“I came to see your face and cheer you on but I guess you’re not that happy to see me?”
“Huh?”
What’s he talking about? I just saw the most welcome face in the whole world! How do I look like I’m not happy to see him?
“You asked why I came the moment you saw me.”
“Oh.”
Well, I wasn’t expecting to see him, so it just came out reflexively! That’s my version of being excited, how can he not get that?
“I only said that because I was happy!”
“Really?”
“Really! I missed you a lot, Daddy!”
As Hale bent down slightly to scoop me into his arms, I gladly dove into his chest. I caught a glimpse of the corners of his mouth twitching upward, even as his eyes stayed a little sad but I pretended not to notice.
Not that he was trying to hide it all that much anyway.
Hale sat on the sofa with me in his arms, placing me on his lap so I was facing forward. Then he gently brushed back my damp hair.
A cool wave of pheromones followed. I realized he was drying my hair with them.
Whoa, you can use pheromones for this too? I’ve gotta try that someday!
“How are your lessons going?”
“They’re fun. I really like Eve.”
“And me?”
“I like you too!”
“Who do you like more?”
This isn’t “Mom or Dad”—and honestly, it’s not even a fair matchup.
“Of course I like you more! What kind of question is that?”
Hale’s cheeks lifted so high they looked like they’d float off. At the same time, soft blue pheromones enveloped me like clouds. So warm and comforting. It was unmistakably Hale’s scent.
Pheromones really do resemble their owners. Eve’s had that forest-like aroma, just like her… Though Jaius might be an exception?
Well, there’s always an exception to the rule. I wonder what my pheromone will smell like?
“This feels nice…”
I wish Daddy would dry my hair like this every day. My body grew more and more relaxed.
Wait a sec—didn’t he say earlier he came to cheer me on? For what? I haven’t done anything worth cheering—I just play and nap all day?
“So, um… what are you cheering me on for?”
I turned my head halfway and glanced up at him. Hale’s soft and sky-blue eyes met mine gently.
“I heard you still weren’t able to manifest your pheromones today.”
Gulp.
He said still. That didn’t sound like encouragement… more like he came to scold me. Was he going to say I was useless and couldn’t even clean up my own mess?
My gaze quickly dropped to the floor. Then a wave of cloud-like pheromones nudged my chin up.
I tried resisting, but the stubborn pheromones gently yet firmly lifted my head.
The expression I saw when I finally looked up was very different from before. Hale was smiling softly, so softly it looked like a watercolor painting spreading on the canvas.
…What? Why are you smiling so sweetly? Weren’t you about to scold me? This makes no sense.
I blinked in confusion, unable to figure out why he was smiling like that.
“It’s okay if you can’t do it yet. I’ll take care of every hardship and obstacle that comes your way.”
With those words, my confusion melted away. I’d been so far off base.
Though… What he said sounded more like comfort than encouragement.
Well, either way, it’s still nice.
“Okay.”
“I just wanted to say that to you since I heard you were feeling down about not being able to manifest your pheromones.”
Once again, I could feel just how much Hale cherished me. Even if the elders didn’t seem to like me much.
When I first arrived here and got those cold stares, I didn’t take it well. I’d never experienced that kind of hostility before, and it made me shrink back.
But I don’t want to be that defeated person anymore.
Thinking about how much Hale cares for me makes me want to walk through this house with my head held high, even if others disapprove.
No, I have to. Hale is the one who announced me as the successor.
Since I was chosen by him, I need to live up to that choice.
“Thanks, Daddy!”
I smiled just like him as I replied.
“But can you leave a little hardship for me?”
“Why?”
“’Cause people shouldn’t go through life without any struggle!”
Hale didn’t seem to understand, but he nodded anyway. I’m pretty sure he was just humoring me though.
In any case, even if Hale says it’s okay to be imperfect, I won’t use that as an excuse. I don’t want to grow up in a glass box. To face this harsh world, I need to feel the wind and the snow.
I was already trying hard but now I was even more determined.
For Hale, who believed in me. And to thoroughly punish Licht, who dared to threaten me by dragging even Hale into it.
