ITHMF 14🏠

Chapter 14

It was an unexpected question. Roahim frowned in puzzlement.

“Serinelle? That child is only 13 years old. It’s too early for her to go up to the land.”

“I see. I must have been misinformed.”

“About what?”

When Roahim asked back, Tanteon mulled over what the Duke had told him a few days ago.

It was purely by chance that he had learned Kaillan had made a new friend. While asking the Duke, who had been left alone in the capital, about his family who had gone to the villa, he had heard unexpected news from the Duke.

*’The Duke said he had also received a report from his escort knight.’*

After a brief pause, he spoke cautiously.

“…By any chance, do you know Young Master Sepneun?”

“You mean Kaillan Sepneun? I heard he came down to the villa this time.”

“I heard that young master made a friend after coming here, and that friend’s appearance is said to be similar to the Princess’s.”

“With Serinelle? That can’t be.”

Roahim slightly frowned as if it were nonsense. If Tanteon’s words were true, it would mean Serinelle had been going to and from the land without his knowledge.

*’I’m sure I told her she couldn’t go to the land until she came of age…’*

To prevent any unforeseen accidents, mermaids were not allowed to go to land before their coming-of-age ceremony unless there was a special reason. Since this was taught from a young age, Serinelle was also well aware of it.

“Aren’t you mistaken?”

“I think so too, but silver hair isn’t that common. And since you mentioned blue eyes, it naturally made me think of Princess Edmund.”

After hearing the description of her appearance, Roahim’s suspicion deepened further. Had Serinelle really been secretly going to and from the land? Roahim’s head became complicated in an instant.

Flustered by the suddenly cold atmosphere, Tanteon tried to smooth things over.

“Even if she did come to the land, it probably wasn’t a big deal. I heard they mostly met at times when people weren’t around. It seems her identity wasn’t discovered either.”

“…I see.”

Although it was meant to be reassuring, Roahim’s stiff expression did not easily soften. Tanteon felt uncomfortable, wondering if he had spoken unnecessarily.

After the meeting ended, Roahim called for his aide. He ordered the aide to investigate what Serinelle had been doing over the past few days.

The aide, who had left the office after acknowledging the order, returned in the late afternoon.

“What did you find out?”

“As a result of the investigation, there was a mermaid who saw the Princess heading toward the land late at night. Since they saw it half-asleep and weren’t sure, they apparently let it slide without much thought.”

“So she was seen going to the land.”

“Yes. The description of her appearance reportedly matched the Princess’s. And also…”

“And?”

“There was also a report that the Princess was seen heading east.”

“East…”

If it was east, that was where the Sea Witch lived, in the now-ruined village of Sirens.

Roahim could roughly guess why Serinelle had gone east. She had once said she wanted to make the Sea Witch her teacher, so he thought that must be the reason.

But then another possibility came to mind. What if Serinelle had a different purpose besides that?

The witch was a mermaid with outstanding skills in making potions and magical tools. So it occurred to him that she might have been able to make what Serinelle was looking for.

For example, a humanization potion.

Lost in thought, Roahim dismissed the aide after acknowledging the report. Then he immediately went to find Serinelle.

“Serinelle.”

“…Yes!”

After a brief silence, Serinelle’s bright voice was heard. He had thought Serinelle would be in her room, but hearing her voice put him more at ease.

*’It seems the child Tanteon mentioned is someone else after all.’*

As he let out a sigh of relief, the door opened slightly. Serinelle, who had poked her head through the crack in the door, flinched as soon as her eyes met Roahim’s.

But soon, she smiled as if nothing was wrong and greeted him.

“Oh… Father? What brings you here?”

“Serinelle.”

“Yes?”

Her face looking up at him and her bright voice were no different from usual. It was the face of his daughter, always cute and pretty, very familiar to him.

But Roahim’s eyes looking at her were gradually growing cold.

“Who are you?”

As if all the kindness had never been there, the doll disguised as Serinelle flinched at the voice that dropped low in an instant. The doll struggled to open its mouth to make some excuse to carry out its mission.

However, a mere doll was no match for Roahim’s pressure.

“Answer.”

“Th, that’s…”

Roahim’s blue eyes flashed with menace. An invisible force pressed down on the doll’s entire body.

Eventually, unable to withstand the force, the doll made a popping sound and returned to its original form.

While Roahim picked up the doll that had fallen to the floor, Mei, who had heard the commotion, rushed into the room, breathless.

“R-Roahim-nim…!”

“Where is Serinelle?”

“Huh? Isn’t she inside? She was in her room just a moment ago…”

Startled, Mei’s eyes widened. She had confirmed Serinelle was in her room just 20 minutes ago, which made her even more flustered.

Seeing Mei looking around the room with a bewildered face, Roahim roughly grasped the situation.

*She must have left without telling Mei either.* With this, it was almost a foregone conclusion that Serinelle was going to and from the land. Displeased with the situation, Roahim lightly clicked his tongue.

“She seems to have left without a word.”

“Sh-she might have just gone for a walk?”

“After leaving a substitute behind?”

Roahim lightly shook the doll he had picked up in front of Mei.

Mei, who had been desperately defending Serinelle even in this incomprehensible situation, worried Serinelle might get scolded, now wore a confused expression upon hearing the word “substitute.”

After quietly looking at Mei, who was at a loss for words, Roahim left the room, saying,

“When Serinelle returns, tell her to come to my office.”

—

*How should I get through this situation?*

I tried my best to act calm while swallowing dryly.

Meanwhile, Father’s questions continued. Each one pricked at my conscience, making my chest feel raw.

“You went to see the Sea Witch alone a week ago. What for?”

“I went to see if she had decided whether to accept my offer to be my tutor. If she hadn’t decided yet, I was going to try to persuade her more.”

Just as I was feeling proud of answering more calmly than expected, the next question left me breathless.

“That’s not the only reason, is it.”

“…!”

“Didn’t you purchase that doll from the Sea Witch as well?”

Father glanced at the doll again.

How much did Father already know?

The back of my neck prickled at the thought that he might even know about me going to the land. A cold sensation made my palms damp with sweat.

Wiping my moist palms on my clothes, I quickly racked my brain. Should I lie here? What if I tell the truth and he never lets me go to the land again? I still have so much I want to see…

But what if Father already knows everything and is just testing me? What if lying ends up being worse for me?

After considering various possibilities, I couldn’t make a decision easily. Seeing me hesitate, Father let out a long sigh.

“Serinelle, I can see you’re scheming.”

“…Was it that obvious?”

“Yes. Don’t even think about lying, just tell me the truth.”

His words struck home as if he had looked into my heart, and I felt sheepish.

*Ah, I guess it’s better to just be honest…*

It seemed that lying to get out of this situation would only invite bigger trouble later. Taking a small deep breath, I carefully opened my mouth.

“The doll… yes, I bought it from the Sea Witch.”

“To use when you go to the land?”

“…Yes.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and confessed honestly. My heart began pounding wildly, afraid of what Father’s reaction would be.

*He’ll be angry since I broke my promise, right?*

My lips went dry with anxiety. When I cautiously opened my eyes, I saw Father quietly looking at me.

*Ha… I’m doomed.*

Father’s face as he looked at me was indescribably cold.

“You know you’re not supposed to go to the land until you come of age.”

“Yes… I’m truly sorry. My curiosity got the better of me…”

“Not only did you go, but it seems you even met a human.”

“H-how did you know that?”

I never imagined Father would know I met Kaillan.

Who told him? I was sure no one was around!

Seeing me startled, Father let out a long, weary sigh. He ran a hand through his hair, and his expression briefly looked extremely complicated.

I grew terribly anxious, worried he might erase Kaillan’s memories.

“I didn’t cause any trouble on land. I truly just met him and talked!”

“The problem is that you met a human while in your mermaid form.”

“But…”

“You do realize that even if your identity wasn’t discovered, it was an extremely dangerous act, right?”

“…Yes. I’m sorry.”

I had no excuse for this, no matter how many mouths I had. It was fortunate that the person I met was Kaillan; if it had been some other wicked human, my life could have been in danger.

Seeing me crestfallen, Father closed his eyes tiredly and rubbed his brow.

“Since you seem to fully recognize your mistake, I won’t say any more. You are confined to your room for the time being.”

“Huh? Confined?”

“Yes. Don’t even dream of sneaking out. Stay put.”

*Then after the confinement is over, can I go to the land again?*

The words I couldn’t bring myself to say just circled around my lips. Asking that question here would only backfire. Swallowing a sigh, I obediently nodded.

“Leave now.”

“Yes…”

Father didn’t even give me a single glance as I left the office.

He must have been truly angry. He hadn’t shouted or cursed, but I could clearly feel that his mood was extremely displeased. They say quiet anger is scarier, and Father was exactly that.

My tense body only relaxed after I returned to my room. As I collapsed onto the bed, Mei came running, out of breath.

“What happened?!”

“I got confined. I have to stay in my room for a while…”

“Confined?! Where on earth did you go to…”

“I’ll tell you later. Can you leave me alone for now?”

“Yes… I will.”

Mei, who had been making a fuss, backed away cautiously.

When the room fell silent, my throbbing head felt a little better.

*Ah… confinement. What if I end up living under surveillance until I come of age?* All sorts of worries occupied my mind. It was entirely my own fault, but somehow I felt unfairly wronged.

“I’m so depressed…”

Pulling a face, I buried my face in the bed. If I had known this would happen, I would have said goodbye to Kaillan for now before leaving…

*Ah, I don’t care anymore.* Letting out a long sigh, I squeezed my eyes shut.