“Muwak!”
“Eh, you startled me…”
Tia’s sudden cry woke me from sleep.
I initially thought I might have accidentally flattened Tia with my buttocks in my sleep, but that wasn’t the case.
Tia had already fallen off the bed.
It seemed she must have tumbled down while thrashing around in her sleep.
Hmm? But that’s strange.
Tia usually doesn’t have bad sleeping habits.
“Are you okay? Did you hurt anywhere?”
“Muuuuu…”
“Did you have a nightmare? Come here. I’ll hold you.”
“I remember! That person I saw yesterday! It was the person Tia chased before!”
“Huh?”
Tia was excitedly flailing her arms about as she spoke rapidly.
Since interrupting her might make her forget, I decided to listen to everything she had to say.
Could she be talking about that errand-running sailor named Sailor?
“But before! Remember? Huh?”
“Even if you say it like that, I don’t know when. Tell me everything.”
“Muu! I saw it through the window! That person had black horns on their head!”
“Wh-what, really?”
Black horns?
Could that person be another dragon’s offspring like Tia? No, that’s unlikely.
Perhaps it’s a demon.
In that case, it makes sense why they cover their head so thoroughly with a hood.
“So…What were you going to ask about those horns when you chased them?”
“But I lost them.”
“Lost them? How did you chase them?”
“By jumping onto the roof…”
“…”
“Ah.”
Realizing her slip of the tongue, Tia’s movements froze.
I looked into her clear eyes for a moment.
However, Tia avoided my gaze, subtly rolling her eyes.
“onto the roof?”
“A-ah, no. I made a mistake… ”
“If you lie to mom, it’s not okay, is it?”
“Muu…”
“Is it okay? Is it not?”
“Not…”
“Haa.”
Only then did Tia lower her tail and timidly cling to me, trying to diffuse the situation with cuteness.
But some things can’t be resolved by cuteness alone.
“What do you mean ‘jumping onto the roof’? Are you saying you leapt over roofs buildings?”
“Muu…”
“Without any tools? Just like that? Barefoot?”
“Mu…”
“…”
A headache was starting to form.
The dark-cloaked sailor who vanished might have been a professional mercenary, so it’s not strange that they could leap over rooftops like a ninja.
But this little girl leaping over rooftops…
The sailor who was chased by Tia must have been so shocked they nearly fainted.
Still, while I expected Tia’s physical abilities to be special, I didn’t realize they were to this extent.
She’s already far beyond the average person and still growing, which is admittedly terrifying.
“Tia. You mustn’t attack people recklessly.”
“Why not?”
“It’s because you’re special. Other people aren’t as strong as you. But there is one exception. If mom is in danger…”
“Muu! When that happens, no one should see! I won’t ignore anyone who makes mom sad!”
“Thank you…”
I tightly hugged Tia.
I felt as if I had my own sword, one that followed me faithfully and loved me deeply, one that I could wield and even use to stab myself, my own personal knight.
Today, Tia seems especially dear.
She even seems a bit more mature than usual.
“Muuuu! It hurts!”
“Eh, what?”
Caught off guard by Tia’s sudden cry, I loosened my arms.
Meanwhile, Tia, who had retreated to the wall, was clutching her chest with tear-filled eyes.
“Sorry. Did it hurt? Where?”
“My chest hurts…”
“Does it hurt if I touch it like this?”
“It tingles…”
When I placed my fingertips on Tia’s chest, she shivered.
I was a bit surprised.
I felt something slightly hard, but it was definitely not a rib.
I sat Tia in front of me and began softly feeling around her chest area.
It wasn’t an illusion.
I could feel a small, firm lump in her chest.
Seeing Tia in pain made it difficult to continue touching her.
“What’s going on, mom? Is Tia sick…?”
“…”
I was at a loss for words.
Even I, who knows little about the female body, could tell what this was about.
Tia was entering puberty.
At this age, it’s unlikely to be breast cancer. This lump must be from breast development.
I was a bit worried.
If Tia grows as much as I did, she’ll face significant inconvenience in daily life—her shoulders will ache all day, it’ll be hard to run, and she’ll sweat in the summer…
I could only hope she inherited more of the flat-chested genes from her father.
“It’s alright. Tia is just growing up. There’s no pain, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Really…?”
“Really.”
I gently stroked Tia’s head and gave her a soft kiss on the ear.
My voice trembled with uncertainty.
Of course, it was understandable.
I’ve never raised a daughter, nor have I personally experienced a girl’s growth period.
But I couldn’t show my uncertainty in front of Tia.
At least, I must be someone who can comfort Tia.
“Okay. Let’s get up and change clothes? I need to go to work soon.”
“Mu. I don’t like this clothes. It’s scratchy and hurts my chest.”
“Then wear underclothes first.”
It’s almost time for work.
Considering washing and getting ready, I need to prepare quickly.
Since there’s little laundry today, I’ll wash and then head out.
I gathered the clothes Tia had carelessly thrown aside.
“Hmm?”
I noticed a stain in the inside of Tia’s panties.
Though I thought she might have wet the bed, the small stain suggested otherwise.
Could it be slight incontinence due to sphincter control?
However, the mark appeared slightly viscous, more than just urine.
“Mom! Tie my hair!”
“Wait a moment.”
It’s probably nothing serious.
I began scrubbing the laundry in soapy water briskly.
I need to finish quickly and head to work.
*
“Curry! It was absolutely delicious! Can you share the recipe, Julia? I want to make and eat it too!”
As soon as I arrived, Sasha came running, as if she’d been waiting.
Yesterday, when giving her curry at home, we lacked extra bowls and utensils, so I had to send it over in a small pot, which was slightly embarrassing.
I felt a bit apologetic about it.
“Sure, it’s not that complicated.”
“Here! I’ll return the pot! Thanks for the food!”
“Hmm. Sasha, you mentioned having a family, right?”
“No, I live alone.”
“…”
The pot Sasha returned was completely empty.
If she didn’t throw anything away, that means she ate all the curry I prepared in one day, which was intended for Tia and me to last a week.
“Kyuuuu! Master, make me a snack! Let me eat before starting work!”
“Two bowls? Or three?”
“One bowl only!”
“Are you on a diet?”
“No, I had a lot of curry for breakfast and lunch!”
Understanding Sasha’s voracious appetite, it started to make sense.
Soon the other staff arrived, and the shop became lively.
Among them, I also noticed Natalia, the blonde woman who was dragged in a sack yesterday.
I saw her changing clothes in the waiting room; her stomach was covered with deep bruises.
It seemed negotiations with Irina had been successful.
The successful arrival to work without death or irreversible bodily damage indicated that.
I decided not to ask the specifics of their negotiation.
As the store opened and customers flooded in,
“Tiara, do you want to go upstairs?”
“No, I want to play on the first floor.”
“…”
Tia responded by shaking her head from side to side.
Lately, Tia has been saying “No” quite a lot.
Is she going through a defiant phase?
It seems like she adds a “No” to everything I ask.
I refrained from retaliating with “I don’t like Tia,” understanding I shouldn’t behave immaturely.
After all, I am an adult.
“Julia, you’ve been requested.”
“Yes! I’ll go right away, sir…”
I noticed the innkeeper’s expression seemed uneasy.
From afar, I could see the disgusting face of a former knight waving at me.
Knight Leopard…
His presence was so noticeable that even in the bustling crowd, my eyes kept focusing only on him.
“Alright, what do we do? You can decline the request if you want.”
“I’ll take it…”
I took the key from the innkeeper.
Could it be about the Dragania introduction matter we discussed last time?
Even if his face is repulsive, I can’t always avoid him.
“What is it? If you have something to discuss, come separately. Don’t disrupt the business.”
“When did you say to come during business hours? Isn’t it clear you just don’t want to see me?”
“You know that, ex-knight.”
“I’m not ‘ex.’ Anyway, can you talk like that? I spent a lot of money for your designation. I’ve already issued two checks to Lord Dragania.”
“Hmm…”
I suddenly wondered.
What exactly is Dragania’s family involved in?
Giving so much money to such a good-for-nothing knight…
“Phew. Hello, guest. I’m Julia, requested by you. Is there anything specific you’d like to order?”
“Hey, I like that professional attitude. But your grimace adds a strange charm—it’s even more enticing.”
“Pervert. So, what do you want?”
“Isn’t a customer entitled to come? Of course, I’m here to spend a pleasant time with Julia. Sit down first.”
Seeing no other option, I sat next to him.
His natural movement of wrapping his arm around my waist was irritating.
Mostly because, very slightly, it felt a bit comfortable, which made me even angrier.
He seemed experienced in embracing women.
“How about learning to hide your emotions a little more? It’s not good to show your dislike for someone so openly. In a rough world where allies can turn into enemies and enemies into allies, honesty is useless.”
“I know. I just don’t hide it in front of you.”
“That’s harsh, ya know? If you indulge my mood a bit, you might get scraps.”
“I don’t need them.”
“Are you sure?”
“…”
The man pulled out a black card-like item from his bosom and placed it on the table.
Just as I was about to grab it quickly, Leopard’s hand caught my wrist.
“Should I just let you take it without a word?”
“I should at least check what it is first.”
“Your sense of urgency is lacking.”
“Pl-please…”
“Alright.”
Only then was my hand freed to pick up the paper. Upon closer inspection, it was an invitation.
An invitation to a party Dragania Lord is hosting at his villa.
“What’s this? And what do you want me to do with it?”
“Your job is already decided. Still, do you know what might happen? You might catch the eye of some important person at the party and get a better position. Even if not, it’ll be helpful for you to get to know the noble families.”
That wasn’t wrong.
It wouldn’t hurt to make an impression on the nobles.
Perhaps I could form useful connections.
This invitation definitely was valuable.
Afraid that he might change his mind, I quickly hid the invitation behind my back.
His lecherous gaze watching me do so was infuriating, but still, there was something I had to say.
“Thank you…”
“What? Didn’t hear it properly.”
“Thank you…”
“Mom!”
At that moment, someone tugged at my sleeve.
Startled, I turned around to see Tia looking up at me with a pale face.
“Mom, I…”
“I’m working, go somewhere else.”
“I-I’m… There’s something wrong with my body…”
“Hmm?”
I slowly looked down.
Tia’s brown skirt, which should have been brown, was deeply soaked in crimson.
At the sight of the blood flowing down Tia’s trembling legs, my mind froze.
What should I do…?
