/
Afraid that she would get motion sickness if I had pushed her to explain further, I quickly got Selene to send her out.
“If you can’t sleep, why don’t you do some night swimming? The school is holding a swimming exam right?”
[Yeah, Haniel taking exam!] Exams are the scariest!
Haniel’s wings began shivering in fear instinctively and very much like kids her age, Haniel would most likely follow everything her friends were doing.
It was almost time for me to turn into a black swan, and I took the chance to give Haniel private lessons as I sent her out with Selene.
“Mommy will finish preparing dinner before heading out. Haniel, go ahead with the nanny first.”
[Food?]
“Yes, I have to soak your fish jerky and then boil it before my transformation so that you can eat.” I’ve been out of my mind after meeting Rashid, but usually, this was the busiest time in my day.
It didn’t matter whether I was in my human state or swan state when I was alone, but now that I was raising Haniel, there were more things that required me to be in my human form to complete.
“Shall we start?” I gave myself a loud clap after sending out Haniel and Selene. I’ve decided to focus only on the things I had to do today and throw out all the uneasiness in my heart. Don’t forget! Stand unwaveringly!
I shouted my new life motto and headed towards the cabinet.
I should start with flipping over the dried fish jerky.
My head turned around the moment I opened the cabinet door.
“Hmm?” Did they return already?
I sensed someone by the door and headed to the porch. I thought the sound was louder for a duck and swan to make, but I shouldn’t jump to conclusions, seeing how the sound of my own heartbeat had become louder after leaving His Majesty.
I flung the door open as if nothing had happened. “Why, did you leave something-”
“Oh my. Mother, why are you home?” A ringing voice that shouldn’t be heard around this area greeted me brightly.
I wasn’t usually surprised by Lania’s unexpected visit, but it was different this time. Behind her were two heads peeking out and one of them broke into wails after seeing me.
“Ahh, my eldest daughter Catherine! How have you been doing?”
* * *
“Oh, mother. Are you feeling awkward after not having met your family for some time?” Lania let out a laid-back chuckle as she brought along a tea table as if it was her own house.
Though it was indeed her house, she hadn’t bothered visiting me at my living quarters much ever since I moved here. It wasn’t out of consideration, but rather, she felt irksome from having to live in the same place with me.
“Mother, please say something.”
“Yes, Catherine. You have no idea how much we have missed you.” The lady, whom I couldn’t find a single trace of similarity between us, took her handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes. So, she was my stepmother.
She grew anxious and pinched her companions who were watching her at the side. “What are you doing! Go on, greet your eldest sister!”
“Mom, seriously.”
Obviously dragged along by force, but the greedy look in their eyes as they scanned the area were, of course, my step siblings.
Instead of being shy while meeting my family for the first time, the look in Lania’s eyes fixated on me observing my every reaction, treading on my nerves.
“What’s wrong, mother? Am I possibly in the way of your warm family reunion by staying here?”
“O- of course not, Your Lady!”
“We’re extremely honored to have met Your Lady here!” Seeing how my siblings drop down on their knees at Lania’s comment made me realize how huge her influence was in the Northern Lands.
Lania, who knew this fact through and through, lightly waved her hand and flashed a bright smile. “There’s no need to act this way. I’m your daughter, so we’re still considered to be relatives.”
“I’m deeply honored. I’ve always been worried ever since sending off my uncouth daughter.”
“Don’t be, I’m embarrassed.”
“I agree, you didn’t have to.” She subtly hinted at her eldest daughter who was stopping her family.
“C- Catherine?” Well, she shouldn’t have poisoned them openly, right?
I finally picked up the cup before me and stared straight at Lania. My words shook my stepmother and step-siblings greatly as their faces turned dark.
“H- how could you say that! Even if you’ve gone askew, you shouldn’t insult your family whom you haven’t met in ages!”
“Aren’t you insulting me since you’re finally visiting after so long with the motive of reaping some benefits off of me?”
“Catherine!”
“Address me as Duchess.”
“After selling me off like that, did you perhaps forget your place as well?” I drank the fragrant tea as I smiled at my stepmother. There was no way they could win over Lania, who was doing nothing but watch for the entire time no matter how much of a fuss they kicked up.