Chapter 13

“Ledeia?”

Dad called out to me, his face still stiff but now slightly confused.

I glanced at him and clenched my fist.

Just wait a bit, Dad.

‘I’m going to make this brat apologize no matter what.’

The moment I glared, Elliot began to tremble.

“Who do you think you are!”

“If it’s not me, no one’s going to fix your bald spot.”

“I didn’t say anything wrong. I’m not at fault! Everyone says it, I just repeated it!”

“No, you’re wrong.”

I spoke firmly, my eyes sharp.

“My dad isn’t trash. He’s not useless. He’s my precious dad.”

I saw Dad’s eyes widen slightly.

Dad frowned and looked at Second Uncle, and Second Uncle twitched his cheek before looking away.

“I…”

“If you don’t apologize, your hair will never grow back for the rest of your life.”

My threat made Elliot hiccup even harder.

“It’s best to stop here. You should show some restraint too.”

“If you wanted restraint, you should have taught your kid to keep his mouth shut.”

Dad’s voice was cool as he responded to Second Uncle.

“Oh right. You liked Lady Rodia, didn’t you? Lady Rodia won’t like someone with a bald patch either.”

It was widely known that Elliot had been chasing after Lady Rodia since childhood.

‘In the future, they actually end up in a political marriage…’

But that’s still far off. Right now Elliot is just a kid with a crush.

Elliot’s face went pale.

“H-how do you know about that…!”

“Oh, I should spread the word. A boy who badmouthed people got all his hair ripped out overnight…”

“…Stop!”

Elliot reached out desperately and shouted. His flushed face was streaked with tears, a pitiful sight.

“What was that? I didn’t catch it.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I was wrong so please don’t!”

Kids these days.

He feared gossip more than baldness itself.

“What exactly were you wrong about?”

“What? What I said earlier…!”

“And what was that, exactly?”

“…!”

Elliot’s mouth opened and closed soundlessly.

Panic spread across his face. Of course it did. That’s not something you can repeat in front of everyone.

“What’s wrong? Can’t say it?”

I widened my eyes and stared at him as he floundered silently.

“If you’re so confident, say it here in front of everyone. You said everyone thinks the same way. There’s nothing weird about repeating it then, right?”

“…Ugh.”

“Oh, if you don’t remember, I can remind you.”

I tilted my head innocently, my eyes round.

Elliot looked flustered, but his glare at me was sharp.

“First, you called my dad the useless uncle. You said playing with me lowers your standards. You called him trash.”

Elliot’s face grew paler with every word I spoke.

“And you said I’m a toy. You called me bad blood. You said hanging out with me would ruin your life too…”

I deliberately slurred my words toward the end, shaking my head as if deeply disappointed.

Elliot’s already pale face turned ghostly white.

Second Uncle also grimaced as if the situation was getting worse.

“And alsooo…”

“Hey!!”

Elliot shouted desperately. I shot him a sidelong glance and gave a small laugh.

He really didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut.

“Oh, right. You said Dad ruined the family’s honor. And you called me scrawny too.”

“That last part’s true though!”

Elliot shouted, fuming, his expression one of wounded pride. I let out a dry laugh.

“I’m not scrawny! Right, Dad?”

“…Hmm.”

Dad looked at me quietly but said nothing.

Dad. If you stay silent now, what does that make me.

“My cousin really is a bit weak.”

Valux too!

I clenched my fist and glared at Dad, my eyes burning.

Unable to withstand my stare, Dad quietly patted my back.

“You’ve raised your kid well, Second Brother.”

“Don’t be sarcastic. Kids fight sometimes.”

“You’re just like when you were little. Guess blood really doesn’t lie. Always running your mouth behind people’s backs like a snake.”

Dad…?

Dad’s icy gaze turned into a sharp smile.

“You really are at the same level.”

“…Klein, watch your mouth!”

“What.”

Dad tilted his head slightly, his tone crooked.

“If you’d watched your mouth in the first place, your kid wouldn’t have learned this behavior.”

Was Dad always this good with words?

He usually just let me win, so I never noticed.

“You pathetic worm…”

Crunch.

Run Tigreto clenched his fist and moved toward Dad.

Thud!

“Enough!!”

A heavy pressure filled the air as Grandpa’s voice thundered from above.

Second Uncle, who had been seething, gasped and quickly stepped back, pulling Elliot into his arms.

Dad quietly held me and turned his head.

“How dare you run your mouths like that in front of me!”

“…I apologize.”

Second Uncle was the first to bow his head. He really was afraid of Grandpa.

“Elliot!”

“Hic! Yes!”

“Do you understand what you did wrong?”

“T-that… hic… yes…”

“Then apologize properly.”

Elliot bit his lower lip, nodded with a pale face, and Second Uncle set him down.

I tapped Dad, and though he looked reluctant, he set me down too.

Elliot and I stood facing each other.

“…I-I was wr…ong…”

Elliot’s face turned bright red as he clenched his clothes tightly. His curly hair was a bit fluffy and messy.

‘…He looks kind of cute like this.’

The thought startled me, and I shook my head quickly, refocusing my gaze.

“You shouldn’t be apologizing to me. Shouldn’t you be apologizing to my dad?”

“…That’s…”

Elliot opened and closed his mouth, then clenched his fists and lowered his head.

Finally, he bit his lip and spoke.

“…I’m sorry.”

He turned to Dad and bowed his head, his ears burning red.

I glanced at Dad.

He silently looked down at the boy’s head for a moment before speaking.

“You have nothing to apologize for. There were adults running their mouths carelessly in front of you. You just heard and believed it was right.”

Dad’s gaze flicked to Grandpa and Second Uncle, then back.

“But…”

Dad looked at Second Uncle with cold eyes.

“I’d prefer if you didn’t show up in front of my daughter again. Not that I care either way.”

Elliot’s eyes widened.

“You shouldn’t say things you can’t repeat in front of others. At least you know enough to feel ashamed of what you said. That’s something.”

“…”

“There are people who don’t even feel shame and spit out that kind of filth in public.”

I walked up and placed my hand on Elliot’s head. His eyes grew wide.

I closed my eyes and activated my power slowly.

Flash—

Light seeped into his scalp.

The patch of scalp that had been red and slightly bloody healed in an instant.

“Your hair will grow back in time.”

Unfortunately, my Healing Ability didn’t make ripped-out hair grow instantly.

“Dad, let’s go.”

I ran over and clung to his leg.

“…Sweetheart. You…”

When I looked up, Dad was staring down at me with the most astonished expression I’d ever seen.