I Became the Black Swan Mother of the White Swan Princess

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If I picked that up and put it in my pocket, would that look too low?

This time, it seemed even Haniel was surprised to the point of raising her head slightly to look down on it

You saw that too, right? Your brother isnt that scary.

Since Rashid was nearby, I couldnt talk to her like usual, so I placed a hand on top of Haniels hand with as much of my heart wrested into it as possible. When I did that, Rashids gaze also stopped at my hand.

So, whats next?

W-what do you mean, next?

What you dont like, using your daughter as an excuse.

.

Thats really not the case.

I was about to tell him that I didnt care what he didthat I wouldnt even care if he went around naked, for goodness sakebut I gave up.

Because I felt like I would care about that a little bit.

Not talking anymore?

I was worried that he might be saying that in a bad mood, but Rashid took his spot in the pavilion with authoritative strides. Whether or not he had his sword or his badge, he wasnt a man to be influenced by such things in the first place.

Seeing him sit there first and wait for me, this time I really thought that it wouldnt make much of a difference to me now if he was actually naked.

What now, that its making your face red?

It hasnt gone red.

After answering him without much thinking, I was a little surprised on the inside.

In spite of myself, maybe because I now knew that he wasnt going to kill me anymore, I was finding myself sounding out the person that Id only ever been scared of at first.

To see how much this man would allow.

I said, sit here.

..

And also to see how close I was allowed to go.

And where will you seat that thing?

Oh, I can just keep the child in my arms.

Even as I carefully sat next to him, I prioritized my attention on Haniels mood.

After he had taken off his badge too, she hadnt been chirping, so it looked like there wasnt going to be any occasion for her to flail about saying Bwother scawy! at this moment.

She doesnt quite adapt quickly when she goes to an unfamiliar place, you see.

Youre saying this much is unfamiliar to a bird?

Yes. Shes a child I keep close in my arms in bed when we sleep, too.

..

He should take a look at his own face, instead of acting like only my face is red.

Secretly pushing out my lower lip, I carefully lowered Haniel on top of the table. Even then, I couldnt have her stand completely on her own, and surrounded her with my arms like a fence, sitting with my body close.

By the way, Your Highness.

So say it clearly enough so that our little princess pretending to have fainted but is actually completely fine can hear it well.

What?

About the lost princess. Her name was

Haniel?

Yeees. Princess Haniel.

At the same time, Haniels webbed feet flinched strongly.

Brother, brother knows my name!!

A surprised but not at all pleased shock spread through her white body visibly.

I ask this just to be sure, but, when Your Highness went to see the princess, you werent trying to scare her on purpose, right?

[.]

Blinking, interest appeared in Haniels eyes.

This was our chance!

As Rashid looked at me with a pretty dubious expression, I smiled at him even more innocently.

No-ow, bark out that theres no way thats true in a loud voice!

Roar!

The more he fumed, the more the pointthat it wasnt truecould be emphasized. As I awaited to be yelled at with the attitude of a voluntary martyr, Rashids expression towards me was only strange.

Hm.. is that right?

How, how can.

How could someone fail what was literally put right under their nose?

If a person tries to push you towards reconciliation, practically opens your mouth to feed you your meal, then you should at least stick out your tongue!

Hoo.

Watching him as he supported his chin with his hand, unexpectedly entering serious mode, I suppressed my harshening breaths. It was already long since Haniel had closed her eyes again, too.

..Your Highness, please think about it carefully.

Whats there to think about? Shed just cry if she saw me anyways.

And Im saying, Your Highness didnt make her cry because you wanted to make her cry.

..

This time, he couldnt say anything that flipped my insides over.

Yes, this was it!

Not stopping here and taking a step forward, I softly thumped my squeezed fist in front of him.

Now, one more time. At the very least, Your Highness surely wouldnt have done that because you disliked Princess Haniel, I suspect.

Thats true.

..as I thought!

Now that Id finally reached 1/100th of the way to the answer I wanted, I pressed my lips together, touched.

As my smile regained its bright radiance, Rashid only gazed at me silently.