Father, I Won’t Do Anything

The piece Jaina was currently learning was so difficult that it would be considered challenging even for her peers, let alone her own level.

“If you can perfectly perform this, you’ll naturally be able to play the song flowing from the necklace.”

Jaina obediently followed this unreasonable demand.

It was the opposite of Charlotte’s expectation that Jaina would show some defiance.

Rather, Jaina seemed to be in a good mood, curving a faint smile whenever she played the harpsichord.

“…You’ve improved a bit, I suppose.”

Moreover, despite the unsystematic and inflexible amateur instruction, Jaina’s skills were steadily progressing. Her previous experience playing the piano helped, but it was largely thanks to her diligent practice without slacking.

Jaina was so immersed in the harpsichord that if there were points she was corrected on, she would flawlessly fix them by the next lesson. Thus, Charlotte could no longer nitpick.

“Is there anything else I need to improve, teacher?”

“…I suppose we can move on from this.”

For a student like this, a teacher could find her quite adorable, but Charlotte felt no such thing.

Rather, the fewer mistakes Jaina made, the more displeased she seemed, constantly nibbling on her nails.

-From start to finish. Vexing.

That was Izren’s blunt assessment of Charlotte, as she showed no passion for teaching and only spouted negativity.

While he disliked her lack of sincerity and deprecating words, since the subject Jaina remained undisturbed, he couldn’t intervene.

“Are you alright?”

One day, when Izren furrowed his brow and spoke to Jaina, she opened her large eyes wide and asked.

“Are you concerned for me?”

From her utterly calm voice, Izren could sense a realization.

She wasn’t enduring it, but simply didn’t care at all.

Perhaps she was accustomed to such torment.

‘Just what kind of life has she lived until now?’

In truth, while he held goodwill towards Jaina, he didn’t know much about her as a person. Or rather, he had never been curious. He had merely been a faithful dog following Diamid’s orders to escort and monitor Jaina.

But for a moment, he couldn’t restrain his curiosity.

“Why don’t you say anything?”

“…Huh?”

“Ask for a teacher change, for help.”

“There’s no need. Regardless of her personality, Charlotte is an excellent teacher for me. So please don’t report this to the Tower Lord.”

Flinch.

Inwardly harboring guilt over monitoring Jaina, Izren’s body trembled slightly.

“…You knew.”

“The Tower Lord would have no good intentions in assigning me an escort knight.”

“Then why, not to report…”

“As you know, Izren, I made a promise to the Tower Lord. To perform that song for him.”

“Then even more so, a different teacher…?”

Jaina tilted her small face slightly.

“Do you really think so?”

“What?”

“It would be difficult to find a teacher of Charlotte’s caliber. Moreover, no matter how much money is offered, few would be willing to risk their lives coming to this Magic Tower. And the Tower Lord’s heart could change at any moment. So for me, Charlotte is the best option.”

Izren wanted to refute Jaina’s words but couldn’t. What she said was true.

Even he wouldn’t have come to serve as a servant knight at this Magic Tower if not for being a demi-human.

‘Damn it.’

Thus, Izren could only continue tormenting his poor fingers.

* * *

A few days before Jaina’s birthday, the three of them set out on a commemorative trip.

“It just so happens that your birthday falls on a public holiday, so we can’t go anywhere fun. The gates aren’t operating either, damn it. How does your birthday coincide with the Emperor’s birthday? Only those recognized by the Emperor can use the gates on that day.”

They could use the Magic Tower’s name, but that was difficult unless it was the Tower Lord himself.

‘If that brat had just a bit of power, he could have opened the gates as the Crown Prince.’

Sensing Mikael’s gaze, Rosian smiled wryly.

“It would be troublesome if you looked at me with such ardent eyes, brother. I have no interest in men, you see.”

“Who’s interested in you, useless fool?”

Mikael’s brow furrowed deeply.

This idiot Crown Prince only caused trouble wherever he went, so he couldn’t even be officially recognized… Instead of helping, he was just a hindrance.

“Anyway, I can’t leave the Imperial Palace on Jaina’s birthday because of Grandfather’s birthday party. You weren’t thinking of going out alone with just Jaina, were you? That would make me quite sad.”

“What gives you the right to nag?”

“Shall I explain it to you one by one?”

“Forget it, shut up. Don’t keep pestering her. If not for your mother, I would have killed you long ago…”

At that moment, a small hand tugged at Mikael.

“Sir Mikael, we’re going out to celebrate my birthday, right?”

Turning his head, Jaina’s gentle eyes looked up at Mikael with a flutter.

‘Damn it, why is this shorty making such eyes?’

Like a tadpole, or a calf, or a chick.

For some reason, Mikael’s heart kept softening whenever he saw Jaina’s eyes.

‘My past self would faint at the sight.’

Mikael rubbed his temples. How had he ended up becoming the babysitter?

* * *

“This is my first time at a summer beach.”

Jaina’s eyes sparkled like stars. Her gaze was transfixed on the sea.

The sky-blue sea shimmering in the sunlight with glittering ripples. The faint sound of waves crashing against the sandy shore. The seagulls calling from afar.

In this moment, everything was beautifully glistening.

Jaina narrowed her eyes against the reflected sunlight. Although it stung her eyes, it was a view she wanted to keep beholding.

‘When was the last time I went to the beach? Was it the West Sea tidal flat experience in elementary school?’

Considering her previous life where even dreaming of a vacation was difficult, let alone going on one, this was luxury.

Seeing Jaina’s delighted expression, Mikael crossed his arms with a smug look.

“See, the beach is best in summer.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

Jaina carefully walked on the sandy shore. The finely crushed sand sinking underfoot felt novel. Touching the shimmering sand, Jaina sat down on the beach before startling and standing up.

“Ah!”

“You idiot, what if you sat on the sand? It’s hot from the sunlight!”

Whereupon Mikael quickly rushed over and swiftly scooped Jaina up into his arms.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would be hot.”

“Are you really ten years old?”

“Yes, I am.”

“You act like a toddler who can’t even walk properly. Never mind that, just look ahead over there.”

Cradled in Mikael’s arms, Jaina followed his gaze to the distant horizon.

“Wow… it’s beautiful.”

“Want to take a walk along the beach?”

Mikael had Jaina wrap her small arms around his neck before striding forward.

And silently watching the two of them from behind was Rosian.

His outward appearance still carried his usual smile, but Rosian was slightly hurt inside.

Whenever he tried to get close to Jaina, Mikael would move first and take the lead.

Rosian shook his head and followed after Jaina, grabbing her small arm as he spoke.

“Miss Jaina, are you enjoying the beach?”

“…”

“Miss Jaina?”

However, lost in thought, Jaina didn’t respond to Rosian’s words.

“Hmhmhm.”

Feeling awkward, Rosian cleared his throat unnecessarily.

Meanwhile, looking down at the docile Jaina cradled in his arms, Mikael curved his lips into a smile.

‘See that?’

As if sneering ‘Can a child like you even hold Jaina?’, Mikael’s gaze prompted Rosian’s face to contort unsightly.

Rosian trailed alongside the beach-walking Mikael, saying:

“If you keep carrying her like that, Miss Jaina will get hot, you know?”

“Are you disregarding my temperature control magic? It’s basic magic, basic.”

Rosian scoffed derisively.

“Actually, thanks to the cloak I gave her, separate temperature control is unnecessary… You’re needlessly wasting magic power.”

Jaina was wearing the cloak Rosian had given her draped over her shoulders like a cape, rather than wrapped around her body.

However, as soon as it touched her body, the magic imbued in the cloak would automatically activate, so it didn’t matter.

“Hmph, magic power overflows in me. And my magic would be far superior to any spells on a mere cloak.”

“I doubt it, since that cloak was made by a magician more skilled than you, brother. There’s no need for an inferior spell when she can just wear the cloak like this.”

“What…?”

Glare.

Mikael and Rosian began glaring at each other.

However, their staring contest didn’t last long, thanks to Jaina interjecting between them.

“The sea must be beautiful in other seasons too, right?”

“Let’s come again in autumn, Miss Jaina.”

“Leave that idiot Crown Prince out of it then.”

Mikael smiled as he spoke.

“No, would the mountains be better in autumn? Going to see the autumn foliage. No, the autumn sea is nice too. Let’s just go to both. Or where else should we go…”

Mikael pondered, racking his brain, but having spent his life studying magic, he didn’t know about tourist spots. He had only been to the beach a few times for magic research.

As Mikael mumbled uncertainly to himself, Rosian interjected.

“Do you know Lake Deysan? That place is also quite beautiful. And there are the Ceycar Cliffs…”

Having wandered all over the Empire for a long time, he was well-versed in tourist attractions and local festivals.

It wasn’t for nothing that he had been called a man about town at such a young age.

“The festival we went to together last time was fun, but there’s another festival I really enjoyed…”

At Rosian’s words, Jaina’s eyes shone brightly. Just as Mikael fell silent, Rosian, who had been excitedly rambling, abruptly closed his mouth as if recalling something.