Father, I Won’t Do Anything

Jaina recalled when Mikael had visited her a few days ago.

-So tell me what kind of gift the other kids can’t give you!

Mikael had thrown a tantrum, insisting it had to be a gift she wanted.

Eventually, unable to withstand his persistence, Jaina made one request of him.

-Actually, there is one thing I want.

-What, can’t I grant one little wish? Just tell me!

-Will you really not refuse after hearing it?

-Yeah, yeah. Just spit it out.

When she whispered in a small voice, Mikael’s smugly raised chin instantly reddened.

-What? Why would you want something like that…?

-But you said you’d grant anything…

-Shut up, as if I’d do that!

She had given up when he stormed off, throwing an unrelated gift, thinking he had changed his mind. But it seemed he had been hung up on it after all.

“You know you’ll die if you tell other kids about this, right?”

Mikael took Jaina’s hands and let out a deep sigh. Even then, he hesitated for quite a while longer.

Lowering his head, Mikael mumbled as he spoke.

“Happy birthday, happy birthday… Happy birthday, my dear Jaina…”

What Jaina had requested of Mikael was the ‘birthday song’.

He kept asking if she wanted anything, so she answered, never expecting he would actually do it.

“Thank you, sir Mikael.”

Jaina softly replied, her face flushed.

“In fact, this is the first birthday party I’ve ever had.”

And she smiled faintly.

For some reason, it felt like she could forget the loneliness and sorrow of her previous life as Min Pobae today.

The feeling of caressing the rooftop railing she had gazed down from on her birthday, having nowhere else to go but the unlocked rooftop of some apartment.

The thoughts she had then, wondering if jumping from this place would make her disappear from the world.

‘Now I have a place to belong.’

Her own room, her own family, her own friends.

Though only six years remained, Jaina felt satisfied with just that much.

* * *

After the birthday party, Jaina was assigned a new maid named Yurika.

-I’m sorry, but could I ask for just one blanket? I need something to cover myself while sleeping.

-What? You’re going to sleep here? This isn’t a place suitable for people to sleep, especially for a young lady like you.

Yurika had been the kind soul who, despite going against Mikael’s wishes, still took care of Jaina when she had first come to the Magic Tower and decided to stay in a storage room.

“Is there anything uncomfortable for you?”

“Thank you for your consideration, lady Yurika.”

“Please, just call me Yurika.”

Yurika gazed down at Jaina lying in the center of the enormous bed.

She was curious about why such a young child had come to the Magic Tower alone, but whenever she broached the subject, Jaina deflected.

‘Perhaps she doesn’t wish to share it with others. In that case, I shouldn’t pry further.’

Yurika remembered when Jaina had first arrived at the Magic Tower.

Considering she had only a blanket to sleep with in the storage room, being moved to this luxurious chamber with an attached parlor was truly fortunate.

‘It’s odd that the cold-hearted Tower Lord provided a room for a child who isn’t even a Magic Tower’s magician, but at least it’s a relief.’

Yurika was unaware that Diamid was Jaina’s biological father.

Of course, like others, she had occasionally noticed their shared black hair and blue eyes.

‘Could she be his hidden daughter or something? Haha, what am I thinking?’

But it remained just a thought.

‘Even if she were his real daughter, it likely wouldn’t be much different from now.’

For the frosty Tower Lord treated even his blood-related nephew with aloofness and indifference.

Yurika had once witnessed from afar Mikael being severely reprimanded by Diamid after failing a mission.

The cruel scene remained unforgotten in her mind.

‘Whew. As a maid, I know I shouldn’t concern myself with personal matters beyond my duties.’

Yet for some reason, Yurika was worried about Jaina.

Not only her uncommon composure for a child, but at times she behaved like an elderly person facing death.

‘While it makes her easy to serve, but it would be nice if she acted a bit more childlike.’

Then, one day, as usual, Yurika casually spoke to Jaina.

“What hairstyle do you think would suit our young lady? A short bob is cute, but it’s also nice to change it up for a change of mood sometimes, right?”

Yurika began gently brushing Jaina’s hair before getting to work in earnest.

Gathering one side into a small braid, parting it into two short tails, leaving some bangs and tying the rest back…

“Miss, your hair is so lovely, it’s fun to style.”

Through the mirror, Jaina watched as her hairstyle transformed.

Having only worn the same short hairstyle daily, she never imagined altering it slightly could create such differing impressions.

“Hmm, in my opinion…”

After trying various styles, Yurika gathered Jaina’s hair into an updo resembling an apple.

“How about an apple hair bun for today?”

With a faintly blushing expression, Jaina nodded. Yurika smiled in response.

“Ah, you can’t nod yet before I secure it properly.”

With one hand holding the hairstyle in place, Yurika rummaged through the drawers with her other hand.

However, they contained no suitable hair accessories.

With a furrowed brow, Yurika realized Jaina lacked any hair ornaments.

“I can’t be helped. Would you mind borrowing one of mine for today?”

Yurika first removed the hair tie she had been using to secure Jaina’s style.

“But what will you use if you give me yours, Yurika?”

“I usually just tie it up, so letting it down today will be a special change.”

After fiddling with the hair tie for a while, Jaina immediately sought out Izren once Yurika left to attend another task, seeking counsel.

“This happened, so how would be a good way to repay her?”

Jaina gently stroked Izren’s purring head resting on her lap as she spoke.

Meow, meow.

Since Izren was in cat form, he seemed unable to speak human words.

Interpreting his mews however she wished, Jaina responded.

“I think making her a similar ribbon would be nice. I vaguely overheard the wardrobe staff mentioning it.”

When Izren meowed in apparent agreement, Jaina decided to head to the marketplace with him and found Mikael to request a spatial movement spell.

However, Mikael looked dubious.

“I’m worried about sending just the two of you alone.”

“This time, I promise we’ll return safely without any incidents. Don’t worry.”

Jaina held up the arm cradling Izren, as if reassuring Mikael of his protective presence.

Sighing, Mikael said:

“Damn it, if the Tower Lord hadn’t ordered it, I would have gone with you.”

Clicking his tongue as he glared at Izren, Mikael waved his hand through the air several times.

“What did you just do?”

“A magic power detection spell.”

Essentially stating he would track their location in real-time, but Mikael’s tone was quite self-assured.

Jaina and Izren exchanged glances before nodding at each other.

“I’ll come running right away if I sense any suspicious magic power, so don’t worry.”

With those words, Mikael vanished, leaving behind an empty space as if he had never been there. Gazing at the vacant air, Jaina whispered down to Izren:

“Isn’t that a bit overprotective?”

Meow, meow.

However, Izren shook his head this time, seeming to agree with Mikael.

Jaina stared blankly at Izren before her gaze fell on the sapphire bracelet on her wrist.

‘Were location tracking and magic power detection spells really necessary…?’

For a moment, Jaina felt a clash of values, but she dismissed it.

They all stemmed from a caring intent towards her.

Besides, no matter how much she prepared, it would be difficult to fend off the dragons coming to kill her in six years with such minor spells.

‘While Hilvenzia and Mikael are prominently featured villains in the story, will Izren be alright in the end? He still has a long way to go before meeting the protagonist…’

For the first time, Jaina seriously considered the fact that Izren had been accepted into the Magic Tower instead of being expelled.

* * *

Izren preferred being in cat form rather than human form. He claimed it was because his body felt lighter, but in this situation, being a cat was unhelpful.

“We can’t let an unaccompanied child in.”

They were refused entry at the very entrance when trying to purchase ribbons.

‘The Tower Lord gave me money for harpsichord lessons.’

“I have money right here.”

“Is that really your money? You didn’t secretly take an adult’s, did you?”

How could she convince the owner to let them in without raising suspicion?

Jaina stood on her tiptoes, peering inside as much as possible.

She had been barred entry for being a child, yet another child her age was freely shopping inside. Jaina’s eyes narrowed.

‘What’s the difference between that child and me? What sets us apart?’

And before long, Jaina realized the reason.

“That child has an escort knight with them. They seem to be a noble.”

Meow, meow.

Responding to Jaina’s words, Izren tilted his chin as if telling her to wait just a bit.

Jaina huddled with Izren in a secluded corner, out of sight.

And a short while later.

“It should be alright now.”

The Izren who reappeared was in the guise of a knight wearing a crisp white uniform.

His aquamarine hair and violet gem-like irises emanated an alluring mystique, while the addition of a sword lent him the appearance of a noble’s escort knight.