Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 265

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 265
* * *
A week later.
Upon arriving in the capital, before heading straight to the imperial palace, we encountered someone we were delighted to see.
“Your Grace…!”
It was the Land Turtle Leader. After meeting Ekion for the first time in years, he shed tears.
Not metaphorically—he was genuinely weeping.
He wept so profusely that onlookers felt bewilderment rather than emotion, and I had to step in to stop him.
“To witness such magnificent growth, this old Retainer has no regrets even if I were to pass away tomorrow….”
In truth, given the Land Turtle Leader’s age, it wouldn’t be surprising if he departed this world tomorrow.
The Beastkin Tortoises accompanying us wore peculiar expressions, which was hardly unusual.
Ekion didn’t stare blankly as he had in childhood; instead, he took the Land Turtle Leader’s hand.
Witnessing Ekion’s growth firsthand, I felt an inexplicable warmth.
“What’s with that unpleasant expression?”
“What about me?”
“You were looking at him like you’d raised him yourself.”
“Was I? But honestly… at this point, haven’t I raised him?”
Atlant, who had started the quarrel, found no rebuttal and grumbled that it was strange to regard one’s lover like a son.
When did I ever regard him like a son? I simply felt a sense of guardianship.
“It’s been a long time, young leader of the Orcas.”
“Yes, it’s good to see you.”
The Elder, having ceased his tears, greeted me.
“You’ve become worthy of the title ‘young leader’ rather than ‘young one’ now.”
When we last met, I was certainly much younger.
“The fact that you summoned us immediately upon arriving in the capital means you no longer intend to hide the Dragon Duke’s presence.”
I smiled.
Indeed, from the moment we departed Aquacialdel—or rather, even before that—I had ceased concealing the fact that the Dragon Duke was in the land of aquatic Beastkin.
Given the vast distance, it would have taken time for news to reach the capital and the Dragon’s City.
But no matter how much the imperial family tried to suppress it, rumors would have spread.
And the very first thing I did upon arriving in the capital was to solidify this rumor into truth.
“The Dragon Duke standing beside me is proof enough that the Dragon no longer sides with the imperial family.”
The Land Turtle Leader nodded.
Though more wrinkled and aged in appearance, his eyes still gleamed with wisdom.
“The Dragon’s City will support wherever the Dragon Duke stands.”
“Ah, now that I think about it, I forgot to mention something.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
Present here were not only the Land Turtle Beastkin, but also Dana, the leader of the Elephant clan, and Amphila, the Hippopotamus Beastkin, whom I had brought as allies.
They had already implicitly known of Ekion, so they showed no great surprise.
I glanced at the Land Turtle Leader once before speaking.
“I’ve become the Dragon Duke’s companion.”
At that, Dana and Amphila, who had been observing until now, also looked startled.
Since we had arrived separately until the capital, they hadn’t witnessed Ekion and me being properly close together, which seemed to be the cause of their surprise.
From their perspective, they would know better than anyone that a Dragon takes only one companion for their entire lifetime.
So I found myself unable to hold back from speaking in front of the Land Turtle Leader’s questioning gaze.
It was something I had only kept in my heart and never spoken of to anyone.
Not even to the person involved.
“Once this matter is settled, we will hold an engagement ceremony.”
“….”
From the moment the word “companion” was spoken, the Beastkin tortoises wore expressions of great shock, while the Land Turtle Leader remained silent alone.
As if he had known it would come to this, he simply nodded with a wise expression.
“I see. There is one request I have, if you don’t mind?”
“Rather than being surprised by news I’m hearing for the first time, you have a request? I’m curious. What is it?”
“Please hold the engagement ceremony in the Dragon’s city as well.”
The Land Turtle Leader, rather than showing surprise, immediately became respectful and adopted an attitude as if addressing a superior.
“…There’s no need to make such a request. I was already planning to hold it once in the Dragon’s city and once in Aquasiade.”
Ekion was gazing at me with such earnest brightness that it felt burdensome.
I understand your feelings, so stop looking at me like that. Father is here too, Ekion…!
I felt a tingling gaze from the back of my head and laughed with a nervous chuckle.
Thus, the gathering where I was meant to introduce the Land Turtle Leader to Dana and Amphila had unexpectedly become the venue for announcing my engagement.
* * *
“I didn’t expect you to say that right there.”
To the direct jab that came poking at me, I laughed with an “aha” while my side was being prodded.
When I turned my gaze, I could see Whale receiving assistance with his clothing. His large frame, with long limbs stretched out.
The beige formal suit draped over his well-proportioned body suited him remarkably well, but my gaze lingered more on his face watching intently than on the clothes.
“Well, to be honest, I hadn’t planned to say anything.”
“Ekion was shocked too. Very much so.”
“He would be. It was a fact even the person involved didn’t know.”
I hadn’t told him. At that, Whale paused in his assistance and wore a surprised expression.
Then he let out a small laugh, “puhah.”
“Ah, so that’s why he looked so shocked. I thought it was something everyone knew and only I didn’t.”
“That couldn’t be.”
The gathering to introduce the elephants, hippopotamuses, and Land Turtle Beastkin to each other had included key figures from our Aquasiade side as well.
Which meant everyone had heard the engagement announcement in real time.
“Making such an announcement in a neighborhood tavern—I’ve already gotten an earful of nagging from Second Brother about it.”
“Hahaha.”
“I don’t understand why he lectures me about propriety and etiquette when he himself treats them like they’re worthless.”
“Isn’t it because he cares about you?”
“No, he just found it entertaining. Now he has something to nag me about. What really surprised me was that Bellus said something too.”
That’s right—Atlant seemed to have vented his disappointment at not knowing beforehand through nagging.
But Bellus had looked stern and expressed his disappointment at why I hadn’t informed him of such a fact beforehand.
I was so shocked by Eldest Brother’s rare display of petulance.
“Bellus must feel that way. He was surprised, disappointed, and flustered that his plans fell through.”
“You speak as if you know Bellus well?”
“I do.”
Was Whale really that close to Bellus?
Certainly, since Whale took charge of healing research and often crossed paths with Bellus, who managed internal affairs, they would have had many opportunities to meet.
But Bellus, who resembled Father’s temperament more than any of my brothers, was the type difficult to grow close to.
“Bellus is kind enough to like me, fortunately.”
It was an unexpected thing to hear.
“But what plan are you talking about?”
If the two of them had grown closer, I had no reason to object.
I was simply curious about this plan that came out of nowhere.
“Oh, it’s nothing much.”
Whale smiled warmly.
His deep, cavernous voice then revealed something I hadn’t anticipated.
“Bellus was planning to arrange a private moment between you and me soon to discuss an engagement.”
“What?”
Sometimes when I hear something too shocking, it feels like the words flow out the other ear.
This was exactly one of those moments.
Bellus was arranging something?
My eldest brother, who showed no interest in his own romantic life and kept a distance from whatever Ekion and I did—what was he doing now?
“You seem surprised.”
“…Don’t I look surprised?”
Whale scratched his cheek with his white-gloved hand, his expression faintly embarrassed.
“Is it really so surprising that Bellus wants things to work out between you and me?”
“…Sorry, but the fact that he’s taking interest in someone else’s love life is shocking in itself.”
“Why? You’re his precious younger sister.”
I’m shocked just hearing you say that.
I considered saying this but pressed my lips shut instead.
I soon glanced at the Beastkin who had been quietly organizing clothes, and they bowed in understanding before leaving the room.
This place was the capital’s costume atelier.
Whale and I had come here to have proper formal wear fitted, as Misa had insisted so strongly.
This atelier was run by the sister of Loreille’s colleague, a Rabbit Beastkin named Leit, whom we had fought alongside in Madrum.
This atelier was said to be the most famous in the capital, and one had to wait about a year to have clothes tailored there, regardless of who they were.
Leit’s sister had wept upon hearing that her younger brother, whom she thought was dead, was alive, and had given us her full cooperation.
The reason we came to have our clothes fitted together was simple.
In the letter the Crown Prince sent me, he wrote that he also wanted to see the ‘healer’ in our territory.
In other words, we were to serve as bait together.
My partner for this occasion was none other than Whale.
“Since I’m going as your partner this time.”
Everyone agreed that having two people draw attention instead of one would be even better.
“I hope that by saying this, you’ll care about it at least a little.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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