I Opened an Illegal Animal Hospital in Another World - Chapter 12
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
12
Chapter 3. Because I’m Cute (2)
Several days had passed.
Ian and Leon didn’t come back to visit.
‘Well, 7-year-old boys wouldn’t come looking to play with a 3-year-old girl.’
I had a good relationship with Mina too, but in childhood, I wanted to play with friends rather than my younger sister.
I thought I might make some friends, but it’s disappointing.
I was going to tell them not to bother with knight stuff and just be friends with me, but the twins didn’t give me a chance to speak.
‘It’s not like I’m a public corporation that can guarantee job security.’
Why do they want to become knights anyway?
At first, they spoke with a nuance of disliking Lloyd’s pressure, but toward the end, didn’t they speak as if they actually wanted to do it themselves?
‘Wait, is it a major corporation? Could a ducal family be considered a major corporation?’
During my daily garden walks, Lloyd bragged that the twins had become more enthusiastic about training after meeting me.
Do they not want to do it, or do they want to do it…?
What’s your reason for wanting to do it….
“…Lady Shana? What did you say?”
As I was muttering to myself, Maria tilted her head and asked.
“Sigh…”
The psychology of children…
“No… it’s nothing…”
“Do I look like some kind of glutton?”
How long has it been since I ate? But at the same time, my stomach growled.
I stayed silent for a moment, then said:
“I’m not a glutton. It’s mealtime.”
“I’m not a glutton. It’s mealtime.”
“That’s right, it’s mealtime. Of course you’re hungry.”
My young body was often hungry. How terribly inefficient.
‘Is it because it’s hard to move my body?’
I needed to grow a bit more before I could develop the muscles and technique necessary for movement. I was still too short and weak, unable to control my strength and having to use everything I had.
Eat a lot, sleep a lot, and poop a lot.
That’s what children are supposed to do. At 3 years old, they’re a child. Not a baby!
My days were extremely simple.
I wake up in the morning, eat breakfast, and while digesting, I read picture books with Ella. We also scribble lines on paper or play with blocks. She still can’t use her finger muscles delicately, so she needs a lot of practice.
“Lord Shana… You really are quite eloquent…”
Sizzle!
The hand holding the pencil stretches out against my will.
I tried to hold it maturely between my index finger and thumb, but my fingers wouldn’t obey me, so I had to grip it tightly like making a fist. And then, straight.
“Your strength is magnificent too. Strong enough to tear the paper…!”
“That’s artistic line drawing. It’s wonderful, Shana.”
“Your strength is amazing too. Such powerful force that you could tear paper apart…!”
Maria and Ella clapped in admiration. Don’t be genuinely impressed… I’d rather you mock me instead…
‘Isn’t this praise torture rather than praise-based education?’
Rather than being happy about the praise, I feel ashamed…
Then around noon, I have lunch and go for a walk in the garden with Maria. An hour or so of strolling around the estate and greeting people makes the time fly by.
After washing up and taking a nap, I eat dinner.
Moving and talking energetically, playing and then sleeping.
‘Days of living true to my animal instincts….’
Perhaps it’s because when life becomes regular and simple, thoughts become simple too—days spent without serious worries were mentally very satisfying.
Moreover, everything was provided so that I could focus solely on eating, sleeping, and learning. A prosperous environment was truly remarkable.
It’s not that I wasn’t happy before.
Shortly after my younger sister Mina was born, our mother became ill, and we had to be passed around from one caregiver to another.
Most people treated us kindly, but the unfamiliar environment itself was enough to make anyone feel intimidated. Still, Dad always loved us and did his best for us, so it was bearable.
If Mina hadn’t been cute, wouldn’t I have become quite a twisted person too?
‘I wanted twin younger brothers though.’
They seemed like they’d be fun to tease, so I wanted to become close with them, but it was disappointing. I only had a younger sister after all…
“Lady Shana, time for your meal!”
Ella came in pushing a tray with a bright smile. A delicious smell wafted through the air.
“Kyaa!”
“Are you that happy?”
“Good! Hungry!”
“Our Lady Shana doesn’t even pick at her food and eats everything well, so you don’t know how wonderful it is to see. My son is stubborn about not wanting to eat, so it’s difficult…”
Bailey said.
“Eat! Be strong!”
Be strong and move around! A body without muscles is hard! You need to eat well and exercise to get buff muscles.
In front of me was soup at the right temperature for a child to eat, soft bread, unseasoned meat, and fruit.
Ella picked up a fork, but I confidently refused.
“I’ll do it!”
“Lady Shana… You’re so independent… So brave…”
I didn’t hear that. I can’t hear it.
I picked up the small child’s fork. What’s wrong with it not being chopsticks? I can at least grip it and stab things.
‘Chopsticks are supposed to be good for brain development though…’
That’s why they say Korean people are smart, right? They say it’s good for fine motor development too… Having useless thoughts, I stabbed a piece of meat and brought it to my mouth.
“Lady Shana, you’re so cool!”
“I love watching Lady Shana eat so well!”
I can’t hear it, I didn’t hear anything…
However, I could tell without looking in a mirror that my cheeks were turning red. Please, couldn’t they just be quiet at least while I’m eating? I feel like I’m going to get indigestion…
It was while I was chewing meat, receiving genuine cheers from Maria, Ella, and Bailey.
If I sprinkled some salt salt salt on it, I think I’d be happier…
Children’s food wasn’t seasoned, so it was too bland. Wasn’t this competing with only the natural taste of the ingredients?
‘Black pepper… Salt… I miss them…’
I won’t even hope for malatang, so please just give me salt… When will I be able to eat seasoned food?
My height stopped growing because the unseasoned food was tasteless.
It was when I was savoring the excessively healthy taste and had almost finished chewing and swallowing the prepared meal.
“What a noisy mealtime.”
Ella and Maria jumped up and blocked my front.
Unlike their usual giggling faces or relaxed attitudes, their quick movements startled me. They were exactly like trained agents.
But anyway, this voice.
“It’s been a while. You’ve grown a lot.”
“Blonde brat!”
“…”
Ah. Did I say that out loud?
“Who’s… calling who…”
“Your Highness, please calm down.”
“Daddy!”
When Father appeared along with the blonde brat Raven, Ella and Maria finally changed their attitude and came behind me.
What, they really were like bodyguards.
“Shana, are you done eating?”
“Yeah! All done!”
I proudly showed off my clean bowl.
I am Shana Perry Wentworth.
A 3-year-old who doesn’t pick at her food.
I can eat all my vegetables too.
Actually, unseasoned meat and vegetables taste similarly bland, so that’s why.
“Well done, good girl, Shana.”
“Hehe.”
Father’s large hand gently stroked my head.
This much is nothing. I couldn’t hide my puffed-up shoulders. Seeing how proud I get over something like this, I’ve really become an adult, no, a child.
“But Shana, it seems you remember Prince Raven?”
“Yeah! Of course! He saved me!”
“…At that time, Shana was just a newborn baby….”
Oh.
Startled, I looked up at Father, and he was looking at me with strange eyes. His face, darkened by the backlighting, made it hard to read his expression.
“I knew you were smart, but.”
“…Ha, haha….”
I mumbled, unable to find words to respond.
Come to think of it, it would be strange. People don’t usually think that a baby would understand everything adults say, or remember it all….
Uh, what should I do.
Am I screwed?
“How long are you going to leave me hanging, Duke.”
“Oh my. I’m sorry, I completely forgot.”
Father said with a bright smile, but it was obvious he wasn’t sorry at all. Raven also spoke as if he didn’t particularly care.
“If you’re sorry, then please let the adults step back now.”
“….”
“The kids will play among themselves.”
Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Father and Raven’s smiling faces look similar.
Father shook his head and let out a sigh. Feeling anxious for no reason, I quickly grabbed Father’s sleeve.
“Shana? Don’t you want to play with His Highness?”
“N-no….”
That’s not it.
“I wemember it….”
“Ah.”
Father’s eyes widened slightly as if he understood the source of my anxiety. Then he patted my head and said.
“My daughter was much more special than I thought.”
“Uu…. I’m sowwy….”
“You don’t need to apologize for something you didn’t do wrong, Shana. What surprised Dad was that Shana might….”
Father paused for a moment.
“Remember even unnecessary things.”
Ah.
The kidnapping?
‘I don’t remember anything before waking up in the Snow Plain, so that should be fine.’
How should I say this.
“Duke, did you really forget about me?”
“Aha.”
“….”
“I can only see my daughter. I’m sorry.”
“….”
Isn’t that a bit too honest, Father….
***
Raven and I were now out in the Garden.
‘Even though he said kids would play among themselves.’
They kept some distance, but I could see Ella and Maria within sight. The guards Raven probably brought were likely with them too.
‘He’s grown up well, whoever’s son he is.’
He’s still as handsome as ever….
I looked up at Raven, who stood with his back straight. His neat hair, luxurious clothes, and proper expression made the child look more mature.
A prince is a prince indeed.
“What should we play?”
“Me, with you?”
“You said you wanted to play with me. Isn’t that why you came?”
“No.”
I tilted my head.
“Then why did you come?”
“To check if what I picked up is growing well.”
“….”
“Fortunately, it seems to be growing well…. Did your healing ability get discovered? Seeing how overprotective the Duke is, it must have been found out.”
“…What are you….”
“Not ‘what are you.’ I taught you my name, didn’t I?”
I was suspicious whether Raven might also be living a second life like me.
“Ah, I don’t know.”
“You got caught remembering things, didn’t you? You called me a blonde brat. You’re also blonde and an even bigger brat than me.”
“…Hmph.”
I pouted my lips and swung my feet in the air.
I was anxiously restless, worried that Father might think I was strange, so I was taking my frustration out on Raven for no reason.
Even though it was clearly my mistake for calling him ‘blonde kid.’
Father had patted my head, but…
What if he’s thinking it’s strange inside?
Ugh, nothing feels right. I jumped down from the bench with a hop.
Thud!
“Hey, where are you going?”
“I’m not ‘hey,’ am I?”
“You didn’t tell me your name.”
Making thudding sounds, I headed toward the inner part of the garden. Raven followed behind me with a slight smile.
Thud thud thump thud.
Even when I quickened my pace, I couldn’t shake off Raven who was walking leisurely. This damn difference in leg length.
‘Taking my frustration out on just an elementary kid, how pathetic…’
My self-loathing is at its peak right now.
“Hey, where are you going?”
“Not hey!”
“Then what? You have to tell me your name for me to call you by it.”
“Don’t follow me! Who asked you to… Huh?”
I opened my eyes wide.
It’s a puppy.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————