Chapter 43

Even in that moment, I held back the smile bursting inside of me and tapped on Haniel’s beak. ‘The sun is blinding.’ As she tilted her head, trying to remember that phrase, I used my hand to shade my baby’s head.

“I’ll be there by the time Mr. Sun up there is above Haniel’s head.”

[Head? Haniel head?]

“Yes. I promise.”

I set an exact time before she could be anxious for no reason.

It was our princess’s first admissions ceremony. I couldn’t have her be looking around for her mom during it.

[O-okaay, mommy.]

“Right, it’s not mommy. It’s Miss Black Swan!”

[…mm? Not mommy again?]

This time, Haniel seemed more anxious than when I had told her to wait, her shoulders trembling.

It seemed like the scariest thing in the world for a cygnet was her mom disappearing.

[Why is Haniel’s mommy not mommy?]

“I am your mommy. I am, but you just can’t call me that in front of other people. It’s only in front of your teacher and your friends. Remember what we practiced yesterday?”

Nervous that she might forget, I made eye contact with her and told her so clearly.

“You call me ‘Miss Black Swan.’ Okay?”

[…..whyy?]

“Because…”

Because your mom is the number one celeb in this entire lake, that’s why.

In Palladium Lake, there weren’t many other figures as famous as I was. I was a Duchess, the only black swan, and most conclusively, the only one who was half-human, half-animal.

It might be the same logic behind a celebrity trying not to show their children off to the public.

If something went wrong, nothing good would come out of people knowing that I had taken Haniel in.

As I thought, it was best for a child to grow up as normally as possible.

And in front of the people of the lake, who had many circumstances surrounding them, I needed to be extra cautious.

“So outside, you have to call me ‘Miss Black Swan.’ Miss. Black. Swan. Try to say it.”

[…Bwack Swan Mommy?]

“No no.”

This kid had some tricks up her sleeve, huh.

At her adorable attempt to sneakily mix in that ‘mommy’ in there, I burst out laughing.

Thankfully, since I had worked all day yesterday practically brainwashing her by practicing her name, she didn’t forget what her name was supposed to be.

“What is your name in front of Teacher Melleo again?”

[Ha-… Reina!]

“That’s right!”

I patted her head to praise her, then handed Haniel over to Selene.

I watched the back of the little cygnet, who was chirping along the way in an effort to not forget her name, disappearing in the distance as though she was getting dragged away. I finally dusted my hands off and turned around as well.

“Phew.”

So I was leaving this place after all.

As someone who had found life in the lake satisfying, it was regrettable, but for the sake of Haniel’s safety there was no other way.

This place was swarming with both Lania and the Emperor. If I considered how our young cygnet princess could live in peace, you could even call this a zone unsafe for youths.

Oh well. They say Mencius’s mother moved three times for the sake of her son’s education, so as a swan mother, who says I can’t do the same!

“Hmm, perfect!”

I took the most glamorous feather ornament I owned and pinned it next to my ear.

This was what they called the elegant admissions ceremony look.

It might not be very suitable for someone who will be running away, but since this was the only admissions ceremony for my baby that I would ever attend in my life, I had to pay extra attention.

So what if I might take her out of the school one day? I still need to lift my dear Haniel’s spirits.

After wearing my very best, I collected the basket I had prepared in advance and went forth.

“Here we go.”

Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, everyone had gone to the reed forest to go see Lady Melleo’s admissions ceremony, so I barely ran into other animals during my path.

Since we had been like family here, all cursed together and depending on each other in our own ways, I choked up a little in sorrow.

“……”

Everyone, please live well. Let’s all stay alive and meet again in the future.

I sped up, even as I repeated farewells nobody would hear in my head.

Maybe because I had gone out to the city before, I didn’t get lost.

The fastest and most accurate way to get out of the lake was to walk straight down the road at the borders of the Winter Palace, in between the Palace and the Duke’s estate.

‘I better hurry.’

I needed to hide my things in the willow at the entrance of the side road and go back to find Haniel.

Though I had already promised her so firmly, my heart was in a hurry in case she might have started waiting for me already.

Since I kept speeding without rest, I began being able to see the familiar willow that seemed to divide the boundaries.

“Hah, keep waiting.”

Mommy will be there soon, so just a little more….

“Oh my. Looks like you’re heading somewhere fun?”

***