CH 80

In the end, I decided to not escape from Wulf mansion on my own.

Anyway, if I didn’t return to Weil mansion, Suradel would come looking for me right away.

The siblings know that I disappeared during a conversation with Theodore, so it was only a matter of time before I would be found.

Even Theodore wouldn’t know that… 

‘What are you thinking… to do this?’

‘Do you really want to get me out of the Weil family?’

As if I were the owner of the room, I climbed onto the bed and settled down.

Looking at me like that, Theodore asked softly.

“Why did you leave the Magic Tower, Lia?”

“Wheeng, weeng, weeng. (You won’t understand even if I tell you.)”

As expected, Theodore couldn’t interpret my words and muttered to himself, speculating on this and that.

“I heard that the new killer whale of the Weil family was abused at home when it’s just an animal…”

I resolutely shook my head. It was a no-no for my dad to be misunderstood as an abuser.

“Then what is the reason?”

Dad hated demibeasts, but he didn’t show it on the outside.

It was a fact that most people didn’t know about.

As much as he bore the position of owner of the Magic Tower, he shouldn’t act recklessly.

“Wheeng. (Well.)”

Theodore asked many questions afterward, but he couldn’t get a proper answer in the end because he couldn’t communicate.

How much time passed like that?

With a serious expression, he poured out his thoughts, not questions.

“…I was honestly surprised when you suddenly turned into a penguin right in front of my eyes. But I don’t care if you’re a killer whale or a penguin.”

Certainly, it didn’t feel like his attitude had changed after he found out that I was a penguin demibeast.

It was calmer than I thought, making me feel more embarrassed.

Theodore confessed calmly in a monotonous voice.

“I love you, so I don’t care what the outer shell is.”

It was similar to what Suradel had told me a few days ago.

But strangely, unlike when with Suradel, my heart wasn’t pounding and I wasn’t happy.

I just felt sorry for Theodore.

The fate of the imprint forced him to love me.

“…I know that my feelings for you are, in fact, sudden.”

I blinked slowly.

‘I’m sure it was.’

“But I’m also not familiar with these feelings, so I don’t know how to deal with them. Besides, since you’re involved with Suradel… I think I’m getting impatient.”

‘You must have.’

The imprinted partner was flirting with other males. There was no way he could keep his composure.

Directing a sincere gaze, he said as if confessing.

“Lia, will you give me a chance?”

It was then.

Someone familiar entered the room through the window.

Rattle.

“Hi, Theodore. What are you doing with our penguin lady?”

“Wheeng! (Su!)”

At the sudden appearance of Suradel, I ran over with joy.

Iprus and Hanu were with him.

“Lady…!”

Iprus came running towards me at once. I opened my wings and welcomed her.

“Wait a minute.”

However, when she arrived in front of me, she immediately searched her basket.

…Basket…?

What did she bring all the way here?

She took popcorn out of the basket and put it on my wings.

“My lady, this is it.”

“…Ween?”

Iprus sat down next to me and pointed to one side with her index finger.

“Okay, now that everything is ready, let’s watch.”

When I shifted my eyes to where she was pointing… Theodore and Suradel were exchanging fierce glares.

Oh my gosh. This might be a little fun?

Iprus grinned cheekily and confidently declared.

“I thought it might cause a penguin to die, so I specifically asked the chef to leave out the salt. Eat in peace!”

Indeed, it was like Iprus, a veteran of penguin care.

Excited, I began to watch their war of nerves while chewing on my popcorn.

“What’s this? Theodore, you also found out that our Lia is a penguin.”

Suradel’s eyebrows raised regretfully. But his mouth was smiling as always.

His head tilted at an angle.

“Why did you take my Lia?”

“I brought her here because she said she needs to hide her identity. Do you have any problem with that?”

“Hmm. Okay?”

Suradel’s smile grew wider.

“Then, now that I’m here, it’s okay? Thank you for hiding Lia in the meantime. But it would be nice if you could call me next time.”

“Why should I? Besides, when was it ever said that Lia will follow you?”

“Yueeng. (I will follow him.)”

In a small way, I tried to express my opinion, but unfortunately Theodore and Suradel didn’t know how to interpret my penguin language.

Turning my head to Iprus… ah, it’s no use. She was so focused on the two men that she couldn’t hear me.

Theodore and Suradel continued their verbal battle.

“Since the previous time, you’ve been coming to the Wulf mansion without permission. Do you want me to make a formal protest?”

“That wouldn’t be bad either. But will you be okay?”

“What could not be okay?”

Theodore asked, frowning and narrowing one of his eyes. In response, Suradel gave a relaxed laugh.

“My mother would be very angry if she found out that you kidnapped the Weil family’s precious killer whale.”

“Well. It would be better to live comfortably here than to continue pretending to be a killer whale. My mother would greatly welcome Lia, whatever demibeast she is.”

It was like watching a common argument among children, ‘Are you the only one who has a mother? I have a mother too!’

However, the demeanor of the two were extremely serious, to the point if I covered my ears, I might mistakenly think they were saying some important family matters.

Iprus, who was eagerly watching the fight between the two, raised her hand.

“Then how about doing it like this!”

As everyone’s eyes turned to her, she seemed to implicitly think that she had been allowed to speak, and she started chattering with excitement.

“Weil or Wulf, wouldn’t it be right for the lady to choose for herself which of the two to stay at?”

“So…?”

“Sir Suradel on the left, Sir Theodore on the right. The lady will stay with the one she runs to and embrace! How about this?”

It was nice to be able to stay where I chose.

The problem was… 

‘Why do I have to run into their arms!’

But Theodore and Suradel agreed with Iprus.

“Okay. Her thoughts and opinions come first.”

“Sure. Lia would choose me no matter what.”

“That remains to be seen.”

Pa-iiik.

Unseen sparks flew from their eyes.

‘Why should I be in one of their arms…’

Before I could say anything, the two tore off to opposite directions on their own.

Relative to me, Suradel was on the left. Whereas Theodore was on the right.

It was a tense moment.

Iprus started by lifting one arm, outstretched in a straight line.

“Now, what is the lady’s choice?”

Dugu dugu dugu.

In the end, realizing that it was inevitable, I let out a sigh and moved on.

‘Of all the options, the best one is…’

“Yes… what?”

The person who was chosen by me widened his eyes, clearly stunned and embarrassed.

It was Hanu, who had been sitting quietly in a corner since arriving at the Wulf mansion, observing the situation.

He was very flustered by the current situation, but naturally hugged me. It was unknown if it was instinctive or not.

Hmm. Indeed, there was nothing like Hanu as a mount.

Movement without fuss.

Cozy enough as a bed.

Even his gestures do not contain any selfishness!

Suradel, Theodore, and Iprus looked at me blankly.

‘What, guys…’

‘You didn’t say there’s only two options.’

⋆﹥━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━﹤⋆

After choosing Hanu, I returned safely to Weil.

It was thanks to Suradel insisting that Hanu belong to the Weil family, so of course I should go to the Weil mansion.

In a room where there were only the two of us.

Suradel stared at me and said,

“You seem to be having too many accidents here and there lately, Lia.”

It was unfair.

Theodore’s kidnapping wasn’t something that happened because I did something wrong.

“Weeng weeng…! (That’s what he did on his own…!)”

“Okay okay.”

Suradel waved his hand like he decided to let it slide.

“By the way, Lia.”

“Weyeng.”

Laughter escaped his mouth. He seemed to be expecting something.

“Have you forgotten anything?”

I tucked my neck in, making a double chin, and thought.

Did I forget something?

“Didn’t you promise to do something for me when you become a penguin?”

…Ah?

Only then did I realize why Suradel’s nagging was so short today. And why he was smiling so sinisterly.

…My, my belly fat.

Ame: That’s right, have pity on Theodore, give him his own story! He looks sooooo good in that art *nosebleeds* And what I’d give to be Iprus…