🐕🐅🐕
I played with Dee and the birds in the garden, was showered with love by my family and the servants, and all the while I continued to grow. Before I knew it, an entire year had passed since I arrived in this world. Time sure flies.
It was my birthday, and my family held a small celebration with the five of us. It was spring, but the weather was sunny and warm, so they set up a table in the vast garden and had a mini party.
I still couldn’t chew very well, so I only got soft foods, but everything was delicious.
“Neema, say ‘ah’!”
My brother fed me a minestrone soup with finely chopped vegetables and ground meat.
“Ah!”
…Yummm!
My brother was a handsome boy who’d inherited our mother’s honey-blond hair and azure blue eyes. His name was Ralfreed, but he usually went by Ralf. He was ten years older than me but handsome and talented in academics and swordsmanship, a promising heir to our father’s title.
“You spilled a little, Neema,” my sister said as she wiped my face.
Her name was Karnadia, nicknamed Karna. She was seven years older than me and would be eight on her next birthday. She had our father’s red hair and eyes the color of jade. Her facial features also resembled our father’s, so she was sure to be a knockout beauty when she grew up.
In case you were wondering, I had copper hair and black eyes.
Apparently, black hair and eyes were rare in this world. The people here seemed to have features more similar to the Caucasian race in my world.
When I said my eyes were black, I didn’t mean dark brown like most Japanese people’s eyes. They really were as dark as the night sky. It freaked me out the first time I saw myself in a mirror.
My facial features were average; vaguely northern-European-looking, I guess? I was disappointed with my nose, though. It was flatter than I would’ve liked. I hoped it would become a bit more regal and pronounced as I got older.
I compared myself to my parents and concluded that I looked nothing like either of them.
If I were gorgeous, in addition to being a member of the nobility, it would lead to nothing but trouble, so I’m actually relieved. I don’t need to be super-elite like the rest of my family; no thanks!
“Tanks, Kawna!”
Although I knew all the words, I couldn’t get my tongue to pronounce any of them properly.
When do kids normally start speaking, anyway?
“You’re such a good girl, Neema,” my father said, grinning broadly. He was a disgustingly doting parent.
Papa, you’re a total hottie, so act cool! Don’t make such sappy-looking faces!
After eating, we played in the garden. My brother taught me the names of the different flowers in the flower beds and showed me how to make a flower crown. My sister demonstrated some simple magic for me. I thought this was a little backward compared to standard gender norms, but my sister was a total tomboy, so I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised.
Using magic, Karna created a small bird about the size of a pigeon made out of flames. The bird leapt out of her hands and flew into the air, then with a sudden pop, it dissolved into tiny grains of fire, almost like fireworks, and faded away.
My brother explained that this was a type of magic used for practice, where the magic user would create a shape of their choice out of magic, and as it moved out of their range of control, it would lose its power. He said this magic was used only to learn how to cast and release a spell.
I guess that’s what you call a one-trick wonder, huh?
After that, it was time to explore the garden alone! I was by myself, but not really alone. Dee followed beside me, which was reassuring.
There were a surprising number of animals in our garden. I wasn’t sure what all the different species were called, but there were birds, creatures resembling squirrels, and even fish living in the pond. I wanted to look at the fish, but Dee wouldn’t let me anywhere near the pond, so I had to make do.
I’m not gonna fall in; I’m not that much of an idiot! I thought while heading toward the base of a tree.
Thunck!
My foot got caught in the root of the tree, and I fell over.
Damn, that really hurt!
“Waaaagh!”
I couldn’t help but instinctively burst into tears.
I’m still a toddler; it’s not my fault!
Dee came over to me and licked my face.
Hey, that tickles!
My brother heard me crying and came to find me. He scooped me up in his arms, checked me for injuries, and used his healing magic on me.
“There you go. It doesn’t hurt anymore, right? You’re going to be okay.”
You’re so kind, Ralf! I love you!
I gave my brother a grateful hug.
Papa, I see you back there looking jealous. Knock it off; you’re ruining your cool-guy image!