# Chapter 59
Peek.
From behind Kiriel, Bernie stretched her neck forward and spoke up.
"Kalvad is daddy's.
If you stay with uncle, Kalvad will get really small.
Poor Kalvad..."
"Huh?
What’s with Kalvad?!
I’m Kalvad!
And who in the world...?"
"Kalvad is jealous of Aaron."
Kalvad's face turned bright red at Bernie’s interruption.
Was it shame?
Embarrassment?
Or was it the awkward feeling of having his inner thoughts exposed?
"Bernie is jealous too.
Daddy doesn’t pat me, he hits me.
So I’m upset.
Right?
Luri said that.
People who use violence on kids are trash."
"No, this is just sparring..."
But Kalvad felt something blocking his throat, like someone was tightening his chest and choking his windpipe.
"Jealous, what’s there to be jealous of...?"
Kalvad muttered quietly, his head lowering.
Thud.
As his head dropped, a dark stain spread across the carpet.
Thud, thud, the sound of silent tears falling made him realize his cheeks were damp.
"Ah..."
Once he realized, the floodgates broke, and tears poured down uncontrollably.
Kalvad gasped for air.
Slowly lifting his head, he saw his father watching him.
His eyes were wide, like someone who had seen something they shouldn’t have.
"Dad."
"Yes, my child."
"Can we raise Kalvad?"
Without even wiping his tears, Bernie’s voice reached him, and Kalvad’s head dropped once more.
Kiriel stared down at Kalvad for a moment before slowly turning his head to glance at Klein Udia and then smiled slightly.
"Sure, if my daughter wants to raise him, and he wants it too, I suppose that’s fine."
Kiriel’s gaze shifted back to Klein Udia, the usual indifferent, emotionless look replaced with a rather irritating smile.
"So, who was actually playing the game?"
"Kalvad, stop matching the beat of pointless games and let’s go."
Kalvad slowly raised his head to look at Klein Udia.
Despite the tears streaming down his face, his father didn’t blink an eye.
He knew.
His father was a cold man.
His father hated weakness and uselessness, and Kalvad had desperately tried to prove himself to gain his approval.
He was happy when he drew the Kirin.
But instead of praise, his father only gave him a bizarre warning: if he wielded a power beyond his ability, he would kill the people around him.
Even when Kalvad received a perfect score on a test.
Even when he was ranked first in the exams at the mansion and held the position.
‘Father hates me.’
‘Father doesn’t want to acknowledge me.’
‘Why?
Why?
Why does father hate me?
What’s lacking?
I’m doing well enough.
What more should I do?
How much more...?’
Days of not being acknowledged.
In the midst of all this, a child, whose parent was unknown, was proudly receiving support from his direct family.
And to make it worse, this was from his uncle, who was called a hero.
Just like his father, his uncle showed no interest in Kalvad.
Whenever Kalvad tried to speak to him, his uncle would look through him like a ghost, not even acknowledging his existence.
But then...
"Heh.
Daddy!
Bernie got 4 points this time!"
"Impressive.
Hmm, at this rate, my daughter might enter the academy early.
Alan, your test results must have come in too."
"Ah, um, well...
I got quite a few wrong..."
"94 points?
That’s excellent.
You were in the advanced class, right?
With a score like that, you’re doing great.
No need to feel discouraged."
"...Yes!"
Why...?
Why were these kids, who were far behind him, smiling as if they were the happiest people in the world?
4 points?
Is that even enough to be considered?
94 points?
He had gotten a perfect score.
"Kalvad, don’t worry about your father’s eyes and do what you want.
If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to."
What’s this?
You’re not normally the kind of person who says such kind words.
"It’s fine!"
What did this little brat even change?
What was this kid even?
Countless complaints swirled in Kalvad’s mind.
Yet, despite all these thoughts, Kalvad didn’t voice them.
Instead, he held tightly onto Bernie’s small hand and, with his other hand, gripped Kiriel’s sleeve.
"...Father hates me.
So I don’t want to go."
At Kalvad’s tearful proclamation, Klein Udia’s eyes widened.
That day, Klein Udia left alone.
***
Ehem.
Bernie straightened her shoulders and clenched her fists tightly.
Because today was the day she would receive her exam results, in addition to having a meeting with her grandfather.
‘Bernie… You may have been last in the sparring with the divine beast, but your exam score has risen to 30 points.’
It was all thanks to Bernie studying hard and memorizing every single human character.
Yes.
Bernie had memorized all of the human characters!
The corners of Bernie’s mouth lifted into a smile.
The 57 characters had been tough and painful, but Bernie had ultimately triumphed.
Now, she could read words.
That wasn’t all.
She also discovered that the Black Flame Dragon wasn’t a Black Flame Dragon at all, but a Phoenix.
Although still a baby Phoenix, one day, she would surely become the great Phoenix King.
Luri had said it was amazing, so it wasn’t a lie.
‘Luri is also a genius!’
Even though it wasn’t a Flame Dragon, the Phoenix, when grown, would be a grand, magnificent creature.
‘The great Phoenix King and the great Demon King?’
The great Demon King, riding a magnificent bird, would surely be amazing too.
Bernie walked down the hallway, nodding in satisfaction.
"Welcome, Miss Bernie."
"Yes.
Ann...”
Wait, no, not "Ann"!
Surprisingly, after studying, Bernie realized the correct greeting wasn’t "Ann-nyang" but "Ann-yeong-ha-se-yo"!
"An...yeong-ha-se-yo!"
"...!"
As Bernie raised her shoulders and puffed her chest out, Pell’s eyes widened.
How about that?
Surprised, right?
Isn’t it amazing?
All of that was clearly visible on her face.
"My goodness, you’ve grown so much.
What excellent pronunciation."
Pell, being a seasoned butler, was someone who would never disappoint the young lady she served.
The corners of her mouth lifted in a warm, pleased smile.
"Yes!"
Bernie clenched her fist and replied.
"Inside, Duke of the Duchy is waiting for you."
"Okay."
Pell opened the door for her, and Bernie entered.
The luxurious-looking coffee table was filled with all sorts of delightful treats.
"Wow..."
Bernie’s mouth dropped open, but then she quickly shook her head in disbelief.
‘Bernie, you will never be caught off guard by the exam again.’
Bernie squinted her eyes, clenched her fist again, then nodded respectfully before confidently speaking.
"Ann-yeong-ha-se-yo!"