I Became the Black Swan Mother of the White Swan Princess

[It, itsh not hea! Bro, brothersh hea!]

..baby.

What a drama queen you are.

I lifted Haniel back up where she was, pitifully collapsed to one side like a true heroine.

No thoughts, head empty.

***

Seeing how my first reaction was to find this adorable and laugh, it seemed as a mother, I didnt regret the lost ribbon as much as she did.

Also, I was pretty resigned about her big brother by now too.

Haaaaahh.

[Why are you sighing, Madam? Im the one who wants to sigh the most.]

Why you, Selene?

[Tha-thats because our princess has been missing school for a few days already.]

Though shed been locked in sorrow along with me at my side until now, Selene hurriedly began to arrange Haniels feathers nicely.

Dont pretend like youre thinking of her now!

I used the palm of my hand to push away her yellow beak once more.

Theyre not unexcused absences but a sick leave due to shock, okay? Ive already told Lady Melleo that too.

[Lady Melleo has been in bed down sick herself after she was kicked away by His Majesty the Emperor, you know. And who tells the principal that? You need to tell the homeroom teacher. We shouldnt be hereeven if its now, I should go and.]

Go where. Even though you didnt have the slightest interest in her education. Now that I think about it, havent you been suspicious from last time?

[]

No matter how hard I looked at her, Selenes tightly closed beak did not open. Honestly, she was a very cunning duck with many secret schemes hidden in her arms at all times, just not as evil as Lania.

Whatever.

Ill die of suffering at this rate.

Besides, there was something Id heard that made my ears perk up more than trying to interrogate and hear about questionable motives.

But Haniel has a homeroom teacher now? Really?

[Of course. Have some interest in the princess, please.]

.its you who shouldnt be crossing the line.

I couldnt help but laugh at how incredulous that was, but at the same time it was very amazing. To think our baby had a homeroom teacher now!

Others were apparently deeply moved at every toddling step and every mama, but as someone whod become a mom a bit late, I slightly exceeded that line. The smallest little change that overcame Haniel made my heart race madly.

Mothers, hurrah!

This was all possible because Id become a mother.

As the first proper smile Id shown in a few days, I looked at Haniel with proud eyes.

My baby, do you really have a homeroom teacher now?

[Ye-esh. Noo teacher.]

A new teacher? Ohh.

That was right, I remembered how last time Lady Melleo had said she had invited a new teacher.

Even still, if this was a teacher that Lady Melleo would like, they wouldnt be your normal level of strict. Worries followed the understanding.

Does the new teacher treat you well? Like, if he acts scary to you and all

[Noo. I lwike teacher. When Haniel was blublub in water, teacher push me lwike dis]

What are you talking about. The one who saved you was your big brother.

[..]

S-sorry.

As soon as I brought up her big brother, Haniel returned to being a drama queen. Looking at the duck and the swan who had rapidly collapsed to one side together, as if they were holding some kind of protest in front of me, I smiled at them with mixed feelings.

But its the truth.

No matter what happened, it was the Emperor who had scooped Haniel out of the lake that day.

I had also gone in, of course, but with my mentality completely out the window and my eyesight hazy, I couldnt guarantee that I couldve saved her safely.

To be honest, I couldnt swim; I couldnt guarantee that I wouldve been able to save myself, much less Haniel.

[Moommy. Bwother scawy. Dont say bwother.]

Mmm.

But with Haniel this frightened by her brother, I didnt feel good about going so far as to emphasizing that.

And if I were to explain, how would I even.

Do I say, your brother isnt as much the alone-by-myself-in-this-world despot as you think he is?

Or that on some days, water pools in his footsteps instead of blood?