A fist flew through the air.

It flew at great speeds. Speeds one would struggle to follow with their naked eye.

The fist was after something. Something deserving of a punch. Its target.

"Aaah!"(I)

Ignavus stared at his closed fist. It was firmly implanted within a pillow.

"Anything?"(I)

Ignavus' tone of voice might have come out sounding a little strained.

"W-well, it was certainly a... a great improvement! Yes, that!"(M)

Ignavus pulled back his fist and gazed at Marie. She was stood in front of him holding his target.

'Ugh, nothing changed'

He continued to hold Marie's gaze until a sigh escaped his lips.

"Marie... you said you'll be honest"(I)

Ignavus knew his voice came out very whiny but at the moment he didn't care. He was too frustrated to.

"Ah, okay, okay... The punch... the punch was almost exactly the same as the rest"(M)

Hearing this, Ignavus groaned before walking to, and collapsing on, his bed.

"But! It was very good for someone your age!"(M)

Ignavus didn't respond to Marie. He didn't have the energy for it. He had somehow managed to make himself more frustrated trying to calm down.

'What kind of pillow even is that?'

Ignavus knew he was far from the strongest but even he should be able to punch through a pillow.

'So annoying...'

What helped make it worse was that Marie didn't seem to register the punches. She didn't stumble back or move a step from where she was.

Ignavus curled his fist once more. Those punches were far from weak, they should have at least done something.

'I know I'm not crazy. Marie is the crazy one here... same with that stupid pillow'

Ignavus knew that Marie was powerful just not by how much. It was now starting to dawn on him why his mother was so comfortable leaving him alone with her.

'Since when can people just appear wherever they want? What kind of magic even is that!?'

It happened within a blink. Suddenly they were standing in the throne room, then they were in his room. Such magic was unheard of.

'Wait a second...'

"Marie, can you please teach me your magic?!"(I)

Ignavus quickly sat up in his bed.

Marie was a maid. A maid that served him. She might be more like a nanny at this point, but she still very much acted like a maid. She should help him so long as his request didn't contradict his mother's.

"Ah, were you impressed by my magic?"(M)

Marie's voice sounded very... proud. Ignavus didn't mind it. Her magic was pretty impressive after all.

"Yes! It was amazingly super impressive! Can you teach me!?"(I)

"Oh, my lady, you flutter me too much. I know my magic is one of-"(M)

Ignavus listened on for a good ten minutes before he felt his attention start to wane. Marie started explaining how her magic worked while taking every moment to praise herself. He knew he should be listening but kept dipping in and out of focus. It was a bit boring.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"-So, to conclude. While you could learn it, you will need to wait until you are more grown up. Plus, the mistress wouldn't like you to have such magic on the account of... well, you know"(M)

Ignavus glared at Marie.

She was wearing a sheepish smile.

Besides suggesting he would run away, a thing he'd given up on, Marie had given him another condition.

Growing up.

Ignavus didn't know what to make of this. It wasn't a thing he ever thought he would have to do again. It wasn't a thing he wanted to do again.

It was times like this life felt random.

Here he was. Thrusted into an unforeseeable future.

'What does it even mean to grow up as a Yalery?'

If Ignavus was to look at his mother or similarly aunt, he could try and piece it out.

Massive, powerful and dominating.

They had their quirks between them, but those words summed up their entire characters. At times it was easy to forget though. Forget all the will behind them. The kissing, hugging and playfulness made it all too easy. All too comfortable.

Ignavus gazed down at his hands.

'Am I really like them?'

Queens among creatures.

That's what Yalery were. They were an existence to be feared. It was merely what they were. It was merely what he had become.

'Feared...'

Was that a sad reality? If Ignavus were to grow up, he would be like them, wouldn't he?

'No... I'm different. I won't...'

He won't what? He was already one of them.

"Hellllo, are you trying to get out of eating again my lady?"(M)

Ignavus had been lost in thought. So lost as to not notice Marie poking his cheek.

"O-of course not! I am just thinking very deeply..."(I)

"Uh-huh"(M)

Marie scooped up Ignavus and started making way. In the far corner of the room was a beast Ignavus hoped to never see again.

The damned highchair.

After setting Ignavus down in the chair, Marie started humming while searching around the room.

"This couldn't be any more embarrassing..."(I)

Marie replied quickly, apparently hearing Ignavus' soft grumblings,

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. This is completely normal for young children"(M)

"Maybe for... not so wise children"(I)

No matter how many times Ignavus was put into this, he would not accept this.

"Come on, don't talk like that. Remember what happened when you were not careful with your words?"(M)

Ignavus groaned before laying his head on the table.

Being a child really, really sucked.

"Marie... what do you think I'll grow up to be like?"(I)

The question felt odd coming out of his mouth. A conflict of mind and body.

"Hmmm... I don't know, but I'm sure that whatever happens, you'll turn out stunning"(M)

'Stunning...'

At the end of the day, it was pretty pointless to think about the future. Nothing can prepare you for it. Though, if Ignavus were to have a say in it, he would like to be stunning. As stunning as Marie thought he could be.

'Wait, I'm a little girl now, aren't I? Does that mean in the future...'

Here was another thing he hadn't considered. Last time he was growing up, he was a male. Now, he was a female.

"Don't you think you're being a bit dramatic, my lady? It's just eating. No need to make such a face"(M)

Ignavus had sat up in his seat.

You could say he was feeling a little surprised.

"Marie... you clearly don't understand! I-"(I)

And so, with spoon full of food shoved into his mouth.

The feeding begun.

Marie looked at the grumpy girl sat in her highchair.

She was unusually energetic.

'She did sleep for a lot longer than normal, so I guess that makes sense'

Her lady was normally rather sleepy after eating. It was the only time her energy levels and will to fight would reduce.

Her lady looked positively adorable when sleepy.

'Ah, to be young'

Marie went and lifted the grumpy baby off her chair.

"Never again..."(N)

That wouldn't be the case.

"So, are you ready to meet the other kids?"(M)

Marie had already done a quick analysis of her lady's appearance. She looked ready to go.

'She's going to be a hit with all the other kids. I just know it'

If her cute appearance and soft voice didn't win them over, then her bold personality definitely would. Her lady's outer toughness and mushy core were a killer combination.

Being honest, Marie was very confident in her lady's chances. If the reaction of the crowd when they first saw her was an indicator of anything, she was pretty much set.

"Do I have to?"(N)

It was a shame her lady wasn't as excited as she was.

Her little lady was looking off to the side with a face full of reluctance.

"Of course. They came all the way just to see you"(M)

Marie did somewhat understand the hesitation. As far as she was aware, her lady barely interacted with anyone until she was brought to the castle. It made sense why she would be so nervous.

Her lady let out a sigh before agreeing,

"Okay, fine"(N)

Marie was a bit disappointed with the attitude but there was little she could do to fix it.

"Are you going to use your magic?"(N)

A small smile made its way to Marie's face.

"No"(M)

"Huh? Why?"(N)

"How will my lady learn to walk by herself if I carry her everywhere?"(M)

A faint blush was worn by her lady.

"I know my way around already. I-I don't need your help"(N)

Her last words were hardly audible.

"What was that?"(M)

"Uh... thank you for the help"(N)

"No problem, my lady! I am here to help!"(M)

Opening the bedroom door, Marie led her lady outside.

"Marie... do you think she'll keep the promise?"(N)

'She really must want to see that hero. What a lucky girl!!'

Marie couldn't help but feel a little envious of the hero. Her lady's love for heroes knew few limits.

"So long as it was a promise, the mistress will keep it"(M)

Picking her lady up, Marie made sure to look her straight in the eyes.

"She'll never breaks those"(M)

"I get, I get... put me down please"(N)

After setting her lady down, Marie turned and faced the gate they had arrived at. It was similar to other dining hall. White and large.

"Good luck my lady. I believe you can do it"(M)

Marie watched her lady squirm a little before muttering a weak thanks.

'Right, time for the show'

Pushing open the door, Marie smiled.

It was time to introduce her lady.