"You're very young yourself," the mathematics professor said hurriedly.
"That's true..."
After spending so much time with elves, Annan had picked up a few bad habits of the Long-lived Races.
Annan asked a few more questions about the Academy and the professor's suggestions for reform, then took Cathy back to the Orphanage.
Cathy could have lived in the City Lord's Mansion long ago, but she preferred staying with the children. As she put it, all the people of Free City were Annan's subjects, and all the children in the Orphanage were hers.
After playing with the children for a while, Annan returned to the City Lord's Mansion at dusk.
Ai and the maids set down the food and left the dining room.
Annan glanced around the long table. Eldest Sister, Olmedo, and Irilanze were there. Even Leila, who usually fished until late at night, had returned several hours early.
Hmm...
He ate quietly, not daring to make a sound. The women spoke softly, with Leila's booming voice breaking in now and then.
"Annan, I think Cathy is adorable," Eldest Sister said.
Annan looked up from his bowl, licked a bit of food from the corner of his mouth, and thought for a moment. "Lily definitely doesn't think so."
Apart from Lily, plenty of people did like the clever, mischievous little girl.
"I plan to formally give her the Reeves Family name."
Annan was a little surprised. "Would that be appropriate?"
"Blood ties hold a Family together, but they aren't the only ties."
It was good that Idelia did not let blood ties limit her.
"I have no objection."
Annan got along well with Cathy. Mischievous as she was, she rarely made anyone angry. The reason was heartbreaking—it was a skill she had been forced to learn in the Lower Hive.