She Called Him Dad
Bariya and Baden were shown into the central tower, where the family head spent most of his days.
Plants filled the interior, and the air was wonderfully clear.
Perhaps it was because she was the daughter of a Divine Beast born of nature. Bariya adored the honey-sweet air and sniffed at it with eager little snuffles, only to burst into wonder all over again the moment she stepped into the audience chamber.
"It's so high."
It was not the top floor, but the building itself was a tower, and the audience chamber sat high within it. She could not tear her eyes from the ground spread open and clear beneath the windows.
"I've never been anywhere this high before."
"Do you like it?"
"I do."
At Orteil's question, Bariya nodded hard.
"It feels like my chest has been thrown wide open."
From the day she was born, she had lived shut inside an underground room where even light barely reached. After she escaped, she had climbed high trees to hide, but never with enough presence of mind to look around at her leisure.
"I told you to build at least one tower at home, didn't I? Look how much she loves it. What a shame."
At Orteil's words, Baden clicked his tongue. It was advice so thoroughly typical of a bird beastkin that he had never bothered to take it to heart.
If she likes it this much, I suppose I ought to build one.
If Bariya ever found out, she would surely be appalled and try to stop him, so Baden kept the resolution to himself.
"I have brought the adoption documents, all of them prepared."
No sooner had he sat on the sofa than he set every paper he had carried onto the table.
"You have not even taken tea yet, Lord Caliph."
"And if tea should spill across these important documents? We will see to the papers first and drink our tea at leisure."
Baden's face was perfectly grave, as though not a single second could be spared.
Was this man always like this?
Of everyone Orteil knew, he had been the one who showed the least emotion. It seemed that distinction would have to be revised.
Orteil turned toward Bariya, seated at Baden's side. When their eyes met, Bariya shrugged.
"It's because I'm just that outstanding. Please understand."
"......"
Once again, Orteil found herself with nothing to say.
She is nothing like the image I had.
This was the girl who had shown herself for the first time at the gathering where Caliph presented their honored guest. Orteil had already heard that the child carried herself with a boldness impressive enough to win the tigers over. Yet after Baden told her the girl was Mariner's daughter, and that she had suffered badly there, the picture that rose in her mind was of a young child hiding her wounds and doing her best to live with her chin up.
Meeting her in person made Orteil realize just how meager her imagination had been. Of everyone she had ever met, this girl looked the proudest, and the most brimful of confidence.
"Before we proceed with the adoption, there is something I wish to ask you, young lady. Think of it as part of the procedure, and answer at your ease."
"Of course. Ask me anything."
"Are you a daughter of Mariner?"
"Yes. I am Darius Mariner's biological daughter."
Bariya did not hesitate for an instant. She gave a firm, decisive nod, then added one more line.
"Not that I like it."
The Authority Orteil possessed declared that every word was true. In truth, she hardly needed it. Sincerity was already spilling from that thoroughly soured expression.
"And is it also your own will to leave Mariner and place yourself under Caliph's protection?"
"Yes. Caliph promised to protect me, and they truly worked to keep that promise. Seeing that, I decided to trust them."
It was a perfect answer, without a single flaw to catch. Orteil stole a glance at Baden. For a moment she wondered whether he had coached the girl beforehand...
"My girl..."
The sight of him blinking back tears, overcome, suggested otherwise.
"Honestly, I was surprised too. I never thought you would offer to adopt me, of all people—Mariner's daughter. Being Caliph's honored guest would have been more than enough."
Bariya hid nothing. She laid her heart out in full.
"Because that is the only way we can protect you completely."
Baden looked at her and spoke with unshakable certainty.
"Even if there had been another way, I still would have adopted you. You are the blessing who brought peace to Caliph. Once we are family, we will only be happier."
"Ahem. Well, that's only because Caliph helped me first. It was the natural thing..."
For the first time, the confident child flushed, shy and flustered.
Orteil could not tell exactly what had passed between them, but some great matter had clearly unfolded between Caliph and Bariya, one in which their hearts had reached each other. Even so, family head of Aldros or not, she could hardly pry into every private affair.
Instead, she asked the last question that truly needed asking.
"Are you aware that Caliph and Mariner are on poor terms?"
"Yes. I heard all of it."
"Have you ever wondered whether Caliph means to adopt you in order to use you as a tool for revenge against Mariner?"
Baden's face hardened, as if he had never expected her to ask so outright. Orteil, however, did not look away from Bariya. Those red eyes, bearing the most powerful Authority for discerning truth, searched the girl's heart as though taking it apart.
"Caliph? ...Me?"
Bariya's own eyes went round as she looked at Baden. Her face said, plain as anything, that the thought had never once crossed her mind.
"They say that when you're desperate enough, you'll borrow even a cat's paw. But I really don't think Caliph would use a ten-year-old leopard cat like me as a tool just to get revenge."
Quite right. Quite right. Baden nodded in fierce agreement.
"Only bastards like Mariner pull villainy like that. If Caliph were the sort to do it, I wouldn't be standing here."
Bariya broke into a bright smile and caught Baden's hand tight.
"Caliph would never be those people. They've shown me in their words and in what they've done, so now it's my turn to believe them."
"My girl..."
Moved by her words, Baden's voice thickened.
"Of course, if Caliph has any sense, they won't make an enemy of me either."
At what followed, the gathering tears beat a swift retreat. Still—yes. She was right.
Bariya had once put every last soul of the Caliph household to sleep. He had felt that terrifying ability in his own body. How could he ever betray her?
I must never disappoint my girl.
Once more, Baden swore that he would keep every promise he made her.
"Very well. I have confirmed that the young lady has chosen, of her own will, to be adopted. We will now conclude the procedure."
Orteil brought over the Caliph family genealogy she had prepared in advance. Beside the name of Shirca Caliph she wrote Bariya Bell Caliph, then held the register out to Baden and Bariya.
Shirca Caliph
Bariya Bell Caliph
"You need only leave your signatures."
Bariya signed beneath her name first. Baden pressed the family head's seal beside it, and last of all Orteil set down her own seal in the name of Aldros, acknowledging everything that had been done.
"With this, every procedure is complete. Congratulations on becoming a family."
Orteil clapped and offered a simple blessing.
Baden looked down at the genealogy where Bariya's name had been inscribed. Unable to contain the feeling rising in him, he opened his arms.
"My girl."
And in the very instant he meant to gather his beloved youngest daughter into a careful embrace—
"Dad!"
"Your youngest daughter greets you. Please take care of me from now on!"
Bariya had thrown herself into his arms first.
At the name he had not expected, Baden went rigid. Then that radiant smile struck, and his heart dropped.
Father.
He had become her family, and still he had not thought he would hear that title so soon. How could he have? Her birth father was a rotten man, and even the word father was bound to stir her revulsion. He had told himself it would be enough if she called him that once she opened her heart—and that if it proved too hard, she could live her whole life just as she did now.
He had never imagined she would call him so at once.
"Oh my."
Orteil, who had been watching in warm contentment, covered her mouth with her hand in surprise.
That Baden—Baden was letting a few tears slip free.