Selene's POV

*timeskip, seven years

I am now seven years old. Okaasan, or Scylla, named me Dulia Selene but she told me that I'll be the one to decide what my lastname is. But so far, I haven't found one.

When I was a year old, I was meant to say my first words based on the common knowledge of this world which is Walpurgis. But I didn't, I should say I never said even a word. I know it's weird for me to be like this, given that I was a free-spirited girl in my past life, but I was just too traumatized of my parents' death.

I want hahaue and jijue to hear my first words, not my adoptive parents. If only they didn't die, I could have been happy even if I reincarnated in a fantasy world. Sigh, how did I end up like this?

"Dulia-chan, where are you?" Okaasan called me from inside our hut.

I went in. What awaited me was a young boy with obsidian, or purplish black, hair and amethyst eyes. He wore expensive clothes fit for nobles and he had a blank expression on his face. I just stared at him, dumbfounded at how cute he was.

"Say hi to Max, Dulia-chan. Max-sama, this is my daughter Dulia Selene." Okaasan said awkwardly that he stepped forward and placed his hand on his chest.

"Hello, I'm Max." He coldly greeted and scanned me from head to toe. I just raised my right hand to say hi and gazed at okaasan. "What, won't you say something? Scylla-sama, is she mute?" He asked consecutively.

"Sorry Max-sama, it's just what she is. Even I, her mother, haven't heard her voice yet." Okaasan ineptly.

Yep, only hahaue and jijue must hear me! And what's up with your tone? You act like your superior to okaasan... are you?

"I'll forgive her, but don't expect a next time." He sternly said that okaasan bowed in front of him. I was alarmed so I walked towards her and raised her head.

I shook my head desperately and glared at the boy. He chuckled and grabbed my neck that she shivered.

"You... even ojiisama won't glare at me like that..!" He stammered and let go of me.

*sniffle sniffle

"I just... I was just surprised that you can't talk..! I'm sorry, okay?"

Eh?

*sniffle

What the heck? You were just acting haughty long ago, was that just a facade of your real personality? Are you really this kind of person, a crybaby?

Let's just forgive this kid, I'm a teenager inside this child's body so I should be forgiving. He's just an innocent child, nothing more.

I placed my hand on his left shoulder, shook my head and beamed out an apologetic smile. He stopped crying and swiftly hugged me. I was surprised but I just let him be.

"I'm sorry but to make up for it, you can just call me Max with no honorifics! Try it." He stated in a chirpy tone that I balked. "You won't?" His happy tone changed into a sad one.

I pushed him away so he can see me. I moved my hand like a chirping bird, pointed to my lips and shook my head.

"... I see, you can't speak." I nodded in response.

*clap clap clap

We turned to its direction and saw Charybdis-sama, or I call him ottousan in my mind.

What is he doing here? I bet he's gonna tease me about making a new friend, finally.

"You finally have a friend, I see. Would you look at that? Dulia, my dear daughter, I congratulate you as your father." He sarcasticly said that a vein popped in my forehead.

"Charybdis-sama!!" Okaasan exclaimed.

"Charybdis-sama, why are you like that to your daughter? You don't know what'll happen to you if you won't be careful." Max-kun said that he widened his eyes.

*gulp

"I-I'm s-sorry..!" He stuttered and ran away from the scene.

What just happened?

I looked at the obsidian-haired boy and he just smiled innocently.

Maybe I was just imagining it, he's just a young boy.

"Do you wanna play? I know a game!" He exclaimed excitedly that I giggled at his childish actions. I tilted my head to let him know that I'm curious. "Let's go somewhere first!" He dragged me away, leaving okaasan speechless.

*pant pant

*huff huff

We passed by many snake people and and trees.

"We need to run a little longer..!" He managed to say. I nodded and focused my strength in my legs. We finally arrived at our destination.

Beautiful, just beautiful!

There were many maple trees and cherry blossoms, which their leaves slowly fall on the grassy ground and water, surrounding the lake. The clear water, with reeds and lotuses in the sides, reflected the ever-so-blue sky decorated with feathery clouds or also called cirrus clouds back on Earth. Overall, it was an ethereal sight.

I never knew a place this breathtaking could be found in the territory of the Snake Clan. Moreover, a guest like Max knows about it while I, the adoptive daughter of the Snake Clan Leader, don't.

*whoosh

"Sese-chan, isn't it beautiful?" I balked at the sudden call of my nickname.

Sese-chan, why would he call me like that? He's too innocent for his own good. Let's just get along with him for now.

"..." I nodded my head vigorously.

"Hehe, Sese-chan is so cute!" He pinched my cheeks that it numbed. "I just can't get enough of you!" He added and continued on pinching it and murmured something inaudible.

*chills

I suddenly shuddered at his domineering tone. When I looked at him, it was swiftly replaced by an innocent grin.

What the? What just happened?

"You know Sese-chan, can't you at least let me hear your voice? Even if it's just saying my name, I'll be satisfied." I flinched at his sudden request and cold sweat ran down my back.

"..." I didn't open my mouth.

"Come on, please..!" He begged me with his folded hands and bent knees. I shook my head and sat on the grass. I tapped the space on my left so he immediately sat down. "Why can't you?"

Why should I? I never associate myself with a stranger, much less a boy from who-knows-where. I need to get to know him a little more before I could trust him.

"Sese-chan?" His cheerful expression from earlier became a dark one. He clearly grimaced due to the fact that I turned down his request which is, to speak.

Due to my parents' death, I developed a condition called glossophobia, or the fear of speaking in public. I am also a thanatophobe, or afraid of death or dying.

I don't know why I got the latter, given that it was like yesterday that I wanted to die but soon stopped by Meerschaum-sama. Seriously, why would I be afraid of dying if it means I could go back to my previous world?

"I understand, don't force yourself to do what you can't okay?" He told me and smiled amorously.

*shalalalala

He's so cute!! The cutest boy I've ever seen in my two lifetimes! How could a normal human like him be this adorable?!

"... ute..." My mouth spoke on its own that surprised the both of us. He looked dumbfounded, the most normal reaction. He then wore a weird expression that sent shivers to my spine and when I blinked twice, he wore his usual easygoing smile.

***

Max's POV

My bastard of a father blamed me for the death of my mother and even abused me. He'd beat me inside the dungeon every chance he gets and the servants just left me unattended, not even caring if I was still alive or not.

Until ojiisama, or the Grand Duke, found out about and secretly took me from the manor. He put a roof over my head, had some servants take care of me and even arranged my studies. He personally taught me swordsmanship and martial arts and asked a mage from the magic tower to teach me how to use magic.

It went on for years until he told me that someone else will take care of me, and memories about ottousama and the servants' negligence flooded in my mind. My newly-built mentality immediately shattered.

Why? Because he's already fed up of taking care of me? Just why, ojiisama?

"Don't worry Max, I received a report that Scylla-san adopted a girl two years younger than you. You never know, maybe you can play with her a bit?"

"But ojiisama, can't I stay here? You know that those assassins sent by my stepmother keep on pestering me every night, what if they burn the village of the Snake Clan down? What do I do?"

"That's why I taught you how to fight. Just go, I can assure you that it's safer there than here where aniiki can come anytime. Do you understand, Max?" I nodded obediently and proceeded to pack my belongings.

The day for my departure came. All the servants, including my personal maids and the Head Butler saw me off that I felt warm in my chest.

I can't believe I'm really leaving from this place.

The journey took a few days before I finally arrived at my destination. Scylla-sama and Charybdis-sama welcomed and hurriedly lead me to their abode.

It was quite different from what I imagined, I thought I would be seeing mansions, not straw huts.