The little girl lifted that day was now four.

  Hale set her down with a groan—clearly back from another adventure.

  “Argh, daddy’s tired. Let’s go inside.”

  Meryl was setting dishes on the table when Hale pulled a stone tablet from his pocket.

  “Meryl… can you read this for me…?” he asked, scratching his head.

  She snatched it. “The crime of not learning how to read…”

  Harlyn peeked curiously at the tablet. “Mom, can you teach me how to read too?”

  Meryl smiled and knelt down. “Of course.”

  She pointed to each carved word as she explained. Hale leaned over, listening like a student also.

  “Adventurer… don’t go any further! This cave—”

  But the more she read, the more her expression darkened.

  She stopped and stood up suddenly.

  Hale frowned. “Why did you stop?”

  “Nothing is too difficult for me!” he declared proudly.

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  Harlyn jumped, trying to see the tablet. “Mom, what does it say next?”

  “No,” Meryl said quickly. “Class is over. Go sit at the table, Harlyn. Mommy needs to talk with Daddy.”

  She patted Harlyn’s head, glanced at Hale—grabbed him by the ear, and dragged him outside.

  “Ow—ow! That hurts!”

  The door slammed.

  Harlyn couldn’t hear the exact words, but she heard her mother’s furious voice—and her father’s trembling replies.

  A moment later, they returned.

  Hale rubbed his red ears with a tragic expression. “Harlyn… your mother is bullying me.”

  “You’re not innocent in the slightest,” Meryl said while serving the food.

  Harlyn’s eyes sparkled—there was meat today.

  Meryl wrapped a towel neatly around Harlyn's neck and fed her a spoonful of soup.

  “Ahh~” she demonstrated.

  Harlyn mimicked her and happily took the spoon. A bit of soup dripped down her chin. Meryl immediately carefully wiped her mouth.

  Suddenly, Hale leaned in front of Meryl and opened his mouth too.

  “Ahh~”

  Without hesitation, Meryl shoved the large soup spoon into his mouth.

  “Mm—!” Hale looked angrily

  He tried to protest, but the spoon was stuck too well.

  Seeing her father's puffed-up mouth, Harlyn burst into laughter.

  And from that day onward, her reading lessons became part of her daily life.