Chapter 5

I looked at Chloe's face, which was plastered with insincere concern, and flashed her a standard capybara smile. "I went to a quiet place where the water was salty, but there were lots of friends. There was no favoritism and no commotion. Everyone was just blowing bubbles."

Chloe froze for a moment, and her eyes actually misted over. She seemed like she wanted to tell me something, but she ultimately sighed and turned to leave. Clearly, she wasn't the culprit.

I eyed the ridiculously expensive royal jelly and thought it looked suspiciously like some kind of marine excrement. So, I poured it into the flowerpot on the balcony. The succulent in the pot looked absolutely delighted.

Just then, Matthew sent someone to deliver a message. There was a high-society gathering that evening, and I was expected to attend.

I was well aware that he was planning to publicly humiliate me, the brain-damaged scion of the Kensington family. However, I didn't care. So long as there was free lettuce and fruit, what difference did it make where I went to zone out?

…

That evening, I put on a minimalist black suit.

Matthew had prepared a pair of leather shoes for me with rock-hard soles that would definitely give me blisters. I took one look at the shoes before looking at my feet. Without a moment's hesitation, I dug a pair of green plastic slippers out of the storage room.

The security guard had left them behind. They fit my feet perfectly and made a satisfying "flip-flop" sound whenever I walked.

When I shuffled into the ballroom of the five-star hotel in my plastic slippers, everyone in the room turned to look at me. It instantly reminded me of my days at the aquarium.

Matthew was surrounded by a crowd of socialites and scions. He looked like a proud little prince.

The moment he saw me, his expression was so priceless it was beyond description.

"Drake… Why are you dressed like that?" he gasped dramatically, covering his mouth. He wanted nothing more than for everyone in the ballroom to hear him.

I looked down at my green slippers and thought they went quite well with the red carpet. "Oh, these shoes have great traction. I'm less likely to slip."

Ignoring the mocking and contemptuous looks, I walked straight toward the buffet area. There was a huge platter of fresh lettuce and neatly sliced watermelon. It was absolute paradise.

I grabbed a plate and settled onto the couch in the farthest corner of the ballroom. Then, I began to chew on the lettuce methodically.

Several scions approached me, intending to humiliate me.

"Hey, isn't this the Kensingtons' long-lost son? Why is he eating as if he's never seen food before?"

"I heard there's something wrong with his head now."

I stopped chewing, lifted my head, and silently stared at them.

After about three minutes of being subjected to my unwavering gaze, the lot of them were thoroughly creeped out.

"Why… Why isn't he saying anything? His eyes are freaking me out!"

"Come on. Let's go and leave this lunatic alone."

So, they fled.

I lowered my head again and took a bite of the watermelon. The watermelon was sweet, and I was perfectly content.

Realizing his scheme had fallen flat, Matthew walked up to me with Jasmine Wellington. It was the first time I had ever met her.

Jasmine was Drake's supposed betrothed and the head of the Wellington family. Dressed in a long, dark evening gown, she was undeniably beautiful, but she also possessed a powerful, imposing presence.

"Long time no see, Drake." Jasmine reached out, intending to stroke my head.

At that moment, I felt this body tremble involuntarily. I rapidly recoiled. My movement was so agile that I hardly seemed like a capybara.

Her hand froze in midair. "What's wrong? You went missing for a year, and now you don't even recognize your own fiancee?"

Jasmine smiled, though her eyes were as cold as a venomous sea viper.

I looked into her eyes, and a memory from right before Drake fell into the sea suddenly flashed through my mind.