I’m the Youngest Daughter of the Serpent Family
Chapter 20
“Did you know?”
“Know what?”
“They say there’s a huge library on the first floor.”
“I had no idea! How do you get there?”
So, on the first day, I went to check out the library.
I wanted to read fairy tales, but since I hadn’t learned to read yet, I brought the most popular book recommended by the librarian and went to Rosaria, who was waiting in the room.
From wandering around, I realized that because the mansion was so massive, people clearly didn't know where everything was.
“They say there’s a place on the second floor where you can observe the night sky. Apparently, the whole ceiling is made of glass!”
“I had no idea! Then we should go in the evening, right?”
Unfortunately, I couldn't go because I had to sleep in the evening. I must visit later.
“Where should I go today?”
Squeak, squeak.
Actually, when I first said I wanted to explore the mansion alone, Rosaria tried to stop me, saying I couldn’t.
However, after Kaid gave his permission, I was able to leave the room.
“It’s not like she’s asking to go outside. She should be allowed to wander around her own home as much as she likes.”
He said something like that.
To be honest, I had no desire to go outside by myself either. Young children shouldn't go outside alone.
Rosaria had warned me several times that there were lots of scary, growling things out there.
First, I'll conquer the mansion!
Squeak, squeak.
Squeak, squeak, squeak.
However, unlike my grand ambition, there was something I hadn't anticipated.
“Ugh. My legs hurt.”
My stamina was far too low. Having wandered around since morning with a mix of excitement and anticipation, I was slowly running out of energy.
Isn't there somewhere I can sit and rest?
Patting my legs, I looked around and spotted a chair standing all by itself.
“Huh?”
Was that always there?
Delighted, I scampered over with tiny, hurried steps and plopped down onto the chair.
Then I opened the water bottle hanging around my neck, which I’d been told to drink from whenever I was thirsty.
Pop.
A little straw popped out. Sipping the water, I looked around the hallway.
Lately, the atmosphere in the mansion had been chaotic. From what I’d overheard while passing by, guests were arriving soon.
Just how many were coming that everyone was so busy they barely had time to blink?
As if no one had a spare moment to sit, the hallway was unusually bustling.
While I rested, swinging my legs back and forth, two men emerged from a room with a black door, wearing somber expressions.
“Eudis.”
“Yes, Lord Orca.”
“I hear there is a greenhouse garden on the third floor of the mansion?”
“That is correct. Snacks are always prepared there as well.”
Prick.
My ears perked up at the rather interesting topic.
“The young masters’ rooms are also on the third floor. Have you visited before?”
No! Where is that? I’ve never been.
“Ailin didn't go 'cause she didn't know where it was.”
The third floor? A greenhouse garden with snacks is there, and Seth and Arvan are there too!
My eyes sparkled.
I want to go!
“Ailin wants to go.”
However, going alone was out of the question; my stamina was drained, and the mansion was far too big.
To get there, I had to climb the stairs, but this was the first floor.
“…Ailin wants to go, but it's too far. I miss Wosaria.”
Feeling Rosaria's absence so acutely all of a sudden, my nose prickled with tears.
Right in the middle of feeling sorry for myself, I noticed a flurry of movement nearby.
Rubbing at my eyes, which were surely turning red, I looked forward.
“Ahem! Lord Orca. Could you please take this to the third floor?”
“Very well, I shall do so.”
“Then take care. Oh! Aren't you Lady Irene?”
I quickly nodded my head. At the same time, I stole glances at the man called Orca.
Fidget, fidget.
Fiddling with my water bottle for no reason, my lips parted.
“Owca.”
“Yes.”
“Is Owca going to the thuhd floor?”
“I am, but…”
With his white hair and white eyes, Orca gazed down at me, waiting for what I’d say next.
If I ask him to take me along, would he?
Afraid Orca might just walk away, I scrambled down from the chair.
In a rush, I reached out and gently tugged on his sleeve.
Orca flinched, drawing in a sharp breath. For an instant, a flicker of anticipation seemed to pass through his white eyes.
“Ailin… wants to go to the thuhd floor.”
“……”
“Buuut my wegs hurt so much.”
I rummaged through my bag.
It was because I remembered what I had heard when I visited the meeting room not long ago.
“I won't ask for help for nuffin’.”
“Oh my, is that so?”
Eudis chimed in with a wide smile.
“Ailin is a baby bird who repays kindness!”
I had learned that when you receive help, you give a reward.
So, I had to give Orca a present.
Rummaging through my bag, I pulled out a long, transparent container filled with star candy.
Fortunately, Orca showed an interest in the star candy.
“Is that the reward?”
“Yes. It's Ailin's most pweshius thing.”
“To understand such a concept already, you are quite brilliant.”
Orca wore a somewhat surprised expression.
I beamed. Truthfully, this was something I’d memorized after hearing Kaid muttering while reviewing documents.
“These bastards always raise a fuss asking for help for nothing. I ought to beat the crap out of them.”
If you receive something, you must give something in return. That was an immutable truth.
I declared solemnly,
“Ailin doesn't like fwee stuff. If you like stuff like that, you get the cwap beaten out of you.”
As I puffed out my chest proudly, the warm smiles on Eudis and Orca’s faces froze solid, cracking on the spot.
* * *
“If you follow the hallway to the left from here, you will reach the garden. You will see glass doors, so you should be able to find it right away.”
Holding Orca’s hand and following along, we had arrived at the third floor before I knew it.
Thinking I needed to remember the way back, I had asked him to put me down halfway through, after being carried.
I carefully committed everything I saw to memory, memorizing each detail one by one.
Upon reaching our destination, I handed over the star candy I was holding in my hand.
“Fank you for bwinging me. Ailin gives you a pwesent.”
“I shall accept it gratefully.”
Orca took the star candy with a complicated expression.
His face hadn't looked very good for a while now. Considering Eudis had looked the same, there must be some reason for it.
I was thrilled at the thought of hurrying to the garden.
Since I couldn't go outside, I thought I’d have to give up playing in a garden, but to think there was a greenhouse garden!
If I have time left over, I should go look for Seth and Arvan too.
I said goodbye to Orca, who hadn't left yet.
“Ailin's going now. Get back safely, Owca!”
“…Yes. I hope you have a wonderful time as well, Lady Irene.”
“Yeah!”
Squeak, squeak, squeak.
The quiet hallway echoed cheerfully with the sound of my sandals.
Once I get to the garden, I’ll lay out all the snacks and eat them deliciously!
Walking straight to the left just as Orca had instructed, a white door fitted with transparent windows really did appear.
“Wah.”
My eyes went wide. It felt completely different from the mansion’s outer garden.
“Pwetti.”
Pushing the door open and stepping inside, I saw carp swimming in a man-made spring.
A squirrel that was shelling an acorn in a tree scurried out of sight the moment I appeared.
Unlike the forest, which was sealed off so no other living creatures could enter, this place felt brimming with life.
Liking this place very much, I giggled happily.
“This'll be Ailin's hideout.”
Plumping down onto the grass, I unstrapped the bag I was wearing.
Tumble.
When I tipped the bag upside down and shook it out, snacks spilled out in a heap.
Just as I was agonizing over what to eat first, I sensed a presence among the bushes.
Rustle.
“Huh?”
I turned my head toward the sound.
I thought I heard something?
Scrambling to my feet, I walked toward where the noise had come from. And there, I ran into an unexpected person.
Arvan was hiding among the bushes.
“Arvang?”
“What the? Why are you here?”
“Arvang!”
“Be quiet! What if you get us caught?!”
Arvan looked frantic. Telling me to hush, he put an index finger to his lips and went, Shh! I clamped a hand over my mouth with an oomph.
Holding my breath, I rolled my eyes around while Arvan stepped out of the bushes and brushed off his clothes.
Who was he hiding from?
Whatever the reason, I grinned ear to ear, just happy to see him.
Arvan let out a sigh, his face clearly showing his annoyance.
It was our first meeting since parting ways in the dining room.
