I’m the Youngest Daughter of the Serpent Family
Chapter 44
Huh?
He ran away just to skip class, so why was that considered impressive?
Arvan took a sharp breath, seeming startled by the sudden praise. He looked utterly confused.
“How long can you remain hidden from Casana?”
“…Not very long.”
“Even so, your skill at concealing your presence seems to have become quite decent.”
“…….”
“If you keep skipping class, Irene will catch up to you, Arvan.”
“Who’s going to get caught by a little brat like her?”
Arvan pouted.
Yet on the inside, the thought of me catching up to him clearly bothered him, as his expression subtly stiffened.
Before long, whatever he had imagined caused his face to crumple into a scowl that showed no sign of smoothing out.
“Did you imagine Irene catching up to oppa?”
“No, I didn’t. Don’t even dream about it, you squirt.”
“Hmph. Irene isn’t a squirt. I’ve grown this much bigger!”
I proudly raised my hand above my head to show him.
There was a saying that children grow day by day. I truly was growing bigger with each passing day.
Even if it wasn't particularly noticeable.
Listening quietly to my claim, Arvan let out a scoff.
“You don’t call that growing.”
“Irene even got new shoes!”
“Oh, really now?”
Arvan shrugged and finished eating the grape tart he was holding.
I puffed out my cheeks dramatically and made a tearful face.
“I’m gonna eat a lot and grow up fast!”
“Don’t push yourself when you can’t even eat that much.”
“Huh?”
“Because even if you do, I doubt you’ll grow very big.”
Seth spoke with a sweet smile. His words were nothing short of infuriating.
I cut a large slice of cake piled high with cream and stuffed it into my mouth.
Eating something sweet seemed to make me feel a little better.
Kaid, who had been watching our rather noisy bickering with amusement, suddenly turned his gaze toward me.
“And how have you been, Irene?”
“Huh?”
“You are the only one who hasn't spoken.”
Once again, all eyes turned toward me just like before. I folded my fingers down one by one, counting. There was too much to tell, so it would take a long time.
“It does not matter if it takes long, so go ahead.”
“Um. I rode the swing, and I studied… And then, I also met the people who guard Irene.”
“Guards? …Ah. Do you mean the man who appeared at the banquet back then?”
Seth asked. I nodded to confirm.
“Yeah, Karma. And they said there were more, but I haven't seen them all yet.”
“I see. He has already shown himself. He must have been terribly impatient.”
Kaid chuckled softly as if he understood completely.
“I also met Mesis and Paymon.”
“Oho? Those two?”
“Yeah. They said I could only see them once they finished writing their apology letters, so Irene wrote them a letter!”
It would be wonderful if I could meet the rest of them soon.
Since they said they had finished writing their letters of apology, maybe I would get to meet them all within a few days.
Hearing my words, Kaid paused and asked back,
“A letter?”
“Yeah. Rosaria helped me, so Irene made a letter and sent it. Mesis delivered it.”
“So that is why they submitted a proper one right away.”
Kaid murmured, looking as though his question had finally been answered.
“So, was the meeting enjoyable?”
“Yeah. I wanna meet the other people quickly too.”
“You certainly won’t be bored.”
That was precisely the fun of it. Since I couldn't guess who would appear next, there was a thrill in waiting.
Though it would probably still startle me because it would be so sudden.
The flow of conversation was drawing to a close.
Outside the window, it had grown so dark that objects could no longer be properly distinguished.
Yaaawn.
A long yawn escaped me.
I opened my eyes dizzily. The meal wasn't even over yet… but once drowsiness rushed in, it was endless.
When I forced my eyes wide open and slapped my cheeks to chase away the sleepiness, Seth, sitting across from me, looked utterly dumbfounded.
“If you’re sleepy, you can just go to sleep.”
“Nuh-uh. But we haven't finished talking yet!”
“It isn't a conversation worth dragging out this long, is it?”
“No! It’s super important!”
There was no telling when we would be able to gather and talk like this again.
I wanted to hear more stories, so ending it like this felt so disappointing.
Now that we had a chance to get closer, I didn't want to let it slip away.
Seth looked at me with a peculiar expression.
“For someone saying that, it looks like your head is about to slam into the table, Irene.”
Uh-oh.
I snapped my drooping head upright.
“It would be best to head back now.”
Watching me, Kaid announced the end of the meal.
Rising from his seat, Kaid lifted me into his arms.
The moment I was held against his broad, solid chest, a deep slumber overwhelmed me in an instant.
* * *
Right now, I was leaving my room alone.
It was because today was my very first day taking pheromone lessons.
“Hm-hm-hmm. Hm-hmm.”
Humming a tune, I headed toward the entrance of the forest with light steps.
Since we had agreed to meet at the entrance and go in together, Casana was probably already waiting for me.
Sure enough, a familiar figure came into view.
“Casa! Did you wait long?”
“No. I have not been waiting very long.”
“Let’s go in quickly.”
“Shall we head in, then?”
“Yeah. I prepared super hard before coming here.”
Even if that preparation was merely mental, having the right mindset was the most important thing of all!
Step by step, I made my way inside.
Crossing from the sunlit garden past the boundary where giant trees stood planted gave me a strange feeling.
The quiet stillness was something I had already experienced once, but it would likely take quite a long time to get used to this atmosphere.
I stayed close behind Casana’s heels.
“Casa. How far are we going?”
“You need to go a little further in.”
“Okay.”
The path underfoot, which had started as a narrow trail, gradually faded until nothing remained.
Just how deep had we walked?
Casana came to a stop.
“Around here seems suitable as a place for the lesson.”
“Here?”
“Yes. Is it not to your liking?”
Looking back, the entrance was no longer in sight.
Surrounded entirely by trees on all sides, the path looked like a veritable labyrinth.
It gave me a sudden chill, thinking that if I got lost here, I would never be able to find the exit on my own.
“For a pheromone lesson, a place as isolated from the outside as possible is best.”
“I see. What if I get lost?”
“Do not worry about such things. I will come to find you before anyone else, Lady Irene.”
“Okay.”
Casana’s dependable words put my mind at ease.
I decided to put on the cardigan Rosaria had packed for me before I left the room.
She had warned me that the forest was heavily shaded and would be cold, and she had been right.
Unwrapping the cardigan draped around my neck, I clumsily slipped my arms through the sleeves while Casana waited patiently until I was fully dressed.
“I’m all done putting it on now.”
“Shall we begin the lesson, then?”
“Yeah.”
“First, I will briefly explain about pheromones. Every beastfolk is born with an energy called pheromones. You know that much, correct?”
“Yeah.”
“Pheromones differ slightly in their characteristics depending on the clan. That is because they evolved diversely according to methods of survival. In particular, the Bird Clan…”
The Bird Clan? Why did she stop mid-sentence?
Waiting for her next words, I looked at Casana in confusion.
Her brow was furrowed, as if something displeased her.
Because it was such a rare sight, I was internally startled.
Casana, who normally had an extreme lack of facial expressions, was actually frowning! What in the world was the matter for her to react like that?
“…I tell you this beforehand, but since you bear the Astrophel name, Lady Irene, please do not forget that you belong to our Black Mamba Clan.”
What was she talking about all of a sudden? I blinked, staring blankly at Casana.
She looked more solemn and serious than ever, creating an atmosphere where I couldn't help but agree.
I nodded my head.
“Yeah. I got it.”
“The explanation now is merely an example to help explain your unique characteristics, Lady Irene.”
“Yeah.”
It seemed Casana was worried I might become confused if I heard an explanation about the Bird Clan.
Because I looked different from the other Black Mambas around me.
In truth, I was curious about how I had come to be born into the Astrophel family.
However, I wasn't terribly curious about who my real guardians were.
Because the ones who had raised and cared for me up until now were none other than the people of the Astrophel family here.
“Since ancient times, the Bird Clan has been adept at information warfare. They are specialized in flying through the skies to observe enemy lines and notify their allies.”
“I see. That’s super cool!”
“…Indeed. By obtaining information quickly, they planned for the future of their clan. They mostly operate in groups, and those who travel alone are, for the most part, birds of prey.”
“Yeah.”
Yet I was neither a bird of prey, nor was living in a flock an option for me at all.
Still, since she was explaining the basic traits of the Bird Clan, I figured it was good to know.
“However, that is merely how they lived to match their clan’s traits. From now on, Lady Irene, you will learn how to live among the Black Mamba Clan.”