I’m the Youngest Daughter of the Serpent Family
Chapter 5
What would a bubble bath be like? It would probably smell amazing, right? And my fluff would get super soft too.
Feeling the cool breeze, I hummed happily.
“Are you that happy?”
“Peep!”
“Shall we hurry, then?”
“Peep!”
When I urged her on, Rosaria let out a soft chuckle and picked up her pace.
Looking far into the distance, a vast, open forest came into view—a breathtaking sight I had never been able to see from the ground.
Just a little while ago, all I could see were pebbles right in front of my nose.
Turning my head this way and that to take in the scenery, I realized something.
Just as Baon had said, there wasn't a trace of any living creature.
How could that be in a forest so deep and expansive?
“This is your first time seeing the forest, isn't it, Little One?”
“Peeeep.”
“This is the private territory of the Astrophel family. As you can see, no living creatures exist here. Since beastmen could potentially disguise themselves and infiltrate, all outside life is strictly forbidden.”
So that was why. Turns out this forest was a seriously big deal.
“Because it's safe here, the young masters sometimes train in this area. I believe they had a training schedule today as well…”
Rosaria tilted her head slightly.
“They aren't here today. Perhaps they went out hunting.”
“Peep?”
For a second, I thought I had misheard.
From what I'd overheard earlier, they hatched around the same time as me, didn't they?
They're already out hunting?
When my beak dropped open in shock, Rosaria smiled brightly.
“The young masters have already completed their humanization. You don't know what humanization is yet, do you, Little One? It means being able to take the form of a human, just like me.”
“…Peep.”
“You'll be able to do it in no time as well.”
“Peep.”
Not only were they already hunting, but they'd even mastered humanization.
Those young masters were definitely cheating at life.
Still, if I work hard, I can do it too!
Steeling my resolve, I curled my little wings tightly. But then…
“Peep?”
What is that?
“What's the matter, Little One?”
“Peeeep.”
A massive tree lay horribly crushed on the ground. And the one next to it. And the one after that.
Enormous trees that looked at least several decades old had been knocked down in swaths.
Why were perfectly healthy trees uprooted like that?
Looking in the direction I was pointing, Rosaria said casually, as if it were nothing.
“Ah. It looks like they finished training and headed back.”
Huh?
“It was probably the eldest young master.”
Just how could a young beastman who was barely newborn smash trees like that?
My jaw dropped in sheer astonishment.
“Once you grow up, you'll be able to do this too, Little One. Honestly though, that young master…”
Rosaria clicked her tongue and walked into the center of the wreckage. Up close, the devastation looked far more brutal.
He must have a terribly nasty temper.
Otherwise, there's no way he would've hacked the place up like this!
Wait, why did she walk all the way over to the fallen trees?
“If he makes a mess, he ought to clean up after himself reasonably well. I suppose he still doesn't care enough to bother.”
Rosaria rested one foot atop a fallen log.
Tap.
Her movement was effortless, as if she were lightly kicking away a stray twig.
The result, however, was staggering.
A trunk so thick it would take two or three grown men to wrap their arms around it began to roll away.
Watching the miraculous sight of the logs stacking neatly into a corner, I rubbed my eyes with my wing.
“Peep, peeep?”
What on earth is happening right now?
“There, all neat and tidy. I'm sorry, Little One. Did I keep you waiting?”
“…Peep-peep. Peep-peep-peep.”
Not at all. I wasn't waiting at all.
I meekly corrected my posture.
Mommy, this unnie is terrifying.
* * *
In Kaid's hand was a doll that looked entirely out of place.
It was none other than the snake doll Rosaria had prepared to match the baby bird's eye level.
“Amusing.”
Recalling what had just occurred, the corners of Kaid's lips curved upward in interest.
In the Astrophel family, where no one ever gave away what belonged to them, such a gift was unimaginable.
Having unexpectedly received the baby bird's first prey, Kaid fell into thought.
“So this is why everyone fusses about having a daughter.”
It was barely a mumble, but with Baon's sharply attuned hearing, there was no way he could have missed it.
Off-topic words blurted out in the middle of a serious discussion caused Baon to turn to Kaid with a startled expression.
Before long, Baon's shoulders shook as his eyes landed on the doll in Kaid's hand.
It was a truly absurd combination.
“Pfft.”
At the sound of the stifled laugh, Kaid's gaze shifted to Baon.
“Baon.”
“Ahem. Yes.”
“If you value your life, I suggest you stop right there.”
“Should I, now?”
Everyone values their life. Baon quickly sobered up and straightened his expression.
“Why are you suddenly longing for a daughter? You already have two sons.”
“They never gave me something like this.”
Kaid held up the doll. It was colorful and utterly adorable.
Baon squeezed his eyes shut.
No, don't laugh. Think sad thoughts. Sad thoughts.
“Th-that, ahem. Isn't it remarkably brave? Even if it was just a doll, to think of hunting a snake.”
“It was rather admirable.”
Kaid recalled the baby bird slamming the uniquely made snake doll against the floor.
“A spitting image of you, Head of the family.”
“Hmm?”
“Quite ferocious, wasn't it? The hunting method, too.”
A completely different kind of ferocious, but still.
At Baon's words, Kaid's eyes narrowed slightly. While hunting, the baby bird…
“Her eyes were definitely red.”
Crimson eyes were a trait belonging solely to the bloodline of the Astrophel family on this continent.
Influenced by the powerful pheromones of the first family head, most members of the Astrophel family shared a similar appearance.
Black hair and red eyes.
And though it was only temporary, the baby bird's eyes had undoubtedly turned that very color.
“It seems the Little One took on that color after absorbing your pheromones, Head of the family.”
“Indeed. And that's precisely the problem.”
As the conversation returned to its original subject, Kaid narrowed his eyes.
There was no telling who had dared to infiltrate the Astrophel family and leave an egg behind.
Just how had such a thing been possible?
If this was connected in any way to Estella, who had passed away giving birth to the heirs, the situation would escalate beyond control.
Kaid's expression turned chillingly cold.
“Investigate. Find out who was involved when Estella gave birth to the heirs. Check every single person who stood guard at the mansion that day—without missing a single one.”
“Do you suspect a spy has infiltrated the family?”
“There's no reason to rule it out.”
“Then the scope of the investigation will be quite broad. It will take some time.”
Baon's face hardened with equal gravity.
If there was a spy within the family, a covert investigation would be necessary to uncover their identity.
“Take all the time you need. Just drag out every single rat that's hiding.”
“Understood.”
Watching Kaid uncharacteristically give an order permitting time, Baon cast a bitter glance around the office.
When Estella drew her last breath, Kaid had not batted an eye.
Because of that, rumors had spread that their relationship was estranged, yet traces of her remained distinctly throughout this office.
Kaid had harbored enough affection for Estella that she was the only one he ever showed weakness around.
Knowing this, Baon felt a heavy weight in his chest.
If this newly hatched baby bird was tied to Estella's death… a storm of blood would soon sweep through the estate.
Hoping to shift the heavy atmosphere, Baon cleared his throat and spoke.
“By the way, now that the Little One has absorbed your pheromones, what will you do? It's already too late to cast her outside the territory.”
“For now, we'll wait and see.”
“It seems Rosaria has completely fallen for the Little One as well.”
“…Can you stop with that ridiculous 'Little One' title?”
“Rosaria calls her that, so I tried it too. Isn't it charming?”
“It's revolting. Why call her that anyway?”
“Because you haven't given her a name, Head of the family.”
Since the only order given at her birth was to toss her outside the territory, of course she had no name.
Even so, no one dared to name her in his place.
With the clear presence of the family head's pheromones clinging to her, nobody was insane enough to commit such an act unless they had a death wish.
'Though Rosaria might just be bold enough to do it.'
If anyone would, Rosaria was more than capable. On top of that, she seemed quite fond of caring for the baby bird.
She appeared to be observing the situation for now, but once she made up her mind, she might act entirely on her own.
Baon's eyes gleamed.
“If you don't give her a name, Head of the family, someone else might snatch the opportunity.”
“And why should I care?”
“What if the Little One begins following someone else and giving them presents instead?”
At those strangely grating words, Kaid let out a low hum. It wasn't that he particularly wanted a daughter.
To be precise, indifference was the more accurate description.
In a bloodline where children were exceedingly rare, having proper heirs was more than enough.
Yet the mere thought of that baby bird following someone else and handing them dolls made something twist unpleasantly in his gut.
“A name, is it.”
“Do you have anything in mind?”
“Not a single one.”
It was an instant reply. For a moment, Baon was left entirely speechless.
