I’m the Youngest Daughter of the Serpent Family
Chapter 50
Mesis taught me various other things besides this.
I learned that the South was rich in resources, meaning there was almost nothing they couldn’t obtain, and because of that, they had an unusually large number of allied clans.
I also learned that spices were scarce, which was why they worked hard to maintain close relations with the West.
Wow. Mesis, you seem like a total genius.
When I looked up at him with sparkling eyes, Mesis grew flustered and averted his gaze.
“What’s with that look? Why do you look so surprised?”
“I didn’t know Mesis knew stuff wike this. How do you know evewything?”
“……I’m from a collateral branch too, you know? I took all the basic classes, so of course I know.”
“A co-watewal bwanch?”
“It means I share the same roots as the Astrophel family.”
Same roots? Doesn’t that mean we have the same ancestors? I gasped in shock.
“Then are you distant welatives with Daddy?!”
Of everything I had heard so far, that was the freshest and most shocking revelation.
When I asked in sheer astonishment, Mesis shook his head.
“Maybe in the past, but not anymore. Nowadays, clan members who have rendered great service to the family are also recognized as collateral branches.”
“Oh, is that how it works?”
“That doesn’t mean there aren’t actual blood-related collateral branches, though.”
“Is Baon one of them?”
I thought of Baon, with his black hair.
I had clearly been told that black hair and red eyes were traits born only to the Astrophel family.
Yet as I wandered around the estate, I occasionally spotted people who possessed one of those features.
Not only Baon, but Rosaria had purple eyes as well.
At my question, Mesis nodded.
“That’s right. Complicated, isn’t it?”
“Mm. But I think I get it.”
It was a bit intricate, but I had a rough grasp of it.
To put it simply, both blood-related kin and clan members who rendered distinguished service to the family were collectively recognized as collateral branches.
I’d felt this for a while, but the South was remarkably open-minded.
Anywhere else, they wouldn’t recognize someone as a collateral branch simply for achieving merit.
This time, pointing at the northern part of the map, I asked slyly:
“By the way, Mesis. How cold is the North?”
“Why ask about that all of a sudden?”
“Because I have to go visit watew. Seiji wives thewe.”
“……Ah.”
Mesis made a complicated, subtle expression. Looking troubled over how to explain it, he hesitated before asking:
“……Do you know what it means when a beastman invites you to their territory?”
“What it means?”
Is there a meaning to that? I blinked slowly. I had no idea what it meant.
Come to think of it, when I told Rosaria that I’d been invited by Seiji, her expression hadn’t looked very good either.
What on earth could those words mean? When I shook my head, Mesis let out a deep sigh.
“I knew it. You have no idea.”
“Mm-mm.”
“……Then please ask someone else about the meaning. For now, what I can tell you is……”
What he can tell me?
“The North is freezing cold…… and you won’t ever have a reason to go there, my lady.”
“Why not?”
“Because the head of the family would never allow it.”
So just give up, Mesis seemed to say as he patted my shoulder.
Why would Kaid never allow it?
I tilted my head in confusion.
Without a word, Mesis swept his foot across the dirt, erasing the drawing on the ground.
* * *
The weekend arrived. Since there was nothing scheduled for today, I planned to borrow some books from the library.
To brag a little, I could now read books with simple contents without Rosaria’s help.
It was nothing short of immense progress.
For the record, I’d learned that phrase from a book too!
I pushed open the library door and stepped inside.
“Hewwo.”
“You’re back, Lady Irene. Have you finished all the books you borrowed last time?”
“Yes.”
I handed the borrowed books to Media, who managed the library.
Lately, I had been reading books that were popular among young beastmen. What should I read this time?
After recording the return, Media smiled warmly and pointed to a stack of books beside her.
“Do you see these?”
“What’we these?”
“These are books ordered especially for you this time, my lady. Which one would you like to start with?”
Hmm. Which one should I read first? These books had far more text than what I usually read.
It looked a little difficult, but I thought I’d manage. Besides, I had already read almost all the fairy-tale books in the library, so there was nothing left for me anyway.
I’d better start with the thinnest one first.
“Then I’ll take this one.”
“Oh, would you? I heard this one is quite popular in the West.”
“The West?”
Are popular books different depending on the territory? Now that she mentioned it, the vibe felt slightly different from what I had been reading.
“Yes. Recommended readings differ slightly by clan. Since each has a different disposition, what they learn in childhood differs as well.”
“I see.”
“What you’ve been reading so far, Lady Irene, were recommended books popular among young beastmen in the South.”
It felt rather fascinating. Then did what I’d been reading so far represent the South’s preferred direction of upbringing?
Most of them were stories about being considerate of one’s surroundings and living cooperatively.
……Given their nature, it seemed they rarely cared about reading the room and just did whatever they pleased.
As a side note, the next most common theme, ironically enough, was along the lines of ‘Doing well on your own.’
I wasn’t sure which beat they wanted us to dance to, but I supposed they hoped children would find a moderate middle ground on their own.
“Then Iwing’s gonna go now.”
“Yes. Enjoy reading, and come back soon.”
“Okay.”
I left the library and headed toward my room. I didn’t plan on going out today; I was going to stay inside.
Hitching up the straps of my overalls that kept slipping off my shoulders, I diligently made my way back.
My stamina had improved quite a bit, so moving between floors was no longer much of a struggle. Before this, even I thought I got tired far too easily.
“Wosawia, I’m back.”
“You’re back early, Lady Irene. Have you decided on the book you’ll read today?”
“Mm. Wook at this. Media wecommended it. She said it’s popuwaw in the West.”
“I’ll prepare some snacks for you.”
“Mm. Thank you.”
I sat on the sofa and leaned back against a cushion.
As I was slowly turning the pages of the book, the door suddenly swung wide open.
It was Arvan.
Rosaria, who was setting snacks on the table, greeted Arvan warmly.
“Welcome, Young Master Arvan.”
Arvan gave a cursory nod and walked straight toward where I was sitting.
Setting my book down, I looked at him quizzically.
“Arvan oppa?”
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
His crimson eyes narrowed as he stared at me with an almost burdensome intensity. Why was he looking at me like that? When I subtly shrank back, Arvan crossed his arms and slumped down onto the sofa across from me.
“You took the pheromone class, right?”
“Yeah. You wemembered?”
“Who said I remembered……! So, did you succeed?”
“No. I can onwy feew the phewomones so faw?”
“Still? Then when can we go on our trip?”
Aha. So that was why he came to my room.
Seeing him come all the way here on the weekend just to ask, he must have been burning with impatience.
Arvan cleared his throat and slyly brought up his main point.
“……When do you think you’ll be able to succeed?”
“Maybe in just a few mowe days?”
Arvan let out a long breath. He seemed frustrated that I couldn’t give him an exact answer.
After sinking into deep thought for a long while without a word, Arvan’s eyes sparkled, and he called out to me again.
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“To polymorph well, you have to imagine the pheromones spreading evenly throughout your entire body.”
A giggle slipped out before I could stop it. So that was why he’d been so quiet……
“Hehe. I see.”
“……Why are you laughing?”
“Arvan oppa, wewe you sitting thewe wowwying aww this time just to teww me that?”
He had stayed seated instead of leaving because he wanted to teach me how to succeed in shifting more easily.
Clearing his throat and averting his eyes, Arvan grumbled:
“I didn’t worry about it that much, okay?”
Watching us from the side, Rosaria smiled warmly.
“Since the young master personally taught you, you’ll surely get the hang of it in no time, Lady Irene.”
“……Anyway. So when do you go for your next class?”
“Today’s the weekend, so I don’t have one.”
“Then what are you going to do now?”
“I was just gonna stay in my woom.”
I pointed to the book I was holding. I had originally planned to read this, but playing with Arvan sounded much more fun, so I could put it aside for a bit.
Still, what should we play?
As I looked around to see if there was anything in the room we could play with together, what Mesis said yesterday suddenly crossed my mind.
“Oh, wight. Arvan oppa.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you know what it means when someone invites you to theiw house?”
“……What?”
At my question, Arvan froze, then asked back:
“Who said that to you?”
“Seiji.”
“……Who’s that?”
“Huh? A fwiend.”
Why is he reacting so sensitively?
At the word friend, Arvan’s expression gradually began to crumple. Then, he suddenly sprang up from his seat.
“That means he’s asking to marry you!”