I’m the Youngest Daughter of the Serpent Family
Chapter 55
“How have you been, Lady Irene! I came as soon as I heard the news.”
In Hestia’s hand was a basket decorated with flowers.
Inside, it was packed full of small chocolates.
“Congratulations on your beast transformation. It’s truly amazing. ……Though why do you look so down?”
“It seems Lady Irene isn’t quite satisfied with the result.”
“……Is that so?”
Hestia looked at me with an uncomprehending gaze.
“I wanted to succeed in one go.”
“Ah! So that was it. Succeeding right on the first try is actually quite rare, you know.”
“……Rare?”
But Seth and Arvan said they both succeeded on their first try?
Hestia tilted her head.
“The young masters succeeded when they were far more grown, so they must be treated as exceptions. If someone struggles to control their pheromones at that age, it becomes a serious issue. Black Mambas grow up in the blink of an eye, after all. Missing the right window can cause real trouble.”
“……Is dat so? Den is Irene not slow?”
“Lady Irene is actually remarkably fast. Your pheromones have only just entered a stabilization phase, haven't they? Everyone has been talking about it non-stop, but…….”
“Lady Irene says she feels embarrassed. She wanted to succeed in a cool, impressive way.”
Rosaria explained on my behalf. I nodded, confirming it was true.
Still, hearing that succeeding immediately was a rare feat brought me some comfort.
So because they grow so fast, missing the right timing is dangerous. I hadn't known that.
“It seems the young lady wants to grow up quickly. The head of the family might feel quite sad about that, wouldn't he?”
Hestia said casually as she settled onto the sofa.
“Tell me about it.”
Rosaria chimed in as she brought over freshly brewed tea leaves.
“I heard you went on a business trip, Hestia.”
“Ah, that’s right. I went together with Lord Durias.”
Together with Durias? I thought Durias had gone alone, but they must have gone together.
“What kind of matter was it?”
“Well……. Just an external mission.”
Hestia smiled faintly and glossed over it vaguely. She looked like she found it awkward to answer.
I walked over to the sofa where the two were sitting. Then, I spread out a double handful of chocolates across the table.
“Do you like my gift?”
“Ung. Irene feels all better now. Tank you, Hestia.”
“You’re very welcome. By the way, while the paw print was tempting…… that tail is quite enticing as well.”
Flinch. What did she say?
I snapped my tail out of sight. Hestia’s eyes were gleaming.
M-My tail is in danger!
When I scurried behind Rosaria to hide, Hestia pulled her gaze away with a look of regret.
Hestia stayed seated and chatted for quite some time. Eventually, she checked the clock and stood up from her seat.
“Regrettably, it’s time for me to get going. There are tasks I need to take care of.”
“You can always visit again next time, Hestia.”
“Then I won't hold back and will drop by again later. Lady Irene, let’s see each other again next time as well.”
“Ung. Bye-bye, Hestia.”
Click.
Hestia left. Phew. Now I can finally have some time to myself, right?
I popped what was already my fifth chocolate into my mouth. Normally, Rosaria would have told me to stop eating, but today she didn't.
It seemed she was letting it slide out of consideration for my mood.
Still, having a tail does have its perks, doesn't it?
I beamed happily. It felt like my usual cheerful spirits were slowly returning.
Just then.
Knock, knock.
A third knock echoed into the room. Who was it this time? I puffed out my cheeks. I was no longer in the mood to welcome any more visitors.
When Rosaria started to stand up, I shook my head.
“Irene will go see.”
With that, I hopped down from the sofa and threw the door wide open.
“Who is it! Irene wants to rest now! I’d appreciate it if you came next time!”
“Come next time?”
……Huh?
“What have you done today to need rest? You haven't even had your lessons yet.”
The person standing before the door was Kaid. Looking down at me with a crooked gaze, he seemed displeased by my anything-but-welcoming greeting.
“……Gasp. Papa?”
I froze on the spot.
Still standing at an angle before the doorway, Kaid offered a thin smile. A chilly draft seemed to whip past.
A shudder ran down my spine, making me twitch.
Of all people, why did it have to be Kaid?
As I floundered with my mouth open, unable to utter a single word, Kaid spoke up deliberately so I would hear.
“It’s a first for me, being turned away at the door in my own house.”
“…….”
“How amusing.”
It was the classic, ‘You’re the first person to ever shut the door in my face.’
When I stealthily averted my gaze from his, I could see the corners of Kaid’s lips curving into a deeper arch in the corner of my vision.
No, I didn't see anything.
Should I just pretend I noticed nothing and slam the door shut?
Toying with a thought whose consequences I could never handle, I gripped the doorknob tightly.
Very fortunately, before I could make a mess of things, Rosaria shifted the atmosphere.
Thanks to her, the crisis was diverted in a different direction.
“My? What brings you here at this hour, Head of the Family? Isn't this the time for the morning meeting?”
“It ended.”
“……So soon?”
Rosaria glanced at the clock with a puzzled look. Under normal circumstances, the meeting would still be well underway.
“It wasn't a particularly important agenda.”
“I see.”
“On my way back, I thought I’d drop by to see her face for a moment, and yet……”
Flinch.
I quickly slipped behind the door to hide.
Clinging to the doorknob, I peeked upward.
Having strode into the room at some point, Kaid was looking down at me as if dumbfounded.
I gave an awkward, sheepish grin. The corners of my mouth trembled slightly, and cold sweat beaded across my forehead.
“Irene missed Papa so much too.”
“Is this what it feels like to extort a bow from someone?”
“Dat’s just your imagination.”
“Is it.”
“Ung! It is!”
I shouted with all my might. With a faintly surprised expression, Kaid let out a soft chuckle.
It seemed his mood had softened. Not that he had been genuinely angry in the first place.
He really seemed to enjoy teasing me more and more these days.
“Did you also come by after hearing the news, Head of the Family?”
“Durias was excitedly babbling about it to every single person he crossed paths with.”
……Of all people, it had to be Durias who saw me!
If even Kaid had heard and come over, it was certain that every Black Mamba in the estate knew by now.
A heavy sigh tumbled out of my bleak heart.
Kaid glanced around the room, then leaned back on the sofa and crossed his legs.
“Looks like you already had guests.”
He gestured with his eyes toward the basket on the corner of the table.
“Yes, Young Master Seth and Hestia came by.”
“Dat’s right! Hestia came, and Seth oppa came by too!”
Unable to hide my joy, I beamed brightly, prompting Kaid to chuckle as well.
“Does Seth dropping by make you that happy?”
“Of course! Irene thought he came to tease me, but he actually came to congratulate me!”
“Oho?”
“An’ he also taught me how to make my tail disappear.”
I babbled on with the whole explanation as if bragging.
“That’s rather unexpected.”
“Right?”
It might just be my impression, but lately, it felt like Seth and I had grown closer.
Could it be said that his tone and attitude had softened a bit?
The prickly edge he displayed when we first met was now practically gone.
Though he still acted mischievous at times, it didn't feel like he did it out of genuine dislike.
Kaid gazed at me quietly for a moment before speaking again.
“Irene.”
“Ung?”
“I heard the two escort knights helped you hide your tail.”
“Ah…….”
“Do you dislike having a tail?”
“No.”
I shook my head, denying it.
“Then you must be bothered because it looks different from the rest of the clan.”
His tone was calm, yet the words struck right at the heart of the matter.
Utterly startled, I snapped my head up to look at Kaid. Seeing my reaction, Kaid wore an expression that said he had expected as much.
Because it came from Kaid of all people rather than anyone else, a strange feeling washed over me.
It was unbelievable that Kaid, of all people, had caught onto something not even Rosaria—who stayed by my side every single day—had guessed.
I stared blankly at Kaid.
Seeming lost in thought for a brief moment, he opened his mouth.
“Has anyone ever said anything to you about looking different?”
“No. Nobody said dat.”
“Then what is it?”
I hesitated to speak.
Reading the room, Rosaria quietly slipped out of the chamber. She must have judged that the two of us needed a private conversation.
Kaid did not press me for an answer. He simply waited for me to find my words.
Was it really alright to be completely honest about everything?
Fidgeting needlessly with the hem of my clothes, I finally parted my lips.
“……It feels like only Irene is different. Dere are no other birds.”
“And?”
“What am I?”
The fact that I was a bird was undeniably clear. And yet, I was living in the Astrophel family.
Nothing was more unsettling than that. If I can't blend in anywhere, what am I supposed to do?
To my question, Kaid answered.
“You are Irene Astrophel.”
“Irene knows dat too.”
“Then what is the problem?”
Kaid’s brow furrowed. I pressed my lips tightly together. A long silence lingered between us. Just as the ticking of the clock’s second hand became audible, Kaid spoke.
“Since you said you know it with your own mouth, surely it couldn't be, but don't tell me.”
Hm?
“Are you agonizing over what clan you belong to?”