I’m the Youngest Daughter of the Serpent Family
Chapter 57
Chapter 57
In the East lived the Bird Clan.
Could the Roisar family be part of the Bird Clan? Did they send a letter demanding they send me back? Why all of a sudden?
“What decision will the Lord make?”
“He’ll send her back, of course.”
“Come on, surely he wouldn’t.”
“He wouldn’t keep the young lady at the cost of making an enemy of the East.”
At those words, my mind went blank. Thump. My heart felt as if it were plummeting straight down.
What if they really send me back?
Anxiety washed over me. Would Kaid really try to protect me if it meant antagonizing the East?
Just as they’d said, there was no reason for him to go so far out of his way to keep me.
I wasn’t even his real daughter.
And yet…
He clearly told me that I was indeed a Black Mamba, and that wherever I went, I must never forget I was an Astrophel.
Those were words spoken before something like this happened, so maybe they meant nothing now.
Arvan, who had been silent, called out to me.
“Hey. Don’t pay attention to words like that. Why would Father send you away?”
“…”
“You don’t actually believe what they said, do you?”
Maybe this time, those people were right.
He had sometimes shown me an oddly excessive amount of attention and affection, but maybe this time would be different.
Because Kaid was the Lord of the family.
He was someone who existed for the sake of the family. His decision was the South’s stance.
Would he choose to sour relations with the East just to keep someone like me?
The chances of that were almost nonexistent.
Maybe the time to say goodbye to the family was drawing near.
* * *
“I presume you all know why you have been gathered here.”
Early afternoon.
An emergency meeting was convened in the Astrophel family.
It was all because of a single letter that had arrived from the Roisar family.
The brief letter had brought with it tremendous repercussions.
After all, the elders of the family had gathered in quick succession as a result.
“…Just what reason could the Roisar family have for suddenly sending such a letter?”
“Indeed. Why demand the young lady’s return out of nowhere after keeping quiet all this time?”
A heavy silence descended.
Kaid looked at the letter with cool eyes.
“Indeed. I wonder about that as well.”
“What exactly is written in it?”
Zeras asked with a grave expression.
“They say they will come to the South to fetch Irene.”
“To the South?”
A stir ran through the meeting room.
Judging from their declaration to visit in person, the Roisar family seemed firmly determined.
“Things are not progressing favorably. At this rate, they might even take this to trial.”
“I share that concern. If it comes to that, it will be disadvantageous for the South.”
Originally, taking in and raising a young beastman of a different clan was only permissible if the prior guardian had entrusted them.
Otherwise, written consent from the clan chieftain was required.
Currently, the Astrophel family held Irene without fulfilling either condition, which posed a serious issue.
Should the Roisar family file a lawsuit, they might be forced to send Irene away without being able to lift a finger.
That was not all.
If Irene’s origins were brought into question, the matter would only escalate further.
One elder, gauging the room, spoke up.
“I do not know what the Lord’s thoughts are, but if this continues, our family may be backed into an unfavorable position.”
“Protection of young beastmen is an issue to which all beastmen react sensitively.”
“Once fault is found, the issue will spiral out of control.”
It was a grave matter that could easily lead to a clash between the South and the East.
As each voiced their opinion, Baon, who had been listening in silence, furrowed his brow.
“Are you suggesting we send Lady Irene back to the East?”
“…Th-that wasn’t quite what I meant.”
Silence settled once more.
Everyone knew just how much Kaid cherished Irene, so no one could voice an opinion carelessly.
“However, this is rather strange.”
Durias, who had kept quiet while observing the situation until now, tilted his head.
“No matter how much I think about it, I cannot understand why the Roisar family would make such a demand. Is it not a reckless gamble for them?”
No matter how legitimate the claim might be, there was an overwhelming difference in power between the families.
It made no sense that they made such a demand despite knowing it could cause friction with the South.
While cherishing the young beastmen of one’s clan was universal, it was not something to trade for the safety of the entire family.
Zeras nodded in agreement.
“My thoughts exactly. It is strange indeed.”
“Indeed.”
It was an uncharacteristic recklessness. It was an act impossible without something solid to rely on.
Kaid let out a dry laugh.
A demand for Irene’s return immediately after abducting Ella from the East.
The situation was unfolding rather curiously.
Perhaps the peaceful South would become deeply entangled with the East because of this.
Looking at the pure-white feather insignia engraved upon the letter, Kaid smiled with amusement.
“Things are turning complicated.”
“…What will you do?”
Baon asked gently. Everyone was waiting for Kaid’s decision.
Kaid, having kept his eyes closed for a long time, opened them and spoke with a cold expression.
“Durias.”
“Yes.”
“Send a reply to the Roisar family. Tell them they may visit the South as they wish.”
* * *
Sniffle.
Upon returning to my room, the first thing I did was pack my bags.
The entire way back, Arvan had comforted me, saying it was utter nonsense, but it brought me no solace.
“Lady Irene. Why do you have such an expression?”
Rosaria, who was in the room, was startled upon seeing my face, which looked ready to burst into tears at any moment.
“Did something happen?”
“No. Nothin’ happened.”
When I shook my head without offering any real answer, Rosaria looked toward Arvan, who had followed me inside.
Arvan let out a sigh.
“How many times do I have to tell you Father would never send you away?”
“What do you mean by that? Sending Lady Irene away?”
Rosaria seemed not to have heard the news yet.
I bit my lip tightly.
I didn’t want to say the reason myself. Because if I did, it felt as though it would really become true.
As I stubbornly stared down at my bag, Arvan spoke in my stead.
“It seems the East asked for Irene to be sent back.”
“Pardon?!”
“Because of that, Father convened the elders and is holding a meeting right now.”
“Then surely, because of that…?”
Sure enough, Rosaria was utterly shocked upon hearing the explanation.
She then hastily snatched away the bag I had been packing.
“There is no way the Lord would send Lady Irene away!”
“Sniff.”
Tears welled up in my eyes.
It was the first time I had ever seen Rosaria get angry like this.
My pouty lips, on the verge of crying at any second, trembled faintly.
I looked up at Rosaria with sorrowful eyes.
Looking at me, she said in a resolute tone:
“If the Lord finds out what Lady Irene did today, he will be terribly upset.”
“…Papa will be upset?”
“Of course he will.”
Rosaria placed the bag high onto a shelf beyond my reach.
I rubbed my eyes.
Would Kaid truly not send me back?
I wanted to believe he wouldn’t, but in my anxious state, I couldn’t be certain.
“Ev’ryone said if I stay here, thin’s will get big, Rosaria.”
“That is absolutely not true.”
“They said Papa would have a hard time.”
“Who in the world would give up their daughter just because things get difficult?”
“…”
“He is not that kind of person, so you can set your mind at ease. Understood?”
“…Mm.”
Those words put my mind at ease just a tiny bit. Though the anxiety remained just as strong.
What if Kaid remembered that he had only decided to let me stay here temporarily?
And what if everyone found out about that?
The way they treated me might change.
As my expression failed to brighten, Arvan, watching me, knitted his brow.
“If you’re so worried, you can just go and tell Father.”
“Tell him what?”
“Tell him you don’t want to go to the East.”
“If I say dat, will Papa listen?”
Regardless of the meeting’s outcome?
“Has Father ever refused a request of yours? He even granted your wish to go out last time.”
That was true.
Kaid had never once turned down my requests.
No matter how bothersome or troublesome it was, he always granted what I asked.
Even if conditions were attached sometimes.
I jumped up.
“Arvan oppa is right. Den I’ll go and talk to Papa.”
“Shouldn’t you have a snack before you go?”
“Huh?”
Rosaria appeared holding a snack.
On the plate were mouthwatering pancakes generously drizzled with honey.
“One must always fill their stomach before undertaking an important task.”
That was true.
Because if you had no strength, you couldn’t do anything!
Then I should eat my snack first and go see him.
Gripping the fork with determination, I took a big bite of the pancake.
“But what should I say dere?”
Barging in recklessly and speaking might actually backfire.
Because Kaid despised that sort of thing.
“Is dere a good way?”
“Usually, when people have a favor to ask, they offer a bribe.”
“…A bwibe?”
“Don’t you have anything to give Father?”
“…I don’t have anythin’ like dat.”
As I put my head together with Arvan, falling into deep contemplation, Rosaria said with a smile:
“Then how about doing this?”
“How?”
The two of us looked at Rosaria simultaneously.
Could she have thought of a good method?
I waited for Rosaria’s words with an expectant expression.
“You could make a snack for the Lord together with Baharn and serve it to him.”
“Huh? Snacks with Baharn?”
“Yes. Once the meeting ends, we always serve fresh snacks and tea to the Lord.”
I see! That was wonderful news.
Arvan also nodded, seeming to think it wasn’t a bad idea.
I bounced up from my seat.
I felt like I had to hurry before Baharn made everything by himself.
“You will be able to find Baharn if you go to the dining hall kitchen.”
“Yeah! Irene will go and come back.”
Still, would Kaid like it?
Just as a bit of worry was about to creep in, Rosaria spoke.
“Whatever Lady Irene offers, the Lord will be delighted to receive it.”