I’m the Youngest Daughter of the Serpent Family
Chapter 6
“Are you having fun, Little One?”
“Peep!”
“Look, soap bubbles!”
“Peep, peep!”
Right now, I was basking in pure paradise. It felt as though all the fatigue from a grueling day had melted completely away.
To think I could enjoy bubbles floating through the air while soaking in a tub full of warm suds.
“Peeeeep……”
Heaven itself couldn’t be better than this. I stretched my wings out as far as they would go, indulging in a luxurious yawn.
I had tasted my very first joy the moment we returned from the forest.
My room had been completely redecorated.
I had thought the original room was already ridiculously luxurious, but Rosaria had insisted otherwise.
At first, I hadn't understood what she meant, but the moment I saw the newly decorated room, it all made sense.
The room was so lovely it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it had been reborn—just like me.
White chiffon curtains fluttered gently by the window, and right beside them sat a large bed that looked unimaginably plush at a single glance.
The carpet on the floor had been replaced with one of soft, pure white, accompanied by a table holding a flower vase and even a sofa.
That alone was breathtaking, but……
“Here it comes again, Little One!”
“Peeeeeep!”
When Rosaria blew a deep breath, iridescent rainbow bubbles floated gently into the air.
This time, I'm definitely catching one.
Holding my breath like a sleek predator stalking its prey, I glared at the bubbles.
To be honest, today was the very first time in my life I had ever seen soap bubbles.
At first, not knowing what those round spheres floating through the air were, I had been busy scrambling away in terror……
Before I knew it, I was pouring every ounce of strength into trying to catch one.
Drift, float.
“Peep!”
I backed up just the right distance to intercept a bubble hovering in midair.
Waiting for the perfect moment, I flapped my little wings.
“Peeeep!”
How many times did I repeat that?
Just as my entire body ran out of steam, Rosaria signaled the end of playtime.
“Let’s stop here for today, Little One. It’s gotten quite late.”
“Peep, peeeep! Peep!”
No! I haven’t even caught one properly yet! Can’t we do it just one last time?
I dug my feet into the tub and shook my head stubbornly.
Seeing that, Rosaria pulled out her trump card.
“Don’t you want to hurry and lie down in your new bed, Little One?”
“……Peep?”
“It’s going to be wonderfully cozy. You can even hop and play around on it.”
At those tempting words, the strength slipped right out of my wings.
A cozy bed. If even the basket was so comfortable, just how warm and soft would the bed be?
I completely let go of the stubborn resistance keeping me in the tub.
Once I stepped out obediently, Rosaria wrapped me in a towel and carried me out of the bath.
And then came the moment my body finally sank into that long-awaited bed.
“Peep!”
So soft.
“Peeeep……!”
With her gentle hands softly drying my feathers on top of that, my eyes began blinking drowsily shut.
I decided to simply surrender myself to the darkening blur of sleep.
“……Peeeeep…… peep…….”
“Oh my, Little One?”
“……Peep…….”
Enveloped in a lavish comfort completely unlike the basket, I drifted straight into a sweet, deep slumber.
* * *
After returning from the forest, exceptionally peaceful days followed.
I grew steadily, and my body grew a little bigger too.
Even so, it was only a tiny difference, but these days, one of my daily routines was looking in the mirror.
“Peeeep.”
“Little One, your tail has grown a bit more!”
“Peep!”
In front of the mirror, I spun around and around in circles, trying to see my hard-to-spot tail.
What used to be a stubby little tail was gradually taking on a respectable shape.
At first, it was annoying because it kept getting in the way whenever I sat down.
However, when Rosaria brought another mirror and angled it so I could see my tail clearly, I changed my mind completely.
I-It’s pretty, isn’t it?
I liked my tail very much.
It almost looked like a little horn sprouting from my rump right now, but she said that once I grew more, it would become long and silky like an adult bird’s.
Then it would be even prettier, right?
“Your steps have become so much steadier lately!”
“Peep!”
I had a feeling the tail helped me keep my balance.
My walking, which used to be precarious every single day, was finally steadying out.
I could even run short distances now—though I did tumble over occasionally.
I spun my little body around and around, trying to catch another glimpse of my tail.
“Peep-peep! Peep!”
“Ghk.”
“Peep?”
And with each passing day, the number of times Rosaria clutched at her heart only multiplied.
I tottered over in tiny steps to check on Rosaria, who was slumped over with her head bowed.
“N-No. Calm down. You might hurt the little one if you get too excited.”
“Peep-peep-peep-peep.”
“Phew.”
“Peep-peep-peep-peep!”
I called out to Rosaria, who was muttering something that sounded suspiciously like a villain's line.
I couldn't speak real words yet, but whenever I chirped like this, she understood that I was calling for her.
“Yes, Little One. Would you like a snack?”
“Peep.”
As if nothing had happened, Rosaria regained her composure and returned to her normal self.
She fed me the treats from the small bowl one by one, popping them gently into my mouth.
Delicious!
My tail wagged back and forth on its own.
There was really nothing quite like a tail when it came to expressing emotions.
As I swayed my body from side to side to show how happy I was, Rosaria smiled warmly.
“You’re in your growing phase, so you must eat plenty and grow big and strong.”
“Peep.”
“Lately, taking care of you feels like the most rewarding thing in the world, Little One. I’m so very happy.”
I gulped down the snack and opened my beak wide again.
As if she had been waiting for that, Rosaria fed me another treat.
Every single day was so blissful that I often wondered if it was all a dream.
“Peeeep!”
If only every day could be just like today. I leaned back against the cushion and stretched my legs out.
Still, I can’t live like this forever, can I? Once I become an adult, I’ll probably have to leave this place.
No, will I even be able to stay here until I grow up?
Before then, the master of the house might change his mind and tell me to get out.
After all, he clearly didn't like me.
Thinking about an uncertain future where I might be kicked out at any moment made my mood plummet.
It was overwhelmingly peaceful here, but there was no telling what the outside world was like.
“Peeeeep…….”
A sigh escaped me all on its own. Seeing that, Rosaria spoke up.
“Little One, are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
“Peep-peep-peep-peep.”
“Pardon?”
Clearing away the empty snack bowl, Rosaria opened her eyes wide in surprise.
I shook my head listlessly.
No. Once I become an adult bird, I have to manage on my own.
But the world is far too harsh for a baby bird to survive in!
On top of that, I was becoming thoroughly accustomed to Rosaria's doting care.
What if I end up all alone later?
I really don’t want to be alone again.
As I pulled out my worries about the future one by one, my tail drooped limp against the floor.
“Is something troubling you?”
“Peeep.”
I shook my head, signaling that it was nothing.
“But your tail is drooping?”
“Peep-peeeep.”
It’s really nothing.
Rosaria blinked in confusion, completely at a loss.
After sitting there dejectedly for a long while, I pushed myself up with an internal grunt.
I can’t just keep digging myself into a rut like this!
“Peep!”
First, let’s find something I can actually do.
Gathering my resolve and flexing my strength, I felt my tail perk straight back up.
No matter how many times I saw it, it was truly fascinating.
The pure wonder of having a tail.
I had a tail in my previous life as well, but it had never reacted so honestly to every shift in my emotions.
No, perhaps it had always been honest, but there had simply never been anything worth reacting to.
Droop.
My tail sank again. Remembering my past life instantly soured my mood.
I shook my head vigorously to banish the useless thoughts.
“Peep-peep!”
No. I’m not who I used to be anymore.
I patted my cheeks lightly with both wings.
Alright. Before I reach adulthood, I’ll build up enough strength to survive out there on my own!
“Peep. Peep!”
Snap.
My tail sprang completely upright once more.
Toddle, toddle.
I waddled over to the water dish sitting beside the snack container and dipped my beak in.
So refreshing!
After drinking my fill, I wiped my wet beak with my wing.
Back then, I had no idea.
I had no idea just how worried Rosaria looked as she watched my state lurch wildly from one extreme to another by the second.
Nor did I realize what sort of misunderstanding that would plant in her mind.
If only I had known, I would have done everything in my power to let her know that wasn't it at all.
