Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Growing Pains
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The Aneaad Plains and the entire Benea River region were lands Kaide had never even glanced at.
Though it was a beautiful and peaceful area that other clans coveted, Kaide had no preference for places that were more peaceful than necessary.
Because they were unbearably dull.
But now, for the first time, he showed interest.
The reason was none other than ‘because it was so unbearably dull.’
Leading his clan personally, Kaide literally wiped out every clan that had been eyeing the territory.
"Just look at how he led the campaign himself. It's obvious she's the family's youngest lady."
"Then shouldn't we announce that the family has three heirs?"
I suppose so.
The vassals recalled that they had already announced the Astrofel family had two heirs.
"Ah. We should be boasting about having a young lady, too."
"...Sigh."
Sighs filled with disappointment erupted here and there.
Zeras, who was watching, let out a hearty laugh.
"You all seem more excited, even though you'll have more work to do."
"...Ah, is that how it seems?"
The vassals looked slightly abashed.
It made sense. The higher up the food chain, the significantly smaller the population.
Females, in particular, were so rare you could count them on one hand.
That was why the vassals were secretly curious.
"Is the young lady incredibly cute?"
"Lady Rosaria said she's so lovely it leaves you speechless."
Ah. Wow.
The vassals' eyes lit up in unison.
They desperately wanted to meet her just once. The youngest lady, Aileen.
The gathered vassals began glancing around before slipping away one by one.
It was obvious they were heading to the garden, where Aileen was often seen.
Zeras chuckled and shook his head. Then, he looked toward the back of the hallway and spoke.
"What are you doing hiding there, Lord Arban?"
He had suppressed his presence, but his skills were still unrefined.
A moment later, a boy with curly black hair and red eyes emerged from behind a marble pillar.
Despite his youth, the boy possessed a refined air, as if he had stepped out of a painting, and a beauty as perfect as a sculpture.
The first young master at least feigned rationality, but the second did not.
"I have a sister?"
"Yes, so you've heard."
"A bird?"
"That is correct."
Arban scowled fiercely.
"How can something like a bird be my sister?"
"Did the Gaju not acknowledge her?"
Though it was only a shallow interest for now.
"I don't recall hearing that Father has gone mad."
Zeras stifled a groan at Arban's unfiltered words.
He didn't know where Arban had learned to speak like that, but his sharp tongue was improving by the day.
"...Sigh. Young Master. What kind of way is that to speak of the Gaju?"
"Hmph. Otherwise, there's no way Father would have made such a decision."
Zeras closed his eyes in resignation.
He was no longer curious about who had taught him to speak that way.
There was something else that worried him more.
The thought of Aileen spending time with Arban and learning from him was truly horrifying.
‘Awe you cwazy?’
It might be cute coming from someone so small and adorable, but...
It couldn't be allowed.
Zeras could not let the family's last hope, the youngest lady, turn out like that.
"Young Master. You must be especially careful with your words in front of the young lady."
"Why do I have to watch what I say because of her?"
"There's a saying that you shouldn't even drink cold water carelessly in front of a child."
"Hmph. As if I'd ever acknowledge something like that as my sister."
Arban pouted and grumbled.
Even though it was almost time for his lessons, Arban lingered for a long time before clearing his throat and asking slyly.
"So, where is she?"
"You cannot go see her yet. The young lady is too little."
"What? I heard Father saw her. And the old man saw her, and so did Rosaria!"
"But Young Master, you can't control your strength, can you? You broke a wall just a few days ago, didn't you? The mansion won't last."
Arban flinched as Zeras spoke with a sigh.
He had no retort, as he had a long history of breaking not just the mansion's walls, but many other things besides.
Pressing his lips together, Arban looked resentful and stomped his foot hard.
*Crack.*
The floor cracked. *Oops.* A look of dismay crossed Arban's face.
Zeras raised an eyebrow, gently taunting him.
"Look at this. Now the floor is ruined, too."
"Just you watch. I'll master it within a few days!"
"Oh, will you now?"
"Yes! I can master something like this in no time!"
Thoroughly provoked, Arban fumed. In response, Zeras gave a triumphant smile.
He had just heard that the second young master's strength control was not progressing well, which was causing some trouble.
Perhaps if he stimulated his competitive spirit, the problem could be properly fixed.
"Then I shall look forward to good news, Young Master Arban."
Arban spun around and started walking away.
His discontented red eyes flickered toward the garden where the vassals had gone, then away.
*I want to see her, too! My supposedly cute and lovely sister!*
Unable to reveal his true feelings, Arban walked off irritably, muttering to himself.
"...It's so damn hard to meet my sister just once."
* * *
"Piii... Pii."
Lately, my body had felt unusually heavy. I had no appetite for food or water, and no energy at all.
"Pii..."
On top of that, my whole body ached. My wings, my feet, my back—everything hurt.
Why was this happening? Tears welled up in my eyes.
I hadn't been well since the morning, so Rosaria hadn't been able to leave my side.
"Why is this happening to you?"
"Pipipipi."
"Yes, I'm right here."
Rosaria placed a wet cloth on my feverish forehead.
I let out a hot breath and burrowed deeper into the blankets.
"This won't do. I must call a physician."
"Piiit! Piit piit!"
"No, you must. I'll be right back, so please wait just a moment."
I shook my head, chirping my refusal, but Rosaria stood up resolutely.
*Ah, no. I hate shots! Don't go, Rosaria!*
"Pipipipi—!"
*Click.*
But despite my desperate calls, the merciless sound of the door closing echoed.
"Piit..."
*Sniffle.*
Lying alone in the room, I felt even sicker. I hated the silence, so I counted the patterns on the ceiling one by one.
How much time had passed?
The door opened, and Rosaria came in with a woman who appeared to be a physician.
Half relieved and half wary, I remained on guard.
What if she brought a syringe?
I quickly scanned the physician's hands. Thankfully, she wasn't holding anything.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Aileen. My name is Hestia."
Hestia tucked her soft black bob behind her ear and waved.
Her pale green eyes curved into crescents as she smiled gently.
"Now, I'm just going to check your condition."
"Pii."
I hugged the blanket tightly.
Hestia, who must have been briefed on the way, began examining me and asked a few questions.
"When did these symptoms start to appear?"
"Since this morning. She's been lethargic for a few days, but never as listless as she is today."
"Does she dislike it when you touch her wings or legs? Or has she been sleeping poorly at night?"
*Huh? How did she know?*
I gasped.
I stared wide-eyed at Hestia, who was pinpointing my symptoms exactly.
After quickly checking each symptom and writing something on her chart, she smiled warmly.
"Congratulations, Lady Aileen."
"Pii?"
"It's growing pains."
...Growing pains?
It was a reason I'd never considered. Rosaria, too, seemed not to have guessed, as she was silent for a moment.
So even baby birds get growing pains.
I tried moving my wings again. A tingling ache spread through them.
To think all this pain was just because I was growing!
"This is about the right time for growing pains to start."
"Really? ...Then she might be able to take human form soon."
"Of course. She may be in a lot of pain, so give her gentle massages from time to time. Using warm water would be even better. Like this."
Hestia carefully massaged my wing.
As she pressed down with just the right amount of pressure, a refreshing sensation spread through my body.
"Piit. Piit. Piiit."
"Does that feel good?"
"Piii!"
*It feels amazing!* It felt like the tense muscles were loosening, and the pain was subsiding.
Rosaria, who was rubbing my other wing, let out a soft, happy laugh.
Her expression, which had been full of worry, had brightened.
"I'll have to prepare some clothes for Lady Aileen. ...This might really be too much for my heart. I need to prepare myself."
"Huhu. I know a good place, shall I tell you about it?"
Hestia whispered as if sharing a secret while continuing the massage.
Rosaria showed interest and leaned in.
"Where is it?"
"I saw a shop on the outskirts of the city that specializes in children's clothes. They have a truly wide selection. The shoes are lovely, too."
"That's wonderful information. What's the name of the dress shop?"
Rosaria, who was carefully murmuring the address Hestia gave her to memorize it, suddenly wore a puzzled expression.
"But Hestia, how do you know about it? Do you have children?"
"Of course not."
"But then...?"
Hestia smiled brightly.
"Oh, you didn't know? Lady Aileen is incredibly famous in the family right now. Everyone is dying to meet her. As her personal physician, this level of preparation is nothing. I anticipated that her growing pains would start soon."
*Everyone wants to see me?*
That was the first I'd heard of it.
As I lifted my head at this sudden news of my fame, Hestia cupped my cheeks.
"If I could, I'd take a print of your little foot. I've been waiting for the day you would call for me."
...What in the world is going on?
Suddenly, Hestia started to seem dangerous.
Overcome by a strange sense of fear, I wiggled my feet and hid them.