Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Still a Snow Rabbit
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Something unavoidable must have happened to the Astrofel family.
Otherwise, they would never have sent Aileen to the North so readily.
But the letter only vaguely mentioned that Aileen wanted to keep her promise to Sage.
Muhella rose leisurely.
Things were taking an interesting turn.
"I must go inform someone of this news."
"What?! Lady Muhella, wait!"
Arisa called out to her urgently, but Muhella simply gave a light wave and left the office.
Muhella walked past her vassals, who bowed in greeting, and headed for the manor's training grounds.
There, she found Sage, who had shed his boyish appearance and grown up considerably.
In a world of white, Sage, with his golden hair and blue eyes, slowly turned his gaze.
"Mother?"
The moment he saw Muhella's meaningful expression, Sage frowned.
"Why are you making that face? It's unsettling."
"What do you mean, 'that face'?"
"You know what I mean."
"How disappointing. I wonder where the cute little Sage has gone."
Muhella shook her head. There was no trace of the young Sage she remembered.
Back then, teasing him had been fun, but now that he was older, it wasn't nearly as amusing.
However, the corners of Muhella's lips refused to come down.
She was confident this time.
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
How would he react to the news of Aileen's arrival in the North? Would he be happy? Or indifferent?
He might have even forgotten Aileen existed altogether. After all, Sage had never mentioned her since that day.
Perhaps it had been nothing more than a fleeting childhood emotion.
"I have some news for you, Sage."
"For me?"
"Yes. Do you, by any chance, remember Aileen?"
"...Aileen?"
Sage tilted his head as if he didn't know who she was talking about.
*No way*, Muhella thought, studying Sage's face.
There was no fluctuation in his emotions. His perfectly calm pheromones only flustered Muhella more.
"Don't tell me you don't remember."
"I remember."
"Then what about the time you invited Aileen to the North?"
Sage fell silent.
Muhella pressed a hand to her forehead. *Of course.*
It seemed it really had been just a fleeting childhood emotion.
Then again, that was normal.
Besides, Sage hadn't mentioned Aileen once since that day.
Muhella's excitement completely fizzled out.
"Anyway, your friend Aileen is coming to the North."
"Ah."
It was a dry response. Muhella couldn't hide her disappointment.
*Does he no longer feel anything special for Aileen?*
That was highly likely.
Sage's whims were as fickle as the heavens.
Still, she had thought he considered that girl to be different. Muhella clicked her tongue in disappointment.
If there was any silver lining, it was that he at least remembered Aileen.
"It's good that you remember. You should be her guide while she stays in the North."
"..."
"Do it, even if it's a bother. The precious young lady of the Astrofel family is coming in person; the least you can do is escort her. It wouldn't hurt to get close to her, so try to behave."
When Sage became the next Gaju, Aileen would be a very reliable asset.
It could also be an opportunity to strengthen their relationship with the South.
Muhella gently coaxed Sage.
"You two got along quite well, didn't you? You even let her catch you when you were playing together, remember?"
"..."
"You don't remember that either?"
This was a total disaster. He couldn't even remember that!
It was almost infuriating to think she had been the only one remembering it as an amusing event all this time.
That was something that should have been impossible, even if the heavens and earth were to split apart!
She had been so sure that Aileen was the only one who had ever caught Sage—past, present, or future.
Muhella waved her hand dismissively.
"Anyway, just keep that in mind. Don't go bothering her, and don't let on that you don't remember. Got it?"
"I understand. When is Aileen coming?"
"She'll be here in a few days."
"I see."
Sage let out a short laugh. Muhella grew anxious. *Surely he isn't planning on doing something to the girl.*
It wasn't long ago that Sage had gotten rid of all the other clan members his age who were nearing their coming-of-age.
He wasn't planning on doing something even more outrageous than that, was he?
If he did, it would truly mean war with the South.
"I'm only saying this out of an abundance of caution, but your guest is a child of the Astrofel family. You understand that, right?"
"I know."
Sage's lips curled into a smile.
"...I'll trust you."
"Yes."
Muhella left the training grounds, her fighting spirit completely gone.
Watching her retreating figure, Sage glanced down at his arm. He murmured with a subtle expression.
"Is she still like a snow rabbit? If so, it'll be hard to hold back this time."
* * *
Meanwhile, on her way back, Muhella couldn't shake the lingering unease in her heart.
What was this strangely nagging feeling?
She'd expected him to refuse, given his temperament and his absolute refusal to do anything bothersome.
Sage agreeing so readily was suspicious.
For someone who had eliminated all the Su-in who settled near his territory just because he found them annoying, it was a remarkably docile reaction.
*Don't tell me...*
*Is he pretending not to remember?*
It was a sudden hypothesis, but a very convincing one.
Muhella stopped in her tracks and let out a scoff of disbelief. "Ha!"
Soon, the smile vanished from her face. Muhella frowned as she started walking again.
"That cunning little brat."
* * *
Early in the morning.
The preparations for the journey to the North were complete.
I forced my reluctant feet to move and climbed into the carriage.
My escorts were all coming with me.
I didn't expect the North to allow me to bring my own guards.
It was an unexpected development, and even Kaide seemed inwardly surprised.
"Dad, I'm leaving!"
"Alright."
"Is that it?"
I stuck my head out the window and looked up at Kaide.
This is the first time I'll be so far away. And I don't even know when I'll be back!
Kaide's attitude was so composed it was almost upsetting.
When I looked at him with furrowed brows, the corners of Kaide's mouth lifted faintly.
"Stay safe and have a good trip, Aileen."
"Hmph, I will."
With my escorts here, how could I get hurt? I replied sulkily.
When my mood didn't improve, Kaide sighed, looking troubled.
At that, Baon, who was standing nearby, grinned as if he understood.
"If you keep delaying, the Gaju might change his mind, Lady Aileen."
"Huh?"
"You might not get to leave for the North at all."
...Ah.
Hearing Baon's words, I understood Kaide's behavior.
He was afraid he'd get soft if he showed too much emotion.
He was reining in his feelings as much as possible. Kaide patted my head.
I let go of my sulky expression.
"I'll contact you often."
"Okay! I'll contact you every day, too."
"...If you change your mind on the way, you can come back."
I held back a laugh.
"You're the one who told me to go to the North."
"...If *your* mind changes, you can come back. We can always look for another way."
"What's that supposed to mean!"
I shook my head, telling him not to joke.
But deep down, I thought that if it was Kaide, he could actually make it happen.
But it would take an incredibly long time.
For an unknown length of time, he would devote all his attention solely to me.
That wasn't what I wanted. Kaide had a duty to look after the family.
"Dad. Wait a second."
"Hm?"
I gestured for Kaide to lean down for a moment.
Though puzzled, he did as I asked and bent down.
I cupped his face with both hands.
"...What do you think you're doing?"
His eyebrows shot up.
I could hear everyone from the clan who had come to see me off gasp.
They seemed quite shocked.
No one could have predicted that I would dare to touch Kaide's face.
I faced the bewildered Kaide and gave him a bashful smile.
It wouldn't do for him to be this surprised. The real shock was yet to come!
*Chu. Chu.*
I quickly planted a kiss on each of Kaide's cheeks.