Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: The North
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During their return to the family estate after successfully shedding, Set and Arban ran without rest.
This was made possible by their explosive increase in pheromones, which granted them bodies capable of running all day without tiring.
Meanwhile, a Black Mamba guarding the castle gates looked on with puzzlement.
"What's that coming from over there?"
The other guard replied indifferently.
"Probably just passing by."
"I think they're coming this way."
"Seriously? Who'd be in that much of a rush to get to our estate? Be realistic."
"I suppose, but..."
Their speed was increasing.
Individuals with powerful pheromones were approaching, heading directly for the Astrofel estate.
The two Black Mambas stepped forward to identify the approaching figures.
And moments later, they swiftly opened the gates.
This was because the newcomers' appearance alone was proof of their identity.
Black hair and red eyes.
They were Astrofel.
Dazed by their unrelenting speed, the two Black Mambas offered a greeting as the pair approached the now-open gates.
"Welcome, young masters. Congratulations on your safe return."
"Yeah."
With Arban's curt, half-hearted reply, the two Astrofel shot through the gates at incredible speed and disappeared.
The two Black Mambas guarding the gates turned their attention to Durias and Orca, who were following behind.
"Welcome, Lord Durias. Lord Orca."
"Thank you for your service."
"Not at all. But why were the young masters in such a hurry?"
Durias answered as if it were obvious.
"They must be going to see Lady Aileen. She must have been waiting for them."
"Ah..."
But for some reason, the two Black Mambas' reactions were lukewarm. Orca asked, puzzled.
"What is it? Has something happened?"
"Well..."
After exchanging an uneasy glance, one of the Black Mambas spoke up hesitantly.
"Lady Aileen is not currently at the mansion."
Durias pressed a hand to his forehead.
This was a disaster.
* * *
"Something's wrong."
Arban narrowed his eyes as he arrived in the mansion's lobby.
The mansion was unnaturally quiet. And what was this strange, bleak atmosphere...?
"What are these bear paws?"
"Looks like Lord Dante paid a visit."
"But it looks like a brawl happened here."
The lobby looked as though a massive brawl had taken place.
What on earth happened here?
Not only the floor, but the walls were also damaged. Set's eyes narrowed as he noticed it.
He slowly extended his senses throughout the entire mansion.
And he realized that Aileen's presence could not be felt anywhere.
Set's expression darkened frighteningly.
"Aileen isn't home."
"What are you talking about? If she's not home, then where could she..."
Arban, who had been about to argue that it was impossible, fell silent.
If Aileen had been in the mansion, she would have heard the news from someone and come running out by now.
There was no way the Aileen who had cried her heart out, begging them not to go, wouldn't appear.
A dark smile spread across Set's lips as he scanned every nook and cranny of the mansion.
"I think we need an explanation."
"Agreed."
Arban's eyes flashed from beneath his curly black hair.
Crackle. Crackle. A gloomy aura began to radiate from him. Every surface his pheromones touched began to corrode.
Durias and Orca, arriving late to the lobby, quickly covered their noses against the pulsating scent.
"Young Master Arban, please calm down. I've found out where Lady Aileen is."
"Where."
Two pairs of chilling red eyes turned to Durias. A cold sweat ran down his back.
"I'm told she went to the North."
The North.
At those words, Set's and Arban's faces turned cold. They seemed to be asking, 'My sister went where?'
"The North, you say."
Set mulled it over. Aileen went to the North. Why? No, the reason wasn't really important.
Something else was.
Arban sneered.
"He's probably wagging his tail excitedly right about now."
That damn tiger.
The thought of the tiger fawning over Aileen made his displeasure soar.
"Quite the boisterous arrival."
Set and Arban turned their heads at Kaide's appearance. He smirked at his two sons' obvious displeasure.
"Disappointed that Aileen isn't here, are we?"
"We heard she went to the North."
Set replied. Kaide nodded.
"Yes. I sent her to the North for a while for her intermediate growth."
"Alone?"
"Of course not. I sent Hestia and all her guards with her."
That was a relief, at least.
Having someone with her was better than having no one.
Set smiled brightly.
"We're back, Father."
"Yes."
"And..."
He gestured to Arban and said cheerfully.
"We're going to take a little trip to the North."
Kaide smirked, as if he had expected it.
"You're asking for pointless permission."
The two of them, now adults, no longer needed his permission.
* * *
Not long after crossing the northern border, the carriage came to a stop before the Kiraas family estate.
I took a deep breath, trying to ease the tension that wouldn't leave me.
I still hadn't gotten used to being escorted by members of the Kiraas clan the entire way here...
"Wow, the castle is huge."
"It looks about the same size as our family's, doesn't it?"
"The feeling is completely different."
The Kiraas family castle was incredibly grand. It felt like looking at an ancient palace.
The magnificent white castle, soaring high into the sky, exuded an unapproachable aura.
It was a completely different feeling from the South.
If the Astrofel castle possessed a delicate and refined beauty, the Kiraas estate was majesty incarnate.
I swallowed nervously.
It finally sank in that I was really in the North.
"Are you nervous, my lady?"
"Yes. Very... I'll be able to do well, right? I'll be able to get along here, right?"
"You didn't come alone, my lady. I'm here, and so are the other guards, so please don't worry too much."
Her words eased my worries a little. I wrapped the hooded fur cloak around myself.
It would be incomparably colder outside than it was when we'd briefly opened the door.
Click.
When I finished preparing and opened the carriage door, I saw Sage.
"Sage?"
"You've arrived, Aileen."
"Oh, yeah."
Sage offered his hand. I looked down at it awkwardly before taking it and carefully stepping down.
In that moment, intense gazes shot toward me from all directions.
"Hm?"
What was that?
I looked around, puzzled. But the members of the Kiraas clan were all staring straight ahead, as if dedicated to their duty.
That's strange.
I definitely felt those stares.
"Let's go inside."
"Okay."
Crunch. Crunch.
The snow felt soft and fluffy under my feet.
Fascinated by the snow, which I was stepping on for the first time, I made a point of walking on the freshly fallen drifts.
Suddenly, I heard Sage let out a small laugh. I looked up at him.
"What are you laughing at?"
"You look like you're having fun."
Sage pointed at my footprints and asked.
"Stepping in the snow. Is it fun?"
Ah. I felt embarrassed and averted my gaze. He must have been watching me the whole time.
As I tried to feign indifference and walked on, Sage matched my pace and followed.
"Aileen."
"What."
"Why are you embarrassed?"
"Don't ask when you already know."
I couldn't help but grumble. Then, Sage called my name again mischievously.
"Aileen."
"What is it now?"
"Did you miss me?"
"...Huh?"
I looked flustered. 'Did I miss him?' all of a sudden. Sage remained calm, despite my bewildered reaction.
"Ah. I guess I was the only one who missed you."
"...Wh-what?"
At that moment, I heard sharp intakes of breath from all around, followed by someone's horrified muttering.
"...Unbelievable. What did I just witness?"
* * *
At the same time.
Diel's eyes sparkled at the interesting news.
"You say Aser is looking into the elders' past activities?"
"Yes, that is correct. I believe he may have noticed something."
The man answered, bowing so low it was almost uncomfortable.
Diel smiled, amused by the man's report. The reason for Aser's actions was obvious.
"It seems he's trying to find you."
"...Me, you say?"
"Yes, you."
At the words that he was the target, the man's grating voice grew somewhat stiff.
"What would you have me do, Lord Diel?"
"Do nothing, just as you always have."
Trying to do something might only arouse more suspicion.
In Aser's eyes, everything must seem suspicious right now.
There was no need to reveal himself as the culprit through some unnecessary action.
"Don't try to watch what he's doing, and don't try to distance yourself to avoid suspicion."
That would be the most suspicious behavior of all. Diel's dark amethyst eyes gleamed coldly.
"Then he will misunderstand on his own. He might even be suspecting someone already."