Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: The Pecking Order
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"This isn't the Sage I knew."
After returning to my room, I fell into deep thought.
In the time we hadn't seen each other, Sage seemed to have become a completely different person, someone I no longer recognized.
The Sage who used to play hide-and-seek with me was nowhere to be found.
Be careful in front of a predator? Was he threatening me?
But there was one thing Sage didn't know.
"Hmph. I'm not the same person I used to be, either!"
For some reason, it felt like Sage wanted to redefine our relationship.
I'd heard that even among friends, predators establish a hierarchy. Could that be what Sage wanted?
If so, I was deeply disappointed and hurt.
"Stupid Sage."
Who did he think would just go along with that? If he thought I'd be a pushover, he was sorely mistaken.
As I was stewing in my annoyance, there was a knock on the door.
*Knock, knock.*
"Who is it?"
"Lady Aileen, it's me. Hestia."
"Hestia!"
"Do you like the room?"
Hestia came in and looked around the interior, as if checking to see if it was suitable for me.
"Yes. They seem to have taken great care in preparing it. How are the rooms for you and the other guards?"
"They're cozy and nice. It seems Lord Kiraas wasn't just saying things when he said he'd prepared everything with care."
That was a relief.
I had been worried that I might be the only one staying in a comfortable room.
Hestia took something out of her pocket. It was a pheromone stone.
The intricately crafted purple stone shimmered faintly.
Hestia handed it to me.
"I collected this on our way to the Kiraas estate. Would you like to try it?"
"Wow, it's pretty. I'll try it."
*Clink.* A necklace with the pheromone stone as a centerpiece was fastened around my neck.
In that instant, a cool energy flowed into my body.
I gasped in surprise.
I had thought I was used to minor imbalances in my pheromones by now.
But I could feel my unstable pheromones rapidly stabilizing throughout my entire body.
So this was why they said I needed the northern energy.
"How do you feel, Lady Aileen?"
"It's so comforting, Hestia. I understand now why Father sent me to the North."
I had once wondered if we couldn't just send someone to collect the northern energy and bring it back.
I had been curious why he would send me to the North, risking the exposure of our family's secret.
So this was why.
Kaide must have known about this, right?
A wave of emotion washed over me. If he had put the family first, he wouldn't have sent me to the North.
Kaide's sincerity touched my heart deeply. It must not have been an easy decision.
As I fell silent, lost in thought, Hestia quickly reached out to take the necklace back.
"Lady Aileen, is the energy not compatible with you? Then I should take it off right away...!"
"N-no, that's not it. I'm fine, Hestia."
"Then what is it?"
"I just... miss my father."
I wanted to stabilize quickly and return to my waiting family.
Set and Arban should be back in the South by now. I wondered how they would react to the news that I was in the North.
There were so many things I wanted to ask them, but it was a shame I couldn't.
I should send a letter soon.
"I'll start growing quickly again, won't I?"
"You will, Lady Aileen. Your growth has always accelerated whenever your pheromones found balance."
"Won't the people of the North find it strange?"
If I grew too fast, they would surely find it suspicious.
Besides...
"Hestia."
"Yes, Lady Aileen."
"Sage noticed I'm hiding something."
"He did?"
"He actually asked me about it earlier. What I was hiding."
And he told me to be more careful in front of a predator if I wanted to keep it hidden.
I swallowed the rest of my words.
Hestia's expression hardened slightly.
"Sage Kiraas did?"
"Yes. I tried to be careful, but he found out. Though I don't think he knows the details."
"...Well, it shouldn't be a major issue."
"Hmm?"
That was it? Hestia replied with a lukewarm tone.
"For one, he's not the type to do anything that would harm you."
"I think so too. But something a little unsettling happened this time."
"Unsettling?"
"Yes."
I nodded glumly. Thinking about it again made my heart feel heavy.
Hestia asked with a curious look.
"What happened?"
"Well..."
I hesitated to answer.
Was it okay to tell Hestia about something that happened between friends?
I was worried I would just make those around me worry by telling them about a problem I should solve myself.
Seeing my hesitation, Hestia smiled gently.
"It's all right, you can tell me, Lady Aileen. I'm also acting as your guardian here. You can tell me anything."
"I think Sage wants to establish a pecking order."
"...Excuse me? A... pecking order?"
See? Even Hestia, a Black Mamba, finds it ridiculous.
I puffed up my cheeks and pouted.
"It sounds absurd even to you, doesn't it, Hestia? It's weird for friends to establish a pecking order. Besides, we live in completely different places."
"Did... Sage Kiraas say that himself?"
"No, not exactly."
I shook my head. But it felt like that's what it was. I couldn't think of anything else.
As I answered with a serious frown, Hestia's expression turned peculiar.
She blinked slowly, then covered her mouth and her shoulders began to shake.
I could even see faint tears forming in her eyes.
I glared at her sullenly.
"Is this funny to you, Hestia?"
"...Pfft, ahem. No, not at all. Oh, my. What should we do? You must have been very upset."
"I really hate it! This is serious!"
Thinking about it made me even angrier.
As I fumed and vented my complaints, Hestia finally composed her expression.
"So, Lady Aileen, what are you going to do now?"
"Umm, well..."
* * *
The next day.
My eyes flew open. It was my first night in the Kiraas estate.
I had been sleeping soundly, burrowed from head to toe under the covers, but now I sat up, disheveled.
"Good morning, Lady Aileen."
"Hestia...?"
I turned my head in surprise. Hestia was sitting on the sofa, reading a book.
"How are you here?"
"I asked Lord Kiraas for his permission. I told him I would stay with you while you adjust to this place."
"I see. Thank you, Hestia."
The environment here was so different from the South. I thought it would take me a while to get used to it on my own.
I was relieved that Hestia was here to help. A small, happy smile appeared on my face.
"I feel so much better now."
"It's my duty, of course."
"Mhm."
"Shall we get you up now, Lady Aileen?"
"Huh? Why?"
I was still enjoying the lingering sleepiness under the blanket, and my eyes widened.
"Lord Kiraas has invited you to have breakfast with him this morning."
"What?! What time is it?"
I shot up in bed. The sun was already up outside. He had invited me to breakfast? Was I too late?
As I flustered about, Hestia handed me clothes she had prepared in advance.
"You're not late yet, so you can take your time getting ready, Lady Aileen."
"Really? ...Ah, what a relief."
"And you can switch to this pheromone stone."
"Okay! Thanks."
While I was sleeping during the night, the necklace had turned cloudy. It seemed the energy had run out quickly.
Thanks to it, I had slept soundly.
I changed the necklace and walked with light steps into the bathroom.
After washing up, I finished getting ready and left the room with Hestia.
The snow visible outside the window still felt unfamiliar.
"Where's the dining hall?"
"It's on this floor. It seems the servants here are strictly forbidden from entering the third floor."
"I see. It's different from the South."
In the South, they could enter with Kaide's permission.
Although access from the second floor up was strictly controlled.
I decided to remember the differences from the South one by one. I couldn't afford to make any careless mistakes.
When we went down to the second floor, I saw a large red door beyond the central hall.
The door's frame was decorated with gold.
Hestia pointed to it.
"It's in here, Lady Aileen."
"Are you coming too, Hestia?"
"Yes. Fortunately, he gave his permission. It seems Lord Kiraas intends to provide every convenience to make you feel comfortable here."
"I must be sure to thank him."
I opened the dining hall door and stepped inside.
A red chandelier immediately caught my eye, and at the same time, I saw two people waiting for us.
Muhella was the first to speak.
"You've arrived right on time. Please, have a seat, Aileen."
"Thank you, Lady Muhella. And thank you for allowing Hestia to accompany me."
"It was nothing."
"Still, thank you. I think I'll be able to stay here comfortably because of it."
I meant it. As I thanked her several times, Muhella let out a small laugh.
It seemed my gratitude had pleased her.
I glanced at Sage. Our eyes met, and I realized he had been watching me for some time.
I faltered at the unexpected gaze. I only meant to check what he was doing, but our eyes locked.
Now he'd think I was paying attention to him.
I tried my best to act nonchalant and walked naturally to my seat.
Sage, who had been watching me quietly, spoke first.
"Did you sleep?"
"Huh?"
"I was just wondering if you slept well. It's your first night here."
"I slept well. Thank you for your concern, Sage."
I finished with a bright smile, my tone implying I was only answering out of courtesy.
Then I quickly turned my head away.