Chapter 134
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Poison and Payback
Should I take that hand or not? I was wary, but I didn't let it show, forcing a calm, bright smile.
"Yes, it's a pleasure. I'm Aileen Astrofel."
Clasp.
As I firmly clasped the hand he'd offered for a handshake, feigning nonchalance, Diel Artban's expression shifted subtly.
I met his gaze and slowly sized him up, also taking in the man standing silently behind him. He seemed to be Diel Artban's aide. The man remained expressionless from start to finish.
He gave off a feeling just as repulsive as Gaju Artban.
I'd heard jaguars possessed dark-attribute pheromones and weren't exactly welcomed among the Su-in. I thought I could see why.
So gloomy.
As the time I held Diel Artban's hand stretched on, Sage's expression soured, clearly displeased.
"I think that's long enough."
"Huh?"
"Weren't we in the middle of a conversation? An intruder appeared and broke our flow."
"It seems I was a disturbance."
"If you know, then perhaps you should have the sense to stay away? I recall that Gaju Artban's accommodations are not in the main building."
He must have been guided to the annex, not the main building. To avoid running into me.
Still, the talks would take place in the main building, so it seemed impossible to avoid him entirely.
Seeing as he came all this way in person, it seemed this man wanted to keep getting involved with me.
Diel Artban smiled brightly.
"Then I hope to see you again. Seeing as you're staying in the North for so long, you don't seem to be in good health. I wish you a swift recovery."
"…I'm so grateful for your concern."
Who was it that played the biggest part in getting my body into this state? The sheer audacity of it almost made my face crumple.
As I glared at him, overcome with a surge of anger, Sage stepped in front of me.
"That doesn't seem to be Gaju Artban's concern. If you wish for Aileen's recovery, I'd prefer you refrain from entering the main building."
Sage gently took my hand.
Diel Artban's gaze seemed to flick there for a moment before settling on Sage.
An indescribable current began to flow between the two.
"It seems you didn't understand because I didn't say it directly."
Sage said, pulling me closer to him.
"The only area you are permitted within Kiraas is the annex, Gaju Artban."
"You are being disrespectful to the Gaju."
The man who had been silent until now stepped forward to object. But Sage paid him no mind and brushed past.
"Oh, and if you want to reach an amicable agreement, you'd best lay all your cards on the table. Unless you want to return with nothing to show for it."
As I followed Sage, I glanced at Diel Artban out of the corner of my eye.
He seemed unfazed by Sage's rather rude attitude.
Even though Sage was making it clear that the Kiraas family had little interest in this agreement, he didn't seem anxious at all.
What was that about?
No matter what, forging an agreement with the North should be important, right?
Lost in thought, I walked right past Gaju Artban.
* * *
"So, tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"What you were saying earlier. About the trouble you caused."
Oh, right. The situation just now was so intense that I'd forgotten. I fidgeted with my fingers and made a face.
"I'm sorry, Sage. I blew up your training ground. They said it'll probably take quite some time, even with purification."
To be honest, I don't know anything about how the purification process works.
Come to think of it, did Kaide drive out all the living creatures from the Astrofel family's forest this way?
And then purified it to create a new forest?
Sage sat on the sofa and crossed his arms.
"You already said that."
"…"
"You said you wanted to use the training ground, then you go and blow it up by yourself, and now you won't tell me any of the details."
We were currently sitting in Sage's office. Looking out the window, I could faintly see the state of the training ground.
Just a little bit, that the area around it was tinged black?
Normally, there would be no reason to feel such a dark energy in the all-white North.
"…I haven't told my family yet, but."
Well, it probably wouldn't matter much if Sage knew.
Between us…
I was startled by the sudden thought.
Goodness, since when did I start considering our relationship so deeply?
Smack! I slapped both my cheeks, and Sage gave me a bewildered look.
"What are you doing?"
"Ah, haha… Well, to get straight to the point, I think my pheromones have a poisonous quality."
Thud.
Sage's hand, which had been opening a glass jar of tea leaves on the table, faltered and bumped against the teacup beside it.
Sage looked at me, his face a mask of shock.
"In your pheromones…?"
"I just found out a little while ago myself. It's a relief, isn't it?"
"…"
A weight lifted from my heart.
If before I had been cowering just to survive and protect my family's secret, now I felt somewhat liberated from that burden.
At least now I could deal with any enemy who tried to mess with me with my own hands.
Frozen by my words, Sage slowly closed the tea leaf jar and let out a quiet breath.
"Aileen, sometimes I worry."
"Huh?"
"Because you say such important things so nonchalantly."
"Who else would I tell besides you?"
At most, I'd just be telling my family.
"Eve has probably blocked all outside access by now."
"Ah, speaking of that, I have something to say."
"What is it?"
"…How much should I pay for the damages?"
Gulp. I looked at Sage, tense. How much was he going to ask for?
Of course, it was right to compensate for everything, but I was a little worried about how much the bill would be.
Seeing my expression, the corners of Sage's mouth lifted playfully.
"Well now, how much should I ask for?"
"…"
"I have to carry out the purification secretly, keep everyone quiet, and on top of that, keep an eye on Gaju Artban. I have a lot on my plate, don't I?"
"Ugh."
He was the one who said he'd make sure no one could touch me. …I wasn't trying to call him out on it, but it was a little cheap.
I pouted for a moment, then waved my hand dismissively.
"Fine, bill me for whatever you want. Might as well renovate the whole training ground while you're at it."
…I'll just have to explain it to Dad somehow.
"Ah. As much as I want? For your information, Kiraas has a fair bit of money, so it'll take quite a lot to satisfy me."
"…What is it you want?"
When he acted like this, it definitely meant he wanted something else.
I could already read his intentions as clear as day.
Sage handed me a cup of steeped tea. The North was cold, so every room in the castle had a glass pot of hot water.
They said the heat was maintained by periodically charging it with heat-attribute pheromones. I took a sip of the tea.
"I have no intention of demanding compensation from the Astrofel family. I do have a favor to ask, though."
"A favor?"
"If you're planning to crush the Artban family, I want in."
"What?!"
Sage joining in was as good as the North getting involved. I lowered my voice.
"Does Lady Muhella know about this?"
"My mother always takes a keen interest in the continent's affairs."
So she knows.
But wait a minute.
"…How do you know about it?"
"I was briefed on it not long ago. Though it seems the South's unusual movements aren't widely known yet."
That was a very unsettling statement. The source of his information was highly suspicious.
"Is that important right now?"
"It is. Very!"
"Anyway, I thought I'd use this opportunity to score some points."
My jaw dropped in disbelief. Was Kaide really that angry just because Gaju Artban came to the North to see me?
More importantly, how could Sage talk about something like this so casually, as if it were just idle chatter? I gave him a dumbfounded look, and he just smiled brightly.
"I wanted to maintain an amicable relationship with the East, but I'd rather die than have that kind of relationship with the Artban family."
"…Huh? Are you allowed to let your personal feelings run wild like that?"
"Is there any reason I can't?"
Is there any reason he can't? His question was so casual that for a moment, I thought I'd asked the wrong thing and was left speechless.
Shouldn't personal feelings be excluded from inter-family affairs?
"If you look through the history books, how many of those events do you think weren't personal?"
* * *
"I hear Rosaria has requested to return to duty."
"Yes, that's correct."
"Excellent."
Rosaria's return. It was merely a return to her original post, but its significance was immense. Kaide gazed leisurely out the window.
"Ah, and Gaju-nim."
"What is it?"
"We've received a message from Young Lady Aileen… It seems a poisonous quality has blossomed in her pheromones. Isn't that wonderful news?"
"I see."
"Just as she was extraordinary as a child, she does not disappoint now that she's grown."
Baon spoke with pride, as if it were his own accomplishment. Kaide looked at him with an incredulous expression, but the corners of his lips lifted at the unexpectedly welcome news. Now, things seemed like they would be much easier to resolve.
"She's also become quite adept at handling her pheromones."
"Welcome news at a time like this."
"However, she's asking for some money."
"…Money?"
Why money all of a sudden? Kaide's brow furrowed.
He had been providing for all her financial needs during her stay there. If that wasn't enough, it must mean something significant had happened. Kaide gestured for him to explain, and Baon tilted his head as if he didn't quite understand it himself.
"The Young Lady says she blew up some land."
"Ha?"
"She says she destroyed about half of a training ground. What should we do?"
Destroyed half a training ground.
At those words, Kaide clutched his stomach and laughed out loud. It reminded him of when he first unleashed his own pheromones. Amusingly, Aileen seemed to be following in his exact footsteps. Neither Set nor Arban had resembled him this much.
Baon, who had never seen him laugh so heartily, blankly pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose.
"Impressively, it seems Aileen has grown right on schedule."
"…Then when do you plan to proceed?"
"How annoying must that prowling cat be? Before we begin, we need to get rid of him first."
The priority was to make that nuisance return to the East. Aileen could be brought back safely after that.
Now that the troublesome matter was more or less resolved, all they had to do was act according to the Astrofel family motto.
"What we receive, we must return twofold."
Whatever it may be, the Astrofels return what they receive twofold.
"Baon."
"Yes."
"Contact all the clans near the East immediately. We will give Rosaria her first mission."
The first step was to announce the beginning.
A few days later. The protective barrier enveloping the entire Artban castle shattered with a deafening roar.
Before the castle gates lay the severed head of a blond member of the Artban clan.
Rosaria's first mission had begun.