Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Aileen's First Request
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In the midst of a schedule so packed he barely had time to breathe, Kaide was as irritable as he could possibly be.
His vassals, who had to cater to his mood, were absolutely miserable.
The slightest annoyance would earn them a glare from his piercing red eyes, so they had no choice but to walk on eggshells.
*I should have submitted my resignation sooner.*
It had been six long years since he started working under Kaide.
And for six long years, Amerode, who was too scared to submit the resignation letter he had so carefully written, wore a woeful expression.
Amerode, gentle and soft-hearted by nature, had been bullied by his clansmen since childhood.
But as he grew, he awakened a powerful pheromone and ended up being scouted by Kaide...
"You. You're perfect for working in my family."
At the time, he didn't know what those words meant.
Unfortunately, it was only after entering the Astrofel family—a coiled black serpent with its jaws wide open—that Amerode understood their true meaning.
In a family teeming with individualistic, fierce, and downright savage members, Amerode was the only one who could act as a mediator.
That was why Amerode, who had barely managed to get through his recent duties by mediating between various departments, had finally submitted his resignation, determined to quit this time.
And the response he received was...
"Submitting your resignation with your life on the line, are we, Amerode?"
Amerode wanted to cry. He couldn't bear being near the source of this menacing aura any longer.
As Amerode walked down the hall with the other vassals, sighing heavily, his eyes widened at the faint, downy presence he felt from somewhere.
He saw Aileen, hiding her body behind a pillar and peeking her head out.
"Oh...? Isn't that..."
"Even her hiding is pathetic. At this rate, she'll have to live by my side forever."
*What did he just say?*
Amerode stared at Kaide, dumbfounded.
Kaide, who had been expressionless, felt the corners of his mouth slowly lift as they drew closer to Aileen.
Kaide, having suppressed his pheromones so as not to frighten Aileen, stopped walking when the child fully emerged from behind the pillar.
His red eyes softened as he gazed at the child.
"You're dressed like a moth."
"Not a moth, a butterfly, my Lord."
"...A butterfly?"
Kaide and Baon exchanged words.
Aileen, dressed in yellow from head to toe, had wings on her back.
Anyone could see she was a fairy, but Amerode clicked his tongue at their misguided guesses that had devolved from moth to butterfly.
It was truly a mystery how this family had survived until now.
"...She looks like a fairy."
"A fairy?"
The two men's gazes turned to Amerode.
"Even a child knows such things are fictional, Sir Amerode."
Baon scoffed, pushing up his glasses. Then he approached Aileen and asked.
"Oh, Lady Aileen. Is today's concept a butterfly?"
When Baon failed to guess correctly on his first try, Aileen shook her head with a pout.
"Iwing's a faiwy."
"...So you were a fairy. And where might this fairy be going?"
"...Came to see Dada."
Hesitantly.
Aileen said this but didn't approach readily. The way she clung to the pillar like a moth, hiding, suggested she wanted something.
Kaide pretended not to notice and asked.
"Did you miss me?"
"Uh-huh. Iwing missed Dada."
"Then shall we have dinner together?"
"But I pwomised to eat dinner wif Wosawia?"
"I'll have someone inform Rosaria."
"Okay! Then it's awwight!"
Aileen beamed, delighted. Gentle smiles appeared on the vassals' faces as well. It felt as if all their fatigue was melting away.
Kaide lifted Aileen into one arm, supporting her back.
She had come all this way by herself just to see him; it was his turn to grant her wish.
"What were you doing hiding over there?"
"Iwing was waiting for Dada."
"For what?"
"Uhm..."
Aileen's eyes darted around as she feigned ignorance.
Kaide decided to wait patiently. Still, he was curious.
*What on earth could she want that's making her hesitate so much?*
When Aileen continued to hesitate without speaking, Kaide poked her cheek.
"I'll give you three seconds. Speak."
One.
Two.
Three...
Faced with a three-second time limit, Aileen hurriedly cupped her hands and held them out.
Kaide furrowed his brow as her tiny hands stretched forward. *What is this now?*
Her tightly sealed lips parted slightly.
"Awwowance..."
*'Owance what?*
Kaide couldn't believe his ears. If he hadn't misheard, the word that just came from those lips was...
"Are you talking about an allowance?"
He asked, thinking it couldn't be, and Aileen's face brightened noticeably.
The vassals desperately suppressed their laughter. Kaide let out a short, incredulous laugh.
*An allowance?*
He had no idea where she'd heard the word "allowance," but was she asking for pocket money without knowing how much was already allocated to her?
When he didn't answer right away, another adorable plea escaped Aileen's small lips.
"Pwease give Iwing an awwowance, Dada..."
Kaide, who had been playfully enjoying the situation, decided to correct his lighthearted assessment.
*Should I open the family treasury for the first time in a while?*
He fell into serious contemplation.
* * *
"Pwease give me an awwowance. Dada..."
I squeezed my eyes shut and held out my hands.
*Iwing needs an awwowance!*
But even after a while, the answer I wanted didn't come. I gently peeked through my lashes to check on Kaide.
Kaide seemed lost in thought, his gaze fixed elsewhere.
*What if he thinks a baby bird doesn't need an allowance yet?*
My heart grew anxious, and I called out to him.
"...Dada!"
At that, the red eyes that had been looking away fixed on me with a frightening intensity.
As if waking from his thoughts, his straight-set lips curved into a smooth smile. The gentle voice I'd been waiting for finally came.
"Alright. How much do you want?"
"...A wittle."
"A little?"
"A wittle wot."
I said it quietly, almost inaudibly, while gauging his reaction, but Kaide must have heard clearly, as he replied in a satisfied tone.
"This is the first time you've asked me for something directly. What do you plan to do with it?"
"Iwing wanna give pwesents to my fwiends."
I revealed my ambitious plan.
They were the first friends my age I'd ever met, besides Set and Arban, so my heart was pounding.
Just imagining playing happily with my friends with the toys I gave them made a grin spread across my face.
*I'm so happy just thinking about it!*
As I sat in Kaide's arms, kicking my feet, I heard him let out a short laugh.
"It seems you've been to the banquet hall in the East Wing."
"Uh-huh!"
"You seem quite excited. But what about my present?"
"...Huh?"
"Where's mine?"
Caught off guard by the unexpected attack, I feigned ignorance, my eyes darting around, only to have my cheek poked again.
"Like a sticky rice cake."
"Iwing's not a sticky wice cake!"
"Ah, that's right. You were the ungrateful baby bird."
"Hmph. Iwing is a gwateful baby bird!"
"You'll repay the favor?"
I clamped my lips shut, feeling wronged. Kaide's eyes narrowed as if he found me ridiculous.
*I'm still too young to earn money, but I can pay it all back when I'm older.*
I puffed out my cheeks and turned my head away with a huff, and the vassals, who had been watching with amusement, began to speak one by one.
"To think the young lady is a grateful baby bird, you must have high expectations, my Lord."
"She's so thoughtful despite her young age."
I nodded emphatically.
As they took turns praising me, Kaide didn't seem to mind it one bit.
"Amerode."
"Yes, my Lord."
"You heard, so I trust I don't need to explain."
When Kaide called for Amerode, a man who had appeared silently from a corner answered.
He was a man with a pale, cool-looking face.
Startled by his sudden appearance, I grabbed onto Kaide's collar.
The hand that casually patted my back quickly reassured me.
Once I had calmed down a bit, I relaxed my body and let go of his collar.
Even though Amerode was right there, I hadn't felt his presence at all.
"Aileen wants to give presents to the brats. Find a suitable shop and buy out their entire stock."
"I will prepare it without delay."
I was stunned by Kaide's order.
I thought I just needed to buy some toys and hand them out, but this had escalated into something huge.
Flustered, I quickly tugged on Kaide's arm, and his red gaze met mine.
"What is it? Is there something else you want?"
I shook my head frantically.
I looked up at him with a woeful expression and said worriedly.
"Iwing can't pay this back."