Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: A New Friend
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Set was surveying the surroundings with impeccable posture, while Arban was leaning against a wall, a bored expression on his face as if nothing interested him.
I quickly called out to them.
"Set! Arban!"
Both of their gazes turned to me at the same time.
As I skipped over, holding Kaide’s hand, Set approached with a warm smile.
"Welcome, Aileen. Your dress is lovely today."
"Uh-huh. I wuv the dwess. I look wike a pwinthess."
"A princess? Don't be ridiculous."
Arban came to my side with a look of disbelief. Now I was standing with Set and Arban on either side of me.
Feeling reassured by their presence, I just grinned, and Arban muttered reluctantly.
"Well, it's not like you're completely unwatchable."
"Aileen feels so safe."
"…What are you talking about? Just don't make any mistakes."
"Okay!"
A short while later, an employee said something to Kaide and left.
Kaide called to us.
"Aileen, Set, Arban."
"Huh?"
"Yes, Father."
We stopped our bickering and looked at Kaide.
"It is time to enter. Prepare yourselves."
As he finished speaking, the brilliantly lit doors to the banquet hall opened. Many people were gathered inside, chatting in low voices.
The music that had been playing slowly faded, and those who noticed glanced toward the doors.
Soon, our entrance was announced.
"Gaju Kaide Astrofel and his successors are now entering."
The crowd fell silent. Kaide stepped inside first, and I followed behind him.
As we ascended to the head table, Kaide began to speak.
"Thank you all for attending the banquet. I hope you all enjoy yourselves before you depart."
He was quite different from the Kaide I usually knew.
He looked so cool, speaking so calmly and naturally in front of everyone.
I have to do a cool job too. I did it before, so I can do it now.
I straightened my back, and just before his final remarks, Kaide introduced me.
"And I would like to take this opportunity to introduce someone. This is the youngest child of my family, Aileen Astrofel."
When it was my turn, I took a deep breath and smiled brightly. With everyone here with me, there was nothing to be afraid of.
"Hellooo. I'm Aileen Astwofel!"
After I confidently finished my simple introduction, Kaide nodded to the orchestra.
"Now then, please enjoy the rest of your time here."
The music, which had been playing softly like a background score, swelled into a cheerful melody once more.
I looked around the banquet hall in wonder. It felt completely different from when I came to see it with Arban.
The once-empty space was now filled with tables laden with food and bustling with guests, making it truly sparkle.
Holding Kaide’s hand, I came down from the dais and sat at our family's designated table.
I was told that each family had its own table. To make them easy to identify, the family crest was embroidered on the tablecloth.
I had never seen so many different Su-in gathered in one place, so I was busy looking around.
Most of the crests were direct symbols that clearly represented the characteristics of their clan.
As I walked with my eyes wandering, Kaide immediately cautioned me.
"You should look where you're going."
"Okay."
"It seems you find it fascinating to see so many other clans."
"Did evwyone come fwom far away?"
"To some extent."
"…Did people come fwom the East too?"
I asked cautiously. My whole body tensed up. The people who live in the East are scary.
To be precise, I was referring to the powerful Su-in who occupied the East.
Because whenever they appeared, the entire area would be devastated. The memory of desperately kicking off the ground to escape from there was still vivid.
The memories of my past life were growing faint and hard to recall, but my feelings about them remained clear.
If Su-in like that show up, won't we have to run away again?
As I asked, looking around worriedly, Kaide’s gaze lingered on me.
"…Why are you suddenly curious about that? Did someone tell you about the East?"
"…No! That's not it."
I shook my head vigorously. The memories of that time were buried under my life here and didn't come to mind easily.
"Some did come from the East."
"A wot?"
"Not many. They came from about two places."
"Oh, okay."
They came from two places. I squeezed the hand I was holding tightly.
Kaide sat in the middle, with Set, Arban, and me sitting in a row next to him, when an unknown man who had been loitering nearby approached and spoke.
I popped a piece of fruit into my mouth, my eyes wide.
"Greetings, Gaju-nim. Do you remember me?"
"Ah. Who were you again?"
It was a remarkably honest and direct response.
When Kaide asked back with a genuinely clueless expression, the other man’s face twisted for a moment.
I was incredibly surprised.
It was the first time I'd seen someone so blatantly pull a 'Who were you again?'.
Kaide showed not the slightest hint of apology for not recognizing the man.
"I am the Gaju of the Letra family from the West."
"Ah, I see. What is it?"
"I have something urgent to discuss with you… It is about the recent trade."
"I shall be back shortly."
As if sensing the conversation would be a long one, Kaide rose from his seat.
That was the cue for others who wished to speak with him to begin gathering around.
It seemed he had anticipated this situation and arranged for a separate place to talk.
I sipped my orange juice with both hands, my eyes darting around nonstop.
I could see a few children already playing together.
What if everyone becomes friends without me?
I fiddled with my glass.
"Aileen wants to pway too."
But I'm a good little bird who knows how to wait for her daddy.
"When is Daddy coming back? Is it gonna be wong?"
"It looks like you want to go play, doesn't it?"
"Mmm. No. I'll go when Daddy comes back."
"It's alright to go play with your friends, Aileen."
"Can I weally do that?"
"It seems like it will be a while before Father returns."
I looked at Kaide's back in the distance.
It really did look like his conversations would take a long time.
Arban, already used to these situations, was yawning and dozing off.
"Then Aileen will be back in a wittle bit."
"Go ahead."
I quickly got up from my seat.
Now I can go see my friends too!
My steps were light with excitement. Not far away, I could see children gathered in small groups.
I'll go join them and play!
I weaved my way energetically between the tables.
It was then.
"…Huh?"
I spotted a blond boy sitting all by himself.
The boy was staring blankly at the group of children.
I put on a serious expression at the sight.
I tried to think of reasons why he was alone, but only bad ones came to mind.
Could he be getting bullied?
But his expression was too calm for that, so it didn't seem like he was being bullied.
Or maybe he wants to be friends with everyone but is too shy?
That seemed more likely.
As I stopped to watch him, he must have felt my gaze, because his blue eyes slowly turned to fix on me.
I flinched, feeling like I'd been caught staring, but I greeted him casually.
"Hi!"
"Hello."
Thankfully, the boy didn't seem annoyed. I decided to be brave.
"I'm Aileen. What's your name?"
"Sage."
"Why are you all alone? If you're bored, wanna pway with Aileen?"
Sage seemed to ponder my question for a moment before letting out a small laugh.
"With you?"
Sage looked me up and down and muttered quietly.
"You look like you'd fly away if I hit you once. …I guess I'll just have to be careful."
"Huh? What did you say?"
"Alright, let's play."
Sage readily nodded his head.
My first friend!
I was filled with anticipation at the fact that I had made my first friend.
"Aileen lives here. Where did you come fwom, Sage?"
"The North."
"Weally?!"
Sage's home must be in the North.
Since it was in a region completely opposite to the South, I felt like there would be all sorts of stories to hear.
I'm so excited! Is it true that it snows all day long in the North?
I heard everything is white.
I was giddy with excitement for the time I would spend with Sage.