Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: A Tiger's Instinct
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The banquet ended without incident.
All the invited guests had departed.
Kaide had stepped away for a moment to see the departing guests off.
On my way back with Set and Arban, I spotted Rosaria waiting for us on the first floor and ran into her arms.
"Wosawia!"
"Lady Aileen! Did you have fun at the banquet?"
"It was super fun!"
I beamed, then my face immediately fell.
"But dere was sad stuff too."
"Sad stuff?"
Rosaria, who had bent down to greet me warmly, had her expression harden ever so slightly.
I shook my head, not wanting Rosaria to worry, telling her it was nothing.
"Yeah. But it's okay. Papa showed up and fixed it."
"He did? It's a relief the Lord was nearby."
"Yeah!"
Come to think of it, so much had happened in just one day.
It felt like several days had passed, but everything had happened today.
I started telling Rosaria all about what had happened at the banquet.
"Wosawia. Aileen got an uncle today!"
"...An uncle? Could it be that you met Lord Dante?"
"You know da uncle too?"
"He is the Lord's close friend. The Iselode family maintains a deep friendship with our clan."
They bickered, but they were definitely close friends.
I giggled and nodded.
"He said I can keep calling him uncle."
"Lord Dante did? That's wonderful, Lady Aileen."
"Wight? And I made a fwiend too."
Excited, I chattered on, telling Rosaria everything that had happened at the banquet.
"Really? What kind of new friend did you make?"
"His name is Sage, and he's a tiger. We played tag togethew."
Rosaria, who had shown interest at the mention of a new friend, faltered in her steps the moment I said he was a tiger.
It seemed the fact that Sage was a tiger bothered her.
After all, she was always telling me that "roars" were scary.
I quickly added that Sage wasn't scary.
"Sage is nice. He even told me to come visit him in da North."
"...Did he say that himself?"
"Yeah! He said he'd show me awound if I visit."
As the banquet ended and everyone was preparing to return to their families, Sage had come to find me.
-Aileen. Come to the North next time. I'll show you around.
-Really? Then Aileen will definitely go!
I made the promise, looking forward to the day I would visit the North, whenever that might be.
"So when I get biggew, I weally wanna go to da North..."
"One moment, Lady Aileen."
"Huh?"
Rosaria, who had regained her composure and was focusing on my words, now wore a shocked expression.
She ended up cutting me off and started questioning me, going over each point.
"So you're saying he invited you to the territory where he lives?"
"That's wight."
As I nodded vigorously, Rosaria's smile twisted.
And she asked again, as if to confirm.
"He said he would show you where he lives, Lady Aileen."
"Yeah. Why?"
Is there a problem?
Seeing my confusion, Rosaria shook her head and gave a bright smile.
"It's nothing at all, Lady Aileen."
But then her violet eyes flashed, glaring murderously at a point in the empty air.
Rosaria's voice echoed softly down the hall.
"I sent him to escort her, and he lets a beast latch on?"
* * *
Inside the carriage heading back to the North.
The carriage had already crossed the southern border and was passing through the neutral zone.
As a region owned by no one, it exuded a peaceful atmosphere.
Sage, who had been staring blankly at the passing scenery, called out to Muhella.
"Mother."
"Hm?"
Muhella, who had been reviewing work postponed due to the banquet, looked up.
It was the first time Sage, who had been lost in thought and staring out the window since their departure, had spoken.
But after calling her name, Sage remained silent for a long time.
Only the sound of the carriage wheels rolling over the plains could be heard, when Sage's lips, which seemed like they would never open, finally parted.
"When can I see Aileen again?"
Sage asked a question she hadn't expected.
Muhella set her documents aside and took off her glasses.
"Why the sudden question?"
"Just because."
"Do you miss Aileen already?"
"..."
"Why?"
Muhella asked, subtly drawing out the end of her sentence.
Her blue eyes twinkled.
When Sage slightly averted his gaze, she grinned.
"If you don't tell me why, I won't tell you."
Her voice was immensely pleased, as if she'd found something to tease him about.
Sage let out a soft sigh and pressed his lips together.
But Muhella didn't give up. As her persistent gaze continued, Sage scowled.
"Aren't you busy?"
"I am. But I'm willing to listen to my son's troubles."
A lie. You're just doing it because you find it amusing.
It seemed this situation wouldn't end unless he said something.
Sage felt like he had walked into a trap.
"It's nothing important, so don't worry about it."
"It seems very important, actually."
"..."
"Is it because she's the first friend you've ever made?"
Sage didn't deny it. He supposed that might be it.
Perhaps that was why his appetite had returned while playing with Aileen.
"I think so."
Muhella, who had expected him to refute it with an "of course not," looked surprised.
To think someone with his personality would admit it so readily.
"I can see that. The next time you'll meet will likely be at next year's banquet. That is, if the North decides to participate."
"Is that so?"
"Should we?"
Sage had a feeling. He would be teased about this for a long, long time.
Did I bring it up for nothing?
Her teasing tone sparked a sense of defiance in him.
"It's fine."
Oh?
He's not falling for it so easily. Muhella licked her lips. She thought she could get a little more out of him, but it seemed she was mistaken.
Sage said sullenly.
"When can I have my next growth spurt?"
Look at this. Muhella suppressed the laugh that was about to burst out.
Since things weren't going his way, he was already planning his next move.
"How disappointing. Do you want to be independent already?"
"It seems like it would be faster that way."
"You're still a long way from becoming an adult."
As Muhella waved her hand dismissively, Sage's fine brow furrowed.
Muhella was inwardly surprised. To think he wanted to see Aileen again so badly that he was even thinking about becoming an adult.
"Why ask about your next growth? Is it simply because you want to see Aileen?"
At first, she'd thought it couldn't be, but now she had a hunch.
Though he himself didn't seem to realize it yet.
Sage shook his head.
"I don't know. I'll figure it out after I become an adult."
"Oh, is that so? No clear objective, but you want to become an adult?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"No reason. I just feel like looking at you this way."
Sage avoided her intense gaze.
Muhella looked at her still very young son, torn between whether to cheer him on or stop him.
It was fine for Sage to be interested in Aileen, but if he started wanting more, it would be a difficult path.
Though it seemed he already wanted more.
When the Kiraas clan desired something, their instinctual drive to obtain it grew stronger.
To Muhella, who had experienced that process long before her son, it was plain to see.
Sage had found something he wanted.
For now, it was only at the level of cute interest.
Muhella laughed cheerfully.
"Sage. Do you know how our clan was able to dominate the North?"
"Because we're strong."
"That's true. But that's not all there is to it."
"Then what is it?"
The question was sudden, but Sage answered diligently, though he was wary.
"In fact, there's something more important than that."
"What is it?"
Is there something else besides being strong? The Kiraas family had long been famous for possessing the most potent pheromones.
Their growth period to adulthood was significantly faster than other clans, and their combat senses were superior.
Naturally, they had never been pushed back in territorial disputes.
But there was another reason besides all that?
Muhella whispered, as if telling a secret.
"Why do you think we reach adulthood faster than other clans?"
"It's our trait."
He remembered hearing it was a Kiraas trait during his lessons about the clan.
Muhella's pupils narrowed.
"Yes, a trait. It's because our obsessions are stronger than any other clan's."
Sometimes, to a cruel extent.
Muhella smiled sweetly.