Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: A Strange Pheromone
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I'd never been allowed in the forest before because it was too dangerous.
It was fine if Rosaria was with me, but I was still warned every time I went to the garden.
But now, hearing that I'd be having lessons in the forest made my heart flutter.
"That's wonderful news. Congratulations, Lady Aileen."
"Uh-huh. I'm gonna have lessons just like Set and Arban."
Seeing them train in the forest, I wondered if that's when they had their pheromone lessons.
The thought that I would be following the same path as them made me giddy.
"Before that, there is one thing we must check."
"Check something?"
"May I hold your hand for a moment?"
As I offered my hand with a puzzled look, Kasana explained.
"We need to confirm that your pheromones have entered a stable phase."
"Oh, okay."
It seemed pheromone lessons could only proceed if one was in a stable condition.
Kasana took my hand and seemed to be examining something intently.
The atmosphere grew serious, as if this was quite important, and I instinctively stiffened, trying not to move.
After holding my hand for a long while, Kasana's dark eyes shifted to me.
I swallowed dryly. Was something wrong?
"...Why? Is Aileen weird?"
"Not at all. Please, just sit comfortably."
Feeling anxious, I leaned toward Rosaria and looked up at her.
Our eyes met, and Rosaria gave me a gentle smile.
"Wosawia, is something wong with me?"
"No, of course not. Don't worry, Lady Aileen. Everyone is checked this way. I was, too."
"Okaay."
Kasana, who had been checking my pheromones, let go of my hand.
At the same time, the tension left my stiff body.
"How is it, Kasana?"
"There are no major issues. It seems the young lady's pheromones have entered a stable phase."
"Really? So I get to have lessons in the forest now?"
"For our next lesson, please come to the forest entrance."
What a relief. I let out a huge sigh.
Kasana began to pack up the lesson materials she had laid out.
"Well then, that will be all for today's lesson."
"Bye-bye, Kasa. See you tomowwow."
"Yes. I will take my leave."
I followed her to the door and waved.
Even though I saw her off like this every time, I could feel her awkward gaze, as if she still wasn't used to it.
"See you again tomowwow."
"...I will see you tomorrow."
Click. The door closed. I giggled and ran to my bed, flopping onto it.
I'm so happy!
As I kicked my feet and rolled from side to side, I heard laughter from behind me.
"Are you that happy, Lady Aileen?"
"Uh-huh. What should I do? I can do it, right?"
"Of course. You'll succeed spectacularly."
"I'm gonna surprise everyone."
I hatched an ambitious plan.
* * *
Click.
The door closed, and Kasana stepped into the hallway, beginning to walk.
Her eyes were deep and somber.
Walking with a steady pace, Kasana stopped in front of the door to her destination.
Knock, knock.
"Gaju-nim, it is Kasana."
"Enter."
Permission granted, Kasana stepped inside.
Kaide, who had been looking at a report, shifted his gaze to her.
Already knowing why Kasana had come, Kaide got straight to the point.
"The results?"
Kasana's dark eyes flickered faintly.
Guessing the outcome from her expression, Kaide returned his gaze to the report he was reading.
"I don't need to hear it to know."
"Did you already anticipate this, Gaju-nim?"
"I had hoped I was wrong."
It meant he had indeed expected it.
Kasana finally understood why he had given such an order.
And seeing Kaide's composed demeanor, the anxiety that had plagued her on her way here began to subside.
The Kaide she knew was a man who always found out things in advance and made plans.
She believed this time would be no different.
Therefore, she spoke with a much lighter heart.
"Your prediction was correct, Gaju-nim. I have confirmed the presence of two different pheromonal energies within the young lady's body."
"Explain."
Kasana began to speak, recalling the pheromones she had just sensed from Aileen.
"One was Lady Aileen's own pheromone, and the other was in a form similar to that of a Black Mamba."
"I see."
"However, it is slightly different."
"Different?"
Kaide's hand, which had been signing a document, paused.
His cool, red eyes finally turned back to Kasana.
"It was as if... it wasn't alive."
"That shouldn't be possible."
Pheromones were akin to a Su-in's life force.
If they weren't active, it was safe to assume the Su-in's life had ended.
"There was no reaction at all, even when my own pheromones approached it."
"So that's why you said it seemed not alive."
"Correct."
When another's pheromones approached, one would instinctively react.
Especially if a stronger or superior pheromone drew near, a reaction—be it defensive or offensive—was inevitable.
However, Aileen's pheromone was strangely dormant.
As if it were holding its breath, waiting for the right moment.
And that method was one of the hunting techniques used by apex predators.
Kasana could not shake the bizarre sensation that had made her feel like prey.
"It felt as if it knew I couldn't harm it and was simply observing me."
"I seem to recall hearing that Aileen cannot yet control her pheromones. I wonder if you remember your own report."
"I remember. The young lady cannot yet control her pheromones."
"Then you must be well aware that your report is contradictory."
"......."
"What you've just said sounds as if the pheromone is acting with a will of its own."
That was impossible.
There was no way for a pheromone to act against one's consciousness.
That only happened when a Su-in was consumed by their pheromones and lost their reason.
Since that wasn't the case for Aileen, it didn't add up.
"Interesting."
As the situation grew more and more baffling, Kaide let out a laugh.
"Not a single thing about my daughter is ordinary."
"......."
"Is this the joy of raising a daughter?"
*I don't think that's it.*
Kasana swallowed the words that rose to the tip of her tongue.
Kaide was probably the only person who would laugh in the face of such a grave matter.
"Should we proceed with the pheromone lessons as planned?"
"Yes. Learning to control her pheromones is an absolutely necessary skill for Aileen."
"Understood. Is there anything else?"
"Keep this matter to yourself for the time being."
"...Does that include keeping it a secret from Lady Rosaria?"
"Yes."
*Shouldn't Rosaria, who is always by Aileen's side, be aware of this?*
Kasana looked at him with a questioning gaze.
"If Rosaria's attitude changes, others will notice. It would only be a matter of time before rumors spread."
"Are you saying someone might leak it to the outside?"
"There are vultures everywhere, curious about what's happening within my family."
Nowhere was safe. The unexpected always happened when one least expected it.
Rosaria was the perfect person to entrust Aileen to, but she was too devoted.
Excessive devotion can sometimes be a poison.
Rosaria would scour the continent to find a solution for Aileen, but that approach was, at the same time, extremely dangerous.
Since ancient times, those who coveted the South had often targeted the young heirs of the Astrofel family.
The moment the hyenas lying in wait caught the scent, Aileen would become the focus of their attacks.
No, perhaps...
It might have already begun the moment Aileen came to the Astrofel family.
"For now, Rosaria is to be kept in the dark."
"Understood."
Understanding Kaide's meaning, Kasana bowed her head.
"The weather is nice."
"...Pardon?"
A bewildered expression colored Kasana's face at the sudden talk of the weather.
As if deep in thought, Kaide tapped his desk and narrowed his eyes.
"She should be coming to me by now. Her patience is unnecessarily high."
"What do you mean?"
"She must be getting eager to go outside."
He muttered, flipping through a calendar with a more serious expression than ever.
Confused by his incomprehensible words and actions, Kasana wracked her brain, wondering if she had missed something.
"I apologize, but what are you talking about?"
"Kasana."
"Yes."
"What excuse do you think Aileen will use to pester me about going out?"
Kaide asked, cupping his chin and flipping the calendar back and forth.
Kasana was speechless.
She had heard that he had recently permitted the two young masters to go out on the condition that they take an escort.
She had assumed he hadn't allowed Aileen to go because she was still too young.
That might have been one of the reasons, but... could it be that he did it on purpose?
*Just because he wanted to see Aileen run to him and plead?*
"Aren't you excited, Kasana?"
A mischievous smile played on Kaide's lips.