Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Aileen Astrofel
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"Hello, Lady Aileen! I heard the news and came right over."
Hestia was holding a basket decorated with flowers.
Inside, it was filled with small chocolates.
"Congratulations on your Su-in transformation. That's truly amazing. ......But why do you look so down?"
"It seems Lady Aileen isn't pleased with it."
"......Is that so?"
Hestia looked at me, unable to understand.
"I wanted to do it in one try."
"Ah! So that's what it was. But succeeding on the first attempt is rare."
"......Rare?"
But Set and Arban said they did it on their first try.
Hestia tilted her head.
"The young masters were much older when they succeeded, so they're an exception. It would be a big problem if they struggled with pheromone control at that age. Black Mambas grow up in the blink of an eye, after all. It can be troublesome if they miss the right timing."
"......Is that how it is? So Ailing isn't slow?"
"You're actually quite fast, Lady Aileen. Your pheromones have only just started to stabilize, haven't they? Everyone's been talking about it......."
"Lady Aileen says she's embarrassed. She wanted to succeed in a grand fashion."
Rosaria explained on my behalf. I nodded in agreement.
But hearing that succeeding right away was rare was a comfort.
So, since they grow so fast, it's dangerous if they miss the timing. I didn't know that.
"It seems the young lady wants to grow up quickly. The Gaju will be disappointed, won't he?"
Hestia said as she sat down on the sofa with practiced ease.
"I suppose he will."
Rosaria agreed, bringing over a freshly brewed cup of tea.
"I heard you were away on a business trip, Hestia."
"Ah, that's right. I went with Durias."
With Durias? I thought he went alone, but I guess they were together.
"What was the trip for?"
"Hmm....... Just an external mission."
Hestia smiled faintly, vaguely brushing off the question. She looked like she was reluctant to answer.
I walked over to the sofa where the two were sitting. Then, I spread a handful of chocolates across the table.
"Do you like your gift?"
"Yup. Ailing feels better now. Thank youu, Hestia."
"Don't mention it. By the way, I coveted your paw prints... but I covet your tail quite a bit too."
I flinched. What?
I quickly hid my tail. Hestia's eyes were gleaming.
My t-tail is in danger!
As I ducked behind Rosaria, she looked away with a disappointed expression.
Hestia stayed and chatted for quite a while. Then, glancing at the clock, she rose from her seat.
"It's a shame, but it's time for me to go. I have something I need to do."
"You can always come again, Hestia."
"Then I'll take you up on that and visit again soon. Lady Aileen, let's see each other again."
"Yup. Bye-bye, Hestia."
*Click.*
Hestia left. *Phew.* Now I can finally have some time to myself, right?
I popped a fifth piece of chocolate into my mouth. Normally, Rosaria would have told me to stop, but not today.
It seemed she was letting it slide because of my mood.
Still, having a tail has its good points, right?
I grinned. I felt my usual spirits slowly returning.
It was then.
*Knock, knock.*
A third knock sounded. Who could it be this time? I puffed out my cheeks. I was no longer happy about having visitors. As Rosaria stood up, I shook my head.
"Ailing will get it."
I hopped off the sofa and flung the door open.
"Who is it? Ailing wants to rest now! Please come back later, thank you!"
"Come back later?"
......Ah?
"What have you done to be resting? You haven't even had your lessons yet."
The person at the door was Kaide. Unhappy with my less-than-welcoming greeting, he was staring at me with a cantankerous expression.
"......Gasp. Daddy?"
I froze on the spot.
Kaide, still standing crookedly in the doorway, gave a slight smile. A chill passed over me.
I shuddered as a shiver ran down my spine.
Of all the people who could have shown up, it had to be Kaide.
As I stood there, mouth agape and speechless, Kaide spoke loud enough for me to hear.
"This is the first time I've been turned away at the door in my own home."
"......."
"How amusing."
It was the classic "You're the first one to ever turn me away like this."
When I furtively avoided his gaze, I could see the corners of his mouth curl into a deeper smirk from the corner of my eye.
*Nope, I didn't see anything.*
Should I just pretend I don't know and close the door?
I gripped the doorknob tightly, contemplating an action I couldn't possibly handle the consequences of.
Fortunately, before I could cause a scene, Rosaria changed the atmosphere.
Thanks to her, the crisis was diverted.
"Oh? What brings you here at this hour, Gaju-nim? Isn't it time for the morning meeting?"
"It's over."
"......This early?"
Rosaria glanced at the clock, puzzled. Normally, the meeting would still be in session at this time.
"The agenda wasn't particularly important."
"I see."
"I was on my way back and thought I'd stop by to see her face for a moment, and then......."
I flinched.
I quickly hid behind the door.
Clutching the doorknob, I peeked up at him.
Kaide, who had already strode into the room, was looking at me as if he were dumbfounded.
I gave an awkward, bashful smile.
The corners of my mouth twitched, and cold sweat beaded on my brow.
"Ailing missed you so, so much, Daddy."
"I suppose this is what it feels like to receive a forced welcome."
"That's just your imagination."
"I see."
"Yup! That's what it is!"
I shouted boisterously. Kaide, looking a little surprised, let out a chuckle.
It seemed his mood had lifted. Not that he seemed deeply offended in the first place.
But it felt like he was enjoying teasing me more and more these days.
"Did you also come because you heard the news, Gaju-nim?"
"Durias has been excitedly telling everyone he runs into."
......Of all people, it had to be Durias!
If even Kaide knew, then every Black Mamba in the mansion must know by now.
A heavy sigh escaped me at the dismal thought.
Kaide looked around before leaning back on the sofa and crossing his legs.
"By the looks of it, you've already had a guest."
He gestured with his eyes toward the basket on the table.
"Yes, Young Master Set and Hestia stopped by."
"That's right! Hestia came, and Set came by too."
When I couldn't hide my joy and beamed, Kaide chuckled again.
"Is Set's visit such a happy occasion?"
"Of course. I thought he came to tease me, but he came to congratulate me."
"Oh?"
"And he told me how to make my tail disappear."
I rattled on, explaining everything as if I were boasting.
"That's rather unexpected."
"Right?"
It might just be me, but I felt like Set and I had gotten closer lately.
His tone and attitude seemed to have softened a bit.
The sharp edges he had when we first met were almost gone now.
He still acted mischievous at times, but it didn't feel like he did it because he truly disliked me.
Kaide stared at me quietly for a moment before speaking again.
"Aileen."
"Yup?"
"I hear your two escorts helped you hide your tail."
"Ah......."
"Do you dislike your tail?"
"No."
I shook my head, denying it.
"Then it must be because you're bothered by how different you look from the rest of the family."
His tone was calm, but his words hit the nail on the head.
Greatly surprised, I snapped my head up to look at Kaide. My reaction seemed to confirm his suspicion.
I felt strange, not expecting Kaide of all people to bring that up.
It was hard to believe that Kaide, of all people, had noticed something that even Rosaria, who was with me every day, hadn't guessed.
I stared blankly at Kaide.
He seemed lost in thought for a moment before he spoke.
"Has anyone ever said anything to you about looking different?"
"No. No one's ever said that."
"Then?"
I hesitated to speak.
Sensing the mood, Rosaria quietly left the room. She must have decided we needed to talk alone.
Kaide didn't press for an answer. He simply waited for me to speak.
Is it really okay to tell him everything?
After fidgeting with the hem of my clothes, I finally opened my mouth.
"......It's just that Ailing is different. There are no other birds."
"And?"
"What am I?"
It was an undeniable fact that I was a bird. But I lived in the Astrofel family. That didn't make me a Black Mamba, though.
Nothing was more unsettling than that. What would I do if I didn't fit in anywhere?
Kaide answered my question.
"You are Aileen Astrofel."
"I know that."
"Then what's the problem?"
Kaide narrowed his brow. I pressed my lips together firmly. A long silence followed. As the ticking of the clock filled the room, Kaide spoke again.
"You said with your own mouth that you know, so I doubt this is the case, but surely."
Hm?
"You're not agonizing over which clan you belong to, are you?"