Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: A Promise and a Revelation
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I stood alone in the hallway, watching blankly as the three of them walked away.
I didn't know what the adults had to discuss.
"Is this their way of telling me it's a secret?"
I understood perfectly well that it was something I wasn't supposed to hear.
In fact, I had a pretty good idea of what it was about.
I crossed my arms in discontent.
"Why can't I listen?"
It's about me, yet they're leaving me out.
I want to know what's going on, too.
Lately, Kaide had been keeping more and more secrets from me.
It seemed he didn't want me to know the truth.
Just as I reluctantly turned to leave, I sensed someone quickly approaching from behind.
A long shadow stretched across the hallway floor, revealing who it was.
The shadow belonged to Mesis.
"Mesis?"
"Hello, Young Lady."
Mesis greeted me with a bright smile. He was following at a leisurely pace, his hands clasped behind his back.
Seeing my pout, Mesis asked with a curious expression.
"What has you so upset?"
"I'm not upset."
"It's written all over your face."
"I'm still not gonna tell you."
I clamped my mouth shut.
Mesis, who had matched my pace, began to ask questions one by one.
"Did something go wrong?"
"No."
"It's unlikely, but did the Gaju scold you, by any chance?"
"Nope."
"Then are you unhappy with the gift you received?"
Mesis gestured to the box containing the dagger.
I shook my head, indicating that wasn't it either. This wasn't a game of twenty questions.
As the questions continued, my cheeks puffed out more and more. Mesis watched me, perplexed, and gave an awkward laugh.
"I don't know what it is, but can I help?"
...He'll help me?
It was a very tempting offer. I looked at Mesis.
He seemed pleased to have finally found a way to lift my spirits.
"What is it? Feel free to tell me."
"...If I ask for help, will you do anything?"
"Of course."
"Really?"
"I mean it."
"Liar."
I couldn't bring myself to believe Mesis right away. He seemed so suspicious.
Why would he suddenly offer to help me?
I took a step back and gave him a suspicious look, and he sighed.
"I'm a bit hurt that you don't believe me. My top priority is to follow the Young Lady's orders."
"...My orders are your top priority?"
"Yes."
"Not Papa's?"
The reason Mesis and the other guards stayed by my side was because of Kaide's orders.
So how could my words be his top priority?
Recalling how Basad had repeatedly ignored my wishes and stopped me from going to the basement not long ago, his claim seemed highly dubious.
"A guard's first duty is to the one they protect. Though, we are allowed to make our own judgments depending on the situation."
"Then promise."
I held out my pinky finger.
Mesis stared down at my finger in bewilderment before linking his own pinky with mine, asking.
"What is it that requires all this?"
"You see, Mesis..."
His amethyst eyes were focused on my lips.
"I..."
"Yes."
"I wanna go to the basement."
Stumble. Mesis's legs gave way, and he quickly regained his balance.
He clearly hadn't expected the word "basement" to come out of my mouth.
I tugged hard on his pinky.
"...The b-basement, you say."
"Uh-huh. Basad stopped me last time, so I couldn't go."
This time, I was determined to find out who was in the basement.
Mesis opened and closed his mouth several times as if to say something, then simply pressed a hand to his forehead.
"Haa. Please, think about it again. That's not a place for you."
"You said my word comes first."
"That's true, but..."
"You already pwomised."
This was Mesis's fault for confidently declaring he could grant any request.
At my triumphant attitude, he slid to the floor in defeat.
Kneeling with his head bowed, Mesis looked up at me.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Come to my room at dawn. I'll tell you then."
"...At dawn. My life will be on the line if the others catch me."
Mesis rubbed the back of his neck.
I crossed my arms cockily and narrowed my eyes.
"You should've listened before you pwomised."
"..."
"Be more careful next time."
Pat, pat.
I patted his slumped shoulders a couple of times as if to encourage him.
Mesis stared at me blankly and muttered under his breath.
"You're becoming more and more like the Gaju."
* * *
Meanwhile, at that same moment.
In the office, Ian and Helena's expressions hardened as they listened to a detailed account of what had happened.
"...Is what you're saying true?"
It was a long while before Helena spoke, her voice filled with disbelief.
Even hearing the explanation firsthand, the news was simply unbelievable.
Reading through the summarized report, Ian closed his eyes, his anger simmering.
"When did you learn of this?"
"Only a few days ago."
"And this... thing is in the basement?"
"It is still breathing."
"So what do you intend to do now?"
He could not forgive those who had dared to commit such an unspeakable act against the South.
Not only had they tried to kidnap the family's heir, but their actions had also led to the loss of the lady of the house.
This was a grave matter that could not be overlooked. It would not be an issue even if they declared war.
"...Then Aileen must have hatched from the egg delivered by the East."
"That is correct."
"How could this have happened...?"
Helena buried her face in her hands.
An indescribable wave of emotion washed over her.
Aileen was, in the end, just another victim caught up in this affair, but Helena couldn't help but be reminded of Estella whenever she thought of the child.
"This is so confusing. Now that you know the truth, are you just going to stand by?"
"Of course not."
He intended to use this opportunity to secure definitive proof that the Artban family was behind the Loisar family.
"I've found that the Artbans have captured all the heirs of the major families in their region."
"They're mad."
"The Loisars would be no exception."
With their unparalleled information network, they would have been the first to act.
Assuming their heir was being held hostage, the Loisar family would be desperate to get them back.
"So they're willing to risk coming to the South for that?"
"That is the most likely scenario, for now."
"The most likely? You mean there are other possibilities?"
At Ian's question, Kaide nodded as if the answer was obvious.
"When things don't go their way, people tend to squirm."
"For example?"
"They might already know that Aileen has two types of pheromones."
"...What? You didn't mention that before."
Ian and Helena were stunned. Two types of pheromones?
He had said it so casually that they had almost missed it.
But Kaide just frowned, as if wondering what the problem was.
"Is there a problem?"
"...No. For now, just continue."
Ian waved a hand for him to go on. What more could possibly surprise them at this point?
Kaide held up a second finger.
In truth, the next point was an even bigger problem.
It would be fortunate if they only knew about her two types of pheromones, but...
"Or they might know that the Black Mamba's venom has no effect on Aileen."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. It seems having such a special daughter is a bit of a nuisance."
He had learned this from Kasana's last report.
As if having two types of pheromones wasn't enough, Aileen was also immune to Mesis's poison.
In a way, it was to be expected.
It was Kaide, not Estella, who had steadily infused the egg with his pheromones.
To survive his potent, venomous scent, such an ability would have been essential.
Kaide chuckled as if he found it amusing.
But every point he mentioned was utterly grave.
Since ancient times, the Black Mambas had used their deadly venom as a weapon to protect their territory and reign at the top of the food chain.
But a pheromone that neutralized their venom?
That was tantamount to saying their clan's power could be nullified.
In other words, a critical weakness for the family had emerged.
Kaide looked at the frozen Ian and Helena and spoke leisurely.
"I've heard that Su-in raised by other clans develop special abilities."
Usually, they failed to properly absorb pheromones before their eyes even opened and were unlikely to survive, but it wasn't unheard of for a young Su-in to be raised by another's hand.
However, there was one peculiar trait in such cases.
"To fully accept and grow with pheromones not of one's own kind, wouldn't one need an even stronger pheromone to survive?"
"...Are you saying Aileen's pheromone is strong enough to neutralize the Black Mamba's venom?"
"I haven't confirmed it yet, but I'm almost certain."
"Hah."
It was dumbfounding. Ian spoke, incredulous.
"You are the Gaju of this family."
"I know."
"Then how can you be so calm?"
This was an issue that could endanger the entire clan.
Yet, despite Ian's sharp rebuke, Kaide remained perfectly composed.