Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Unraveling the Deception
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"Of course, it pains me to have to say this."
Durias spoke the insincere words with perfect composure.
He would gently soothe his opponent, only to unleash a sharp, merciless remark at the decisive moment.
His masterful rhetoric left me speechless.
I had heard he was in charge of the family's external relations. It seemed he hadn't been idle all this time.
As I stared at Durias in awe, Kaide poked me in the cheek.
"Wha-?"
"Close your mouth."
"…I was doin' that?"
Was I really staring at Durias with my mouth hanging open? My pride was wounded.
To think I’d been looking at Durias, of all people, like that.
I clamped my mouth shut and studied the faces of the Loisar family members one by one.
That’s when I noticed Aser, his expression uniquely grave and hardened.
Very suspicious. He definitely knew something.
After all, no matter how secretly things were handled, Gray couldn't have done everything by himself.
There must have been someone who helped him.
Could it be that Aser was the one who acted as the intermediary in their communications with the Artban family?
As I eyed Aser with suspicion, Kaide propped his right arm on the table and rested his chin on his hand.
He glanced at where I was looking and let out a soft chuckle.
"So you're not just a clever fool after all."
"Did you think I wouldn't know somethin' like that?"
"Impressive."
Kaide gave a slight nod.
At that, Durias stopped speaking.
"That's the gist of it. You heard him, so I trust you understand, Gray."
"I do."
"So, do you have anything to say?"
"Regrettably, I must say we know nothing of this matter."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. And the more I hear, the more I feel I must take the child with me."
Gray said, his gaze fixed on me. I shrank back.
His golden eyes were so utterly devoid of emotion.
I felt an instinctive revulsion at the way he looked at me as if I were an object.
"Then are you claiming the Artban family acted on their own?"
"That is correct. It has nothing to do with us."
"Gray."
In an instant, Kaide's demeanor changed. A chilling aura began to seep into the air.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Gray scowled, displeased. He was clearly growing tired of this conversation.
"I have tolerated that man's insolence and even listened to your pointless chatter. You show me no courtesy at all."
"I see no need to be courteous."
"What?"
Gray seemed at a loss for words at Kaide's retort.
His incredulous golden eyes wavered.
"This is absurd. There's no need for further conversation. Hand over the child, Kaide."
"A pity. I have no intention of sending my daughter away."
"A bird must live as a bird."
Gray smiled thinly.
He looked me up and down before tilting his head askew.
"That child is nothing but a foreigner here. No matter how much she imitates one, she can never belong with the Black Mambas."
"…That's not true."
I retorted, a lump forming in my throat. Gray’s expression turned as cold as ice.
"You had best fix that way of speaking. Once you go to the East, you will no longer be the young lady of the head family."
"I'm not goin'! I'm gonna stay wif Papa!"
How do I know what will happen if I go to the East?
There was no guarantee I would be safe. But Gray just scoffed.
"A child's opinion is irrelevant in the affairs of adults. Make your decision, Kaide. If I cannot take the child this time, I intend to file for a trial."
Gray let out a low, weary sigh.
"Let's avoid making things troublesome for each other. I don't understand why you're making such a fuss over a single child."
I clenched my fists.
From the very beginning, Gray had treated me like an object.
It was baffling that he had even come all the way to the South himself.
From what I had observed of him so far, Gray was not the type of person to personally come and collect a child of his clan.
He hadn't brought Isabel here out of pity for a mother who had lost her child, hoping to reunite them.
He had likely brought her merely as a ‘tool’ to sway my heart.
Kaide, who had been listening quietly to Gray, let out a dry laugh.
"You seem to be under some sort of misunderstanding. I said I have no intention of sending my daughter away. I expect you to show the proper courtesy to the heir of the Astrofel family."
"…Ha!"
Gray looked as if his pride had been wounded.
Even if the Astrofel family was the head family of the South, demanding courtesy for a mere heir was an excessive demand.
Besides, although I bore the Astrofel name, I was undeniably a bird.
It was impossible for me to succeed Kaide.
The Astrofel family was, after all, a family of Black Mambas.
Kaide couldn't have been ignorant of that fact, yet he was calling me his heir.
Even I was surprised and looked at him.
"Kaide, stop being so stubborn. From what I can see, that child can't even fly. What do you plan to do about that?"
"I doubt you have any intention of teaching her, either."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, it's time we were honest with each other."
Kaide laughed as if he found the situation pathetic. His red eyes flashed.
Sensing an instinctual threat, Gray drew a sharp breath.
"Why do you think I'm wasting my precious time dealing with you?"
I felt a phantom sensation, as if his leisurely voice were crawling up my body.
His red eyes, fixed on Gray, were watching intently, as if waiting for the slightest opening.
"Did you not hear my subordinate just now? He told you to speak only the truth if you wish to leave here with your body intact."
"...I have spoken only the truth."
"Did you make a pact? To deny everything at first? Ella did the same, and now you."
At the mention of Ella, the look in Gray's eyes changed.
He seemed to sense that something was wrong.
Before I knew it, Kaide's pheromone had spread, as if consuming its surroundings.
It happened in the blink of an eye.
I hadn't even noticed his pheromone moving, and I rubbed my arms.
Gray leaned back, assuming a defensive posture.
"This is what I think. Neither the Miat family nor the Artban family has the strength to provoke the South."
"..."
"But the story changes if someone helps them."
"…Are you suggesting that someone is me?"
"I hear the heir of the Loisar family is being held hostage by the Artban family."
"…!"
The members of the Loisar clan flinched.
It must have been a secret they had guarded closely. Every face had turned pale.
Kaide clicked his tongue.
"You would have wanted to keep it a secret. Losing an heir is a huge blow to a family. You must be desperate to get them back."
"…No way."
Aser muttered. He looked utterly shocked.
At Aser's reaction, Gray's eyes narrowed.
A stir of unease spread through the Loisar clan.
It seemed this was a fact only Gray and Aser had known.
To be precise, Gray likely knew everything, while Aser had just been faithfully following orders.
"This is astounding."
Baon shook his head. He seemed not to have expected Gray to be so reckless.
Important family matters naturally required the consent of the elders.
Yet Gray had acted unilaterally in a matter that could potentially lead to the family's ruin.
The old elder who had been actively defending the Loisar family until now covered his face in despair.
"This can't be. This can't be…!"
Aser stared at Gray, his face a mask of betrayal.
Kaide smirked.
"It would be wise not to lie from this point on. Unless you want your head displayed at the castle gates."
"..."
"Now then, let me ask."
Kaide opened his mouth.
"Why does the Artban family want Aileen?"
"...I don't know. They only said to bring the child if I wanted my heir back."
"So, did you tell them?"
"...Tell them what?"
"Is it a habit of yours to ask what you already know? I detest repeating myself."
Kaide said with irritation. Gray shook his head.
"The Artban Gaju doesn't know yet."
"The fact that you say he doesn't know proves that you do."
Gray's expression hardened. A flicker of regret crossed his face.
I realized they were talking about my pheromones.
So Gray also knew I had two pheromones.
Kaide had deliberately spoken vaguely to confirm it, to test Gray.
The Loisar family was said to be famous for its information network; it seemed they knew everything, down to such details.
But one question arose in my mind.
Why hadn't Gray told the Artban family about it?