Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: The Power of Formal Speech
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"Formal speech?"
"Yes. Does the Gaju ever tell Master Set or Master Arban that they're still young?"
To Set and Arban?
I shook my head immediately. That had never happened.
I'd never once heard Kaide say anything like that to them.
"See? I told you it's because of the formal speech."
"Gasp, is that it?"
It was like a lightbulb went off in my head, as if I'd realized something monumental.
I think Mesis is right!
Because I don't use formal speech, Kaide keeps treating me like a child.
I quickly whispered again.
"So, I just have to use formal speech with Dad?"
"Yes. The Gaju's opinion of you will change then, won't it?"
I listened intently to Mesis, nodding eagerly.
Aser, who had been watching us from the side, wore a look of bewilderment.
"...Pardon my interruption, but even so, a seven-year-old is still a child."
"What are you talking about, Aser?"
I put my hands on my hips and wagged my index finger from side to side.
A seven-year-old is still a kid, but in childhood, seven is the most grown-up age.
I didn't forget to thank Mesis.
"Thanks for telling me, Mesis."
"Of course. I'll be rooting for your success, my lady. And you have to tell me how it goes."
"Of course."
This time, I'll definitely get Kaide to tell me I'm growing up well.
Just then, Baon's voice came from behind.
"I was wondering why you hadn't come. You were with the young lady in the garden."
It seemed Baon had come looking for Aser himself since he didn't show up after a while.
Aser gave Baon a slight nod.
"I must have taken too long, for you to come find me yourself."
"The Gaju is waiting. I shall guide you from here."
When Baon appeared, Mesis waved an encouraging hand before disappearing from sight.
He was probably watching from somewhere nearby.
"This way."
Baon led the way.
I trotted along behind him, side by side with Aser.
Entering the Black Mamba headquarters, Aser seemed somewhat tense.
The atmosphere was quite different from the previous negotiation, which seemed to be the reason.
Baon spoke in a completely deadpan voice.
"You've had a long journey."
"Not at all. But the atmosphere of the mansion seems to have changed a bit."
"That's because I ordered everyone to be absent at the time."
"So that was the reason. No wonder it felt so different."
"However..."
Baon began to speak. He asked, as if testing the waters.
"You said the initial contact with the Artban family would take time... but you finished rather quickly, didn't you?"
In that moment, Aser's expression darkened. Baon's eyes, not missing the subtle change, narrowed.
"Was there some kind of problem?"
"...I will explain everything once we arrive."
"So something did happen."
Baon's steps halted.
Before we knew it, we had arrived in front of the drawing room.
Just as Baon was about to knock, Aser asked.
"Is the young lady coming in as well?"
"She is."
"...Isn't she still too young?"
"It is the Gaju's judgment that it is better than knowing nothing. One should be aware of one's own affairs."
*Knock, knock.*
Baon opened the drawing room door and stepped inside. Kaide was already there, waiting for us.
"Dad!"
"I sent someone for you, but the three of you came together. How did that combination come about?"
"Yeah, well...!"
I was about to answer casually but stopped myself.
I'd almost forgotten after my earnest talk with Mesis.
I was supposed to start using formal speech!
When I suddenly stopped talking, Kaide looked at me quizzically, yet with a gaze full of anticipation.
As if asking, *what is it this time?*
His narrowed red eyes watched me intently, as if trying to figure out what I was up to.
I gave him a little grin.
And this time, I didn't forget, answering clearly in formal speech.
"I met Aser and Baon in the garden, so we came together, Father."
And the impact of the formal speech was tremendous.
"...What?"
Kaide, looking shocked, fell silent for a moment before raising an eyebrow.
At the same time, Baon could be heard taking a sharp breath.
Baon cleaned out his ears several times, as if he couldn't believe I'd used formal speech.
After a few seconds of silence.
Kaide, who had frozen, finally spoke after a long pause.
"What did you just say?"
He still didn't seem to have recovered from the shock.
But it seems like what Mesis said is really working! His opinion of me must have changed now, right?
I replied with a wide smile.
"We came together from the garden! With Baon and Aser!"
At that, Kaide's expression hardened, becoming much scarier than before.
...What? Is this not it?
Mesis said this would work, but the mood was sinking fast.
For some reason, the situation wasn't going the way I wanted.
I could see Baon taking a small step back.
I stealthily scooted back on the sofa.
His red eyes followed me menacingly.
"Pfft."
At that moment, Baon clamped a hand over his mouth, struggling to hold back his laughter.
His shoulders were shaking uncontrollably.
"Keuheup, Gaju. It must be quite a novel experience for you, hearing the young lady use formal speech."
"...Be quiet, Baon."
"You're all grown up, Lady Aileen."
Kaide scowled.
The drawing room was a scene of extreme contrasts.
Baon, watching with twinkling eyes as if it were great fun, and Kaide, whose expression was growing frighteningly stiff.
And finally, Aser, who seemed to have grasped the situation and was now observing the three of us with a look of sheer disbelief.
Baon asked, his voice laced with amusement.
"But may I ask why you've suddenly started using formal speech?"
Why did I start using formal speech?
Well...
"It's because Dad always says I have a long way to go before I'm grown up."
"Hoh. So you're doing it to show him how much you've grown."
"That's right."
"Then will you continue to speak casually to me?"
"Yup. The formal speech is only for Dad."
"Th-this... is an honor..., pfft, indeed."
Hearing my explanation, Baon finally burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. I tilted my head.
What's so funny?
As I watched Baon in confusion, I felt a chilling aura from beside me.
I flinched and froze.
"This is absurd."
Kaide put a hand to his forehead. He sighed, looking at me.
His expression said, 'What am I going to do with this one?'
"Who put you up to this now?"
"It's a secret..., sir."
"So you're going to keep using this unfitting formal speech?"
At my persistent formal speech, Kaide let out a dry laugh.
He looked like he had a lot to say, but perhaps because Aser was there, he didn't press further.
"We can't keep on like this in front of a guest. Let's put this matter aside for now."
"Yes."
I answered readily. Kaide's eyebrow twitched, as if he wasn't pleased with my answer.
The atmosphere shifted again.
Aser, sensing the main topic was about to begin, calmly took a sip of his tea.
"First of all... contact with the Artban family is complete. Fortunately, the Artban Gaju did agree to meet me."
"Hoh, so you did meet."
"Yes. ...However, a small problem arose in the process."
"A problem?"
Kaide narrowed his eyes. A problem already, when it was only the initial contact phase?
Aser's expression instantly darkened.
"Something must have happened."
At Kaide's confident tone, Aser lowered his gaze.
He moved his lips a few times, then clasped his hands and let out a sigh.
After a moment, Aser began to speak.
"Just how many steps ahead did you see, Gaju?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"During the negotiation, didn't you tell me that if the situation became difficult, it wouldn't matter if I confessed the truth?"
Kaide frowned at his words.
"So you're saying you went to the Artban family and confessed everything?"
"...That wasn't my intention from the start."
Aser continued, as if making an excuse.
"...There were circumstances that left me no other choice."
"What were these circumstances?"
What could have happened at the Artban estate that forced him to confess everything so readily?
Kaide waited patiently for Aser's answer.
Aser rubbed his dry face and spoke heavily.
"It seems there is someone in the Roisar family who is in collusion with the Artban Gaju."
What?
I was so surprised my eyes went wide.
Kaide and Baon, however, remained calm, as if they had expected this answer to some extent.
Aser closed his eyes tightly.
"No, I'm certain."
His voice had grown low and heavy.
He clenched his fists so hard that the veins on the back of his hands stood out and his knuckles turned white, as if he found it difficult to admit there was a traitor in his family.
His suppressed voice was seething with anger.
"There is another informant in the Roisar family besides myself."