Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: A Father's Fear
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"That's absurd."
Aser seemed unwilling to accept that his clan had been deceived for so long.
But Kaide just scoffed.
"You want to believe it's a coincidence? That the Artban family just got lucky with their timing?"
"..."
"Ridiculous."
Even to me, who was hearing the details for the first time, Kaide's words were incredibly persuasive.
Baon chimed in.
"Someone must have opened the family's gates for them. A frontal assault would have been reckless."
"They would've needed an insider to keep the Miart clan, their rivals, in check."
Aser looked utterly bewildered.
The east was currently a standoff between the Miart family of the wolf clan and the Artban family of the jaguar clan.
They wouldn't have easily done anything that might weaken their forces.
Which meant that no matter how you looked at it, an insider had been planted in the Roisar family for a long time.
I was amazed that Kaide had deduced all this from the single clue of there being an insider.
Kaide took a sip of his now-lukewarm tea, set the cup down, and looked at Aser.
"A man with a guilty conscience always prepares an escape route."
"...Are you saying there must be evidence somewhere?"
"Yes. He'd need to have at least one piece of evidence to save his own skin."
Having betrayed his own clan, it was impossible that he would genuinely trust the Artban family.
Aser still stared blankly at the floor.
He seemed to be having a hard time recovering from the shock.
With the situation somewhat clearer, Baon looked relieved.
"Do you have anyone in mind, Sir Aser?"
"...No one comes to mind immediately."
"Then finding the traitor must be our first priority."
Right, to find the evidence, we first need to figure out who the traitor is.
That's what Kaide wanted.
But Kaide himself shook his head as if to say that wasn't it.
"No, there's something more important than that."
"What would that be?"
Baon asked back, looking confused. I widened my eyes.
Something more important than finding the traitor? What is it? I listened intently.
"You seem to keep forgetting. I'd like you to remember that you agreed to be Aileen's flying instructor."
"...I haven't forgotten. Don't worry, I will be sure to give her the lesson before I leave."
Aser ground out each word through clenched teeth.
Normally, in a situation like this, one would say the circumstances weren't right and ask him to return later. But Kaide was, as always, different.
He smiled languidly.
"I'm glad you haven't forgotten. In that case, I'd like you to go to the forest and wait for us."
"Am I not going with Lady Aileen?"
Aser asked, puzzled. He seemed curious as to why he was being told to go on ahead alone.
At his question, Kaide's lips curled into a dangerous smile.
"Aileen and I have something to discuss for a moment."
Something to discuss with me? What could it be?
I looked at Baon, who was sitting across from me, as if to ask what it was. He just grinned.
"Ah, that's right. Well then, Sir Aser, I will guide you to the forest."
"Do so."
"Let's get going."
Baon hurried Aser to his feet.
Once they left the drawing room, the room fell silent.
Kaide, who had been sitting quietly with his arms crossed for a long while, looked down at me.
His narrowed red eyes were fixed on me intently.
Why, why is he looking at me like that? Could it be because of the formal language I used just now?
I slowly started to back away.
I had realized why he wanted the two of us to be alone.
I tried to offer a sweet smile. I felt a cold sweat trickling down my back.
"Smiling like that won't help you. Why don't you come clean?"
"C-Come clean about what? I don't know what you're talking about."
As I naturally dropped the formal speech, the curve of Kaide's lips deepened.
"Oh, you don't? You seem to know perfectly well."
Could it be that Mesis knew this would happen and told me to use formal language anyway?
Thinking back now, every single one of his actions in the garden seemed suspicious.
From the way he looked around to see who was there, to how he whispered in my ear so only I could hear, calling it a secret.
It was all Mesis's scheme!
I pouted. Kaide didn't look like he was going to let this go.
As I darted my eyes around, trying to look innocent, Kaide tilted his head.
The twist of his lips held a hint of displeasure.
"I can hear the gears turning in your head from here."
"...Hic."
"Aileen Astrofel. Who put you up to such a thing?"
Kaide pressed both my cheeks with one hand. It was an unexpected attack.
My chubby cheeks squished under his hand, making my lips jut out.
Finding this amusing, Kaide prodded my cheeks.
*Hmph.* As I pouted, he laughed like a villain, urging me to speak.
"Wet go of me!"
"I'll let you go if you talk."
"...It'th a thecwet."
"You may have grown, but your cheeks are as chubby as ever."
"No, they'we not!"
I furrowed my brows and shook my head.
Kaide watched me for a moment before clicking his tongue.
He then gave me a look that said he found my refusal to name the culprit pathetic.
"You don't seem to want to talk. Shall I guess who told you to use formal language?"
"...Huh?"
"It has to be Mesis, no question."
"Gasp."
"So I was right."
I flinched, realizing my mistake. I'd been too obvious. But how did he know? I hadn't even mentioned Mesis's name.
Kaide nodded his head.
"He's the only one who lives as if he has two lives to spare."
"..."
"Perhaps I should check. See if he really does have two lives. I'm starting to get curious myself."
*Shake, shake.*
I quickly shook my head. Kaide tilted his.
"No?"
"Nuh-uh."
"Then are you going to take back the formal speech?"
"...Umm."
"Are you going to keep doing it or not?"
Kaide pressed my cheeks insistently, demanding an answer.
I fell into deep thought.
The longer my silence stretched, the more Kaide's eyes twitched.
But I'm not doing this for no reason!
"B-But... I wanted Dad to tell me I'm all gwown up, too!"
But Kaide always says I'm still small!
My own pent-up frustrations made me pout automatically.
Kaide let go of my cheeks and muttered with a reluctant expression.
"Is that why you were using formal language?"
"You always say I'm the only one who's still little."
"You are still little."
I turned my head away, hurt.
I knew it. Kaide doesn't like the fact that I'm growing up.
"I want to hear that I'm growing up well from you, Dad! Not from other people, I wanted to hear it from you!"
It felt nice to hear it from Hestia or Rosaria, but it wasn't truly satisfying.
Because Kaide never showed any interest.
The one person whose attention I wanted most was none other than Kaide.
At my words, Kaide fell silent, a somewhat surprised look on his face.
As if he never imagined I had such thoughts.
"Do you hate that I'm growing up?"
"...No, it's not that."
"Then do you like it?"
This time, I was determined to get an answer before I let it go.
As I persisted with my question, Kaide covered his eyes.
Like someone who had just been asked a difficult question.
After a long moment, he finally spoke in a low voice.
"I was afraid that if you grew up too fast, you'd say you were leaving."
"...Huh?"
"That's why."
"..."
"Because then I'd have to let you go. It's okay to grow up a little more slowly, Aileen."
What did he just say?
I blinked slowly, unable to believe it.
What did Kaide just tell me?
Was he saying that he didn't acknowledge my growth because he was afraid I would declare my independence as soon as I was old enough?
I covered my mouth with both hands.
Kaide frowned, as if displeased with himself for even uttering such words.
Then, eyeing my noticeably taller frame, he grumbled in dissatisfaction.
"I thought you had a long way to go. You've already grown by a handspan."
"...What, so that was the reason?"
Knowing the truth, a smile began to spread across my face.
So it wasn't because he genuinely hated that I was growing up?
As I beamed with joy, Kaide reluctantly smiled back.
"What are you so happy about?"
"Don't worry, Dad! I'm going to live with you forever!"
"As if."
"It's true!"
Kaide's expression showed he didn't believe a word I said, but he still seemed pleased.
Frustrated, I pounded my chest and held out my pinky finger.
"Really. Pinky promise!"
Kaide glanced down at my pinky, then hooked his own around it.
"I suppose I'll humor you for now."
"Hmph. It's true."
Kaide snorted. I linked our fingers and smiled brightly.
It seemed the situation was resolved.
Now that I knew his true feelings, I no longer needed to insist on using formal language.
However, Kaide's eyes flashed toward the window, as if there was still unfinished business.
"Come on out, Mesis."
"...Ha, haha. Yes, you called, my Lord."
Mesis appeared, faltering. He looked like he wanted to run away on the spot.
Kaide clicked his tongue.
"You've been teaching Aileen all sorts of useless things."
"...My apologies."
"We'll be changing your shift for the time being. You'll switch with Karma."
"...Yes, I understand."
Switching with Karma? I lifted my head.
"So Karma will be coming at this time instead of Mesis now?"
"That's right."
I was finally going to see Karma, whom I hadn't seen since the banquet.
I had been wondering why I hadn't seen him, but it seemed his shift had been in the early morning, when I wouldn't run into him.
Mesis's shoulders slumped dejectedly.
Still, wasn't it a relief that it ended here?
It seemed Kaide understood it was just a prank and was letting it go.
"You should go to your lesson. Aser will be waiting."
"Okay! I'll get going then."
I stood up from my seat. My heart pounded with the excitement of finally learning to fly.
Kaide called out to Mesis, who was about to disappear.
"Mesis."
"Yes."
"While Aileen is learning to fly, keep a close watch for any suspicious movements in the area."
"Yes, my Lord."