Baby Lynx of the Tiger Family - Chapter 30

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Tiger Clan’s little baby wildcat
Chapter 30
To think I made her endure such a sight, and even forced her to use an Authority she still can’t properly control.
Gratitude welled up in me, and with it came a deep sense of self-reproach.
“Still, Sabrina.”
Baiden clasped Sabrina’s suffering hand tightly between both of his.
Perhaps because they had been holding on all night, their hands radiated the very same warmth.
“I was glad that, thanks to Baby, you and Sirka were both spared some of the pain.”
Ever since she’d taken that grievous wound to her abdomen, Sabrina had ordered Baiden not to meddle in her affairs.
Baiden found that unbearably sad.
Though the injury had been life-threatening, thanks to the monstrous recovery of a Chieftain’s bloodline, it had left nothing but a scar, with no lasting aftereffects.
Even so, Sabrina never retracted that order, and Baiden, who did not know how to defy her, could do nothing but stand by and watch his wife and son suffer.
Until last night, when Bariya reached out her hand.
“I’m truly sorry and ashamed to have needed help from a child who is still only ten years old, but still.”
“…”
“If it’s possible, I would like to keep asking Baby for help. I don’t want to see you and Sirka in pain anymore.”
Baiden knelt down and pleaded with desperate anguish.
If Bariya agreed, and as long as it wasn’t a hardship for the child, I would bow my head a hundred, a thousand times if asked, so please.
“Please tell her it’s all right to accept Bariya’s help.”
Baiden carefully pressed his lips to the back of Sabrina’s hand.
The touch was so warm it was nearly scalding, and damp, and Sabrina let out a sigh.
“…Don’t cry. There’s no need to cry.”
Baiden was weeping without a sound.
“If you allow it, I’ll stop.”
“Fine. Fine, so stop crying already. You only ever cry at times like this.”
Sabrina rubbed Baiden’s face roughly with her free hand.
And this is the man who, before others, wears a face as expressionless as if it were forged from iron.
Yet in front of me alone, he cries, he smiles, he puts on quite the show.
Now I’d rather not see that crying face of his anymore.
“Stop it, and go wash up before you go eat.”
“Yes.”
After pressing his lips to the back of Sabrina’s hand once more, Baiden left.
Sabrina rubbed the hand that he had been holding all night.
“Well then…”
I didn’t say anything specific to Baiden, but in truth, during last night’s bout of madness, I saw a vision of a hyena.
Of course, I often had nightmarish visions of Rabin and Sirka being killed by hyenas, but somehow.
‘This time was a little different.’
It wasn’t a pack of hyenas, but a single young hyena.
Young or not, the mere presence of a hyena beside Sirka had made me so furious I tried to kill it…
‘Why did that one look so much like Baby?’
The young hyena appeared at the moment a thick scent of grass drifted through the air.
And at Kalif, the only Beastkin who carries a grass-scented pheromone is Bariya.
Could it be that, thanks to Bariya, the hyena vision faded somewhat?
Besides, it was a young one, unlike usual.
‘That could be the case.’
Sabrina shook her head and rose from her seat.
Above all, she had to see Baby, apologize, and thank her.
* * *
Of all the beast clans, Kalif is the most renowned.
For that reason, many people fear the Kalif and hold the prejudice that they must be terrifying.
In truth, the Khalif Mansion is ordinarily very peaceful.
The master and mistress, though taciturn, are never fussy.
And the capable heir fills in the gaps left by their taciturnity.
They do change the moment hyenas come up, but since everyone in Kalif is the same in that regard, the mansion always carried a warm and cheerful atmosphere.
And today, more than any other day, it was buzzing with excitement.
Not just the master and mistress, but the countless Beastkin who worked for Kalif.
“The lady of the house is recovering faster than usual!”
“Everyone always struggles at times like this, and it broke my heart, but today she’ll be fine!”
“Sounds like she’s improved a lot. I’m so relieved.”
Everyone in the Khalif Mansion knows about Sabrina’s madness.
The strain had grown so severe that there was no hiding it to begin with.
Thankfully, everyone’s loyalty to Kalif ran deep, so none of it leaked outside the mansion, but that only made it all the more painful to watch.
Everyone grieved alongside the mother who had lost her firstborn son.
But last night, the madness ended remarkably fast.
Sirka had been slightly injured, but the scratches were so minor that no doctor’s care was needed; even a Beastkin’s natural healing would close them within moments.
Every Beastkin in Kalif rejoiced.
“It has to be thanks to the young lady who just arrived.”
Before long, everyone was praising Bariya.
“I agree. Ever since the young lady came, even the clan head and the lady of the house have softened a great deal, haven’t they?”
“I’ve never seen those two so tender with each other before.”
“It seems the lady’s presence has healed the mistress’s heart, too!”
A young Cat Beastkin lady whom Sirka had abducted out of nowhere.
At first she was so skinny that everyone worried over her and rushed to feed her one thing after another.
Before anyone noticed, that small girl had taken over the Khalif Mansion.
Baiden carried Bariya on his shoulders as he strode through the mansion, and Sabrina kept hounding the staff to bring fresh meat and vegetables for her to eat.
Sirka, sly as ever, declared how proud he was of his little sibling and made Bariya his younger sister without so much as a word of consultation.
For the first time since the tragedy, the family looked happy, and everyone already adored Bariya for it.
With Sabrina’s madness ending early as well, it all seemed to be thanks to Bariya.
“Today’s a day to celebrate, so let’s make a feast with plenty of good food!”
“We have to throw a party! Hurry up and bring out the meat and cake!”
“Let’s make a big spread of everything the mistress and young lady love!”
Those who had waited so long for this day threw themselves into preparing the food with all their hearts.
Of course, no one knew that Bariya had truly used her Authority to quiet Sabrina’s madness.
Except for the three members of the direct Kalif family.
* * *
Bariya woke at her usual hour, late in the morning, just as lunchtime was approaching.
Normally she would wash up quickly and eat in her pajamas, either in the dining room or in her room.
Today was different.
“Wouldn’t you rather change out of your pajamas?”
Bariya found Tairin’s sudden suggestion puzzling.
“Why? Do we have guests or something?”
“No, not that, but still. Please pick out your clothes yourself, Young Lady.”
Bariya was puzzled, but since she had plenty of clothes she hadn’t tried on yet, she changed without a fuss.
A loose frilled blouse with a pair of shorts.
It was one of the outfits Madame Renoir had given her as a sort of bribe.
Tairin tied her hair half-up for her.
Once she was dressed, Bariya went to the dining room with Tairin and Hwaiteu, and was stunned.
“What is this? Are we having a party today?”
The neat ivory curtains had somehow been swapped for a cozy, soft yellow.
The table was loaded with far more varied dishes than usual, and flower arrangements and elegant candelabras had been set out as well.
And Baiden, Sabrina, and Sirka were all dressed up in bright, festive clothes.
“I feel like I look way too plain.”
Bariya looked around the dazzling dining room in a daze, then glanced down at her own outfit.
If she’d known, she would have worn the flower-print dress.
“No, it’s perfect as it is.”
But Sirka shook his head at once, asking what she was talking about.
“You’ve never worn shorts at Kalif before, have you? It’s fresh and cute, I like it.”
“I was wondering when you’d wear that outfit. I’m glad to finally see it.”
“It suits the mood of the party, little one.”
Sabrina and Baiden smiled warmly as well.
“That’s right, Young Lady. I didn’t object because you picked something that fits you so perfectly.”
Even Tairin and the other staff in the dining room all nodded in agreement.
“Well, then.”
Truth be told, Bariya liked what she was wearing today, so she sat down without another word.
“So what’s the occasion today? Why the party?”
“It’s a party to wish the mistress a speedy recovery!”
Just then, the head chef appeared carrying an enormous roast turkey.
The moment she saw it, Bariya was so moved she clapped both hands over her mouth.
Good grief, I’ve never seen meat that big before!
“When good things happen, you have to celebrate, or more good things won’t come your way. So we worked hard to get everything ready.”
Led by the head cook, the servants lined up side by side and bowed their heads.
“Madam, we’re so relieved you’ve made a full recovery.”
“Please stay healthy from now on!”
“As if that’s worth all this trouble.”
Sabrina clicked her tongue, though everyone could see it.
The corners of her lips twitched violently.
“Ahem, and this is also a party to welcome Young Lady Bariya. Ever since you arrived, the mansion has been so much brighter.”
“That’s right. We never really gave you a proper welcome, so we picked today for it.”
“Young lady! We truly welcome you to the Kalif! Please remain our lucky charm from here on!”
The very ones who had congratulated Sabrina now welcomed Bariya.
Caught completely off guard, Bariya’s mouth fell open.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————