The Youngest Daughter of the Snake Family - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 10
The Anead Meadow and all lands along the Benea River were territories Kaid had never spared a glance for.
Other clans eyed them eagerly—regions so beautiful and peaceful that they made rival families salivate—yet Kaid had little taste for peace that exceeded necessity.
It bored him senseless.
But then he showed interest. For the first time.
The reason was simple: “Because it bored him senseless.”
When Kaid led his own clan into the field personally, he swept away every rival house that had cast covetous eyes on the territory.
“The fact that he’s leading the campaign himself says everything, doesn’t it? She really is the youngest lady of the household.”
“Then shouldn’t we announce that the household has three heirs now?”
True enough.
The retainers recalled the announcement they’d already made—that the Astropel Household had two designated heirs.
“Ah. We should be boasting about having a young lady, too.”
“……Sigh.”
Wistful sighs erupted throughout the hall.
Jeras, watching this unfold, let out a hearty laugh.
“You lot look more excited now that your work’s about to multiply, I’ll give you that.”
“……Does it really show?”
The retainers’ faces flushed with embarrassment.
And well it should—at the apex of the Food Chain, individual numbers dwindled dramatically.
Among females especially, they could be counted on one hand.
So the retainers couldn’t help but be curious.
“Is the young lady terribly adorable?”
“From what Rosaria told us, she’s so lovely that words fail to describe her.”
Wow.
The retainers’ eyes gleamed in unison.
They couldn’t wait to meet her—Irene, the youngest of the household.
The gathered retainers began drifting away one by one, exchanging glances as they rose.
No need to guess where they were going: to the Garden, where the young lady was said to spend her time.
Jeras chuckled and shook his head. Then he turned toward the far end of the corridor and spoke.
“What are you doing hiding there, Arban?”
His concealment was practiced, but his skill remained raw.
A moment later, a boy with tousled black hair and crimson eyes emerged from behind the marble column.
Despite his youth, he possessed an elegance that seemed drawn from a painting and beauty sculpted like marble itself.
The eldest young master had at least feigned a measure of restraint, but the second son did not.
“I have a younger sibling?”
“Yes. You’ve heard, then.”
“A bird, he says?”
“So it would appear.”
Arban’s face twisted into a scowl.
“How can something bird-like become my sibling?”
“Did not the household head acknowledge her?”
Shallow interest though it may have been.
“I don’t remember hearing that Father’s gone mad.”
Jeras stifled a groan at Arban’s blunt tongue.
He had no idea where the boy picked up such speech, but Arban’s manner of talking grew bolder by the day.
“……Sigh. Young master. What sort of language is that to use around the household head?”
“Hmph. If that weren’t the case, Father would never make such a decision.”
Jeras closed his eyes slowly, surrendering to resignation.
Now he had no desire to know where the boy had learned such things.
But there was something else that troubled him far more.
The thought of Irene rubbing shoulders with Arban and learning his ways—it was downright horrifying.
‘Has he lost his mind?’
If she were to pick up such habits in that small, endearing form of hers, it might even be cute……but it couldn’t happen.
Jeras could not allow the household’s last hope, their youngest lady, to turn out that way.
“Young master. You must be especially careful with your words around the young lady.”
“Why should I mind my tongue because of her?”
“There is a saying: even cold water should not be taken carelessly before a small child.”
“Hmph. I don’t recall acknowledging her as my sister anyway.”
Arban pouted his lips and muttered in protest.
As the time for his lessons drew near, he lingered a while longer in his seat before clearing his throat and carefully broached a question.
“So where is she, then?”
“It’s not yet time for a meeting, sir. The young lady is far too young.”
“What? Father saw her. Grandfather saw her too, and Rosaria saw her!”
“But young master, you still lack Power Control, do you not? Just days ago you destroyed a wall. The manor won’t survive much more of this.”
Jeras sighed as he spoke, and Arban flinched.
With not only the manor’s walls but countless other incidents to account for, he had nothing to say in his defense.
He pressed his lips together hard, his expression resentful, then stomped his foot with a bang.
Crack.
The floor caved in. Oh no. Arban’s face fell.
Jeras raised his eyebrows with a knowing, teasing smile.
“Observe—the floor is ruined as well.”
“Just wait. I’ll show you I can master this in a few days!”
“Oh, is that so?”
“That’s right! This is nothing—I’ll get it done quick!”
Arban huffed indignantly, his irritation reaching its peak. Jeras wore a satisfied smile.
He had just heard that the second young master’s Power Control was making frustratingly little progress.
If he could stoke that competitive fire now, perhaps it would finally improve.
“Then I shall look forward to good news, Arban.”
Arban spun around and began to walk away.
His restless crimson eyes flickered toward the Garden, where the servants had gone, then away again.
I want to see her too! My younger sister, so cute and adorable!
Unable to voice such feelings aloud, Arban muttered irritably as he walked.
“……Meeting my own sister shouldn’t be this damn difficult.”
* * *
“Chirp… chirp.”
Lately my body had grown so heavy. I could barely eat, whether food or water, and I had no strength at all.
“Chirp…”
And everything hurt—my wings, my legs, my back. There wasn’t a part of me that didn’t ache.
Why was this happening? Tears welled up.
Since morning my condition had been poor, and Rosaria hadn’t left my side.
“What’s wrong, dear?”
“Chirp chirp chirp chirp.”
“Yes, I’m here.”
Rosaria placed a cool, damp cloth on my burning forehead.
I breathed out hot air and burrowed deeper under the covers.
“This won’t do. I’ll have to call for the physician.”
“Chirp! Chirp chirp!”
“No arguments. I’ll be back shortly, so please wait.”
When I shook my head in protest, Rosaria rose decisively.
No, no! I hate needles! Don’t go, Rosaria!
“Chirp chirp chirp-!”
Click.
But despite my desperate cries, I heard the door close coldly behind her.
“Chirp…”
Sniff.
Lying alone in the room only made the pain feel worse. To escape the silence, I counted the patterns on the ceiling, one by one.
How much time had passed?
The door opened and Rosaria returned with a woman who appeared to be the physician.
I remained tense, half relieved and half wary.
Did she bring a syringe?
I quickly scanned the physician’s hands. Thankfully, she was holding nothing.
“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Irene. I’m Hestia.”
Hestia tucked her light black, shoulder-length hair behind her ear and waved.
Her pale green eyes crinkled into half-moons as she smiled softly.
“Now, let me just check your condition.”
“Chirp.”
I clutched the blanket tightly.
Having received an explanation on the way, Hestia began her examination and soon started asking questions.
“When did these symptoms first appear?”
“This morning, miss said. The weakness has been going on for several days, though nothing quite like today’s severity.”
“Does she dislike it when you touch her wings or legs? Or perhaps she doesn’t sleep well at night?”
How did you know that?
I drew in a sharp breath.
I stared wide-eyed at Hestia, who had pinpointed my symptoms so precisely.
She scribbled something on her chart as she methodically checked off each point, then broke into a bright smile.
“Congratulations, Miss Irene.”
“Chirp?”
“You’re experiencing Growth Pain.”
……Growth Pain?
It was a reason I’d never even considered. Rosaria, too, seemed at a loss for a moment.
Even as a chick, I was going through Growing Pains.
I flexed my wings tentatively. A dull ache bloomed across them.
All this pain was simply because I was getting bigger!
“It’s about the right time for Growth Pain to set in.”
“Is that so? ……Then you should be able to undergo Humanization soon.”
“Of course. She may experience quite a bit of discomfort, so do give her gentle massages from time to time. Warm water works wonderfully—like this.”
Hestia carefully began massaging my wing.
As she pressed firmly with measured pressure, relief spread through my entire body.
“Chirp, chirp. Chirp-chirp.”
“Does that feel better?”
“Chirp!”
So much better! The knotted muscles loosened, and the pain began to fade.
Rosaria, working on my other wing, let out a soft, delighted laugh.
The worried expression that had clouded her face brightened noticeably.
“I’ll need to prepare clothes for you to wear. ……My heart may not survive it. I should prepare myself mentally.”
“Hehe. I know a wonderful place—would you like me to tell you about it?”
Hestia whispered conspiratorially as she continued the massage.
Rosaria leaned in, her attention caught.
“Where might that be?”
“In the Outer City, there’s a shop that specializes in children’s clothing. The selection is truly remarkable. The shoes are lovely too.”
“That’s excellent information. What’s the name of the boutique?”
Rosaria began murmuring the address that Hestia rattled off, memorizing it carefully, when her expression suddenly shifted to puzzlement.
“But how do you know about it? Do you have children?”
“Of course not.”
“Then……?”
Hestia laughed brightly.
“My goodness, didn’t you know? Miss Irene has become quite the celebrity in the Household. Everyone’s been in an uproar wanting to meet her. As the Household physician, this much preparation is nothing. I anticipated that Growth Pain would begin around this time, after all.”
Everyone wants to see me?
I’d never heard such a thing before.
Lifting my head at this unexpected gossip about my newfound fame, Hestia cupped both my cheeks in her hands.
“I’d dearly love to take a footprint impression as a memento. I’ve been waiting for the day you might summon me.”
……What on earth is happening?
Suddenly Hestia began to look rather dangerous.
Seized by an inexplicable dread, I tucked my feet away protectively.

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