The Youngest Daughter of the Snake Family - Chapter 13

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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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Chapter 13
Ugh.
I swatted the ball with my wing.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
“You’ll hurt yourself, Airin!”
“Chirp!”
“The ball won’t cooperate, is it?”
“Chirp.”
As I waddled over to scoop up the ball in my wings, Rozaria quickly lifted the Camera she’d been wearing around her neck.
I’d been resting my cheek against the soft rubber, but at her call, I turned my gaze toward her.
“Look here, Airin!”
“Chirp?”
“Oh, how adorable you are.”
After the clicking sound repeated several times, Rozaria finally lowered the Camera.
Lately she’d been utterly captivated by photography—with the particular quirk that all her subjects were photographs of me.
Roll-roll-roll.
I chased after the ball as it tumbled along of its own accord, bouncing it a few times, but soon exhausted myself.
This ball is boring!
“Chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp!”
I spun around and bounded toward Rozaria.
“Already tired of playing?”
“Chirp.”
I hopped onto the Straw Mat and settled in front of the Blueberry Pie Rozaria had prepared.
She’d mentioned that Chef had made it specially for today’s outing.
“Chef hopes you’ll enjoy it and grow big and strong soon.”
“Chirp!”
“Is it delicious?”
“Chirp!”
My eyes lit up with delight at the marvelous taste, and Rozaria gently stroked my head, urging me to eat more.
After a few big bites, the pie vanished in no time.
When I saw Chef next, I’d have to thank him properly for the delicious meal.
A gentle breeze rustled past. I rubbed my full belly.
“Full now?”
“Chirp-chirp!”
“Then shall we lie down and do some paper folding together?”
Rozaria was meticulous.
She’d apparently prepared a backup activity, anticipating that I might lose interest in the ball.
She withdrew a stack of Colored Paper from one corner of the basket and spread it out.
All the pieces meant for me had been cut into small quarters.
“Which color appeals to you?”
“Chirp-chirp!”
When I selected the yellow Colored Paper, Rozaria smiled brightly and handed it to me.
“We’ll fold a Butterfly—your favorite.”
“Chirp-chirp?”
“Yes. First, fold it into a triangle shape like this.”
Rozaria demonstrated slowly.
She must have been troubled by how I’d chased after a Butterfly the other day, trying to catch it.
Though I worried I might not fold it well with my wings, concentrating and following along step by step, it proved easier than I’d expected.
“Next, unfold it completely.”
“Chirp?”
“Yes, you’re doing wonderfully!”
This is easier than eating candy.
I held up the paper I’d folded with confident pride.
Rozaria examined my work with a pleased smile before moving to the next step.
As we folded paper side by side, Rozaria’s hands suddenly faltered.
“Chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp?”
“Um, just a moment, Airin. The next steps are a bit muddled in my head.”
It seemed Rozaria had forgotten the next part of the folding. I’d simply wait for her to remember.
I was certain she’d never folded paper before in her life.
She must have rushed to memorize this just to spend time with me and play—so I shouldn’t rush her.
So should I go play with the ball over there for a bit?
I rose quietly and checked the ball near the Fountain.
“Chirp chirp chirp chirp.”
“Yes, Airin?”
“Chirp.”
When I pointed at the ball, Rozaria, who had been wearing a dejected expression, broke into a wide smile, genuinely pleased.
“You want to play ball? Sure, just give me a moment to think of the next sequence.”
“Chirp.”
I picked up the Colored Paper I’d been folding, held it firmly in my beak, and waddled toward the Fountain.
I’d worked hard folding it, and I couldn’t have it blow away in the wind.
If I played nearby, Rozaria would call for me in a little while, wouldn’t she?
I checked on Rozaria struggling in the distance one more time, then kicked the ball hard.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
“Chirp. Chirp chirp. Chirp!”
I waddled along, kicking the ball and lifting my foot again, when a breeze suddenly picked up.
I tried to catch the ball as it rolled away in the wind, but I caught my foot on a stone and tumbled down hard.
“Chirp, chirp chirp…….”
It hurt.
“Chirp chirp chirp…….”
Tears were starting to form and I whimpered, but the ball rolling past the Fountain toward the forest beyond stopped abruptly, blocked by something.
For a moment, it felt as though I’d stepped into a different space entirely.
I couldn’t say exactly how, but I knew this was the other’s Pheromone.
Whisper whisper.
Each time the wind blew, a thick wave of Pheromone washed over me—threatening yet strangely serene.
I lifted my head.
“So that chirping sound I heard wasn’t my imagination after all?”
Before me stood a boy who looked nearly identical to Kaid, regarding me with an expressionless face.
Though I’d never seen him before, I could tell immediately that this boy was one of those called Young Master.
The shock of this unexpected meeting made me hiccup.
“Chirp chirp. Chirp chirp! Chirp chirp.”
I forgot about my injured leg, and my cries stopped dead. The Pheromone that made my body stiffen involuntarily terrified me.
Only now did I understand how carefully everyone had been restraining themselves around me.
Even Kaid, who’d always seemed so carelessly indifferent, had actually been exercising extreme caution.
The boy emerging from the forest casually nudged the ball to the side with his foot.
Suddenly, Rozaria’s words from that time in the forest came back to me.
“The Eldest Young Master does his Training here.”
I couldn’t forget the pathetically fallen trees and the gouged earth.
The way he approached, narrowing the distance between us, resembled a predator closing in on its prey.
“Is that your ball?”
“Chirp…….”
“You seem frightened. I was coming back from Training and forgot to rein it in.”
His gaze, which had been sweeping over me, shifted to the Colored Paper that had fallen at my feet. Did he want this?
Hiccup.
I hiccupped and offered him the Colored Paper, picking it up in my beak.
Th-this…….
“Chirp.”
If you want it, take it.
The scene felt familiar somehow, but that must have been my imagination. The boy who saw the Colored Paper I offered wore a bewildered expression.
“You’re giving this to me?”
“Chirp.”
The boy’s mouth closed.
We stood at a distance, neither moving first, when I heard Rozaria’s voice calling.
“Airin!”
“Chirp chirp chirp chirp!”
I quickly darted behind Rozaria’s legs and hid.
I gripped the hem of her trousers tightly and didn’t release the tension.
The boy’s eyes narrowed, displeased that his moment had been interrupted by Rozaria’s sudden arrival.
“Sete Young Master, your Training is finished already?”
“It was boring.”
“Please rein in your Pheromone. Airin must have been terrified. Shall we get some water?”
“Chirp.”
I was startled half to death.
The moment I stretched my wings, begging to be held, Rozaria scooped me up into her arms.
I was sipping at the water she’d given me when I felt a piercing stare.
It was Sete, the eldest Young Master, who hadn’t gone on his way yet—he was watching me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.
Why was he looking at me like that?
I gripped the small vessel of water with both wings and turned my head away, pretending not to notice.
I was hoping he’d leave when Sete spoke to me.
“You’re the bird that’s been making waves lately, aren’t you?”
“A bird, sir? This is Airin, who received her name from the Head of Household himself.”
“So your name is Airin?”
“Yes. The Youngest Miss, in fact. Isn’t she adorable? I find myself living just to care for her these days.”
“Is that why you abandoned your post at the border?”
Sete’s words struck back with a barbed edge. I froze.
I’d known vaguely that Rozaria was formidable, having witnessed her extraordinary strength before, but I’d had no idea she was stationed at the border.
“Caring for the Youngest Miss is not a task one can entrust to just anyone, sir.”
“I’ve been curious which sibling had the shallowest breathing while still in the egg.”
Sete smiled softly.
“So it was you?”
Miraculously, I’d survived. His tone was gentle, but the undertone was unmistakable.

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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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