The Youngest Daughter of the Snake Family - Chapter 18

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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 18
It was just as the meal was coming to an end.
Rosaria entered the Dining Hall.
“Rosaria?”
“I’ve come to fetch Aireen. Did you enjoy your meal?”
“Yeah! I wanna see Baharn too!”
Without hesitation, I slipped down from Kaid’s lap and ran to Rosaria.
“You met Baharn? Did you greet him?”
“Yeah. Like this.”
I demonstrated the Navel Bow, and Rosaria smiled with evident approval.
“Now that you’ve finished eating, shall we go brush your teeth?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded and took Rosaria’s hand.
Just as we were about to return to the room, I stopped and turned back.
It seemed Arban had no intention of returning, so I decided to bid farewell to the remaining two.
“Thanks for today! Sete, goodbye.”
I wiggled my fingers as I waved. Of course, he wouldn’t accept it, but I tried anyway.
If I kept treating him warmly like this, maybe one day he’d reciprocate?
Sete’s brow furrowed as he received my greeting.
Though he kept showing his displeasure, my persistent attempts at closeness seemed to catch him off guard.
Next came Kaid.
“…Goodbye, Dad.”
The unfamiliar word tumbled awkwardly from my lips for the first time.
Heat flooded my face, and I covered it with both hands.
So embarrassing! What if he hates that I called him Dad?
Peek.
I cautiously spread my fingers to look toward Kaid.
If he seemed upset, I’d use his name from now on.
As I thought that and took a deep breath to calm my racing heart, a pleasant voice reached my ears.
“Yes. See you next time, Aireen.”
“…Okay.”
Thank goodness. He didn’t hate it.
Relief bloomed into a shy smile. A strange, tingling warmth spread through me.
* * *
After Aireen had gone.
The two Black Mambas—father and son—who would sooner sprout thorns than be alone together and regarded personal space as sacred, still lingered at the table.
Aireen’s sudden verbal assault had left them both speechless for quite some time.
Though she’d spoken in barely a whisper, Kaid’s monstrous physical abilities let him hear every word.
“…Goodbye, Dad.”
Did Aireen know what kind of impact those words would carry?
It was simply remarkable that such a being could exist.
“You seem pleased, Father.”
“You looked rather flustered yourself.”
“Me?”
Sete dragged a hand across his face.
Still watching the door through which Aireen had vanished, Sete’s brow furrowed as he turned his gaze away.
He’d naturally assumed she would be frightened, given his warning at their first meeting, but today she’d shown no such fear.
If anything, she’d been brazenly overstepping boundaries.
And now she’d left with a smile and a proper goodbye.
Sete found Aireen’s fearless demeanor deeply unsettling.
“…Isn’t something a bit off about her? She’s strange.”
“Harsh judgment. I heard she even gave you a gift?”
“That wasn’t a gift. It was just paper. I didn’t even know what she’d folded it into.”
Sete recalled the Yellow Colored Paper he’d received from Aireen.
Creased paper like that wasn’t what anyone called a gift.
He couldn’t even remember where he’d put it.
…Where did I leave it?
On the desk? Or did I just…toss it on the floor?
He probably had.
“I don’t even remember it.”
“I see.”
“……Aren’t you angry?”
“About what?”
Sete asked carefully whether Kaid was upset, and Kaid turned the question back on him.
“You saw how I treated Aireen just now.”
“I did.”
Kaid’s response was oddly understated.
At his unexpectedly calm reply, something like confusion flickered across Sete’s crimson eyes.
Sete had assumed Kaid would offer some rebuke, so he watched him with a somewhat bewildered expression.
His face suggested there was nothing particularly wrong with it.
“Everything takes time to adjust to.”
“……I’m not so sure about that. I don’t think I’ll ever warm up to her.”
Kaid let out a soft laugh.
Silence fell between them. When it became clear there was nothing more to say, Sete rose from his seat.
“Since we’ve finished eating, I’ll take my leave now.”
“As you wish.”
The moment permission was granted, Sete slipped out of the Dining Hall.
Watching his retreating figure, Kaid let out a hollow laugh.
“Not sure, he says.”
If he had no interest and didn’t like her, he should have simply ignored her from the start.
Yet somehow, he’d gone out of his way to warn Aireen.
And still he claimed not to understand what was happening to him.
Aireen’s presence was having a far greater impact than anticipated.
Enough to inspire genuine concern.
Kaid’s thoughts turned to the Banquet that would soon be held—a gathering where Beast-humans from all territories would convene.
He had planned to reveal Aireen’s existence there, but……
“Show her off, or keep her hidden?”
As conflicting desires collided within him, Kaid found himself lost in deep deliberation.
He wanted to show her off, yet equally wanted to keep her hidden away.
He wished he’d simply told them there were three that day.
The memory made his mouth taste bitter. It felt like he’d stepped on his own feet.
In the end, he remained caught in this quandary until Baon came looking for him in the Dining Hall.
* * *
I was currently in Hestia’s Medical Clinic, here for a routine Physical Examination.
She said all children who successfully underwent Humanization had to have one done.
Since everyone did it, I could do it too.
I’d received a thorough explanation from Rosaria before going to sleep last night, but I couldn’t help feeling nervous.
While waiting briefly for Hestia, I looked around the clinic with curious fascination.
I hadn’t noticed before when she came to my room, but Hestia really did seem like a proper doctor.
“Miss Aireen, you’re welcome to look around if you’d like.”
“No thanks.”
“Feel free to make yourself comfortable.”
“Aireen not nervy.”
I clutched the Baby Snake Doll I’d been sleeping with every night lately and swallowed hard.
There were plenty of other dolls, but I’d chosen this one without a second thought.
As the promised time with Hestia drew nearer, I hugged the snake doll tighter.
It’s definitely not because I’m scared.
Today the large brown door seemed unusually imposing as I stared at it intently.
Soon the door opened and Hestia entered, dressed in a white coat.
“Miss Aireen, I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long?”
Too fast!
Seeing Hestia keep our appointment so punctually, I couldn’t help making a dejected face.
“Why do you look so sad?”
“It seems the atmosphere of the clinic has made you nervous.”
“There’s no need to be afraid, Miss Aireen. Today we won’t do anything that hurts.”
“Rosaria told me. She said no hurty stuff.”
Hestia pulled out a chart and flinched. Then she murmured softly to herself.
“No hurty stuff……. Perfect.”
Watching Hestia mutter to herself, I grew anxious and darted my eyes nervously around the room.
Since the clinic had a rigid, sterile atmosphere so unlike the world outside, I found myself worrying even though I knew shots wouldn’t be involved.
Hestia noticed my interest and bent forward with a soft smile.
I gazed at her steadily as our eyes came level.
“Today we’re going to check your vision and teeth, and we’ll also measure your height and weight.”
“That’s all?”
“Yes! Once we’re done, I’ll give you some Chocolate I’ve been saving as a gift.”
Chocolate!
At the hint of my interest, Hestia pointed toward the back.
“Shall we go over there and get started?”
“Yes!”
I’ll finish this quickly and get that Chocolate!
Following Hestia’s guidance, I stepped up onto the height-measurement machine.
I pressed my heels firmly against the back and drew in a deep breath; the measuring device suspended above made a soft sound as it descended.
How far down is it coming?
I forced my gaze forward, resisting the urge to look up.
Tap.
The measuring device touched my head lightly, then withdrew.
As Hestia transcribed the result onto her chart, a subtle expression crossed her face; the corners of her mouth began to tremble slightly.
“……Ahem, well then. Shall we move over there and do a vision test next?”
“Yes!”

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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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