The Youngest Daughter of the Snake Family - Chapter 20

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

Episode 20
“Did you know something?”
“Know what?”
“There’s supposed to be a huge Library on the First Floor?”
“I had no idea! How do I get there?”
So on the first day, we went to see the Library.
I wanted to read fairy tales, but since I hadn’t learned to read yet, I took the most popular book the librarian recommended and went to find Rozaria waiting in her room.
As I wandered around, I realized everyone else was equally lost—the Mansion was simply too enormous for anyone to know where everything was.
“Apparently there’s a place on this floor where you can observe the night sky. The ceiling is supposed to be all glass?”
“I had no idea! Then I should go in the evening?”
Unfortunately, I had to sleep in the evening, so I couldn’t go. I’d have to visit it later.
“Where are we going today?”
Puff, puff.
Actually, when I first said I wanted to explore the Mansion alone, Rozaria had tried to stop me.
But once Kaid gave his permission, I was able to leave the room.
“It’s not like you’re going outside—you should be allowed to wander freely through the house at least.”
He’d said something like that.
Truth be told, I didn’t really want to go outside alone either. Children shouldn’t venture out alone.
Rozaria had warned me several times that there were many scary things out there.
First, I’d conquer the Mansion!
Puff, puff.
Puff, puff, puff.
But despite this grand objective, there was something I hadn’t anticipated.
“Oof. My legs hurt.”
My stamina was too weak. I’d been wandering around since morning, full of excitement and anticipation, but I was gradually running out of energy.
Where could I sit down and rest?
I tapped my legs and looked around, when I spotted a chair just sitting there.
“Hmm?”
Was it always there?
Delighted, I scampered over and plopped down in the chair.
Then I opened the Water Bottle that had been hung around my neck with instructions to drink from it whenever I got thirsty.
Pop.
A small straw popped out. I took a long sip of water and looked around the Corridor.
The atmosphere in the Mansion had seemed chaotic lately. From what I’d overheard in passing, guests were supposed to arrive soon.
How many were coming that everyone was this frantically busy?
The Corridor was unusually crowded—there wasn’t even time to sit still.
As I swung my legs back and forth while resting, two men with unusually serious expressions emerged from a room with a black door.
“Udis.”
“Yes, Orka.”
“Is there a Greenhouse Garden on the Third Floor of the Mansion?”
“There is. And there are always snacks prepared there.”
Perk.
I pricked up my ears at this rather interesting topic.
“The young masters’ rooms are also on the Third Floor. Have you been there?”
Wait! Where is that? I’ve never been there.
“Airing doesn’t know where that is, so I haven’t been.”
The Third Floor? So there’s a Greenhouse Garden with snacks there, and Set and Arban too!
My eyes sparkled.
I want to go!
“Airing wants to go.”
But my stamina was depleted, and the Mansion was too large for me to go alone.
I’d have to climb the stairs to get there, and I was still on the First Floor.
“……Airing wants to go but it’s too far. Want to see Rozaria.”
I suddenly felt Rozaria’s absence keenly, and my nose prickled with disappointment.
As I was wallowing in self-pity, I felt bustling movement around me.
I rubbed my reddened eyes and looked ahead.
“Ahem! Orka, would you take this up to the Third Floor for me?”
“Very well, I’ll do that.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you. Oh! Aren’t you Airing?”
I nodded quickly. And I glanced sideways at the man called Orka.
Fidget, fidget.
She toyed absently with the Water Bottle, her lips moving soundlessly.
“Orka.”
“Yes?”
“Are you going to the Third Floor?”
“I am, but—”
Orka, with his white hair and pale eyes, waited for her next words, watching intently.
Would he take her with him if she asked?
Afraid he might leave without her, she scrambled down from her chair.
With urgent haste, she reached out and gently tugged at his sleeve.
Orka flinched, drawing a sharp breath. For a moment, something like anticipation seemed to flicker across those pale eyes.
“Airing wants to go to the Third Floor too.”
“…….”
“But my legs hurt so much.”
She rummaged through her Bag.
The words she’d overheard in the Conference Room not long ago came back to her.
“Don’t just ask for help without offering anything.”
“Ah, I see.”
Udis laughed brightly and added his agreement.
“What a good little chick, repaying kindness!”
She’d learned that when you received help, you gave Gratitude in return.
So she should give Orka a gift.
She dug through her Bag and pulled out a long, transparent container filled with Star Candy.
Fortunately, Orka seemed interested in the Star Candy.
“Is that your Gratitude?”
“Yes. It’s what Airing treasures most.”
“To already grasp such a concept—you’re quite intelligent indeed.”
Orka’s expression showed genuine surprise.
She smiled brightly. In truth, she’d remembered this from listening to Kaid mutter while reading documents.
“These fools always come asking for help without compensation. I should just beat them senseless.”
When you received something, you had to give something in return. It was an unchanging law.
She spoke with utmost seriousness.
“Airing doesn’t like Free things. If you like things that are Free, you get beaten.”
As she puffed out her chest proudly, the pleased expressions on both Udis and Orka’s faces suddenly stiffened.
* * *
“The Greenhouse Garden lies down the left Corridor from here. You’ll see a glass door—you won’t miss it.”
Holding Orka’s hand as they walked, she found herself already at the Third Floor.
Halfway there, realizing she needed to remember the way back, she asked him to put her down.
She carefully took note of everything she passed, committing each landmark to memory one by one.
Upon reaching her destination, she handed over the Star Candy she’d been holding.
“Thank you for bringing me here. This is Airing’s gift for you.”
“I’ll accept it with gratitude.”
Orka received the Star Candy with a complicated expression on his face.
His expression had been off since earlier. Udis had worn the same look, so there must have been some reason for it.
She felt excited at the thought of heading to the garden.
She’d thought she’d have to give up playing in a garden since she couldn’t go outside, but here was a Greenhouse Garden after all!
If there was time later, she’d have to search for Set and Arban too.
She turned to Orka, who still hadn’t left.
“Airing’s going now. You take care, Orka!”
“……Yes, I hope you have a pleasant time.”
“Thanks!”
Patter, patter, patter.
The quiet Corridor echoed brightly with the sound of her sandals.
Once at the garden, she’d spread out snacks and eat them deliciously!
Walking left just as Orka had instructed, she soon came upon a white door with transparent glass panes installed in it.
“Wow.”
Her eyes widened. The feeling was entirely different from the Mansion’s garden.
“It’s beautiful.”
As she pushed open the door and stepped inside, she saw carp swimming in an artificially made spring pool.
A squirrel that had been cracking acorns from a tree scurried away and hid at the sight of her.
Unlike the forest that was sealed off so that no other living beings could enter, this place felt very much alive and vibrant.
I found it so appealing that I broke into a grin.
“Let’s make this our hideout, Airing.”
I dropped onto the grass and opened the Bag I’d been carrying on my back.
Thump.
I turned the Bag upside down and shook it, sending snacks tumbling out.
I was deliberating over what to eat first when I heard movement in the nearby bushes.
Rustle.
“Hm?”
I turned my head toward the sound.
Something had made that noise, but what?
I scrambled to my feet and walked toward the source. And there I found someone completely unexpected.
It was Arban, hiding his body in the undergrowth.
“Arban?”
“What? Why are you here?”
“Arban!”
“Keep your voice down! If you give me away, what do you think will happen?”
Arban looked frantic. He pressed a finger to his lips and made a hushing sound. I quickly covered my mouth.
Holding my breath and rolling my eyes, I watched as Arban emerged from the bushes and brushed off his clothes.
Who had he been hiding from?
Whatever the reason, I couldn’t help grinning at the reunion.
Arban sighed, his expression showing clear exasperation.
This was our first meeting since we’d parted ways at the Dining Hall.

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