The Youngest Daughter of the Snake Family - Chapter 24

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

Chapter 24
* * *
Kaide was running through a relentless schedule with barely a moment to breathe, and his nerves were wound taut as steel.
The retainers who had to manage his mood were having the time of their lives—if one counted misery as living.
Even the slightest misstep meant facing those sharp crimson eyes, so they’d learned to tread carefully, reading every unspoken whim.
‘I should have submitted my resignation long ago.’
Amerod had been working under Kaide for six years now.
And for six years, he’d been too afraid to hand over the resignation letter he’d painstakingly composed.
Amerod had a gentle, delicate nature, and since childhood he’d endured mockery from his clanmates.
But as he matured, the awakening of his potent pheromones caught Kaide’s attention—and his fate was sealed.
“You’re perfectly suited for work in my household.”
At the time, he hadn’t understood what those words meant.
Only after stepping into the Astropel Household—that black serpent coiled with fanged jaws agape—did Amerod finally grasp it.
Among those individualistic, savage, and ruthless members, he alone could serve as a mediator.
So when this schedule came around, Amerod—who’d been squeezing through departmental conflicts just to keep work flowing—finally resolved to quit and submitted his resignation.
And the response he received was this:
“So you’re submitting your resignation at the cost of your life, Amerod.”
Amerod wanted to cry. He could no longer bear the malevolent presence at his side.
Sighing deeply as he walked the corridor with the other retainers, Amerod’s eyes widened when he felt a faint, downy presence emanating from somewhere.
Behind a pillar, peering out cautiously with her whole head now visible, was Airin.
“Oh…? That’s…?”
“Even hiding like that is pathetic. At this rate, you’ll have to spend your whole life at my side.”
What was he saying?
Amerod stared at Kaide in bewilderment.
Kaide’s expressionless face broke into a smile the closer he drew to Airin.
Careful to suppress his pheromones so as not to frighten her, Kaide stopped walking once the girl emerged fully from behind the pillar.
His crimson eyes softened as he gazed down at her.
“You look like a moth.”
“A butterfly, not a moth, Household Head.”
“…A butterfly?”
Kaide and Baon exchanged words.
Airin was dyed yellow from head to toe, with wings attached to her back.
Anyone could see she was a fairy, and Amerod clicked his tongue at their bungled guessing—debating moths and butterflies before landing on nonsense.
It was truly baffling how this household had survived this long.
“…A fairy, perhaps.”
“A fairy?”
Both men turned their attention to Amerod.
“Even a child knows such things are fiction, Amerod.”
Baon smirked and pushed his glasses up. Then he approached Airin and asked:
“Oh, Airin. Is today’s concept a butterfly?”
When Baon failed to guess correctly, Airin shook her head stubbornly.
“Airin the fairy.”
“…So you were a fairy. But where are you headed, young fairy?”
“…Came to see father.”
She hesitated.
Even as she said this, Airin didn’t step forward. She clung to the pillar like a moth, hiding in secret—clearly wanting something.
Pretending not to notice, Kaide asked:
“You wanted to see me?”
“Yeah. Airin wanted to see father.”
“Then shall we have dinner together?”
“But I’m eating dinner with Rosaria.”
“I’ll let Rosaria know separately.”
“Yeah! Then it’s all good!”
Airin beamed with delight. A gentle smile appeared on the retainers’ faces too. The fatigue of recent days seemed to melt away entirely.
Kaide lifted Airin up with one arm, steadying her against his body.
She’d made the journey here on her own just to see him, so it was his turn to grant her wish.
“Tell me why you wanted to see me.”
“Well, it’s like…this.”
Airin’s eyes rolled around as she dodged the question playfully.
Kaide decided to wait patiently. Meanwhile, he couldn’t help but wonder.
What on earth does she want, dawdling like this?
When Airin hesitated for a long moment without speaking, Kaide poked her cheek.
“Three seconds. Say it.”
One.
Two.
Three……
As the three-second limit ticked away, Airin thrust her small clasped hands forward urgently.
When those tiny hands extended, Kaide’s brow furrowed. What was this about?
Her tightly pressed lips parted slightly.
“Allowance……”
Allowance?
Kaide doubted his ears. If he’d heard correctly, that word had definitely come from those lips.
“You’re asking for pocket money?”
He asked, half-disbelieving, and Airin’s face brightened noticeably.
The retainers strangled their laughter with all their might. Kaide let out a soft laugh, unable to help himself.
Pocket money?
He couldn’t fathom where she’d picked up the concept of allowance, or whether she even knew how much had been allotted to her name, yet here she was making demands for it.
When he didn’t answer immediately, those small lips parted again with an endearing little voice.
“Airin wants allowance, Father……”
Having been playfully enjoying the situation, Kaide reconsidered his light treatment of the matter.
Perhaps it was time to unlock the Household’s treasure vault.
He fell into earnest deliberation.
* * *
“Allowance, Father……”
I squeezed my eyes shut and thrust both hands forward.
Airin needs allowance!
But even after a long moment, I didn’t hear the answer I wanted. I cracked one eye open and studied Kaide.
He seemed lost in thought, gazing elsewhere.
What if the baby bird doesn’t think she needs allowance yet?
My heart grew impatient and I called out to him.
“……Father!”
Those crimson eyes snapped toward me with a fierce intensity.
Emerging from his reverie, his firmly pressed lips curved upward smoothly. The warm, patient voice I’d been waiting for came at last.
“All right. How much do you want?”
“……Just a little.”
“A little?”
“Just a little bit.”
I spoke softly, barely audible, but Kaide heard me clearly and responded with satisfaction.
“It’s the first time you’ve ever asked me for something directly. What are you planning to do with it?”
“Airin wants to give gifts to her new friends.”
I revealed my ambitious plan.
My heart thrummed with excitement—these were my first playmates besides Set and Arban, and I’d only just met them.
Just imagining how much fun we’d have with toys I’d given them made me smile brightly.
The thought alone made me so happy!
Perched on Kaide’s arm and kicking my feet, I heard him chuckle softly.
“So you went to the gathering at Dong Guan.”
“Yes!”
“You seem quite excited about it. But what about my gift?”
“……Huh?”
“Mine?”
Caught off guard by this unexpected attack, I rolled my eyes innocently, only to have my cheek poked again.
“You’re like glutinous rice cake.”
“Airin is not rice cake!”
“Ah, that’s right. Ungrateful baby bird.”
“Ugh! Airin is a grateful baby bird!”
“Grateful, you say?”
I pressed my lips together indignantly. Kaide’s eyes narrowed with an amused glint.
I can’t earn money yet because I’m still small, but when I grow up I’ll repay everything.
I puffed out my cheeks and turned my head away sharply, and the retainers who had been watching approvingly began to speak.
“If the young lady is a grateful baby bird, you must have great expectations, Household Head.”
“You’re quite thoughtful for your age, aren’t you?”
I shook my head uncertainly.
When Kaide praised me one by one, I found my mood wasn’t quite so bad after all.
“Amerod.”
“Yes, Household Head.”
“You’ve heard, so there’s no need for me to explain further.”
As Kaide called out to Amerod, a man appeared smoothly from a shadowed corner and answered.
He was a pale man with a cool, austere bearing.
I startled at his sudden appearance and grabbed hold of Kaide’s collar.
His hand, patting my back as though unconcerned, quickly set me at ease.
Once I’d settled somewhat, I relaxed my grip and released the fabric I’d been clutching.
Amerod had been nearby all along, yet I’d sensed no presence at all.
“Airin wants to give gifts to those brats, it seems. Find a suitable shop and procure whatever she needs.”
“I shall see to it without fail.”
I was taken aback by Kaide’s instructions.
I’d only thought we’d buy a few toys and distribute them, but now the matter had grown far larger.
Flustered, I quickly tugged at Kaide’s sleeve, and his red gaze fell upon me.
“What is it? Is there something more you’d like?”
I shook my head vigorously.
My face fell with worry as I spoke hesitantly.
“Airin doesn’t want to spend too much money.”

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