The Youngest Daughter of the Snake Family - Chapter 28

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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 28
Sete stood with perfect posture, surveying his surroundings, while Arban leaned against the wall with a bored expression that suggested he couldn’t care less about anything.
I hurried over and called to them both.
“Sete! Arban!”
Their eyes turned toward me in unison.
I grabbed Cade’s hand and bounded forward, and Sete approached with a smile.
“Welcome, Aileen. Your outfit looks lovely today.”
“Mm. I really like it. It’s kind of princess-like.”
“Princess? Come on.”
Arban came to my side with an exasperated expression, and now Sete and Arban stood on either side of me.
I grinned widely, reassured by their presence, and Arban muttered reluctantly.
“Well, I suppose I can’t object entirely.”
“You’re so dependable, Aileen.”
“…What are you saying? Just don’t make any mistakes.”
“Mm!”
Shortly after, an attendant spoke to Cade and then departed.
Cade called to us.
“Aileen, Sete, Arban.”
“Yes?”
“Yes, Father.”
We stopped our bickering and turned our attention to Cade.
“It’s time to make our entrance. Prepare yourselves.”
With those words, the ornate doors of the Banquet Hall swung open, radiating elegant light. Many people had gathered in one place, conversing in hushed tones.
As the music that had been playing gradually softened, those who noticed glanced toward the doorway.
Our arrival was announced.
“Family Head Cade Astropel and his heirs have arrived.”
The hall fell silent. Cade entered first, and I followed behind him.
As we took our place at the head table, Cade spoke.
“I am grateful for everyone’s attendance at this banquet. I hope you all leave having enjoyed yourselves.”
He was quite different from the Cade I knew in ordinary circumstances.
The way he spoke with calm dignity in front of everyone was impressive.
I had to acquit myself with equal grace. I’d managed it before, so I could do it now.
I straightened my posture rigidly, and before he could give his final remarks, Cade introduced me.
“And I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the youngest member of my Family—Aileen Astropel.”
I took a deep breath and smiled brightly. With everyone there beside me, I had nothing to fear.
“Good evening, everyone. I’m Aileen Astropel!”
Having finished my introduction with confidence, I watched as Cade gestured to the orchestra.
“I hope you will all enjoy the remainder of the evening.”
The music that had been playing softly as background suddenly resumed with a lively tempo.
I gazed around the Banquet Hall with wonder. It felt entirely different from when I’d visited with Arban to look around.
What had been an empty space was now filled with food at every table and bustling with guests, making it truly gleam.
I came down holding Cade’s hand and took my seat at the Family’s designated table.
I’d been told that each Family had its own separate table, and to make them easy to distinguish, each tablecloth bore the Family Crest.
I’d never seen such a diverse gathering of Beastkin in one place, so I spent my time looking around.
Most of the crests were direct symbols that clearly represented the characteristics of each clan.
As I gazed about distractedly, Cade promptly cautioned me.
“Pay attention to where you’re going.”
“Mm.”
“Fascinated by all the different clans, I see.”
“Did they all come from far away?”
“To some extent, yes.”
“…Did people from the East come too?”
I asked hesitantly. My entire body suddenly tensed. The people from the East were frightening.
To be precise, I was referring to the powerful Beastkin that occupied the East.
Whenever they appeared, the region was invariably laid to waste. I still carried the memory of fleeing with all my strength, my feet pounding the earth.
The memories of my previous life were growing increasingly hazy and rarely surfaced now, but my feelings toward them remained vivid.
If those Beastkin appeared, would I have to flee again?
As I asked anxiously, glancing nervously around, Cade’s gaze settled on me for a long moment.
“…Why are you suddenly curious about that? Has someone told you about the East?”
“…No! That’s not it.”
I shook my head firmly. The memories from that time were buried beneath everything that had happened here, and they wouldn’t surface.
“People did come from the East, though.”
“How many?”
“Not many. Just a couple of places, really.”
“I see.”
Only two places. I gripped the hand I was holding a little tighter.
Cade sat in the middle, with Sete, Arban, and me lined up beside him in that order, when a man I didn’t recognize wandered over and struck up a conversation.
I popped a piece of fruit into my mouth, my eyes widening.
“Good evening, Family Head. I trust you remember me?”
“Ah. Who was it again?”
It was an astonishingly blunt and direct response.
When Cade tilted his head with a genuinely confused expression, the man’s face contorted for just an instant.
I was inwardly stunned.
This was the first time I’d ever seen someone pull off such an unapologetic “Who was it again?” move.
Cade felt not the slightest bit sorry for not recognizing the man.
“I am the Family Head of the Letra Family from the West.”
“Ah, yes. What brings you here?”
“There is an urgent matter I wished to discuss with you—regarding the recent trade arrangements.”
“I’ll need to step away for a moment.”
It seemed the conversation would be lengthy, so Cade rose from his seat.
That was the signal for others seeking his attention to begin drifting over one by one.
It appeared he’d arranged a separate conversation area precisely because he’d anticipated this sort of thing.
I sipped my Orange Juice with both hands, my eyes never stopping their restless wandering.
I could see a few children already playing together happily.
What if they all became close friends without me?
I fidgeted with the rim of the glass.
“Aileen wants to play too.”
But I’m a good little chick—one who knows how to wait for her father.
“When’s father coming? Is it still far?”
“You want to go play, it seems.”
“Mmhmm. No, wait. I’ll go when father comes.”
“You can go play with your friends and come back, Aileen.”
“Really? You’re sure it’s okay?”
“It will take him quite some time to arrive.”
I glanced at Cade’s distant figure.
It really did seem like that conversation would drag on for a while.
Arban, already accustomed to such situations, was nodding off with a yawn.
“Then Aileen will be back soon.”
“Go ahead.”
I jumped up from my seat.
Now I could finally go see the other children!
My steps were light with excitement. I could see small clusters of children gathered nearby.
I just had to join in and play with them!
I wove between the tables with quick, eager strides.
That was when it happened.
“……Hm?”
I spotted a golden-haired boy sitting alone.
The child was gazing intently at the group of children gathered together.
I put on what I thought was a serious expression.
I tried thinking through reasons why he might be sitting by himself, but one negative possibility after another came to mind.
Could he be being left out?
But his expression was far too calm for that to be the case—he didn’t seem to be getting bullied at all.
Or maybe he wanted to join in but was too shy?
That seemed more likely.
As I stopped to watch, I must have caught his attention—those blue eyes slowly turned toward me.
Caught staring, I flinched, but I greeted him nonchalantly anyway.
“Hi!”
“Hi.”
Fortunately, the boy didn’t seem upset, so I gathered my courage.
“I’m Aileen. What’s your name?”
“Sage.”
“Why are you alone? If you’re bored, why don’t you go play with Aileen?”
At my question, Sage seemed to ponder for a moment before breaking into a soft laugh.
“With you?”
He looked me over from head to toe, then murmured quietly.
“You look like you’d go flying with one good hit. ……I suppose I could manage if I’m careful.”
“Huh? What was that?”
“All right, let’s play.”
Sage nodded without hesitation.
My first friend!
The thrill of having made a friend for the very first time swelled up inside me.
“Aileen lives here. Where do you come from, Sage?”
“The North.”
“Really?!”
So Sage’s home was in the North.
Since it was on the complete opposite side of the South, there would surely be so many things he could tell me about.
I was so excited! Was it really true that snow falls all day in the North?
I heard everything is white there.
I was absolutely thrilled at the thought of spending time with Sage.

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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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