The Youngest Daughter of the Snake Family - Chapter 40

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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 40
Until now, I couldn’t enter the forest because it was dangerous.
It didn’t matter when I was with Rosaria, but every time I went to the Garden, I’d receive warnings.
Yet now that I’d be taking lessons in the forest, my heart raced with excitement.
“That’s wonderful. Congratulations, Aileen.”
“Yes. I’ll be taking lessons just like Sett and Arban.”
Watching the two of them train in the forest, I wondered—had they taken Pheromone Training back then?
The thought that I’d follow the same path as those two made my spirits soar.
“Before that, there’s something I need to check.”
“Check? What do you mean?”
“I’ll need to hold your hand for a moment.”
I offered my hand with a puzzled expression, and Casana offered an explanation.
“I need to verify whether your Pheromone has entered its Stable Period.”
“I see.”
It seemed Pheromone Training needed to proceed from a stable state.
Casana, holding my hand, appeared to be examining something intently.
The atmosphere grew serious with the weight of the matter, and without thinking, I went rigid, holding perfectly still.
After holding my hand for quite some time, Casana’s dark eyes shifted toward me.
I swallowed hard. Something was wrong, wasn’t it?
“…Why? Is something odd with me?”
“Not at all. You can relax and sit comfortably.”
Anxiety gnawed at me, so I leaned against Rosaria’s side and looked up at her.
When our eyes met, Rosaria smiled gently.
“Rosaria, am I strange?”
“Not at all. Don’t worry, Aileen. Everyone gets checked like this. I did too.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Casana’s hand withdrew from checking my Pheromone.
At the same time, the tension drained from my body.
“How is it, Casana?”
“There’s no major issue. Your Pheromone appears to have entered its Stable Period.”
“Really? So I can take lessons in the forest now?”
“Yes. Come to the forest’s edge for your next lesson.”
Flooded with relief, I exhaled deeply.
Casana began gathering up the lesson materials she’d laid out.
“That concludes today’s lesson, then.”
“Take care, Casana. See you tomorrow.”
“Yes. I’ll be going now.”
I followed her to the door and waved goodbye.
Though I saw her off like this every time, I felt her gaze linger awkwardly, as if she still wasn’t accustomed to it.
“I’ll see you tomorrow too.”
“…Until tomorrow, then.”
Click. The door closed. I laughed to myself and rushed to the bed, flopping down face-first.
I was thrilled!
As I kicked my feet and rolled side to side, laughter rang out behind me.
“You’re that happy about it, Aileen?”
“Yes. Do you think I’ll do well?”
“Of course. You’ll succeed brilliantly.”
“I’m going to surprise everyone.”
I began making ambitious plans.
* * *
Click.
The door closed, and Casana stepped into the hallway.
Her eyes were shadowed with deep thought.
Walking at an even pace, Casana came to a stop before the door that was her destination.
Knock, knock.
“Master Kaid, it’s Casana.”
“Come in.”
With permission granted, Casana entered.
Kaid looked up from the report he’d been reading and turned his gaze toward her.
Already knowing why Casana had sought him out, Kaid cut straight to the point.
“And the result?”
Casana’s dark eyes flickered slightly.
Seeing her expression, Kaid, who had already guessed the outcome, turned his gaze back to the report in front of him.
“I don’t need to hear it.”
“Were you expecting this, Lord Kaid?”
“I was hoping I wouldn’t be.”
But he had been expecting it all along.
Now Casana understood why he had issued such orders in the first place.
And as she watched his composure, the anxiety that had weighed on her throughout the journey began to ease.
The Kaid she knew always uncovered things beforehand and laid out his plans accordingly, and she trusted he would do the same this time.
So with a lighter heart, she opened her mouth to speak.
“Your suspicion was correct, Lord Kaid. We’ve confirmed that Miss Aileen’s body contains Pheromones of distinctly different origins.”
“Explain.”
Casana recalled the Pheromone she had sensed from Aileen moments before and began to speak.
“One was Miss Aileen’s own natural Pheromone, and the other bore a form similar to that of the Black Mamba.”
“I see.”
“But there is something different about it.”
“Different?”
Kaid’s hand, which had been signing documents, came to a halt.
His cool, crimson eyes turned back to Casana once more.
“It was as though… it wasn’t alive.”
“That shouldn’t be possible.”
Pheromone was the lifeforce of a Beast-human.
If it wasn’t moving, pulsing with life, then the Beast-human’s death could be considered inevitable.
“Even when my Pheromone approached it, there was no reaction whatsoever.”
“So that’s why you said it seemed lifeless.”
“Yes.”
When another’s Pheromone drew near, instinctive reaction was inevitable.
Especially if a Pheromone stronger or superior to one’s own approached, there would be a response—either defensive or aggressive.
Yet Aileen’s Pheromone was unnaturally still.
As though holding its breath, waiting for something.
And such a method was one of the hunting tactics employed by apex predators.
Casana could never shake the strange sensation that had made her feel like prey.
“It felt like it was watching me, knowing there was nothing it could do to harm me.”
“I recall hearing that Aileen couldn’t control her Pheromone yet. I wonder if you remember the content of your own report.”
“I do remember. Miss Aileen still cannot control her Pheromone.”
“Then you must also be aware that your report contains a contradiction.”
“…”
“What you’re saying now sounds as though her Pheromone has a will of its own and is acting independently.”
That was impossible.
There was nothing that would allow a Pheromone to act contrary to consciousness.
It only occurred when a Beast-human was overtaken by their own Pheromone and lost reason.
That was not the case with Aileen, so nothing about this made sense.
“How intriguing.”
As the situation grew more enigmatic, Kaid let out a laugh.
“Not a single thing about my daughter is ordinary.”
“…”
“Is this what it’s like to raise a daughter?”
I don’t believe that’s quite it, sir.
Casana swallowed the words that had risen to her throat.
Kaid was probably the only person in the world who could laugh at a matter of such gravity.
“Shall we proceed with Pheromone Training as scheduled?”
“Yes. Controlling her Pheromone is an absolutely essential ability for Aileen.”
“Understood. Is there anything else you wish to say?”
“For now, keep this matter confidential.”
“…Even from Rosaria?”
“Yes.”
Rosaria, who was always at Aileen’s side—shouldn’t she know about this?
Casana looked at him with questioning eyes.
“If Rosaria’s behavior changes, those around her will notice. It’s only a matter of time before rumors start spreading.”
“Are you saying someone might leak this information outside?”
“There are eyes everywhere, all of them curious about what’s happening within my family.”
Nowhere was truly safe. The unexpected always seemed to strike when one least anticipated it.
Rosaria was the ideal person to entrust Aileen to, but she was almost too devoted.
Excessive devotion could sometimes become poison.
If it were Rosaria, she would scour the entire Continent to find a solution for Aileen, but at the same time, it would be an extremely dangerous course of action.
Since ancient times, those who coveted the Southern Region had made a habit of targeting the Astropel Family’s young heir.
The moment the opportunistic hyenas caught the scent, Aileen would become the target of their concentrated assault.
Or perhaps…….
It might have already begun the moment Aileen arrived at the Astropel Family.
“For now, keep it from Rosaria.”
“Understood.”
Casana, grasping Kaid’s meaning, lowered her head.
“The weather is pleasant today.”
“……I beg your pardon?”
His sudden remark about the weather left Casana’s expression bewildered.
As though lost in thought, Kaid drummed his fingers against the desk, his brow furrowing.
“It should be about time she comes asking. She has far too much patience.”
“Pardon me, sir?”
“Soon enough, she’ll want to venture outside.”
His face more serious than usual, he turned the pages of a calendar, murmuring to himself.
Confounded by his cryptic words and behavior, Casana found herself searching her memory to see if she’d missed something he’d said.
“Forgive me, but what exactly are you speaking of?”
“Casana.”
“Yes?”
“When Aileen asks to go out, what does she say?”
Kaid, resting his chin on his hand as he flipped through the calendar pages, posed the question.
Casana’s words caught in her throat, and she fell silent.
She had recently heard that the Young Masters had been granted permission to go out on the condition of having a knight escort them.
She had assumed Aileen hadn’t been allowed because she was still too young.
That was certainly one reason, but…… could it be intentional?
Did he want to see Aileen come running to him and begging?
“Aren’t you curious, Casana?”
Kaid’s lips curved upward with mischievous intent.

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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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