The Youngest Daughter of the Snake Family - Chapter 46

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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 46
Kaid tilted his head toward the interior of the Conference Room and spoke.
“Aren’t you curious how the meeting will proceed?”
“Hm?”
“Shall we go in together?”
“I can actually go in?”
The atmosphere inside was remarkably solemn.
What if everyone felt awkward because I walked into their meeting uninvited?
Baon, who hadn’t expected Kaid to say such a thing, adjusted his slipping glasses.
As I hesitated for a long moment before answering, Kaid suddenly scooped me up into his arms.
“There’s no problem with it. Who would object when I permit it?”
He had a point—Kaid was unquestionably the master of this household. Still…
As I looked at Baon with concern, he shrugged and stepped aside from the door as if to say, come on in.
“In that case, I’ll wait outside.”
Mesis, who had been observing how the situation unfolded, took a step back and spoke.
I nodded in acknowledgment.
The moment Kaid stepped inside, the elders who had been waiting for the family head’s arrival rose from their seats in unison.
All eyes fixed on me, cradled in Kaid’s arms. The intensity of their stares made me feel inexplicably embarrassed.
Upon reaching the center of the long table, Kaid took his seat.
His low voice resonated through the quiet Conference Room.
“Sit.”
The moment he finished speaking, the elders sat down with disciplined precision, as if they’d been waiting for nothing else.
Sitting on Kaid’s lap, I could see the entire interior brightly spread before me.
So this was where major decisions concerning the family had been made all this time.
Kaid’s position suddenly felt different to me.
I fiddled with a bowl of snacks.
Simple tea and refreshments had been set at each place—prepared at some point before our arrival.
Along with papers densely covered in text. These seemed to be documents summarizing the meeting’s agenda.
I glanced over them briefly, then turned my attention back to the snacks.
I was hungry anyway, so I’d have to eat all of these.
“Then we’ll begin the afternoon meeting.”
A person seated off to one side announced the start and picked up a pen with a small flag attached.
“What does that person do?”
“He’s the Secretary. He records and preserves the meeting’s proceedings.”
“I see.”
So they keep separate records of the meetings.
As the formal meeting was about to begin, I felt both nervous and excited.
I was curious about how the family’s meetings were conducted and what matters were discussed.
Looking around to see what people were present, I noticed one empty seat.
It was across from Baon. Whose seat was it that remained vacant?
“It’s been quite some time, yet we have an absence.”
“Could it be that someone is late?”
Somehow the start didn’t feel right.
“…Where has Duriash gone?”
So the seat belonged to Duriash.
“Documents for approval have been piling up. It seems he’s stepped away from his position, but I wonder where he might have gone.”
“Surely he hasn’t resigned?”
“…That can’t be. He’s not someone who would quit so abruptly.”
Many people were curious about Duriash’s whereabouts.
It was clear they didn’t know the reason for his absence.
Given that he’d been away for several days, it didn’t seem like a simple matter of being late.
Kaid looked at Baon and asked.
“Hasn’t Duriash returned yet?”
“It seems his adjustment was incomplete from being deployed so rarely. I’ll make sure to deploy him more frequently so this doesn’t happen again.”
“See that you do.”
…What in the world was that conversation about?
An elderly man with a long beard, who had been listening to the exchange with visible displeasure, cleared his throat.
“Absences are not permitted at meetings under any circumstances. Where exactly has Duriash gone?”
“I sent him on an errand.”
“…An errand? You sent Duriash on an errand?”
A sharp intake of breath rippled through the room.
The casual mention of an errand made it clear that Duriash occupied a position far too important for such tasks.
Baon shrugged, unbothered by the reaction around him.
“Let’s not dwell on absent parties and proceed with the meeting. Everyone here is busy, after all.”
“…Yes, let’s do that.”
I tore off a bite-sized piece of golden-brown bread and popped it into my mouth.
The restless atmosphere gradually settled under Baon’s words. Everyone bent over their documents, focusing intently.
“Surfia. I’ll present the first proposal.”
The first to speak was a woman with long, natural hair that fell past her waist.
The way she stated her name before standing suggested it was protocol.
She adjusted the golden spectacles from around her neck onto her ears and began speaking with gravity.
“This concerns the second half budget allocation for our Family.”
“Go ahead.”
“Before we proceed with planning the summer festival in the South, we’d like you to finalize Airin’s budget allocation precisely.”
My budget? Suddenly I was being mentioned in this meeting. I leaned forward to listen carefully.
“While the young masters’ allocations are already determined, the young lady’s remains uncertain.”
It seemed Surfia oversaw financial matters.
So the Family hosts a festival in the summer—apparently quite a grand affair.
But what did that have to do with my budget allocation?
Did I actually receive a separate allowance?
I’d thought there was nothing beyond what Rosaria occasionally requested.
I stopped eating my snack to look at Surfia. This was news to me. Yet I couldn’t dismiss it outright.
All those clothes and toys Rosaria had brought over the months—they couldn’t have been acquired for a pittance.
“Please settle this now, Head of House. It will make planning the festival much smoother.”
“True enough. I’ve never given this girl’s budget much thought.”
…Why not? I froze, then felt something click into place inside me.
The fact that my budget hadn’t been set was because my future status here hadn’t been decided.
I was only a temporary daughter, after all. The thought settled over me like a weight.
Right. I might have to leave this house someday. Who knew what my circumstances would be once I matured?
I’d been so wrapped up in this peaceful life that I hadn’t let myself think about it.
My appetite vanished. I set down the bread I’d been holding. Kaid looked up from his tea, puzzled.
“Why’d you stop eating?”
“…Oh. No, Airin already finished.”
“You took the Pheromone Class—you should be starving.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Eat more anyway. You’ve expended energy; your body must be tired.”
“…I don’t want to.”
What would I do if the day came when I had to leave this house? The question consumed my thoughts.
I had no money of my own right now. Even if there was an allowance meant for me, it wasn’t truly mine—it belonged to Kaid.
Besides, I’d never actually held money. I’d asked for pocket money before, but in the end, Kaid had arranged everything for me directly.
I’d never spent anything I’d earned myself, so I had no concept of economics whatsoever. This was a serious problem.
Before reaching my Adult Form, I needed to understand something about the outside world.
I’d been far too carefree.
It wasn’t enough to celebrate finally being able to sense pheromones.
I had larger challenges ahead of me.
Money was critical for surviving outside. Especially since I had none now, I needed to figure out how to accumulate it.
My body might be new, but I loved meat—which meant I’d need to save a lot. They said meat was expensive.
…But exactly how expensive? How much money would I need to live on the outside?
One worry led to another, and my expression grew darker with each question.
“Surfia, what do you think would be an appropriate amount?”
“…Wouldn’t it be reasonable to set it similarly to the young masters’ allocations?”
“But the young lady still has much growth ahead, doesn’t she? Unlike the young masters, who grow all at once, she develops gradually.”
“She’ll likely need many more things.”
“I see. The allocation may need to be higher than initially expected.”
Kaid tapped his fingers on the table, lost in thought.
My heart raced with his. Did he mind that I cost so much?
Was he going to suddenly tell me to leave? But he was so wealthy—surely he wouldn’t turn me out with nothing?
I watched Kaid’s fingers drum nervously on the table.
Once I returned to my room, I needed to figure out what was the most expensive thing I owned.
…Though even that, I realized, couldn’t really be called mine.
I don’t have anyone else to give them to, so there shouldn’t be any harm in taking a few out, right?
Since I’d heard before that Marinet Family items were expensive, I figured I should focus on collecting things bearing their crest.
Gathering star-shaped candies or grape stickers in my treasure box wasn’t what mattered anymore.
“……Knil is it.”
Suddenly I noticed the space around me had gone quiet. What’s this about?
When I looked up, the elders conducting the meeting had stopped proceedings and were all staring at me.
Why were they looking at me?
“……Airin, what’s wrong?”
As I muttered uncertainly, Kaid let out a soft laugh and leaned his arm against my side.
His crimson gaze gazing down at me was full of curiosity.
“I wondered why you weren’t eating your snacks and were deep in thought about something. What’s this about something serious?”
“Hmm?”
“Tell me what’s so serious.”
Oh no. I’d blurted it out without thinking. I clapped my hand over my mouth.
How was I going to get out of this situation?
Unable to answer, I just sat there with my eyes darting about, and Kaid chuckled softly.
“It is serious, though. We’re deciding on the budget allocated to you for the second half.”
Surfia suddenly adjusted her glasses and asked.
“Is there perhaps a specific amount you’d prefer?”
“That’s right. You said it was serious, so let’s hear your thoughts. What’s that little head of yours cooked up this time?”
Kaid placed his hand on my head.
Surfia was waiting for my answer. Were they really going to hear me out?
Though I was a bit flustered, this was undoubtedly a good opportunity.
I decided to just blurt out the biggest number I could think of.
That way, what Rosaria buys for me would be more expensive too, and I could keep the priciest-looking items from those in my treasure box.
I straightened my expression deliberately and held up all ten fingers with a serious look.
“Airin wants a hundred.”

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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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