The Youngest Daughter of the Snake Family - Chapter 56

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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 56
“Gasp.”
How did he know? When I stiffened in surprise, Cade’s expression twisted into something cruel.
“And yet you answered my previous question with such confidence. You nearly fooled me.”
“……I didn’t fool anyone, though.”
I’d only said I knew my own name, yet he claimed I’d deceived him. It felt unjust.
“What’s my name?”
“Cade Astrofell.”
“Then what are you?”
I wondered what he was doing, what he intended with this interrogation, but I decided to answer carefully.
“Father is the Family Head here.”
“The Family Head of which clan?”
“The Black Mamba.”
“And you, who bear my name—what clan are you?”
Ah.
It felt as though I’d been struck hard on the back of the head. I could say nothing, only blink slowly.
So I’m of the Black Mamba clan too? Even though I’m a bird?
When people ask what clan I belong to from now on, can I really say Black Mamba?
“Father, if I leave here later, am I still Black Mamba?”
“……What are you saying now.”
Cade’s face hardened with terrible finality. His crimson eyes blazed, demanding an immediate explanation.
“I’ll have to leave eventually.”
“Are you declaring right now, in front of me, that you’ll run away? You’ve got nerve.”
That’s not what I meant at all. It seemed Cade had completely forgotten that he’d promised to accept me as his daughter for the time being.
Cade regarded me with a complex expression.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but no matter where you go, don’t forget that you are Astrofell, Aileen.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Though my worries hadn’t entirely dissolved, his words settled my mind somewhat.
As our conversation was ending and I was about to leave, I heard a small commotion outside.
It sounded as though Kasana had arrived and Rosaria was explaining the situation to him.
I saw my opportunity and quickly raised my hand.
“Father!”
“What is it?”
“Can Aileen have her lesson in the forest today?”
I couldn’t possibly walk around with this tail until tomorrow. Seeing how earnestly I looked at him, Cade laughed—a sound that said it wouldn’t happen.
Ah…… it seemed he wouldn’t agree. Then I’d have to manage like this until tomorrow.
Cade rose from his seat and opened the door. Kasana and Rosaria were waiting in front of the room—I’m not sure when they’d arrived.
In that moment, words came that I couldn’t believe.
“Have today’s lesson replaced with Pheromone Control Training instead, Kasana.”
“……Pardon?”
“We can’t have her staying like this indefinitely, after all.”
“Understood. I’ll arrange it at once.”
Wow. What’s happening? He’d acted as though he wouldn’t agree at first.
I called out after Cade, who was already heading down the corridor.
“Father, you’re the best!”
* * *
Immediately after the morning meeting concluded.
While reviewing the correspondence that had arrived from each family, Baon’s expression hardened as he discovered a seal that was far from welcome.
A seal with pure white feathers embedded within it.
It was the mark of House Roysar.
“This is…… an unwelcome house has made its appearance.”
Baon frowned as he examined the letter.
Correspondence with House Roysar came perhaps once a year, if that.
They would never initiate contact.
Though there was one thing he could guess.
And it was precisely what Baon most feared.
* * *
Something truly wonderful had happened.
In this training session, I had not only manifested my tail but had also managed, if only briefly, to transform my hand as well.
And I had even succeeded in returning it to my original form afterward.
What in the world is happening?!
Did I really just accomplish all this today?
Once I succeeded in removing the tail, everything else went smoothly after that.
The moment I grasped the feel of moving my pheromones, the next part became easy if I just concentrated a little.
She said that now it’s just a matter of practice and I’ll be done in no time.
“I’m going to brag about this to Father.”
It’s thanks to Cade letting me substitute the regular lesson that I could make this much progress.
“The Family Head will be very pleased.”
“Right? He’ll praise me for doing well, won’t he?”
“Of course he will.”
My pheromones were nearly depleted, but I wasn’t tired at all.
Walking eagerly in this buoyant mood, I spotted Arban coming from the opposite direction.
“Oh? Arban!”
“…What? Do you have lessons today?”
“Yeah. Orka’s here too?”
“Today’s lesson for Young Master Arban is my responsibility.”
Is Orka teaching lessons now? I thought Kasana handled everything.
“I cannot conduct all the lessons by myself, so we divided the duties. The young masters have now begun their Martial Arts Training as well.”
“I see. Thanks for that. So you can blow leaves at trees now?”
“Why would you blow leaves at trees?”
“Isn’t that what you learn in Martial Arts Training?”
It sounded really cool. Doesn’t Arban learn things like that?
Orka seemed to understand what I meant and explained with a faint smile.
“Young Master is currently focusing on Body Technique training. Miss, on the other hand, appears to be concentrating intensively on pheromone control.”
“That’s right. Since Miss’s current physique isn’t suited for Body Technique, we decided to proceed with pheromone control training instead.”
So that’s how it was. My body must be too small to learn Body Technique right now.
When I grow as large as Arban, will I be able to learn it then?
“You’re taking quite an advanced lesson, Miss.”
Orka looked somewhat surprised.
It seems Pheromone Control Training was more difficult than I thought. I’d assumed I was just learning the basics.
The fact that Arban kept glancing over with interest suggested he hadn’t started pheromone control training yet.
“Well then, I’ll be taking my leave. Please be careful as you head inside.”
Orka stopped at the forest fork in the road and bowed first. It seemed he always parted ways with Arban around here.
I waved at Kasana, saying goodbye first.
Normally I would have walked with him to the entrance, but I’d been to the forest several times now and knew the way from here. Besides, Arban was with me, so it was fine.
“Yeah. Kasana, you go back from here, okay! Arban, see you later.”
“…Then I shall return.”
Kasana bowed and disappeared with Orka.
Turning left at the fork led to the Annex Building where the clan members who lived and worked for the family resided, while turning right led to the Main Hall.
Arban and I headed to the right together.
“Big brother. I even managed the wings today!”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. If I can do the wings, that means I’m almost done!”
She said that since I’d managed to change one of the body’s central points, the rest would come quickly.
My mood lifted again, and as I bounced along while walking, Arban let out a soft laugh.
We soon entered the Mansion.
But the moment we stepped inside, I sensed something was off.
…What’s this?
The meeting should have ended by now—why was everyone gathered in front of the conference room?
“Why is everyone gathered here?”
“Something urgent must have come up. It happens sometimes.”
Unlike me, who was curious, Arban showed little interest.
Had they really called another meeting this quickly?
Arban and I entered the Lobby area.
That was when it happened. The bustling Lobby went silent all at once.
It felt as though everyone closed their mouths the moment they saw us enter.
An uneasy feeling washed over me.
Even Arban, who had appeared indifferent before, seemed to sense it—he was scanning the surroundings.
Just before we completely left the Lobby, Arban called to me quietly.
“Hey.”
“Hm?”
“From now on, don’t make a sound. Just follow me. And don’t do anything that draws attention. Understood?”
“Hm. Got it.”
I answered with grave seriousness.
The moment we slipped fully out of the Lobby, Arban glanced cautiously around.
Then he seized my hand and began pulling me somewhere.
We arrived at a Flowerbed just beyond the Lobby, where tall marble columns stood sentinel.
It was the perfect place for a small child to hide.
I understood what Arban had in mind and slipped into the dense foliage alongside him.
As if bound by unspoken agreement, we huddled close and peered through the greenery toward the Lobby.
“From here, you can hear just about everything that matters.”
“Wow. How did you find out about this place?”
“Just stumbled on it one day. No one really pays attention to it.”
I see. But what sort of conversation had Arban overheard while hiding here before?
As I stared at him, Arban’s brow furrowed and he mouthed ‘What?’ in silent question.
Just as I was about to shake my head and brush it off, servants appeared, passing before the column.
I clapped my hand over my mouth and pressed myself lower into the undergrowth.
“Is it true that a Return Request letter has come from the Roysar Clan?”
“Because of it, the whole Mansion has been turned upside down.”
“If the Roysar Clan has made an official request, what happens then? ……Surely the young lady won’t have to go to the Eastern Region, will she?”
“According to protocol, she will.”
In their conversation, I was the subject being discussed.
The strange atmosphere I’d sensed in the Lobby hadn’t been my imagination after all.
But what was this Roysar Clan, and why would I need to go to the Eastern Region?
A Return Request—what could that possibly mean?
In that moment, a thought struck me like lightning, and my body went rigid.

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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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