Chapter 5
How about a bubble bath? It smells really good, doesn’t it? My feathers will be soft.
I hummed a song, feeling the cool breeze.
“Are you that excited?”
“Pii!”
“Shall we go now?”
“Pii!”
When I urged, Rosaria sped up her pace a bit with a small smile.
Looking into the distance, I could see a wide open forest that I’ve never seen on these grounds.
There was a rock in front of my nose.
As I turned my head and looked around, I realized one thing.
As Baon said, no life was felt here.
How is that possible in such a wide and deep forest?
“This is your first time in the forest, isn’t it?”
“Pii.”
“This is the private property of the Astrophel family. As you can see, there are no creatures. It is prohibited because there is a possibility that someone may enter under a disguise.”
So that’s why it’s like this. Turns out it was a huge forest.
“Since this place is safe, the young masters train here. I understand you have a training schedule today as well…”
Rosaria slanted her head.
“He’s not here today. Maybe he’s out hunting.”
“Pii?”
For a moment, I thought I misheard.
From what I know, I didn’t think the timing of my birth was much different from when they were born.
They’re already hunting?
Rosaria grinned as she opened her mouth in surprise.
“The masters have already completed their humanization. You don’t know what humanization is yet, do you? You can be human like me.”
“… Pii.”
“You’ll be able to do it soon, too.”
“Pii.”
I’m no good at hunting, so I’m done with humanization.
The young masters must have had cheating abilities.
But if I work hard, I can do it!
I gathered my will and curled my wings tightly, but…
“Pii?”
What’s that?
“What’s wrong, baby?”
“Pii.”
A huge tree had fallen miserably. Then the next tree, and the tree after that.
Large trees that looked at least decades old had fallen in groups.
Why are these healthy trees being uprooted?
Rosaria looked to where I was pointing and calmly said it was not a problem.
“Ah. The trees must have fallen over after their training. “
Huh?
“This was probably the first young master’s doing.”
How could a young man who was just born smash a tree like that?
My mouth dropped out of amazement.
“When you grow up, you’ll be able to do it, too. By the way, you’re a good girl.”
Rosaria clicked her tongue and walked to the center of the ruins. It was a much more disastrous sight to look at from up close.
I’m sure his personality is very eccentric.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to do this!
But why did they come all the way out here to the trees?
“If you’ve made a mess, you should know how to take care of it properly. Don’t you care about that yet?”
Rosaria placed her foot on the tree.
Tuk.
The sound of Rosaria’s foot was as light as a tree branch.
However, the result was surprising.
Two to three adult men barely began to roll the thick tree away.
I swept my eyes with my wings as I saw the marvelous sight of trees piling up in the corner one by one.
“Pii, pii?”
What’s going on here?
“It’s all clean now. I’m sorry, baby. You’ve been waiting, right?”
“… Pii, pii, pii.”
Not at all. I haven’t been waiting.
I calmly straightened my posture.
Mom, she’s like a scary older sister.
* * *
There was a doll in Cade’s hand that didn’t suit him.
It was the snake doll that Rosaria prepared for the baby bird so it could practice hunting.
“It’s amusing.”
Cade grinned interestingly as he recalled what had just happened.
Such a gift was unimaginable in the Astrophel family, which never gave to their own.
Cade, having received his first unexpected hunt from a baby bird, was lost in thought.
“That’s why everyone’s talking about my daughter.”
It was a small murmur, but Baon, who had a keen hearing, caught on to it.
While talking about important matters, Baon appeared stunned at his off-topic words.
Not long after, Baon trembled when he saw Cade holding the doll.
It was a perfect combination that did not suit him.
“Ahem.”
Cade’s eyes landed on Baon who was on the brink of laughter.
“Baon.”
“Hmm, yes?”
“I think it would be better for you to stop if you value your life.”
“Is that so?”
Life is precious to everyone. Baon collected his expression with a straight face.
“Why are you suddenly talking about your daughter? You have two sons.”
“They never gave me things like this.”
Cade held up the doll. It was colorful and very cute.
Baon immediately closed his eyes.
No, don’t laugh. Sad thoughts. Sad thoughts.
“Well, huh, isn’t that brave? Even though it’s a doll, she’s thinking of hunting snakes.”
“It was fantastic.”
Cade recalled a baby bird struggling with a snake doll that he wouldn’t see anywhere else.
“She’s just the same as the Lord.”
“Hmm?”
“She’s very vicious, isn’t she? The same goes for her hunting methods.”
She was vicious in another sense.
Cade’s eyes were wide open at Baon’s words. That hunting baby bird…
“Her eyes were definitely red.”
Red eyes were the feature only by the blood of the Astrophel family on this land.
Influenced by the powerful pheromones of the first generation, the Astrophel family line looked very much alike.
Black hair and red eyes.
And the baby bird’s eyes, though temporary, were definitely the same color.
“Maybe it’s because the baby received your pheromones.”
“Yes, that’s the problem.”
Cade narrowed his eyes as he resumed the topic of conversation he was sharing.
It was hard to know who had dared invade the Astrophel family and left the egg.
How was that possible?
If it’s related to Estella, who died while giving birth to a successor, things would grow out of control.
Cade’s expression hardened.
“Prove it, see who was involved when Estella gave birth. Every single one of those men who stood guard at the mansion that day.”
“Do you think there’s a mole in the family?”
“There’s no law saying it can’t be true.”
“Then the scope of the investigation will be quite large. It will take some time.”
Baon’s expression also seriously hardened.
If there was a spy in the family, it would require a close investigation to find out who it was.
“It doesn’t matter if it takes time, just catch all the hiding rats.”
“I understand.”
Baon looked bitterly around the office, seeing as Cade instructed him to take his time.
When Estella died, Cade did not blink an eye.
As a result, there were many rumors behind Estella and their relationship, but there were still traces of her in his office.
Cade was so mindful of her that he appeared weak enough to Estella.
Having knowledge of it, Baon was confused.
If there was any link between the death of Estella and the newborn baby bird… it would be bloody for quite a while.
Baon coughed and opened his mouth to change the gloomy atmosphere.
“By the way, the baby has absorbed your pheromones. I’m afraid now it’s too late to throw it out of the territory.”
“Let’s just watch for now.”
“Rosaria seemed to be affectionate with the baby.”
“… Can’t you make up your own name for it instead of calling it baby?“
“That’s what Rosaria calls it, so I gave it a try. Isn’t it a cute title?”
“It’s terrible. Why are you calling it that?”
“Because the Lord didn’t name it.”
As soon as she was born, he ordered me to throw her out of the land, so she didn’t have a name.
Nevertheless, he didn’t think anyone else would dare name it.
No one would do such a thing if they felt the pheromones of the family head, unless they were out of their minds.
‘If it were Rosaria, it might be possible.’
If she were the only one, Rosaria would have done so. In addition, she was quite pleased with taking care of the baby bird.
It seemed like he was still watching the situation, but he might move independently after judgment.
Baon twinkled his eyes.
“If the Lord doesn’t name it, someone else may steal the opportunity.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Maybe the baby will follow others and give them a gift.”
Cade blanched at the strangely disturbing remark. He didn’t really want a daughter.
It was right to not be interested.
If only the right successor was born into the family with precious hands, that would be enough.
But he was upset at the thought of the baby bird following others and giving them a doll.
“Name.”
“Do you have anything in mind?”
“I don’t.”
That was an immediate answer. Baon was at a loss for words.
END OF CHAPTER 5