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Chapter: 19
After the first part went smoothly, everything after that became easy.
I followed instructions, covered one eye, and read out the numbers and pictures that Hestia pointed to.
“Your eyesight is normal. Lastly, please lie down here and say ‘ah.’”
“Ah.”
“No cavities, and your teeth count is all correct. Oh my, your canine teeth are a bit round. How cute.”
While checking for cavities, Hestia tapped my canine tooth.
I quickly closed my mouth. Was it over now?
Waiting for her to tell me I could leave, I looked at Hestia. She smiled and placed a piece of chocolate in my hand.
“Here, this is a reward for being brave and finishing everything.”
“Tank oo.”
“And if you eat this, you must brush your teeth, okay?”
“Irin always does chika-chika every day!”
I smiled brightly, full of excitement.
Lately, I hadn’t been able to eat much candy or chocolate because of worries about cavities.
Isn’t that a common hardship for all children? Something so delicious, yet you can’t eat much of it.
I’ll have to savor it slowly.
I put the chocolate into my pants pocket. But Rosaria’s expression had been serious for a while now.
“Is it really okay for Lady Irene’s canine teeth to be blunt like that? I took a quick look, and even her molars are very small.”
At Rosaria’s serious question, I ran over to the mirror on the clinic desk.
Was it bad if canine teeth were blunt?
Standing on tiptoe and opening my mouth wide, I really did see small, round canine teeth on one side.
“Lady Irene doesn’t hunt like we do, right? There’s no need to worry, Rosaria.”
“But canine teeth are fundamental, aren’t they?”
“That’s for beast-type children. What we should be focusing on is something else.”
“Is there perhaps another problem?”
Hestia’s eyes were more serious than ever.
Rosaria leaned in, asking what it was.
Watching the two of them reflected in the mirror, I swallowed nervously too. I could hear them whispering softly.
“Lady is under one meter tall.”
“…Pardon?”
Hestia spread out her hand.
“She’s only about five hand-spans tall.”
Now even her height is cute, of all things!
Hestia couldn’t hide her excitement.
Rosaria widened her eyes, then slowly smiled.
It was an expression similar to the leisure of someone who has everything.
“Oh my, I already knew that. Isn’t it a privilege of serving Lady Irene?”
Recently, there had been a strange condition affecting the retainers working for the Astrophel family.
The symptoms varied, but the cause was the same in all cases.
“I want to proudly show off the youngest lady to the world, but I can’t!”
Because the child had not yet become independent, she was strictly prohibited from being exposed to the outside world except in special cases.
It was the family’s iron rule, since heirs were precious.
Thus, the meeting held this time was extremely important.
It was because this would be the first historic moment where Irene would officially be revealed to the world.
The gathered retainers carefully and repeatedly deliberated about the upcoming spring banquet.
“Should we invite only the allied clans as planned?”
“That would be best.”
“But I’m a little worried. What if those dreadful ones take an interest in Lady Irene?”
Now that they thought about it, that was also a concern.
Finally, the opportunity to show off the youngest lady had come, but there were side effects.
All the retainers fell into thought.
The clans allied with the Astrophel family were all extremely dangerous in their own ways.
Just thinking of them brought to mind the lions of the western plains, the jaguars of the east, wolf packs, and…
“This time, the northern region is also sending a letter saying they will attend?”
Kaide said while looking at Durius.
Durius, who was in charge of the family’s external affairs, nodded.
“Yes. The letter arrived this morning.”
“Why are they suddenly attending?”
Baon asked with discomfort. The north had not attended the banquet for over ten years.
Durius shrugged.
“How would I know their intentions?”
“But why is that letter in such a state?”
Kaide pointed at the tattered golden letter.
“Ah, this? I briefly considered tearing it up.”
Durius smiled eerily as he absentmindedly toyed with the letter, as if regretting it. He looked like he might tear it up at any moment.
The northern attendance would cause a major ripple.
Families wishing to build ties with them would likely rush to attend as well.
The sudden announcement of the tigers from the north, whose intentions were unknown, stirred the room.
The retainers, already overwhelmed preparing for the banquet less than a month away, frowned in irritation at this unexpected variable.
“Baon.”
“Yes, Lord.”
“Make sure you prepare everything for Irene’s escort.”
Even though it was an annual event, it would gather predators in one place.
There was no chance of reckless fools causing trouble in the south, but exceptions always existed, so caution was necessary.
“We will prepare everything properly.”
“I’m already anxious thinking about Lady Irene walking among beasts.”
At Zeras’s words, everyone nodded in agreement.
They seemed to have forgotten that they themselves were also classified as high-risk individuals.
Kaide let out an incredulous laugh.
“It’s just a banquet held in the front yard anyway.”
“That’s true.”
If it had been hosted by another family, Kaide might have hesitated to send Irene.
However, this year’s banquet was being held in the south where they resided.
“Should we call back the remaining personnel at the border?”
As the meeting was nearing its end, Baon asked casually. Kaide tilted his head.
“Are there even any left? I don’t think there are any.”
“There are those people, aren’t there?”
Baon smiled faintly. Realizing who he meant, Kaide frowned.
“Those guys aren’t interested in anything except the battlefield.”
“Wasn’t Rosaria like that at first too?”
That was true.
She was already infamous within the Black Mamba clan as a battle maniac. It was hard to believe she was now taking care of Irene.
Rosaria, who was once thought to be returning soon, now seemed to want to remain in the family more than anyone.
“Wouldn’t they be curious as well? It’s been over two months since Rosaria returned.”
“I don’t think that’s a very good idea.”
“If they are Lady Irene’s escort knights, that level is necessary. With outsiders gathering from all directions, we need that kind of protection.”
“That’s true.”
Kaide tapped the table and gave his approval. Although he felt slightly uneasy about placing them beside Irene, there was no better escort.
“If those guys return to the family, then we won’t need to form a separate escort unit.”
Plop. Plop.
Plop.
Each day, my walking skills improved.
Thanks to all my hard practice, I could now go up and down stairs on my own.
As I happily stomped around the mansion again today, I felt my face warm under everyone’s affectionate gazes.
Do they all really like me that much?
Being cared for with affection always makes me feel happy.
“Lady Irene, are you taking a walk alone again today?”
“Yes! I’m all grown up now so I can walk around alone.”
I smiled brightly at a passing retainer and gave a bow, which made everyone around burst into loud laughter.
They all seem happy. Then I’m happy too!
I stomped my feet with energy.
Plop! Plop plop!
“You seem especially energetic today. What did Rosaria put in your bag this time?”
A cool-looking older sister asked while pointing at my bag stuffed with snacks.
Hmm. I don’t even know that yet.
I fiddled with the strap of the tightly fastened bag on my chest.
“…I have to open it to find out.”
“Oh dear. What a shame. Then I’ll give you this too!”
“Tank oo.”
I received a heart-shaped glass jar and examined it closely.
It was candy covered in sparkling powder.
I’ve never seen candy like this before!
I quickly tucked it away and started walking again. I still had a long way to go today.
It had already been several days since I started leaving my room on my own.
The mansion was ridiculously large, so I had only explored less than half of it so far.
Even the places I had visited were mostly learned about by overhearing conversations around me.
