To go up from this floor, you had to go through this hallway.

Still, I entered the hallway feeling relieved because this was the last hurdle. Occasionally, there were people who greeted me and pretended to know of my presence, but fortunately, they did not hold onto me to talk.

“Maybe it’s because Bassad gave me a wish necklace. Things are going well, aren’t they? Don’t you think this will work out?” 

“Is that so? I suddenly want one. Make one for me, Bassad.”

“I don’t want to.”

Bassad shook his head resolutely.

“Just one.”

“I said no.”

“How many years have we been together?”

“Disgusting.”

“You’re so mean.” 

Fayman clung to Bassad, pretending to wipe his tears away. Bassad, who looked startled and genuinely disgusted, stepped back.

Their bickering behind my back did not stop and I made a sharp stop. 

Bassad, who was pushing Fayman’s head with one hand, and Fayman, who had his arms outstretched to hug him, looked at me at the same time.

“You two are too loud.”

“……I’m sorry.”

Bassad lowered the arm, pushing Fayman’s face away. Fayman wiped his messy hair with a closed mouth.

The situation was settled and I laughed bashfully.

“When we get to my room, I will give you a present, so don’t fight. Got it?”

“A gift?”

“Yes. The two of you helped me.”

You can’t just ask people for help with empty hands. Instead, I put conditions.

“Instead, no one can find out.”

“All right.”

“Then let’s go.”

Not much left to my room now. This is because the stairs started immediately after passing the entrance that goes down to the basement.

Actually, from then on, it was okay not to cover my tail with a bag. It is a fact that I recently learned, but from this floor onwards, entry and exit were strictly controlled.

Only those who had permission from Cade can enter.

I felt my arms tingling, and I walked faster. It seemed that the bag strap was hanging on my arm for too long, and it seemed to be straining it. I’m in trouble!

Noticing my condition, Bassad asked.

“Is your arm numb?”

“Yes. It’s a little numb. But it’s okay.”

Because we are arriving soon! It’s right there…!

“Isn’t that Miss Irene?”

“Huh?”

As I was about to pass by the basement entrance someone called me, and I quickly turned my head.

There was Durias coming up from underground with gloves on…

Argh…. Durias?!

My tension automatically went up. I backed away with an awkward smile.

“Are you on your way to the room?”

“Yes.”

“But why are you stepping backward?”

“No, I didn’t do that!”

“Oh. Is that so?”

Durias’s eyes narrowed at my immediate answer that came out after I flinched. He laughed as he carefully looked at the bag, which looked suspicious at first glance.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I wish you the best of luck.”

“Yes.”

“If you have a long tail, you’ll be stepped on.” 

Wh-what?

I stiffened up, and the bag fell to the floor followed with a tuk sound. The arm that had been holding it back was numb.

I stared blankly at Durias. No, how did you know I had a tail without even looking?!

“Hmm? I gave you advice wishing you success, but the response was a little lackluster…” 

Chuwook. 

The tail went down.

Durias’ white eyes fluttered in surprise and turned towards my tail.

I couldn’t say anything in vain. Isn’t this the same as being stabbed and caught red-handed by yourself?

“It’s a tail.”

“…Don’t tell anyone, Durias.”

“All right.”

“Are you going to promise?”

I eagerly looked up at Durias, but he did not answer and just smiled.

I see. You won’t make compromises.

And the next day.

Rumors that I had a tail spread throughout the mansion.

 * * *

I have been in the covers since morning in a dried state. Rosalia was sitting next to me and comforting me.

“Miss Irene. Don’t be sad anymore and let’s get up. This is really nothing.”

“I know.”

“But?”

I jumped up. The blanket fluttered and fell to the floor.

It was hidden inside a white one-piece pajama but I still had a tail. It had grown much softer and prettier than before. It was a very happy thing, but…

“I also wanted to get it right on my first try!”

“……”

“It’s cool but I’m sad! Rodaria, the tail moves by itself, I feel ashamed! And……”

“And?”

Everyone looks different from me.

All of them are snakes, but I felt like a foreigner looking from outside a fence because I’m a bird.

I didn’t feel that way from the beginning. 

But as I got to know my surroundings little by little, I felt strange that I was the only bird here.  Every time I found a different part in me that was not like everyone else, I felt a sense of disparity and didn’t like it. 

So I was terrified.

We are living together now, but can we be together in the future?

I am so different from everyone else. At this rate, we may not understand each other’s point of view and end up becoming distant. 

“…I’ve been here for a long time. When I become an adult, I have to be independent.”

“What? Our Miss Irene, were you worried about that?”

“Yes.”

“However, just because you succeed in shapeshifting doesn’t mean that you have to leave the mansion.”

“But I’m…”

I am a temporary daughter. I swallowed those words because I had no courage to spit them out. That’s something only Cade and I know. Other than us, no one knew.

– Come to think of it, it wouldn’t hurt to have a daughter. For the time being.

Until now, Cade had not said that he would completely accept me as his daughter.

I was living such a luxurious life that I didn’t have to worry about it right away, but those words kept running through my mind.

But I was afraid to bring it up first. I forgot about it and only remembered it now. What if he tells me to leave if I bring it up? I am in a position where I have no choice but to wait for a decision to be made. 

As I became depressed, Rosaria’s expression darkened as well.

“Rodaria.”

“Yes, Miss Irene.”

“What I am going to do if I have to go out of here?”

I don’t want to be alone again. I love this house and the people are so nice.

Am I being too greedy?

I’d be grateful if Cade would at least protect me until I became an adult, but… If I have to get out, I will have to cut off the ties with the people I meet here.

“Miss Irene, don’t worry about that. If you don’t like independence, you can stay.”

“……Yes. I’m not going out.”

I will stay here.

I hugged the pillow tightly. Then Rosaria looked at me for a while.

“Why?”

“…It’s nothing. Miss Irene is in a sad mood, so I’m upset.”

“I’m fine now.”

It’s only a part of it, but it made me feel a little more comfortable when I said some inner feelings out loud.

I shouldn’t go out of the room today. Durias is an idiot. 

My mouth closed in a pout.

I’ll just roll around in bed and get up when it’s time for Kasana to come because today is a day to study theory.

To be honest, I’d like to ask her to only teach me how to shove my tail back in. But that would be hard, right?

I was in trouble when I heard a knock on the door.

Knock, knock.

“Who is it?”

Rosaria, who was sitting next to me, walked to the door.

…Who’s here?

“Oh, Young Master Seth?”

Startled, I got up and pulled the blanket. What do you mean Seth is here?

“Hello, Irene.”

“…Brother Seth.”

“I heard you got a tail?”

It already got in Seth’s ears? I had a tearful face.

Seth who came into the room clicked his tongue when he saw me under the blanket.

“I really didn’t know that you wouldn’t be able to return to your original form.”

“…I didn’t know either.”

“If that’s the case, the trip will take longer to happen.”

“We can go soon.”

“Who knows.”

You are so cold-hearted! I bowed my head sullenly, and I could feel my tail going down together.

Seth, who was staring at me, suddenly opened his mouth.

“Imagine that when you humanize, you are wrapping something around your original body.”

“Huh?”

“Then it will be a little easier to get things back to normal.”

“Really?”

“It was like that for me.”

But why are you telling me this? I thought Seth wouldn’t be interested in my situation. I was very surprised because I thought that he would just pass me by even if he knew it.

“I heard the news and came to see what you were doing, so why are you down?”

“……”

“Half the tail came out, so it’s a half success.”

“……What?”

I was so surprised that I looked back at Seth. Are you saying this to cheer me up?

Seth rose from his seat.

“I have a class in the morning, so I’ll leave.”

“Huh?”

“I’m leaving.”

“……Okay. Goodbye, Brother Seth!”

I sent him off in a dazed mood. I felt like I was dreaming.

“I think the Young Master came to congratulate Miss Irene.”

“Does Rodaria think so too?”

I’m not the only one who got it wrong or misunderstood it, right?

Rosaria smiled saying I wasn’t mistaken.

I thought he was going to say that I wasn’t of the same clan and that I grew up slowly, but that wasn’t the case.

“I’m feeling better now. I’m going to change my clothes.”

“Shall we? It would be better to wear a dress today.”

“Yes.”

Rosaria pulled out a purple dress from the closet. After changing my pajamas, I seemed to be in a good mood.

Knock. Knock.

“There are a lot of guests coming over today, aren’t there?”

Not long before Seth went his way. A second guest came.

Don’t tell me people are going to come over all day long, are they?

The second visitor was Hestia.