Chapter 4 4

Amid the chaotic room, Ainsley squeezed her palm and slowly opened her mouth.

"Hwancle, hwauntie, wat ale we gonna dwo?" Ainsley asked the people about what they wanted from her.

Even though she would like to keep these people under her thumb for longer, she couldn't endure a particular elder's sharp gaze on her.

It seems that some don't fall for my charm. Or maybe, there will be a duration of how long my charm power can last. This should be studied later.

That's why Ainsley ignored that one elder and focused on the others. She wanted to go back to her room quickly.

Thinking like this, Ainsley tilted her head and innocently spoke,

"Ale we gonna pway pway?"

Ainsley waved her limbs, acting like a spoiled little child. Still, because she was so charming in these people's eyes, they didn't even once condemn the girl.

"Oh, Ain is bored! Hey, quick, resume the meeting."

"Yes, yes, after that, we can play with her."

"Oh, right, the meeting. Isn't that to pick a guardian for our angel? A guardian angel, then."

"Who is worthy of being our angel's guardian? I think only the seven elders or the five buds can do that."

"Speaking of which, where are the five buds, the geniuses of the young generation? Are they rebelling?"

The people in the room with age around 25-40, started to discuss the main meeting. They were still under Ainsley's charm, but the power weakened.

As time passed by, they would regain their logic, and Ainsley noticed this.

If I don't want to have an incompetent guardian, I have to choose one when these people are still under my power. That means I can't select one now.

The time is insufficient to see all the loyal retainers and assess them to bring the best one to her side.

Then...I should refuse all the guardian proposal today and ask them to show all the loyal Sloan Mafia members to me.

Ainsley already formed a plan in mind while the people in the room questioned the five buds who didn't join the meeting. Their action seemed like a rebellion toward the Sloan Family.

But Ainsley didn't hear this. She only heard something about the five buds after her thought ended.

"The five buds are busy guarding our territory against the enemy attack. They said that they would meet the family head and her guardian once this meeting is over."

The elder who didn't fall for Ainsley patiently explained things. For him, it was fortunate that the five buds, the youngsters below 20 years old, weren't here.

Else, they might fall for Ainsley's charm.

The elder snuck a peek at Ainsley, who was watching the others with innocent eyes. She looked like an ordinary baby, but the elder's sixth sense told him otherwise.

This baby...she already awakens her ability at the age of 3! Isn't this mean she's a genius? Even the rumoured talented boy in the whole country just awakened his ability when he was 6.

Could it be that Ainsley...is the Sloan Family's treasure? If she can control her ability and maintains it, she will bring hope to the family!

The elder, who was sceptical of Ainsley, slowly thought of the baby positively. He didn't realise that the power of charm slowly consumed him.

That's right. Unlike his thoughts, even though Ainsley couldn't control her power yet, she could already direct the power to the targets she wanted.

As a late stage of chuunibyou, it would be weird if she couldn't learn about her power in astonishment rate. Not only that but Ainsley unlocked another ability before the charm.

It was her keen ears. If she sharpened it, she might even hear the thought of other people.

At this moment, Ainsley consciously directed her power to the one elder which she couldn't control. The girl silently watched the elder's expression turn bright while looking at her.

Smirk.

Hehe. That elder is down. He might be the leader of this meeting. I should quickly ask him.

Ainsley ignored the people's opinion about who should be her guardian. Instead, she crawled toward the end of the circle table where the elders sat.

"Gwandpa! Hwat ish gualdian? Cwan Ain pway witsh twem?" Ainsley instantly grabbed that elder's wrinkly hands and put on puppy-like eyes.

Her round, big blue eyes looked so pitiful and innocent that it invoked the elderly's sense of doting.

Even the elder who first disliked Ainsley for her abnormality fell for these eyes.

"G-grandpa? Hohoho, good, Ain good child. Guardian is someone who will protect you. Ain want it, right?" The elder's face flushed as he explained to Ainsley.

The word 'grandpa' just tickled his heart and desire. For someone who didn't have any children or grandchildren, Ainsley's innocent act of calling him 'grandpa' touched his heart.

Ah, why did I suspect this girl? She's so obedient and pure. Surely she doesn't realise she charms others with her ability.

She's innocent!

Instead of being wary of her, I should be proud! I should raise her well so that she can control her ability.

The elder swore in his heart. Even the similar-looking elders around the elder with a white beard thought the same. The seven of them looked like clones, and when they looked at Ainsley simultaneously, it was quite strange.

"Gwadian? Pway? Pwotect? Tweeenn cwan Ain pwick hwone?"

Ainsley blinked her large eyes as she kept squeezing the elder's tanned hands, trying to gauge the elder's strength.

The palms are full of calluses.

This elder is strong.

Ainsley was alarmed.

If she had an ability, then others would also have one or more. This elder in front of her...

He might be dangerous.

Ainsley kept her guard up while acting as a gullible girl. She wailed at the elder, asking the elder if she could pick the guardian to her liking.

"Ain wants to choose your guardian by yourself? Not a bad idea..." the other elders started to join the conversation. They all patted Ain's head or squeezed her cheeks as they sided with her.

The effect of the charm might have weakened, but Ainsley's natural charm without her ability was still great.

It's the charm of a baby.

"Yesh! Ain wan two pwick hwone gualdian two pway witsh Ain!" Ainsley energetically nodded her head. Her eyes brightened at the elders' responses.

Good. All according to plan. This elder is not hostile to me. Now...I only need to ask to meet the members and choose one of them tomorrow.

"Hmmm, how do you want to choose? Should we bring every single member of the family?" One of the elders, a woman, quickly grasped Ainsley's attention.

She looked at Ainsley with eyes full of longing, yet Ainsley didn't pay attention to her. She knew that she had to maintain her gaze. Else, she might grow affection toward the grandma with soft pink eyes.

"Ywesh, ywesh! Ain wan two mwet tshe membwes!" Ainsley laughed cheerfully, and her laughter sounded like heaven's bell for the others.

All of them melted in front of Ainsley's cheerful face. Their desire to protect her grew stronger.

"Alright, let's issue an order for all members to come to this room."

One of the elders with blue eyes smiled gently at Ainsley. He was about to wave his hand and ordered the people when Ainsley tugged the old man's sleeve.

"Nwo! Ain wanna shweep! Shweepy shweepy! Tomowow, kay?" Ainsley stopped the elder from calling the members. It was simply bad for her if her charm ability didn't work on all the members or ran out in critical time.

The elder, with blue eyes, paused his hand movement. He slowly nodded his head as if Ainsley's wish was his wish.

"Oh, Ain is sleepy. Okay, we will bring the members tomorrow. Tomorrow, Ain has to choose a guardian, okay?" The elder patiently handled Ainsley. The elder even patted Ainsley's head and stroked her.

His gentle blue eyes expressed his kindness yet a bit of ruthlessness. Yes, even though he was a loving grandpa, he was one of the stern elders.

Ainsley shuddered at this gaze. She inwardly realised that maybe...not all the elders fell over her charm ability. Some might simply favour her because they didn't have kin.

'Damn it. These people are tough. Could it be that some of them realised I use an ability and pretend to fall under it? Maybe some people here are secretly assessing me.'

Ainsley hurriedly looked all over the people in the room. Some were still debating about what gifts they should give to Ainsley while others looked at Ainsley with a loving gaze.

It was hard to distinguish who might have fallen into her ability, and who might just pretend.

Ha. I should leave this room sooner. Some people might be dangerous for me.

Ainsley kept her innocent smile as she looked at the elder with blue eyes. She nodded obediently.

"Tomowow! Tomowow. Now, Ain wanna gwo bwack!" Ainsley puffed her cheeks, throwing a tantrum just like an ordinary child. She had no intention to arouse these people's qualm about her.

I should stay as weak as possible. No. They should see me like that. In the first place, the people here should have an ability too. It's only normal. Some might not express any malicious intent, but...

But what if there are some? Won't they threaten me once they think of me as dangerous?

Ainsley hurriedly clung to the grandpa with blue eyes and didn't release her grip. She buried her face to grandpa's chest, ignoring the old man's shocked face.

"Ain..?"

"Gwo bwack! Sweepy!" Ainsley wriggled inside the old man's embrace. The girl then yawned non-stop before slowly falling into a deep sleep.

At least that was what others saw.

Ainsley just pretended to sleep to hurry the elder to send her back. Of course, her plan was a success.

"It seems that young miss is sleeping. I'll send her back. Tomorrow, gather all the members here. The young miss will personally choose her guardian."

The elder with blue eyes calmly stood up. His dazzling long blonde hair looked like a lion's mane. He was inwardly handsome, just like the image of King Arthur in his retirement.

But instead of wearing armor, this old man wore a neat tuxedo and armed with guns rather than a sword. He might be old, but the aura coming from his body was strong enough to disturb Ainsley.

Damn. This old man is the real deal.

As expected, after the old man ordered the others in a stern voice, the chaotic room quietened. The people in neat suits simultaneously bowed.

"Yes, absolute elder."

Absolute elder! Does this person have a higher rank than the one who suspects me? That old man with black eyes.....he isn't the leader of the seven elders?

Ainsley choked. She squeezed her eyes tightly as she felt the old man walk away from the round table. He walked as cautious as possible to not wake her up. He looked like a loving grandpa when he acted like this.

The people in the room saw the grandpa's action, and all of them sighed.

"Does the absolute elder want to be the young miss's guardian? Is this possible?"

"It is possible, but the seven elders can't have any children around them. Did you forget?"

"Ah, the curse...but the young miss looks fine, though?"