Chapter 5 5

"Maybe, she's just lucky." Another person responded.

The whispers among the people grew louder that Ainsley with her keen hearing could hear it. As the old man walked down the corridor, the little girl's heart grew wary.

A curse? These elders can't get close to a child? Is this why they don't have any children or grandchildren? Then why am I fine? Is the curse delayed or what?

Ainsley gulped. Her eyelashes shook, yet no one saw it. Even the blue-eyed elder didn't notice anything. He just kept walking and finally found Ainsley's room, isolated from the other rooms in the building.

Once he arrived, the elder placed Ainsley on her cradle and left her alone. He didn't have any intention to wake her up.

"Sleep tight, our future hope." The elder left behind these words as the door was closed. This time, the door closed tightly, leaving no gap.

Ainsley held her breath and didn't move even after the elder left the room. She sharpened her hearings and waited until the sound of the footsteps disappeared.

Only then the kid abruptly opened her eyes and exhaled.

"Whew. That was so nerve-wracking. I have a feeling that the elder is strong." Ainsley puckered her lips as she assessed the blue-eyed elder.

What kind of ability he has? If this world is really the one with ability, then....the will be a lot of ability users. Or maybe it's an ordinary world, and only I have such power.

Of course, Ainsley chose to believe the first. Even though she was full of herself, her chuunibyou sixth sense told her that this world was filled with ability users.

"I'll have to find out," Ainsley swore as she put her head on the baby pillow.

By now, she had unlocked two abilities. She had to know whether it's normal or not. She also had to be exposed to a lot of knowledge from this world.

"But first, let's gain a good guardian that I can control. Through this guardian, I shall be exposed to a lot of information. Then, I can use her to lead the family in the dark."

Ainsley had a cunning smile as she recited her plan. She had to do so several times. She didn't want the body to forget her goal. She was now in the body of a toddler. What if she became an entirely ordinary toddler?

That wouldn't be good. Hence, she had to keep her mind sharp even though this body would shackle her.

"Yes, let's be patient. I should check the limitation and the rule of my two abilities." Ainsley started to experiment and ponder deeply, not knowing that the seven elders just held a separate meeting.

"All of you notice that the young miss has awakened her ability. Am I right?" The blue-eyed elder with dazzling gold hair scanned the other elders around the circle table.

Yes, the other elders also knew that Ainsley subconsciously used her charm ability. They thought that the baby couldn't control it and didn't even know it existed.

"Yes, leader. She's only three, and she already awakened one ability. Isn't she a genius? I don't understand why the boss isolated her since her birth?" The only woman among the elders spoke up.

Who would be so foolish to isolate a genius?

"Hmmm, when she was born, it's determined that she's a failure. We hope for a son, and when the expert checks her potential, they said that she's a trash." Another elder with short green hair stroked his similarly green beard.

"Right, right. I was also present there. This is why the five buds, the geniuses of our family think that they will be the one taking over the family in the future."

The elder with black eyes who first noticed Ainsley nodded at his friend's words.

Then why is the girl suddenly becoming a genius when the expert doomed her to be trash?

These questions swirled inside the seven great elders' minds, yet they couldn't find an answer.

"Hm. Also, I think she doesn't only have one ability." Amidst the silence, the blue-eyed elder spoke softly.

The others instantly looked at him with wide eyes full of disbelief.

"What do you mean? She has multiple abilities?" One elder with blood-red eyes questioned. His long, white hair only added a sense of mystery to his overall appearance.

Some people might think that he's a vampire.

"You know that we are cursed, right? In exchange for our power, we can't face children. All children below five years old will die once they see us." The elder who had blue eyes spoke solemnly.

He had a dark face and frustration bored deep inside his serene eyes.

The other elders soon sunk into a deep silence. All of them had the same face as the blue-eyed elder.

It was the face of regret and contempt.

"But the young miss is fine when she meets us? Is this why you suspect that she has another ability?" Another elder with emerald green eyes and black hair inquired.

The reason why Ainsley was placed at the centre of the table was so that she wouldn't see the elders, who were behind her.

But who would have known that she noticed them yet wasn't affected? Back then, they were too fascinated by the baby's charm. Thus, they temporarily forgot about the curse.

"Yes, that baby...she should have another innate ability. What is it?"

The Elder with dark blue hair and golden eyes squinted his dragon-like pupil. The elder looked similar to a western dragon in the form of a human.

His question resonated with other elders.

What kind of ability does the child have other than the charm?

"I suspect that she has a neutraliser ability, or..." The blue-eyed elder wanted to say 'good luck', but he paused. If the baby survived with luck alone, how strong was her luck?

It could even prevent a curse from harming her. Isn't that unbelievable?

"Anyway, let's observe the young miss. Those old foxes in the family might persuade her to choose them as her guardian. If the young miss picks the wrong guardian..." the blue-eyed elder expressed his worry.

Their young miss would be a puppet leader. But then, they couldn't just be the baby's guardian. It would expose her hidden ability, and who knows what kind of people might target her.

This Sloan Family didn't look as peaceful as it seemed.

"I hope she chooses a good guardian that can save the family. At this rate, even the 7 of us can't do anything to solve the Sloan Family's trouble." The only woman in the great elder's position sighed.

They might be strong, but they aren't that capable of solving money and business trouble. If only the boss is here, he can solve the family's crisis.

"Yes, let's believe in that baby. She's unlikely to be an ordinary baby. We should expect her to grow just like the five buds." The elder with deep black eyes closed his eyes.

If only the five buds aren't so competitive and greedy to take the leader's spot. They might be able to save the family rather than coveting the leader's throne.

Alas, the young miss is bound to face these geniuses if she takes over the family head when she passes 15 years old.

While the elders discussed with each other, the news that the young miss needed a guardian spread throughout the main family. Even the one at the family branch heard about the news.

They knew that whoever became the young miss's guardian would be the true leader of the Sloan Family.

The eyes of greedy tigers and foxes shone as they sent various family members to attend tomorrow's meeting.

Their number might even touch 1000-ish, and this wasn't all the members yet. The branches sent only the best people while the main family selected the members.

All of them provided only the best members that might catch the young miss's eyes. They picked those who could deal with children, had a good appearance and had a strong special ability.

Only some members didn't look like they could handle children. Still, they were chosen thanks to their pure power.

Just like that, various people gathered at the great hall of the Sloan Family's main mansion. All of these happened overnight. Ironically, the one who caused this didn't know the great burden she would have to bear.

The next day.

Ainsley woke up to the maids gathering around her. Unlike the cold treatment yesterday, the maids today have a smile on their faces. They were gentle and warm.

If this were a normal baby, they would feel greatly loved and pleased. Yet who is Ainsley? As someone who reads a lot of anime and manhwa, her view is different from the others.

'What is this? Their warm treatments look ominous to me.'

Ainsley held back her distorted face. She put on an innocent and pure look of a baby as she allowed the maids to attend to her needs. These maids whose face she didn't even remember started to dress her up like a princess.

Today, they put on a red one-piece and a small black fur crop top jacket to adorn the little princess. The little girl's purple hair was tied into a small bun, and the maids attached several red rose hairpins.

They didn't forget to give the toddler a small silver necklace with a blue pendant. The pendant had a symbol of the Sloan family–

A curled up dolphin.

Yes, the Sloan Family's symbol was surprisingly a curled up dolphin. It didn't look like a symbol of a mafia family and looked like a magician family symbol instead.

Ainsley lifted her left eyebrow as she observed the pendant dangling around her tiny neck. The girl didn't do anything and just stared at the pendant while the maids put on black fur boots despite today's hot weather.

Hmmm, a curled up dolphin. Is this a code or something? Mostly, in manhwas that I read, something like a family's symbol holds great meaning. It's often a key to a particular quest.

Ainsley touched the blue pendant of the curled dolphin, and the cold air of the pendant seeped to her skin. The pendant was obviously made out of an unknown mineral.

It wouldn't be a simple iron.

Is this pendant...special for the boss' descendant? Somehow, it feels special....

Ainsley was trying to figure out the pendant on her own when one of the maids in black and white frilly uniform spoke to her.

"Done, young miss." The maid smiled gently and slowly pushed Ainsley to go out of her room.

Once the toddler was out, the maids followed behind. They were even patient enough to match their walking pace with the baby.

Sensing this, Ainsley grumbled. She trotted over the long corridor on her own, and it was inwardly exhausting.

Why don't they just hold me and walk faster?

Ainsley wanted these maids to carry her and brought her faster to the great hall, but she suppressed her desire to ask for help.

There must be a reason why these maids don't carry me. Is it to show the other members the dignity of the heiress?

Or is this a form of bullying? These maids serve me but silently bully me behind my back?