Chapter – 50
Generally, daily life went on in a similar pattern. Thanks to that, everyone in Baekja Fortress knew that our mom and dad had a harmonious relationship, and anyone who didn’t know that mom was a Sword Master was practically nonexistent.
Taking advantage of the situation, mom even put her skills to use and got a job.
“Leo, the kids are all grown now, so I’m thinking of starting work too.”
“Eh, Elthea? What’s with that outfit…?”
Dad was left dumbfounded at mom, dressed head-to-toe in uniform.
Whether he even understood her words was unclear, but mom calmly informed him.
“Starting today, I’m employed as the escort knight for Countess Gillette. In official matters, please call me Lady Elthea.”
“You… so you really were a knight.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Gah.”
Mom sent Dad’s soul flying with a hand-kiss on the back of his hand and then walked off to work leisurely.
Escort duty was not difficult at all.
Gillette Fortress was very peaceful, and the few knights there wouldn’t dare cause trouble for an Aura Expert of the highest tier.
The only worry was whether she could handle the countess’s picky personality…
“My goodness, Lady Elthea! Look how well the uniform suits you. You look amazing.”
“You flatter me, madam.”
“Come, sit here. I prepared some fine tea to enjoy with you, Lady Elthea.”
“I’m on duty.”
“Oh, don’t be like that. It’s lonely, so please keep me company.”
“Then just one cup, please.”
“Thank you!”
Countess Sandra Gillette, being of commoner origin, had been socially isolated in the noble world.
She had spent most of her time within Gillette Fortress, without hosting or attending a single tea party, which made her secretly lonely.
Being treated with courtesy according to knightly principles and with elegance by someone of the same sex naturally made her feel admiration and fondness.
Moreover, they both had sons and daughters, a shared experience.
“I don’t know how to educate my children. My eldest has started rebelling, and I’m worried.”
“Everyone goes through turbulent years. I ran away from home myself at that age.”
“Lady Elthea? Oh my, please, tell me more.”
“Hmm… it’s a long story…”
And so, mom’s adaptation to Gillette Fortress was perfectly complete.
✠
Back to the present.
“Lady Elthea is incredible. Honestly, I’ve never seen our mother so gentle and caring toward someone else.”
“Right? I didn’t expect the countess to like mom that much either.”
“But at the same time… it’s so like her.”
“Huh?”
“Well… she also loves her child.”
“Ahh.”
[‘The Eyes that Watch the Chaos of All Things’ smiles contentedly.]
Bianca and I were walking through the dungeon farm, talking.
Time in the dungeon flowed three times faster, so winter had already passed and spring was budding.
Helberos, who had been busy with heating work for a while, now had leisure time.
These days, Helberos spent most of his time napping in a small hearth made by Epiden.
The faint flames flickered occasionally, growing and shrinking.
When Epiden placed a tin kettle on the hearth to boil tea, a droplet splashed onto Helberos, startling him, and his flames flared up.
As a result, Epiden’s porcelain—no, skeletal—face was blackened by soot.
Clatter!
<He-he, it’s not Helberos’ fault…! Epiden got startled herself…!>
The fire demon and the skeleton undead began bickering.
The dungeon farm was peaceful today as well.
Bianca and I returned to our conversation about mom’s adaptability.
She asked subtly,
“I’ve heard Lady Elthea is of noble origin. I didn’t dare ask directly before, but do you know which family she belongs to?”
A head of the family should know about their household members, so I nodded.
“You’ll keep it a secret, right?”
“Of course.”
“It’s Hisspenril.”
Her reaction was exactly as expected.
“….”
Bianca’s eyes widened. Her already red eyes made her look like a startled rabbit.
Three seconds passed before she finally seemed to grasp the meaning.
“P-Princess…? The… missing daughter of King Hisspenril…?”
“She’s not missing; she ran away. Actually, she even met with her grandfather. He tried to persuade her to return home, but mom flatly refused, saying she didn’t need the family or its wealth.”
“But the King only has one child, right? Eventually, the family would be passed on anyway.”
“Yeah. I partly considered that, so I sided with mom over grandfather.”
“Well done.”
“Right?”
We laughed heartily at our somewhat materialistic joke.
Bianca then spoke seriously.
“If she becomes a princess later, no pretending she’s just some frontier countess’s daughter, okay?”
“Eh, don’t worry. More importantly, our dad and brother don’t know. Keep it secret until mom decides to tell them.”
“Yeah, I’ll keep it.”
Just as we were having this warm moment, the pendant on my necklace chimed, and Agnes sighed.
<Still shocking to think that I was educating the descendant of Aaronjake Hisspenril.>
Agnes and grandfather had competed for top ranks at the knight academy.
Having lost first place a few times, Agnes vented her frustration.
Oh well, a good educator shouldn’t be swayed by personal feelings.
I smiled softly.
After a brief break, Bianca and I went off to our respective tasks.
I headed to Dad’s lab. Mom had done some baking and tidied up, but in my eyes, it was still a mess.
Since Dad would be busy cooking in the annex kitchen, I planned to clean it up quickly.
While cleaning, I also intended to refill some nearly depleted reagents.
One extra reagent, however, was on a shelf so high it almost reached the ceiling.
I climbed the small ladder and stretched my arm, but it was just out of reach.
“I could just use Divine Descent on this! …”
Of course, I couldn’t do that. Standing on tiptoe and struggling, I felt a presence behind me.
“Want me to get it for you?”
“Eh.”
A slightly deepened voice reached my ears, and someone effortlessly handed the reagent into my hands.
“Oh, brother.”
I turned my head to see Prinz, standing on the lower rung of the ladder, steadying my back.
Prinz had been growing rapidly lately. Seeing him mature into a tall young boy in just a month made me marvel at the mysteries of growing boys.
“How do you grow so fast? You’re different from yesterday. Are you growing every day?”
“Maybe. My bones ache, I’m not used to it. My voice changed too…”
“Right? Sounds like you have a cold or something?”
“No. It’s just my voice thickening…”
“Oh, good. As long as it doesn’t hurt to talk.”
I watched Prinz with a mix of envy and amazement.
Then, unexpectedly, he picked me up.
“Wha—!”
“Lifting you off the ladder.”
“Then put me down.”
“I changed my mind.”
“Why!”
“You’re so tiny. I can just pick you up easily!”
Prinz, now a young boy, hoisted my ten-year-old body, showing off his height and strength.
He could have put me down anytime, but I let him do as he pleased.
“When will my little sibling grow?”
“Soon! Starting today, you’ll drink double the growth potion.”
“Too bad. Then I should hold you while I can. If not now, when?”
The now-taller Prinz laughed like spring wind scattering cherry blossoms. Perhaps growing also increased his charm.
“Brother, do you like growing taller?”
“Yes. It makes handling kids easier, and…”
“Besides that?”
“It makes swordsmanship more versatile. I feel stronger every day. I can protect you now, so just trust me.”
Hmm… I didn’t exactly say that aloud, but I felt my strength was still higher for now.
“Of course! You know, being the eldest son carries great expectations. Go for it, brother!”
“Yeah!”
I encouraged him, giving him motivation to earn his knight title. I felt like such a good elder sibling.
“By the way, what are you doing in the lab?”
“I came to get you.”
“Oh, it’s already lunchtime, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Mom and Dad must be waiting. Let’s hurry.”
Excited about the picnic, Prinz led the way outside.
Mom, dressed in a mini dress and holding a parasol instead of her knight uniform, looked extremely beautiful.
“How do I look, Leo?”
“Dazzling, Elthea…”
Dad couldn’t take his eyes off her either.
“I’ll carry the picnic basket!”
To a growing child, a basket full of food is like a treasure chest.
Prinz lifted the basket high and led the way.
“Follow me, Leo. Mom and Dad, hurry up!”
I hurried after Prinz.
Meanwhile, my gaze naturally stayed fixed on the picnic basket, carrying the delightful aroma of food.
Hmm…
[‘The Scathing Arbiter of Balance’ asks why it’s glaring at the picnic basket like a sworn enemy.]
