episode_0042

Darin, who had dozed off for about an hour or two, opened her eyes at the sound coming from around her.

– Clatter, clatter.

Emma seemed to be coughing as she placed a new snack on the table. Darin, still groggy from sleep, gazed at Emma with half-opened eyes.

“Orange cake. Don’t you like this, Emma? Let’s sit down and eat together.”

“It’s okay. I’m a commoner.”

“What does that matter? I’m a commoner too, so let’s think of it as commoners having tea time together.”

“But still, you are the lady of the house…”

“Quickly!”

A petite woman abruptly cut off the maid’s refusal with a firm voice, resembling a younger sister scolding her elder sister.

“If you dislike it that much…? I’m not trying to force you.”

Seeing the hesitant maid, Darin realized her mistake. She simply wanted to converse with someone else and find peace of mind, without any sense of hierarchy. Of course, Emma’s perspective might differ, making it perhaps a selfish desire.

“No, ma’am.”

As Emma sensed the maid’s discomfort, she lowered her head. She had somewhat forced the topic of meeting the lady of the house, wanting to see her mistress. There was nothing more she could do about it.

Darin smiled warmly. It was evident that Emma had made up her mind to grant her request.

“Really?”

“Yes, but should we keep it a secret from Master Kyle or the steward?”

“Of course!”

– Swoosh.

“Ma’am!?”

“Hehe, please sit down quickly.”

She was incredibly considerate. The respected lady, admired by tens of thousands of people, went to the trouble of pulling out a chair for just one commoner.

“I-I will sit down.”

“Are you sure it’s okay? Am I making you uncomfortable?”

“…No, it’s not that.”

“Please sit, Emma. My arm is hurting.”

“…I apologize.”

The flustered girl’s face turned red. Her heart fluttered with the owner’s excessive kindness. It was burdensome, yet the thought that this person cared for her to such an extent wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

“Wow, it’s so plushy here, isn’t it?”

“Is it?”

The seat where Emma sat was the one previously occupied by the lady’s daughter, Apriel Bayron. Since she had vacated the seat, no one else had dared to sit there.

“Oh! Emma, didn’t you mention that Fifi would be back soon?”

“Yes, in the morning, the steward said he would inform the lady of the house.”

“When is she coming back?”

“They didn’t specify the exact date. Fifi has some matters to attend to.”

“Hmm, she’s quite independent. I wonder if she’s doing well.”

“Master Kyle matures quickly, that’s why. Isn’t Fifi considered a virtuous daughter?”

“Well, yes.”

Darin stared at her teacup, lost in thought.

From a young age, her daughter Fifi was not your average gentle girl. Perhaps the wild blood of the Bayron barbarians flowed strongly within her, making her rough and hot-tempered. If there was something she didn’t like, she would resort to fists first.

Resembling her older brother with her white hair, she was a lovely and beautiful child. Her clear aquamarine eyes were transparent like a serene lake, perfectly round and gentle.

However, her temperament was always the issue. She was bolder than most men and often tried to display her immense power. With her overwhelming competitive spirit, she had clashed with the knights of the rival Sandland family several times.

Fortunately, she knew how to respect and admire her mother and father. If only she could control that servant-like temperament…

“Fifi is not as bad as Kyle, but quite a virtuous daughter…?”

That was how it was. But now, Pei is a much more ambitious child than Cael. Cael has lost his mind and committed a crime.

“Madam!”

Emma’s excited voice called out to the mistress. Looking at her wandering pupils and flushed cheeks, she seemed to be gazing at someone she admired.

“Young master has arrived.”

A beast that disrupted the peaceful daily life had appeared.

Realizing this, Darin turned her head in surprise.

Having finished training, Cael was handing over a pair of axes to his servants. The weight was unbelievably heavy, with a robust barbarian surrounded by six clinging closely.

As if catching a familiar scent, Cael sniffed, then turned his head around. Shortly after, he spotted his mother sipping tea in the garden and eagerly approached her.

“Mother!”

A pleasing tone filled the air. The well-groomed wall only had eyes for one woman, and the neat white hair fluttered above her lovely face.

His massive stature was akin to a hero’s statue itself, so grand that even the brilliant sunlight was overshadowed by his large figure.

If a handsome and robust son were to walk up with a smile, where would his proud mother be?

“Eeik…!”

Such parents were right here. Darin’s face reddened as if about to burst. It wasn’t a blush like Emma’s, a girl in love, but merely a reaction to her son’s repulsiveness.

For him to force his mother down just to get the woman he desired, smiling so innocently, was beyond comprehension.

Meeting a crush and feeling happy about it was understandable. Feeling excited about making this woman his own was also understandable. But why did it have to be his own mother?

“Is that boy playing with me right now?”

He felt tormented like this, while Cael, who had hurt him, seemed blissful, stirring up unjust feelings. No matter how much of a son he was, if he continued with his indifferent and weak demeanor, her patience would reach its limit.

Darin glared fiercely with pumpkin-colored eyes, ready to judge her repulsive son!

“Grant me strength, Gyul.”

As the lady murmured, a magnificent crimson magic circle appeared around her. From there, emanating auras gathered into the palm of her hand with great force, hinting at the extraordinary power of the impending magic.

“Ma’am!”

Emma tried to stop the lady in shock, but there was nothing she could do. Commoners couldn’t touch nobility recklessly, and the lady had long been blinded by rage.

“You should experience this too.”

With the girl’s resolute decision, the magic circle glowed. Darin was overwhelmed both physically and mentally, with no strength left to resist, but that was not an issue. There existed the ultimate magic that surpassed destruction.

“Mandarinire ball!”

A thunderous aura echoed through the garden.

– Boom!

A crimson object shot from her hands.

– Whoosh!

Exceeding 200 km/h, a superluminal projectile tore through the air, aimed precisely at the man’s heart.

– Thud!

Upon collision with Cael’s chest, a loud thud rang out, followed by a single mass plummeting vertically towards the ground.

– Thump.

It was a mandarin.

– Phew…

Having ignited rapidly, steam rose from the heated mandarin. Its appearance resembled a perfectly baked sweet potato.

“…”

Kael casually picked up a squashed tangerine and put it into his mouth. As a son, he had to accept anything given by his mother sweetly.

Moreover, tangerines were delicious even when roasted.

Handing the coat stained with tangerine juice to the servant, the confident young man walked back towards his resolute mother.

“Wait a bit and go out with me later. But why did you throw the tangerine?”

“…Because I dislike you.”

“Hahaha, I see. But…”

Approaching his mother, the son reached for an orange on the table. A strong heat emanated from the arm brushing past him. The scent of sweat from the man who had just finished training, along with a subtle fragrance, lingered in the air.

“What are you doing sitting there?”

Kael glared at Emma, questioning why she was sitting there when she wasn’t even his younger sister. Emma, feeling guilty, scattered apologies and quickly stood up.

Darine didn’t intervene this time. If she did, it would be Emma facing the awkwardness in the middle, not her. She would have to apologize later and maybe offer some money.

– Crunch.

The man’s fierce mouth roughly tore into the large orange peel. It wasn’t unusual for Bayoren’s men to eat fruit like this, but for some reason, Darine felt a strange sensation seeing the orange being devoured like that.

“…Ah.”

After venting her brief anger, she looked around. She realized that some servants, including Emma, were looking at the two hats with worried expressions.

The statement “because I dislike you” meant that Madam had not yet resolved her anger towards the young master. They believed Madam harbored dissatisfaction because the young master was planning to welcome a provincial noblewoman as a bride. Although the content was trivial, they couldn’t help but worry since the two had always had a good relationship.

Darine, unable to maintain her composure as a lady of the house and struggling to handle the topic of her previous life, blushed and felt her face heating up.

“…Sigh.”

She felt tears welling up due to her sorrow, but she managed to hold them back. If she started crying here, she might truly be treated like a child.

Her ambitious counterattack ended in vain. In that case, all she could do was pretend to be indifferent and reassure the servants.

Darine struggled to contain her rising anger and slowly began to speak as she faced her son.