Ch.158Marry That Child (1)

Rustila tossed and turned in bed before getting up with a sigh.

[“What’s wrong?”]

“I can’t sleep.”

Rustila had been training intensely every single day without fail. Falling asleep the moment she lay down was her specialty, if anything.

“I’m wide awake. Could it be insomnia…?”

[“It’s not insomnia. You’ve caught something worse, Rusty.”]

Vega, her background voice, giggled.

[“You’re worried about that boy, aren’t you?”]

Rustila silently nodded.

“He lived here for two months. How could nothing have happened? Surely, haah…”

There might have been something going on between them.

Her face grew hot just thinking about saying it out loud. For Rustila, who became embarrassed even by slight physical contact with men, it wasn’t easy to think beyond that.

Unable to fall asleep, she finally left her room.

Pat, pat.

Something was walking down the hallway. Barefoot. Rustila became alert.

She lifted her heels and racewalked lightly to get ahead of the other person. Judging by the height, presence, and build, it was obvious who it was. Zernya.

She stood still, watching the direction Zernya was heading. And soon realized. She needed to stop her.

“Ugh, eek!”

Zernya, who had been walking unsteadily, was knocked back after being hit by a soft cushion. Her amethyst eyes, which had been unfocused, gradually regained their vitality. Zernya mumbled as she made eye contact with Rustila.

“Uh, wh-what…?”

“Why are you trying to enter Eidel’s room in the middle of the night?”

Rustila asked in a heavy voice. She knew about Zernya’s sleepwalking condition because Eidel had told her earlier that evening. But still.

“Are you really sleepwalking?”

“Yes, I am. I am, but…”

Rustila shot her a suspicious glance. It was too methodical to be a coincidence.

“This isn’t your room. Go back.”

“Fine, I got it. I’ll go if I have to. I’ll go.”

Unexpectedly, Zernya backed down without resistance. Caught off guard by this response, there was a momentary gap in Rustila’s thinking.

[“I just spoke with Deneb. The sleepwalking is real. She’s probably still suffering from the aftereffects of the outer god.”]

“…”

For a moment, her values wavered.

She had decided to wield her sword to save people suffering from outer gods. And currently, Zernya was clearly a victim of an outer god. Rustila felt a bit sorry.

“Ugh, no, I’m not sorry.”

Rustila shook her head vigorously. Her ponytail, loosely tied for sleep, swung like a pendulum from side to side.

Like a stray cat.

She might wander in front of Eidel’s room again. Figuring she wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway, Rustila settled down in front of the door and leaned against it.

That’s when it happened.

“Lady Rheinland is entering.”

The IoT monitoring the dock announced. Rustila panicked, but after listening to Vega’s advice, she fled to her room.

***

“Young master, the lady of the house has returned.”

“…Seti’s mother?”

“Yes.”

Sonia, who had taken over my bed, said while kicking her legs.

“Even if you’re not related by blood, a mother is still a mother. It would be proper for you to go out and greet her.”

“Ugh, why now of all times…”

“It would be best to take my advice, young master.”

Sonia had a point, but I was in the middle of a conversation with Professor Stranov. I couldn’t help but hesitate for a moment.

“I’m sorry, Professor. My mother just arrived. I’ll go greet her and be right back.”

If she came at dawn rather than during the day, something must be up. I ended the call and shuffled in my slippers. Sonia, who had been rolling around on my bed, jumped up.

I put on a coat and headed to the entrance by the dock, where a white-haired woman was walking toward me with clicking footsteps.

She didn’t look well. Her hair was disheveled, her face was smudged with what looked like soot, and her medical coat was stained with dried blood.

“Mother!”

The woman raised her head at my call. Her near-black lavender eyes were lifeless.

Rezein von Adelbein Rheinland.

Seti’s mother finally spoke quietly.

“Thank you for coming to greet me. Android, and… who are you?”

“I’m Eidel, your third son, Mother.”

“Third… ah, from the first wife?”

Rezein’s eyes narrowed.

“It’s been a long time, Mother. Have you been well?”

“…”

“Mother?”

“I’ve been fine. Except for breaking my back on the southern front.”

Her tone was coated with viscous, vicious emotions. I could feel annoyance, discomfort, anger, grief, and several other negative feelings.

Even my advisor’s hysteria would be milder than this.

“You must be tired. Would you like a bath and perhaps some tea?”

“No, tea won’t be necessary.”

Rezein responded stiffly. Her attitude suggested she had no intention of being harsh with me, but also no desire to get close.

Her expression showed such disinterest that she probably didn’t even know the previous Eidel had lived like a good-for-nothing.

“I should take a bath and get some sleep.”

“I’ll have the android bring you a change of clothes.”

Better to accommodate her. She’s Seti’s mother after all.

While Mother was bathing, I asked Sonia to prepare clothes and quickly tidied up the dining table. I boiled water in a pot and prepared tea bags.

Shortly after, Rezein appeared with a towel wrapped around her head. She looked quite tired.

“It’s chamomile tea.”

“…How thoughtful. It’s known to be good for women.”

Mother held the tea bag and swirled it gently. An inexplicable smile formed on her lips.

“If you’re done, go back to bed. It’s late.”

“No, I’m fine. I’ll go to bed after seeing you to your room.”

She stared at me blankly before shifting her gaze to the teacup. Feeling the conversation might end, I naturally changed the subject.

“How is the situation in the south?”

“Hell.”

Her answer was immediate.

“For months after the war ended, many soldiers were injured and broken while clearing out the internal monsters. Recently, my husband and I have been helping with the rehabilitation of wounded soldiers.”

“I understand Father returned earlier.”

“Yes. Shameless as he is.”

That single phrase contained anger condensed like dew.

“He’s been that way since I first met him. A wooden man. Mistaking his coldness for dignity…”

Mother cut herself off mid-sentence. I didn’t ask why she was badmouthing Father. I knew well that Father and Seti’s mother were bound by an unwanted marriage.

I should change the subject again.

Let’s see, a common interest.

“About Seti.”

Of course, her daughter.

“Today, or rather yesterday now. Seti took the entrance exam for Stellarium College yesterday.”

Life returned to Rezein’s eyes.

“Did she do well?”

“She said she thinks she’ll get in. She was very confident.”

“Of course she will. Naturally…”

The corners of her mouth turned up in a gentle smile.

“Is she here now?”

“Yes. In the room inside, turn left… She’s probably sleeping.”

“I see.”

Mother continued with her questions.

“Do you know when your father will return?”

“He’s been coming more frequently lately, but not that often. Probably this weekend.”

“Then I should stay for about three days before leaving.”

“Where will you go?”

“To work.”

By the time our conversation ended, Mother had finished her tea. Sonia guided her to the master bedroom, and after confirming she was seated on the bed, I conveyed my regards and returned to my room.

[Professor, I’m back.]

[Welcome back. So about the crystal matter we discussed earlier, there’s a discussion about how someone contracted with Virgo could make good use of it…]

The discussion continued throughout the night.

Damn, another night of overtime.

***

I returned after a long time. At a point when I thought my husband would be too busy to be home.

The one who greeted Rezein, who had snuck in like a thief, was an unexpected person. Eidel. The first wife’s child.

He said he was the third son, but honestly, my memory is hazy. I don’t think he was a particularly good-natured child.

I’m not sure. Always busy with work, I had no reason to care about a child who wasn’t my own flesh and blood.

But that child called me mother.

As if I were his birth mother, he came out to greet me, carefully brewed my favorite tea, and even wished me good night before returning to his room.

It gave me a slight chill.

Because there was something else I had steeled myself to hear as soon as I returned.

– What brings you here?

The Rheinland family wasn’t a particularly kind place. I had a bad relationship with my husband, and the elders of the council were busy keeping me in check. The first wife’s children never approached me to talk.

That was over 10 years ago. Rezein was isolated. Neither the Adelbein family nor the Rheinland family. None of them were on her side. The only one on her side was the daughter she had given birth to.

Rezein lay in bed, then got up.

She opened the door and looked for Seti’s room. The layout wasn’t familiar since she hadn’t visited often. There was no android in sight to help.

– In the room inside, turn left… She’s probably sleeping.

Carefully stepping forward, using Eidel’s words as guidance. The innermost room, turning left from the entrance.

Here, she encountered an unknown problem.

Eidel had said “the room inside,” not “the innermost room.”

Rezein opened the door and saw a girl sleeping with her back turned, covered by a blanket, with a mood light on.

White hair.

No doubt about it.

“…My daughter.”

Rezein approached slowly so as not to wake the girl and sat gently on the bed. Then, after hesitating, she resolutely reached out her hand toward the child’s head.

She touched the soft hair.

“You… you are my last card.”

Thinking of revenge, Rezein patted the girl. Soft murmurs flowed from her lips.

“Let’s show them. Let’s give the Adelbein main family a big blow. We will become the direct line of Rheinland. Yes. So that no one in the world can point fingers at you and me…”

It was her true feelings that she had always kept hidden.

She could only say this in front of her daughter.

Of course, she wouldn’t hear it since she was asleep.

“Sleep well and I’ll see you later.”

Rezein restored her face to its original state from its sorrowful expression. The door closed silently. Zernya sat up abruptly and stared blankly at the door.

“…Ah, it was a nightmare.”

She felt a chill run down her spine.