Ch.253Summer Break Again (5)

As I gathered the scattered fruit pieces from all around, I became certain of one thing. The reason my father met my mother must have been based on some terrifying power.

Even a well-trained adult man would find it extremely difficult to crush fruit with bare hands. Again, I’m not talking about splitting it—I mean crushing it.

Having fruit explode as if pressed by some machine would be challenging even for the strongest of men.

Is it possible because this is a fantasy world? From what I’ve heard, mother never once engaged in any kind of training. According to father, she was just an ordinary country girl.

The most plausible hypothesis is that father’s influence affected mother during their intimate relationship, but I didn’t bother asking. The most urgent matter was Volume 20 of the Biography of Xenon.

If they release Volume 20 without modifying the story, that fruit could represent my future. But I can’t change the story either.

In Volume 20, Jin gets his chest pierced by Beelzebub and dies, but he doesn’t completely die. It’s just a setup for the all-too-common “awakening” cliché from my previous life.

You know, that story where another being dwelling inside emerges in moments of crisis to save the protagonist.

Especially since I’ve scattered hints throughout that Jin is a half-human, half-demon hybrid who differs from other demon folk. So Jin won’t die right away.

The question is whether I can hold out until Volume 21 is released. If mother deliberately targets me, temporarily going into hiding might not be a bad option.

“What are you thinking about?”

Mother, who had already washed her hands and returned to her seat, asked me. I stared at the fruit pieces I had gathered and quietly opened my mouth.

I almost blurted out the contents of Volume 20 that were in my head, but I managed to suppress it.

“I didn’t know mother’s strength was this great. How can you burst a fruit with one hand?”

“This much is basic, dear.”

“If that’s basic, we’re all doomed.”

Mother covered her mouth and laughed demurely at my joke that wasn’t really a joke.

“I’m just teasing. Where I lived, there were so few people that everyone had to help with the work regardless of gender. From milking cows to moving hunted animals. Oh, I even moved a bear once.”

“…Didn’t you say you enjoyed writing when you were younger?”

“That’s separate from work, dear.”

Though she said that, talent doesn’t change. Some people work themselves to death and their strength remains the same, but strength doesn’t increase just from manual labor.

Perhaps Nicole’s innate strength was inherited from mother. Dave was better with technique than raw power, so it seems plausible.

Even though I bloomed late, my strength is exceptional despite only receiving basic knight training.

Knock knock knock-

“It’s Adelia. May I come in?”

Just as I was pondering mother’s past and talents, Adelia knocked on the door. She seemed to have washed up and changed clothes.

When mother gave permission to enter, Adelia appeared in casual attire.

Though she had changed, she was still wearing a white shirt and leather pants. She clearly didn’t want to dress carelessly for meeting mother.

“Come in. Sit next to Issac.”

“Yes, understood.”

Adelia followed mother’s instruction and moved toward me. I observed her expression as she approached.

Her face was slightly tense, as I had roughly anticipated what would be discussed.

Although I had given mother a sufficient explanation of the situation and had also spoken with Adelia, the tension was unavoidable.

Even though she said she would be satisfied just watching from a distance, mother’s stance could be different. For Adelia, the biggest obstacle was none other than her status.

The Kingdom of Teres would surely try to exploit her with meaningless family rhetoric, changing their stance as easily as flipping a palm.

Concerned about this, I hadn’t revealed her identity to Adelia. Sometimes it’s better not to know—I didn’t want to burden her.

She wasn’t in love with the author of the Biography of Xenon or with Xenon himself; she had feelings for the person named Issac.

Slice- slice-

“I’ve heard everything. You want to be Issac’s concubine and personal maid?”

As soon as Adelia sat next to me, mother calmly peeled fruit and got straight to the point. Adelia flinched momentarily at the question, then nodded heavily and answered.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“And you’ve received permission from Marie and Princess Cecilly?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Then I entrust our Issac to you.”

“Yes. That’s… wait, what?”

Adelia was about to answer mechanically but then questioned. Well, she couldn’t help but question it.

She clearly expected an in-depth conversation, but mother had given her approval so easily.

It was such a refreshing and brief permission that her previous tension now seemed foolish.

“Why do you make that face? If Marie and Princess Cecilly have already given their permission, what’s so difficult about it?”

“No, it’s just… ma’am. As you know, I…”

“That you’re an illegitimate child of the Kingdom of Teres? Our family doesn’t care about such things. My husband was a commoner before being elevated to nobility, and I became nobility by marrying him. Since you’ve already confirmed your feelings for each other, I can’t really dictate what you should or shouldn’t do.”

At mother’s relaxed response, Adelia stammered but continued questioning to satisfy her curiosity.

“But you said a day would come when I’d have to make a big decision…”

The statement about a day coming when she’d have to make a big decision—I hadn’t heard that, so it must have come from a private conversation with mother.

Hearing the question, mother briefly shifted her gaze to me and smiled. Then she placed the neatly cut fruit on a plate.

“From what I can see, you’ve already made your decision. Would you return to the Kingdom of Teres if they asked you to come back?”

“Th-that will never happen, I swear. I’ve realized that blood ties don’t necessarily make people family.”

Adelia shook her head vigorously, as if the mere thought repulsed her. She had already shed most of her lingering attachment through her duel with Hyria.

Moreover, even if I revealed that I was Xenon, she wouldn’t return to her birth family. I had vowed to ensure that.

“Then that settles it. What more do you need? Make sure to take your maid lessons well and don’t forget your duties as a guard knight. I’ll ask Dana to teach you, so study hard starting tomorrow.”

“…”

Adelia’s expression showed she didn’t know how to react to the conversation that had progressed as smoothly as a snake gliding over a wall.

Even I was perplexed by the situation, so how much more confused must she be? As I picked up a piece of fruit with my fork, Adelia cautiously spoke up.

“Um… Lady Baroness.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Is this… really okay? Unlike the two of them, I have nothing to offer…”

Though she accepted the approval, Adelia lowered herself by comparing herself to Marie and Cecilly.

But at the same time, she was being realistic. Unlike the others mentioned, all she had was her trained body.

Marie is the daughter of Duke Reckyless, and Cecilly is not only the Princess of Helium but also the designated next Demon Queen.

From Adelia’s perspective, she must feel incredibly inadequate. That’s why she asked such a question.

To that question laden with meaning, mother maintained her characteristically warm smile and answered.

“Even if you have nothing, you can still be of help to Issac. Our Issac may be intelligent, but his body is relatively weak.”

“I’m not that weak though?”

“Keep your mouth shut. Read the room.”

“…”

I tried to lighten the mood but only got scolded for it. I should just enjoy the delicious fruit.

“B-but Princess Cecilly also…”

“She’s not by Issac’s side every day, is she?”

It won’t be Cecilly but a knight dispatched from Helium who will guard me. However, Adelia doesn’t know this fact, so let’s move on.

“But you’re different. As his personal maid, you can attend to Issac’s side. Plus, you can protect him immediately in dangerous situations. Why do you say you have nothing to offer?”

“…”

“Don’t belittle yourself too much. It’s not that you have nothing—you just don’t know what you have. Remember that.”

“…Yes.”

Touched by mother’s warm kindness, Adelia answered with a tearful voice. I slightly lowered my head to examine Adelia’s face.

Moisture was gathering in her clear sky-blue eyes, on the verge of tears. She truly is a tender-hearted person beneath her tough exterior.

It’s also characteristic of people with many wounds. Adelia grew up with countless wounds in her heart, so even the slightest touch triggers tears reflexively.

‘I haven’t revealed everything yet, but…’

While Adelia was calming herself, I exchanged glances with mother. Mother simply nodded with a smile, indicating that this much was sufficient.

It was a sign that it wouldn’t matter if I revealed that I was Xenon. Seeing this, I chewed on fruit while contemplating.

From everything I’ve seen so far, Adelia has absolutely no intention of returning to the Kingdom of Teres. I can be certain of this.

She’s already fallen for me and has received mother’s permission, so there’s nothing more to hesitate about.

This would remain true even after revealing my identity. She might even feel a sense of superiority serving someone like Xenon.

But that’s just my thinking, and given Adelia’s personality, she might find it burdensome as I mentioned earlier. The status of the Biography of Xenon is currently soaring to the heavens.

So for her not to feel burdened…

‘…I have no choice but to mark her.’

I need to stamp her with proof of my ownership, like a seal. That way, Adelia can gradually shed her burden.

Of course, I can’t do it right away. There’s the exhibition issue, and during the vacation, Marie and Cecilly will team up against me, leaving little room for Adelia to intervene.

Unless one of them “concedes.” However, both of their desires for me are frighteningly intense, so it won’t be easy. Even if I want to persuade them, it’s hard to open my mouth.

While I was inwardly pondering these unnecessary concerns, mother addressed Adelia.

“Then starting today, you should take maid lessons. Since you also need knight training, we’ll have to create a schedule. We’ll need to arrange your working hours too.”

“*Sniff* Doesn’t a personal maid stay by their master’s side from morning till night?”

“Hmm? What are you saying? Even personal maids have defined working hours. Usually from 7 AM until dinner time. There are also personal check-in times in between, so it won’t be too hard.”

“B-but in books, they also serve at night…”

“…?”

At Adelia’s bombshell statement, mother blinked a couple of times and tilted her head. She seemed puzzled about where such knowledge came from.

Adelia, sensing something was amiss from that reaction, shifted her gaze toward me.

Why are you suddenly looking at me? You learned that from the book your sister got from Marie.

Contrary to my thoughts, Adelia quietly opened her mouth with a questioning voice.

“I-isn’t that right? I learned from books that maids serve at night to relieve their master’s fatigue. It said the master would be very satisfied…”

“…”

“Sigh… Issac.”

Mother let out a sigh filled with complexity and called me. I responded with an awkward smile.

“Yes, mother?”

“Please step outside for a moment until I call you back.”

At mother’s instruction, I silently rose from my seat and went outside. It seemed she wanted to instill “common sense” and “euphemisms” into Adelia.

Meanwhile, Adelia began to fidget, looking as if she had done something wrong.

She resembled a Golden Retriever about to be scolded by its owner. Still, it was necessary, so I deliberately ignored it.

Shortly after stepping outside, mother called me back in. As soon as I entered, I checked on Adelia’s condition.

“Sister Adel?”

“…”

As expected, Adelia was sitting with her face buried in her hands, head bowed low.

Additionally, her ears were flushed red. I didn’t need to see her face to know how it looked.

Although it was incorrect knowledge, she had offered to serve me at night, so all kinds of embarrassment must be flooding her.

Despite her usually straightforward personality, she showed an unexpectedly clumsy side at times like this, revealing her charm.

“By the way, what was Marie thinking, recommending such a book?”

“Given Marie’s personality, she probably gave it to tease Sister Adel? But since she doesn’t understand euphemisms…”

“That could be it. I should talk to her when I see her.”

“About what?”

In response to my question, mother looked at Adelia, who still couldn’t raise her head, and smiled.

“To thank her for recommending such a good book.”

“Owww…”

That was the first finishing blow.

“So, Sister, when will you be serving me at night?”

“Ughh… you…”

And with that, I delivered the second finishing blow.

Nothing could be cuter than an embarrassed Adelia.