Chapter 252: Vacation Again(4)
Chapter 252: Vacation Again(4)
After my unexpected encounter with Kate, I returned to my bedroom to wash my hands thoroughly. Being back in my own room instead of the dormitory after so long brought a wave of nostalgia, but meeting Lily was my top priority.
I spent over three minutes meticulously scrubbing my hands—a task I usually finished in less than thirty seconds—before heading straight to the lounge where Lily was waiting.
Adelia would likely take some time, as she’d probably want to wash up and change into something more formal. I figured I could talk with my mother until then.
"I'm here."
"Are you, dear?"
My mother greeted me as I entered the lounge. However, Lily, whom she had been holding just moments ago, was nowhere to be seen.
I tilted my head, wondering where she went, when a white 'cradle' that hadn't been there before caught my eye.
Suspecting Lily was inside, I walked over, and sure enough, there she was. Lily was squirming in the cradle, her eyes wide and alert.
She was as tiny and lovely as ever. With her red hair and golden eyes, she already possessed a distinct, striking appearance.
Slide—
I gently extended my index finger toward Lily, who was staring up at me with clear eyes. She let out a little grunt, reached out, and squeezed my finger tight with her tiny, doll-like hand.
How could anyone be this small? Of course, there was bound to be a size difference between a full-grown adult and a newborn, but this was almost lethally cute.
"Ooo-oo."
The babbling that followed was a direct attack on my heart. I smiled at the way Lily gripped my hand with all her might, as if determined never to let go.
I had finally achieved the wish I had wanted so desperately. Now, all that remained was for Lily to call me 'Oppa.'
At what age do children usually start talking? It varies from person to person, but I’d heard they generally start around age three. More accurately, there’s a moment when they suddenly grasp the concept of language.
That meant I had at least three more years to wait, but babies tend to grow up in the blink of an eye. By the time I finished a few semesters at the Academy, she’d be crawling, and before I knew it, she’d be running around.
I locked eyes with Lily’s golden orbs for a moment before slowly withdrawing my hand. As her grip loosened, she naturally brought her own hand to her mouth.
Her golden eyes, filled with intense curiosity, watched me intently. She was likely used to seeing our father and mother, but I was still a stranger to her.
My mother watched us with a soft smile before speaking to Lily in a tender voice.
"Lily, do you see him? This is your second older brother, Isaac. He’s also the world-famous author of the Xenon Biography."
"A-woo."
She responded with a babble as if she understood. My mother and I laughed simultaneously at the sound.
Then, to our surprise, Lily gave us a bright, innocent smile. They say babies mimic their parents' smiles, and it seemed to be true.
Naturally, my heart ached again. A baby’s pure smile didn't just make your heart ache; it had the power to melt it entirely.
"To be born and find out your brother is the author of the Xenon Biography... even I’m curious how that feels."
"I wonder."
I deeply empathized with my mother’s sentiment. There was a famous meme in my previous life about being born into a family where someone was at the absolute pinnacle of their field.
Strangely enough, most people in that position don't make a big deal out of it. Part of it is being used to the fame, but honestly, they just don't care that much.
For one, the child is usually too young to understand, and by the time they grow up, the parent is often no longer active in that field. To the child, they’re just a normal family member.
A child doesn't need a superstar; they just need a family. If a parent neglects that role, the child is likely to stray onto the wrong path.
So, I had to be the same. By the time Lily is old enough to understand the world, I’ll have revealed my identity, and I intend to be the best big brother I can be.
"Uuuugh..."
Perhaps she had been awake for too long. Lily let out a sleepy whimper, and her eyes began to flutter shut.
Until they start sleeping through the night, it’s normal for infants to spend most of their day asleep. I was lucky to have arrived while she was still awake.
Anyway, since Lily was getting sleepy, I decided to leave it at that. It was a shame Adelia missed this.
Tinkle, tinkle—
As Lily drifted off, my mother rang a bell to summon a maid. Or rather, a wet nurse.
Before long, the nurse entered the lounge. Unlike my mother, who radiated a youthful beauty despite being over forty, this woman had deep smile lines that reflected her age.
She was the nurse who had started staying with us after my father was granted the middle name 'Ducard' and his noble title.
I had faint memories of her taking care of me when I was first reincarnated, and she now held the position of Head Maid.
"I’ll leave her to you, Dana."
"Understood, milady."
The nurse bowed politely at my mother’s request and left the room. I wanted to watch Lily a bit longer, but sleep is vital for a baby, so I had to suppress my disappointment.
Once the nurse left with Lily, only my mother and I remained in the lounge. I watched the door for a moment before turning to her.
"Has the Head Maid returned to being a wet nurse?"
"Not exactly. I’m getting older, so I don't participate in social circles much anymore, except for tea times. So, we’re sharing the duties of raising Lily."
"I think you could stay in the social circles as long as you want, Mother."
"Oh, you."
My mother covered her mouth and laughed delightedly. She seemed to take it as a joke, but I was being entirely serious.
Who would look at that face and think she was a middle-aged woman who had raised three grown children? There wasn't a single sign of aging to be found.
Perhaps she had absorbed all of Father’s mana because they were so close. Considering how Mari and Cecile’s skin looked radiant every time we... 'did the deed,' it was a very high possibility.
Besides, just think about how Lily was born. Even on my first night with Mari, Mother was the one who gave me her last remaining contraceptive pill.
"In any case, welcome home. It seems quite a lot has happened to you while you were away—and I don't just mean Adelia."
"Well... yes. I actually just ran into Ms. Kate a moment ago."
"So much has happened that even I’m feeling a bit dizzy. You look like you have a lot to say, so sit down for a moment. Your father is busy with work right now, so it’s best to see him later."
"Is he really that busy?"
"Don't even ask. He spends half his time grumbling and cursing your name."
Just how much work was there for him to be cursing me? To be fair, most of his workload was generated by my actions, so I had no defense.
I wanted to help, but I was a complete amateur when it came to administrative work. I’d have to learn from him bit by bit during the break, if only to prepare for the future.
Following my mother’s suggestion, I sat on the sofa in the lounge. There was still some time before Adelia would arrive.
I planned to talk about the Xenon Biography until then. Fresh fruit had already been prepared, as if she had expected this.
Slice, slice, slice—
My mother picked up a luscious red apple and began peeling it with a paring knife. She always preferred doing this herself rather than leaving it to the maids.
I picked up a slice she had cut and popped it into my mouth. Sweet juice exploded across my palate.
"So many things have happened that I don't even know where to start. It’s hard to keep it all straight."
"You can start wherever you like, Mother."
"Then... Kate. How did you end up meeting Cardinal Kate? It seems she already knows your identity."
"It’s nothing major. Lord Luminous gave her a somewhat vague oracle."
It wasn't just the oracle; the scent of lilacs clinging to me played a part too. Since it was a natural scent rather than an artificial perfume, Kate had caught on quickly.
After that, she started asking for my 'seed' and whatnot, but fortunately, I managed to smooth things over. Perhaps because she was raised under the strict supervision of the Church, Kate’s knowledge of... certain subjects was disastrously lacking.
My mother listened to the story of what had transpired between Kate and me, then chuckled softly. It seemed she found the whole thing rather absurd.
"So that was the reason. No wonder she said those things so casually."
"Did she say something like that to you too, Mother?"
"Something similar. She said that because Xenon—meaning you—is like the light itself, your seed must be spread far and wide to brighten the world."
"...Excuse me?"
I paused with a piece of fruit halfway to my mouth and stared at my mother in bewilderment. I wondered if I had misheard her.
But my mother just smiled serenely at my expression and continued peeling the fruit with practiced ease.
"Exactly as you heard. She said that just as planting a seed in the ground makes a plant grow, your seed must be spread across the entire world. Only then will the world be filled with light."
"..."
"When I first heard that, I wondered if she was a bit touched in the head. I didn't realize there was such a... specific context behind it."
"Context or not, isn't it weird to say something like that in the first place?"
I was so flabbergasted I could only let out a hollow laugh. I knew she had been muttering to herself about me being the light that would save the world, but to say that to my mother...
I honestly wanted to pop Kate’s head open like a lid just to see what on earth she was thinking.
"Still, it’s understandable now. At first, I thought she was trying to turn my son into something worse than trash. Not that you aren't already quite the rascal."
"...Mother?"
"What? If you don't believe me, shall we count them one by one? The daughter of the Rekilis Duke and the Princess of Helium. Your guard knight and the Grand Chieftain’s daughter you mentioned in your letters. And finally, Cardinal Kate and this junior girl you supposedly 'scouted' this time. At the very least, these are women who harbor feelings for you that go beyond mere friendship."
"..."
"Oh, and perhaps the Elf Queen should be included as well. She did receive a great deal of help from you, after all."
My mother delivered the final blow with a smile, stabbing me right in the heart. If Nicole beat me up physically, my mother was pummeling me mentally.
I wanted to protest a few of those names, but I knew I’d only look pathetic if I tried, so I decided to keep my mouth shut and just eat the fruit.
Anyway, I needed to move on from the topic of Kate quickly. Continuing this conversation would only lead to more trouble for me.
"...Let's just move past that for now. That’s not what’s important."
"It’s very important, you’re just the only one who doesn't realize it. Tell me, Isaac, is collecting princesses a hobby of yours?"
"...Mother."
"Hoho."
My mother laughed like a young girl at my complicated expression. How could she say the exact same thing Nicole did? Was this genetic?
I sighed and hung my head as I watched her eat the fruit with a smile. I had a strong feeling this would be a lifelong source of teasing.
Meanwhile, my mother picked up another piece of fruit and slowly began peeling it.
"Since you want to move on, let's talk about the Xenon Biography. What kind of gift did you receive from the demons that made your work so much faster?"
"I'll show you later. Mr. Gartz will be bringing it by soon."
I couldn't leave the typewriter at the dormitory, but it was too bulky to carry myself. So, I asked Gartz to deliver it like a courier.
It would probably arrive around this evening, as that was when I had asked him to bring it.
"I’m looking forward to it. I’m curious to see what kind of object could increase your speed so significantly. I’m just happy I’ll get to read the Xenon Biography sooner."
"Oh, right. What about the mail I sent with the side stories? Did you send those out?"
Just before the break started, I had finished all the side stories and sent them to the mansion. By now, they should have passed through here and reached the publisher, but...
"Ah, I forgot to tell you. It will be difficult to send anything to the publisher for a while."
"What? Why?"
This unexpected news from my mother immediately made me worry.
The publisher had been attacked by demon worshippers recently. I was concerned that something even worse might have happened.
Of course, I could sign a contract with another publisher, but the trust I had built with this one was deep.
Mr. Musk was a man who had stood firm even when pressured by human nobles and Elves acting on behalf of the Elder Council.
Perhaps because he had an incredible nose for profit, he had remained loyal to Xenon—and by extension, our family—to the very end.
Finding someone like that is hard enough, so if something had happened to him now, it would cause no end of problems.
"Well, you see, they’re moving the company."
"To where?"
"To our territory."
"...What?"
What was she talking about? Why was a perfectly functional company moving to our territory?
As I stared at her with a look of total incomprehension, my mother maintained her characteristic gentle smile and explained the situation.
"As you know, the publisher was ambushed by demon worshippers."
"I know that."
"Well, it seems the owner felt that not just himself, but others might be put in danger. So, he made a plan to move the company to our territory, where the temple is being built. I heard he’s even helping the employees' families move as well."
"That must be costing a fortune..."
I voiced my deep concern. The land value in the Maishal territory was currently skyrocketing.
Not only was a temple for the Twin Gods being built there, but it was also the site of the massive annual Xenon Exhibition.
Furthermore, even before the development, it was a territory with immense potential that had been given to my father to keep him tied down. Naturally, land prices were bound to be high.
He might have made a massive profit from the Xenon Biography, but taking care of all his employees' families seemed like a stretch.
However, my mother just shrugged and spoke nonchalantly.
"I don't know. The owner didn't seem to mind at all. He said that while you can buy people with money, you can't buy a person's life."
"..."
"So, it will be difficult for him to receive manuscripts while the building is under construction. But it should be finished quickly. Cardinal Kate said her side would help."
That man, Musk... he really does have an incredible nose for money. It’s a good thing he isn't a noble; if he were, he would have amassed staggering wealth.
As I chuckled to myself, my mother stopped peeling the fruit and slowly set down the knife.
She glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then asked me in a cautious voice.
"So, about that... actually, I’ve already read the side story."
"You read it? You weren't supposed to."
"Oh, how could I resist? It’s the past story of Jin and Lily!"
Crr-ack.
Wait. What? I blinked, hearing a strange sound.
I looked down and saw something unbelievable: my mother’s fingertips were sinking into the fruit.
I could understand her getting excited and gripping it tightly, but her fingers piercing through the hard fruit was definitely not normal.
"I can't tell you how much I’m looking forward to it after reading. I hope Jin and Lily get together and have a baby as soon as possible."
"..."
But his chest gets pierced in Volume 20. I couldn't bring myself to say those words.
Because...
Crr-ack! Crunch!
Just the thought of it seemed to give her strength, as my mother’s fingers sank deeper and deeper into the apple.
I’d seen people in my past life split an apple with one hand, but I’d never seen someone pierce an apple with their fingers. And it wasn't like she was doing it with the speed of a bullet, like that 'Finger Pistol' technique from a certain pirate manga.
It was pure grip strength. My mother was brutally murdering the fruit with nothing but raw power, without even using mana.
Squish!
Finally, the poor fruit met a violent end. It didn't just break; it was crushed into pieces, spraying juice everywhere.
She had gripped it so hard that a drop of juice even splashed onto my cheek.
"Oh dear. I used too much strength without realizing..."
"..."
"Wait just a moment."
My mother brushed the remains of the destroyed fruit off her hands and stood up. Even after she stood, I stared blankly at the mangled heap of apple.
Why did that feel like my future? I was seriously worried that my own chest might get pierced once Volume 20 was released.
‘There’s a reason Father ended up with Mother.’
As expected, a lioness is the best match for a male lion.