Chapter 271 - Irritating Obstacles!
“Then good night, son.”
“Yes, Mom... Sleep well...”
Lianna watched her son drift off to sleep, stroked his head, then quietly slipped out of the room with a heavy sigh.
Her boy had been out of his mind with fever for days, unable to shake it off. Only now that it had finally broken could Lianna let the tension uncoil from her body.
“Dino asleep?”
“...Yeah. Just now.”
Stepping into the living room, she heard her husband's voice, and the brief relaxation vanished as tension crept back in. He sat at the table, looking like he had something to say. She could guess what it was, but she couldn't bring herself to ignore him. With another sigh, Lianna sat down across from him.
“...Kids need their mom, after all.”
“......”
“Lianna... I'm not saying quit work altogether. Just focus on housework and pop into the shop when you have time...”
“That's too much. You... You know how hard I studied for this...”
“I know. I know. We met when you were studying fashion design. Think I'd forget? But...”
For the past few days, things had been creaking between Lianna and her husband, Moren Dario. He'd inherited a fourth-generation shop specializing in everyday clothes—not high-end, but a solid business. Her push into bold, provocative women's wear didn't sit right with him, way beyond the ordinary.
He'd figured it was a passing hobby, but she'd gotten so absorbed she even opened her own shop. Eventually, he'd made her close it. Lately, she'd rekindled it at a hobby level after meeting that Divine Beast. It irked him deep down, but he'd swallowed it, figuring it was manageable.
Then he told her to quit for good, and friction sparked between them—inevitable.
“Look at this time. If we paid more attention to the kid, this wouldn't happen.”
“We can take turns watching him. Why won't you do anything?”
“I'm not saying I won't! The shop's mine, so I bring in the money...”
“Only you? I earn money too!”
“Materials cost a fortune, and you sell what—a few pieces a month? How's that supposed to support the family?”
The more they spoke, the louder their voices rose. Pride swelled in their craft. They'd seemed like the perfect couple until marriage, but daily wear for the masses and niche fetish outfits for a select crowd—their worlds no longer meshed, gears grinding out of sync.
“I'd let you do whatever if I could! But Dino's like this! Doesn't it break your heart, him without his mom!?”
“I care about him! I'm the one always looking after Dino!”
“If there was no problem, I wouldn't push you to quit! But...! ...You know how he's been lately...”
“......”
Until recently, both working hadn't been an issue. He disliked it but tolerated her hobby if it wasn't full-time; she respected that and held back. But discovering their son collapsed at home, soaked and bullied by neighborhood kids—that shattered it. Now they faced real doubt about dual incomes, and someone's dream had to fold.
“...Even if you quit, the three of us would live comfortably—more than enough. Upper crust for commoners, just on shop income.”
“...But I've devoted my life to this... It's the only thing I was ever good at...”
“I know... You won awards, got sponsors because they recognized your designs. But if it's not popular with the masses, it has no value...”
“...! No value? How can you say...! Sob...!”
An ordinary woman with nothing to her name, finally validated by her bold designs. That's why she clung so fiercely. But reality stared back: she had to quit. No matter how vital her work, she couldn't ignore her young son's crisis. And she knew better than to make her husband—the family pillar—give up his.
Dario knew her heart well and felt bitter forcing her dream to end like this. His sobbing wife, his own grimace as he watched.
“......Mo,m...”
Behind them, their young son overheard his mother's sobs—they had no idea.
Three days since Lianna missed work. I'd almost barged into her home, but I wanted only good memories for her, so I waited patiently for her return.
Gave me time to check the new shops... Puhuhu... Kinda felt like their guinea pig for experiments—dildos molded off my horse cock, tasting new products without my semen... My mares' plaything? Nah, just imagining.
Plus, my yinshuu brought more women; livestock's grown so much, hard to tell who's mine already. Puhuhu... Doesn't matter. More mares serving me? All good.
Just waiting on Lianna now... Son's better, so she'll come today, right? No clue why he was sick over three days... But for making me wait, I'll keep your mom a long time, kid. So you know.
Tinkle... The shop bell rang—someone entered.
She's here! Lianna! Missed you! Make Cecilia's outfit quick, then playtime! I'll erase family from your mind! Lianna!
“Lianna sis!!! You ca—!”
“......Oh. Sema.”
What the hell. Sis, why that gloomy face?
Gasp... No way, something bad with the son!?
Screeech...! Nooooo...! Then working her's awkward...!
“S-Sis? What's with the face? Something wrong?”
“...Yeah. It's...”
“D-Did your sick son take a turn? Should've sent Klea!?”
“...Hehe. A saintess can't heal just anyone, silly. He's all better.”
“Th-Then why the long face...”
“Um... I'll tell you later... when there's time.”
A wistful smile, then she headed inside to change.
What is this... Never expected sad Lianna... Gotta be the son, right?
Groooan...! Thought it was just a fever, no biggie...!
Regret not sending Klea! Other priests meh, but nun livestock and Klea overflow with Esser—treating one kid's nothing!
Ugh... Sorry, Lianna... No idea it was that serious...
“Sniff... Son was that sick... Kinda kills the vibe for targeting her...”
“Um... Her emotions feel... different, though?”
“...Huh? Really?”
I sighed, feeling bad about hitting on a worried mom, when Klea tilted her head behind me.
Right. Her Demon Eye senses emotions... Not son worry?
Hmm? Then why that face...
“Looked like family trouble... Best ask gently when you give her Cecilia's order.”
Wife's intuition? Seres chimed in thoughtfully.
Yeah. Asking'll clear it up... Why's always-bright Lianna suddenly like this.
...Feels like tons of obstacles popping up? Nah, imagination.
Tsk. No. Obstacles or not, Lianna's my yinshuu now—decided. She helped without disgust; time she enjoys the full reward.
Just a bit longer, Lianna. Whatever's making you sad, I'll wipe it clean.