Don't Regret It
Don't regret it. Clack, clack, clack. On the chessboard between the two women, black and white pieces moved in chaotic frenzy, capturing and being captured over and over.
"Why is it your skill never improves?"
"It's because you're so exceptional, Mother-in-law."
The ones playing chess were none other than Chloe and Rosetta—an utterly mismatched pair. Or rather, calling them mismatched was laughable now. In recent years, Chloe's position in the Grand Duke's castle had risen to that of Rosetta's closest confidante.
"Hmm…."
Someone might wonder why Chloe had become such a figure. Why would the lady of the ducal house—who wouldn't spare a glance even for mountains of gold—casually invite the tutor of her illegitimate stepdaughter, a child not of her own womb, into her bedroom for intimate chats?
And the reason for that was….
"The cosmetics I gave you last time seem to be working well."
"Do they?"
"Yes, and he loves them too."
It lay in the exquisite, handmade cosmetics Chloe had crafted herself. Rosetta's skin brimmed with vitality, looking twenty years younger, and no husband could dislike a rejuvenated wife. Her face glowed with a strange satisfaction, as if steeped in affection.
However….
Still no pregnancy.
Given her age, while the cosmetics Chloe provided deepened the couple's intimacy day by day, news of a sixth child remained elusive. For Chloe, who doted on Marian so meticulously, it was good news in a way—but it didn't sit entirely easy with her.
"Checkmate. That's the end."
"Ah…."
Lost in stray thoughts, another game had ended before she knew it.
"How is it that even though I play with you every day, your skill doesn't improve? You can't win a single game."
"As I said just now, it's because you're so superior, Mother-in-law. A 5th Circle mage from a prestigious magical lineage—how could I keep up with the calculations in your head…."
"Heh, is that so?"
"…."
At first, Rosetta had resented Chloe for defending the loathsome illegitimate child. But at some point, she began to relish Chloe's adulation. A tutor who only knew the bastard child praised her, the bastard's stepmother, for the child's sake. She realized the inexplicable thrill of that bizarre dynamic was pure satisfaction.
As a result, Rosetta's signature venom had mellowed considerably, and now she just felt like a kindly neighbor lady. Certainly….
She's better than the mentally unstable woman she was when we first met. This smiling auntie desperate for chess compliments is a vast improvement….
Chloe preferred this version of Rosetta. Back then, she'd been dizzy just figuring out how to appease her.
"The young lady turns fifteen this year."
"Yes, that's right…."
Now, even bringing up Marian only caused a slight furrow of the brow—no major reaction. Over the past three years, Chloe's relentless gifts, acting as a buffer between them, had done their work.
"She'll need to debut in high society soon. May I proceed with the arrangements?"
"High society… If that child debuts, she'll introduce herself everywhere as the 'Lady Evergreen,' won't she?"
"If it's uncomfortable for you…."
"No, no. No need."
"Pardon?"
"I know my own body best. I desperately want a pregnancy, but I know it's difficult. I can't hide that child forever. Debuting at fifteen is late enough as it is."
Without Chloe's persistent efforts, Rosetta never would have so readily approved Marian's societal debut.
"Tell the administrator if you need anything. He'll approve most of it."
"My deepest thanks, Mother-in-law. And I've cleared the chessboard."
"Good. Then one more game."
"Ah…."
"Don't want to?"
"N-no, of course not."
It was just courtesy chess. No way she'd refuse. The only difference from ordinary courtesy chess was that no matter what she did, she couldn't win—but so what? Through improving her relationship with Rosetta, Chloe had vastly bettered Marian's treatment. A few games of chess were a small price for Marian's sake.
"Additionally, I'm planning to start teaching the young lady combat soon."
"Combat?"
"Yes. She's not ready for assassin-level fighting yet… but her alchemical talent is remarkable. I'll teach her in a playful format for now."
"Sounds fine. Do as you think best."
"Thank you for permitting it, Mother-in-law."
"No trouble. Check from the start—you're sacrificing two pawns to my knight."
"Ah…."
"At this rate, when will you ever beat me? Pull yourself together."
"Yes, ma'am…."
A little scolding while playing chess earned approvals for Marian's needs. Chloe planned to visit Rosetta's bedroom again tomorrow to entertain her.
"You passed on the message to clear the grand training hall today?"
"Yes, but the Grand Duchess's permission…."
"I got it. Proceed as planned—bring the young lady."
"Understood."
Afterward, Chloe contacted Viola and ordered her to fetch Marian. "Order" might be a bit strong, but Viola was Chloe's personal maid regardless. She had the right to delegate such minor tasks.
"Young lady."
"I'm here, Chloe."
It had been a while—Marian arrived.
"Hmm…."
"What?"
"You've grown even taller. Yes…."
"Heh, now you have to look up at me, right?"
And Marian had… ever so slightly, but unmistakably, surpassed Chloe's height. Whether it was the growth potion from three years ago taking effect, she'd become a tall stature nearing 168 centimeters—at just fifteen.
"Look up? It's not that much difference anyway."
"I know, not much. Not much, but…."
She pounced. Marian hugged Chloe tightly, her budding breasts—swelling subtly with the onset of puberty—pressing hard against Chloe's ample ones.
"Now I get to hold you~."
"Y-yes, I know. You're amazing, young lady."
"Tch, what's with that reaction? Jealous?"
"Jealous? Me?!"
She still demanded hugs at every opportunity, same as always, but age had worn away much of her childish innocence. Her brain had grown enough to tease Chloe properly—noble slyness starting to show.
"You think I care about height?"
"You seem to."
"I've given up on that ages ago… Stop leaving me lingering regrets."
"Hehe, Chloe's so petite now."
"Young lady, it's just two finger-widths' difference."
"I'm gonna grow even more though? You'll just get cuter, right?"
"Cute? Who…."
Honestly, she was jealous. In her first year as a woman, Chloe had hoped she'd grow tall—but at twenty-two, her height hadn't budged a single centimeter. Seeing fifteen-year-old Marian, with years of growth ahead, only fueled the envy….
But envy means you've lost.
Show it too much, and her authority as tutor would crumble.
"Today's lesson will be physical."
"Physical how?"
Redirecting the topic, she steered the increasingly playful—and far more cheerful after three years—Marian elsewhere.
"Literal. You've made artifacts with me before, right?"
"Yeah? Little daily items, burglar-trapping security artifacts, height-growth potions, hair-improvement potions, skin-beautifying potions—stuff like that?"
"Exactly. We've made all sorts over the years."
And half of those creations from the past three years adorned Chloe's room entirely. Especially the snow globe with Marian's first-ever polar bear family—it sat on a shelf by her bedside, treasured deeply. As Marian's debut artifact, it held special meaning for Chloe too.
But.
"Today, we'll use only offensive artifacts."
"Why?"
"Why? You'll debut in society soon—can't have some scum attacking you."
In truth, there had been four assassination attempts in those three years. Excluding the one right after Chloe became tutor, that was once a year.
"So, you need to know how to protect yourself."
"How?"
"First, let's practice hitting a moving target."
"What do I hit?"
"Me."
Thus, Marian needed to learn alchemical combat. To hunt assassins someday, Chloe herself made the perfect target.
"Immobilize me so I can't run, and I'll grant you one wish."
"One wish?"
"Yes—anything you want. Give it your all."
Chloe dangled herself as bait to spark Marian's interest.
"Don't regret it."
To Marian, a blank check to Chloe was worth more than a fortune.
"I might hurt you a little."
No half-measures in her mind.