Chapter 58
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Adelin and Violet Bessi
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I hurried toward the building behind the performance hall, suppressing my impatience as best I could.
"My dear daughter Ella has collapsed. Was it too much for her to appear before all those people just yet?"
My heart was filled with worry for Ella after her collapse, but I couldn't shake the mana I had sensed right before she fell.
Even recalling it now, the energy that had spread from Ella's lower abdomen was unmistakably mana. A faint spark of hope flickered in my chest.
"Did I rush her too much? Ella had been preparing step by step...
Why on earth did I make my daughter—who had only just come of age—stand before a crowd for her first public outing at some silly festival opening ceremony?"
Expecting so much from my daughter while wallowing in self-recrimination, I rushed ahead and soon arrived at my destination.
Emma stood guard in front of the building, scanning the surroundings.
"Emma. Is Ella all right?"
"Jin and Miss Eirin are tending to Miss Ella inside. Please wait just a moment."
Emma spoke, then lightly knocked on the door.
The door didn't open right away. As I waited, my anxiety grew, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.
When it still didn't open, Emma bowed to me apologetically and knocked again.
Finally, the door swung open. Hot air rushed out from inside, enveloping me, thick with the scent of the diffuser I had placed there.
Eirin stood greeting me, her entire body drenched in sweat.
"Why is she...?"
Seeing Eirin's state, I told my entourage—who had followed me—to wait and ordered the servants to clear out around the building.
Stepping inside, I saw Ella lying in the center of the room.
Jin knelt beside her, both hands pressed to her lower abdomen.
Both Jin and my two beloved daughters looked disheveled, their bodies slick with sweat.
"This scene needs an explanation. And the one who has to give it is Jin, of course.
Stay calm... Don't show any panic. I need to take control of this situation."
I gathered as much mana as I could into my voice and addressed Jin.
"Teacher Jin? Would you care to explain what's going on here?"
"Just as I expected, she came. Of course she did—her daughter collapsed in the middle of the event.
Still, her composure is surprisingly calm."
I looked up at Adelin, who stared down at me coldly with arms crossed, and flashed a slight smile.
"Why don't you come in and have a seat first, Lady Tolly?
Miss Ella is fine. I'll explain everything, so please try to relax."
Eirin clung to Adelin's arm like a koala, standing on tiptoe to whisper in her ear.
"She's past the worst of it, Mom.
Sis got too nervous for her first outing in ages...
She just lost control of her unstable mana for a moment."
Adelin's expression softened somewhat at Eirin's words, and she let her daughter lead her to the sofa.
I kept both hands on Ella's lower abdomen as I faced Adelin.
"This isn't the so-called 'mana rampage' that happens when someone loses control of their own mana, so there's no need to worry too much.
Since her mana awakening came with help from someone else,
it takes time to fully adapt to handling it.
She needed stability—both environmental and emotional—until she got used to it...
This happened because of my own shortcomings in anticipating the situation. It's all my fault."
Even with my vague explanation that didn't pin anything down, Adelin didn't press for details.
Her expression grew even gentler as she looked at me, her voice warm with goodwill.
"So, you're saying Ella successfully awakened her mana? Come to think of it, when she collapsed,
that energy spreading from her lower abdomen was definitely mana."
"This woman is so fixated on Ella having awakened her mana that nothing else matters to her."
"It's not fully awakened yet—it's progressing gradually.
But if things go as expected, she should be able to demonstrate magic for you by the end of this week.
I'll pay closer attention to Miss Ella's condition from now on to prevent this from happening again."
Suddenly, Adelin broke into a full smile, stood, and approached me, extending the back of her right hand.
"What's this? Some etiquette I'm not familiar with?"
From behind Adelin, Eirin dropped to one knee,
mimicking grasping a hand with both of hers and pressing lips to the back.
"Ah..."
I took Adelin's hand in both of mine, just as Eirin had shown, and brought my lips to the back of it.
At that moment, I felt Adelin's mana flow—something impossible to sense—coursing through her hand.
"Her mana corrosion has already progressed this far?
Has this woman been using items infused with my mana like a drug in her daily life?
No wonder—she even brought a diffuser to this temporary lodging for the opening ceremony...
Without Ruan around to relieve her urges, her pent-up lust accelerated the corrosion?
I can't pinpoint the exact cause right now, but this works in my favor."
To sense Adelin's mana flow as thoroughly as possible,
I trembled, pretending uncertainty, buying time.
As I traced the circling mana, I noticed something odd.
Everywhere else, my mana mingled with Adelin's,
but from her neck up, a dense cluster blocked my mana entirely.
"Is her body instinctively shielding her mind from the corrosion?
Adelin herself has no idea her mana has been corroded."
As I hesitated, Adelin gazed down at me gently.
"Ah, Jin must not be familiar with the etiquette from the western imperial provinces. Just a light kiss on the back of my hand.
It's to honor your contributions to my daughter.
Embarrassing as it is to say, it's quite an honor for the servants around here."
"Too bad, but I can't stall any longer.
I'll mull over Adelin's condition later."
I lightly kissed the back of Adelin's hand, then bowed my head as she withdrew it, stepping back.
Once I retreated, Adelin went to the door and beckoned someone inside.
A woman even taller than Adelin entered with graceful steps, escorted by Emma.
Violet hair styled in an Elizabethan updo, porcelain-white skin—a woman in a black long dress that exposed her shoulders and collarbone surveyed the room.
Her voluptuous bust, larger than Sonya's, flowed into delicate curves and elegant proportions.
Her height amplified an untouchable aura.
Her golden eyes—shining like molten gold—met mine as she glanced around.
"Gasp... Is that even human? How can eyes glow that color?"
People on the Central Continent had eyes of every hue, but this mesmerizing gold was a first.
It was so captivating, I felt an urge to give everything I had to her just from looking.
If enchanting demon eyes existed, hers had to be it.
The woman's pupils dilated slightly upon meeting my gaze, then returned to normal.
I steadied my shaken mind and averted my eyes naturally.
"What was that? Just my imagination? It felt like she was startled by the sight of me."
Emma approached me quietly.
She whispered just loud enough for me to hear.
"That's Violet Bessi, the Family Head ruling the Deid region up in the mountains.
You... should probably show some respect. The rumors say she's terrifying."
Emma's hands trembled faintly as she spoke.
"Is she scared right now? That's a new reaction from her."
At Emma's words, I dropped to one knee before Violet, bowing deeply.
"Greetings. I'm Jin, home tutor for the Tolly Family.
It's an honor to meet the Family Head of the Bessi Family."
A moment later, hands lifted me. Raising my head, I saw Violet herself helping me up, smiling warmly.
"Adelin told me. You're giving Ella such great help, right?
Our stations may differ, but as Ella's teacher,
don't be so formal—feel free to treat me casually."
"Emma... said she was terrifying...
Or is she just playing nice like Adelin did at first?"
"Thank you, Family Head."
"Come visit our region sometime when you have time. I'd love to chat."
"Of course. I humbly accept your gracious invitation and will visit."
"What’s with this sudden invite? Given Emma's reaction earlier, I can't ignore it.
Anyway, time to get out of here. Who knows what might happen if I stick around."
As Violet released my arm and turned toward Adelin, I subtly stimulated Ella's entrance.
Ella caught on and pretended to wake up just then, sitting up.
Adelin and Violet rushed to her side, fussing over her condition.
While the two nobles focused on Ella, I murmured to Emma to take good care of things and headed for the door.
At the threshold, I bowed deeply to Adelin and Violet.
"Now that Miss Ella has awakened, I'll take my leave.
It was an honor to briefly meet Family Head Bessi and Lady Tolly."
"Good. I'll look forward to the demonstration this week."
"Take care, Jin."
Hearing Adelin emphasize the demonstration and Violet's soft tone,
I bowed once more.
As I turned to go, Violet's lip movements caught my eye.
[I really hope you come visit.]
"What the hell is with this woman? Why is she acting like that? I just met her today."
Chills ran down my spine at Violet's unexpected reaction as I hurried out of the building.
Walking back toward Sonya's booth, I sank into thought.
"Ha... Should've said next week? I have to prove Ella's mana awakening to Adelin sooner than planned.
Even though it was part of the plan, Adelin's calm threw me off—I didn't handle it well.
Lucky she was so hung up on the awakening that she didn't dig deeper... Phew.
But what’s with that purple-haired woman and her attitude toward me?
Unexplained friendliness is usually poison. Emma said she's normally terrifying...
Come to think of it, when I asked Emma to look after things, her face went blank like she'd seen a ghost."
Lost in thoughts of Adelin and Violet, I arrived at the booth beside the performance hall.
Kong-kong! Kon-kon!
Rikako spotted me and let out joyful cries,
slipping from Sonya's arms and toddling toward me on quick little steps.
The tiny fox leaped straight onto my shoulder, rubbing her face against me with happy sounds.
Koon-koon! Kong-kong!
"Who would've thought Rikako would be like this by noon today? Adorable.
When Emma gets back, should we head to the mansion? What to do until then..."
Did Adelin and Violet rush to Ella right after their roles in the opening ceremony?
The event was still ongoing on stage.
I approached Sonya and Sophia, who were chatting. Looking around, Pierre was nowhere in sight.
"Sophia. Did you make some final memories with your dad?"
Sophia flinched slightly, then pressed close and whispered.
"Thanks to Master's mercy. From now on, I'll never cling to Pierre again.
From this moment, I'm enslaved to you alone—I'll live my life serving only you."
Without me even asking, Sophia called her father by name, distancing herself,
and reaffirmed her vow of submission to me.
"Looks like she needs this self-gaslighting to keep her sanity. Haha.
Time to fuck the livestock mother-daughter duo in the meantime."
I leaned close to Sonya and whispered.
"Livestock bitch. I'll give you time to serve with your daughter slut, so guide me to that spot from earlier right now.
Tell the staff to have Emma head there when she arrives."
Sonya nodded, face flushing,
then went to a nearby staff member, relayed the message, and returned to whisper.
"Right away, Master♡"
Under Sonya's lead, Sophia and I headed to the building where I had imprinted on Rikako.