Chapter 79 : A Lady with a Broad Mind

Rosily’s nose was incredibly sharp; she detected a faint scent on Enya that didn’t belong to her.

The reason she loved bouncing all over Enya was to mark her mother with her own scent.

This was the same habit as cats.

The girl pouted, unable to help but wonder if her mother had another daughter outside.

No, that couldn’t be…

Mother must have just bumped into someone, right?

But if she had bumped into someone, she wouldn’t have caught so many scents.

“Hm, should I ask?”

Torn by indecision, Rosily suddenly stood up with a swish.

She intended to ask Enya directly but stopped and crouched down again.

“I don’t dare ask. Maybe… I’ll follow her tomorrow?”

Rosily had already gotten Enya’s consent to skip school for now, but Enya made it clear it was only temporary.

So now Rosily was free once more!

She could stick by her mother’s side without worrying about her being taken away.

“Tomorrow, I’ll follow Mom and see exactly who it is!”

Rosily resolved to tail Enya and find out who had sneaked into the embrace that was supposed to belong only to her while she was away.

Then she’d give them a good beating!

After a few short days of school life, Rosily had already realized the importance of strength.

Only by being strong enough would people dare not speak ill of you.

If they dared to talk behind your back… they’d get beaten even more!

Clenching her little pink fists, Rosily swung them fiercely through the air in frustration.

She thought again of those at school, who secretly said her mother was involved with Sister Hena and even claimed she was a bastard of the Asades family.

My mom has silver hair, and I’m light golden.

How could I possibly be connected to Hena?

Besides, we used to live in the Empire, but after a dragon disaster destroyed our village, we moved here.

Hmph!

If anyone dares say that again, I’ll punch their chest until it swells!

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became…

The girl huffed in anger, running toward the fence and easily jumping over it.

But remembering her mother had said to play in the yard, Rosily climbed back over the stone fence about a meter high.

Enya peered through the half-open door and saw Rosily frolicking in the field.

She sighed in resignation, about to prepare a more sumptuous dinner, when a carriage appeared in the distance.

Enya recognized it immediately.

It was Hena’s…

I didn’t even go looking for her, and she came first?

Enya blinked, put down her work, and went to the door.

Of course, she couldn’t reveal her identity as Phil when talking to Hena about such matters.

The carriage stopped on the road just as Enya stepped outside.

Rosily ran to Enya’s side, standing as a shield in front of her.

Besides Hena, there was another girl.

Compared to Hena’s tall and heroic bearing, this girl appeared much softer and more charming, wearing an elegant red gown that accentuated her precocious figure.

The two had completely different styles.

Enya and Hena exchanged glances, then Enya looked at the girl.

“Hena, who is this?”

The girl beside Hena took a step forward on her own initiative.

Folding her hands over her abdomen, she bowed politely to Enya.

Yelena looked up at the beautiful, gentle woman before her, then immediately lowered her head upon meeting her gaze.

She stammered slightly.

“Ms. Phil, hello. My name is Yelena Asades.”

“Ms. Phil, I am terribly sorry. It is because of me… it is because of me that a certain rumor spread and damaged your reputation. Though it is already too late, I still want to apologize. I am truly sorry!”

Yelena pressed her lips together, her eyes shimmering with tears.

“I know you might not be able to forgive me, and I don’t even know how to make amends…”

Yelena was a pure-blood noble.

Although she wasn’t very prominent within the main branch of the Asades family, she had still received a noblewoman’s education since childhood.

Noblewomen were bound by the chains of “reputation,” which was more precious than life itself.

In her worldview, causing a lady’s reputation to be damaged by her words was a grave sin.

Enya said nothing but tilted her head toward Rosily, noticing her daughter pretending not to have seen anything.

So this is Yelena?

Enya had heard the name not long ago, at that secret meeting, when the so-called Viscount Gannard mentioned it.

She hadn’t expected to meet her so soon.

What a coincidence, such a coincidence…

Hena explained the situation to her, and Enya feigned sudden understanding.

In short, Yelena had mistakenly believed that Rosily was Hena’s replacement, and so she said the word “bastard.”

Someone with ill intent overheard it and deliberately spread the rumor.

After hearing this, Enya nodded and kindly said to the girl.

“It’s okay. I forgive you.”

“Ah…”

Yelena’s eyes widened, staring at the beautiful silver-haired lady before her.

Now she felt even more remorseful.

It was precisely because of the words she spoke that things had come to this.

But she couldn’t do anything, yet she was still forgiven…

The girl bowed once more and said.

“You are truly a beautiful and magnanimous lady. Thank you for your forgiveness.”

“…”

Enya felt somewhat embarrassed.

Being praised for magnanimity like that—are you saying I’m broad-minded?

I’m really not.

I’m still angry, just not showing it.

She didn’t like to talk much, so she didn’t respond to Yelena further.

Enya shifted her gaze to Hena.

Hena seemed to have something to say, so Enya invited the two inside to sit.

Once inside, the two children were sent off to play in a corner.

In the backyard, Rosily watched Yelena, who stared down at her shoes.

Rosily curiously leaned close, tilting her head to look at the young lady’s face.

“You weren’t like this before. One setback and you’re already down?”

“…”

After a long pause, Yelena weakly said sorry to Rosily.

Rosily’s lips curled into a smile.

She looked her over and said.

“No need to apologize. I already beat you.”

“…”

Yelena was silenced by that remark.

Meanwhile, Enya brought over some tea and placed it in front of Hena, then elegantly sat down, lifting the hem of her long skirt.

Hena was about to drink the tea when Enya said.

“Hey, it’s hot!”

She spoke a little late; Hena had already taken a sip.

She inhaled deeply, pursed her lips, and avoided Enya’s gaze.

“I’m fine. It’s not hot.”

“…”

Enya laughed.

This temperature of water wouldn’t hurt a sixth-rank warrior.

With magical protection, even boiling water baths wouldn’t be a problem.

So Hena was doing this deliberately.

With the opening settled, they moved into the main topic.

Hena placed the cup back on its saucer and pushed it to the center with a slender finger, then said.

“There’s a group of people spreading rumors about you recently. I’ll handle it as soon as possible. Sorry for disturbing your peaceful life.”