The carriage traveled along a familiar road.
Estelle’s gaze remained fixed outside the window, though she wasn’t looking at anything in particular; she simply wanted to keep her field of vision open.
From the lack of focus in her eyes, it was clear she was deep in thought.
Lilith had spoken with her for a long time, and Estelle had listened with absolute concentration.
Through Lilith’s words, she caught a glimpse of the brilliance Enya had once displayed at Tarlonde Academy, that holy city of knowledge.
Thus, Estelle had an idea. She wanted to go to Tarlonde Academy and do the exact same things there.
Lilith had said, “One and a half months from now, the formal Qualification Tournament will begin after the Harvest Festival. If you want to go, then win the championship just like Enya did.”
“Tarlonde…”
Rosily was sitting idly.
Although she was curious about what Estelle was thinking, she hadn’t initiated a conversation.
But when she heard that low whisper escape Estelle’s lips, Rosily finally turned her gaze toward her nominal sister.
“Hey, you want to go to Tarlonde?”
“Call me Sister.”
“Hmph, you only won once. It’s not like you’ll keep winning forever.”
“Call me Sister,” Estelle said flatly, looking at Rosily.
Facing that expressionless face, Rosily found it hard to resist.
She turned her head and grumbled something.
It was blurry, but one could barely make out that she had indeed said the word “Sister.”
Estelle returned her gaze to the window. Rosily pouted, still feeling somewhat defiant.
“I’ll win next time. You’re going to participate in that tournament too, right? Maybe we’ll run into each other then. I’ll win the title of ‘Sister’ back!”
“Mhm.”
Estelle gave a calm response, acting as if she didn’t take Rosily’s serious declaration to heart at all. However, the fact that she responded showed that she did consider Rosily her younger sister.
Though Rosily didn’t want to admit it, she didn’t argue further. She really couldn’t beat this nominal sister of hers right now. Even Teacher Cang said she couldn’t win…
But that “couldn’t win” had to be followed by a “for now.” Rosily had secret training every day; she believed she would eventually surpass Estelle.
‘That’s right, I’ll win!’
Rosily felt satisfied with herself.
She leaned lazily against the seat, unlike Estelle who sat perfectly upright.
Looking out the window and seeing they were almost home, she finally sat up straight.
She reached out to touch the slash on her shoulder; even though it was just her clothes, she didn’t want her mother to worry.
She looked at Estelle sitting opposite her. “Sister, let’s change our clothes.”
“…”
Estelle ignored her.
As the carriage approached their destination, the speed began to drop significantly.
Rosily didn’t wait for the driver to open the door; she pushed it open from the inside and leaped out. She preferred getting out of the carriage this way.
Rosily hurried across the stone path and dove straight into Enya’s arms.
Burying her face in her mother’s fragrant, soft embrace, she gave a sweet cry. “Mom~”
Enya’s expression was gentle.
She placed her hand on Rosily’s head, stroking and smoothing her light-golden hair before looking toward Estelle. Estelle was also looking at her.
“Estelle, come here.”
It seemed that every time Rosily came home, rushing over to hug her was a mandatory routine. Estelle, however, was as steady as ever.
No, it wasn’t exactly steadiness… It was more that she lacked emotion, or perhaps didn’t know how to express it.
Only after hearing Enya’s words did Estelle approach her.
With two daughters, it was just enough to have one in each arm.
Enya immersed herself in this peaceful, beautiful atmosphere, but before long, she smelled something burning.
She reacted quickly, her gentle expression shifting to one of panic.
“Ah! My food is still on the stove!”
Hurriedly letting go of Rosily, Enya ran through the front door.
By the time she reached the stove, it was too late.
The fish that was supposed to be cooking in the pan was now emitting acrid smoke.
Enya flipped it with a spatula, and sure enough, one whole side was charred black.
She had forgotten to turn off the heat when she went out!
Her mind had been occupied by many things — things about Rosily and Estelle, about Lilith Hena, tomorrow’s Mirror Meeting, Vivienne, the Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce’s journey, absorbing the fragments, and…
Mainly, she was thinking about playing cards.
Cough.
Anyway, she had been thinking too much.
When she realized her daughters were home, she had hurriedly put down the spatula and forgotten to turn off the fire magic on the stove.
‘Tsk, I was careless…’
She rarely made mistakes like this.
She hadn’t expected to lose face in front of her daughters.
Enya wore an embarrassed smile as she turned back to the two little ones following her.
Rosily was staring into the pan, and even Estelle was watching.
Enya gave a helpless smile and said, “It looks like dinner will be delayed again. I’ll give you some desserts first. I went to the pastry shop today and bought some specifically for you.”
As she spoke, Enya took a beautifully packaged box from the kitchen cabinet and placed it on the table.
After opening it, she set out two identical, exquisite cakes.
She beckoned the two girls to sit down while she went to wash the pan.
As for the fish… it certainly couldn’t be eaten.
Although it was a waste, serving carbonized food to children didn’t seem like a good choice.
Rosily sat at the table and happily ate the sweets.
Seeing that Estelle hadn’t touched hers at all, she intentionally raised her voice. “Sister, aren’t you going to eat? If you aren’t, I will.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Estelle pushed the cake directly in front of her.
This caught Rosily off guard. While she was dazed, Estelle stood up from her chair and walked toward the kitchen.
Without turning around, Enya said to the two at the table, “Rosily, you aren’t allowed to eat your sister’s.”
“Oh…” Rosily whispered in response. Despite her words, her fork was already poked into the piece that originally belonged to Estelle.
She made a very unladylike movement, leaning down and opening her soft pink mouth to bite the stem of a strawberry.
Then, she tilted her head back, revealing her snow-white neck.
Her throat moved slightly as she swallowed the strawberry. When Rosily lowered her head, she realized she had gotten cream on her clothes.
“Ah?!”
Estelle had already reached Enya’s side. “Aunt Phil, teach me how to cook.”
“Eh?”
Being called “Aunt” made Enya feel a bit sad. If anyone else called her that, she might get angry and give them a beating, or simply ignore the words of commoners.
But now, her own eldest daughter was calling her that…
She was truly heartbroken!
“You could call me… Forget it, Aunt is fine…” It was better than being a stranger.
Enya’s smile was a bit stiff.
Standing beside her, Estelle could sense Enya’s unhappiness, but she didn’t understand why.
Was it because of something she said? Back when she was in that house, the mother who created her, Vivienne, would always get upset because she spoke.
Therefore, Estelle had always felt she shouldn’t speak.
Enya immediately sensed the minute shift in Estelle’s emotions.
Even though that face showed no expression, the way her pupils shrank and her gaze averted made it clear.
Enya grabbed Estelle’s hand, her smile turning bright instantly. At the same time, she spoke seriously to her eldest daughter.
“You want to learn to cook? Sure, I’ll teach you.”
“…”
Estelle’s attention was immediately pulled back from her inner thoughts. She looked at Enya, who was holding her hand tightly.
“I believe Estelle must have a very, very great talent for this.”
Enya turned her head and said to Rosily, “Since you got your clothes dirty, wash them yourself. Once they’re washed, bring them to me to sew.”
Rosily, who was about to find something to wipe herself with and pretend nothing happened, froze.
She replied dejectedly, “Okay, Mom…”
Enya retracted her gaze and began teaching Estelle.
The situation was under control. It could only be said that Enya was truly Enya.
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