After two days and one night, the Lady finally returned to her castle.
The first thing on her mind…was, of course, to take a hot bath, wash away the dust from the journey, change into a proper outfit, and go see Mother.
Though she never said it aloud, Ireya’s heart was constantly thinking of her mother.
It wasn’t just because of her natural dependence on Lady Shudrian, but also due to the twenty-plus years in her previous life—years devoid of familial love.
Of course, Ireya also wanted to subtly ask about her second younger sister while she was at it.
However…
“Cough cough Hm? Ireya’s back…so, how was it this time? Did you have fun?”
Looking at Mother’s somewhat pale face, Ireya pushed all other thoughts out of her mind!
“Mother! What’s wrong with you?”
She instinctively took two steps forward, placing her hand on Lady Shudrian’s forehead.
Though her hand felt a bit cool, it confirmed that she did not have a fever.
“Cough cough, it’s nothing~ an old ailment. The weather’s turned cold recently, and I wasn’t paying much attention.”
Lady Shudrian didn’t seem to care much about her discomfort and just smiled, waving her hand.
Ireya frowned slightly at this explanation.
In the end, she pinned all the blame on that old Butler!
If it weren’t for him being away on business for such a long year, how could Mother have been so busy as to forget about seasonal warmth?
Already holding some prejudice against her father, Ireya felt even less fond of him at that moment.
“Um…Mother, if you’re too tired, you can always let me take care of some of the things at hand!”
Though it was a simple sentence, speaking it to her mother felt awkward.
The mischievous, confident smirk she usually wore…now inexplicably flushed with a suspicious blush.
Why did such a normal show of concern toward Mother feel…a little embarrassing?
“Pfft~ Hehehe…Ireya, you really have grown up, haven’t you~”
Seeing her daughter’s adorable expression made Lady Shudrian’s lips curl involuntarily.
“More importantly!”
Lady Shudrian slowly rose and walked over to Ireya.
With a somewhat puzzled look, Ireya was suddenly pulled into her mother’s embrace!
“Umm! (A)!?”
What hit her was the elegant fragrance of orchids in a secluded valley…and the fully perfected, absolute weapon that was her mother!
“Ummmmm!?!”
Ireya felt like she couldn’t breathe!
Her hands flailed wildly in the air…
Mother was still as broad-minded as ever.
Could she perhaps inherit such a generous heart someday?
“But~ you’re still too young to deal with these things. Cough cough…”
While holding Ireya in her arms, Lady Shudrian gently stroked her head.
“Besides…if I let you deal with these things now, what would your brothers think?”
“Eh? Umm…indeed…”
Struggling in the embrace like she was trapped in mother’s cleansing foam, Ireya gradually stopped moving…
A rub on the left!
A rub on the right!
Poking out!
VAÍnf
“Let those two losers think whatever they want. Nothing is more important than your health…”
Her voice grew smaller, as she noticed her mother’s smile growing larger.
Phew!
The next moment, the Lady who had just escaped suffocation was again engulfed in the soft whirlpool of her mother’s embrace!
“Uuuu!!”
“Oh my~ Ireya’s only gotten cuter since growing up~”
Confused.
Head!
Envelope.
Clatter!
“Hahaha!!”
Escaping from the study, Ireya quickly closed the door behind her.
Her white hair was slightly messy, and in her red eyes lingered a faint trace of Lady Shudrian’s unique delicate fragrance.
That overwhelming motherly love…was still too suffocating for the young Lady!
Suffocating in the literal sense.
Hmm…
In her worry for Mother’s health, she had completely forgotten to subtly ask about her second younger sister.
Scratching her head, Ireya felt a bit conflicted, but it wasn’t appropriate to force herself to go back in just for that.
She would have to try again next time.
“Lady!”
Phew!
Before she could even sigh, a red figure jumped straight into Ireya’s arms!
“Umm! Yumina…”
Seeing the twin-tailed maid, Ireya smiled helplessly and pinched the girl’s little cheek.
“I was only gone for two days~ do you miss me that much?”
“Mm (OAQ)!”
The maid’s big eyes were watery, honestly and plaintively nodding.
“Next time…can you take me with you, Lady? I can fight too!”
She said this while raising her small fist, as if to prove her strength!
“Well…hehe, next time for sure~”
The two chatted idly as they returned to the room.
Sunset filtered through the curtains, casting a dazzling golden glow on the luxurious carpet.
“Ah~ By the way, Lady…Miss Jenny just sent over a letter.”
Yumina pulled out an exquisitely crafted envelope from her bosom.
“You two just parted ways, didn’t you?”
“Ah…she had some things to investigate.”
Ireya nodded, then sat sideways on the bed, slowly crossing her legs, and opened the letter in her hands.
Inside were intelligence reports about the Hunter Blade Mercenary Group.
Mostly information about the inn and room where her “second younger sister” Reliel Wood was staying.
With her new ability…how could she not make use of it?
A slight smile tugged at Ireya’s lips~
That’s right~ tonight, she planned to visit her second sister in her soul form first.
What she didn’t notice was that Yumina, standing beside her, was gazing at her with slightly dazed pink eyes.
Ah…
Lady’s serious look is so charming.
She never used to think so deeply or show this expression…
Just like Lady Shudrian said, the Lady really has grown up~
But what about me?
Thinking this, Yumina slowly lowered her head, looking at her own small steamed bun-like face, slightly older than Ireya’s.
Her eyes were clouded with confusion.
If I don’t grow at all…will the Lady…abandon me?
Just like this time’s incident, where I was only left to guard the castle…
“Yumina…Yumina?”
“Huh? Ah…Lady!”
Snapped out of her thoughts, Yumina noticed that Lady had already written a reply.
“Send this to Jenny over there…hmm, this remote communication method is really troublesome. Isn’t there a magic for long-distance communication?”
“That!”
Taking the letter, Yumina suddenly looked up sharply, startling Ireya and cutting off her muttering.
“By the way…Lady, are you still sleeping with Veil tonight?”
“Huh? Uh, not tonight…why?”
The Lady was caught off guard by the question, looking at the twin-tailed maid beside her.
“Ah…n-no…nothing~ nothing…”
Yumina seemed relieved, clutching the letter and turning to dash out of the room.
Eh?
Watching the slightly flustered back of the twin-tailed girl, Ireya felt a little confused.
She remembered Yumina as an almost perfect maid who would never behave so recklessly or break etiquette…
Is it puberty?
Is she starting to rebel?
Or…spending too much time with that idiot has rubbed off on her?