Show appreciation?
My ears perked up at the sudden announcement. It wasn’t like I didn’t expect it. No, I was
waiting for it. After all, there was no way they’d be so ungrateful after all the suffering that I had gone through.
‘…. It’s about damn time.’
I silently clenched my fists underneath the table.
“We’ve already stated this before, but you three are considered friends of the Astrid family. In that sense, within the Eastern Kasha, you will be regarded as one of our own.”
I remember hearing this before, yes.
This alone felt like a good thing but my greed demanded for more.
‘Being friends is good and all, but I would much rather have other things, you know?’
While these were my true thoughts, I never showed them and kept a simple and impassive expression.
“…But of course, that reward was based on the merit for what you have done for us, the House of Astrid. The things you have accomplished are not just limited to the House of Astrid.”
With a knowing smile, the Head Elder’s gaze swept in our general direction.
“It’s thanks to all of you that we were able to handle this current situation and save the city from being taken over.”
“Wait, are you saying they were the ones to reverse the situation?”
A rugged man with a long black beard, piercing brown eyes, and a powerful, muscular frame spoke, his deep voice echoing through the room. From what I recall, he was the Head of the Bunzel Household.
Staring in our general direction, he had an incredulous look on his face.
“Them? Is this some sort of joke?”
I could feel the doubt in his voice.
He wasn’t the only one. The Head of the Chester Household, a middle-aged woman with long flowing green hair and faded yellow eyes also expressed her doubt while looking at us.
“Given their age, they certainly seem talented, but I find it hard to believe they were the ones who resolved the situation. Everyone here felt the overwhelming pressure emanating from beyond the walls-it’s not something people like them could possibly handle.”
“I am in agreement.”
Their doubt was reasonable.
Everyone felt Owl-Mighty’s pressure. It was suffocating enough to make any of the House Masters wary.
How could mere cadets handle such a monstrosity?
“Relax the three of you.”
Holding her hand up, the Head Elder glanced in the direction of the Myron Family Head who had been quiet the entire time.
“Arten and I were there to witness everything. Well, to some extent. We didn’t necessarily see what had happened beyond the walls, but given everything that I have witnessed, it is reasonable to believe that they played a hand in the matter.”
“…Wait, so let me get things straight.”
Crossing his arms, the Head of the Benzel Household leaned back on his chair.
“You didn’t actually witness what had happened and randomly jumped to the conclusion that they were the ones to have handled the situation?”
He scoffed.
“That’s ridiculous.”
Rather than being offended, Rosanna remained composed, her warm smile never leaving. “Considering the timing, the instructions I received from them, and the fact that neither of us has taken action on the matter, it seems like a fairly reasonable assumption, doesn’t it?”
“Nahh…”
Dismissively waving his hand, the Benzel family head shook his head.
“You’re missing the critical aspect in which they’re too weak to have a hand on this matter. I would’ve believed it had they been stronger, but at their current strength, I find your reasoning to be flawed.”
While the two other family heads didn’t say anything, their silence spoke volumes about their position.
Rosanna seemed to understand this as she looked in their direction.
“It seems like all of you are in the same position…”
“…Hmph.”
Casting a quick look in our direction, I felt a powerful pressure tower over me. It felt suffocating, but at the same time, I didn’t feel all that unfazed. Compared to the old man, Delilah, and all the other pressures I had felt in this past, this almost felt like nothing.
Knock!
Knocking onto the table once, the Benzel family head finally spoke.
“Setting aside the question of whether they truly accomplished it or not, what troubles me most is your willingness to share resources with outsiders. You’re well aware of how scarce resources are within the Kasha, yet you seem so eager to hand them over to people you barely know. That’s what I can’t comprehend. Why would you prioritize outsiders over your own people?”
“So that’s where the problem is…”
As if she had a sudden understanding, Rosanna nodded.
“…You don’t want to share resources with outsiders.”
“Hah, I thought that was obvious. We’re already qui—”
“No.”
Rosanna cut the Benzel Head off.
“We were scarce in resources, but times have changed. Take a look at the sky outside. All of you are smart people. I know all of you know that times will change for us. The resources that we have now won’t mean much in the future once we manage to grow and expand. Your main problem is your bias to those of the Empire.”
“That’s bulls-“
“Is it though?”
Rosanna cocked her head to the side while smiling simply at the Benzel Head.
“Everyone over here knows about how your dad was kicked out from the Empires and cast away into this land to fend for himself. The resentment between you and those of the Empire
is understandable, but… seeing such young and promising talents, I would rather have them become our friends than our enemies.”
“…If that’s what you’re scared of, we can just kill them.”
The Benzel Head said while his sharp eyes briefly paused on me.
I frowned upon feeling his gaze as my finger twitched.
‘Should I call Owl-Mighty?’
“That wouldn’t be wise.”
Thankfully, the Head Elder was reasonable and cut his gaze with her own as her eyes
narrowed.
“Considering their talents, I highly doubt the Empires don’t see their value. If you were to kill them, it would be tantamount to declaring war on the Empires, and as things stand, we have no chance of surviving such a conflict. In fact, the moment we attack them, I’m afraid something bad will happen to the aggressor. I’d be best if you tread carefully.”
Her words were met with a heavy silence.
None of the people present could dispute her words.
“So in the end your solution is for us to suck up to them? To those of the Empire?”
“…To some extent.”
Rosanna nodded with a gentle smile.
“If it helps improve the situation of our own people and help us grow while creating connections, I don’t see how that is a bad thing, don’t you think so?”
Neither three of the family heads said anything in response to her words.
I could tell that they all agreed with her to some extent but had trouble admitting it.
Ultimately, speaking on behalf of all three heads, the Benzel Head turned to face us once
again.
“So you’re saying you’re investing in them?”
“More or less.”
“Show it.”
“Hm?”
Standing up and walking towards the middle of the table, he deeply looked at every one of us.
“…Each of our houses possesses talents that I believe surpass anything the Empires can offer.
If you truly deem them worthy of investment, then prove it to us.”
Narrowing his eyes, his deep reached the ears of everyone present.
“Show us the difference between them and us.”
***
Verdant Empire, unknown location.
Tak-
The soft click of a heel echoed through the vast expanse of a grand hall, its sound magnified
by the high ceilings and smooth marble floors. Twelve pillars, six on each side, stretched upward, with faint purple carvings illuminated by the flickering light of chandeliers above. As the click resounded throughout, a subtle chill seeped into the corners of the hall.
||
||
Walking in silence, Seraphina glanced in the direction of the seven black marble seats ahead
of her and sat herself down in one of them.
Such was her position within the Nocturne Order; High Seat of Thought.
She sat in silence for a few seconds before the quiet was broken by a deep, but soft voice.
“It appears that you’ve failed.”
Seraphina remained quiet in response to the words.
Rather, she looked completely disinterested in them as she seemed to be lost in her own
world.
“Are you not going to speak…?”
It was only when she felt a slight pressure coming from the seat beside her that she raised her
head.
“About?”
“….Do you think we don’t know about your failure?”
“No, I do. In fact, I’m almost certain that you all saw.”
“Then…”
“If you saw then you should understand everything that had happened. What more do you
want from me? This was all outside of my control.”
“Outside of your control?”
Another voice spoke, belonging to the seat opposite her.
“Thought, we both know well that’s not the reason for your failure. You’ve grown soft. Seeing
your son made you soft.”
“Hah.”
Seraphina laughed.
Just hearing the words made her laugh. Her clear amusement wasn’t perceived well by the
other seats as several frowned.
“What’s so funny?”
Stopping herself, Seraphina glanced around before leaning back.
“Do you really think I failed because I was being soft on my son?”
She shook her head.
“First things first, I didn’t actually fail. I managed to accomplish my task and while I wasn’t
able to take over the Eastern Kasha, I was still able to plant several seeds throughout.” Staring at her hand, or more precisely, the threads connected to them, she clenched her hand
into a fist.
“At a moment’s notice, I can have everything sorted. There will be no problem with fusion.”
||
||
Silence followed after her words.
So she didn’t fail?
In that case…
“I didn’t grow soft on my son. The only reason why I came back instead of trying to take over
the Kasha is because things would’ve been too troublesome had I done so. You didn’t face
him, but my son is strong. Stronger than you can imagine.”
She pressed her finger against her head.
“His mere emotive magic was enough to send me in a state of shock.”
|| ||
Yet again, her words were met with silence.
However, this time, Seraphina could feel the traces of surprise and apprehension on their
faces.
Seeing their looks, she felt proud.
That was her son after all.
But thinking about the next part, her smile faded.
Recalling the symbol on his forearm, her jaw clenched tightly.
“….But that’s not the problem here and the main reason why I came back.”
Looking around, she let out a long breath.
“My son…”
A certain figure floated in her mind as she spoke, reaffirming her thoughts.
“I believe he’s a spy.”
One planted by her very own husband.