Episode 159

“Young Master, Young Master. Please wake up.”

“Ugh…”

Sonia spoke firmly as she gently rubbed my cheek. I had apparently dozed off.

“Is it morning already?”

“Yes, it is. But there’s something more urgent that requires your attention, Young Master.”

“What is it?”

As I attempted to rise, my eyelids felt leaden from lack of sleep. Sonia lightly supported my back, helping me into a sitting position.

“There’s a commotion outside.”

“What’s going on?”

I shuffled to the door in my slippers. Just before the automatic door slid open, I could hear heated voices arguing.

“I’m telling you, it was a misunderstanding!”

It was Rejane’s voice.

“How was anyone supposed to know that a direct descendant of Adelwein was sleeping on the Reinhardt’s main ship? I thought she was my daughter.”

“That’s beside the point. People can make mistakes. What I want explained is what you said to me last night, Mother of Ceti.”

Rejane and Zelnya were locked in an argument.

“Didn’t you say you’d strike hard against the Adelwein main family? If you have grievances with the direct line, tell me directly. I’m right here listening.”

“I wasn’t addressing you, student.”

“You specifically mentioned the Adelwein direct line. That makes it my business. Please explain - how exactly do you plan to ‘strike hard’ against them?”

“Stop this…”

Zelnya’s tone was particularly cutting.

There was no arrogance or malice visible in her demeanor - she was simply angry, her mood clearly soured.

This situation clearly needed someone to mediate.

“Good morning.”

I softly spoke as I joined the conversation, taking a spot between Ceti and Rustila.

Rustila, who had been observing the situation carefully, slipped next to me like a cat seeking refuge. I noticed Zelnya’s eyes widen at this movement.

“What’s been happening this morning?”

“Aidel, please explain. Who is this girl here, and who is that blonde girl? Why are there so many outsiders in our house?”

I responded calmly.

“The young one is Zelnya, and this is Rustila. They’re both my friends. Rustila took the college entrance exam with Ceti and stayed over at our house last night.”

“And this child?”

“Father brought Zelnya here. She’s been living with us for two months.”

Rejane’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. Before she could jump to any conclusions, I quickly provided a more detailed explanation.

“…I see. So you encountered an Outer God and returned… I understand the situation now.”

Rejane seemed to accept my explanation, at least partially. The rapport we had built during the night had helped, though being the son of the first wife still earned me some unfriendly glances.

“Ceti, Rustila - you mentioned you don’t have school today, right? If you’re free, let’s go out together. I’ll treat you to something delicious.”

“We do have school today. We should get going.”

We hurried to get ready, relieved that the tense atmosphere hadn’t escalated further.

While Zelnya was in class, I found myself with a free period and little to do. I decided to pay Ire Hazlen a visit - it had been quite some time since we’d last met.

Ire was living in a small studio apartment near the college. Currently, only the real estate agent and I knew her exact location.

Knock, knock.

“Altair, it’s me.”

The heavy iron door pulled inward almost immediately as if she’d been waiting.

“Oh, it’s you. Come in.”

Ire signaled me in while attempting to smooth her messy hair.

“Have you been sleeping all day?”

“The exam ended yesterday.”

“How did it go?”

“… I’m certain I passed.”

As a regressor, there was no real reason to doubt Ire’s exam performance, but I’d asked out of politeness. She sat on the bed with a satisfied smile.

Upon entering the room, I wrinkled my nose at the musty smell.

“The air quality isn’t great here. Why not look for a better place?”

“This is the cheapest option, and the location is convenient.”

“You could always stay at my house.”

“No, that would be too much…”

Ire trailed off, brushing her hair aside like a shy maiden.

“What major did you apply for?”

“Physics.”

“Well then, junior!”

I clapped playfully, trying to lighten the mood.

We spent the next two hours in conversation, mostly about work but with some casual chat mixed in.

At one point, Ire absently played with her hair and smiled ruefully.

“It’s a mess since I haven’t maintained it. It’s gotten quite long, too.”

Her previous bob cut, which had ended at her nape, now reached her shoulders after months of reclusive studying.

“That style suits you. Why not keep it long this time?”

“No, I have bad memories associated with long hair.”

“What do you mean?”

“It was a long time ago. While trying to escape from an Incarnate, my hair got caught in an elevator. Died right there.”

Her casual mention of her previous death made her seem like a heroine hardened by tragedy, and I felt a wave of pity.

“That’s all in the past. Don’t look so sad - just go do your work.”

“If anything makes you uncomfortable, please tell me. Remember, you have Reinhardt as your sponsor.”

Ire nodded with a smile.

“Thank you.”

The soft sounds of cutting meat and clinking dishes filled the air of an upscale restaurant. Rustila sat uncomfortably between Ceti and Rejane, carefully observing their interaction for social cues.

“Has anything happened while I was away?”

“Nothing at all.”

The atmosphere was notably tense, quite unlike what one might expect between a mother and daughter. Rustila wondered if this was typical of high-society dining. However, she recalled how differently Ceti and Aidel behaved during meals with their father.

Rejane repeatedly sighed as she cut her meat, occasionally closing her eyes before opening them again. The succulent meat released its glossy juices with each precise cut.

“Mother?”

“Please eat. I know I haven’t been present to care for you until now.”

Rejane selected several tender pieces of meat and transferred them to Ceti’s plate.

“How are things with your other family members?”

“I rarely see Brian and Kattrick, so I couldn’t say. But Aidel and Father - we get along well.”

“Has Aidel caused you any trouble?”

“He used to, but not anymore.”

Rejane’s eyebrows twitched at this revelation.

“In the past…?”

“It’s ancient history now, so please don’t worry. We have a great relationship these days. I’d rather not discuss the details.”

“If anything ever troubles you, you can always confide in me. I’ll be making more frequent visits to the main house from now on.”

Ceti’s eyes widened.

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

This second piece of news seemed to surprise Ceti just as much as the first.

The first surprise came from how long it had been since her mother had comforted her. The second was hearing her mother refer to herself as ‘mom’ - a word both rough and warm.

Logically, this change must be related to the upcoming selection of the next family head.

To Rejane, Ceti was a wild card - her only hope for revenge against those who had ruined her life by forcing her into an unwanted marriage.

Given such hopes, she couldn’t afford to be harsh or rigid.

Though Ceti understood this, she showed no signs of disappointment. The position was coveted even by their family head. As a daughter, she naturally wanted to help her mother regain her standing.

‘Do your best to catch the council’s eye.’

That was all Ceti could think.

But Rejane, seasoned in Adelwein family politics, was already thinking several steps ahead.

She turned her attention to Rustila, who was quietly eating her salad.

“You’re Rustila, aren’t you? You seem quite close with Aidel.”

“Oh, yes, that’s right.”

Rustila scratched her cheek, smiling bashfully.

Rejane recognized that smile - the kind only a girl in love could wear.

“Thank you for keeping my daughter company. Please, eat as much as you’d like. And if possible, stay with us again tonight. We’ll make sure you’re well taken care of.”

Rejane’s tone had shifted to a more informal, friendly manner with Rustila, acknowledging her as an ally.

“What do you think of our daughter and Aidel?”

“They’re both wonderful. So talented, too - Ceti has a gift for business, and Aidel excels in research. You probably know Aidel was instrumental in ending the Southern War.”

Rustila continued praising them both, her eyes gleaming like stars. Rejane listened quietly, her mind working.

Aidel von Reinhardt - a name that had risen meteorically in the past two years.

Rejane was well aware of his reputation, yet she deliberately chose not to mention it in his presence. A deep-seated caution had wrapped itself around her heart.

Questions swirled in her mind: Why had Arnold chosen to bring Zelnya to the Reinhardt mansion rather than a hospital? What was the purpose behind their two-month cohabitation? What were the Adelwein family’s true intentions? Would the relationship between Aidel and Zelnya truly remain merely platonic? And perhaps most crucially, who did the council intend to name as the next family head?

These thoughts intertwined like intricate threads, weaving a tapestry of logic.

Gradually, understanding dawned on Rejane. As the puzzle pieces aligned, a comprehensive picture emerged.

Zelnya, she realized, was an agent planted by the Adelwein family to monitor them. Furthermore, she was likely positioned for a strategic marriage alliance with Aidel.

Such a union would be catastrophic. A marriage between the direct bloodlines of the Reinhardt and Adelwein families would destabilize the delicate balance among the ten great families. It would severely diminish Ceti’s chances of becoming the family head, effectively destroying any possibility of revenge.

“I also want to become… someone suitable for Aidel.”

“Hehe, really?”

This was why Rejane now regarded Rustila with such gentle consideration.

Perhaps, she mused, there might be not one but two jokers in this deck.

“Hmm.”

Arnold swallowed his response, feeling the weight of the situation.

Things were becoming increasingly complicated.

The recent incident involving the Outer God’s manifestation prompted the Inspectors to conduct repeated investigations of the Adelwein main house.

For Arnold, who desperately needed to secure a doctor-in-law from a prominent family, this development was far from ideal.

“Even arranging a formal meeting proves challenging.”

The situation was growing more tumultuous by the day.

Just as he was about to abandon his attempts at scheduling and focus on more pressing matters, a message arrived from Zelnya: