Gently placing her book down, Esmeralda’s eyes landed on Zeke, who laid his chin lazily on the table. As a smile danced on her lips, she spoke quietly. “Silas, you’ll ruin your posture if you sit like that.”

Zeke turned his head, resting on his cheek instead. “Mother, I’ve been thinking about this for quite a while, but why is it that you don’t join the rest of us for our meals?”

Silence fell upon the two of them, but soon Esmeralda spoke, her smile unwavering. “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about my affection for my children…but I simply do not feel very comfortable around the marquess,” unexpectedly, she answered Zeke’s question. “I can attend banquets with him for the sake of courtesy, but other than those special occasions, we are both satisfied with our standings. Marquess Salvador has kept his promise, so it is only right that I keep mine.”

“…Do you hate him? Father, I mean,” Zeke’s expression remained stoic, and he noticed the uncertainty flashing across Esmeralda’s features for a brief moment. “He wanted children-soldiers, and took us away the moment we’re born. Do you resent him for that?”

“Rather than hatred…” Esmeralda averted her gaze to the opened book before her, yet her eyes couldn’t focus on the letters at all as she responded. “I simply accepted it as reality. The Salvador House follows this tradition, who am I, an outsider, to interfere with them?” Turning to face Zeke once more, a smile brightened her expression, though he still noticed a forlorn glint in her eyes. “Even if it’s only you who bear no resentment against my negligence, as a mother, I am happy. I even thought it was fine when your father didn’t love you as much as Lysander…because it meant that I’ll be the one to give you the affection that you deserve. Aren’t I a bad mother for thinking that? Because in the end, you still didn’t grow up loved.”

Zeke could only stare at the marchioness in silence, his questions had come as a simple passing curiosity, never hoping for her to answer him in earnest as she did.

“…Maybe it’s because of ‘Charm’? It increases successful interactions…is that why she felt compelled to reply?”

A bitter taste lingered in his mouth as Zeke broke through the quietude. “You’re wrong, mother,” he started as he straightened himself, his voice deeper than normal that it even surprised him. “I was loved. You took care of me despite not being confident about raising me. You let me roam free because you didn’t want to restrict my freedom. It’s my fault that I grew up the way I did after I took your love for granted. That’s why I’m going to set things straight,” he took Esmeralda’s hands into his. “Mother, I can confidently say that us three siblings do not hate you just because you chose to let us live as a Salvador. So please, rid yourself of this meaningless guilt.”

“He’s right, mother.” Their heads turned to meet with the determined gaze of Rowena Salvador as she approached them while Circe followed behind her. When she got close enough, she lowered her head into a graceful bow. “Good afternoon, mother…and brother,” she gave Zeke a brief glance before straightening herself. “I came here because I want to meet you…though I never expect to learn of your true feelings by eavesdropping, I offer my sincerest apology.”

“…When did you come?” Zeke looked up at Circe as she responded with a smile.

”A little while ago, when you were making that whole speech of yours. I found it rather adorable.” Circe settled down on the chair next to him, taking a deep breath of the flowers’ scent in the greenhouse.

“…Rowena,” Esmeralda looked at her daughter, tears brimming the edges of her eyes. The little girl treaded closer to her mother as she reached out to hold her hands in hers. “I…I appreciate you coming all the way here to see me. Could you find it within you to forgive me for not being there for you all this time?”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Mother…” Rowena’s face lit up with a bright smile. “How can I forgive someone who hasn’t done anything to seek forgiveness for? I should be the one to apologize for getting the wrong idea all on my own,” a hesitant look flickered across her expression. “…So from now on, could you please take care of me? I want to get to know my mother more.”

Hearing Rowena’s earnest words, Esmeralda’s lips broke into a warm smile. “Of course, Rowena. You’re free to visit me whenever you’d like.”

Gleams of joy shimmered within the little girl’s eyes. “Really? Then can I enjoy tea time with Mother too?”

“If that's what you’d like, then I can have my servants prepare drinks and snacks for us right now.” Esmeralda glanced towards her personal maid standing by the greenhouse’s entrance.

”Yes!” Rowena responded eagerly, her eyes becoming rounder than before.

“Ah, on that note…” Circe’s words garnered all their attention as she rose from her seat. Turning towards Zeke, she continued with a soft smile. “I believe the two of us have somewhere to go, Lord Silas? You came to fetch me earlier, no?”

Without missing a beat, Zeke nodded. “Yes I did,” he got up as well. “Mother, Sister, it seems like we’ll have to leave you both to your own companies for today.”

“It’s alright,” Esmeralda beamed, sending Circe a joyful glance. “I’ve accompanied you in place of your fiancee, now it is time that I return you to your rightful woman.”

A soft chuckle sounded from Zeke as he responded. “I’ll come visit you at a later time, Mother. Please take care and enjoy the rest of your day.”

Esmeralda nodded. “As with you, Silas.”

When Zeke turned around to leave, Circe spared Rowena one last smile. “Have fun, Rena.”

Rowena flashed a wide grin at her before Circe soon followed Zeke out of the greenhouse. Hearing the faint sound of chatter behind them, the two gave each other a knowing glance and their lips turned up into a subtle smile.

“So, why did you come to see me?” Circe asked once they’d found themselves alone in the hallways, clasping her hands behind her back. “You even got access-denied by a ten year old.”

“Well,” Zeke refused to acknowledge her teasing, keeping his focus straight on the road. “I wanted to ask more about the Web Weaver build you told me about last time. But I also want to show you something, mind heading to the training grounds right now?”

“So you want to spar?” When Zeke responded to Circe’s grin with one of his own, excitement flickered across her face. “You’re on, and if I win, you have to grant me a wish, okay?”

Zeke huffed. “I’m confident this time, so I’m sure I’ll win. Better start daydreaming about that wish now, because it’s never becoming a reality.”

.

.

.

After arriving at their destination, Circe swapped out her dress for her usual training attire and summoned an iron sword into her grip. She watched closely as Zeke tread across the field, stopping a good distance away from her.

A short nod from Zeke signaled the beginning of their duel, and Circe instantly shortened the length between them with a single leap.

‘Shing.’

A sharp vibration echoed through the air as an obscure, shimmering light slowed her movements. “What is that?” In a split second, she made the decision to retreat, causing the invisible attack to strike the ground below, creating a thin trench within the soil.

As her confused gaze met with Zeke’s confident expression, she saw that he had his hands nonchalantly crossed behind him while something kept glistening ever so slightly beneath the sunlight. It didn’t take her long to figure it out and a smile crept to her lips. “Wow, the webs aren’t anything like in the game at all.”

“Right?” Not wasting time, Zeke initiated another attack, his near invisible strings whisking through the air like deadly blades looking to cleave through her flesh. “We can see it clearly because the game was designed that way, but you can’t really see a single thread of a spider’s web in real life.”

“It’s shining just a bit like it’s made from metal.” Circe noted as she swung her sword, feeling a slight force pushing against the edge as she sliced through the unseeable wires. “So you can somewhat see them while they’re hardened. Well.”

The sudden boost in speed sent Circe gliding across the ground, completely vanishing from Zeke’s line of sight. As he turned around, Circe reappeared with her sword ready to strike. “It’s nothing that my speed can’t handle.”

“What are you two doing?”

Lysander’s unexpected appearance startled them both, causing Circe to stumble straight into Zeke and fall onto the ground, the impact sending Circe’s sword skiddling away in the process. “Ah! Lord Lysander!” Without regard for Zeke’s well-being, Circe perked up at the young knight as he looked down at them with a confused expression, judging from his face, she concluded that he didn’t see her use her skills. “We were…Lord Silas was practicing! I was curious so I came to watch!”

Lysander raised an eyebrow. “But why were you holding a sword, Lady Ruelle?”

“She wanted to try swinging it,” Zeke spoke up in a raspy voice. His pained expression prompted Circe to get off of his chest, letting him sit up. “We were just playing around brother, so there’s nothing for you to worry about. Anyhow, what might you be doing here?”

Clearing away his suspicions, Lysander responded. “I wanted to inquire you some more on ‘that matter’ we talked about, but it’s good that Lady Ruelle is here too, I would appreciate her input as a lady as well.”

Circe gaved Zeke a glance. ‘What’s this about?’

Zeke looked back with a tired expression, and it was all she needed to shudder at the endless negative possibilities.

Lysander continued. “I’d like to ask…What sort of gifts would be appropriate to present to a lady?”

Silence befell the three of them.

“He came all the way here for that!?”