Two days later…

"Giselle, I brought you into my office because I need to talk to you," Aunt Frisca began.

"I understand," I replied.

"Do you truly understand why your hair is white?" Aunt Frisca inquired.

"Isn't it because of an illness?" I wondered aloud.

"Well, it's similar to that, but due to your overwhelming mana, it changed the color of your hair and has been weakening you over the years," Aunt Frisca explained.

"Wait, are you serious, Aunt?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes, there's no mistake about it. However, that's all in the past now. What I can't fathom is where you obtained so much mana. You received your mana from me, but you've surpassed even my own level," Aunt Frisca confessed, her tone filled with curiosity and concern.

"What? My mana has surpassed yours?" I exclaimed in astonishment.

"Yes, the last time I checked, I had around 10,000 mana," Aunt Frisca confirmed.

"10,000?" I repeated, trying to comprehend the magnitude.

"Yes, mana is quantified in numbers. Low mana ranges from 100 to 600, average mana from 601 to 1000+, and large mana from 1500 to 3000 and beyond. I've been steadily increasing my mana since my youth and managed to reach around ten thousand. But you, Giselle, you possess far more mana than even I do. It's quite surprising," Aunt Frisca explained, her voice tinged with both admiration and bewilderment.

"That's incredible and concerning. I had no idea," I murmured, processing this newfound knowledge.

"Yes I know but now that you're aware, there's no need to worry. I'll cast a protective spell on you before you leave," Aunt Frisca reassured me.

"Understood," I acknowledged.

"You're free to go now. I just wanted to inform you about this," Aunt Frisca concluded.

With a nod, I rose from the chair and made my way towards the door. Just as I was about to exit her office, Aunt Frisca called out to me once more.

"Oh, and Giselle, be cautious around Abby and your Aunt Dominca," she warned.

"Yes, Aunt Frisca," I responded, taking her words to heart.

With that, I left her office, exhaling a sigh of relief as I ventured towards my grandmother's room.

*Knock* *knock*

"Come in," called out Emersia.

Pushing the door open, I entered to find my grandmother engrossed in a book. As soon as she noticed me, she hurriedly discarded the book onto the floor, exclaiming, "Ahahaha, Giselle, you're here! Are you ready to learn baking from your grandmama?"

"Um, yes, grandma, but if you're busy with your reading, I can always come back another time," I offered.

"Oh no, please stay as long as you'd like," she insisted warmly.

With that, she rose from the couch and beckoned me to follow her to the kitchen. "Come on, let's have a good time," she encouraged.

My grandma exited the room, expecting me to trail behind her. Before doing so, I glanced at the book she had discarded, and to my surprise, it wasn't a novel but a picture book featuring handsome young men.

Confused by what I had seen, I hastily threw the book back onto the floor and followed her. As we walked, I couldn't shake the curiosity burning within me.

"Grandma, why were you looking at that picture book of handsome boys?" I ventured to ask.

Upon hearing my question, my grandmother suddenly began to sweat, her demeanor shifting slightly. "Haha, Giselle, you're still so young and innocent. It's nothing you need to worry about," she chuckled nervously.

"Oh, I see... Well, okay. Anyways, what recipes will you be teaching me today?" I redirected the conversation, eager to move past the awkward moment.

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"Maybe we could start with cakes and pies. Oh, and how are your sisters? I had a chat with Saori, but when I tried to connect with Anco, she was incredibly rude," Grandma inquired.

"That's just typical Anco," I replied with a knowing smile.

"I see, well, she could show a bit more kindness. I am her grandmother, after all," Grandma mused.

I grinned and nodded in agreement, understanding her point.

Soon, we arrived at the spacious kitchen, and Grandma turned to the workers there. "Would you mind giving us some space to use the kitchen?" she requested politely.

They nodded and departed, leaving Grandma and me alone. We both washed our hands before diving into the task of making sweets.

It was an enjoyable experience; Grandma had a pleasant and humorous demeanor that lifted the mood.

After four hours of baking...

"Haha, that was quite enjoyable, my dear granddaughter," Grandma exclaimed.

"It really was, Grandma. Thank you for helping me learn to make pies and cakes. Now, when I return home, I can ask Mom to buy the ingredients," I expressed my gratitude.

"Do you have an oven?" Grandma inquired.

"Ah, no, not at the moment," I admitted.

"Well, you should ask Frisca to get you one. I'm sure she'd be happy to help," Grandma suggested.

Her suggestion made sense; Aunt Frisca was quite wealthy, and I was sure she wouldn't refuse my request. I made a mental note to ask her about it tomorrow.

After bidding farewell to Grandma, I headed to the library and borrowed a book about a princess who escapes her kingdom, becoming a strong and independent woman who can stand her ground.

After grabbing the book, I made my way to the lake and settled onto a bench. I made sure to greet the turtle that frequented the spot first, knowing it claimed ownership of the area.

As I delved into the pages of my book, I found myself captivated by the story of the princess. Her determination to be seen as more than just an object and her desire to prove her strength without relying on anyone resonated deeply with me. Eventually, she achieved her dream, establishing a kingdom far grander than the one she was born within.

Lost in the narrative, I was suddenly aware of someone's presence nearby. Glancing up from my book, I discovered it was Jenny.

"Uh, Jenny?" I questioned, surprised by her sudden appearance.

"Hi, Giselle, mind if I join you?" she asked politely.

"Oh, of course," I replied, shifting over on the bench to make room.

"So, what's on your mind?" I inquired, curious about her unexpected visit.

"I want to be your friend," she confessed.

"My friend? Why?" I asked, puzzled by her offer.

"Whenever I see you, you seem a bit lonely, especially when you're not with your sisters. I thought maybe we could be friends," Jenny explained earnestly.

"Well, sure, I guess. How do you think we should start this friendship?" I asked, considering her proposal.

"Let's start by getting to know each other better. What's your favorite color, food, and what are your aspirations in life?" Jenny suggested.

Hearing her question, I pondered for a moment before responding, "My favorite colors are probably blue or purple, my favorite food is macarons, and my aspiration in life is to become someone who embodies the strength and resilience of the princess in this book. She started off as someone underestimated and powerless, but through determination and perseverance, she rose to become a powerful force with true strength."

"That sounds interesting. My favorite color is pink, favorite food is donuts, and my aspiration in life is to prove to my mom and dad that I'm capable of achieving just as much as Abby," Jenny shared.

Hearing her words piqued my curiosity. "Do your parents underestimate you?" I asked gently.

"Several times. They basically believe that Abby is the only one with a promising future," Jenny admitted with a tinge of sadness.

"That's unfortunate. I believe you're just as capable as Abby; they're simply blind and narrow-minded. Show them what you're made of, Jenny, and prove them wrong," I encouraged her sincerely.

A smile lit up Jenny's face. "Giselle, do you hate Abby?" she asked, curious.

"I don't hate her; I'm just disappointed by her behavior," I clarified honestly.

"You should hate her! She absolutely loathes you and even wished for your demise while you were in that deep sleep," Jenny exclaimed, her words cutting through the air like a knife.

"Wishing I died?" I repeated in shock, horror etching itself onto my features.

Was that the reason Aunt Frisca warned me to be cautious around her? And why Anco and Saori had always been suspicious of her? What could I have possibly done to incur such hatred from her?

"Yes, she hates you. I suspect it's likely due to jealousy, but I can't say for certain. Remember when she destroyed the bedroom? It was just because you woke up" Jenny explained, her voice tinged with concern.

"What!? But she visited the room I woke up in and acted like she was a saint! Is that why she mentioned the red spider Lily?" I interjected, trying to piece everything together.

"It's highly probable. That's why I gave you the aconite flower; it was meant to warn you to be cautious around her. I thought she would continue pretending to be friendly, but I never expected her to act out like that two days ago," Jenny revealed.

"I see... Well, thank you for informing me, Jenny. Now I have a valid reason not to trust Abby," I said, gratitude laced in my tone.

"No problem, you deserved to know. I think you need to have a strong mentality," Jenny advised.

"I do have a strong mentality," I countered confidently.

"Well, what I mean is a mind so tough it won't break. Abby is messed up, and I believe the only reason she hasn't done anything truly insane is because Aunt Frisca is here. After all, Aunt Frisca is a powerful mage who can even read minds and manipulate time," Jenny explained.

"You have a point, Jenny. I'll be extra cautious around her and start monitoring her behavior," I affirmed.

"Yeah, well be careful. She scares me sometimes; she's a psychopath. Anyway, I was planning to explore the city tomorrow. Would you like to join me?" Jenny invited.

"Sure, since I won't be busy tomorrow, why not?" I accepted.

With that, Jenny soon left, mentioning she had studying to do and that we'd talk later.

Reflecting on Jenny's words, I realized she was right. I'm too weak in both power and mentality right now. Even though she shared all that information with me, I can't fully trust her. After all, she's Abby's sister, and if I trust her too quickly, I might fall into one of Abby's traps. I'll talk to her, but I'll remain suspicious until I know I can trust her.