Chapter 59: Lovestruck Eyes
-Aerin POV-
The sun had disappeared below the horizon when I woke up in the moving carriage. I had a rather comfortable sleep, despite it being in the carriage only. It's at times like this that I'm thankful for the overly extravagant carriages that our family rides, because only these carriages feel snug and cozy enough to let me rest without any major disturbance.
"Haaaugh…" Yawning as I sat straight inside the carriage, I decided to look through the window outside to see where I was currently at
The bright street lamps decorated the side of the road, each quite a distance from each other. I could see villas and mansions built, each one uniquely designed as if reflecting the owners' differing tastes and preferences. Each place also had a distinct, well maintained garden that ordinary people couldn't afford or be bothered to maintain. It was enough to tell me that I was now inside the inner city.
It seems like I've enjoyed my nap a little more than I expected. The last time I was still awake, I remember that I wasn't even in Lograth yet. With the people that 'smuggled' Cacao, getting them to close out shop was pretty easy. I gave them a chance, they could re-open with our permission as long as we get a 'substantial' share of the profits. But they were stubborn and insisted that they won't work under anyone and that they'll have all of the profits made.
Thus, I had to tie all the loose ends and then track down the place where they were smuggling it in the first place. Unfortunately, it was on another city entirely. Fortunately though, no significant deaths occurred and after a few rounds of 'negotiations', we now have another willing supplier. For the people who thought they'd struck gold, they were given a chance at cooperation but were too blind to realize the hand that was being extended to them.
Did they really think they're the first people to ever realize that some products have unnaturally high prices, when in reality it could be much lower? And that they could just sell them cheaply to make quick money off of it? Well, they're not and they can't.
Humming a light tune as I watched the passing buildings, I finally arrived to our mansion in the northern district. My chauffeur opened the door for me and when I finally got down the carriage, I saw that there was another carriage parked in the yard. Shortly after, I was notified by the chauffeur that there was another raptor in the stables. Pursing my lips, I tsk'ed in annoyance before entering the mansion.
Surely enough, when I arrived in the second floor terrace, I saw a woman lounged in a bed, drinking from her glass while being surrounded by servants. I didn't hear anything about her coming here.
"I didn't know you were paying me a visit." I said as I walked up to Laurel
I looked at the woman who was only in her underwear, with a coat wrapped around her shoulders. Her belly was completely visible, as well as the entirety of her legs. She had a glass of wine in her hands and was being fanned by a maid on the side. Then she was also being hand fed grapes by a butler at her side, and was resting her head at the lap of another maid.
"You're back, Aerin." she said before opening her mouth as she was fed another grape. She chewed for a little bit before swallowing as she continued, "Father stepped down from his seat in the Royal Court with me inheriting it, so I'll be staying here from now on."
"Who's this?" I asked before pointing to the butler who was feeding her grapes
Laurel's coat only covered her shoulders and arms, while her underwear only covered her most intimate parts and I could see the young butler stealing glances and ogling at her body every now and then, unable to hide the craving in his eyes. He's even touching her lips every time he brings a grape to her mouth.
'How unseemly' I looked at the man with contempt, I don't remember seeing him here a week ago before I left
"A new hire, it seems like" Laurel replied noticing the disdain in my eyes as I looked at him, the butler only then noticed me who was asking about him. 'Too busy staring, eh?'
"I hope you had a good look." I told him before ordering him to clean my carriage in the yard "Eve, tell the senior maid to give him his salary for this month, then tell him to pack his things"
"I understand" Evelyn nodded as she heard my words, while Laurel looked amused while the maid behind her refilled her glass. I wanted to comment on Laurel's unladylike appearance, but it wouldn't matter anyway. She probably already noticed the butlers ogling, but just acted like she didn't.
"He was just having a look~ Let the man fantasize a little" she said before taking another shot at her glass "It's not like he'll ever get to touch the real thing~"
'That's just you.' I glared at her, I'm not in the mood for an argument so I just told her "I don't like getting leered at in my own home." I didn't want to get in the same bed as her, so I instead leaned against the hand rails.
Laurel then signaled all the other maids around her to leave the two of us alone, "So why did Father suddenly step down?" I asked.
"He just didn't want to deal with the politics in the Royal Court" she replied "It's just his seat in the Royal Court, it's not like he stepped down as the head of the family."
"I see..."
"How about you? Any traces or clues of possible slave collusion in the area?" Laurel asked, to which I shook my head "Really? Not even when 'interrogating' them?"
It was one of the reasons why I stayed in that rural village for quite a while. Laurel has supposedly caught wind of activities by human traffickers deep in Elvish territories, so I was sent out there to know more about it. There were actually very few actual human traffickers found, but the amount of kidnappings didn't match the number of traffickers at all.
So it made me believe that they were very skilled, but when I came across a few of them they were above-average at best. They didn't have any significant information with them and were most likely just goons, but how can they get that deep in Elban territory if they really were just unorganized groups of human traffickers?
So we started suspecting possible elvish collusion in this whole kidnapping scheme. But unfortunately, even with my abilities I haven't got much information on them.
"In a side note, be more careful when 'interrogating' people. I ignored it at first but recently, deaths of 'dark practitioners' have come to my attention." she warned
"The perpetrator's time of activity isn't known yet, we've confirmed that he or she's been active for at least seven years but it could be as far back as three decades ago. The most recent death was a vampire in Kalhyr who died with silver bolts littering her body."
I pursed my lips at the information. I knew my own strength the most, so I wasn't that worried in a direct confrontation. However, that was a direct confrontation. If this person only kills solely because they were practitioners of the dark arts or heretics, then chances are he's not gonna play fair.
"I see." I nodded at her words before saying "If that's all, then I'll go now" I said before going back inside the mansion
I didn't have anything urgent to do now, so I looked at my pocket watch to check the time. It was 10 minutes past nine in the evening and I just woke up from a long nap so I wasn't in the mood to sleep. But with nothing to do, I still went to my bedroom anyways.
Closing the door behind me, I walked up to my closet. I first took off my shoes. I then hung my coat on a rack, before unbuttoning my shirt and one by one, I took off my clothes. I then changed into my nightgown, but since I wasn't planning to sleep, instead I sat in front of the piano.
I told him that I'll let him play his music in the city, and he's already been living here for a month or two but I haven't done anything at all to help him. I probably could have gotten a lot more information about the human trafficker's activities but it wasn't really anything urgent, so I just spent most of my days there teaching him.
Frankly, I miss having him around. Time spent with him is time with: No stress from work, away from my responsibilities, and just overall having a good time. Maybe it's because of that, that my memories with him are always so fond. It's just so relaxing, teaching and spending time with someone who also shares your passions.
"Riel… Teacher's lonely" I said as I checked the time again for absolutely no reason, before twisting the small handle at the back and a melodious tune rang out
This was my student's very first musical piece, and if I'm being completely honest, it's way better than what I initially imagined. It's supposed to be a duet with a violin and a piano, even though I was expecting a solo composition from him. I really couldn't believe that it was his first work.
But the thing that's always making me smile every time I heart it is the name.
'Rinea'
"AHHHH~ It's too obvious~" I wasn't stupid enough to not realize that it's an anagram of my own name
While I feel flustered and second-hand embarrassment for his naming sense, I always end up smiling like a fool every time I think about it. It just… makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I can't even find the exact words, it's just so sweet and endearing, like my heart would beat out of my chest.
His first composition is named after me. It's even a duet, no less, so he can't play it alone and I can understand the implications behind it. 'He made this with me in mind'. It's just so cheesy, in a good way, and what's even more embarrassing, is that it worked.
"Damn it… You're an adult, Aerin, for God's sake" I said as I tried covering my face with both hands, no one was looking at me, but that didn't stop the feeling that kept my face pink in shame
I remember he said that he made it with someone in mind, so I was thinking about who this 'Rinea' girl is. And when the realization hit me, I felt my face flush red in shame. But at the same time, I just felt so giddy inside that I couldn't hide the stupid smile that kept creeping up my face.
"My poor heart~ I just can't take it~" when I started teaching him, never once did I think that it would feel this fulfilling or gratifying.
Having your efforts be rewarded and reciprocated would feel this good, who could've possibly thought?
Taking the cover off the piano, I tried recreating the music piece, that was engraved in the pocket watch he gave me. I didn't have the exact sheets but I can somehow improvise. It was one thing playing a piece, but it was another, when playing something that is dedicated to you.
So for the entire night, music echoed throughout my room.
…
…
-Maelriel POV-
When I woke up earlier in the morning, I found Celine inside the master's bedroom drinking coffee as she waited for me to wake up. When she saw that I was finally awake, she was all smiles as she greeted me,
"Good Morning Little Brother~" she was strangely happy as she greeted me, she was raising her eyebrows up and down repeatedly while smirking,
"Haaauugh… Morning Big Sis" Yawning, I then returned Celine's greetings before asking "Why so happy first thing in the morning?"
"Mom's out~" was all that she said, and I instantly knew why she was so happy. "She won't be back until noon at the very least~" she flipped her silver hair as she said so
"Why's she out?" I asked,
"Does it matter?" she asked back before replying "She went out to the outer city to buy ingredients."
"I see."
"Anyway, look at you sleeping with Mom in this big bed all this time" she pursed her lips as she looked around the master's bedroom and the first thing she noticed was the large bed.
"-Should've been me." she added at the very end of her sentence
"Anyways, let's have breakfast for now~" she said while energetically dragging me downstairs with her
"W-wait, I just woke up" I was still feeling a little groggy and my legs still lacked a bit of strength from my activities with Mom last night
"Time is gold right now, Riel." Celine couldn't be bothered to wait for me and instead carried me downstairs with me on her arms. "We've got no time to lose~"
As if every second that Mom isn't home is important, she brought me to the dining table with her. Looking at the food I could see a bunch of heart-shaped pancakes with syrup and a hot chocolate drink for breakfast.
I knew that things like chocolate and sugar was rather expensive in this world, so for Celine to make both hot chocolate and syrup, just for breakfast meant that she really was preparing for a day like this to come.
"Fufu, how is it?~" she said while having a smug look on her face. "I've always wanted to make this, but Mom probably won't allow it."
"But she's not here, so by default I am now the head of this household, for a few hours at least." after saying that she then sat down beside me
Throughout the entirety of her explanation, she looked so lovable while she excitedly told me about how she once tasted pancakes in a store and ever since then she wanted to eat it with me. Well she got her wish, and we had a wonderful breakfast that time.
…
After breakfast was over, she then started speaking again.
"Let's go back up?" she asked with a smile
"To where?" I asked like I didn't know what she meant
"To the master's bedroom of course~" she said matter-of-factly "I said it right? Without Mom, I'm the head of this house thus that bedroom belongs to me."
She was like a prisoner who finally achieved freedom, she was now doing all the things she couldn't do before when Mom is here.
"You're too excited, Sis." I laughed at her over-the-top enthusiasm but she actually shot back
"Oh shut it Riel, I only have a few months until my school starts" she said with a pout "It's already hard to get some alone time with you now, and it'll only get harder in the future"
"Oh..." well, that was true.
Celine wasn't attending a high school like those from my previous life, she stays there for a six days and is given a rest day where she can then leave the school premises. And only those whose house is nearby can actually go home during that alloted rest day, while the rest just wander around the area or sleep the entire day.
Any actual long breaks, or the ones similar to a semester break, is given every three months where they get two and a half weeks of free time.
So taking me by the hand, she then dragged me back upstairs into the master's bedroom.
"I've been sleeping alone for more than a month now" she said once we got inside. "And each time, I wish that you were in the bed with me" I could practically see hearts in her eyes as she started speaking
Locking the door behind her, she then raised her skirt with her hand and I saw that she was crotchless, open panties. Her pussy was completely visible, and she licked her lips as she said
"So I need all the love my brother can give me now~" she said before she kissed me in the lips "-and I need it deep inside me♥ in three different places~"
"Roughen me up, Riel♥ Your big sister really needs a good, hard pounding from her brother♥"