Chapter 447: Elsa’s Tears (1/2)

Ten days after the incident with the Giant Peeders.

Stearleana had safely entered the Celuroa Kingdom. Needless to say, she would go back to Hourai Island almost every day during the day.

“I’ll do away with that mansion when I get back!”

She wouldn’t hesitate to make such declarations. She seemed to have become tremendously disgusted with the Celuroa Kingdom.

Reinhardt and Berthie spent most of their time in Kartze Village. He had just become a Lord, so it couldn’t be helped.

“I’ve been told that in that village next to Kaina, Toka, was it? There’s a new Lord living there. I’d like to discuss territorial management with him sometime.”

Those kinds of conversations were taking place.

Saki was finally freed from the formal aristocratic life and was free to study to her heart’s content. She also gnawed on several foodstuffs as she pleased.

“Uhuhu, I don’t need to worry about food, there’s a lot of good ingredients… This is the best!”

Her behavior made Ehr worry about her as well.

As for Mine, her everyday life consisted in trial and error, in an attempt to reproduce the “baker’s yeast” with Peridot, as suggested by Jin.

The fermentation of wine and beer was done with yeast cells. There are many types of yeast, but the one that is most suitable for making bread was called “baker’s yeast”.

Jin knew that much, but anything beyond that was completely out of his scope.

Yeast research would also lead to miso and soy sauce, so Peridot and the others worked hard because it was something that Jin wanted to put particular effort into.

Which is why they had chosen to recreate the “baker’s yeast” first.

“The bread that we make with that yeast is so spongy, and it tastes so well!”

It seemed that a new specialty was about to be created in Kaina Village.

And, of course, she hadn’t forgotten about her duties as a teacher. A study session was held at Nidou Castle three days a week.

The reason why they were no longer held at the village headman’s house was because Sally had opened a clinic there.

Although attending school there was a little farther away than before, no child would miss class because there were delicious meals served during “school lunch”.

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During that time, Elsa went back and forth between her parents’ house, Kaina Village, and Hourai Island.

He went to his parents’ house to see his bedridden father, Georg. Of course, that would be whenever she came from Reinhardt’s territory, Kartz Village.

Even with Elsa’s healing magic, his father Georg’s condition was almost unchanged. Elsa was starting to feel helpless about it.

One day, there was an unexpected reunion.

“…Welcome home, Elsa.”

“M… Mother?”

When Elsa went to her parents’ house, Elsa’s stepmother, Marlene Randall von Nefra, was returning from medical treatment and about to take care of her husband Georg.

“I heard some of what you’ve gone through. You’ve also had it quite rough yourself… I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you on those hard times.”

After she said that, Marlene gently hugged Elsa.

“M… Mother…”

A mother who Elsa had loved ever since she was little. Gentle arms, gentle voice. Surrounded by nostalgic warmth, Elsa cried.

“…I thought that man had to be insane, but I was too much of a coward to say anything. When they announced your betrothal to the Marquis, I was too dumbstruck to actually say anything against it…”

For the first time, Elsa learned that Georg had been violent against his wife, Marlene. She too had been a victim.

Half of the time she went for her medical treatment was actually an excuse in order for her to be able to keep her distance from Georg a little longer.

“Can you forgive me? I’ve done nothing but run away… I’m really sorry, I’ve been a bad mother…”

“Yes… It’s alright…”

Surrounded by the warmth of her mother Marlene, Elsa returned to her child-like state and kept crying for a little while.

After finally having calmed down, Elsa was talking with Marlene while still cuddled up to her. Elsa was doing most of the talking. It was mostly about everything that happened after going on a trip with Reinhardt. Marlene listened with a smile.

“…Looks like you’ve had some good experiences. I’m glad you sent it on a trip. And this… Jin, was it? I’d like to meet him sometime.”

“Knowing Brother Jin, he’ll surely come one of these days… Ah!”

Right after saying that, Elsa realized she had called Jin her brother, and blushed.

“Oh, so you can make that face too, Elsa? Hehe…”

Marlene poked at Elsa’s cheeks repeatedly.

“M-Mother…”

As the surprised Elsa backed away, Marlene stared at her and began to speak with a more serious tone.

“Elsa, now that he’s under my care, you don’t need to worry so much. Don’t you have something you’d like to do instead?”

“Thank you…”

Tears started to well up on Elsa’s eyes once again.

“Well, well, here I was thinking about how much you’ve grown up, but you’re still a crybaby.”

Marlene wiped Elsa’s face with a handkerchief, and at that time, Elsa caught a glimpse of blue bruises from under the cuff of her blouse.

“Mother, what happened to your arm?”