"…" A chilling atmosphere filled Cecilia's room.
Beside Cecilia, who was biting her nails, the servants nervously observed her mood.
"…Mother, hasn't she arrived yet?"
"…Yes. Miss…"
"I see…she hasn't arrived yet…" Although the atmosphere was tense because of Cecilia, unlike usual, there was a reason for her bad mood.
The mistress of the lord's city, Cecilia, was inexplicably absent on New Year's Day.
The servants present didn't know the details, but they could tell that Cecilia's displeasure stemmed from this.
'Lunchtime has passed…and she's still…' She's talking about a party or something, but this is far too late.
What kind of party could last for three days without any news? If she were attending a party of nobles in other cities, it would be understandable, but Cecilia was currently attending a party of the Radil monsters.
Even if the other party was a divine beast rather than a nobleman, their participation in a monster party and their prolonged stay seemed suspicious.
But these were merely minor anomalies—Cecilia's real worry at this moment was…
'Could it be… that Mother really…' that the monster and her mother… had an affair.
In fact, romantic entanglements among noblewomen were commonplace.
In aristocratic societies where political marriages were prevalent due to commercial interests or the inheritance of titles,
since about half of noble couples were in loveless marriages, rumors of a lady having an affair were quite common gossip.
The existence of condoms, which she couldn't understand until two or three years ago when she received sex education,
and the place where she learned they were produced to meet the latent needs of noblewomen was the tea party of noble ladies she attended last year.
But…at least I thought my parents were people unrelated to such rumors.
Moreover, Cecilia was someone who utterly loathed monsters, even excessively instilling in Cecilia how repulsive monsters were.
Cecilia, even if the other party was a divine beast, having an affair with that deformed, incomplete monster seemed utterly absurd…
"…But, the marks in that bedroom the day before yesterday…"
Although she lacked experience and wasn't entirely sure, the marks didn't seem like something a human could leave.
The bedroom with those marks. Her mother, who had abandoned family time and disappeared. And her father, who showed a strange, secretive attitude towards her mother.
All of this pointed Cecilia to only one answer.
'…My mother is still young, after all, and not entirely incapable of understanding. I've recently heard that the two of them hardly sleep in the same bed. But…even so…' Even so, the fact that her mother was having an affair with that monster was still hard to accept.
Even if it was a divine beast, it was still that ugly, half-human, half-beast monster.
So many nobles… no.
Even other commoner men, why did he have to have an affair with that monster?
'Even if that guy had… no! Even if he had what looked like strong muscles, he was a monster…' Indeed, that monster possessed something unique that other men didn't have. Those extraordinary muscles, far surpassing those of human men, that she had witnessed and fought several times.
The overwhelming power and stamina of the monster she felt when struck in the abdomen must have been generated through those muscles.
And the heavy, viscous feeling she experienced when kicking with all her might…
…If the size of her testicles, felt in that sensation… was also reflected in her genitals… '…Ah, no. Even so, Mother would never…' "Miss! Lady Celestia is back!"
"Mother!?"
"Y-yes…! That, um… actually… ah, Miss!" The maid who came to announce Celestia's return seemed to have something to say, but Cecilia ignored her and rushed out of the room.
She had been waiting for Celestia's return, her mind filled with countless questions.
Did she know that her father, Albert, had become like that? What did the marks in the bedroom mean?
Why did she have to attend that monster's birthday party?
And… that monster. What exactly is the relationship between Shimo and him?
Pondering these questions, Cecilia ran towards the entrance connecting the lord's city office area and the lord's family residence.
Just as a blue-haired figure resembling Celestia appeared in the distance—"M-Mother!…Eh?" Cecilia froze, staring at the 'two figures' before her.
At this crucial moment, her mother appeared alongside that monster.
But what was even more shocking was…
"Ah…hmm♡ Lord Shimo really…♡ In a place like this…♡"
"We'll be separated for a long time, won't we? I have to savor our Celestia's body properly."
"Hehe♡ Well, there's no way around it then. Please enjoy it to the fullest♡ Lord Shimo♡"
Celestia's figure was pressed close to the monster, uttering a seductive voice.
Seeing this, Cecilia couldn't believe that the woman was Celestia.
Not to mention her hair was now loose, her attire was completely at odds with Celestia's usual image.
"Ah, Mother... my lady...?" Celestia's clothing usually fell into two categories.
Flowing gowns like those of a noblewoman, and the occasional attire of a mage.
The only difference was whether the gowns were for everyday wear; her public appearances were generally limited to these two categories—but Celestia's current appearance didn't match either.
What was going on with that look?
"Oh dear. Cecilia. Did you come to greet me?"
"M-Mother...? What is that dress...?"
"...Ah. You mean that...? Hehe♡ It's a dress Lord Semo gave me♡" A gift...? That harlot-like outfit was a gift...? Although she wore some kind of ornate long coat, the clothes underneath were unbelievable.
An absurdly short, clinging dress-like gown.
What exactly was that dress?
A necktie draped down to her breasts, her torso practically naked, barely concealed by a thin shred of fabric covering her nipples.
Her hands weren't gloves, but through the gaps in her loosely draped coat, armbands of the same color as her dress could be seen extending to just above her elbows.
Her abdomen had a navel-revealing opening, and the sides were cut to pelvic level, revealing the absurdly obvious laces of her underwear.
The skirt was so short that her underwear was barely visible, each glimpse of her pubic area a deliberate display of cleavage.
Below the skirt were inexplicably humiliating fishnet stockings and seemingly impossibly high heels.
And as if to conclude the whole affair… a strangely decorated collar, reminiscent of a dog collar, adorned her.
Although she wore a luxurious fur coat, the outfit made Celestia look less like a noblewoman and more like a bizarre prostitute.
"First of all, I'm a mage primarily using ice magic, right? After I mentioned I was resistant to the cold, Lord Shimo picked out this outfit for me. Isn't it wonderful? Hehe…" Celestia brushed her hair aside, revealing a cheerful smile.
From the hand that brushed her hair aside, Cecilia noticed that her nails were painted a deep blue.
Not only that, but Celestia's makeup had also been changed to a style she would never normally wear, one that seemed to flow with some kind of vibrant color.
While it was gorgeous and noble, it lacked any of the refinement or elegance expected of a noblewoman; it only appeared vulgar.
"Pfft... Is it because Celestia is just too beautiful? Dressed up like this to my liking, my thing is so hard I can't stop. You're having so much fun and still complaining it's not enough, really, enough."
"Oh dear♡ This won't do♡ If you can't hold back, how about coming to my room...♡ Hehe♡ How about it?"
"Hehe. Well, how about playing a little longer before you leave?"
"Ah, please♡ For Lord Shimo, I'll prepare tea...♡"
Watching Celestia so vulgarly nestled in the monster's arms, Cecilia had to admit it.
Her mother, who had abandoned her father, the lord... had committed adultery with this monster.
The moment she confirmed this, Cecilia could only scream at the monster before her.
"You, you...! You damned monster brat!" An indescribable emotion overwhelmed Cecilia.
"You mad bastard! Are you even conscious?! Do you know who you're messing with?!" The monster, whom he had initially thought was somewhat approachable, suddenly became utterly repulsive.
"He's a complete lunatic?! Damn it, you ran out of things to mess with, so you turned to the lord's wife?! The very person who helped you settle in Ladia?! Completely insane?!"
This monster, whom he had once only considered a toy. Shimo.
He had thought obtaining such a rare creature as a divine beast would be a joyous occasion, but instead, he had done this to his parents.
The feelings he had recently had for this divine beast seemed to have been betrayed without his noticing… An indescribable, strange rage surged within him, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
"You bastard, do you know what will happen if you touch a noble?! I don't care what divine beast you are, you're finished! I'm going to cut off your head and hang it at the entrance to Ladia…!"
—Slap!! Just as Cecilia was about to unleash a torrent of curses, a sharp slap interrupted her, leaving her stunned.
The monster she was cursing didn't budge.
So, who was slapping her...? The burning pain on her cheek made Cecilia momentarily dazed, then she recognized the person.
The one who interrupted Cecilia and slapped her was her mother, standing beside her.
Cecilia was glaring at Cecilia with an unprecedented rage.
"How dare you be so disrespectful in front of Lord Shimo! Cecilia!"
"M-Mother... Lord?" Utterly absurd. Her mother shouldn't be angry here.
After all, her mother should also bear responsibility for that incident.
"Is this the result of being spoiled, making you forget your place and act recklessly?!" How could her mother be so self-righteous when she had brought the family to the brink of collapse?
"It's already a great honor for Lord Shimo, a divine beast, to grace Ladia with his presence, yet you dare to speak so rudely!"
Why are you so protective of this monster?
"You don't even have a title, yet you dare to be so arrogant just because your parents have such meager noble status!?"
Why does my mother, who supposedly despises monsters, seem so close to this one?
"Even if it's a misunderstanding, there should be a limit! Do you think your mother and Lord Shimo have done something shady!?" Why are you scolding me instead?
"Your father, Albert, has agreed to it! Who are you to interfere?!"
"Wh-what...? Father...?" Impossible.
Father would actually allow such a thing...?
No, thinking about it carefully, Father did hint at his approval... Could it be...? "How could this be…"
"Ah… I'm so sorry. Lord Semo…♡ It's all my fault for not disciplining her properly; that's why my daughter is so ill-mannered…"
"Hehe. It's alright, Celestia. Why don't you start disciplining our Miss Eia properly now?"
"Ah…♡ You're so kind. Lord Semo…♡"
The sight of her own mother was unbelievable.
That appearance was simply like… a female whining and being in heat with a male…
"…It seems that won't work. I can only ask Lord Semo to revise your training program, changing it to teaching you manners every day."
"W-What do you mean… every day…!?"
"That's the only way to correct your attitude. Don't even think about seeing Leo for the foreseeable future, remember that!" Celestia's absurd declaration was almost like corporal punishment.
When the monster's arm draped over Celestia's angry shoulder, she reverted to her whining, feminine expression, pressing her body against his side.
"Heh. Ceres. Even so, every day is too much."
"Mother♡ Then, shall we go at a time convenient for Lord Semo? Cecilia will always be on standby in the lord's city…♡"
"P-Please wait a moment! Mother…!"
"Since you've made up your mind, don't struggle in vain. Cecilia. I need to speak with Lord Semo. You go back to your room. Come. Lord Semo♡ Please come to my room…♡"
"Pfft… That's all then. See you next time, Miss Cecilia Eiei."
Although she sensed something was amiss, seeing Ceresia's blissfully happy expression, she couldn't utter a word.
Leaving the speechless Cecilia behind, the monster and Ceresia departed down the corridor.
Smelling the lingering, eerie scent of the beast, Cecilia could only stare blankly at their retreating figures.