Ana stood there fuming for a moment, her face a mask of furious cuteness before sighing and turning toward Selunara.
"Forgive us madam, for showing such disrespect in your presence."
And as she began to bow a sudden flick to the forehead stopped her in her tracks.
The force behind it wasn't strong, but somehow was extremely painful. A paradox only a mother could pull off.
"Enough of that young lady! I have told you to call me mom, any other forms of address will be taken as you rebelling against me, got it?"
Ana rubbed her forehead as her eyes watered from the pain, but the beautiful smile on her face pierced Selunara and Garren's hearts.
"Yes…mom," she said in a tiny voice.
'Cuteeee~'
Selunara beamed with joy as she watched her, "See? Much better. That smile is much too beautiful to be hidden behind a mask."
Ana looked confused for a moment before understanding dawned on her as her hands began grabbing at her exposed face, causing her face to pale as panic started to claw its way out.
"Don't worry, your curse won't affect those within the mansion while I am here."
Still worried, but significantly calmer by merit of Selunara's renown reputation, Ana asked, "H-How? How did you…"
While Ana's mind was racing, both cursing herself for her carelessness and worrying if anyone had been affected without her knowledge, Selunara was casually stretching her arms as she said matter-of-factly,
"How? I have just been using a mass healing spell on everything within a 50 meter radius of the mansion. There can't be any lasting damage if I am constantly healing everyone~"
Ana froze at her words. Her mind struggled to understand what she was saying even though the words themselves were easy to understand. But she understood one thing.
'Mom's a badass…'
"Of course the artifact on your ear helps as well," Selunara said while pointing to her ear, "Whatever your curse is, it gives off some form of energy even I can't see. So that earring has been siphoning the majority of it to mitigate the worst of the side effects."
Ana's hand brushed her ear as she seemed to just notice the new weight on her earlobe.
She took quick steps toward the still intact mirror and gasped in wonder and awe at her appearance.
The silver earring shone like a moonlight in physical form. The simple green crystal laid between its two pieces seemed to flow like sea water within the waves of her emerald hair.
"I look…"
"Beautiful?"
Selunara walked over with the still shell-shocked Lilith as she came to Ana's side and looked at her reflection in the mirror.
"I don't know what your curse is or how it came about, but I wanted you to at least be able to show this beautiful face within the safety of our home without needing to worry."
'Our home…'
Tears began to run down Ana's face. For as long as she could remember, this curse had been a shadow clinging to her every step, a misfortune that had isolated her from everyone around her.
But to her, the iron mask had been worse. A constant, cold reminder that no joy, love, or comfort would ever truly be hers to have.
It was her prison.
But then Nevaris appeared, giving her a hope and love she never could have imagined experiencing in her pathetic life. And now Selunara, her mother-in-law who she had just met officially today, was giving her a gift she had wished for since the day she was locked in that decrepit temple.
"Gods~, you girls just love to cry don't you?" Selunara complained.
But the smile on her face was warm and doting as she reached over and wiped away the rivers flowing on her face.
"H-How c-can I ever *sniff* repay you?" Ana said through her tears.
Selunara held her face in her hands, her touch soft and delicate, but with a firmness that filled Ana with a sense of security she had never had before.
"From the moment you agreed to the engagement you were already family. And family, true family, does not have a need for debts or calculation. All we need is love and loyalty. I already consider you and Lilith as Nevi's wives, ceremony or not. I am already trusting you with my greatest treasure, this seems small in comparison no?"
Ana's eyes widened before they crinkled into adorable crescents. She was laughing now.
A laugh full of mirth and belonging.
Seeing this, Selunara's smile widened even more. Even Garren's rigid, old face managed to form a faint genuine smile at the sight.
"Now take Lilith and take a nice bath, and rest. I suspect that brat will be coming back to you girls sooner rather than later," she said as she gently passed the now muttering arachne into Ana's arms.
Ana couldn't understand what Lilith was saying, but the few words she did understand caused a shiver to go down her spine as she sent out a small prayer for her deadbeat husband.
Watching the girls walk away, Selunara stood with a gratified expression.
At that moment, Garren walked up behind her in silence.
"Madam, the young master…" he started.
"He is my Nevi. My son. You don't need to be so weary anymore."
Garren paused, before asking hesitantly, "And regarding the matter of his evolution?"
Yes, though he had changed significantly. None of the mansion staff or even Garren originally, attributed these changes to anything other than some kind of divine miracle.
But after Elizabeth had attacked him, she was able to confirm through his blood that the weak boy they all knew had somehow evolved before he had even reached the required level.
To say they were shocked would be underselling it.
A glint flashed across her moon-like eyes before she said calmly, "Don't concern yourself with it. I have an idea as to what had happened."
Garren wanted to say more, but not wanting to disrespect his mistress, shut his mouth and erased his thoughts.
Selunara took a breath before regaining her graceful smile, "In any case my son is still my son and has gotten better. This is a call for a celebration!"
Garren sighed as he said resignedly, "Will this be a mansion wide affair madam?"
Selunara smiled mischievously, "Of course it will be!"
Garren asked hopefully, "Then shall I prepare the elven wine?"
"..."
"...I will have the servants prepare the dwarven spirits."
"That's why you're my favorite butler old man~"
Garren walked away with a gloomy expression as he muttered, "I'm the only damn butler this family has ever had."
Seeing his depressed silhouette walking away, Selunara laughed like a gleeful child. Today really was a good day!
Walking toward the open cavity in Nevaris' wall, she gazed out into the city. The sun was already setting over Ignivar and yet the city in the distance was still blazing with activity.
She stood there for a while, watching everything with a calm expression before turning her gaze toward her wing of the manor.
'I should also let her know. She would be happy for me…'
With an elegant flourish, her beautiful silver wings unfurled in a breathtaking sweep. The silver scales on the ridges catching the setting golden light like molten moonlight as she took off in quiet majesty.
…
Nevaris had been walking through the mansion aimlessly for an unknown amount of time. His thoughts consumed by what he would ask Elizabeth when he finally found her.
Still lost in thought, he didn't notice a door to his right opening and a figure walking out until he collided with them.
"Kyaa! Young master, are you okay??"
Nevaris froze at the voice, his entire body going rigid as his mind began to catch up with him.
Below him, two soft amber eyes looked up at him with worry. They were captivating under the light of the hallway, glowing softly like liquid gold, their depths inviting and warm.
"Young master?" the voice sounded again with a hint of amusement.
"Ah!? S-Sorry, I didn't mean to–"
Squish
Nevaris froze. The softness under his palm seemed nothing like what a cold stone floor should feel like.
"Ara, ara~. The young master is assaulting me now, what should I do~?"
Nevaris jumped up like a frightened rabbit, his face beet red as he held his hand behind his back. Though he still flexed his fingers a bit at the lingering sensation.
The figure on the floor finally sat up, her face filled with amusement and a faint, knowing mischief that danced in her eyes.
"C-Celia, w-what are you doing here?" Nevaris said hurriedly, his voice cracking a bit as he failed to maintain his composure.
Celia stood up slowly, brushing dust off her maid uniform as her auburn hair fell down her shoulders like beams of sunlight.
She crossed her arms under her chest, the action only serving to make him even more awkward as two watermelon size globes of sin shook violently.
Narrowing her eyes, she pouted as she spoke in an aggrieved tone, "Is that really the first thing you say to me when we have finally reunited??"
That's right, this was Celia, his mother's personal maid and Nevaris' first love.