Chapter 181: Mother and Daughter (1)

Chapter 181: Mother and Daughter (1)Mages.They were beings that consumed an enormous amount of money.From a young age, they had to brew and drink medicinal herbs, learn from good teachers, and have good equipment and good land....Money was needed at every step.

Even with talent, without money, one couldn't become a good mage.So the existence of mages generally meant people born with good parents and good circumstances in this world.A slightly unlucky feeling?

Of course, mage Brigitte was different from that kind of mage.Brigitte was a self-made mage who had managed everything by herself except for her bloodline.She lived a truly tenacious life.Even now, more than ten years later, she still felt tense when thinking about the hardships of that time.

'I know well that those intense days made me who I am today. But I didn't actually want to live so intensely. I just wanted to live ordinarily, leisurely, having fun every day.'

Brigitte recalled her past.Perhaps her non-interference with Naru was due to a compensatory psychology for her own childhood.

'But hasn't my selfishness troubled Naru instead? Won't Naru resent me someday in the distant future? Of course, Naru is too kind to do that, but still....'

Brigitte watched Naru dancing clumsily.At first, she creaked like an unoiled tin doll, but as 1 minute, 5 minutes passed, Naru's dance moves gradually improved until she was moving more naturally than Brigitte.

'What an amazing child.'

Even to Brigitte, Naru was a child like a shining raw gem.Her form was so brilliant that no matter how she was cut, she would shine. Brigitte wasn't sure if she should be involved in this child's growth and future.Even a normal mother-daughter relationship was unknown to Brigitte, let alone being in a position to teach a genius daughter.After much consideration, Brigitte carefully asked Naru.

"Naru, did you have fun today?"

"Ung, ung! I had fun yesterday too! I had fun today and I'll have fun tomorrow! Naru has fun every day! I'm glad I was born into this world! Thank you, Mom!"

Whoosh—Naru hugged Brigitte's waist.Brigitte had many things she wanted to say and ask, but it didn't matter anymore.

'To be honest, I'm a novice mom. I might be terrible as a mother. But Naru is a child overflowing with talent. A novice mother and a genius daughter. Could such a relationship really work out?'

Thinking like that, Brigitte gently stroked Naru's head.At that moment, Brigitte felt a slight warmth on her stomach. Slightly surprised, she looked down to see Naru sniffling.The belly part of her dress was wet because of Naru's tears.

"Naru, why are you crying?"

"Naru has fun every day, but soon I have to go meet the raccoon! I promised!"

"...Raccoon? Promise?"

Brigitte couldn't understand.Naru often said such incomprehensible things.

# # #

If Naru and Brigitte were in a relationship of an awkward mother and a genius daughter, this side was a relationship of an awkward mother and an awkward daughter.

Cecily and Cariote.They were a mother and daughter who had corners that weren't honest with each other.

Although their appearances weren't very similar, their personalities were more alike than anyone else's.Perhaps that's why their dance moves were quite out of sync.Cecily kept stepping on Cariote's feet, and Cariote's long-legged stride creaked as she couldn't be mindful of Cecily.

Still, they were managing to imitate those around them, albeit clumsily.At least that's what Cariote thought.Of course, Cecily sighed, "Hoo—"

"This isn't the kind of party I wanted."

"Is that so?"

"I thought the nobles' social gatherings would be a bit different. But everything that happened today was just nonsense! To think that my, Cecily's, high society debut would turn out like this, I can't accept it!"

"I see."

Cariote nodded appropriately.After all, the only responses Cariote had given to people at today's party were "Is that so?" and "I see."

It was the same even in the situation of dancing with her daughter Cecily.Cariote slightly regretted her lack of conversational skills.

If she had been an elegant and graceful noble, what would she have said to her daughter?Cariote thought of her mother.Cariote's mother was undoubtedly more refined than any of the noble ladies she had met at today's party.If it were her mother, she would have asked something like this.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

Cecily frowned at that question.

"Don't you think it's too early for this Cecily?"

"But noble ladies usually have fiancés by the age of 6 or 7. Mostly arranged engagements between families, though."

Cecily thought of Lady Soso who came from the eastern region. She was only 1 year older than Cecily but already had a much older fiancé.Not just Soso, but most noble ladies generally had fiancés.

"Then shall we become the main characters at this ball too?"

"Ung, ung."

Hina nodded.Before they knew it, Salome and Hina were dancing gracefully and skillfully towards the center of the stage.People watching them recited elegant appreciations like "Oh my." or "It's like two pink roses have bloomed."Hina and Salome were shining brighter than anyone else here.But Salome opened her mouth slowly after opening her thin eyes.

"But Hina, you don't really want to do this, do you?"

"......"

"Actually, you prefer playing with Naru and Cecily rather than studying hard, right?"

"...Ung, ung."

Hina slowly nodded.In fact, Salome also knew what Hina was thinking. Because Hina could be smart thanks to taking after her mother.Salome was a smart woman, so she clearly knew Hina's thoughts but pretended not to know. And Hina also already knew this.In other words, it could be said that they were acting.However, Hina now wanted to put down her role and speak honestly.

"Hina... actually likes Naru and Cecily. Mom told me not to play with them... But Naru is Hina's good rival and Cecily always takes Hina's side..."

"But didn't Cecily hit your head?"

"...We made up! Because we're family...!"

"Foolish. You'll only lose every day like that."

Salome clicked her tongue, "Tsk—"But on the other hand, she was glad that Hina had such a family.Because Salome didn't have such a family.

A cold winter world where you never know who might be aiming for your back.Salome's life had always been like that.Although she had stolen numerous treasures and filled warehouses, Salome's back was always chilly, and because of that, her heart felt empty—.

If only I had a family who could watch my back—.It was natural to think like that.Fortunately, it seemed Hina had such sisters.And Hina thought Salome had such sisters too.

"...Brigitte and Cariote are good people. Hina's other moms... So I think Mom can trust them a bit more too..."

"Hmph—"

Salome snorted.Then she let go of Hina's hand and gently pushed her back.

"If you're going to say such things, go tell your dad."

"Ung, ung!"

Hina ran towards her dad as if she had been waiting for this.And she clung to his right leg, Whoosh—

It looked just like a flying squirrel spreading its body wide— and flying to cling to a tree from a high place.Soon, Cecily, who had finished dancing with Cariote, also approached Judas.And with a reluctant feeling, saying "Mom told me to," she clung to Judas's left leg.

Judas's legs now had children dangling from them.Naru, who came late, was flustered.

"...No place for Naru!"

"Hehe—"

Hina smiled victoriously.Had she finally beaten Naru this time?Then Judas, with an awkward feeling, scratched his nose bridge and picked up Naru with both hands.

"Can't be helped. I'll hold you."

"Wow, holy shh—!"

"Grr—"Even this time, Naru got the best spot.While Hina was building up her competitive spirit against Naru, Judas started moving.

A strange dance with three daughters.The movement was so waddling like a penguin that it was quite funny.Because this kind of dance move couldn't be seen in any ballroom and surely wouldn't be seen in the future, all the people laughed out loud.

"Look at that!"

"Hilarious!"

Louder.And louder.The laughter grew louder and people even clapped their hands.So that when the children grow up and recall today's events, even if they forget everything else, they will surely remember this big laughter.