By the time Tia woke up, the golden light of morning had already filled the room. His limbs felt heavy, his body sluggish from sleep. Rubbing his eyes, he heard a familiar voice.
"Did you sleep well?"
Blinking, he looked up to see Sera walking towards him, already dressed and ready for the day.
"Yes," Tia murmured with a nod.
"If you're still tired, you can rest a little longer," Sera offered gently.
Tia shook his head, pushing away the last remnants of sleep. "No, I’ll get up."
As his vision cleared, he frowned slightly. "Mother, why didn’t you wake me?"
Sera smiled. "You’ve been having trouble sleeping lately. I didn’t want to disturb you when you finally got some rest."
Tia looked around. "Where’s Vina?"
"She already left for her morning training," Sera replied.
As they spoke, Sera reached for his hand. "Give me your hand."
Tia extended his right hand, the sustenance ring gleaming faintly on his index finger. Sera held his hand between her palms, and slowly, Lamia’s Embrace became visible, coiling around her hand like a living shadow.
She activated the artifact, and a steady stream of mana flowed into the sustenance ring. The ouroboros-shaped ring responded, its dull eyes flickering back to life as it absorbed the energy.
"There, all done," Sera smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead.
"Breakfast will be ready soon. Get ready and come to the dining hall."
Tia nodded as Sera stood and walked toward the door.
When she left, he glanced down at the ring on his finger, running his thumb over its surface.
'It’s been two years since Vina returned from the capital after awakening her magic…
‘A lot had changed.
'I still don’t know what Mother realized that night…
‘Physically, she looked the same—ageless, beautiful. But something about her had shifted.
‘Something deep.
‘A few days after that night, she sent letters home, requesting permission to keep the sustenance rings—the ones she had received before Vina left for her awakening ceremony. Somehow, her request had been granted.
‘Not long after, she stopped feeding us with her milk.
‘She explained that as we grew, we would need the sustenance rings to nourish us instead. The nourishment provided by her milk would gradually become insufficient for us.
‘Instead, she told us to always wear the rings, never to take them off. And from time to time, she would recharge them—just as she had done moments ago—using that mysterious artifact which could turn invisible at will.
‘Although she never crossed the line, she used to tease us sometimes, seducing us. But now… she’s stopped completely.
‘She no longer lets us bathe together or help each other with oil massages like before.
‘She also stopped those perverted games she had us play. She stopped all her seduction attempts on Vina and me.
‘I don’t know if I should feel relieved or disappointed. I don’t understand why she changed or what she’s thinking. I feel quite complicated about this.
Tia exhaled softly, pushing the thoughts aside. He needed to get ready. Tia got out of bed, moving towards the closet.
‘She also received a lot of study material from her home. Ever since then, she’s spent most of her time on some kind of magic research. She never tells us much about it—just that she’ll explain when we become adults.
‘She also stopped overseeing our studies in the afternoons. Most of the territory management has been left to Aunt Emma, though Mother still does the final checks.
‘As for Vina and me, we’ve both grown taller.
‘As Mother gave more freedom to Vina, she decided to train under Uncle Alaric and the guards. She started running drills and doing all sorts of military exercises with the soldiers.
‘At first, everyone was surprised and hesitant, but when Mother formally requested that Uncle Alaric train her, he accepted. After a few days, it became normal, and no one really questioned it anymore.
Grabbing his towel and clothes, he started walking toward the bathroom, lost in thought.
‘A year ago, Vina had her first menses. According to Mother, that meant she was officially an adult.
‘When Vina asked Mother when I would be considered an adult, she told, it would take a few more years. The boys in our family seem to mature later. Somewhere between 16 and 18. While the girls mature at a normal pace.
‘When Vina asked how they would know I became an adult, mother whispered something in her ears and they both looked below my waist. While vina had a look of interest, mother gave a hungry look giving me goosebumps.
‘Mother also asked Vina if she wanted to learn about the things she had kept hidden, but Vina said she would rather wait and learn them alongside me. She said she didn’t want me to feel left out. That made me happy.
‘Still, Mother began teaching her many things in private and started taking her along on her nightly escapades, leaving me alone and feeling a little abandoned. Vina, probably following Mother's instructions, never spoke about what they did, which annoyed me a bit.
‘Vina’s friends have also started helping their parents with their work, and she’s busy training with the soldiers. Mother is completely absorbed in her research. With everyone so occupied, I was left with a lot of free time.
‘So, I decided to use it to sort through the information and knowledge I had from my previous world.
‘It took me two years to organize everything. At first, I feared I had forgotten most of it. But as I kept pushing myself to remember, more and more came back to me. My memory seemed to improve significantly, and I suspect it had something to do with the magic language training Mother had Vina and me do.
'Mother no longer insists on the training, but I’ve continued it on my own—practicing the language, recalling symbols, and refining my pronunciation. Vina, on the other hand, has mostly stopped. Since she awakened her mana, she remembers all the alphabets naturally and prefers to focus on her physical training. Now, she only revisits the magic language lessons occasionally.
‘But my memory wasn’t without its consequences.
‘At first, I didn’t want to remember anything from my past life. It was too painful.
‘But I wanted to help Mother and Vina however I could, so I forced myself to recall my memories.
‘That’s when the nightmares began.
‘Two years ago, I could barely sleep. My past life memories haunted me every night, leaving me exhausted and anxious.
‘Mother, Vina, and everyone else were deeply worried. Even Priest Joshua, who became the new priest, tried casting magic to help me, but it was useless.
‘The clinical priest also found nothing wrong with my health, leaving everyone puzzled.
‘I refused to give up despite the mental exhaustion caused by the nightmares. I knew I was making everyone worry, but I kept pushing forward. Over time, the nightmares started to subside. The dreams that haunted me daily gradually faded, only troubling me occasionally.
‘But for the past few days, they’ve resurfaced as a daily occurrence.
Sigh.
‘I don’t understand what triggered them.’
As Tia walked through the halls, he saw maids moving about the castle, attending to their duties. Below, in the garden, a few soldiers patrolled the grounds.
‘Another major change in the past year was Uncle Alaric and a group of men completing their training at Grandma Ravenna’s estate. After their return, Mother officially anointed them as soldiers of our baronetcy.
‘And Uncle Alaric became Mother's knight.
‘But the biggest change for the Ravencrest was Mother’s decision to allow guards inside the castle.
‘A year ago, don’t know who started it, the entire village was abuzz with all kinds of rumors about us.
‘No one knew what we were doing, living alone in the castle, and people’s suspicions grew.
‘Although aunt Emma and uncle Alaric explained, no one was buying it.
‘After a long discussion with Aunt Emma, Mother finally relented. Since she was so absorbed in her research, she no longer had time to cook for us like she used to.
‘Now, maids and soldiers are allowed inside the castle. A few guards patrol at night, though some areas remain off-limits—like the garden, bedrooms, and private corridors. Maids rotate shifts to stand guard in case of emergencies.
‘Mother also handed over meal preparation to the maids, and they now manage household duties in shifts.
‘In short, the castle finally operates as a baroness’s residence should.
‘Since Mother stopped her kinky games with us, she doesn’t seem to mind the presence of others anymore. I suppose she initially banned outsiders to maintain our privacy.
Tia stepped into the bathroom and let the warm water cascade over him, washing away not just the dirt and sweat but also the lingering weight of distress.
Once finished, he started to change into his clothes.
Tia donned a finely woven chemise, layering it with a deep blue, long-sleeved gown fitted at the bodice and flaring at the ankles. Silver embroidery traced elegant patterns along the neckline and cuffs, while a braided black belt cinched the waist.
********
Copyright © [March] [2025] [The Rainy Imp]. All rights reserved.
Returning to the bedroom, Tia sat in front of the mirror.
Applied herbal balm to the lips, brighten the complexion with powdered chalk and dusted the cheeks with crushed rose petals.
Using a wooden comb, Tia smoothed the damp hair, letting them fall down her back like a curtain of ink. With practiced fingers, she began braiding—sectioning, twisting, and weaving—into a simple twisted crown braid.
Finally, Tia slipped on soft, dark gray shoes, their pointed toes peeking from beneath the gown’s hem.
Looking at the cute little girl's reflection in the mirror, Tia felt satisfied. Yet, the void in his heart is yet to be filled.
Step, step, step.
Just as Tia finished dolling up, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the corridor outside.
‘The inner part of the castle is off-limits to soldiers. Only the maids move around freely. Must be the cleaning crew,’ he thought.
Without hesitation, he darted toward the old wooden wardrobe, slipped inside, and carefully pulled the doors shut. Peering through the tiny decorative holes, he settled in to observe.
Moments later, three maids entered the room. One had a long nose, another an oval face, and the third busied herself with the sheets. They quickly set to work—one sweeping the floor, another dusting the windows, each moving with the ease of routine.
“Did you hear about the brawl at the tavern last night?” the oval-faced maid asked, shaking out a blanket before folding it.
The long-nosed maid scoffed. “Another one? That place is nothing but trouble.”
“Exactly! People are starting to avoid that whole area.”
“Ever since that tavern opened, men have been glued to it,” the long-nosed maid sighed. “Now some have even started beating their wives for scolding them about their drinking.”
“I hope Lady Sera does something about it,” the oval-faced maid muttered, sweeping dust into a pan. “Frankly, I don’t feel safe going anywhere near that place.”
“But do you really think she will? She approved its opening in the first place,” the long-nosed maid pointed out.
The oval-faced maid frowned. “That doesn’t mean she expected this! And that tavern is run by Isabella’s family. If anything, they’re the ones to blame.”
The long-nosed maid scoffed. “Come on, do you really think Sera will not take money from the tavern?”
“I’m sure she’ll take action soon. Several housewives complained to Emma already,” the oval-faced maid countered.
“Hmph,” The long-nosed maid clicked her tongue.
“Seems like Emma’s the only one doing all the work lately. Sera hasn’t even done her usual village inspections. Makes me doubt if she is the baroness or Emma?”
“She’s just busy,” the other defended.
The long-nosed maid shot her a look. “You know what people are saying.”
“Oh, I’ve heard the rumors,” the oval-faced maid said, shaking her head. “About her and the children living in seclusion, refusing to let anyone in? It’s nonsense.”
“It’s strange, don’t you think?”
“Those are just baseless rumors! We all know Lady Sera is a good person. And she has allowed the maids and soldiers inside the castle now.”
“Only because people started getting suspicious,” the long-nosed maid countered. “If she had nothing to hide, she would have continued as before.”
The oval-faced maid set down the folded blankets with an exasperated sigh. “So if she doesn’t allow anyone inside, she’s hiding something. And if she does, she’s covering up? That’s ridiculous. It isn’t fair for Sera.”
The long-nosed maid shrugged, sweeping under the bed. “You can’t deny some things are odd. Like how she lets Vina train with the soldiers. What kind of mother allows her daughter to do that with other men?”
“It’s not unheard of in other regions,” the other pointed out. “Plenty of women are adventurers, and Countess Ravenna herself is a warrior.”
“Even Olivia trains, doesn’t she?” another maid chimed in while adjusting the curtains.
“Yes, but Olivia trains with her father, not a bunch of men,” the long-nosed maid retorted. “And then there’s the matter of Lady Sera’s other activities.” She lowered her voice. “People say she’s practicing black magic inside the castle.”
The oval-faced maid rolled her eyes. “Please. Priests Kevin and Benedict have visited plenty of times. If anything was wrong, they’d have said so.”
“Then what about Tia?” the long-nosed maid pressed. “That child sits cross-legged under the garden tree for hours, eyes shut like some kind of statue. And she’s been doing it for months.”
Hidden inside the wardrobe, Tia furrowed his brows. ‘It’s true we do some… unusual things. But why is this long-nosed maid so determined to make us look bad?’
Suddenly, Tia’s chest tightened with anxiety as he watched the long-nosed maid finish sweeping and turn toward the closet.
She stepped closer.
His breath hitched.
Just as her hand reached out—
“Hey! What are you doing?” the oval-faced maid’s sharp voice cut through the room.
The long-nosed maid flinched. “Huh? I was just going to clean the closet.”
“You know Lady Sera ordered us not to touch them.”
“But we have to clean them from time to time.”
“No, we don’t. If it were necessary, we’d need permission from the chief maid first.”
The long-nosed maid scoffed. “Come on, aren’t you even a little curious about what’s inside?”
“No. And we’re leaving. If the chief maid finds out, we’ll be scolded thoroughly,” the oval-faced maid said, clearly annoyed.
“Alright, alright, don’t get mad,” the long-nosed maid said, raising her hands in mock surrender. “Let’s go.”
With that, the three maids gathered their cleaning tools and left the room.
Tia remained still for a few moments, listening intently. When he was sure they were gone, he slowly pushed open the wardrobe doors and stepped out.
“Damn, That was close. I thought I would be found out.” Tia exhaled, relieved.
“....That maid…” he muttered, frowning.
“There was something off about her….
“Should I tell Mom?” he wondered aloud. “But she’s been so busy… Would this really be worth bothering her over? Maybe I should talk to the chief maid instead.”
Sigh He sighed, rubbing his temples.
“The bad rumors about us keep spreading. But it feels too aggressive. As if someone is intentionally trying to defame us.” He clenched his fists.
“Who could it be?” Tia muttered.
For a moment, he stood in deep thought. Then, shaking his head, he let out another sigh.
“I should get to the dining hall. Mother and Vina must be waiting.”
With that, he turned on his heel and left the room.
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Copyright © [March] [2025] [The Rainy Imp]. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, contact the publisher at [therainyimp@gmail.com].
