St. Catarina Convent.
All the nuns there recognized Vieya and Jasmine; this wasn’t the first ti they had t.
“Good day, Miss Vieya. Do you require us to guide you anywhere?” A nun bowed politely, her tone calm and respectful. “The dean inford us yesterday that you would be visiting a friend today.”
“Thank you... but I know the way well. Go on with your own duties—no need to mind us.”
Vieya shook her head and led Jasmine away by the hand.
The convent was busy as always. Nearly all believers in the city ca here daily for their regular prayers; not a single day went without visitors.
Following the small path she rembered, Vieya felt a faint pang of nostalgia at how quickly ti had passed.
Since that day they returned to the Adventurers’ Guild, Luna and the others had submitted their quest items, earned their promotion, and had been busy with follow-up paperwork ever since.
Vieya herself had also received a reward exceeding two hundred thousand gold coins—ten tis the originally agreed amount.
Such a massive fortune was enough to let any ordinary person drown in luxury for life. As long as one avoided the three poisons—wine, won, and gambling—there would still be more than enough to squander until death.
Even Vieya had gotten a little excited after receiving so much money.
Back when she was a Hero, she’d never actually handled such a large sum. Daily necessities were provided wherever she went; she only needed to show her face.
It was like in certain gas: once your reputation rose high enough, you’d start getting discounts in every region. Vieya’s fa back then was so great that she could “purchase” everything at zero cost.
Everyone knew her. No matter where she went, shop owners would beg her to take their goods for free.
After a while, she just accepted it as natural—
If they wanted to give things away, then fine.
Besides, there were always certain people lurking in the shadows who handled all the troubleso details for her.
Vieya suddenly recalled the properties and assets she had left behind in the Royal Capital... and Rania’s silence when she’d asked about them.
Silence usually ant consent.
So... they’d been reclaid?
For so reason, that thought left a faint ache in her heart.
It wasn’t about the money—she had simply thought that her teacher would at least look after those things for her. At the very least, not let it all be confiscated, right?
After all those years, even without rit, she had effort.
“Mommy, why are you sighing...? Did you rember sothing sad?” Jasmine squeezed her mother’s hand and pulled an orange from her pocket, her lively heterochromatic eyes full of hope. “It’s really sweet and tasty! You’ll feel better after eating it.”
“...”
Staring at Jasmine’s bright eyes, Vieya froze for a mont, then took the orange, peeled it, and popped a slice into her mouth.
To be honest, it wasn’t the sweetest orange she’d ever eaten—
in fact, it was slightly sour.
Sweet and tart at the sa ti, and a bit dry—probably had been stored for a while.
“Mommy, does it taste okay...?”
“It’s the sweetest I’ve ever had.”
Vieya said softly, then asked, “Jasmine, do you still have enough money?”
“Mhm, mhm!” Jasmine nodded ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) repeatedly. “Enough! It’s enough to buy entirely!”
Vieya: “...?”
Did I... make a mistake sowhere in how I’m raising this child?
Just as she began to question her life choices, Jasmine added in a small voice,
“Mommy, I didn’t spend any of it. I saved it all in the bank. Just keeping it there earns lots of interest every day—enough to buy tons of oranges. Actually... as long as you’re with , I feel happier than ever before...”
There’s so much money, it could last us a hundred years. So... maybe, could you stay with a bit longer?
That’s what Jasmine wanted to say.
She knew her mother would indulge any request she made—
but she didn’t say it aloud.
Instead, she tugged gently on Vieya’s sleeve and smiled sweetly. “Mommy, will you teach how to cook? I want to help...”
“Of course... you can start by picking vegetables for next ti.”
Vieya replied casually, bending down to lift Jasmine into her arms. With one hand, she carried her daughter; with the other, she held the thermal lunch box and a bag of oranges.
The infirmary was just ahead. She followed the signs to Room 1014 and knocked on the door with her foot.
Thump!
Thump!
Soone inside was silent for a mont before speaking in a calm voice,
“Is that little Vieya? Co in.”
Vieya pushed the door open with her foot—a motion she executed with practiced ease, though it was hardly graceful.
On the white hospital bed sat a silver-haired elf girl, quietly rising to greet them. Sunlight from the window poured into the room, bathing everything in a soft, dreamlike glow.
The elf stared at Vieya for a while, then at the little girl in her arms, her gaze distant.
As expected.
She still couldn’t quite reconcile the image of that drunken little loli she’d once t with the reality of her being soone’s mother.
Were you even of age when you gave birth...?
“Stop staring... Here, this is my daughter, Jasmine.”
Vieya set Jasmine down beside the bed and hung the bag of oranges on a hook. “The oranges are from my daughter. As for the food—you said you wanted to try my cooking, right?”
She opened the thermal container, arranging the rice and dishes neatly before handing them to Aislin, the bedridden elf.
Short of feeding her by hand, Vieya had done everything she could to help.
“Eh... you actually brought it...”
Aislin twitched her pointed ears, her expression showing genuine surprise. She glanced from Vieya to the shy girl standing beside the bed and smiled.
“Your daughter’s adorable—seems a lot more well-behaved than you.”
“Just eat. No need to complint one and insult the other.”
Vieya pinched Jasmine’s cheek. “Co on, my sweet girl, this pointy-eared lady is the elf sister I told you about.”
“H-hello, Sister...” Jasmine said shyly.
“Hehe, what a polite child,” Aislin chuckled, then added teasingly, “But calling soone ‘pointy-ears’ isn’t exactly friendly among elves, you know. Vieya, you’re a mother now—you really should watch what you say in front of your kid.”
The silver-haired elf lifted her snowy brows and looked curiously at the rice and neatly plated vegetables before her. She took a big bite—then imdiately frowned.
She chewed for a while, then said, “Did you not cook these beans all the way? If they’re undercooked, they’ll upset your stomach!”
Jasmine’s face went pale.
Honestly, she was the only one in the family even remotely human.
Her mother and the pet—neither qualified.
“J-Jasmine... how are you feeling?” Vieya suddenly stamred, as if realizing sothing dreadful.
She crouched down in front of her daughter, flustered.
“Mommy, I’m fine today,” Jasmine reassured her.
“That’s good.” Vieya let out a breath of relief.
“But...” Jasmine hesitated, then spoke softly, “A few days ago, after eating Mommy’s cooking, my stomach did hurt a little. But since everyone else was fine, I thought it was just . Now that I think about it... maybe I’ve just adapted to Mommy’s cooking?”
“...I’m sorry.” The sli girl’s face filled with guilt.
“When I’ve fully recovered and can move freely again, I’ll teach you so cooking basics,” the silver-haired elf sighed, looking wistful. “The flavor might not be great, but at least no one will get sick from it... especially for a child still in her growth stage. Food safety is very important.”
She was also silently worried that if Vieya ever cooked mushrooms without boiling them properly, she might poison the whole family soday.
After finishing the al, they chatted idly for a while.
As Aislin peeled an orange, she asked, “Has the chaos among the demon race finally settled down? That flat-chested blue-haired Hero ca to see a week ago—said she’d take back to the elven lands once I’ve healed.”
“You’re not planning to stay here a few more days?” Vieya asked after a pause. “You only just arrived in the southern region, didn’t you?”
“I’d love to stay longer... but sothing seems to have happened back ho,” Aislin said with a sigh, popping a slice of orange into her mouth. “I’m worried—and my parents sent a ssenger urging to return imdiately.”
“Do they know you were injured?” Vieya asked.
“I didn’t tell them.”
Aislin shook her head, lowering her gaze. “But I wrote back saying I’m waiting for a friend... I’ll go back soon.”
“Anyway, don’t worry.”
Aislin’s lips curved into a lighthearted smile. “I’m the next successor of the elven tribe, after all. Who knows—next ti you see , you might have to greet as Her Majesty the Elf Queen~”
“The Elf Queen, huh? Quite the big title. If I call you ‘pointy-ears’ again, are you going to throw in jail?” Vieya frowned.
“That’s an insult!” Aislin snapped, ears twitching in mock anger. “You—forget that word imdiately!”
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