Chapter 17: Perfect Act

Chapter 17: Perfect Act

"I...!?" My voice trembled as I answered in a soft, unsteady tone.

Seeing me like that, Szélanya flinched slightly.

She held her breath, then let out a light cough, pretending it was nothing.

But I did not stop.

"No, Mother. It is perfectly fine that you came. I was just surprised and a little startled, especially since you are so busy. I... I am sorry."

I paused, as if I had just realized I was speaking too quickly. My fingers fidgeted with the edge of my sleeve.

I looked down, pretending to be a shy, well-mannered girl overwhelmed by guilt.

When I caught a glimpse of her struggling not to smirk, I knew my act had worked.

Every word had been chosen carefully, especially the part about her being busy. The maids had already told me. All I had done was deliver it with the right tone and expression.

But pretending to be innocent was harder than I had expected. I had never met someone who was truly innocent. The world I came from was built on lies, ambition, and the masks people wore to survive.

Thankfully, Szélanya’s overwhelming presence made me so uneasy that my body reacted on its own.

That discomfort gave the illusion weight. My hesitation became real, my fear convincing.

It was a vulnerability I had never dared to show before.

I sighed quietly to myself.

I would never be able to pull this off again. But for now, I had to stay in character and let her guide the moment.

My expression turned soft and sorrowful, like a timid girl trying not to cry.

I gently wiped my eyes, letting my hand linger just long enough to give the impression of struggling to hold back tears.

That tiny gesture made her tremble.

She coughed again, this time a little more shakily, then reached out with gentle concern.

"Nerine, I never meant to scold you. I only wanted to make sure you were not feeling lonely."

"I did not mean to interrogate you. You heard what I said, right? I was just jealous. You came here all alone, and this place is full of men."

"I..."

Her voice faded.

I bit the inside of my cheek, suppressing a laugh.

Kekeke. I knew you did not really mean to interrogate me. I just twisted it so it looked like you did.

Now the nearby knights were looking at me with pity, their eyes full of concern.

Their glares turned toward Szélanya, laced with anger and suspicion. They had no idea who she was and clearly had not heard our conversation.

To them, it must have looked like some strange, beautiful woman was touching me inappropriately.

Admiration turned into revulsion in an instant.

Of course. I already knew they had enough emotion to react like this.

Hehe. That is what you get for barging in. This is my quiet little revenge. I call it Reputation Distortion.

Hahaha.

The laugh did not even finish forming before it curdled, leaving me with the awkward realization that I had celebrated far too soon.

I glanced back at Szélanya.

She showed no reaction to the glares. Not even a flicker of emotion.

Was she really heartless? Was she one of those creatures without feelings?

Tch. If she did not care at all, then my whole act had been pointless.

Damn it. Was this all meaningless?

As I cursed inwardly, Szélanya slowly closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, her gaze had sharpened. Her eyes became narrow and cold, like blades cutting through still air.

She turned her gaze toward the knights who had dared to glare at her.

The old man, who had been quietly observing with his hands behind his back, suddenly staggered.

His calm vanished, and he stared at her as if he had just glimpsed something terrifying.

One by one, the knights collapsed to their knees.

Each fell as if the sky itself had dropped onto their shoulders, their bodies trembling violently.

I could only stare.

She had not released a single thread of mana.

No pressure. No magic. No command.

Only her presence.

Her eyes alone crushed them.

So it had worked.

I had made my mother angry.

A part of me felt strangely satisfied.

But then she turned that gaze on me.

I froze.

Her sharp eyes softened slightly, but the weight did not vanish. My heart skipped a beat. I swallowed hard and kept my expression still.

She stepped forward and smiled gently.

"Dear, let us return to your room. It is far too crowded here, and I brought something special just for you. I think you will like it."

Her voice was kind and warm, but it sent a chill through my spine.

She turned to the old man and spoke again, her tone light and playful.

"You do not mind if I take my time with my daughter, do you, former hero?"

The old man's eyes twitched. Realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.

His shoulders dropped. His hands shook.

He bowed his head deeply.

"No, not at all, Your Highness. Please take all the time you need."

His voice was calm but reverent, filled with quiet fear. It was as if he had just discovered who she truly was.

I frowned slightly.

She called him a former hero, but everyone else referred to him as the Sword King. So who was he, really?

The mystery around him only deepened.

Still bowing, the old man remained frozen in place, unable to lift his head.

Szélanya stepped closer and gently lifted me into a princess carry.

Her scent enveloped me. It was cool, crisp, and clean, like the breeze that drifts over untouched mountains just before sunrise.

She raised one hand.

The wind responded instantly, curling around us like silk gliding across bare skin.

It wrapped around our bodies with perfect ease, and the world began to shimmer and blur.

My vision swayed.

Then, in a breath, everything changed.

Swsh.

I slowly opened my eyes and found myself lying on familiar bedding, wrapped in Szélanya’s arms. I rubbed my eyes, still dizzy from the sudden movement.

As my surroundings came into view, I realized we were back in my bedroom.

I blinked, stunned again by her power.

She had brought me here directly using the wind alone.

The sensation lingered in my bones. It was not teleportation, yet it felt just as final.

She had folded the wind itself into a path and carried me along it as easily as breathing.

What kind of principles did she use? Could wind really replicate spatial magic? How did she bend it to her will so perfectly?

Even if I tried to understand it, I would never be able to guess how she did it. The method was too mysterious, too refined.

As expected of her. She was truly frightening in her strength.

When I turned my gaze toward the nearby table, my breath caught.

Stones were spread across it, glowing softly with a vivid blue hue.

I gasped in delight.

Mana stones.

They were exactly what I had asked for.

Just seeing them made me feel like my efforts were finally being rewarded. Mia and Lynn stood near the table, waiting quietly for me.

The moment they noticed we had arrived, they bowed with perfect grace.

"Your Majesty. Young Miss. Welcome home."

Szélanya gave a small nod in response.

I said nothing, but she gestured for them to proceed.

Mia approached with one of the glowing stones and handed it to her.

Still holding my hands, Szélanya spoke with quiet affection.

"Nerine, you wanted mana stones to replenish your energy, did you not?"

"Yes!" I replied, eyes wide in pretend surprise.

But inside, I was thrilled.

My disappointment over missing the chance to copy sword skills earlier vanished instantly. These stones were far more important. They were my key to staying alive.

And now that I had them, my desire only grew.

I wanted more.

I nearly drooled at the thought of absorbing all twelve stones on that table.

Thankfully, Szélanya interrupted before I embarrassed myself.

"Then take them and begin. There are twelve stones here, including the one in my hand. These are the highest quality mana stones ever mined by humans. Absorbing all of them should take about a week. If you need more, just ask Zach or me. Understand?"

"O-okay."

I nodded with a troubled expression, pretending to be overwhelmed.

She looked pleased by that.

She pulled me into another tight hug, her warm and voluptuous figure pressing against me. Oddly enough, I did not resist this time. I was too relieved, too happy, to care.

She could feel it.

She could tell I was no longer pushing her away.

And that pleased her even more.

After a moment, she released me and cleared her throat.

Her voice grew firm.

"Ahem. Nerine, I can see your belly is swelling rapidly. That child is draining your vitality and life force. If you ignore this for even a few more days, it could become truly dangerous. If you cannot restore your vitality soon, you know what that means."

What?

My heart skipped.

From her expression alone, I could tell she was not exaggerating.

She meant death.

A slow and quiet death, slipping away without even realizing it.

I looked at the table again, but there were no vitality potions. I had asked for them earlier, but none had been delivered.

Were they not available in this mansion at all? Or were they still trying to find them?

Either way, I could not afford to wait.

I already felt weak every time I moved. If this continued for even a few more days, I would collapse.

This was not just a problem. It was a death sentence.

Fear coiled around my spine. My voice came out unsteady.

"M-Mother... what should I do?"

This time, I was not acting.

I was truly scared.

Mana stones could not restore vitality. If I continued to burn away my life force without knowing it, I would fade before anyone noticed.

I needed her to tell me there was a way to survive.

Szélanya’s eyes softened.

"Nerine, do not worry. Your mana circulation is not only good, it is perfect. The only problem is your core. Right now, it is still basic and too small to store much mana."

She paused.

"But if we elevate it, there is a real possibility you will awaken the Primordial Path. That path was once walked by ancient beings who abandoned mortality."

My mind froze.

What did that have to do with restoring my vitality?

Was she saying there was a method through that path?

Still trying to keep my composure, I tilted my head slightly and asked quietly.

"Primordial Path?"

Her lips curled into a soft smile.

"Do not be sad, Nerine. Once we elevate your basic monster core to a mid-grade one, all your current problems will fade. The moment you reach the first level of the Primordial Path, known as the Primaris Realm, your vitality, mana, and physical body will all strengthen. You will be on par with a third-circle mage and a third-rank sword practitioner. Do you understand now?"

Her words were gentle, but something unspoken lingered beneath them, as if strength gained this way never came without leaving something behind.

I had only half-listened at first, but that last part made my heart jolt.

She was saying I could reach the very foundation of the paths created by the Sword God and the Archmage.

The three major Realms.

My curiosity exploded.

"Really? Mother, can you help me reach the Primaris Realm?"

"Of course. Zach, your maids, and I are all walking the Primordial Path. Helping you is the least we can do."

Her knowing smile widened.

And just like that, I understood.

Lynn and Mia had shed their mortality.

That was how they joined this path.