Chapter 41 - Meeting My Parents

I couldn’t stop thinking about how I would explain this to my parents. Then, a thought suddenly popped into my mind.

If I prevented their meeting, then I wouldn’t have to trouble myself with explaining this to them.

I looked at the influential fathers of my servants, then at the direction of the entrance.

(Un, I think this could work.)

Brazenly standing up, I showed Gerund and the others a smile and said, “I would like to meet up with my parents. The last time I saw them was when I enrolled at Farlingstad Magic Academy. Would it be okay to be alone with them?”

“It’s okay. We understand your feelings. Go on, we’ll meet up with your parents after we’ve decided on how we’ll take the Duke Mearess’ daughter as a hostage.”

You evil nobles! I’ll never allow you to meet my parents. Also, Emilia, don’t write that down! Don’t you know that what they’re planning is wrong!

“Then, I’ll be on my way.”

I gave them a curtsy as I started my strategic retreat.

While I headed towards my parents, I continued to come up with excuses. My mind was divided between telling them that I had 200 servants and not telling them. I could tell that I had quite a serious expression right now. As a result, whenever the nobles noticed me, they would quickly avoid me.

After a few minutes of searching and making children cry, I finally found my parents. They were at the outer edges of the banquet hall and were conversing with other nobles. Seeing them there, I couldn’t help but make a wry smile.

I then realized that I still hadn’t decided what action I was going to take. Thanks to that, I stood frozen while looking at them.

“Hmmm? Oh, Lumina? Is that you? My, you’ve grown up to become quite cute.”

My mother was the one who noticed me. She then pulled my father and started hugging me. The hug she gave me woke me up from my daze.

“It’s been a while, Mama.”

I rested my chin on her shoulder and returned her hug. Because my mother had bundled up her blond hair and was wearing a one-piece dress that exposed her shoulders, I was able to feel her warmth directly. As for my father, he wore full plate armor, and his black hair looked a bit messy.

“You really have grown up. What’s more, it seems like you’ve managed to become quite accomplished. Since you’re able to throw a party this big, thanks to one of your servants.”

Eh? Wait a minute… what did my father just say?

“Yeah, I remember that we were so shocked when we received the invitation to come here four days ago. The envelope was branded with the Amethyst family seal. What’s more, the moment we read what was written in the invitation, I couldn’t help but scream in joy.”

“Back then, your mother bragged about it to the servants for a whole day. She even forced the cooks to make a feast in celebration.”

Because I was so shocked, I couldn’t utter a word in reply.

“How come you didn’t mention this in your letters, Lumina? If you had, we wouldn’t have been so shaken up when we received the invitation.”

“I think Lumina planned it to surprise us, Clarisse.”

“Is that so~ Oh, Lumina, you didn’t have to do that!”

No, I didn’t plan to do it.

“Here’s some chocolate mont blancs, Lumina-sama.”

Hearing a familiar voice, I stiffly turned my head around. I found Emilia, Liza, and the others standing near us. I then used this chance to transmit a message to Emilia with my eyes.

‘Why didn’t you tell me that you had already informed my parents?’

‘Sorry, I forgot.’

She made a mischievous smile as she handed me a tray of mont blancs. Liza, Mary, and Victoria then stood in front of my parents and presented a curtsy to them.

“Good evening, Gabriel-sama, Clarisse-sama. My name is Elizabeth Sluga Chem. I am a member of the Harlington household. Though my father is a Duke, please don’t be formal with me. It’s because I am a faithful servant of Lumina-sama.”

“I am Mary Faustina Sluga Chem, and like her, I am a servant of Lumina-sama.”

“So am I. My name is Victoria Ginsburg, the eldest daughter of the kingdom’s Prime Minister.”

After introducing themselves, the three of them then stood behind me.

“I’m Achil Mayers…”

“Frank Hurston…”

“Anthony Weinberger…”

“““ The three of us now carry the surname of Sluga Chem. We three have made an oath, from the time Lumina-sama gave us hope till the day we die, to protect her and follow her orders.”””

Wow… the three boys spoke at the same time and bowed at the same time. Looking at how well-coordinated their actions were, I couldn’t help but wonder how long they had practiced that.

Anyways, that’s not important right now. The reactions of my parents were quite suspicious, so I decided to ask them.

“Mama… Papa… you’re not overwhelmed? You’re not shocked? How can you easily accept this? I mean, our noble rank is quite low, so how come you’re able to easily accept me having servants with a higher status?”

My father and mother made a wry smile and looked at each other. My mother was the one who spoke first.

“It’s because you’re our daughter, Lumina. What’s more, we already expected you to achieve great things when you enrolled at school.”

“Expected?”

“When you were still young, you used to spend your time reading books. Since you were our first daughter, we expected the things you did as normal. However…”

My mom paused and looked at my father.

“Cough* When your little brother was born, he didn’t spend time reading books like you. Instead, he would run around the house and play all the time. The two of you were exact opposites.”

Little brother?

“We then asked the servants if your little brother was normal, and they said he was. According to them, you were the one who wasn’t quite normal. Because you were able to learn how to read and write quite fast, they suspected you were a prodigy. Then, last year, when your brother became three years old, we remembered how you liked to read complicated books.”

“It’s because of those things that we were able to accept you being a master of a Duke’s child. We’d even accept it if we were told that you were engaged to the crowned prince.”

“I see…”

My mind went blank when they recounted my past. I thought I had shown them that I was an average child. Who knew that my reading books for entertainment was the reason why my cover was blown? However, it was thanks to that I didn’t have to explain it to them.

Since they already know my circumstances, then it’s useless to worry about it. Let’s just accept it as is and move on.

Also, there are more pressing issues to talk about.

“You said little brother, right, Mama? How come you didn’t mention it in the letters!”

“Now, now…”

“You too, Papa! Why did the two of you suddenly drop that subject on me? I haven't prepared myself yet!”

Knowing that I now have a little brother was quite shocking. I still haven’t prepared my mind for becoming a big sister yet. What’s more, since he was 3 years old last year, that means he’s now 4 years old. It meant I’ve already been a big sister for 4 years!

“We’ll tell you the details over a cup of tea.”

“You two better tell me!”

My mother and father smiled as we went towards one of the tables. Emilia then served each of us a cup of tea, while Liza and the others brought food to our table.

For the first time in five years, I was drinking tea with my parents. Plus, the subject we were talking about was my new little brother. It was a far cry from the subjects I had with Liza’s parents.

* * * *

Fifteen minutes had passed, and we were still chatting happily with one another. Suddenly, a group of six grown men approached us. My eyes became small dots when I saw them.

Crap… I forgot about them.

“Good evening, Gabriel Chis Chem. I’m Gerund Amethyst, the host of this party and the temporary leader of Lumina-sama’s faction.”

“Oh, it’s an honor to meet you!”

My father stood up from his seat and gave him a soldier’s salute.

As for me, I narrowed my eyes and glared at them. My hope of them walking away had not disappeared. Mary’s father, Earl Faustina, noticed my gaze and spoke to me with a sadistic smile.

“Don’t worry about the plans to kidnap Duke Mearess’ daughter. We have already decided how to do it. All that’s left is to make the necessary preparations and execute the plan.”

Oh my god! What are you talking about? Whoever your leader is must really be rotten, as he's able to gather people like you.

…

…

Oh yeah… I am your leader. Does that mean I’m rotten? Am I also rotten?

But still, isn’t kidnapping a girl taking it too far? Also, why are you saying these things in front of my parents? What’s more, that smile you have—why do I feel that there’s more to it? I need to probe deeper and discover your plans.

“I see… there’s more, right?”

“As expected, you managed to see through it. After kidnapping Duke Mearess’ daughter, we also plan to pull the tre

asurer onto our side. Once we’ve done that, we’ll use it as leverage to threaten the other nobles to never cross us.”

So you’re planning to use money to control people! Just how dark are you guys!

“…”

“If things go smoothly, we’ll be able to secure our position as a strong faction in less than a year.”

I made a bored look and sipped my tea.

It’s no use, these guys are rotten to the core.

“Oh my… oh my… Lumina… You were planning to do these things with the parents of your servants?”

“Cough* Cough*”

Hearing my mother’s voice, I choked on my tea and looked at her.

“You really have become a part of upper society, Lumina. As your mother, I’m quite proud of you.”

“Just remember, if you ever lose the political struggle, you can still come back home and live with us.”

No, no, isn’t this the part where my parents are supposed to be disheartened by the fact that I know evil people? Why are the two of you emitting an aura of happiness while Faustina-sama and Gerund-sama explain their schemes to you?

“No need to worry. With a lineup like this, we could never dream of losing this political struggle. I, as the Prime Minister, can assure you.”

“Heck, we could even mobilize the army and perform a coup d’état.”

No, no, no… I don’t want that. All I want is to survive the events that may come according to the game. Though all I remember is the coming invasion.

Invasion… ahh right! I forgot about that… Wait, if I told them that an invasion was coming, would they believe me? I think they’d suspect that I was a spy instead. Let’s just keep quiet about it then.

“Then let’s execute the kidnapping four months from now.”

“Hmm… now, that’s too soon. How about seven months from now? It’s better to properly prepare for this stuff so that they won’t be able to find her.”

“You have a point there, Harlington.”

Liza’s father was talking to Victoria’s father behind Gerund-sama. What’s more, General Meyers really wanted to stage a coup d’état.

God… let this party end… Why are the parents of my friends so vile? All I ever wanted was to live in a small villa somewhere and research magic. I also want to survive the events that will come.

While you’re at it, please put a talented pâtissier there. I also want to eat some delicious cake.

However, god didn’t listen to me. Instead, I was forced to sit with my parents and listen to the schemes of Gerund-sama and co. My father was even actively suggesting some places. I looked around and found that the nobles around me were also sporting dark smiles.

Was this what the party was about? Is the real purpose of this party to make evil schemes and outline plans to ensure their success? If it is… then I’m never going to attend such a party ever again.

By the way, the party lasted for 4 hours before the nobles started leaving the castle. I, along with Emilia and the others, were the last ones to return to school, while Fate remained in the castle.