Chapter 78 : Chapter 78
Chapter 78: A Mother and Daughter’s Late-Night Talk, Isabella’s Heart
That night,
the servants in the castle wept with joy when they saw Madam and Young Miss return.
They had waited far too long for this day.
Because of Madam and Young Miss’s return,
everyone decided to hold a banquet.
Ryan and the others would also attend.
He brought Fina to the guest room to rest.
“Fina, thank you for coming to help this time.”
“Ryan, do not say that. I am your fiancée. When you are in trouble, I will definitely help you.”
“Heh, I understand.”
Ryan smiled, then gently patted Fina’s head.
“Fina, how many days of break do you have left? Do you still need to return to the Academy afterward?”
“Mmm... actually, not really.”
“Hm?”
Ryan was a little puzzled.
Fina explained slowly, “Maybe because my memory is very good, I have already learned almost everything there is to know about the theoretical knowledge a Mage needs. What remains is mostly practical combat application.”
“So from now on, I plan to travel and adventure with you, Ryan. I only need to return to the Academy at the end of the term to take the assessment.”
The main reason was that she had studied day and night during this period, barely eating or sleeping, and had managed to memorize all the required knowledge.
She only told that small white lie because she did not want Ryan to worry.
Time passed quickly, and before long, the banquet was ready.
During dinner, Greta asked Ryan about his plans going forward.
“Mr. Ryan, what are your plans next?”
“As for me, I plan to continue traveling and adventuring.”
“Since Alfred’s whereabouts are still unknown, and he may not be able to return any time soon, then the perfume business...”
Greta asked uneasily.
No one could blame her for being like this.
After today’s family council ended, the Grand Elder had sought her out and told her that she absolutely had to make Ryan agree to continue the perfume business with the Jurgen Family.
The only reason all the elders had supported Isabella becoming the interim family head was because of the perfume business.
If anything went wrong with the perfume business, the elders would definitely strip Isabella of her position as interim family head.
And if that happened, the consequences awaiting mother and daughter
were too dreadful to even think about.
Ryan knew exactly what Greta was worried about.
Of course he had no intention of going back on his word.
Setting aside the convenience of working with the Jurgen Family,
there was also Isabella’s relationship with him.
Now that Isabella was already his woman,
even for Isabella’s sake alone, Ryan would still let the Jurgen Family handle the perfume business.
“Please rest assured, Madam Greta. I meant every word I said at the meeting. Since Isabella is now the interim family head, the perfume business will continue to cooperate with the Jurgen Family.”
Ryan spoke solemnly.
“In that case, thank you very much, Mr. Ryan.”
Greta let out a sigh of relief and thanked him.
“You are too polite, Madam.”
Ryan nodded.
Though inwardly, he could not help muttering to himself, Madam, I only hope you will not beat me up after you learn about my relationship with Isabella.
Dinner went very pleasantly.
The servants were all very happy as well.
After dinner, Isabella followed Greta back to her room to sleep together.
Surely the mother and daughter had a great deal to talk about.
...
Night fell.
The castle grew quiet.
Inside Greta’s bedroom, mother and daughter were talking about everything that had happened since they were last separated.
“Mother, that is how it happened. With Ryan’s help, I used a Magic Tool called a sniper rifle to improve my strength. Even though my rank as a Mage is still only D-rank, I am no longer afraid of B-rank Mages, and I can truly threaten them now!”
Isabella proudly told her mother about her accomplishments.
Her face was full of a clear plea for praise.
“Hehe, my good daughter is amazing!”
Greta looked at Isabella with doting affection.
Then she gently stroked Isabella’s hair.
“Isabella, there is something I want to ask you.”
“Mother, what do you want to ask?”
“I want to ask you why Mr. Ryan helped you.”
“Hm? M-Mother?”
Isabella’s heart jolted, and she stammered in response.
“You silly child.”
Greta let out a sigh.
“Do you take me for someone who understands nothing?”
“You must understand, after Ryan took you and fled, he could have simply left you in a safe place and walked away. At the time, you were being hunted by the Jurgen Family. If he kept you by his side, then he would have to keep facing the Jurgen Family’s pursuers. What normal person would do something like that?”
“Uh... Ryan...”
Isabella wanted to explain.
But Greta waved her hand, telling Isabella to listen first.
“Fine. Even if Mr. Ryan is powerful enough not to fear the Jurgen Family’s pursuers, then tell me this: why would he help you improve your strength? Why would he even let you use a Magic Tool like that sniper rifle?”
“And not only that, he even came to the castle to rescue me, then stood up for you at the family council and helped you become the interim family head.”
“I truly cannot make sense of any of this. If he were only a friend, how could he possibly go this far?”
After saying that, Greta fixed her eyes tightly on Isabella.
Greta’s words struck Isabella’s heart like a heavy hammer.
Mother guessed it!
Isabella thought to herself.
Facing her mother’s gaze, she could not withstand the pressure and said in a low voice, “Mother, have you already figured it out?”
“I do have some guesses, but I still want to hear you tell me in your own words.”
“Mmm...”
Isabella fell silent for a moment.
But no matter how much she thought about it, she still could not bring herself to lie to her mother.
“Mother guessed correctly. In order to make Ryan help me, Nila and I have already become Ryan’s women.”
Isabella spoke softly.
“Sigh, so it really was like that.”
Greta let out a quiet sigh.
Although she had already suspected it deep down,
hearing it directly from her daughter still made her feel a little pained.
“I am sorry, Isabella. I dragged you down.”
Greta’s heart was filled with guilt.
“N-No, no, Mother, you do not need to blame yourself. I did all of this willingly. As long as it meant saving you, I was willing to do anything.”
“All right, let us not dwell on that anymore. Right now, I only want to ask you one question.”
After all, Greta had come from a great family herself, so she was relatively open-minded about such matters.
In the circumstances at the time, Isabella truly had had no better choice.
“Mother, go ahead.”
Isabella looked at her mother with wide eyes.
“I want to ask you this. What exactly do you feel for Ryan? Do you see him as nothing more than someone you made a deal with, or...?”
“Uh... I...”
Isabella was instantly at a loss for words.
The moment Greta saw her daughter’s expression, she understood that Isabella definitely held Ryan in her heart.
Otherwise, Isabella would never have traded her body for Ryan’s help, not even in death.
As for Ryan,
Greta did not think he had done anything wrong.
Having grown up in a great family herself, she knew that the adult world revolved around self-interest.
In that situation, Ryan had helped Isabella fend off the Jurgen Family’s pursuers and had even helped her take back the family.
And the price Ryan had demanded in return had only been Isabella and Nila.
In Greta’s eyes, Ryan had already been generous enough.
If it had been anyone else,
setting aside the matter of trust,
at the very least, they would certainly have demanded an exorbitant price from Isabella.
They would have definitely asked for power within the Jurgen Family.
From that perspective, Greta was actually very grateful to Ryan.
And on top of that, Ryan had personally brought people to rescue her.
Now the more Greta looked at Ryan, the more satisfied she became.
There was an old saying: the more a mother-in-law looked at her son-in-law, the more pleasing he became.
Now that what was done was done, and Isabella had already become Ryan’s woman,
Greta naturally had to start thinking about her daughter’s future.
Although Isabella had now become the interim family head,
with Isabella’s current abilities, she was certainly not capable of managing such a great family.
But those were all minor matters.
Greta herself was also very skilled at managing a family.
Until Alfred returned, Greta could manage the family on Isabella’s behalf.
However, there was one biggest problem now.
At the banquet earlier, Greta had asked Ryan about his future plans.
Ryan was about to leave the Jurgen Family and continue traveling and adventuring.
If Isabella stayed by Greta’s side and learned how to manage the family,
then as time passed, Isabella and Ryan’s feelings would gradually fade.
And if that happened, Isabella would definitely be heartbroken.
So,
as her mother, Greta could only point Isabella toward the right path.
“Hehe, all right. Looking at you now, I already know your answer.”
Greta teased, “My good daughter has finally grown up!”
“Mother...”
Feeling shy, Isabella threw herself into Greta’s arms.
“You heard Ryan’s plans at the banquet earlier. He is about to leave the Jurgen Family and go traveling and adventuring. What about you?”
“Me?”
Isabella froze for a moment.
“I mean, are you going to stay with the family?”
“I-I definitely have to stay with the—”
“And in the days without Ryan, can you guarantee that you will not be heartbroken?”
Greta’s words made Isabella tremble violently.
That was right!
Mr. Ryan was about to leave.
If she stayed with the family,
then for a long time, she would definitely not be able to see Ryan.
The moment she thought about not being able to see Ryan for such a long time, Isabella felt a painful tightness in her chest.
Thinking back over the days she had spent with Ryan,
Isabella realized that her mind was filled with his figure.
The moment Greta saw Isabella’s eyes, she knew her guess had been right.
Once Ryan left, Isabella would definitely be heartbroken.
“M-Mother, I... I want to go with Ryan.”
Isabella’s voice caught in her throat.
“Hehe, good daughter. You have finally faced your own heart.”
Greta was very happy.
The fact that Isabella could face her own feelings and speak up for what she wanted
was something the old Isabella never would have done.
“S-Sorry, Mother. I should stay with the family.”
Isabella’s eyes turned red with tears.
“You silly child.” Greta wiped away Isabella’s tears. “Your happiness is what matters most. Go chase your happiness. Mother supports you.”
“Thank you, Mother!”
Isabella hugged Greta tightly.