Summoned and Unwanted

Ester was acting like the older sister, even if Sakura was older. She talked kindly and tried to help Iris and Sakura with any problems related to feeling out of place.

Iris was the only gray demigoblin in the mansion, while Sakura was the only demon.

After they went downstairs, they met with Sofy. She looked tired, and her eyes were blinking as if she was about to fall asleep. It seemed she didn’t sleep all night.

Sofy informed them of the Nine-Headed Hydra Flowers when she saw Iris. Then she pointed at five pots with stems and a few leaves.

Iris went over to the five pots, and she didn’t look nervous anymore. Iris looked confident as she gently caressed the stems and said, “It’s going to be fine.”

Iris looked like a different person to the three women and the little fox looking at her.

Ester even changed how she perceived the so-called rascals, Olive and Lian. The two kids weren’t much of rascals if this kind of Iris made them curious and followed her around.

Iris used Seed Rebirth, and five magic seeds were soon in her hands. Then she placed them in her leaf-made pouch and returned to the three women and the little fox staring at her.

.....

Ester noticed Iris was getting uncomfortable, so she asked Sofy to rest, but Sofy mentioned she needed to check if the kids were still sleeping. It seemed Sofy was a worrywart when it came to kids.

The group with the worrying elf went upstairs. First, they went to check on Lupa, but she was still sleeping peacefully. Then they went to the five children’s room and saw them awake.

“I like Plow’s ears. They are very very fluffy.”

“But the cool green paw is awesome. It is like my horn.”

“I like the color. It is blue like the sky.”

The five children stopped discussing about Plow when their eyes saw Plow in between Ester’s arms. It didn’t take long for them to jump out of bed, and they impatiently looked at Ester as if they wanted candy.

“What do you think Plow? I know being famous is tough, but they want to have fun and play with you. ” Ester asked. “I bet they like foxes better than wolves.” She added slyly.

Plow now looked at the situation differently. ‘I can become more liked than that wolf. Hehe, Plow is the best girl.’ She thought before agreeing to play with the kids.

After the group increased with five children wishing to play with Plow, they decided to check on Vincent before going downstairs, and Sofy went to sleep. However, their plan stopped for a second when they saw Lilith peeking at Vincent sleeping.

Ester led the large group over to Lilith and said hi. It was a little awkward when she saw Lilith slightly panicking. However, it didn’t take long for Lilith to calm down and greet the woman who inadvertently made this all possible because of the requirement of nobility to marry Vincent.

Ester explained why she had a large group following her and asked if she wanted some alone time with Vincent until he woke up.

Lilith nervously nodded. She was feeling nervous, with so many people looking at her as if she was a stalker. But Lilith didn’t reveal this embarrassing information. It was Kazumi who informed Vincent with a few giggles.

Ester later led the group downstairs to find something to eat and take it easy. Sofy decided to stay awake for a few more minutes and join them until Vincent woke up.

Sometime later, Vincent woke up, and the embarrassing situation with Leonis happened.

“Why do I feel like a day passed?” He said while scratching his head.

“And I never thought Ester would take charge of the situation. She was so shy and reserved when we met. Ester used to act like Iris.” Vincent recalled when he was slapped when Ester felt highly embarrassed.

Maid Xu arrived in front of Lilith’s bedroom door. She knocked four times on the door and entered inside. She informed Teresa of the two requested people waiting in the corridor.

Maid Xu asked Vincent and Lilith to enter a few seconds later. Both entered while Maid Xu respectfully bowed and left.

In the bedroom was one person lying on the bed. The old maid was taken to a different room when she fell asleep.

Teresa Lionheart was resting her back against the headboard with a pile of pillows to support her sitting form. For some reason, Teresa Lionheart looked more like a lion than her husband.

Teresa had the appearance of a fragile figure, yet her brown eyes had a gaze of authority. Her golden hair matched the beauty of her barely wrinkled face.

Vincent felt kindness and reassurance the moment his eyes laid upon her.

“Good morning, lady Teresa, you look better. I am glad to see you in fine health.” Vincent greeted with a warm smile. It somehow made him think of his parents, and he missed saying such words.

“Good morning Vincent. I, as the head of the Lionheart family, thank you for saving our lives and changing our future.” Teresa weakly lowered her head to show a thankful gesture to the one who saved them from Viscount Demel Blackheart’s grasp and later from the assassins.

Teresa raised her head and said, “I never let my husband know how there were assassins stationed nearby with the job of ensuring no secret comes out of this property... He can’t hold a secret regrettably.” She revealed.

Vincent, Kazumi, and Lilith stared at Teresa with a frown. Such information was too surprising to hear, yet it also begets the following question. How does she know all this?

“My lady.”

“No, keep calling me Teresa.” She interrupted Vincent.

Vincent felt closer after he got interrupted. “Teresa, can we know how you knew about this sensitive information?” He asked.

“I learned about this by accident four years ago when one of my servants tried to find out why one of our best orders in many years was suddenly canceled at the last minute. Orders are normally are canceled a few days after we receive one, but this one gave us the impression something different happened this time.” Teresa looked unhappy as if she remembered a past she wanted to forget.

Teresa quickly changed her unhappy expression with a frown. She looked angry now.

“My servant wished to help me, so she secretly went to a place not too far from this mansion. I don’t know how long she kept doing this, but... she came into my room one day...” Teresa’s frown intensified, and she looked like she wanted to punch something even in her weak state.

“... I only had two maids serving me who I trusted with my life. The youngest one wanted to help me even up to the point of following the shady-looking people possessing a dagger with the Blackheart family insignia secretly threatening the merchants doing business with us.”

“The poor girl was covered in blood and lacerations. She came to inform me of everything she discovered until the final breath left her body... I managed to send my husband to visit a friend while my other trusted maid and I cleaned any evidence with water and tears.”

Teresa stopped when she saw her daughter looking worried about how her mother also had a much difficult time than it seemed. The whole family went through a lot.

[But I feel there is something missing with the assassin situation.]

-I have the same thought. Why didn’t the assassins attack before the soldiers left? Couldn’t they set the mansion on fire starting with Demel’s office?-

Vincent was about to ask when Teresa continued.

“I planned with Duke Biro Hawkins to place an order of textile. I requested them to deliver each crate half full of fabrics and paid extra for each crate to be placed on one large cart. Additionally, I requested the transportation to pass in front of the building and cause a small commotion by breaking a cart and trying to fix it...”

“My maid only told me of six assassins... but I heard this morning there were much more. However, it appears to be irrelevant because your intent to save my daughter, no matter the consequences, changed the plan.”

“The distraction happened later than planned, and the Duke’s appearance was earlier as well.”

Teresa explained a plan she couldn’t reveal to her husband before Vincent swooped in and altered the plan much more than Teresa and Biro could have anticipated to proceed.

They thought Leonis was the only variable in their plan because he cannot lie, and he sometimes wears his emotions on his face. Even if Leonis doesn’t respond to a question, anyone would be able to tell he had a secret to keep. The plan was of the utmost importance and couldn’t fail because of one person.

“It all started two days ago after the Duke told me of a secret fake quest. I told him everything I knew to help when I heard about the disappearance of my little angel. Fortunately, it ended better than I imagined, and my little angel is safe and sound.”

“Many of the Royal Faction who are friends with us have volunteered to offer protection. My little angel is safe, and the Blackheart family has no other means to blackmail us other than disrupt our business as always.”