Peony wore a dry smile as she replied, "Thank you, mom. However, I think that group today deserve the praises. I simply jumped in during their performance."
"Oh, you find their performance today captivating too? I always knew my daughter has a great taste as well."
"Huh?"
"That's settled, then!" The fairy queen smiled so widely that it sent an ominous shiver down Peony's spine, "I'll ask your father to help prepare a competition to find those fairies and you can choose which one you want to engage with!"
"Mother?!"
Her mother smiled excitedly, "Oh, my daughter has finally found an interest in one of the boys and they're fairies as well! ah but which competition should it be? They'll need to be as powerful as they are attractive! Oh, and, have a good head on their shoulders and completely devoted to our Peony!"
Peony was stunned and panicked! Didn't she just mentioned knowing that she won't return to the fairy kingdom after ten years? No! More importantly, her mother and father knows very clearly how she feels in regards to her own marriage and engagements! Ah, forget it! She needs to first convince her mother before trying to convince her father! Knowing that fairy, he will definitely say yes, even if it was remodeling five more castles for her mother!
"Mother, please. You understand how I feel about marriage arrangements." Peony pleaded to her softly.
"Then, if it's for another ruler..."
"Mother." Peony smiled calmly, "Aren't you and father both well and also still young? I'm still looking forward for a younger sibling one day. Can't it be soon?"
"Oh you..." The queen sighed in embarrassment.
There we go again...
Speak of having a child and her mother is very likely thinking of her father. What a lovey dovey couple...
All the more reason to quickly free her from the curse. Although she can distract her for now, what can she do in the future when she's not around? As expected, she needs to go back and finish those people off right away.
"Still..." The queen looked to her teary eyed, "Don't think I don't know that you are trying to avoid marriage. I know you don't like it, but, at least find someone who can protect you before you leave and have them accompany you. Magicians still have their advantages too and your father and I won't care which race their from as long as they treat you well. Please at least give it some more thought, my child?"
Hearing this, Lotus heaved a heavy sigh in defeat, "I'll give it more thought, mother. But, I still need to warn you that I may not change my mind so easily. You remember how my last arrangement in my previous life was and how the last one in this world was. It's not that I don't want to think about it, but it just brings back ugly memories for me."
"I know, I know. Just knowing you'll give it some more thought is more than enough. Moreover..." The queen smirked, "The person you bring back must see your father and I as well. Otherwise, we will definitely not be willing to hand out our blessings."
"Yes, yes..." Peony sighed inwardly. Others have said that she is the scary one, but, poked in the wrong places, her parents are easily far scarier against her combined or not.
"I'll be going back now, mom. I heard that you have lost your appetite these past few days. Please look after yourself well. It's not good to starve yourself. I'll come back at the last gala theme with some recipes in mind to help wet the appetite. Please try to eat something before then. At least some fruits a day."
"Ah, so you've heard from Maisey." The queen assumed with a soft sigh and petted her head, "Don't worry your little head over me. I have Aqua and Maisey by my side. Since you're in school, focus on your studies. From what you've sent me, it seems you've been playing around more than you are studying."
Oops...
From what she said, Peony realized that she has been running around so much that she hasn't had the time to go to the library that often anymore. at least she returned all of the books and, unfortunately, read the entire section on alchemy and history. However, she has yet to read the other shelves! Who told those guys to start poking at her in the first place?! She needs to finish them up soon before going back to her studies.
"I'll hurry and finish up my business before returning to my studies." Peony nodded.
Hearing this, the queen hesitated and petted her shoulders, "I understand. Remember to call for your father and I should you need any help."
Who doesn't know how cruel those assassins and her biological family are to her daughter? Once she learned who dared to harm her daughter, she was horrified that it turned out to be her extended family and that they had taken the lives of her biological parents and grandparents, not even sparing the servants! Although she didn't say, the queen could guess why she was sent to this world as she recalled that hikers had found her in the wilderness. Heartless beings!
It's as her daughter said. Can those people even be considered animals? Even the cruelest animals still care for their own young.
As it was like this, it's also clear that her daughtywants to return and put an end to the family before they learn to harm them as well. However, will her daughter really be all right? If she has someone who can perform these miracles for her by her side, then they can feel relief. However, her past life has not been kind to her either and, if that so-called-fiance is still alive, they'd like to have a "word" with him if possible.
"All right, mother. If you feel any discomfort, have Maisey come look for me right away."
"I know. Be careful and remember to be nice to your friends!"
"Aren't I always?"
Watching the girl rush off, the queen couldn't help but feel rather unsettled. This girl couldn't have caused trouble already, did she?
.....
"Master." Zhang Li appeared from the ring only to freeze in awe the moment Peony turned to her.
"Yes?"
Zhang Li started at her in shock! This woman... Aside from her fiery red hair, short height, and purple eyes, she looks very much like the Lord's wife from head to toe! Very identical! Who knew that just changing the outfit and appearance would develop such a different perspective?!
Now, she is even more positive that the lady is indeed her long lost master!
"Zhang Li? Is everything all right?"
"Ah! Y-yes!" She quickly snapped herself out of her trance at her master's call.
"Are you sure? I can't have you go run around if you're not well. You'd easily get caught off guard again otherwise."
"This one understands." Zhang Li responded, "This servant won't repeat the same mistake twice."
Peony sighed in disappointment, "I told you already not to refer to yourself in this manner when you're around me. The same with your brother. Hah... Weren't you more relaxed before? Why did you suddenly tensed up out of nowhere? Don't tell me that incident with Sebek is still on your mind?"
"What?! N-No, of course not, Master!" She rebuked fervently with a pout, "Master, he's annoying but he'd never leave any sort of impression on me! I swear!"
"Uh huh." Peony huffed with a laugh silently. If he didn't, then why is it that she remembers him so clearly or even swear over it?
"Either way," She continued, "is there any news from Huo Wei?"
"None, miss."
"What of your brother?"
"He's getting closer to Nascent soul. However, he is still unable to break through the advanced ranks of golden core." She replied, "I fear he has reached the bottleneck of his practice."
"Give him some time, then. If he can't progress at all, then tell him to stop and take a break. Since he can't tackle it on his own, we'll do it together." Peony added, "This world should have some supplies that could help him. If you reach a bottleneck too, let me know right away."
Hearing this, Zhang Li nodded with a smile, "Okay."
It's not often that servants such as themselves get to have access to materials and resources to grow stronger. Even rarer for their masters to care and help them the way Peony does. They must stay by her side and follow her orders without questions in return for such generosity.
"Peony..." Zhang Li dared to speak her name and whispered some words into her ears.
Hearing the contents, Peony nodded with a sigh and handed her a piece of leaf, "Got it. Take this and hand it over to Pyro. He'll know what to do."
It would some that someone is finally checking into her background and someone of higher power. Luckily, she was prepared for this and had her father set up an illusion.
"But, master..." Zhang Li hesitated, "They said that the investigation is hired by... the Ebonsveil family."
"Ren?!" Her eyes widen in surprise, but she quickly paused before growing her brows in deep thoughts. Something wasnt right about this. If it was Malleus who requested it, he would've gone to ask the other nobles or the queen about her. Yet, the last she recalled, the Ebonsveil family is the only human noble house of the Valley of Thorns. In Briar Valley, they are not a part of the inner circle of nobles nor earned the trust of the royals. If she had, it wouldve been amongst the memories she had unlocked upon breaking the memory suppressing spell during her first epiphany. Had it not been for Lady Zigvolt, she would've remained unresponsive for days, But now that she has, she needs to remember more about the Ebonsveil family. For Malleus to have even brought someone who was neither a retainer nor personal guard, it was very unusual. Moreover, Ren is a very pure child which reminded her of Neige having had a neglected background. Ren neither returned home nor received messages from his family which made it very suspicious. Could it be that his family, not only neglected him, but also despised him? Although she could stand behind the idea of neglect, she can't say that he's been abused. There just wasn't enough evidence and the most important ones are most likely with the Ebonsveil and royal family. Perhaps, it would've been different had Ren not been so naive, but why would Lilia and Malleus continue to keep him by their side and the two guards watching over him. Did something happen in the past?