To the continuous sound of cicadas in the trees, Illianna sipped delightfully a glass of smoothie prepared by Sian. Exalting her beautiful figure, the setting sunlight bathed her slender and perfect curves.
It was a scene that made the 3 newly acquired workers hold their breath and swallow dryly even though they were extremely exhausted due to the tiring work.
"That would be an awesome scene if not for your personality." Sian lamented as he shook his head in disappointment.
With a handkerchief in her hands, Illianna gracefully wiped the smoothie that ran down her pink lips.
"I say the same, if it weren't for your horrible personality, your food would be even better."
Turning toward the building under construction, she lifted the corners of her lips proudly.
"If we continue to work as hard as we did this afternoon, we can finish the construction of the hotel a few days ahead of schedule. But that still leaves us with little time to organize the employees, supplies, and furniture."
"Ah!" Now that you mention it, I completely forgot about it..."
After a brief moment of silence, Illianna turned to Sian as she seemed to be trying to digest what he said. "Maybe I heard wrong. Could you repeat it?"
Being seriously stared by turquoise eyes that looked like an endless blue ocean, Sian looked away.
"I forgot that part?" He replied with a murmur.
"Let me get this straight..." Crossing one arm and leaning the other on it, Illianna placed her fingers on her forehead while maintaining a displeased expression. "You simply thought that by building the hotel, everything else will magically appear?"
"Well, I thought you were solving the furniture problem, after all, you are making those 3 separate the stones, grass and wood as you categorized."
"That will not be enough." She answered. "Besides, the goods I will make with that material will be of good quality, it will only be used in the luxury rooms."
"Don't worry, we'll get it done somehow. Make a list of the goods needed, and I'll take it to the king to arrange it."
"Why Uncle Frank when you have an entire dukedom at your disposal?"
"He can provide what we need faster."
"Okay, do as you wish." Illianna seemed to have given up arguing as she turned away. "I'll prepare a list in two or three days."
"Great, now that we're done, let's go home, I'm starving."
"Let's go through the stalls. I need to buy some things, or rather, you need to buy me some things."
***
After dinner, Illianna handed Sian four paper bags, each containing different colored candles.
"These are scented candles, they will mask the musty smell of this place. Since I made it, the efficiency is much better and they will lighten up more."
"I think I've seen those candles before in the Sacred Treasure." Sian said.
"I also saw this in the session 'How to make simple products that can generate a good financial return'."
Taking advantage of the fact that Ophilia was changing Emily's clothes in the bedroom, Illianna continued in a low voice.
"Those sessions are something that makes me believe that the author of that book is a reincarnated person like me."
Before Sian could say anything, the bedroom door opened. Emily came running in happily and clung to Illianna.
"Can we go now?"
From the moment she had woken up, Emily was energetic and eager to go to the orphanage to tell her little friends the news.
Ending the conversation she was having with Sian, Illianna took Emily's hand and they both left for the orphanage.
Standing side by side with Sian, Ophilia leaned her head, resting it on his shoulder. "I don't think I'm qualified to be a good mother..."
Surprised by what he just heard, Sian looked at her. "What happened?"
After a brief silence, she answered. "When I was young, my mother always seemed to know when my siblings and I were sad or something was wrong. But compared to her, I don't know anything... I don't understand anything... I didn't understand Emily's distress, I didn't realize that she was sad... I... I just thought she was sleepy from playing too much..."
"If that is a requirement for being a bad mother," Sian rested his head on hers, "then I am also a bad father."
"No, you are a good father, you realized there was something wrong with her." Ophilia put her hands together on her chest. "You also managed to solve her problem, you are always teaching her so many things. You saw how happy she was, didn't you?"
Standing face to face with her, Sian hugged her.
"It was just a matter of coincidence."
"But still, you helped her... In comparison, I couldn't do anything..."
Ophilia tightened her arms around Sian and rested her forehead on his shoulder.
"I would like to go with her to the orphanage, but every time I get there, I feel out of place. Unlike Illianna, I can't even tell a story to amuse the children... Not being able to help my daughter at all has made me feel a tightness in my chest... I'm feeling useless..."
"Look at me." Sian held her face between his hands. "Like you, I also have no experience raising a child. We just need to do what is in our reach, you should not compare yourself with others."
"But-"
"No buts!" Looking directly into her trembling brown eyes, Sian continued. "Continuing to feel bad or blaming yourself only makes the situation worse. You said before that you had siblings, right?"
"Yes..." she replied.
"Older or younger?"
"I was the middle child. I had an older brother and a younger sister..."
"In that case, take your mother as an example." Sian used his thumbs to wipe away the tears that were forming in Ophilia's eyes. "When your brother was born, do you think your mother already knew what to do?"
"No..."
"There is your answer." Sian spoke firmly. "No one is born knowing everything, with your mother it must have been the same. She learned to understand her children over time, and in comparison, it hasn't even been five days since you met Emily again."
Still looking into Sian's eyes, Ophilia remained silent.
"You are just feeling insecure for leaving her in the orphanage, but you don't need to put so much pressure on yourself. Just continue what you are doing and in due time, you will begin to understand her better."
"You're right..." Ophilia muttered. "But I'm afraid she'll end up not liking me..."
"That will not happen!" Sian said confidently. "Emily loves you very much!"
Hugging Sian even tighter, she leaned her head on his shoulder again and whispered. "Thank you."
Giving Ophilia enough time to organize her thoughts, Sian asked. "Do you want me to look for your family?"
Seeming to have been taken by surprise, it took a while before she answered. "You don't need to do that."
"Why?" Sian got confused. "Don't you want to meet your parents and siblings again?"
"I do, but I'm afraid of my family's reaction..." She said in an insecure tone. "If I come back so late after being captured, what will I tell them? If I came back now, could I tell them that I was forced to become a prostitute and had to sleep with several men a night? Could I tell them that the only thing I learned during all those years was just to have sex?"
"You didn't choose that fate!" Sian argued. "Everything that happened to you was due to you sacrificing yourself to help them escape, that is why I believe they will not judge you."
"Still, it's painful and scary. I don't think I can face them, at least not now..." After a brief pause, she continued in a soft voice. "For now, all I want is to have happy times with my family. My new family, my daughter and my husband. Illianna too, she is a kind and pleasant person. The last few days have been very pleasant for me, that makes me want to ignore everything else and just enjoy the moment..."
Her words made Sian feel a warm sensation welling up in his chest. "I understand what you mean. The last few days have been amazing for me too, it's like I've been living a completely different life..."
'That is, apart from the part about Illianna being kind and pleasant, but I can't deny that she is very useful.' Sian thought.
"Instead of a sad expression, your beautiful face goes much better with this lovely smile." He ran his fingers gently over her cheeks.
Standing on tiptoe, Ophilia closed her eyes as she brought her face closer to Sian's. Looking briefly at the slightly open reddish lips, Sian moved forward and kissed her soft, delicate lips.
Just as the mood was about to warm up, the room grew darker. One of the candles in the chandelier had been totally used up, and the rest was nearing the end of its useful life.
Seizing the opportunity, Sian switched to the pink candles Illianna handed him. Shortly after lighting them, the refreshing strawberry scent took over the room.
"It looks like Illianna wasn't kidding when she said these candles are better." Sian was amazed.
"She's an amazing person." Jokingly, Ophilia continued. "I need to be careful or she might take my place."
"Even if she is amazing, there is no way she can take your place." Moving closer to her, Sian gave her a hug. "There is no one in this world who can replace my lovely Ophilia."
"You always seem to know how to comfort me." She gave a quick smack on his lips. "Now it's my turn to make you feel better."
"Just being with you already makes me feel good."
"But I want to make you feel even better," she said. "Wait here, I will prepare a surprise for you."
Watching Ophilia go into the bedroom, Sian said. "I think you said the same thing last night."
"You're right, but today will be even better." With a mischievous smile, she walked into the room and closed the door.