"Why do I trust you? Why do I love you? Isn't it obvious? Because I think of you as my own child. I raised you and loved you with all my heart. Even if you don't remember anything, even if you don't think of me as you did anymore, there's no problem for me at all."
Because she loved him. She was her child.
Her eyes were saying so.
"I'm not someone you know anymore."
Those loving eyes were not for him. Those were for the original Asher. It was directed at the original owner of this body.
"I don't care, you're still my child."
No. He was not her child. Even though he knew that, could he really view her with such eyes and accept such unconditional love? Asher shook his head.
"Okay, Mother."
Even when he spoke the words, his bitter and guilty feelings did not disappear. Venicia smiled brightly at the words.
***
"It's heavy."
Reika, who was still listening, said with an uncomfortable face. She knew that the events would flow like they did, but seeing it in person felt completely different.
It was hard to accept what had just happened in front of her. Reika, although young, could feel that Venicia loved Asher more than her. And Reika was her own blood-related daughter
It hurt quite a bit for her.
"Anyway, has everything been alright for you since then?"
"Yes."
Asher answered Venicia quietly. When their talk seemed to be over, Karen approached. When Charon coughed slightly, Venicia cleared her throat with surprise as if she had just realized something.
"Hmm. Hmm. That's right… I forgot to say why I'm here today…."
She explained slowly. After hearing what she said, Reika clicked her tongue as if she knew this would happen eventually. Venicia looked at her with worried eyes.
"No matter how good you are with the sword, shouldn't you at least take care of yourself? I mean…."
"You don't have to worry. I'm going to be practicing more comfortably from now on."
It was a bluff from Asher to see how Venicia felt about their training. But Benesia showed absolute trust in him. From now on though, it was true that Asher and Reika could train a bit less rough since he had gotten a basic foundation set up for her.
"Oh, really? Then it'll be okay. But when did you start practicing swordsmanship so much?."
"It was the very next day after I lost my memory."
"Really?"
Venicia tilted her head. It had been less than two months, and he was already teaching someone? Even Venicia could feel that was a little odd, and not only that, but how peculiar could it be that Asher started training with the sword the very day after he lost his memories? Reika grumbled at Venicia's questioning since she just wanted her to leave them already.
"It seems you had a talent for swords."
"…yes."
Venicia seemed to have the wrong understanding, but it seemed like the only plausible explanation for everyone who saw someone of such skill by only training a little more than two months
'Ignorance is bliss.'
He knew he didn't have any talent, or at least was convinced that he didn't in this body as well, so he felt guilty for lying to Venicia who was showing him such doting affection.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you believe that statement, Miss."
Charon, who was listening quietly, twisted his mouth.
***
He didn't hear that Asher had lost his memory two months ago, but Charon knew what Asher was like in the past and had met several of his trouble-making kind. He despised Asher to no end.
Asher was a waste. He never put any effort into anything, had no willingness to abide by the rules of the estate. He was a bug in Charon's eyes.
That was his assessment of Asher.
If it wasn't for the protection of Venicia, Asher would have been beaten and kicked out of the estate long ago. And now he was shamelessly claiming to be the teacher of the young miss?
Charon's muscles swelled up and his face contorted with anger.
He was a knight. He was faithful to the nobility of the Empire and his sword. He had trained for years and years, and this was like an utter disgrace to him.
"You're talented? And because of that, you're suddenly qualified to teach Miss Reika?"
A few years ago, Charon was thrilled to see Reika start wielding the sword. As a knight who spent his very life, practicing the sword, he could notice Reika's talent in a heartbeat.
Although impressed by her talent, he did not give advice or dare try to teach Reika. It was because he was afraid of carelessly stunting her growth with the sword and having her create blemishes in her swordsmanship since he was not qualified to teach others..
But for this disgusting and lying bug to be ruining Miss Reika's unparalleled talent?!
The hand that was gripped on the handle of his sword was strengthened. Charon wanted to kill him right away, but Venicia was watching. Charon drew the sword while trying to suppress his murderous intent.