Narrator's POV
Merlin had parted ways with Olivia Black a few minutes ago. He couldn't hide the good mood visible on his face.
He had also managed to buy items necessary for creating various products from his original world.
All he had to do now was wait in his room for Olivia to arrive so he could finally begin his magical practice.
"Merlin, aren't you going to greet your mother when you return?" Chloe emphasized the word "mother" as she spoke.
Merlin had already spotted Chloe near his room. He knew Adrianne had probably informed her about his meeting with Olivia.
"Sorry, mother. I was exhausted after my errands, and showing Olivia around the garden didn't help."
Chloe frowned slightly as she listened to Merlin's words. He had referred to Olivia in a familiar manner, not formally as was his habit.
"It seems something did happen," she thought as she approached her son.
"What happened between you two?" Before Merlin could answer, Chloe had grabbed his hand and dragged him into a room.
"Stop!"
Chloe quickly let go of Merlin's hand when she heard the tone of his voice. She had clearly perceived a bit of pain in it.
"I'm sorry, darling. I... didn't control my strength well." She could only apologize.
Chloe had been on edge since Olivia's arrival. The information Adrianne had given her and the incident with Merlin hadn't helped matters.
"It's okay, and nothing physical happened between Olivia and me, but I made an agreement with her."
Chloe's face relaxed when she noticed that Merlin wasn't angry because of her slightly rough gesture, but the rest of his words caught her attention.
"An agreement?" She repeated Merlin's word with a grave expression before getting down to his level to better observe his eyes.
"What kind of agreement could you have made with Olivia Black?" Chloe didn't beat around the bush and directly asked for information about the agreement between Merlin and Olivia.
"I know Merlin is intelligent, but facing him wasn't just an ordinary woman, but the sister of a countess, and also an apprentice magus who could become a true magus one day." Chloe had cold sweats just thinking about Olivia's background.
She could never handle the fallout from the agreement between Merlin and Olivia with ordinary means. Of course, it was a verbal agreement, but it was still the word of an apprentice magus and a boy against her .
"I chose Olivia as my concubine, and in exchange, she'll be my private tutor." Merlin's words vaguely described the agreement. He hadn't needed to explain the advantages and disadvantages.
*Slap!*The sound of a slap.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU JUST DID?"
...
Merlin's POV
I had the taste of blood in my mouth, a sensation I had long forgotten since the days when I suffered physical abuse from my father on Earth or during my high school fights.
I slowly wiped the blood from my lips before looking at the woman standing in front of me.
I could feel her "aura" stirring around her as she stared at me with an expression oscillating between anger and sadness.
Although I could see the shadow of my irresponsible father superimposed on that of Chloe, I knew she hadn't hit me out of pure violence.
She was simply trying to educate a child who had taken liberties he shouldn't have at his age, and I respected that, but...
"Did you really just hit me?" I looked her straight in the eyes, not letting myself be intimidated by the pressure of a seasoned warrior who had known several battlefields.
"Yes, and so what?? I am YOUR MOTHER AND THE MATRIARCH OF THE BLIGHT HOUSE." She approached to grab my shoulders.
"I can't let such an action on your part go unpunished. You dared to take the liberty of affiliating MY HOUSE with that of the countess."
Ouch! A groan of pain.
Chloe's hands tightened hard on my shoulders. I could feel my limbs going numb.
"You know I'm not just your son anymore, right?" At these words, Chloe slowly removed her hands.
She understood that I was no longer just her son, Merlin Blight. Currently, I am also the fiancé of an apprentice magus.
"I know I undermined your authority by taking this initiative... I'm sorry, mother, no... I mean, Matriarch Blight, but I acted out of pure necessity." I grabbed the hands that were gripping me brutally.
I could feel her surprise, but I simply brought her hands closer to my heart.
I was currently speaking not only to my mother but also to the matriarch of the Blight house. I need Chloe not to interfere with my goals.
"Why are you doing all this? If it's for knowledge, you just needed to give Olivia a child later." The anger in Chloe's voice had noticeably calmed down to give way to confusion.
She had surely regained control of herself by observing my expression, I was frustrated and sad to be forced into conflict with my mother.
But the future knowledge from the novel pushes me to use the Black house, I can't give up this opportunity.
"I want immediate support from Countess Black, not superficial support based on a simple verbal agreement that would take effect in the future." I honestly expressed my doubts to my mother about the old agreement.
"But also, I'm not sure I can evolve properly without Olivia's basic teachings."
I really need solid foundations if I want to reach the top, and for that, I need teaching to make the most of this period before the academy.
I hadn't lied once in front of Chloe. I also needed the immediate support of the Black house for something other than Olivia's knowledge.
I had to cover my back for my future moves.
It wasn't the Blight house that could protect me if one day I offended another male apprentice magus with better support.
I couldn't take risks, and I needed money. I could open various businesses later, but for now... I'm broke.
"You're putting too much pressure on yourself. It's my job to look after you and the Blight house. It's not your burden." She grabbed me for a hug.
Chloe seemed to understand, she had even retracted her aura.
"You are Merlin Blight, my only son and my heir." She whispered this to me before letting go to head towards the door.
"If you don't want to give Olivia a child or have her as a concubine, tell me. I'll take responsibility."
Chloe said this with a reassuring smile. There was no trace of anger or frustration left on her face, only a mother.
"If Olivia doesn't suit me in a few years, then we'll talk about it again." I accepted her proposal even though I think I won't need it.
"Also, I'm sorry for slapping you... I misunderstood your intentions."
She didn't wait for my answer and left, her face all red.
"I don't hold it against her much for that blow, but damn, it hurts."
I spent the rest of the day resting in my room and asked to have dinner in private.
I didn't want to be in the same room as Olivia and Chloe. I'm sure they'll have an explosive conversation at dinner time.
...
Olivia's POV
I was in a good mood after my discussion with young Merlin. I had managed to secure a future man linked to the Black house.
All I had left to do was try to convince him, later, to evolve our relationship from simple concubinage to marriage. It would be enough for me to become a true magus to ensure that.
"You seem to be in a good mood, Mistress," Melody's voice pulled me from my reflection.
"Indeed, I was able to conclude an extremely satisfying agreement."
I say this, but I still have to formalize this agreement. Young Merlin proposed that I become his concubine, which has accomplished more than 70% of the process, maybe even 80%.
It's enough for his mother to accept, and at worst, I could try to convince Merlin to abandon this mother who doesn't accept his will.
I'm certain I could handle the fallout, but I don't think I'll have to go that far.
Knock, knock.
"What do you want?" Melody opened the door to address the maid.
"I'm just informing you that Miss Chloe invites you for dinner."
The maid didn't wait for my answer before quickly slipping away, without glancing behind her.
"She just demanded our presence?" Zoe frowned at the maid's behavior, or more precisely, her master's.
"It seems she's been informed about her son and me," I said, getting up from my desk in the room.
"How does the agreement with the baroness's son justify her current behavior towards you?" Melody was curious, but I silenced this unhealthy curiosity with a simple look.
It's not good for rumors about a young man to spread too far. I obtained information about young Merlin only thanks to my sister's influence.
The fact that the lands managed by Baroness Blight are under the countess's influence greatly contributed. My sister only had to suppress the rumors and related information.
"You'll stay here, I need to have an important discussion between women."
This reminds me of love stories where young women confront their mother-in-law to run away with their groom. I never thought I'd live this experience.