Chapter 240: Evidences

"To think she believes in superstitions like that... how cute."

Martha could not help but giggle, recalling Pandora’s perfectly serious face as she made the comment.

It was so unexpected, so earnest, that it had completely caught her off guard.

A few minutes earlier, Regis and Aurum had returned from outside.

Regis had whisked Pandora away for something important, while Aurum offered to help with dinner like he used to.

Aurelia and Killian seemed to have realized something and hurriedly followed their friends to the garden.

Now, as the husband and wife moved around the cozy kitchen, Martha stole a glance at her husband.

"Those friends of our daughter... just how was she able to meet them?"

Aurum chuckled softly, his expression warm.

"I don’t know either, but I’m glad."

Their movements fell into a familiar rhythm— the chopping of vegetables, the bubbling of broth, the soft scrape of ladles against ceramic.

The comforting scent of herbs filled the room, wrapping them in a feeling that had not visited in years.

For a moment, it felt like the old days, as if the weight of the past had not existed, and they were just a husband and wife making dinner together once more.

Martha stole a glance once again, "I can’t believe that we’ll be able to be like this again... I thought I’d be stuck in that state forever."

"Hon..." Aurum could feel a prick in his heart upon hearing the fear in his wife’s voice.

Since everything happened so fast, they were not able to take the time to talk about everything just yet.

The day had not even ended since Aurum was able to be with his whole family.

Thoughts surged through his mind, thinking of what he could say to somewhat ease his wife’s pain, even by a little.

However, just as he was about to speak, Martha spoke, "I thought we could go back to like those days in the past..."

"What do you mean?" Aurum tilted his head slightly, feeling something amiss.

’Aren’t we cooking and preparing dinner just like we had always done? Is there still something I’m missing?’

As he continued to think, Martha spoke once again, "B-But since earlier, y-you haven’t kissed me yet!"

"W-Wha..."

It was at this moment that the Golden Hand of the wealthiest organization was at a loss for words.

"But..."

Afraid of what she might hear, Martha said with closed eyes, "A-Are you embarrassed by me? You weren’t like this back then..."

Aurum took a few minutes to process everything he heard.

In his sight were Martha’s slightly teary eyes.

Her beautiful face that he could spend forever watching,

The lovely blonde hair that cascaded to her waist was now tied into a messy bun.

Her youthful energy, which was still the same as eight years ago, was still the same— it was something that seemed to have successfully gone against the river of time.

After a few moments of admiring his wife, Aurum looked down at his own hands.

It was full of calluses and rugged from everything that he had gone through.

It was only now that his days were mostly spent in the quiet of his study, studying files and documents without needing to do physical labor.

After all, he was the leader of the Midas Merchant Organization, with reliable comrades and enough manpower.

But back then, he did everything himself.

He helped however he could, taking on every task with his own two hands.

With his rugged hand, he touched his face.

Feeling the wrinkles and remembering everything he had gone through in the past eight years...

Aurum could not help but heave a deep sigh.

Noticing his behavior, Martha looked at him without a word.

"You see... It’s not that I’m embarrassed of you, it’s..."

"It’s what?"

"It’s the opposite..."

Martha’s pupils constricted at the sudden words that she heard.

A wry smile appeared on Aurum’s face, "I mean, look at you. You’re still the same— young, beautiful, and just as breathtaking as ever."

He paused, his eyes emitting an unknown emotion, "But look at me now... I’m already in my forties. I feel embarrassed just imagining how you would look at me..."

Since Martha was still the same as eight years ago, she still looked like someone in her late twenties.

Meanwhile, Aurum had already stepped into the forties.

Still unable to believe what she was hearing, a memory about her husband suddenly resurfaced in her mind.

Due to being overwhelmed by the feeling of missing each other, she forgot something important: it was the fact that in areas other than negotiations, Aurum’s self-esteem was at rock bottom.

Her black eyes remained fixed on his visage at the moment.

His neatly combed black hair had a few gray streaks, with a few strands on his face.

His tall nose and sharp jawline.

His well-kept beard that added to his mature, dignified charm.

And most importantly, his riveting golden gaze.

His dreamy visage could be seen making her fall into a trance.

However, Martha knew exactly that words were not the way to console her husband.

And thus, just like she had done in the past, she jumped into his embrace with both her hands wrapped around his neck.

Unable to react, Aurum remained frozen as he heard his wife’s voice beside his ear.

"I quite like it, to be honest."

Her voice made him forget the insecurities he was feeling, as almost his whole head blushed.

At this moment, another unknown feeling seemed to overwhelm his lack of self-esteem.

"I’ll show you later tonight how much I do~"

As Martha finished her words, she immediately distanced herself and smiled sweetly.

"Let’s finish cooking before the kids arrive!"

She then busied herself afterwards.

"O-Okay..."

Meanwhile, Aurum, once again, took a whole ten minutes to process everything that had happened.

"Hey~ aren’t you going to help me?"

Martha asked in a playful whine, which made Aurum come back to his senses.

Just like that, they busied themselves in the kitchen while Regis and the others spent their time in the garden.

***

Meanwhile, out in the garden...

The setting sun’s golden rays illuminated the colorful flowers in its warm hue.

In the sky, the shimmering stars could be seen slowly peeking through the sun slowly went down the horizon.

In the patio, four youths could be seen surrounding the tea table.

"How much longer is it going to take, Pandora? I’m starving already~" Killian asked in a playful voice.

However, Pandora only ignored him as she concentrated on the pile of books before her.

On both of her sides, Aurelia and Regis could be seen watching on with eyes full of interest.

"Ugh, if only I were a mage too. Then I could be enjoying this just as much as you guys!"

Killian complained out loud as he walked in circles, trying to distract himself while the other three were busy inspecting the pile of books.

Currently, Pandora was analyzing the countless trap magic that were laid all over the pile of books.

She had just dispelled the two pieces of cloth that enveloped the pile of books earlier, successfully diffusing the explosive high rank magic spells that they were enchanted with.

Among the countless magic spells and aura arts in her arsenal, Magic Analysis was the most unique.

This was because Pandora’s Perfect Copy could only allow her to know how to use a certain technique the way others used it, along with their proficiency and everything else.

However, Magic Analysis was the process of inspecting the magic formula of a spell, which would allow one to take control of or even to deactivate said magic spell.

Thus, this was one of the ways she had trained all these years.

At this moment, Regis looked at her with concern, "If you want to switch, then just tell me, okay? What you’ve done is already amazing."

"No, I can do this." Pandora answered with a serious expression.

Meanwhile, Aurelia could only wrinkle her forehead as she tried her best to understand even a little of the magic formulae engraved within each magic pattern.

This lasted for about an hour.

The sun could no longer be seen— as it was replaced by the gentle moon and the shimmering stars above.

A cool evening breeze drifted past, brushing their skin as flowers and plants swayed gently in response.

At this moment, Pandora’s concentration reached its peak before she collapsed on her knees.

Fortunately, Regis and Aurelia managed to catch her.

"Good work."

Regis said, while Aurelia offered her a warm smile.

Pandora merely smiled before she fell unconscious.

Feeling the relaxed rhythm of her pulse, as well as her clothes that were soaked in sweat, Aurelia commented, "She fell asleep."

"It seems so. I would, too, if I had to concentrate for three whole hours."

Killian chimed in as he approached them, "Should we open it?"

"No." Regis shook his head lightly, "We’ll let Uncle be the first one to see what’s inside."

"Alright."

Killian shrugged as he covered the books with the cloth and tied them with a string.

With Regis and Aurelia carrying Pandora, the four of them then made their way into the house.