Chapter 73 - Words Left Unsaid

Chapter 73: Chapter 73 - Words Left Unsaid

Brenda quickly rose from her desk, stepped around it, and bowed low with deep reverence. Beside her, Roxa also quickly dropped to one knee, offering a formal greeting to the Elder’s sister.

"Hahaha. Guys, please. What’s with all the bowing?"

Maribelle took Brenda’s hands and helped her up with a gentle smile. "Look at you... all grown up and running as Principal of the little school we once built. I guess it’s not so little anymore now, huh? Gosh, you were always ambitious, but this is truly impressive. I’m so proud of you, Brenny."

Brenda wiped a stray tear from her eye. "I learned from the best, Mari. But... Why are you here? In the mortal realm? In my office? With an elf from the Sanctuary, no less?"

"In short, I am here to find Princess Maelle Ebony. And to mend a broken bond between her and my son, Vincent. We’re in a hurry so whatever information you have, I’d like to know quickly."

Before Brenda could answer, the door clicked open behind them.

"I knew my instincts weren’t wrong."

Daphne stepped back into the room with a small triumphant grin on her face. "I felt someone tailing me down the hall. I purposely pretended to ignore it to see if my tail was a nuisance."

"Yes, Daphne and thank you for the heads up. Mari, allow me to introduce Daphne Dove. She’s the President of the Student Council."

"Nice to meet you, Daphne."

"Pleased to meet you too... Vincent’s mother and Goddess of Pristina, Maribelle." Daphne smiled with interest as she shook Maribelle’s hand.

"Just Maribelle is fine, dear."

"Now about Maelle Ebony. We know exactly where the Princess is currently hiding." Brenda informed her. "In fact, we are on her side."

"You do? You are risking your positions, your standing, and the combined wrath of House Elsa and the Solarian Kingdom to protect her? Why?"

Brenda smiled softly. "Because your son and Princess Maelle saved the children of my sister’s Sanctuary. Consider this our small way of returning the favor. Daphne. Could you take them to where Maelle is?"

"Of course, Principal."

"Actually. Before we leave, Brenny. There’s one favor I have to ask of you specifically..."

........

Two hours later, three hooded figures on horseback navigated through the upper-middle district. Daphne led the way with expert precision, guiding Maribelle and Roxa along routes specifically unpatrolled by Imperial Guards.

They pulled up outside the iron gates of an old mansion.

"This is it." Daphne, Maribell, and Roxa got off their horses and passed through the gates, closing it shut behind them.

She then knocked on the door and waited. It soon creaked open to reveal an extremely anxious young man, Toby. He looked like he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown – until his eyes landed on Daphne.

"P-President Daphne! Thank goodness you’re here! It’s getting crazy in here!"

Stepping into the foyer, they were met by Leo and Zally, who were standing nervously nearby while wincing at the shouting that could be heard.

In the center of the room, Ava stood in her full succubus form. She practically radiated furious energy as she screamed at Maelle at the top of her lungs.

"Stop being so damn stubborn, Maelle!! We need Vincent! I need Vincent! It’s been an entire week! The entire city is hunting us, and you’re just sitting there acting like you don’t even care?!"

"I already told you, Ava. He was dismissed. We do not need him. We will manage this situation ourselves."

"You’re an idiot! Can’t you see we’re surrounded by–"

"U-Um... guys?!" Toby interrupted loudly. "President Daphne is back... and she brought guests."

The screaming cut off. Ava snapped her head around while Maelle turned her cold gaze toward the entryway.

Roxa reached up first and pulled off her hood to reveal her face.

Maelle’s blank expression cracked in genuine shock. "Roxa...? What are you doing here...?"

"I came to assist you, Maelle. But more importantly... I brought someone with me who traveled a very long way to see you." She pointed to the cloaked figure standing beside her.

Ava’s delicate demon nose twitched. Her senses flared as she caught a lingering, familiar scent of divine mana circulating the stranger – a scent that is unmistakably tied to Vincent. Her eyes lit up with ecstatic joy.

"V-VINCENT?! IT’S VINCENT! HE CAME BACK!"

Without a second thought, the overjoyed succubus vaulted straight across the room, diving through the air and flinging her arms around the hooded figure in a tearful bear-hug.

"V-Vincent! *Sob* I missed you! *Sniff* I missed you so much!" Ava sobbed happily, burying her face into the figure’s shoulder.

Toby, Leo, and Zally all let out collective cheers of joy, believing their powerful ally had somehow returned to save them.

Except for Gwen and Maelle.

Standing near the staircase, Gwen’s eyes narrowed cautiously, and Maelle’s turned dangerously sharp. She knew her Familiar’s precise soul-signature better than anyone in existence – and while this person carried his divine aura, something about them was completely different.

"Ava, stop. That isn’t him. Who are you?"

Still clinging tightly, Ava’s hands landed on something surprisingly soft, generous, and very full.

"Wait... soft mounds...? Broad chest... no... breasts?! Boobies?! Huh?!"

A playful giggle echoed from beneath the hood.

"Hello everyone~"

Smoothly reaching up, the figure pulled back her hood to reveal a cascade of dazzling blue hair spilled down her shoulders. She offered a sweet radiant smile while looking at the stunned young faces around the room.

"Hehehe~ I apologize for the confusion." Maribelle cooed happily as placed a hand on her cheek. "I am Maribelle... Vincent’s mother."

"""...""""

Everyone fell into a stunned silence.

Ava stood completely frozen mid-hug with her hands still pressed against Maribelle’s generous chest. Finally, the realisation hit her like a truck. Her face flushed so intensely that it rivaled Firetongue’s flames.

"E-Eeeeeeeeeek?!"

She scrambled backward so fast her bat wings flapped in a panic, causing her to trip over her own feet and tumble onto the carpet. She then quickly got back up to her knees and bowed her head repeatedly until her forehead nearly hit the floor.

"I-I am so sorry! I didn’t mean to– I thought you were– I mean you smelled like him, and– M-Mother?! I am so, so sorry, Your Loveyness, Great Lady Maribelle!"

Maribelle let out a musical giggle that melted the lingering tension in the room. She took Ava’s hands and helped the blushing succubus to her feet while smoothing down her pink hair with maternal fondness.

"Oh, sweetie, please don’t apologise. You must be Ava. My Vinny has told me all sorts of things about you."

"R-Really?! He talked about me?! G-Good things, right?!"

"Only the best~" Maribelle winked at her.

Behind them, Toby, Leo, and Zally stood practically starstruck – partly by Maribelle’s beauty, and partly by the staggering revelation that the figure was actually Vincent’s mother. Gwen, too, found herself caught off-guard by the woman’s presence, though she maintained a wary stance.

Daphne performed a flawless noble bow. "I know it is late, but I greet the legendary Goddess of Pristina. Ancient texts did not do your beauty justice, Maribelle. It is an honor to stand in your presence."

While the others were swept up in awe, Maelle remained stiff with her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

"Why are you here...?"

The chatter died down.

Maelle fixed her cool violet eyes onto her Familiar’s mother. "Why has a figure of legend... the Goddess of Pristina... come all the way to this world? Why are you standing in my house?"

Maribelle turned to face the young Princess. She didn’t look at Maelle with anger or judgment, but rather, empathy...

She saw right through the unfeeling armor Maelle wore – she saw the terrified, heartbroken girl bleeding underneath. Her voice carried a gentle warmth when she answered.

"I came because my son is hurting, Maelle. Vinny has been waiting for you to re-summon him. He hasn’t stopped pacing, he hasn’t been sleeping properly, and he hasn’t stopped worrying about you for a single second since he returned home."

Maelle’s shoulder twitched. She let out a bitter scoff. "Is he truly worried about me? Or is he simply scared of the fact that his life is tethered to mine... afraid that he might die if his Master gets herself killed?"

"Maelle–!" Surprisingly, Gwen tried to interject, but Maribelle simply raised a hand to stop her and fully turned around to leave, refusing to engage any further.

"It does not matter regardless. I have plans to make. In case you have not noticed... the entire city is hunting for our heads."

Without another word, she headed up the staircase toward her private quarters. The door of her room echoed shut moments later.

While Maelle isolated herself upstairs, the group gathered around in a circle to assess their situation.

"Does Maelle truly have a concrete plan to deal with all this trouble?" Maribelle asked.

Gwen nodded. "Yes. She has already dispatched secret communications to–"

"NO!" Ava interrupted Gwen loudly. Tears of frustration welled up as she looked at Maribelle. "That’s a lie! Her ’plan’ was supposed to be simple – Vincent was going to beat Duke Elsa and the corrupt nobles into submission if they didn’t listen to our demands! That was always our trump card!

"Now that she abandoned him, we’ve been trapped in this mansion for days! Zally and Leo have to sneak out in disguise because they’re halfbreeds just to buy us groceries! Even the Solarian Royal Knights are searching the streets for us now!"

Daphne tapped her chin thoughtfully as she added in. "Speaking of the Solarian Knights... there is a crucial, deeply unsettling anomaly in all of this."

"What anomaly?" Gwen asked.

"Crown Prince Quinton Solara is still unaccounted for. Despite his Royal Knights joining the Imperial Guards in hunting Princess Maelle, Prince Quinton himself hasn’t been seen or heard from since his duel with Vincent last week. The Solarian Knights claim he was abducted by Maelle’s faction... but my informants around the city suspect something far more sinister is happening behind closed doors..."

While the women continued discussing the political chessboard downstairs, Roxa slipped away toward the upper floor.

Reaching Maelle’s room, she knocked quietly on the door. Only for silence to answer her.

Without waiting for permission, she turned the handle and stepped inside.

The room was dimly lit, with the curtains drawn tight against the afternoon sun. Maelle sat on the wide window sill with her knees pulled up to her chest and her hand floating on the glass as she attempted to trace a complex magic circle from the dust.

"What are you doing here, Roxa?" Maelle asked while not looking back. "I thought you hated being around humans. This city is full of them."

Roxa walked slowly around the messy room, stepping over opened books, crumpled parchments, and discarded stationary. She stopped in front of her, looking at the clutter with her usual military expression.

"You are not looking after your space, Maelle. The chaos in this room reflects the chaos in your mind."

"If you came up here just to criticize my housekeeping, you can leave."

"... Tell me, Maelle... was it all a lie?"

Maelle stilled. "...What?"

"The two days we spent travelling together in the forest... When we sat by the campfire and I told you about my hatred for humans, you told me your dreams for the future. You swore you would become the ruler of Ebonspire and erase its dark, corrupt culture. You promised me that you would change the way I saw humans. Was that all a lie?"

Maelle stared down at her lap and bit her lip as she was unable to formulate an answer.

"I am an elf. I see things differently than humans," Roxa continued. "I saw how much Vincent’s presence lightens your mood. I saw how he looked at you... and how genuinely he fought to keep you safe. The river ambush, the bandit mission, and the pixie incident. So tell me... what really happened between you two?"

Maelle swallowed hard, her throat feeling dry as ash.

"Nothing happened," she whispered, sounding hollow. "I simply... gave him his life back. I released him from a bond he never asked for."

"Is that what he wanted?"

"... Yes," Maelle’s chin trembled slightly despite her best efforts. "He told me himself. He wanted his freedom."

"You’re wrong, Maelle."

A soft voice echoed from the open doorway.

Maelle and Roxa both turned as Maribelle entered the room, closing the door behind her. She walked toward the window, keeping her eyes gentle on the young Princess.

"Vinny said those hurtful words simply to vent out the honest truth, Maelle. And he lashed out without thinking. However, you didn’t let him finish what he was trying to say that night, did you? Yes, he said terrible things... but he told me he had so much more to tell you. Words that – if he had only said them – would have prevented all this pain you both have endured."

As Maelle’s breath caught in her chest, her cold facade began to crumble. "...What? What did he have to say...?"

Maribelle smiled tenderly, shaking her head. "It is not my place to tell you. If you truly wish to know... you already know what you must do."

Seeing Maelle’s shoulders begin to tremble, Maribelle slowly leaned in and wrapped her arms around her, pulling Maelle’s head gently against her shoulder in a protective motherly embrace.

Maelle froze. Every instinct in her body was telling her to push away, to maintain her isolation. But the gentle, soothing rhythm of Maribelle’s hand stroking her head and the familiar, comforting scent that lingers on her – a scent that reminded her so acutely, painfully of him – overwhelmed her defenses.

"It is not a weakness to rely on someone, Maelle," Maribelle whispered with love into her silver hair. "It is not a sin to let yourself be cared for. You two are a team... forever bound, not just by magic or happenstance, but by choice."

Feeling the unconditional warmth of a mother’s hug for the first time in her life, a single tear broke past Maelle’s eyelashes, tracing a path down her cheek.

"I... I..."

BANG!

"P-Princess! Lady Maribelle! Ms. Roxa!" Toby yelled in sheer terror as he slammed the door open.

"Downstairs! Rizer’s men... Imperial Guards and the Solarian Knights! They’re here!"