After Stealing Hero's Mother, I Reincarnated in the Fantasy World!

Chapter 109 Celestia's feelings

The old maid Grace entered her Young Lady Eliana's chambers. She had cared for her and her sister since they were children as if they were her own daughters, so she was genuinely worried about her.

Yesterday Eliana disappeared without warning and did not return all night, and when she did she slept like a murdered woman, refusing even to move.

Although Grace didn't know how she had managed to get back to her room in such a state, she chose not to ask about it.

"Young Lady Eliana, it's time to get up."

Instead, her calm voice, gentle with old age, called out to her.

"Just a couple more minutes... N-no… Not there~ Mhhhhh~ you wicked~ brother~"

Part of Eliana's consciousness was still in a dream, but gradually she managed to push it away and wake up fully. And all to meet the wide-open eyes of the old maid.

"Young Lady, are you..."

Without finishing, she turned away.

"I apologize, Lady Eliana, I seem to have forgotten your breakfast in the kitchen."

She quickly corrected herself. Having served her entire life in the Noble Families, she was experienced enough to know what she should hear and what she shouldn't.

With hasty steps Grace left the room.

'Wait, don't go! And don't make that look on your face! You've got it all wrong!'

Eliana shouted to herself, unable to utter a word. All she could do was stare silently at the departing maid.

When she was alone, she sighed, looking out the window.

The sun was already high in the sky, so as much as she wanted to continue lying in bed, she had to get up so as not to arouse suspicion.

And as soon as she tried to do that, she became glad Grace was gone.

Her legs were still trembling and she felt an itching in her lower body. It took her a while to get used to it and start walking normally.

Along with that, memories of her last night flooded her mind, heating up her body and head.

"Haha… All night... How could he do that all night?!"

Knowing that she was alone in the room, her voice broke with the emotions overwhelming her. She seemed ready to burst into tears from everything that had happened.

"He's not a human. He's a beast. A demon. Yes, that's right. He's someone who shouldn't wear the mask of a human."

Eliana walked hesitantly over to one of the large mirrors next to her bed.

The reflection that stared back at her from the mirror was markedly different from what she was used to seeing.

Exactly as she felt, she looked tired, as if someone had forced her to exercise all night long. And more than that, it seemed like some important part of her was missing.

Trying to calm her body, she gathered all her remaining strength and left the room.

Eliana walked cautiously down the hallway, looking around.

She had purposely avoided seeing her sister. After everything that had happened yesterday, she was sure she would die of shame just seeing her face.

And what's more...

'How would she even look at me if she knew what I'd done?'

'She always cared so much about Rain, and now I…'

'Won't Liana blame me for stealing her beloved Big Brother?'

Fear filled her mind.

She had already lost her past self and she didn't want to lose her dear sister too, who she had been with since she was a little girl.

Similar thoughts swirled around in her head as she walked cautiously through the Manor.

It was the moment she saw the glint of flame-red hair, and a moment later she recognised its owner. It was the last person she had expected to see in the Manor now.

'W-why is she here?'

It was Celestia Winderline, her Aunt.

And for that matter... the person she respected the most.

Just as there were people she despised, there were also people she truly admired.

In that respect, not even her own mother inspired as much respect and admiration in her as Aunt Celestia did. She had achieved everything on her own, neither relying on her family nor on the support of others. And what's more, she never gave up on her goals, no matter how difficult they were.

Celestia was without exaggeration her role model.

And that was why Eliana was blushing thickly now.

In her current state, with a body exhausted from the night's viciousness, meeting her Aunty was like meeting her idol naked.

She quickly tried to run away and hide, but it was too late. Celestia had already spotted her and headed in her direction with a smile.

"Y-you're back already, Aunt Celestia?"

Eliana asked with a wry smile, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice.

But instead of answering, Celestia hugged her warmly, pulling her against her plump chest. She didn't seem to care about anything, just happy to see her niece after all this time.

Her size pressed down on the young girl, leaving only one thought in her mind.

'I'm still sorely lacking.'

Despite the warmth of the embrace, there was still a slight shiver in her body, so she tried to hide it as best she could.

But how could she hide it from Celestia, whose power was a dozen leagues higher than her own?

"What's happening to you, Eli? Your legs are shaking and your body looks completely exhausted."

Releasing her from her embrace, Celestia asked in a voice full of genuine concern.

"Haha… e-everything's fine, I just practiced with my sword too much yesterday."

The corners of her mouth involuntarily twitched as she said this.

It was such an obvious lie that anyone could have said it.

And yet, Celestia, utterly naive about such things, accepted her explanation without a shadow of a doubt.

"Ah."

She nodded understandingly.

"I gave my all to training when I was your age, too. A lot of people said I was crazy, but look where they are now and where I am. Especially back then, my only desire was to surpass your mother and I was willing to do anything for it."

A faint smile appeared on her hands as she sank into the memories.

"Even then, though, your mother was a monster whose limits were hard to see. All I had to do was give all of myself, discarding everything else to avoid giving in to her."

Celestia hugged her tightly again, sinking Eliana's face into her chest.

"Don't worry, Eli. I know how hard you train and that you can be impulsive at times, but you're still a good child. So don't overexert yourself in training, with your talent, sooner or later you'll achieve everything you desire."

"So maybe you should pay a little attention to... ahem... m-men? You know, f-first love and all t-hat..."

Celestia wanted to add 'don't make the same mistakes I did', but her advice embarrassed herself, so she kept silent.

Of course, now this was a topic Eliana wanted to avoid at all costs. Her eyes flickered as she changed the subject to the first thing that came to mind.

"Speaking of which, Aunty Celestia, how is your husband doing?"

But after a moment, she regretted doing so.

Celestia's face darkened.

Eliana cursed to herself.

'Idiot, who pulled your tongue?'

Beauty, strength, power, her Aunt really did have it all.

If there was one thing she lost, it was this...

A political marriage to another Family, made to stabilize a tense situation in the past.

Sacrificing her happiness for her family... it was so in her spirit.

And what's worse, her partner turned out to be Kevin.

Eliana cringed inwardly. She'd never liked Kevin.

If there was anyone she despised more than the previous Rain, it was definitely him.

This political marriage was like pearls on a pig. And with Kevin's size, that expression took on literal meaning.

Unfortunately, Eliana was powerless here. All she could do was hope that one day Celestia would find a real man worthy of her.

"Kevin? Yeah, he's fine."

Her aunt's voice brought her out of her thoughts.

Celestia smiled strainedly, inwardly berating herself for lying.

In fact, she hadn't seen Kevin since 'it' had happened between her and Rain.

She avoided seeing him and he wouldn't come to her.

It wasn't much different from their past relationship, though, so she could tell with certainty what he was doing at this time.

'He's probably out partying with the girls in town as usual.'

It had been that way since their very wedding. Even back then, Kevin had felt incomplete around her and viewed her not as a woman, but as a mere target for a political marriage.

That was the main reason why Celestia was so ignorant and naive about 'these' matters.

And from the moment Kevin heard of her exploits on the battlefield and the number of Demons that had died at her hands, he became even more afraid to go near her, always choosing to sleep in another room.

Was she so unattractive as a woman?

Celestia couldn't count how many times she had asked herself that question during their married life.

But somehow now, every time she wondered about it, one memory, as if a clear answer to all her worries arose in her mind.

"I think you're one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. Those young bitches can't compare to you." Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire

There was no trace of a lie on the face of the young man she had tried so hard to forget, and in his voice there was absolute confidence in his words.

If his touch warmed her body, his words warmed her soul.

'Am I really worth anything...?'