Chapter 89: I want to be with him!
"What in the heavens are you doing, Laila?"
These were the first of the words, Fiona spoke after seeing her daughter after a short period when she was away. Last she remembered to see Laila cheerfully smiling as she wished her parents a safe journey just before they left for some business to attend in the neighboring town.
And returning after a short while, what does she find? An evidently sorrow-drowned daughter who had her lifeless gaze fixated on some shard of ornaments and crumbled papers?
Laila always has been a lovely and optimistic kind of kid who always likes to keep the people around her smiling and stress-free. Even if it's her carriage coach or just a gardener, she tries to extend a helping hand if she can and do her best to keep her surrounding as lively as she could.
And Laila's parents adored such a trait of their daughter.
But right now, Fiona could only see the clouds of depression and hopelessness roaming above Laila's head and the usual charm her daughter wears was nowhere to be found. In a way, Laila seemed to be entirely a counterpart of what she used to be.
"Laila."
Fiona knew acting forcefully or scolding her daughter would bring no good, worse Laila may fall into such a state that Fiona might not be able to lift her from. So the older woman chose to keep her tone as soft as she could while she brought her hand over Laila's head.
Laila visibly jerked since it seemed she was not expecting anyone at the moment. Since she has only allowed her personal maid to enter inside and only at times when the maid has to oblige with her duties, Laila never thought someone would intrude at this hour.
But when her gaze fell on the person standing by her side, with unhidden concern masking her gaze, Laila psyched herself and with an audible sniff, she hurriedly put all the things inside the wooden box.
Fiona more or less understood the stance of the matter as her gaze fell on the wooden box, but still, she was not sure what those things were which were affecting her daughter this much, to the point of breaking her into such a state. fr𝐞𝐞𝚠e𝗯𝗻ovel.c𝐨m
"Mother...I..."
Laila was finding it difficult to ooze out words appropriate to explain things, but Fiona was not here to take any excuses so she just went straight to the point.
"Is it because of Seth that you have become like this? You don't have to punish yourself like this daughter. He himself didn't trust so-"
Fiona herself created the situation as she thought it to be and began to console her daughter back to her usual self even though she have to speak badly about anyone at the moment.
But Laila shook her head and rejected to let her continue with her delusions.
"It's not that, what you think it is mother. I...I just..."
Seeing her daughter in such pain and trouble, Fiona squeezed her hand and spoke in a warm tone.
"Tell me Laila, whatever it is. I promise to not judge you regardless of what you say and also will try to help if I know the full knowledge on the matter."
Laila kept her face down as she felt emotions swelling inside of her and ready to burst anytime. She knows, without her mother saying, that she wouldn't be judged by whatever she says. And Laila had such a close relationship with her parents that sharing her troubles with them seemed to be the best possible method to overcome this sensation she have been feeling ever since Seth broke off their engagement.
Fiona patiently waited for her daughter to prepare herself as she saw Laila breathing stabilizing a bit before her heavy yet remorse-filled voice reached up to her.
"Mother...what if someone whom you always used to dislike and thought of as nothing but a burden in your life proves to be the person who always loved you dearly yet never showed it in front. What if...the person whom you always wanted to avoid was the only one who always cared for every single thing you did for them. What if...the relationship you had with a person despite responsibility in your eyes always has been a cherished memory for the said person? Tell me, mother, what will you do to find whatever you have done in name of natural response, were hurting the other person to the point where the person broke off the relationship which was keeping the two at least intact, despite weakly? Tell me...what would you do...what should I do...tell me...tell me..."
Fiona's seemed to be slowly understanding what had happened with all this box and what suddenly changed in Laila. The thing which has been eating Laila from inside...Fiona understood it all.
There was a lot to thought about since thinking about Seth being the person Laila described, was a little far stretched given his personality and his social standing but Fiona didn't doubt her daughter's words and went to hug the fragile girl first.
"Oh, my poor child. It pains me to see you like this. Please don't cry."
Upon her mother's words, Liala noticed that tears has been raining down without her realizing it. She has resisted the urge to shed tears the past few days for some reason she herself doesn't know. But this familial warmth and the comforting word anyone would seek at their low point broke her boundaries.
The duo stayed in an embrace while the younger one silently wept her grief without restraints. Was it her guilt, or regret which brought such agony to Liaila? She was not sure and did not want to find it either since she knew, in the end, Laila would be hurting herself.
"Are you okay now?"
After half an hour of coaxing her daughter, Fiona asked in a warm tone to which Laila nodded but still did not let go of her mother. The only support Liala could rely on at such a worst point in her life.
Fiona didn't want to say what she was going to do, but she knew if anything could heal Laila then it was related to the matter which gave her such scars in the first place.
"Now tell me, Laila. What are you going to do?"
Separating herself slightly to look directly into her daughter's eyes Fiona asked in a slight firmness blending in her voice but not to the point where it could scare the girl.
Laila was perplexed by the sudden question but her mother's following words cleared the mist of doubts.
"It's about Seth. Do...you want to get with him or get over him? I have advice for either path and don't worry, I would support you whatever decision you pick."
Fiona spoke about what she has thought in order to help her daughter overcome her lingering feeling. The older woman wanted to say that Laila can think about it with a peaceful mind since it was a decision she needed to severely contemplate about.
However, like she already had an answer prepared, Laila replied in a resolute voice.
"I want to pursue Seth. I want to be with him. So please help me, mother!"
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It has been eight days ever since Seth entered the Dungeon and began annihilating whatever he evaluated as an opportunity to grow his powers and widen his knowledge about his skills. Under the rigid persuasion of his maid, he never slacked resting in between the battles but the fact he was barely getting tired from the constant combats made him feel like those breaks as a chore.
However, he never went against Lara's words. Not because she was his future bride or his maid, but rather because he trusted her with his heart. If anyone could care for him without any intention of payback, then it could be only her.
Caroline has been following behind the two not so far apart and has been engaging in battle at whatever opportunity she got. Since in her current state, killing an orc would have been a proven struggle-some, Seth always weakened the foe before letting it get to the two ladies.
The soul core from the monsters was being picked collectively and as per Seth's words, it would be divided in equal ratios after the trial.
Lara had no interest in the core since everything she had belonged to her young master. And Seth particularly had no greed for money so he didn't mind sharing the core despite him collecting majorly all of them by himself.
Lara on the outer surface seemed to be smiling and composed as she stared at the battle transpiring between the orc lord and her young master. One might say, that as the person's maid and a bodyguard, she at least should have been nervous but it was needless since her young master was practically playing with the monster at this point.
The orc lord was far stronger than its soldiers but Seth had no problem keeping the giant under control as from what Lara could see he have created an invisible wall around the monster to test out his new skills.
But the smile was all a facade that she has worn to not make her young master feel concerned about her.
There were two reasons for her worry. First, the response of the Black Order who were responsible for the young master's protection. Lara was somewhat aware of their might, especially the group leader, Shin. If he wanted he could have easily entered the field through artifact or their synced attacks, yet...
'What could be the reason for such negligence...'
Unless the world outside has fallen under apocalypse Lara couldn't find any reason for such irresponsibility. But that would be evaluated after they exit this place.
The current concern was something that Caroline worded out unexpectedly.
"Isn't he growing unbelievably fast? Do you think it's normal?"
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A/N:- I hope you guys are liking the story, This arc would be wrapped up soon.
As for Lara, then I can say, she is shaken up a bit and her character would drastically shift once she gets face to face with a certain someone~