Chapter 16

“Lady Bluen… Is that you? It’s truly amazing, it’s almost as if you were alive, like you were her twin on a higher floor… or something.” Emma, ​​who had followed Amelia and her along the way, spoke in a dazed voice, her eyes first caught in the sight of the mansion’s interior, a painting.

The most realistic painting a villager like her could appreciate, in fact.

Above the double staircase in the entrance hall was a large, beautifully rendered portrait by Arisella Bluen, so much so that it wouldn't be surprising to hear it was made by a skilled craftsman.

“Oh, yeah…that’s me, huh?” Arisella blinked, a little surprised for a moment, as she stared at her own portrait. She’d only just realized its existence…

I have so many questions I should have asked myself from the beginning…it’s funny how others have to point it out for me to figure it out…what’s going on?

She wondered, looking at herself in the ultra-realistic painting of herself while standing in a very similar pose to Moja Lisa, smiling softly in an elegant off-white dress.

Amelia looked at her, puzzled by her confused response, but a girl's voice interrupted those thoughts.

“Wow, they're beautiful! Lady Bluen looks a bit like those noble women drawn in Dad's books, only a thousand times more beautiful!”

Natha pointed out enthusiastically, raising her hand. Her voice echoed faintly around the room as she continued, “The interior is so beautiful too! So pretty! My house looks like a pigsty in comparison!”

“…Natha!” Both Emma and Amelia hesitated for a few seconds before scolding the girl, evidently agreeing with her frank words.

And honestly, the interior of the mansion was simply splendid. The floor, the gold chandeliers, the furniture... everything screamed wealth!

Commoners like the Runei sisters obviously wouldn't have words to describe it, but each of them, including the already accustomed Amelia and the young and naive Natha, were sure of one thing.

That only those of noble birth should live in a place like that.

As Emma and Natha looked excitedly at the well-decorated and bright entrance hall while the maids bowed to Arisella, the Prophetess in question just looked at the little girl, pushing those thoughts away for now as she smiled with an expression that would make one mistake her for a doting mother.

“So, are you ready to start the tour of my mansion, baby?”

Baby!?

While everyone present practically opened their eyes at that absurd word that came out of her mouth so naturally, Natha just raised her hand excitedly once more, responding with her adorable childish giggle “Yes!”

♦♦♦♦

Taylan Village

“Hahaha, I can’t believe it…! You were abandoned because you were impotent!” A raucous laugh broke out from one of the many tables in a cheap tavern where, at this moment, a depressed John Asher sat after his strange and sudden breakup with Arisella, the town’s Prophetess.

He was there, drinking beer with his friends, whom he had found here already drinking and eating a little since before his arrival with vague steps.

The hunter, without a second's hesitation, quickly joined them to vent his sorrows, also complaining about the suddenness of it all; fully aware that each table had low-level Tetran silk enchantments placed on it to prevent them from eavesdropping on the customers' private conversations.

This was very convenient for someone who felt embarrassed at the thought of the news spreading throughout the entire town at once. At the same time, it also showed how much he trusted his friends by talking to them about this sensitive topic just to get it off his chest, without fear of the matter spreading.

Her dear male friends listened silently to her brief breakup story with seemingly understandable silence at first, but of course, like her lifelong best friends, they didn't miss the opportunity to laugh in her face about her recent breakup when it was over, having come to their own conclusions about why it all happened.

Impotence….

"John, the strongest hunter of our proud people, turned out to be impotent. It's unbelievable...Hahaha. Now Impotent Hunter John will step forward to tell the story of how his 'little brother's' lack of response caused him to lose the most beautiful woman in the world."

"Oh, that sounds like a good title for a 'legend' that would be remembered for generations!"

"Indeed, your story will serve as an excellent reminder to all the powerless people in the empire that they are not alone; no brother will ever have a wife; they will always be loveless companions in their lives." Another, who wore oddly stylish glasses for a commoner, nodded, as if I had said something very wise.

"...You just abandoned me, and you're mocking my supposed helplessness instead of comforting me... Are you really my friends?" John's face was very grim as he questioned the three sitting next to him.

It was bad enough having to deal with his very, very recent breakup with his childhood sweetheart for a ridiculous reason; having this trio of idiots mockingly claim he was "impotent" upon finding out made him want to grab a chair and attack the "enemy" in front of him like a madman.

He felt a little sorry for telling them.

"Haha, calm down John, we were just joking." Not the least bit affected by the hunter's murderous glare, one of the men tried to calm his anger with an insincere smile. He was a handsome man with purple hair, a suspiciously criminal look, and a stern demeanor, whose name was Klaus.

He and John were the only hunters in the drinking group, the rest being a carpenter and a librarian. John secretly called them Idiots 1, 2, and 3 because of the stupid things they came up with.

Klaus, the number one idiot, waved his hand dismissively to continue the conversation, his lips twisting into a snarl as he spoke. "I mean, come on, it's not like it's the end of the world if your girlfriend dumps you just because you're terrible at kissing women. There are plenty of months at sea! Look at you, you're very handsome, and although I hate to admit it, you're the most popular man in town! You won't be single for much longer! Enjoy life, man."

Although it seemed casual enough, it was her way of comforting a friend. Something John Asher could appreciate. Still, telling him he could easily find another woman when he knew he really liked Arisella was annoying. Mostly…

“It wasn’t that bad of a kiss…” She weakly tried to defend herself, feeling even worse when she remembered that everyone in town knew about her pathetic first kiss because of her annoying sister.

“But Lucelle explained to me in great detail how your kissing Arisella was the human equivalent of a dog kiss…Hahaha” To John’s surprise, the man with glasses; a skinny, intellectual-looking guy (called idiot number 2 for now) said sincerely while laughing.

“What?! Th-that’s…”

Embarrassed, John decided to divert the topic with something he found very interesting in this conversation. "First of all... I had no experience with kissing before this, so forgive me for being terrible. Secondly, what relationship do you have with my sister to talk about such things behind my back, Merion?!"

"A relationship of intellectual exchange..." Merion's glasses flashed briefly as he adjusted them, answering in a seemingly serious manner, but with a mysterious tone that suggested something more than his words said.

John's face turned even darker for a completely different reason than the matter that worried him before...

"Hey John, are we talking about your failing love life or Merion's possible romance with your sister? We have to decide," the last of the trio of idiots, idiot number 3, playfully asked.

He was a bearded, strong-looking man named Loyn. He was the one who started the "Legend of John the Powerless Hunter" joke a few moments ago.

"Don't let a sister complex get in your way."

"Stop talking nonsense! I have absolutely no sister complexes... and I do not approve of any relationship you have with her, Merion!" John exclaimed after slamming the table and pointing disdainfully at Merion as he coldly declared, "A weak and pathetic fellow like you is not worthy of a woman as my sister, and you should be accused of not being able to satisfy a woman, not me."

He looked at Merion's thin body and nodded, confident in his statement. A man with such a skinny body... What satisfaction can he give a girl?

"That's what you say, not her, virgin brother-in-law."

Merion wore a calm smile as he responded with an indifferent smile, mockingly sneering. He clearly didn't seem bothered by denying the others' assumptions, basically confirming with those words that his relationship with Lucelle is more than just friends...much more.

That made the other two whistle in admiration at the librarian.

Lucelle is a woman as beautiful as Arisella. Winning the heart of such a beauty was a miracle for someone as simple (in his eyes) as Merion; if he was lucky, he could make her his wife and start a family of his own.

If John would allow it, of course.

"...." John in question clearly had no such intention, judging by the way he stood up, seemingly on the verge of leaping onto the table and lunging at Merion to teach him what he should and shouldn't covet. His two friends, far from stopping the upcoming fight, seemed eager because they were about to cheer...

"That's enough!"

An authoritative voice echoed through the tavern before John could attack Merion. Katy, the owner of the establishment, glared at them and said in a cold, ruthless tone, "I know what you were about to do, so I'm warning you all, you'd better stop this nonsense and hold back so you don't upset my customers or I'll beat you up...Okay, you idiots?"

His eyes narrowed as he asked... no, he demanded agreement with a piercing stare. A suffocating pressure descended upon them, making it difficult for them to muster the courage for any rebellion.

This wasn't merely psychological; it was the spiritual pressure that a Careerist with a stronger soul exerted on those with a weaker one, declaring their dominance as one of the true cogs of current human civilization. Even John was pressured, though mainly because the woman was a Second-Rank [Warrior] on the verge of the Third; fully capable of beating the hell out of a hunter far from the forest like him.

"Y-yes, ma'am"

John and the others immediately became submissive, polite, and harmless, with smiles adorning their lips as they sat like obedient children. At that, Katy snorted and went back to her business.

"Damn it, if he wasn't a peak second-rank professional..." Klaus muttered under his breath as he gritted his teeth, his servile expression gone, and his gaze showing vile anger; with his murderous appearance, he made him look like a bloodthirsty killer.

"If I weren't what? Ha!" Merion shook his head in disdain. "No matter what you imagine, nothing will change the fact that the real Katy can kill you hundreds of times with one hand without using the slightest weapon. That's the power of a warrior, even a low-ranking one. Honestly, it's pathetic of you to imagine scenarios that will never happen. Speaking of which… Could you relax your expression? Your handsome bandit face has turned into that of a homicidal maniac, so I'm afraid…"

"...Merion, now I want to beat you up too."

"Ha?" Merion raised an eyebrow, seemingly not understanding why Klaus was now giving him a hostile look. Anyone could see that Merion was someone who could get himself killed just by opening his mouth...

With cold water on his temper, John leaned back at the table in resignation as a worried expression returned to him. Regarding his sister's matter, John would deal with the fly bothering her later, but for now, he just needed to focus on finding a way to recover their relationship, as he somehow felt he would never be by Arisella's side again if she really left.

He knew Arisella wanted to have her first romantic kiss at a wedding, as he'd once heard, but he didn't think that would become a reason to dump him. At least he thought so, since the reasons she gave in the carriage seemed quite absurd to him.

And why does he seem intent on leaving without clarifying anything about his plans in the capital to save the town, according to his own words? Because he needs to meet with that pathetic excuse for a Duke?

If it weren't for the fact that he didn't want to make things worse between them, John would have already pressed for answers even if he had to fight his way through the maids at Bluen Manor.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Arisella? Leaving me like this to travel far from my…" John wondered once more, with a certain amount of pain in his voice.

"Maybe she'll look into finding a better man or something... I mean, you never took the initiative to go beyond simple caresses and stuff just because... Is she shy? Isn't it just you who was too cowardly to act? Arisella is quite sexy, even if she is a little short. With a girl with a body as erotic as hers, I would have stuck the carrot root in the hole for days, you know?" Loyn smiled lustfully as she looked at imagining something that is not appropriate for bright-eyed children.

"Stop talking nonsense!" John had to keep from shouting, forcing himself to speak softly but firmly as he glared at Loyn. "Arisella would never do something like that to me...leaving me to find another man...and stop fantasizing about her, because I'm sure you were doing it, you damn womanizer!"

"Are you sure?" Loyn looked at him with a curious expression, seemingly confused as to where his confidence came from. "In my experience, women don't just look for a caring, kind man with a pretty face like you; they also want action. If you were going to act like something that only pleases her eyes, then I suggest you turn yourself into a statue and make way for those who can also give her physical satisfaction. She deserves it. After all, women have just as many sexual needs as men~"

"..."

John knew that Loyn's words were not just nonsense.

John and Arisella's relationship so far consisted of minimal physical contact as they walked, chatted, and flirted for a while. Since the three of them had known John for a long time, it would have been obvious to them whether he had, in fact, long since climbed the ladder of adulthood.

And of course, that wasn't the case. Both John and Arisella had maintained an innocent relationship without the slightest sexual activity. It was quite evident he made no effort to take it further, the poor bastard.

While there's no denying that Arisella's stance on limited intimate contact before marriage had a lot to do with it, there's also no denying that it's not John's fault for being so passive. At this point, it wouldn't surprise you if, on her trip, she meets an attractive guy and he wins her over using nothing more than his sex appeal, or something like that.

It was no secret that Arisella Bluen liked handsome men…

"This is so sad, man... you've been lovers for months, and the only kiss you two had wasn't even to your liking... How would you be in bed with a woman, she asked me? Maybe you should take this opportunity to gain experience with women while she's away, instead of regretting being dumped, so you could try your best to seduce her later and get her back with you... If another man has already taken Lara, yes, that is," Klaus told him calmly with the expression of a teacher teaching his student the path they must take to achieve success and avoid falling into mediocrity.

"Perhaps it's already too late to think of winning her back, and she's actually planning to abandon you from the start for the sake of going far away to find a rich and high-status man, seduce him with her beauty, and marry him, living like a true queen." Merion nodded to himself, confident in his words.

"Merion has a very valid point. This guy is so pathetic, he'd better stay single for life... Well, he's impotent, so what can we do?" Loyn shrugged with a mocking smile.

"...Seriously, with all the weight of my soul I ask you...Are you really my friends?"

At John's exasperated question, the three idiots looked at each other and responded with shit-eating grins.

"Your best friends!"

"Curse!"

John really tried not to scream in anger. Still, deep down, he wondered if Arisella had really abandoned him just so she could guiltlessly run off to find another man just because he wasn't good enough for her.

He imagined Arisella trying to seduce the Duke of the North himself…However, in the end, he shook his head as he thought to himself.

I know her well; even as a narcissist, Arisella is far too naive about the kind of life she wants to have. She would never embark on a long journey and go out of her way to seduce a noble or a wealthy merchant like a whore. She certainly lives well enough on her own without needing a Duke who only knows how to fight demons and doesn't manage his lands properly...

He tried to convince himself, but the words of his "dear" friends and colleagues had already caused a seed of doubt to begin to blossom in his heart about his possible intentions.

♦♦♦♦

Meanwhile, inside Bluen's mansion.

Arisella still carried little Natha in her arms as she guided those who followed her through her mansion, showing both the little heroine and Emma the places of interest within Bluen, while the latter walked delicately on the thick red velvet carpets.

The way Arisella carried the girl as if she were used to dealing with small children was strange, as if she had experience carrying children like Natha in her arms. Although Arisella was known to have been an orphan who lived in the church with other children, she wasn't known for looking after her younger companions like some kind of older sibling.

Therefore, for those who knew Arisella since she was just another orphan, the scene was strange.

In any case, the first places the prophetess took the girls were to more rooms that could be found in the hall. These rooms contained truly beautiful furniture, and seemed designed to accommodate a certain number of guests who wanted a private moment among themselves, given their design.

As Arisella toured these rooms with her company and showed them the interesting things that could be found inside, such as display cabinets, ceramics, and even some beautiful paintings, the mystery of the mansion grew and grew, plaguing her thoughts with questions about the real need for all of this… But regardless of that, she continued to conduct the tour throughout Bluen with a smile.

The prophetess led the girls to the second floor, knowing the beautiful stairs in the lower hall left Emma both nervous and excited at the thought of walking on such an extravagant looking staircase.

“Wooo! The little golden chandeliers are so pretty and shiny!” Natha said, her mouth wide open as she looked more closely at the chandelier-shaped candelabras, which illuminated the entrance hall even during the day with Magic Light.

“Those are called candelabras, Natha. They contain magic that allows them to emit light, and yes, they are beautiful because they are made of gold,” Arisella explained simply and kindly with a smile.

“Can I take one home?”

“Natha, no!” Emma scolded, exasperated, before even Amelia or Arisella had a chance to open their mouths. Until now, the girl had always been parroting “Can I take this?” or “Can I take that?” to anything that caught her eye.

And no matter how many times he was denied, he did not lose his spirit.

“Unfortunately, no, you can’t.”

Arisella didn't really have that much of a problem with it. But, aside from what the hell her family was going to do with something like that, she couldn't imagine anything other than them returning everything in a panic, unable to keep such expensive things in their house or simply because they were her things. So she refused, unbothered by the girl's enthusiasm.

“Tsk, what a shame…”

Clicking her tongue brazenly in a low voice, Natha only showed a small smile that lasted less than two seconds before she smiled and looked around with unfading enthusiasm, warming the prophetess's heart. The girl looked excitedly at the various gleaming statues and armor on display in the halls, pointing at them curiously.

Along the way, they ran into several maids diligently doing their jobs and bowing respectfully whenever Arisella, along with Emma and Amelia, passed by with Natha in her arms. They secretly watched with curiosity as the lady of the mansion carried the unknown girl in her arms with an attitude that would make her mistaken for her mother, intrigued by what was happening.

Arisella decided to show them the kitchen, the private tea room for her and her friends whom she considered family, as well as the mansion's terraces with beautiful gardens, including the one outside her bedroom.