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Translator: penny
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: I'll Definitely Repay You Later
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I'll definitely repay you later.
The sunlight, which usually felt warm and bright, stung my skin like needles today.
The Rahel Tani training grounds, which had felt like my own home, now seemed like the very bottom of hell in this moment.
"Hah... Hek... Haah..."
The practical spar with Roselia had consisted of merely a few exchanges of blows. Yet in that brief clash, my stamina had hit rock bottom.
I lay sprawled on the ground, not even having the strength left to stand, gasping for breath. No matter how deeply I inhaled, my breathing refused to steady.
"Daughter, isn't your stamina a bit too lacking?"
Roselia approached with worried eyes and spoke to me. I wanted to reply, but right now, even just catching my breath was overwhelming.
"Since things have come to this, we'll have to build your stamina through practical training too. You can't accomplish anything if you keep collapsing like this."
Just moments ago, I had felt grateful toward her. But now, her words sent chills creeping over my entire body.
"Hek... Mother... just let me rest a little..."
"No."
Before I could even finish, Roselia cut me off firmly. My spirit deflated at her words, and I gazed up at her with empty eyes.
"You have to push past your limits to grow."
Roselia grabbed the nape of my neck and hauled me up, forcing my feet back onto the ground. My trembling legs protested as if they could no longer bear even standing.
"One more time, then we'll go wash up together."
She slowly raised her hand. It was a clear signal that she was about to attack.
"Th...is... fa...mi...liar..."
I had no strength left. But through sheer stubbornness, I moved my body. I pulled out a few defensive scrolls from the pouch at my right waist and glared at Roselia.
Roselia looked at me like that and quietly smiled.
"You're so plucky, I just want to bite you."
With that horrifying joke, Roselia flicked her finger. At the same moment, two small streams of fire erupted from either side of her and flew toward me.
I immediately unfurled one defensive scroll and activated it. The thin fire streams dissipated harmlessly upon hitting my barrier, scattering across the ground.
"Now, next."
This time, Roselia's voice came from behind me. Her speed was so fast I couldn't even track it with my eyes.
But after several exchanges, I had grown accustomed to her movements. Without hesitation, I spun around and deployed a defensive scroll.
Pzzt―
The faint electric current shooting from Roselia's fingertip was blocked by the barrier and bounced away.
"Now, try attacking me."
This time, I moved first. I took two offensive scrolls from my storage pouch and activated them toward Roselia simultaneously.
Flames flickered to life, accompanied by fierce gusts of wind that assailed her from both sides.
Of course, it wouldn't work on her. Roselia lightly leaped into the air to dodge the attack, then circled behind me and grabbed my nape again, lifting me up.
"Good. That's enough for today."
"Hah... Hek... Haah..."
"Hehe, you must be exhausted."
Roselia placed her hand on my head as I gasped for air.
A warm energy flowed in through the crown of my head. As the warmth spread through my body, my ragged breathing gradually calmed.
It wasn't full recovery, but at least I could breathe steadily now.
"...Thank you."
Roselia smiled silently. Unlike me, drenched in sweat, her face was perfectly composed without a single disheveled hair.
"Let's go wash up."
And so, the first training session ended.
I had a feeling I might come to slightly regret starting practical lessons with Roselia.
It was truly peaceful days.
Time so luxuriously complete and warm that I wondered if someone like me even deserved to enjoy it.
After sunrise, I had breakfast and slung on a backpack full of incense sticks before heading to the merchant district.
After finishing sales, I stopped by the magic tool shop to browse scroll-related goods. If anything caught my eye, I filled my backpack and returned to the mansion.
Before dinner, I prepared herbs for tomorrow's sales. In any spare time, I immersed myself in studying magic circuits.
As sunset approached, I left the mansion and headed to the training grounds.
There, Roselia always waited for me. Her red eyes glowing amid the setting sun on the horizon were as beautiful as a painting.
But thinking of the time that would follow, I couldn't just stand there admiring.
"You need to stay more alert, Bella?"
Fierce magic rushed at me, mismatched with her delicate voice. By now, my body reacted almost instinctively.
I pulled out a scroll and deployed a defensive spell.
Against the backdrop of the dying sunset, countless exchanges flew between Roselia and me. Her relentless attacks finally stopped only when my body could no longer move.
"Your movements have definitely improved compared to a year ago."
Roselia lifted me by the nape with a faint smile. This position felt familiar now—anything else would seem awkward.
"Hek... Hah... I still can't even graze your clothes, Mother..."
"Such greed."
For the past year, without fail, Roselia had sparred with me five times a week.
I knew full well how precious this time I was receiving was—especially considering her position.
"...Thank you always, Mother."
Yet I had nothing to repay her kindness with.
Perhaps that's why the deeper my gratitude for Roselia grew, the heavier a debt-like emotion weighed on my heart.
"Later... I'll definitely repay this favor."
Roselia raised one eyebrow in question.
"Bella, you don't realize how much you've done for me."
"Huh?"
What was she talking about? I'd only ever been on the receiving end.
It was Roselia who rescued me from the orphanage and opened an imperial vault account in my name.
A good bed, good food, good people. All these were things I'd first tasted after entering Rahel Tani.
Moreover, receiving personal guidance from her five times a week was unimaginable.
In contrast, what had I done for Roselia? At best, handed over some handmade herbs.
Sleep incense for better rest, beauty salve good for the skin, mild health tonics for vitality. That was the extent of it.
"Lately, high society loses it whenever they see me. They keep asking how I manage my beauty care."
Roselia smiled radiantly. Lately, I'd noticed her appearance growing even more glamorous with time.
Her already snow-white skin now gleamed with luster—it was the kind of skin any woman would envy.
"Know this: snatching you before any other family was the greatest stroke of luck in my life. If another house had taken you first..."
Her blood-red eyes flickered ominously. A year ago, that gaze would have terrified me, but now it felt strangely normal.
"Still, Bella, if you truly feel grateful..."
Roselia, still holding me up by one hand, brought her other to my lips.
"There is a way to repay the favor, isn't there?"
Her slender fingertip hovered slowly before my lips. I blankly stared at her waiting palm.
A sudden thought crossed my mind.
'...Is it really that good?'
Was receiving a kiss on the hand from a ten-year-old like me truly that pleasurable?
But Roselia always seemed genuinely delighted by my small gestures of affection.
Honestly, I didn't quite get it. But it didn't feel bad either.
On the contrary... it made me feel like she cherished me that much. It was a little nice.
My face flushed faintly at an imagination I never would have entertained a year ago.
"Um, Mother..."
"Yes?"
"Your ear for a sec..."
I lightly touched my lips as if I had something to whisper and looked at Roselia.
"We're alone anyway, so... if my daughter wants to."
Roselia lifted me by the nape without suspicion, bringing me close to her ear.
She stood still, waiting for my words. I steeled myself as I looked at her.
My fear of women was still etched deep in my bones. Even brushing past Sierra or other women made my body tremble with instinctive rejection.
Roselia was no exception. It might be a lifelong affliction.
Yet what was clear was that I was growing accustomed to it, bit by bit.
At first, even her touch terrified me, but now her stroking my hair felt fine. Kissing her palm no longer triggered intense revulsion.
And the one who had tirelessly helped make that change possible was Roselia.
I wanted to repay her, even if just a little... even if faintly.
"Don't you have something to say?"
Roselia asked, her ear right by me.
I squeezed my eyes shut. Then, slowly bringing my lips to her ear, I whispered softly.
"...Thank you so much, Mother."
After the whisper, I quickly leaned my head toward her face.
Mwah―
A faint cherry scent brushed my nose.
A delightful sound escaped. The soft texture lingered faintly on my lips. Roselia's moist, smooth cheek. My lips rested gently upon it.
Since I'd started, I moved my face quickly before rejection could rise.
Mwah― Mwah― Mwah―
Like a baby bird pecking affection to its mother, I rapidly kissed Roselia's cheek.
Then I hurriedly pulled back. Embarrassment and self-loathing surged together; I covered my flushed face with both hands and bowed my head.
"Later... I'll definitely repay you..."
The words came out strained.
Roselia said nothing for a long while.
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