Date- 30 Mar 2321
Time- 20:56
Location- Sky Blossom City, F-rank Common Grade Horned Hare Heaven Gate Dungeon
“Your cousin is my subordinate now, with your grandfather’s blessings, of course,” I announced to Corey, clearing her confusion.
“Oh! I see.” Corey did not erupt with rage as she knew that if it was her grandfather’s idea to send her cousin as a subordinate to her boss, he must have a hidden agenda for doing this. She did not want to come in the way of her grandfather’s plan by becoming overzealous and poking her nose where it didn’t belong. Instead, she should mind her business, especially when her boss is crashing her plan of spending quality mother-daughter time with Susan.
“How do you like your meat? Raw, medium rare, or well done.” Anna, who was still clinging to my arm, asked me.
“Well done, of course. Wait! don’t tell me you are planning to bbq for me.” As I replied to Anna, I realized that she seemed to be planning to prepare bbq for me.
“Yes,” Anna remembers her grandmother saying, ‘If you want to capture a man’s heart, conquer his stomach first.’
“Your highness, you don’t have to trouble yourself. I will barbecue the meat.” Susan offered help.
“I will only be barbecuing Wyatt’s meat. You can BBQ for the rest when I am done.” Anna, though madly in love, still had the pride of an emperor. She only planned to barbeque for her crush and herself.
“Yes, your highness.” Susan politely responded while her thoughts were totally messy as they were preoccupied with how her highness’s two overgrown meat bags were smothering her exclusive client’s arm.
“Do you know how to bbq?” I asked in suspicion. Because Anna was a real-life princess, I did not expect her to be well versed in chores. I know better than to judge others’ capabilities based on their upbringing, but I did not want to suffer from food poisoning.
“You tell me after you dine the meat I bbq for you.” Anna was angry as she felt that her soulmate treated her with the same prejudices and stereotypes against the rich.
“I won’t get food poisoned will I?” I asked, but feeling Anna’s fierce gaze, I hurriedly added, ” I am forwarded to your cooking.”
Feeling the harmonious nature between her exclusive client and the southern emperor, Susan’s face turned dark. Depressed, she walked into the woods, saying, “I will collect more dry wood.”
“Big sis, wait up. I will help you.” Corey had watched how Susan was depressed seeing her boss was so close to the southern emperor. So she followed Susan into the woods to strike the iron while it was hot and erase all romantic feelings in her mother’s heart for her boss.
…
“…” Susan quietly searched the woods and collected dry woods for the campfire. If possible, she did not want to return to the campfire. Even though Susan knew that was not possible, she could help but hope for it because she did not want to see the man she had unclear feelings for in another woman’s arms.
“Big sis, I think we have collected enough dry wood. We should return to the campfire.” Corey wanted to slander her boss and erase him from her mother’s heart but seeing the depressed back of her mothers as her lonely solitude walked in the woods collecting dry twigs, Corey could not bring herself to disturb Susan and decided to accompany her quietly.
“Corey, can we stay here for a while,” Susan asked, placing the bundle of dry wood on the ground and leaning against a tree, powerless. Just picturing him being with another woman pained Susan’s heart and chaos-filled her mind.
“Sure, whatever you need, big sis.” Feeling the sadness in her mother’s voice, Corey agreed.
“…” Unable to bear the depressing silence, Corey decided to console Susan, “Big Sis, he doesn’t deserve you.”
“Corey, I want him!” Said Susan as tears filled her eyes while trying to erase the picture of that slut clinging to him, but it did not work as she knew that right now he was in that whore’s arms.
“What? Big Sis, are you for real? He doesn’t deserve you.” Corey was surprised to hear Susan say that. Corey has questioned Susan many times about this, but she denied it. This was the first time for Susan to express what she actually thought openly.
“Corey, it doesn’t matter if he deserves me or not. I realized that I want to be with him no matter what.” The pain she felt seeing him with another woman helped Susan realize what the unclear feeling she had for him was.
“Well, Anna has him. We can not do a thing about it. She is very possessive. Anyway, just forget him. Otherwise, you will end up getting hurt.” Corey knew Anna. She would settle scores with a toddler. Let allow her love rival.
When Anna attended Corey’s birth celebration, she got drunk and wandered to baby Corey’s cradle. Baby Corey was awake, giggling, gazing at the marble ceiling murals. Drunk Anna found it cute as she rubbed baby Corey’s soft cheeks. In the middle of it all, baby Corey vomited on Anna’s hand. Enraged, drunk Anna puked back on baby Corey, saying, ‘Now we are even.’ Fortunately, Anna’s puking had sobered her enough to clean up after with her card. Leaving no evidence of her crime.
“I am not afraid. I am already hurt and in pain. Seeing him in her arms.” Susan was the type that did not do things that would burden her heart. And willing to go to lengths to unburden it. Like how, after graduating high school, she quickly searched for a job, not wanting to burden her parents and help with the money. Unlike others of her age who took a few gap years and stayed home doing nothing, hoping they could contract a grimoire in the following years.
“But…” Corey, who was against Susan’s feelings for her boss, was wordless as she could feel the sorrow and misery in her voice.
…
