Some of those girls had recorded it, uploaded it to social media, and earned ad revenue off it. Since they’d dabbled in other arts too, it helped them earn pocket money, and as grandma I’d been over the moon about that. A little laugh slipped out at the fond memory.
Lady Faltan flinched, startled. Well, well—she looked a bit bewildered, and then her cheeks flushed? I didn’t quite get it.
“If you have no business with me, I should be going...” I said, trying to shift her focus and leave the scene...but just then, a certain shrill scream I hadn’t heard in ages suddenly pierced the air from somewhere nearby.
“Laviange!”
“Oh my?” As I turned at the sound of that sudden, strident voice, I sensed a surge of magic power from where Miss Faltan was hiding.
But for the sake of Doggie’s illustration sketches, I’d stashed a special something in my pocket! I’d thought it wouldn’t end up getting used, but its time had come! All that effort over the past week, sacrificing sleep to craft props and hone my skills, had finally paid off!
“Secret Technique: Substitution!” I plunged my hand into my pocket, grabbed the concealed grip, channeled magic into it, and flicked my wrist sharply, swinging it toward Miss Faltan.
“Aaah?!”
Purple-blue ropes shot out from the grip, coiling around her waist. Ignoring her startled cry, I pulled the grip back to use her as a shield.
“Eeek!” Miss Faltan screamed, but she summoned an earthen wall shield to block the incoming Wind Blade. Once the expected scene had played out in front of me, I flicked my wrist gripping the handle to release the rope.
Yes, this was a magical tool—the Whip! Made from freshly procured barometz vine, the handle was thorns from the sheep! Naturally, the thorn tips were properly processed, ensuring a safe design that wouldn’t prick its owner. A magical tool crafted with soul and spirit was absolutely essential for certain S&M endeavors!
Remember that dream the magic spell had shown me? The one where I witnessed that magnificent whip handling? I had studied and practiced diligently.
If Miss Faltan’s earth wall or my whip failed, I’d intended to defend properly with magic—but the result was as I’d expected. I’d already gauged Miss Faltan’s strength during the barometz hunt.
“Perfect formation, Miss Faltan.” I gave her a thumbs-up and threw in a wink too.
“It hit...shield...that...”
“It’s fine! I believed you could block it!”
So she was relieved, huh? Though I didn’t understand that shocked look on her face, she turned back and flopped down. If she hadn’t had the skill to block it, I wouldn’t have used the substitution spell. She ought to have had more confidence.
“Laviange! Using a young lady as a shield? That’s despicable!”
“Oh dear.” Wasn’t the one who played pranks on Miss Faltan and shot wind blades at her daughter just as despicable? I almost said as much, but I held back. I’d never done anything familial with my own mother since birth. Besides, her mother—my maternal grandmother—had never taught her how to have loving mother-daughter interactions. It was no wonder she didn’t know how much playfulness was appropriate.
“What on earth is that creepy, lukewarm stare on your face?!” sputtered my mother. “It’s disgusting!”
“Oh dear? I just...forgot myself.” What was that? Why did she take a step back? Should I step forward?
“That’s...that’s awful... But... I’m sorry... For this...”
Oh dear, Miss Faltan had gotten startled and started crying. Well, of course, for a young lady raised with proper affection, a mother who attacked her daughter with magic upon meeting must have been quite unusual to see.
I patted her shoulder and peered into her sky blue eyes, partially hidden by her bangs. “It’s fine,” I assured her. “You just don’t know the limits yet. It’s a cultural exchange where parental love got twisted.”
“Parental love... Different cultures... Ah...” She started muttering and her eyes rolled back, so I gently smiled and told her to calm down. Then, in an instant, she turned the color of a boiled octopus. Had her brain’s information processing spark?
I always thought she just kept her head down, but now she was staring straight at my face and frozen solid? Could it be a petrification curse?
“Don’t talk nonsense, girl!” my mother sputtered. “Parental love?! That’s disgusting! If you don’t want to die, follow...”
“Found you.”
Just then, the voices of two dandies came from behind my mother. Oh dear. I just wanted to go home...
“You’re the same as always, Duchess Robur.”
My mother turned around, glaring. “Your...Highness?” she muttered, her expression turning utterly dumbfounded as she stumbled backward.
Behind mother lay a steep, steep slope. She should be careful; if she went any farther, she might accidentally tumble down.
The first prince looked terribly displeased. Even with his face scowling and his tone cold, his sharp, beautiful features were lovely. “You would go to such lengths for Laviange...”
My brother looked terribly gloomy. What was wrong? But this somehow felt... Yes, like a real yandere situation! Something was whispering to me: “Install yandere mode in the next novel!”
“Mihail!” mother howled, her face twisted. It was business as usual.
Next, I would make it a Japanese-style boy’s love story where a man, taken prisoner and held captive in a Western dungeon created by a female lord, accepted both pleasure and hardship in every sense until he became known as the Night King!
“Let’s hear the story from the two of you, including why Lady Faltan is here.”
“Oh...but...” Lady Faltan stuttered.
“What are you doing here?!” my mother demanded. “I’m speaking with my daughter! What right do you have to intrude between a mother and daughter?!”
The first prince made no effort to hide his irritation. Lady Faltan trembled, and this in itself was such pitiful cuteness that it stirred a desire to protect her. Oh dear, I’d suddenly come up with a sadistic pure love story too! A Boys’ Love and a sadistic pure love prison fantasy! My nostrils flared with my heavy breathing, and I couldn’t stop grinning.
“Eek!” Miss Faltan gasped from where she was still slumped over. Ah, I’d startled her—maybe I’d gripped the handle of my whip too tightly in my excitement, making her think I was going to use it again. Now was not the time to activate the substitution spell.
“My lady!”
“Laviange!”
Everyone was all talking at once, how annoying. The prince looked kind of resigned, and my brother...had a headache? If it was a migraine, tying a headband or tie around his temples would help temporarily. But I’d teach him that another time! On top of my original tasks, I’d gotten this new mission to put this passion into words! I would leave the troublesome mom stuff to my reliable boys!
“Well then, everyone, take care!” I said with a smile. “Older brothers, I’ll leave the rest to you!”
“Huh?!”
Following my passion, I used magic to strengthen my body, then dashed through the path Miss Faltan had been blocking. At times like this, the initial sprint was everything.
As I passed, Miss Faltan flushed and glared at me.
I would ignore the shrill screams, cries, and shouts of protest coming from behind! Even sensing the heightened magical energy around me, I completely ignored it! I confirmed no one was around with a detection spell, and then teleported! Granny’s going straight to fluffy log cabin paradise!