This is a daily reminder: You have 2 unallocated stat points
Another eye stretching, you were gone for a day, old friend. I think I'll wait another thirty of ya before I attempt to break the geas. Hell, just thinking about it my mind turns away from it. It's very weird and it's like a scab I can't stop picking at. Guess maybe it's better than thinking of Sam, he starting to become a bully at age 9.
-----
Running with Marie I see some streamers and decorations going up, it's still the middle of summer. I ask her about them after the workout in the kitchen. My cooking skill needs work so I help with prep work in the morning.
“Its the annual festival”
“For what ma'am.”
“The town's founding, as our [Lady] is the town administrator, the family will be at the forefront of the celebration.”
“So Cecelia will be participating as well.”
“As will you, Barbain and Francis.”
“But I'm—”
“O don't worry Sara, much of the prep work will be done by you and I, there is much of the estate to clean. That you will be attending a party as Cecelia's daughter for two hours will feel like the eye of the storm to all the work I have planned for you.”
I pale at that, “It is my duty ma'am, what of my commitments to Belna.”
“Her shop will close for the week starting tomorrow. I'm sure she will tell you today. Let's not keep our [Lady] waiting on her breakfast, I hear you will be requesting something amusing today.” Her eyes seem to twinkle at the thought.
She starts to push the cart, as I start walking behind her, then stop.
“Wait, ma'am, who did you say was coming?”
“Come along, Sara.”
-----
The meal is a quiet affair, at the end grandmother motions me over.
“You had a request you wanted to make, Sara.”
“I do my [Lady], by your leave I have a rather personal request to make of your daughter.”
She nods, I turn to a rather curious mother, I guess while Marie knew, Cecelia did not. I walk over to her, standing in front of her.
“Miss Cecelia, would you please continue to supply my mental mana needs until my mana regen is improved.”
“Sara, my mother is far more adept at the creation of mental mana, I only stepped in yesterday because she had spent much to create the geas.”
Drat, not going to be so easy, I start to blush at my prepared trump card, but grandma speaks before I do.
“Cecelia have you seen Sara's blue roots yet?”
My head is yanked down and my hair being parted, my bun becoming undone as Cecelia is traversing my head.
“They are there!” She sounds so happy. “I should grow them out right now.”
This is going rather fast.
“Perhaps after another round of mana for Sara first, can never acclimate her enough.”
She lets go of my head and straightens me up, and I'm turned towards grandma. Way too fast.
“Of course, mother please infuse my daughter.”
I feel a breach of decorum is necessary. I turn back to her before she can launch me at grandma. The blush I have deepened, I looked at Cecelia, god, this feels like a cheesy confession of love. I scratch my cheek and avert my eyes.
“Actually mom, your mana is much more comfortable than grandma's.”
She looks at me wide eyed, then pulls me into a hug. She really needs to stop wearing her breastplate to breakfast. Before I can escape her crushing hug, I feel the warmth of her mana. It's not like before where it was just in my chest, it was everywhere in my body. I accept it all and hug her back. It's all so warm. My mother whisper in my ear.
“You've accepted me fully, you are a true daughter of Maxwell now, my daughter I accept you fully as well.”
There is so much warmth in my body, these words, tears start to form when my scalp starts to itch like crazy. I start to struggle.
“Don't worry dear, I'll bring your hair to its current length.” I relent.
When she is done, my hair is twice as long, just the bottom half was my dirty blonde and the top Maxwell blue. There were a few strands here and there that are the old blonde, my father's happy memory. I smile at that and hug my mother tighter, or at least try to, damn her breastplate.
“Thank you.”
Grandma is smiling and so is Marie. But the day must continue.
“Come Sara, it's time to attend to our duties.”
I nod as mother pulls me away and wipes a tear from my eye. She places a hand on my chest and fills my mental mana pocket, there is no resistance.
“Go, my Sara, you have much to do in very little time.”
-----
I'm standing in my old room with my hair back in its bun, Marie had cut my hair to its previous length. It was as grandma said, my curly hair was forever me, but now it shines in mother's blue if just a tad lighter, though darker streaks are spaced in places. I'm happy for the strands of golden that still permeate my new blue tresses.
“Enough staring at the mirror Sara, you will need to clean this room in preparation of Barbain's arrival.”
I look at Marie, “Was this her room previously, ma'am.”
She nods at me. I guess I dodged a bullet there, my obstinate demands removing me from this room before there was an issue.
“Then I will do my all to prepare it for her arrival.”
“This evening”
“Eh”
“She's arriving this evening”
I best work fast.
-----
“You look rather worn, Sara, but fret not, today will be just some light cleaning before we close shop for the week. I am sure you have seen the town preparing for its annual town founding festival, I will be spending my time making merry.”
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I smile, more cleaning, but such is life.
“Mistress Belna, do you not notice my hair.”
Belna looks at me, studies my hair.
“I apologize Sara, it seems darker but beyond that the bun is as prim as always.”
“Sara, mistress Belna is colorblind and can not discern between yellows and blues.”
“So the other races say, but I suspect it's a grand conspiracy to make fools of my people.”
Learn a new thing every day. “My apologies mistress, I only wanted to point out that my hair matches my mothers now.”
“Ah, you have accepted an infusion from Cecelia, that's a very personal step in becoming a true family as an adopted. I am happy for both of you. Truth be told I would have liked to have offered you the same if things had turned out differently.”
“Would I have gained scales and become colorblind.”
“Yes, as my daughter, you would have my magnificent scales and been plagued by the other races' grand conspiracy.”
I'm hugging my other lizard mommy, “Aw thats so sweet, I would have borne the slights of the other races to be with you.”
She pats my head, and what could have been was not.
“Come, some light cleaning and then an early end to the day.”
Marie let it all happen, not once did she reach for her rod.
-----
We are heading back earlier than usual. There is a carriage in front of the estate. I see Francis standing near it.
“Ah Marie, thank the system, I was afraid Velner would have to unload by himself.”
A bird man comes out then, heading to the carriage to grab more luggage. His plumage is white with yellow tips. I am thankful the tips aren't the entire feather, otherwise I might start humming a familiar tune. I wonder if he has an imaginary elephant for a friend.
? Croman Attendant
You have gained [Identify] Basic 6
Gain 1 exp
“I see you have a [Junior Attendant] now, you're not training your replacement are you. I feel the Maxwell house will feel a little less without you.”
“I have no plans to leave your mother, Francis.”
That seems rather lacking in decorum. I continue to stand behind Marie not meeting Francis's eyes as my duty demands.
“Here.” the Croman, Velner hands me a piece of luggage. It's deceptively heavy but I'll manage.
“Take it to the second room we cleaned today.”
“As you say ma'am, mister.” I acknowledge Marie and Francis in turn.
He never recognized me and Marie did not say my name. I'll play along and see where this leads. Though he didn't say [Voiceless Junior Attendant] either. I'll have to ask Marie about it later.
-----
“It is strange that he did not say your full title.”
We are in the kitchen now, Marie is preparing snacks for tea, my cooking is not nearly good enough for guests or general consumption.
“Does your junior have another title, ma'am?” Velner interjects.
“What does your [Identify] say of me, mister Velner.”
“Just that you are a level nine human [Junior Attendant]”
“That is strange. Ma'am?”
“I see you as you are Sara, perhaps they need to be touched by your aura before they can see it.”
Francis never was touched by my aura, I look at Marie, she gives me the go ahead nod.
“Mister Velner, is it alright to touch you with my aura?”
“Will it harm me?”
“It may give you a feeling of worthlessness for a moment.”
He widens his eyes, he understands that I have a pariah aura.
“It would help the Maxwell house greatly to confirm this theory, Velner.”
“I am ever, always a humble servant to the Maxwell house.”
Marie nods and motions me forward. I walk to the side of the kitchen that the garden is on. I extend my aura behind me but not by much yet.
“Does [Identify] say anything different, mister Velner.”
“It is still the same.”
So, not when the aura is out of me.
“One moment, I need to make sure my aura density is as low as possible. “
I push the aura out into the garden and then into the sky, it's an aggressive shape and I feel myself straining. When it's as far as I can push it, I shift it towards Velner. I envelope him for a second then pull back. He shudders.
“I see you as [Voiceless Junior Attendant] now.”
Theory confirmed, I carefully pull my aura back in. It was a nice reprieve but I can handle it. Marie speaks before I do.
“Thank you Velner, your discretion will be required, even from your master, the [Lady] will choose when to inform him.” he nods.
“Sara, the cart is ready, bring it to our [Lady] office and serve her and her guest tea.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
-----
“So was there anything new in Yetna?”
I place the tea pot in the center of the table. Then fill a cup, perfect pour again, and place it in front of grandma. I whisper as taught.
“Your tea, my [Lady].” She thanks me.
“Nothing really much, O, I have a good story, an urchin was brought to our store claiming to be a Maxwell.”
My perfect pour streak has ended, but not by much. He looks too busy to notice, I place the cup next to Francis. Then I start placing the personal snack plates.
“She was very strange at first, her questions made no sense, then she breaks down crying thanking the adventurer she was with from stopping her from slaughtering the guild hall.”
Not my finest moment, I present the snacks to grandma, she takes one, then to Francis, he waves me off.
“Oh my, that must have been mortifying.”
Ya for me. I walk back to the door. I turn and watch the tea cups should refills be needed. Doing my best neutral Marie face.
“To be honest, I wasn't sure what to feel, then she in barefooted glory, curtsy to me and greets me as brother Francis. When I pointed out that the adventurers had already told me that she was claiming to be my niece, she ran after apologizing to me.”
“O, the poor dear, do you know what happened to her?”
I refill their cups, and notice the pot is empty.
“There was an investigation, the guard came to take my statement. I told them there was no way I was related to her. That was the last I heard of it.”
“Does the [Lady] wish me to brew more tea?”
Grandmother flicks her eyes to Francis.
“No, no, I'm good.”
“As am I.”
I nod, and remove the teapot and then the plates.
“Do you remember the name of the girl?”
“Sirah, Seria, Sara, it's been months since then. I can't truthfully remember.”
“Have you had a chance to meet our newest hire? I feel she done quite admirably today, hasn't she? I only just hired her, was it three days ago?”
“It is as you say, my [Lady].”
“Yes, she was with Marie when Velner was unloading the carriage. She is a tiny little thing, if she was who I met earlier I would have instantly believed, what with the hair and all.”
Does this world have rewards for acting?
You have gained the skill [Acting] Basic 1
Acting - to become someone else for a time
Basic - easier to not break kayfabe
Gain 2 exp
Close Enough. I keep my Marie face going. Grandma never did say my name.
“I do have a concern though, has the passion between you and Marie faded, she told me that she requested this junior to train but that's only something one would do if she was stepping aside, despite her assurances.”
What? My eyes widen but Franics doesn't notice, grandma did.
“Our love has never been stronger Francis, your step mother is here to stay. All will be made clear soon enough.”
A message appears in my glasses. Guess she can do that without it showing, wish I had my mental eye going to see her work the magic.
“Marie, be a dear and tell Sara about our relationship already”
She then turns and speaks to me.
“You may attend to other duties, when Barbain arrives you will serve as her personal attendant for her stay.”
“As you wish, my [Lady].”
-----
“Why didn't you tell me you were my grandma?”
We're alone in the kitchen.
“Sara, you are still on duty.”
I squint at Marie.
“Fine, me and your grandmother are married and I enjoy the act of debasing myself as a thrill which is why I am also her attendant.”
“Hey, no kink shame.”
“I don't know what that word means, Sara.”
“And I'm not explaining it.”
She is reaching into the folds of her dress. I acted fast.
“How did you both meet?”
“She was my attendant in college.”
Talk about role reversal, wait, I heard about this already.
“You're the baroness' daughter?”
“Third daughter.”
“Thought you said you weren't a mage”
“I'm not, I'm the [Head Attendant].”
I tried to will her to say more, I failed.
“What's your full name.”
She sighs, “Marie Blacknell.”
“You married your brother's widow.”
“I did introduce them.”
I stare at her, willing her to explain.
Another sigh, “When Thomas died seventeen years ago, Bianca convalesced at the Blacknell estate. In our grief we found each other.”
I give her starry eyes, "That's so sad but beautiful.” Wait a second, “You told me Thomas died fourteen years ago.”
“That was to avoid the obvious question.”
“Barbain only fifteen.”
She doesn't say anything.
“Is she adopted?”
“No, we birthed her.”
Huh, “Which of you carried her to term?”
“Thats a rather personal question.” I just stare intently at her. “I did.”
“So how does all that work?”
“Your mother will be handling that portion of your education.”
Well maybe I won't need to become pregnant to make Cecelia a grandmother.
I hug her, “Aw your the best second grandma, even if your mana gross”
“Why am I the second grandma?”
“It's a simple order of introductions, if you wanted the first slot you should introduce yourself sooner. Ah but now I feel sad for thinking your mana is gross, I've been rejecting my second grandma”
She flicks me in the forehead. I rub the spot with both hands.
“Sara, you been walking around with my hair style, glasses, dress and copying my mannerisms for the last three days, how do you consider that rejecting me, besides that,” she pulls a few strands out of my bun, “you haven't noticed but these dark strands aren't blue.”
There black, her black, I hug her again, “Please welcome me as you should.”
She returns the hug, “Welcome home, granddaughter.”
She raises her head in the direction of the foyer.
“Barbain has arrived.”
