BXBX NOVEL Chapter 217 216: Family Argument
Really appreciate that~!
Another day had come and gone, and I had achieved around 50 to 100xp more per Daily Quest than yesterday, and dusk had only just set.
The trainings with Anput and Leone were more streamlined, as Anput and I sparred and continued to improve various aspects of our close combat skills before switching to me tutoring her on her magic, before I switched with Jahi and partnered with Leone.
The Vampire had also wanted to go over the basics of swordplay again, before we sat down and Dual Cultivated together, exchanging mana and using the others to temper our own.
As for my training with Jahi, that took on the form of her desiring more two on ones, with Anput and I attempting to best the Demoness with only our blades and bodies.
Without the use of magic, I wasn\'t as agile or powerful, but I still managed to provide her a decent challenge, especially with Anput complimenting my weakness\' by hitting harder or taking my distractions and turning them into sneak attacks.
Overall, the training was rough, sometimes tedious, but extremely helpful.
We weren\'t going to see a large leap in our skills just yet, but this time spent together allowed us to discover where we needed to improve and come up with strategies to hone ourselves further.
When the sun had started to go down, we made our way inside and I started preparing dinner.
Jahi lounged on the couch, Anput snuggling up beside her while Leone stood by my side, helping me with the more basic ingredients and dishes.
While I was cooking, Jahi started to speak, her voice lazy even as she delivered some large news to the two girls.
"Last night, Kat and I had a... talk. She has, again, made it clear that she wishes to remain unseen behind us, supporting us where she can. To that extent, even though I personally don\'t want to, Kat and I will be going out every other night to walk around the city, so that she can attempt to learn how to better blend in with crowds and move quietly.
As such, just us two will be going out, and we\'ll be gone for an hour or two before returning. You both will remain inside, and if I catch you..."
Her voice trailed off, but after glancing at Leone beside me, who was staring at Jahi, I saw that she was shivering slightly, her crimson eyes wide as she was likely transfixed by one of Jahi\'s \'You will do as I say\' glares.
Continuing to slice the carrot in front of me, I felt Anput and Leone glance at me, before Anput asked "Kat, why..?"
Remaining silent for a moment, I finished my even cuts before I spoke, keeping my voice level.
"I\'ll tell you exactly what I told Jahi last night. I don\'t want to be seen by others; knowing that you three see and know me is more than enough. The amount of people attempting to recruit me due to my Ice Magic alone will be large, but if I displayed talent on the same level as you three?
The amount of requests to House Asmodia to buy me would be innumerable, even with the Soul Bond I have. Besides, unlike all of you, I don\'t care for displaying my skill to the world; all I want is to keep this happy peace around us alive and well. That\'s all I will ever want. So I will remain just a \'mere maid\' until the Marquess eventually raises my Mother and I to Baroness\'.
When that happens, I will go ahead and become \'just\' Jahi\'s wife; not a fighter, not a magician, not an enchantress... just a wife. Everyone who matters will know that isn\'t the case, but I don\'t want the world to know. Not if I can help it. I want each of you to have the attention you deserve without needing to worry about me.
That\'s why I want to just support each of you behind closed doors. Be it with training, meals, or sex, I want to help each of you be the best that you can be. Each of you has a goal you wish to reach; mine is just to see your dreams come true."
Leone frowned beside me, while I heard Anput stand up.
Peering over my shoulder, I saw the Jackalkin glaring at me, her fur bristling as she snarled "So what, we\'re supposed to just accept people walking over you? People making light of you? Each of us is just supposed to stand around and listen to people wondering why the woman we love is \'just some maid\'? What the hells is-"
Cutting her off, I turned to stare at her fully, briefly glancing at Jahi, who was silent, her eyes closed.
"If peoples words bother you that much Anput, then silence them yourself. I\'ve said it time and time again, but I don\'t give a damn what others think of me. I know what I am. You know what I am. That\'s enough. Besides, it\'s entirely within your right to be upset about people belittling me, so if you wish to defend my \'honor\', feel free to do so. After all, they won\'t be belittling only me; there will be words about you, Leone, and Jahi as well. If you don\'t like it, show them why they should shut up."
Her sneer grew, and she turned away, clicking her tongue.
Leone\'s frown only deepened, but after seeing Jahi continue to remain silent, the Vampire sighed and sat at the table, staring at the wooden surface with a complicated gaze.
"What about in the future then, hmm? When you have one of our children? Are we just supposed to endure listening to the masses speculate on whether or not you\'re worthy of that? Whether or not our child will even have the right to claim our blood?"
Sighing again, I turned back to the counter, returning to preparing dinner.
"Anput, you speak of something that won\'t happen until a decade or so from now; maybe even later. By then, if each of you continues to grow at the rate that you have now, those whispers that you hear won\'t matter, because they simply won\'t happen. Do people talk down on the Empress for any of her lovers? Does the Sultanate have a problem of its citizens belittling the Sera Pack?"
The Jackalkin snarled again, her voice filling the room as she spat "That\'s nowhere near the same thing! Mother is more than capable of handling herself, and everyone back home knows that\'s a damn fact! She\'s no mere ornament to the Sultana! As for the Empress, each of her wives are amongst some of the most powerful people alive today. No one would ever speak of them because they KNOW their strengths! But you? With this... plan of yours?! No one will know! No one will know just how incredible you are!"
When she finished, I listened to her panting slightly, her anger still boiling under her skin.
"So? Do you think people would talk if three strong women all protect one \'weakling\'? The normal citizenry speculates daily about stupid things, while the Nobility won\'t let out a peep for fear of political ramifications. Besides, I will continue to say it, even if it\'s something that you hate to hear."
Turning, I stared into her silver eyes, meeting her harsh gaze head on.
"I don\'t care if the masses have no idea just how \'incredible\' I am. That isn\'t my goal. My goal is for the masses to know how incredibly talented each of you are. I want each of you to shine; it\'s not only your birthright, but also your own desires. That desire does not take root in me like it does you. My desire is to see you smile at the end of each day, happy with the life you are living. That\'s all."
Anput continued to stare at me, her lip trembling as she sneered, before she let out a guttural growl and stormed away, over towards her room.
As for Leone, she pursed her lips as she peered over at me, before sighing and following behind Anput.
With only Jahi remaining, I turned back to the counter and continued on, sighing when Jahi muttered "I could have told you she wouldn\'t take it well."
"You didn\'t need to; I knew she wouldn\'t."
Sliding the sliced carrots into the pan, I added in the cuts of steaks and let them soak in the thin layer of stock and vegetables, cooking them slowly.
"You know that because all three of us share the same desire, Kat. It\'s the same as yours, but instead of only being us three, it\'s all four of us. Together. Side by side. That\'s what each of us wants. Instead, you wish to position yourself behind us, away from us. That\'s what is pissing Anput off. She wants the woman she claimed as her mate to be strong and proud, and yet-"
"I am proud, damnit! But my pride lies not in myself, but in each of you! I\'ve made that clear many times..."
Hearing my hiss, Jahi sighed as she stood up, walking over to wrap her arms around my waist.
Resting her chin on my head, she whispered "We know that. We\'re grateful for it too, but that\'s what angers us all as well; we want you to take pride in yourself, not just us. You\'re worth that, Kat. Worthy of being someone proud of; someone proud of herself."
Gritting my teeth, I leaned against the counter, staring at nothing in particular.