It was Saturday morning.
Vera woke up early and full of energy. After washing up, she made sure to wake her sleeping brother as well.
"Brother! Look at the time! Get up already!"
Vera yanked the blanket off Ansu. Feeling a sudden chill, Ansu rubbed his eyes and glanced at the clock, muttering grumpily.
"It's only eight o'clock..."
He looked at his spirited sister. "Isn't it the weekend? We don't have classes. Why are you up so early?"
"To get ready for battle, of course!!" Seeing her brother still half-asleep, Vera urged him on. "Did you forget what day it is?"
"What day..." After being shaken awake by Vera, Ansu's mind cleared a bit, and he finally remembered.
Oh, right... Celia was coming over for lunch today.
"Even so, you didn't need to get up this early..." Ansu looked her over and realized the young girl had changed into new clothes and even dressed herself up beautifully.
"I thought your 'battle preparation' meant going to train with Danielle..."
So the opponent for this battle was the vile witch...
Wait...
That's not right!
Ansu snapped awake instantly. He looked at his sister, who was radiating fighting spirit, and quickly cautioned her, "Don't forget what you promised me the other day. We're going to have a peaceful lunch, not flip tables and start a fight!"
"It is a peaceful lunch!" Vera gave her nervous brother a strange look and let out a cold snort. "Hmph! She hasn't even arrived yet, and you're already so concerned about her feelings. Aren't you taking her side a bit too much?"
"She is my boss, after all..." Ansu used that universal excuse. "If I treat the boss well, won't I earn a lot of money? Vera, you're still young. You'll understand your brother once you enter society."
Vera looked at her brother, who always had an excuse ready, and her expression became even more gloomier. "Fine, fine. Don't worry, Brother... I won't make things difficult for her. I'm just..."
She instinctively looked at herself in the floor-length mirror. To avoid being outshone by her brother's beautiful boss, she had spent a long time getting ready.
She wanted to win! She absolutely would not lose face in her own home!
"Brother! How do I... look today?" Vera looked at him nervously, waiting expectantly for his answer.
Ansu instinctively offered his praise. "You look great. My sister is the most beautiful!"
"Really?"
Her large azure eyes blinked.
"Of course it's true." Ansu nodded, smiling at his energetic sister.
Today, she had put on her most expensive and intricately designed dress. On her slender wrist, she wore the gold bracelet he had bought for her a few days ago. Although she didn't know how to apply makeup, she had put extra effort into her hair; her usual practical ponytail was gone, replaced by beautiful elven braids.
The young girl was naturally beautiful to begin with, and after dressing up so carefully, she was incredibly pretty. Standing there, she looked like an angel who had fallen into the mortal world.
Vera was satisfied with her brother's reaction, and she finally felt some confidence.
Hmph! What is there to fear? My home is my home turf!
Since they were already up, Ansu made a simple breakfast. After eating, the siblings sat on the sofa, chatting idly about Vera's studies over the past few days.
Naturally, they talked about Danielle. Although she had only been studying for three days, Vera already felt the hardships of martial training. She occasionally rubbed her sore arms and legs, complaining to Ansu about her teacher's strictness.
"Master Danielle says I can't even hold a sword steadily. These past few days, I haven't done anything but practice swings and stances..." Vera's face slumped. "Brother, when can I learn 【Divine Smite】? I remember you saying that move is incredibly powerful..."
Ansu thought to himself that 【Divine Smite】 was indeed powerful; its basic attack felt like an ultimate move, possessing a certain 'beauty of strength.' However, it was still a bit too early for the current Vera.
"Don't be in such a hurry. With your talent, you'll learn it sooner or later." Ansu smiled and helped Vera massage her small arms.
Vera let out a sharp hiss. "Brother... it hurts, it hurts!"
She helplessly pulled up her sleeve, and Ansu saw that it was covered in bruises.
Seeing her brother's distressed expression, Vera smiled to comfort him. "It's fine! It's just from falling when my stance wasn't steady. It's not Master Danielle's fault; I'm just too clumsy... I can't even master the most basic movements..."
"Can't they put some soft mats on the floor?" Ansu frowned, feeling pained for her.
Modern martial arts gyms wouldn't torture students like this; protection was always well-managed. After all, in that era, the one paying was the boss.
"Soft mats?" Vera did want to use some, but she was afraid her teacher would call her delicate or say she had the temperament of a spoiled lady.
"I think... forget it. Master Danielle definitely wouldn't agree. She says her training is the most professional, and enduring hardship is unavoidable..."
"But you shouldn't suffer unnecessarily!" Ansu curled his lip.
Safety and protection should be properly considered no matter what.
Vera silently watched Ansu's worried and angry expression, her smile softening.
Brother really does care for me the most.
She leaned dependently against Ansu's shoulder, moving away from the unpleasant topics to share some interesting stories.
"Besides me, there are quite a few other children studying with Master Danielle. There are two girls with very powerful backgrounds. I heard they were extremely arrogant at first, but it didn't take long for Master Danielle to set them straight..."
"Even though I don't have their noble status, the teacher praised me in front of them. Those two girls were really indignant at first, but then I showed them what I could do!"
At this point, Vera smiled proudly. "I learned Holy Light divine arts in a week, and I'm better than they are after a year of study. They respect me so much now!"
Ansu smiled and nodded. Hearing this, he felt even more relieved that he had found such a teacher for Vera.
Vera didn't usually socialize much; because she was a transfer student, she didn't get along well with the children at school.
Although she was happy and cheerful in front of him, in the eyes of her former and current classmates, she was quite aloof—a mysterious, cool beauty of legendary proportions.
As her brother, Ansu had worried a great deal about her growth.
So, it was good for Vera to have some playmates her own age; it would be very helpful for her development.
The siblings were chatting and laughing about training stories when the doorbell suddenly rang.
Vera immediately looked toward the door, her expression changing instantly.
"She's here..."
The warm atmosphere vanished.
Vera adopted a serious and cautious look. She jumped off the sofa, rushing to open the door before Ansu could.
"Brother, I'll get it!"
Ansu followed behind his eager sister.
Vera opened the door, and the midday sunlight spilled inside. Celia, still dressed in her lady-like style, stood at the entrance with a smile.
"Good afternoon, Vera."
Her gaze lingered on Vera's face for only a second before immediately shifting to Ansu standing behind her, her smile widening.
Having not seen him for a few days, she had missed him a little...
"Good afternoon, Ansu~"
"Good afternoon, Ms. Hailey!" Vera greeted her before her brother could. She deliberately stepped between the two, forcing Celia's gaze back to her, and then put on a polite, formal smile.
"Please, come in. Brother is always talking about you!"
"Is that so?" Celia felt a hint of pleasant surprise. She stepped into the house. "What does your brother usually say about me?"
"Of course he praises his boss! He says his boss is incredibly generous! The benefits and pay are the best in all of Benalu City! If he ever resigned, he'd never be able to earn this much money again~" Vera smiled mischievously at Ansu.
"Isn't that right, Brother?"
Listening to Vera's heap of praise, Ansu felt something was strange, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He could only nod along. "Um... yes, my boss is very generous."
Standing in the foyer of the manor, Celia looked at Ansu's expression, and her heart began to sink.
Is that all...
Aside from giving him money... is there nothing else about me worth praising?
Honestly... is Ansu really that obsessed with money?
Rate on N.U.
