Chapter 730

[Editor's note: This chapter has been edited to remove content that breaks our content rules.]

“M-Mother!?”

“Illya, you mustn’t cause trouble for everyone, all right?”

“Y-Yes... Mother...”

Irisviel’s usual gentleness was gone. Her expression was as calm as the sea before a typhoon.

She rarely got angry, but when she did, she could be terrifying. Illya and Taiga knew that better than anyone.

Illya obediently returned to her own bed.

“Illya, want to play cards?” Rin Tohsaka took two decks of cards out of her bag.

The silver-haired girl blinked, then smugly closed one eye.

“Hmph! If you insist on playing, Rin, I suppose I can oblige!”

“Sakura, would you like to join us?”

“Yes!”

The three girls began playing cards on the bed.

Irisviel nodded in satisfaction. After giving the maids a few instructions, she left the room.

Later that evening, Aoi Tohsaka went to take a shower.

“Anyway... I should wash up first.”

She turned on the shower.

“Ah!”

Only then did she remember that she had not brought a change of clothes.

But it was too late. Hot water was already pouring out.

The spray was stronger than she had expected, washing over her head and taking her makeup with it.

“...”

Aoi sat on the bathroom stool, holding her head in dismay.

Fortunately, she found towels and a bathrobe. She had only been wearing light makeup to begin with, so going without it was hardly a disaster.

Having reassured herself of that, she finished her shower and went to the sink, where she studied the woman reflected in the mirror.

Aoi was something of a mage herself, so even as she approached forty, the years had left little trace.

Perhaps it was her imagination, but the tension on her face seemed to make her look older.