One Step, Then Another

Even though she saw through these issues clearly, Lux was still driven to distraction by these solicitous individuals.

Nobility banquets were scheduled.

These scoundrels were endless!

Fortunately, the clever Lux quickly found a solution. She deliberately brought up Sona as a shield, and then, without any prompting, the hot-tempered girl Kashina began challenging everyone one by one.

Although she still envied Lux for being able to stay with her sister all the time, thanks to Lux's "righteous words," she accepted that Lux was her sister's good friend.

However, just because Lux could, didn't mean any random family's toad could!

Harassing Sona?

Have you eaten?

If not... eat my sword!

These annoying guys who surrounded them were usually no match for Kashina, and thus were often defeated miserably, too ashamed to show their faces.

What, you ask, what if someone Kashina couldn't handle appeared?

Isn't there Garen!

Kashina, who held Garen's little secret, would call him without the slightest hesitation!

And to avoid social death, and to protect his sister, Garen would always show up without delay!

If the women couldn't beat the men in singles, and the men couldn't win, then it was mixed doubles!

And so, Lux and Sona finally found peace.

However, even as the storm gradually subsided, Ogesha, who had been closely watching her children's growth, noticed something was amiss. She didn't know that Lux had the seasoned veteran Karya as her mentor; in her eyes, her own daughter was an absolute novice!

Now, so many families' pigs were eyeing her little cabbage, how could she stand for it?

After much thought, the sleepless Ogesha decided to send Lux to her old home in Silvermine City for a while. This way, Lux could avoid the current vortex in the Imperial Capital and also get acquainted with practical business matters.

After all, socializing within the framework of etiquette was not the entirety of being nobility; governing territory and coordinating management were also essential lessons for nobility!

Lux had already done enough in terms of etiquette and socializing; now, it was time for her to begin her second lesson!

Moreover, the situation in Silvermine City had indeed been a bit strange for the past two years. According to the reports from the family managers, Silvermine City had experienced frost for three consecutive years, and taxes simply couldn't be collected.

Frost for three years?

Are you trying to fool me?

Although they repeatedly assured her that the taxes were merely delayed and would eventually be paid in full, Ogesha dared to say that the actual situation was absolutely not like that!

Frost, was it?

Very well.

Then let Lux go and see what Silvermine City's frost looked like!

And incidentally, give her the second lesson of nobility, let her see what actual management should look like!

However, before sending Lux to Silvermine City, Ogesha had many preparations to make. Sending Lux to Silvermine City was to teach her daughter a lesson, not to let her get into an accident, so she needed to make more preparations regarding safety.

Hmm... That rascal Garen was also about to turn fifteen.

According to Mr. Xin Zhao, he was now a true man – a true man should experience training in the army!

Thinking of this, Ogesha found a map of the area near Silvermine City from the family archives and spread it out on the table before her.

After some searching, she quickly located the nearby military base.

Since Garen was already a true man, then a true man should protect his sister!

With this thought, Ogesha quickly took out paper and pen and began writing furiously under the candlelight.

One letter was for her sister-in-law, Tiana, who was currently patrolling near Rivendell. If possible, she asked Tiana to keep an eye on Garen and Lux.

One letter was for the Silvermine City garrison. A captain in the garrison was a relative on Ogesha's maternal side, and Ogesha hoped he would provide Lux with some necessary support.

And the last letter was for the Grand Marshal of the Fearless Vanguard. The content of this letter seemed unrelated to Garen or Lux. It merely praised the recipient's heroic deeds during his tenure as Grand Marshal and subtly indicated that the noble young master also had a similarly bright future in the Ranger corps, stating that a father's valor runs in the son's blood.

This letter was written in Peter's voice, and the words seemed like casual greetings between nobles to build rapport, but Ogesha was confident that the recipient would understand her meaning.

Taking out the Crown Guard family's seal and sealing the wax, Ogesha held the three letters in her hand and sat quietly in her chair.

Unknowingly, time had already passed into the late hours of the night.

The matriarch of the Crown Guard family looked up at a family portrait hanging on the wall.

This painting was from seven years ago, during the New Year.

Back then, her younger brother-in-law was still alive, and the Ranger captain had a hearty smile; her sister-in-law hadn't started dating yet, and the tomboy of the Fearless Vanguard had an icy expression; Peter sat in the center, holding her hand, while Garen, holding a toy sword, seemed to be protecting his sister.

And now, seven years had passed in the blink of an eye.

Of the six people in the painting, one had already sacrificed his life for the country and rested in the Hall of Valor. Even in death, he held a Poro, a smile on his face, as if he had just told an interesting story.

Tiana, who had joined the army disguised as a man, had now become the deputy commander of the Fearless Vanguard and was working towards the position of Marshal.

Peter, who sat upright, was now covered in old injuries that caused him unbearable pain when it rained, yet he still ate and lived with the soldiers when the Gate of Sorrows was being fortified.

Ogesha herself had bid farewell to the anxieties of her youth and finally began to proudly declare herself a qualified mother.

Lux, who was losing her baby teeth at the time, had now become a paragon of nobility praised by all the noble families in the Imperial Capital, growing more graceful and elegant.

Garen, who used to be boisterous, had finally calmed down and was becoming more and more like a true man.

And now, Lux and Garen would be leaving the Imperial Capital of Demacia to start their next journey in Silvermine City.

They would truly see the people and soldiers they would govern in the future.

They would spread their tender wings like birds leaving their nest.

At this moment, Ogesha felt an emptiness in her heart.

Before long, the vast Crown Guard Manor would be left with only a lonely mistress.

Ogesha also wanted to go to Silvermine City, to take a vacation for herself.

But... it was probably best not to.

The "Art Support Association" that Lux had formed still needed to be overseen; even though the Crown Guard family was deeply trusted by the king, someone of consequence still needed to remain in the Imperial Capital.

Looking on the bright side, did this mean she no longer had to put on airs as a mother and could temporarily give up the tasteless salad?

The night was deep and quiet.

Ogesha sat alone for a long time. After returning to her room, she took out an exquisite flute from a small compartment in her dressing table.

In the empty garden, the usually dignified and serious Lady of the Crown Guard sat in the pavilion, gently bringing the flute to her lips, and then taking a deep breath.

The flute's melody was melodious, soon drifting into the silent night of the Imperial Capital.

Ogesha's fingerwork was no longer as skilled, and her breath was no longer as steady.

But as the familiar tune of the Song of Triumph began, she seemed to return to twenty years ago, back to the first time she met Peter.

Back then, he was in his prime, returning victorious with His Majesty the King after repelling the Noxians.

Back then, she had come to the Imperial Capital of Demacia from Silvermine City for the first time, mingling with the crowd and cheering excitedly—though she didn't know why she was cheering.

Realizing that playing the flute in the middle of the night might disturb people's dreams, Ogesha chose Night of Silvermine Mountains as her second piece after finishing the first.

Unfortunately, she could no longer play the melodious tune smoothly. The mournful, wavering notes of the flute were just like eighteen years ago when she tried to teach Peter, and he played clumsily—that time, the broken melody and his silly smile angered the serious young woman who was teaching him. She gritted her teeth and questioned why he insisted on learning from her when he knew he had no musical talent.

Peter, however, put down his flute, lay down on a sun-drenched hillside, and laughed, saying, "Because... then I can play the flute you've played!"

Thinking of this, even the Ogesha of today felt her heart race.

Perhaps because her heart was beating too fast, Ogesha failed to finish the last few glissandos. She pursed her lips and lowered the slightly out-of-tune flute from her lips.

Then, she stood up, shook her head gently, and wiped her face.

When she looked up again, she had regained her elegance and composure.

Using a spare key and holding a candlestick, she silently kissed the foreheads of her son and daughter, and whispered a soft goodnight in a voice only she could hear.

Finally, Ogesha returned to her room, blew out the candle, and lay down on the soft double bed.

This time, Ogesha slept exceptionally soundly.

Although Karya had sensed what happened in the latter half of the night, he did not tell Lux.

Lux, meanwhile, had already reached the final step of carving the Magic Circuit.

Her daily training had made her hands steadier than many experienced stonemasons, and her solid theoretical knowledge had made the construction of Magic Circuits instinctive. After three years of magical study, Lux had finally succeeded in carving a complete Magic Absorption Amplification Circuit in her own carving room for the first time!

Placed into the reserved slot, Karya felt the Magic Power gathered from the Nullstone, almost giving him the urge to howl at the sky.

How many years had it been!

He finally had his own Magic Power again!

Then, before he could be happy for long, this Magic Power seemed to be poured into a sieve, rapidly disappearing without a trace.

"..."

Karya, who had been incredibly excited a moment ago, was now speechless, and his silence caused Lux, who had also been very excited, to fall silent as well.

"What's wrong, Karya?" Lux asked cautiously. "Is the circuit wrong?"

"The circuit is right." Karya's tone was calm, as if he were about to cry. "It's me that's wrong."

"???"

Lux had never heard Karya speak in such a tone. She stared blankly at her sword, as if seeing Karya for the first time.

"But, it's okay." Karya quickly adjusted his mindset. "At least from now on, I can use the Magic Power from the Nullstone to conduct the next stage of training for you and Sona."

"What training?" Hearing Karya say this, Lux finally relaxed. "Practical training? Starting to cast spells?"

"The last step before practice." Karya said word by word, "Combat simulation training!"

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