Sylphy Wasn't Deliberately Waiting for Anyone

The conclusion was that Zenith was Allen's goddess.

Hearing the commotion outside, she rushed out of the kitchen in a flurry to rescue Allen from his dire predicament.

"I'll vouch for Allen. He absolutely won't threaten Somal again. We're terribly sorry."

Paul kept bowing his head and apologizing profusely to Mrs. Somal, while Zenith merely stood beside him with a cold expression, saying nothing. She rarely showed a pleasant face to that vixen who was always eyeing her man, kind and gentle though she usually was.

Mrs. Somal merely looked down at the ground with a faint blush on her face. Then, under Allen's dumbfounded gaze, she put on an expression that said, "Since you've apologized, I'll reluctantly accept," and spoke softly to Paul.

Auntie! What was that look just now, and what is this look now? Are you seriously playing pure romance with me?!?

After watching Mrs. Somal leave while repeatedly looking back, Paul finally turned to Allen with a stern face and his hands on his hips.

"Allen, what happened?"

He looked like he was about to lecture a child.

After all, in Paul's eyes, Allen was the son of both his friend and cousin. No matter how much fun they usually had fencing, once he realized Allen might have done something wrong, he naturally assumed the posture of an adult.

Just as Allen was about to explain, Zenith snorted coldly, stamped hard on the floor, and turned to head for the kitchen.

Paul looked in astonishment at Zenith, who had been so cheerful the night before, unable to understand what had happened.

Allen covered his face and immediately leaned close to whisper into Paul's ear.

"Uncle—uh, sir, you might be a little slow on the uptake. It seems Mrs. Somal is really interested in you."

Paul froze for a moment. Then his eyes lit up, and he turned toward Allen.

"Really?"

Allen: .

Rudy: .

Seeing Paul's reaction, Rudy covered his face.

The anger on his stern face vanished in an instant. Lord Paul, you're as easy to read as ever.

Allen pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Yesterday, I saw Somal bullying the Rolls family's child by the rice paddies. He was throwing mud at her, so I gave them a little scolding. But I swear, I absolutely didn't lay... uh... a hand on them."

Paul was taken aback, his brows rising.

"That happened? Mrs. Somal always says her child is very well-behaved. She always comes to talk to me about how her child is doing, too. Wait, could it be..."

".Yes, that's right. She's actually just finding excuses to talk to you, sir. Madam probably figured out Mrs. Somal's intentions long ago, which is why she's upset."

Paul swallowed, then cast a panicked glance at Lilia, who had been standing quietly nearby. He hurriedly ran toward the kitchen.

"Zenith! Let me explain! I really didn't know—"

Rudy looked at Allen, who was staring at Lilia thoughtfully, then leaned close to whisper in his ear.

"Mrs. Somal hasn't gone far yet. Hurry and chase after her. I'll just say you went looking for Sylph—ow!"

Allen flicked Rudy on the forehead and said irritably,

"Go save your father by acting cute in the kitchen. Don't you want breakfast? I can smell something burning."

Rudy paused, then hurriedly took off running toward the kitchen as well.

Allen turned to Lilia. She swiftly glanced up at him and pushed up her glasses.

"I'll go help too."

Allen watched Lilia practically flee toward the kitchen, resting his chin on his hand in thought.

Were there already hints about the affair? In the original story, Lilia only got together with Paul, who had nowhere to vent his energy, after Zenith became pregnant. But at this point, the two of them already have... No, that didn't seem to be the case last night. It should be that Paul occasionally harasses Lilia, but she doesn't reject him.

When will this family melodrama actually unfold? If I warn her off now, maybe Aisha won't be born. Then again, Paul was the one who snuck into her room. At this point, even warning this guy would probably be pointless.

Allen smiled.

Life in this household is getting more and more worth looking forward to. Aisha, Norn, how much longer until you're born?

--

Breakfast was delayed by an hour.

The reason was that Paul spent that entire time coaxing his wife in the kitchen.

Fortunately, a scumbag's mouth was always useful. It didn't take long before Zenith forgave him.

By the time they ate, Paul was in high spirits. He even smiled and told Allen and Rudy that, if they wanted, they could bring Sylphy home as a guest.

Perhaps because the two children had made a new friend, he generously announced that Swordsmanship Class was canceled for the day and allowed them to go out and play.

Still, when they said goodbye, Paul kept clutching Zenith's hand. Under Lilia's watchful gaze behind them, Zenith secretly tried several times to shake him off, but failed.

Perhaps having no children at home was better for marital harmony.

"By the way, we didn't say goodbye to Sylph yesterday, and we never asked where she lives. How are we supposed to find her?"

Allen withdrew his gaze from Paul and Zenith and shrugged.

"That hillside from yesterday. I think Sylphy might go there."

"Really?"

"I'm guessing. We have nothing else to do anyway, so let's go take a look."

Allen had no time to respond to Rudy because he was arguing with the system.

Instant quest: The Temptation of an Older Woman, failed. Evaluation: What a pity. Two points are still points.

What a pity my ass! What kind of nonsense is that? Do you even know what "older woman" means before throwing it around? I'm taller than her. Even if she's older than me, she doesn't count as one!

So it was because she wasn't tall enough. Sorry. Next time for sure.

Damn it.

--

Sure enough, by the time the two reached the hillside, a small figure was standing beneath the tree. She wasn't playing, merely looking around and waiting. When she spotted the two figures approaching from afar, she actually bounced in place a few times. Then, after awkwardly twisting around for a while as though her limbs had stopped obeying her, she recovered her normal running posture and rushed toward them.

Allen could not help smiling at the sight, and his steps became noticeably lighter as he called out from afar.

"Morning. Were you waiting here specifically for us?"

Sylphy nearly tripped and visibly panicked.

"No! I wasn't! I..."

"See! I told you Sylph wouldn't come here specifically to wait for us. Allen, you were so sure she'd come here just for us. It was obviously just a coincidence."

Rudy retorted irritably.

"Fine, fine. You're right."

Sylphy had already run up to them. Her expression changed upon hearing Allen's words, and she grabbed Rudy by the head. While he flailed his arms, she kept shoving him behind herself to hide him.

They were both tiny, and Sylphy's body could not hide Rudy at all.

"No! Allen! That's not it! I, um..."

Allen looked at Rudy, who was nearly suffocating, smiled, and casually patted Sylphy's head.

"Sorry. My carelessness got you poisoned yesterday. Do you still feel unwell anywhere?"

Sylphy's ears twitched. Her reddish-brown eyes reflected a magnificent gleam in the sunlight, and her hand slowly released Rudy's forehead.

"No."

"Hah!"

Finally free, Rudy gasped like someone who had just surfaced from underwater, then glared angrily at Sylphy and Allen.

"Hey, hey, I'm the one who's uncomfortable!"

Allen rubbed his chin as he watched the two of them.

Sylphy has the Laplace Factor too. This is earlier than in the novel's plot. If she starts practicing increasing her mana now, she'll have a better chance of landing safely after falling from the sky during the Great Transfer in the future.

"Rudy, how about you teach her magic?"