Black Seele instinctively blurted out what was deep in her heart, but fortunately, she came to her senses.
"Of course not!"
"Mother Black Seele... I'm sorry..."
"Rosia's" gaze softened. She pursed her lips and put on a wronged expression.
At that moment, a damned sense of guilt began assaulting Black Seele's heart.
"I... I..."
Black Seele was at a loss now, because she had completely failed to figure out what kind of personality the "Rosia" before her really had.
"Rosia knows Mother Black Seele likes Mother Seele the most. It's okay..."
"Rosia" tilted her little head, revealing a strained smile amid her sadness.
"I made things difficult for Mother Black Seele... I'm sorry..."
If Black Seele could still directly refute what "Rosia" had said before, then this triple apology completely broke through her defenses.
Looking at the adorable girl with her head lowered, Black Seele wanted nothing more than to slap herself twice...
"Be good, I... I was wrong... A... a hug will make it better..."
After a fierce internal struggle, Black Seele finally gave in and held out her arms to her.
"R-really?"
"Rosia" showed a flattered expression, then broke into the sweet smile of a little beast hiding at home when it saw its mother return.
"Mm, really."
Black Seele stepped forward and pulled her into an embrace. At the instant they touched, her body was soft and warm, but the next moment, a cold aura gradually seeped out.
"Rosia" raised her head, and her wine-red eyes turned into a far more distinct scarlet.
"You really had the nerve to do that?"
"Hug my ass!"
Black Seele: "..."
(Crouching in a corner, shutting down.)
"Where did she go?"
That morning, Rosia had wandered around the academy with Kiana and the others. Although everyone had had a great time together, she had once again gone quite a while without hearing "Rosia's" snarky remarks.
"Was she in Stigmata Space?"
She searched everywhere. Under normal circumstances, only she could see and touch "Rosia," and "Rosia" could not possibly stray too far from her.
After searching for a while, she finally concluded that "Rosia" had most likely returned to Stigmata Space.
"All right. I hope she isn't angry."
Rosia worried that she might have done something to upset her again.
Although "Rosia" always said Rosia was sensitive, Rosia actually felt that she was sensitive too.
It was just that Rosia showed it when she was sensitive or sad, while "Rosia" did not. She would only keep a cold face and bottle it up until she could no longer endure it and truly got angry.
Rosia also wanted to enter Stigmata Space like she had while unconscious, but clearly, she could not. As long as "Rosia" did not want her to enter, she could not get in no matter what she did.
The scenery within Stigmata Space was usually produced by "Rosia's" subconscious, so Rosia actually wanted to observe more closely what she liked.
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Rosia" looked at the girl crouching in the corner with a deathly pale expression, somewhat puzzled.
This time, Black Seele looked at her pitifully before lowering her head again and continuing to draw circles on the ground.
Black Seele's mood was like happily going down a slide, only to find that the landing spot was a mud pit.
Then someone told her that the mud pit was actually made of chocolate, and she stupidly took a lick...
Where had all the trust between people gone?
Although Black Seele was somewhat more mature than Seele, she was still rather inexperienced at this point. She had not gone through much growth and was relatively innocent.
But that was not important.
What mattered was that Black Seele had no idea what "Rosia's" true personality was.
Although her instincts told her that "Rosia" was simply one of her ill-natured children, Black Seele had the illusion that she might be a good child, an obedient child, an adorable child...
If she could have firmly trusted her instincts, perhaps Black Seele would not have felt so awful right now.
But she was increasingly believing her emotions instead...
After all, "Rosia's" expression and gaze just now did not look like an act at all. Could she really have a split personality?
What Black Seele did not know was that she had already started trying to convince herself through her own imagination.
"Did... did that scare her?"
"Rosia" thought belatedly.
Black Seele was now crouching in the corner, muttering something under her breath. Every so often, she would glance at her, then immediately lower her head again.
"She shouldn't be that fragile..."
"Rosia" could not make sense of it.
Logically speaking, Black Seele had been tricked twice by her, so she should have looked especially angry. Why was she silently shutting herself down instead?
With Black Seele acting like this, "Rosia" was the one who did not know what to do.
No matter what, Black Seele was still her mother. Teasing her this much was a little excessive, but it seemed she could no longer take it back.
There was no way "Rosia" would truly apologize. After all, Black Seele clearly was not merely smitten with the Rosia she was playing anymore. It felt as though she was just one step away from being completely captured.
Who would want a mother like that?
Even so, it seemed Black Seele still needed some comforting now.
If she really shut herself down, then Seele would be in trouble all alone in the Sea of Quanta.
"Rosia" did not want to see Rosia crying after learning that Seele had died in the Sea of Quanta.
"What should I do..."
Black Seele and "Rosia" once again fell into a mutual silence, each quietly gathering herself.
"Um... Mother Black Seele..."
"Rosia" tried her best to make her voice gentle, but when Black Seele heard it, she took half a step back like a startled rabbit.
"..."
Black Seele's reaction made "Rosia's" expression stiffen, but she still had no choice but to keep acting.
"I'm sorry... I really didn't mean to... I, I..."
"Rosia" lightly bit her lip, trying hard to look anxious.
Because she truly had no idea what else to say.
"Rosia, are you... all right?"
To her surprise, Black Seele did not seem troubled at all from her expression. Instead, she was worried about her.
"I'm fine... It's just a little..."
Although she did not know what was going on, "Rosia" followed along with Black Seele's words.
"I understand..."
Black Seele stood up and steadied her thoughts.
"Huh?"
Though she kept up her outward appearance, "Rosia" was confused once again.
What did she understand?
"Mm-hm."
"Rosia" continued to wear a hesitant yet pitiful expression.
Do not ask how she had learned it. Rosia wore these expressions practically every day, and "Rosia" watched them with great focus every time.
Seeing Black Seele reach out once more to pat her head, "Rosia" slightly raised her head and showed a happy smile, though the hand behind her back had already begun crackling.
"It's okay. I will..."
Before Black Seele could finish speaking, the quantum power that had been maintaining the connection between the two Stigmata Spaces began to fade at a visible speed.
"Hey, take this!"
Sensing that something was wrong, "Rosia" stopped pretending and directly transferred control of one of her scarlet giant claws to Black Seele.
Seeing "Rosia" suddenly change, obvious disappointment appeared in Black Seele's eyes.
"I'm sorry, Mother didn't..."
This time, "Rosia" directly cut Black Seele off.
"You're still playing along? I only called you Mom to give you face. Hurry back. The edge of Stigmata Space is dangerous right now!"
"Rosia" was speechless. How had Black Seele actually believed it while she was pretending?
Although "Rosia's" words were unpleasant, Black Seele could clearly hear that she was worried about her.
"Next time, next time, I'll make it up to you."
Light flickered in Black Seele's eyes as she looked at "Rosia."
Black Seele saw concern and worry in "Rosia's" eyes, while "Rosia" saw a dangerous, possessive gleam in Black Seele's gaze.
Once their connection was completely severed, Rosia returned to her own side.
"I went too far..."
"Rosia" gently shook her head.
Well, that was great. She had teased her mother so much that she had completely brought out her possessive side.
"You're back?"
That afternoon, when "Rosia" reappeared before Rosia, Rosia revealed a very happy smile.
"Did something happen?"
Seeing the rather complicated expression on "Rosia's" face, Rosia asked in confusion.
"I met your Mother Black Seele."
"Rosia" did not intend to hide it and said so directly.
"Really?!"
Rosia was pleasantly surprised.
"Did Mother Black Seele say anything?"
Although she did not know how "Rosia" had managed it, Rosia believed her.
Looking at Rosia, whose hair was practically standing on end with excitement, "Rosia" chose to reveal only part of the truth. The rest could wait until later.
"She said she likes you very much..."
Before you continue