Cooperation and Family Affairs

Aruka’s cold words pierced Avril’s heart like ice picks, inflicting a pain as if all warmth had been stripped from her body. Facing Aruka’s icy eyes, avril spoke slowly.

“You still haven’t forgiven me, have you…”

“There was never much between us to begin with. There’s nothing to forgive.”

Aruka said this, then abruptly grabbed Auna.

“Come with me.”

Aruka displayed his stubborn and obstinate side, pulling Auna by the hand, ready to leave. Seeing this, avril seemed to lose all strength and simply let Aruka take Auna away.

Although Auna meant to protest, in the end, she only turned her head and looked at Avril longingly for a moment.

Seeing this, Lola, Vina, and the others in the meeting room were a bit lost about the current situation, whereas Serea asked Avril calmly.

“Aren’t you going to go after them?”

Hearing this, avril didn’t answer right away. She took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears.

“I suppose Her Majesty was aware of everything. Sorry to have made a spectacle of myself.”

As she spoke, avril didn’t immediately go after them, because she knew Aruka’s personality the best—both sides needed some time to calm down.

After regaining her composure, avril immediately shifted into her usual strong-willed demeanor. Understanding Avril’s intent, julian moved aside, and Avril sat at the main seat.

“Sorry for concealing my identity before, but it was a matter of necessity. I ask for your forgiveness, Your Majesty.”

“It’s fine. But now that you’re sitting there, do you intend to continue discussing your ‘request’?”

“Mm. Rather than call it a ‘request’, I’d say it’s more of another cooperation.”

At this, Serea became interested.

“Then let’s hear the details of this ‘cooperation.'”

“I want to ask Her Majesty to help escort caravans into the jungle.”

“That’s not a problem, but what benefit do I get?”

“For each escorted caravan, 15% of the net profit will go to Your Majesty as your compensation. Also, all goods you purchase from the Xiyun Merchant Guild will always be 10% off.”

“That does sound rather appealing.”

Serea said, pondering the proposal. This was something she needed to consult a professional on.

“Dogsius, what do you think of this arrangement?”

“If you, mistress, don’t mind the trouble of escorting merchant caravans, this is indeed quite a lucrative deal—assuming, of course, that you can safely ensure the security of these caravans.”

Dogsius replied, prompting Serea to confirm with Avril immediately.

“But what if something happens to the caravans under my escort?”

“The Xiyun Merchant Guild will take full responsibility for any incidents; Your Majesty need not worry.”

Avril said, and by the looks of it, this was a remarkably beneficial deal. Even if it meant crossing Maregof, that man was already her enemy—what difference did it make now?

“This is a good deal, but Miss Avril, why did you choose me? There are plenty of powerful escorts for merchant guilds in the jungle.”

“The reason is simple. First, you have the strength required. Second, you gave us information on Maregof because you wanted us to deal with him—so I’m sure you’re not on his side. And moreover…”

Avril showed a gentle smile.

“I believe Aruka wouldn’t misjudge a person.”

“So, there’s even a bit of ‘intuition’ involved in your judgment.”

Serea murmured. Seeing her still hesitate, avril added,

“Please take your time, Your Majesty. There’s another batch of goods in the caravan that needs to be delivered, so I won’t be leaving the forest for now.”

“Alright. I’ll give you my answer by tomorrow night. It’s late—Miss Avril, if you don’t mind, please stay at the camp for the night.”

“Thank you very much, Your Majesty.”

With that, the meeting was temporarily adjourned, and as it was already late, everyone went to rest.

…

Meanwhile, because of Avril’s sudden visit, Aruka’s mind was in turmoil.

Walking through the desolate night, snowflakes had begun drifting from the sky—winter was coming!

At that moment, Aruka encountered Julian approaching from the front. Seeing that the other party was clearly after him, Aruka spoke first.

“I told you not to let her know I was here.”

“Sorry, I couldn’t keep that promise. I couldn’t just stand by and watch my lady keep fading away in despair.”

“So, why are you here now?”

“Lady Avril wants to talk with you.”

“I have nothing to talk to her about.”

“I think you really ought to go. Miss Avril thinks it would be better if Auna left with her.”

“What did you say!”

The fur at Aruka’s nape bristled. He grabbed Julian by the collar, but Julian replied calmly despite Aruka’s anger.

“Miss Avril is waiting for you in her room.”

Hearing this, Aruka shot him a vicious glare, then pushed him aside and strode straight toward Avril’s room.

Because Avril was an important guest, Serea had arranged a wooden house just for her.

Aruka rushed to the wooden house and kicked the door open.

“Avril!”

He called loudly and, seeing the dim candlelight inside, strode right in. Just as he entered, he saw Avril sitting by the bed in her nightclothes.

“You want to take Auna away?”

Aruka demanded loudly. Avril just smiled.

“No. If she chooses to stay with you, I won’t stop her.”

“But that’s not what that guy just told me.”

“If I hadn’t told him to put it that way, would you have come?”

“…”

Aruka was silent at that. After a brief pause, he turned and made to leave. Seeing this, avril panicked. She stepped forward, closed the door, and blocked it with her body.

“Trying to run away again?”

“Move!”

“I only want to talk to you.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“You hate me that much?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Yes, I know. Your brother and tribespeople all died because of the words ‘Qili Family,’ but that wasn’t me. You know me.”

“I never really knew you. The Avril I knew was a human slave persecuted by others, who loved me and Auna. She wasn’t the Qili Family heiress who deceived, betrayed me, and finally tried to take Auna away from me.”

“So what you care about are the words ‘Qili Family’ after all?”

“…”

Aruka was silent, and his silence itself was an answer—a negative one.

This unspoken answer defeated Avril, and even the eavesdropping Auna outside the door. No one noticed Auna squatting outside, silently sobbing as she listened to the quarrel inside.

At last, auna could no longer endure that crushing silence and ran into the camp.

Neither Aruka nor Avril noticed Auna secretly listening in; Aruka was still obstinate.

“Please move. I’m going back.”

Aruka said, reaching out to pull Avril aside.

“No, you can’t go. Why—why can’t you let go of that obsessive hatred in your heart?”

Avril asked, which made Aruka laugh bitterly.

“Obsessive hatred? So to you, I’m just someone who would throw away his wife of thirteen years over ‘so-called hatred.'”

Those words tolled in Avril’s ears like a great bell, and in that instant, she seemed to understand something…

“Move aside, miss Avril Qili.”

Aruka tried to forcibly push Avril aside, and even though Avril was a level 28 mage, there was no way she could match Aruka in strength.

Seeing Aruka was determined to leave, avril, now fully clear-headed, gritted her teeth and clung tightly to Aruka.

“My name is Avril Bloodthirsty Fangs!”

!!!

Aruka was stunned by Avril’s outburst, and she went on,

“It was all my fault. I shouldn’t have tried to restrain you and your daughter with my own ideas. While you were gone, I suffered every day and finally realized—the Qili surname doesn’t matter, what kind of life we lead doesn’t matter; all that matters is being together with you and Auna. I want to be Auna’s mother, your wife. All these years, I’ve never begged you for anything, but this time I’m begging you—please forgive me.”

Avril clung to Aruka, her warm tears soaking his chest. He was at a loss for how to react.

Did he hate her?

His tribespeople and brother had died at the hands of the Qili Family, but that was not Avril’s fault—Aruka had already worked this out long ago. What he truly hated was…

Deceit! Betrayal! Having Auna taken away!

What Aruka minded was Avril’s own wrongdoing, but Avril had always blamed everything on the Qili family, always overlooking the hurt she had inflicted on Aruka herself.

Yet—compared to 13 years of love, that hurt was nothing. Such harm could be fixed with a simple “please forgive me” like today. And yet, avril had taken half a year to say those words.

“…”

Aruka let out a long sigh, and his anger, his hatred, finally dissipated…

After she stopped sobbing, avril raised her head to gaze at Aruka. Meeting Aruka’s calm eyes, she hesitantly drew closer, and Aruka just waited quietly.

Before long, the candlelight in the room went out…

…

Meanwhile, after hearing Aruka and Avril quarrel, auna wiped her tears and ran toward the Elf Tree in the woods—toward the elf king tree. Climbing the steps, she rushed up the great tree.

The biting cold wind lashed Auna as she ran, snowflakes mixing in with its chill. But the pain tearing at her heart was far greater than the cold. Clad only in her nightdress, she continued hurrying upward.

Those quarrels—they had been constant ever since she became an adult at eleven. Clearly, they could all just live together in happiness, so why insist on such meaningless fighting?

They’d both say they were arguing for her and for ‘family,’ but neither realized they were destroying the very thing they most wanted to protect—’love.’

Is that what love truly is?

Auna didn’t understand. No one could answer her. Filled with pain and confusion, she climbed into the hollow of the elf king tree—maybe that powerful being could give her an answer.

In the dim candlelight, Serea was sitting up in bed in her nightgown, sketching something on a piece of paper.

Because of limited time, the tree hollow had only been roughly partitioned and decorated. It was a huge space, with three levels, but only the first floor had a bed, a desk, and a single chair.

Wrapped in a comforter on the bed, Serea was mapping out the future construction of the camp. Although this kind of work could be delegated to Dogsius, since it was her own camp, she felt she ought to personally contribute.

Suddenly, Serea heard footsteps outside the hollow.

“Who is it out there?”

She turned to look at the tightly closed wooden door.

“I-it’s me.”

Auna’s voice was tinged with tears, but Serea recognized it at once.

“Auna!”

She hurried to the wooden door, flinging it open to find Auna outside, shivering in her nightdress.

“What are you standing here for? Come in quickly!”

Serea said worriedly—especially as it was snowing outside. Even with the werewolf race’s stronger bodies, being out here in just a nightdress would certainly freeze her.

Serea quickly brushed the snowflakes from Auna’s body and pulled her into her own bed.

Covered by the cotton quilt, auna felt the softness and leftover warmth, and only then realized how cold she was. She curled into a ball, like an abandoned little beast.

Seeing her so pitiful, Serea asked gently,

“What happened?”

Faced with Serea’s question, auna at first hesitated to speak—but, comforted by Serea’s big-sisterly gentleness, after a short pause she finally confided,

“They’re fighting again. I’m scared.”

Though Auna usually showed maturity and wisdom far beyond her age, she was, after all, only a twelve-year-old child.

Learning that this was why Auna had fled out into the snow, Serea felt a flash of anger.

“That Aruka is just too much! Wait here, I’ll go find him!”

Though it was someone else’s family matter, seeing the pitiful Auna reminded Serea of her own lost sister. She was about to set out to ‘talk’ with Aruka.

But suddenly, auna grabbed Serea’s hand.

“Auna?”

“No, queen Serea, please don’t go. If you could, would you stay with me for a while?”

Auna choked out. Though Serea was still angry, she agreed.

“Alright.”

At Auna’s request, Serea climbed into bed, pulled up the covers, and Auna immediately snuggled closer, hugging Serea. Her ice-cold body pressed against Serea’s warmth, making her heart ache.

“Queen Serea, you’re so strong. Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“If Father loves Mother so much, why do things turn out like this?”

“….”

Serea was stumped by Auna’s question.

“That’s… something you can’t explain. You just have to feel it for yourself. When you grow up, you’ll understand.”

“That’s just as perfunctory an answer as what Lola would give.”

Auna replied, making Serea a little awkward.

Auna added,

“Can I sleep here tonight? I don’t want to go back to Dad.”

“Of course you can.”

“Thank you, queen Serea. Then you should sleep too. Sorry for bothering you.”

Auna said, but Serea’s willingness to listen eased Auna’s worries a little.

“You aren’t bothering me, auna. Sleep well.”

Serea replied. But as she looked over, auna’s breathing had already grown slow and steady, though tears still clung to her cheeks.

“In the end, she’s still a child.”

As she murmured, Serea tucked the covers around Auna, and soon her own eyelids grew heavy. At last, she also drifted off to sleep.

The wind howled outside—the first heavy snowfall of winter was about to arrive…

(To be continued)

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