Vol 2 Chapter 209 The Family by the Sea

“Hedra Griffin,” the girl’s current identity and name.

After settling into the merchant Alanfude’s household, she became his adopted daughter and was referred to by the household servants as the Third Young Miss.

The eldest daughter, Eriel; the second son, Ecor; and the third daughter, Hedra. This was the current order of the Griffin family. To take care of Hedra’s daily needs, Lady Haier assigned her a maidservant in her thirties.

“My name is Margo, Third Young Miss.”

She wore her hair in a neat, coiled style and dressed in simple, durable long skirts that could withstand dirt. It was said she was a family-raised maidservant of Lady Haier’s, having started working in Lady Haier’s household at the age of nine and later followed Lady Haier to the Griffin family.

“Hello,” Sylutia responded politely, neither overly enthusiastic nor coldly dismissive.

If Hedra herself were here, she’d probably act the same way, Sylutia thought.

During their time together, she had come to understand the other girl’s personality. Their outward behavioral patterns had many similarities; both preferred quiet and solitude.

However, Hedra carried a bone-deep, faint air of aloofness, while Sylutia was slightly softer, occasionally willing to try new things, enjoying gentle environments and taking pleasure in the fun little games could bring.

These internal differences probably only became apparent after spending some time together.

For the first few days after settling in, Sylutia was unfamiliar with everything in her new environment, and her activities were confined to the mansion. Guided by Margo, she learned about the buildings and rooms here and listened to her talk about recent events.

“In another three months, the ‘Sea Breeze Festival’ will arrive. The sea becomes very dangerous then, so many merchant caravans try to sell off their goods and merchandise in these coming months. If Third Young Miss wishes to purchase anything, you could visit the market at the port.”

“What is the Sea Breeze Festival?” This was the first time Sylutia had heard this term.

Margo explained at the girl’s side. The Sea Breeze Festival was a ‘season’ remembered only by the towns and harbors around Meteorite Lake, lasting roughly three years. During these three years, various aquatic creatures from the depths of Meteorite Lake would try to surface to breathe the gales swept in by the ‘Gale Season’.

The ‘Vaulted Sky’ Aspect within those gales would fill creatures of the ‘Snail Fish’ Aspect with vitality, preventing the phenomenon of ‘Petrification’.

Every time this season arrived, the sea surface would teem with vast quantities of fish and high-tier aquatic creatures, with the danger level multiplying. However, for powerful fishermen, this was also a season of harvest.

“I understand.” After the other’s brief explanation, Sylutia grasped the reasoning behind it.

“Take me to the market tomorrow.”

“Yes, Third Young Miss.”

Although she had settled into the Griffin household, over these past two days, Lady Haier hadn’t specifically sought her out to talk, likely still unsettled by the chaotic emotions. As for Eriel and Ecor, these nominal siblings, they hadn’t spoken to her either, merely nodding upon meeting as a form of greeting.

It seemed not only she, but the others too, were not mentally prepared for Hedra’s arrival.

Sylutia sat before a simple wooden dressing mirror, lightly combing her black hair, forming a slight arch over her forehead to reveal her smooth brow. This made her demeanor appear somewhat more serene, different from the overly youthful look when her bangs covered her forehead.

In the past, her aura likely leaned towards that of a sixteen-year-old, a more adorable, beautiful, and dreamlike girl. Now, her image leaned more towards that of an eighteen-year-old, tranquil, slightly dignified, and gentle.

She still needed to adjust her image further. The girl looked at the reflection in the mirror that resembled an elegant classical lady from the East and shook her head slightly.

Going to the Mage Alliance with such an image would still be too conspicuous. She needed to be more ordinary, less eye-catching.

Fortunately, she now had plenty of time to experiment with various styles of clothing and appearance.

The next day, Sylutia and Margo went to the market, reporting to Aunt Haier before leaving.

“You’re going to buy things?” Upon hearing this, the noblewoman rested a finger against her cheek in thought, her gaze appraising the girl up and down.

Undoubtedly, even in simple attire, the girl’s peerless, elegant aura inadvertently revealed itself, making Lady Haier somewhat uncomfortable.

To think she was the daughter of some unknown lover, yet he claimed she was his niece. Even more infuriating was that the girl was truly exceptionally beautiful. From the daughter, one could glimpse a fraction of the mother’s stunning looks.

She felt some jealousy and also some worry. How could her husband have found such a beautiful person to be his lover?

After a mental struggle, Lady Haier finally released her hand, having the maidservant behind her bring her money box.

“Take this gold coin and go buy something.” She wanted to refuse, but doing so would seem lacking in grace and unbecoming.

“Thank you, Aunt Haier.” Sylutia respectfully accepted the gold coin and then turned to leave.

After the girl left, Lady Haier sat there ruminating on her agitated feelings. She couldn’t understand; her relationship with Alanfude wasn’t bad. When exactly did he find the time and energy to take a lover? She had many trusted confidants from her own family within the merchant caravan, yet she hadn’t heard a single whisper about this.

At that moment, Eriel walked into the room with cheerful steps.

“Mother, look at this~” She carried a white porcelain potted plant containing blooming flowers and grass. They were flowers shaped like conch shells, their petals overlapping and entwining like the patterns of a conch, like curved spindles. A small hole in the center of the petals emitted the sound of waves and wind.

“Is this a ‘Conch Flower’ that condenses Aspects? And it looks to be of very high quality.” Lady Haier looked at the plant in Eriel’s hands with surprise.

“Exactly. I bought it from the Hazelnut Guild. They told me it’s a premium product from Sea Anemone Island.”

Taking the potted plant, Lady Haier examined it carefully, then lightly touched the flower bud with her finger, channeling a bit of Aspect power. A melodious conch sound emanated.

“This is truly excellent. How much did you spend?”

“I told them I was from the Griffin family. If they gave me a discount, they could receive preferential treatment for future purchases. So they only charged me 8 gold coins.”

“8 gold coins? That’s indeed very worthwhile.” Lady Haier nodded. She remembered that not long ago, when Lady Mosha held a tea party, the ‘Conch Flower’ she used cost 20 gold coins.

“Very good, Eriel. It seems you’ve grown a lot.” She was quite satisfied with her eldest daughter.

“How have your studies been lately? Has Madam Kerlin praised you?”

“Of course she has praised me. I was the third student in the class to condense an Aspect. I’ve always been the object of everyone’s envy.”

“Hehe, you really are my precious treasure. Take these 20 gold coins. I’ll keep the Conch Flower.”

“Thank you, Mother. Hehe~” Eriel hugged Lady Haier, snuggling for a moment, then thought of something.

“That, um, that girl who arrived recently…”

“Her name is Hedra.”

“Right, that Hedra. Does Mother know her exact origins? I heard someone say she’s Father’s illegitimate daughter.” Eriel still felt some dislike for the girl she had seen a few days ago, likely because the other’s appearance made her feel like a formidable rival, creating an invisible anxiety.

“Don’t worry about this matter for now. I will investigate.”

“Go play for now. Oh, right, this afternoon I’m going to the Sea Salt Mansion to attend a gathering. Lady Tumbleweed has invited a very skilled painter. It’s said they will be exhibiting paintings and painting portraits for her family members. She asked us to come take a look.”

“Saying ‘take a look’ is probably just to show off her family’s circumstances.” Eriel thought of something.

“She’s always subtly hinting that she comes from the Tumbleweed family of the neighboring country, has noble bloodlines, and looks down on us who made our fortune through business.”

“Shh, Eriel, you mustn’t say such things outside.” Lady Haier stopped her.

“She genuinely has proof of lineage. You must also build a good relationship with Lady Tumbleweed in the future. If you see her son, Young Master Weiss, next time, try to dress more beautifully.”

“Huh? That Young Master Weiss who often takes advantage of the maidservants, that annoyingly mischievous brat? And I have to curry favor with him? Besides, he’s only 14, right?”

“Fourteen is precisely the age for marriage. If you wait until eighteen, it’ll be too late.” Lady Haier shook her head.

“You don’t understand. Families like ours, who engage in business, are ultimately unstable. If we encounter any upheaval, it’s easy to fall into decline. If you can marry into the Tumbleweed family, our status will become much more secure in the future.”

“Look at your father. Even though he manages such a large guild, he has to personally handle many matters because if he sends someone else, people simply refuse to meet, especially those with status among the nobility. They feel negotiating business with a subordinate of a guild is an insult to their status.”

“It’s only because your father donated a considerable amount of money and received the ‘Golden Swallow’ medal from the Merchant Capital Alliance that he can now converse with those important figures.”

“Alright, alright, I get it. It’s just that fool from the Tumbleweed family, right? Watch me charm him so utterly he’ll be dizzy and follow me around in circles. Hmph.”

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