Eris POV 3
I was still in my office, I had too much to think about about Leonora's situation and what I would do about it myself, when there was a knock on the door.
A servant informed me that she had arrived, as far as I know, another of the descendants of the heroes of the past.
Some time ago I wanted to meet her with Leonora and see what would happen, but now I'm not so sure, anyway, Celes is a charming girl, if it weren't for Leonora taking my attention more, I would definitely be more aware of her.
A couple of minutes later, guided by a servant, a girl, with short blond hair, with a fringe over her left eye, entered the room.
Upon entering, the girl raised her hand and greeted me casually.
(Celes) Hello Mrs. Eris, what's up?
The servant who had accompanied Celes made a disapproving gesture at the casual way in which he greeted me.
(Eris) nice to see you Celes darling, tell me how was your trip?
She sat in a chair without waiting for my approval, and I motioned for the servant to leave.
(Celes) pretty boring, I still haven't gotten used to carriages.
She reached into one of the folds of her dress and pulled out a small bag of candy, which she began to eat as she spoke.
(Eris) long trips are quite tedious, that's why I use other methods.
Celes with a mouth full of candy, for a second she seemed to realize who she was in front of, but her only reaction was to bring me the bag and offer me a candy.
(Celes) excuse my manners, do you want one?
(Eris) one is fine honey, thank you.
I take a candy from the bag, while I see this girl in front of me, she had a very elegant dress from which she removed the corset, so it had lost a bit of shape, in addition to having rolled up the skirt so that it does not bother her as he walked, she also seemed to have swapped her high-heeled shoes for a pair of old, but much more comfortable-looking shoes.
Yes, as her father the Arch Duke of Kinner told me, this girl does not have a clue of class or manners, they really sent her to me, to teach her how to behave, but her way of being seems more fun and I used to be like her myself when I was her age, so I find her attitude refreshing.
At that there was a knock on the door, and a couple of maids entered with tea and sweets, as soon as the maid settled the tray, Celes took it for herself and began to eat, I did not care and just watched her while that girl filled her with candy, to the point of puffing out his cheeks like a squirrel.
As I watched her eat, I remembered the story of this girl.
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Celes, or rather Celestia, was raised alone by her mother in a small agricultural town.
She was an only child and I understand that she was a very hyperactive girl who was always getting into trouble, but at the same time her joy made her very loved by the people of the town.
This was one of the towns that benefited from the new farming system that Leonora invented, so life there was pretty good.
Shortly after turning 10 her mother fell ill, she had a disease that affected the lungs, for many years that was a fatal disease and she was sure that she would die, so she sent a letter and told her daughter the truth about her father.
Her mother Marianne Blurd, was the third daughter of a simple disgraced baron, and thanks to favors and connections, she managed to get into work in the house of the Arch Duke of Kinner, for years she did a diligent job, but to her bad luck, She fell madly in love with the duke's son, Sebastian "other 4 names" Kinner.
For months, these two saw each other in secret, but Marianne knew that this was an impossible love, she knew that Sebastián was engaged, and despite the fact that Sebastian had promised that he would break their engagement and marry her, she did not believe it, and upon discovering that she was pregnant, she fled the mansion so as not to damage the reputation of the future arch-duke.
That is why on his deathbed she confessed the truth to her daughter and the Arch Duke, so that her daughter would not be left alone after her death.
But what she never knew was that Sebastian never married or forgot her, and had spent the last 10 years looking for her, that is why when he received a letter from his lost love, where she confessed that they had a daughter, in addition to her recorded In a state of health, the Arch Duke hastened to fetch them with a great number of life magicians in tow.
Although pneumonia was a deadly disease if not treated with magic, one of the inventions of a certain Count Lazaruz, penicillin, was quite good at fighting its effects, and cheap enough that commoners could use it, that is why Marianne managed to survive until the arrival of Sebastián.
Too much lovey dovey stuff is getting cloying, so to make the story short, Sebastian proposed to Marianne, and without worrying about criticism, the third daughter of an impoverished baron who had spent the last 10 years living as a commoner became the Duchess. One of the richest and most important territories in all of Karris.
For her part, little Celes could not be happier, not only her mother had been saved, but also now she had a father who spoiled her in everything to make up for the lost years, but the years kept passing and her parents finally fell taking into account the enormous talent of this girl, so she would have to attend the royal academy, and that in her current state she could never appear in society, she had no manners, and despite all the efforts of her mother and half a dozen of governesses, she seemed incapable of learning.
That is why I, who was already aware of her talent since arriving in her father's territory, one day casually commented to the arch-duke that I could try to teach her a lesson or two, something that poor Sebastian, who already seemed to have lost hope, saw like a gift from heaven.
And now I finally have her before me, I don't want her to change anything about her way of being, but maybe I can teach her how to pretend in front of the nobles and keep up appearances.
For now, I still have the sage stone on the table, since I had used it to see Leonora's condition, that is why perhaps it is best to confirm my suspicions.
(Eris) so Celes darling, as you should already know, your father sent you with me to teach a thing or two, but don't worry, besides the boring things I could teach you a little magic if you behave well.
Hearing that, Celes finally turned her attention away from the sweets, just as her father had told me, she has a great interest in magic, but she simply has so much mana that no tutor they have hired has been able to teach her anything.
(Celes) Are you serious Mrs. Eris?
(Eris) of course honey, now to better know your abilities, I want you to put your hand here, but be careful, it can burn you.
She put her hand on the sage's stone, and winced in pain, but did not move her hand away, and just as she imagined, the stone was dyed gold and a message appeared on top.
.
Celes
[Impossible to evaluate.]
.
(Celes) what does that mean? Why did nothing come out?
(Eris) don't worry honey, I'm just like you.
I put my hand on the stone myself and it turns lilac.
.
Eris
[Impossible to evaluate]
.
Before Celes's stunned look, I start to explain.
(Eris) people like you and me have a special destiny, a destiny that separates us from the rest of the people, and if you are with me I could help you understand it.
As I spoke, Celes's face lit up, and when I finished, she bowed.
(Celes) please teacher teach me.
What a lovely girl, I wish leonora was a little bit like her.
(Eris) for now we're going to take it easy sweetheart, I'll show you the way people like us can see our states.
(Celes) then teacher, would you let me see your status?
(Eris) maybe another time darling, for now tell me about yourself, how have you adapted to the noble life?
Celes seemed very disappointed, but didn't insist and answered me.
(Celes) well, more or less, at first everything was better, dad and mom let me do whatever I wanted, but then mom became very bossy, and she forced me to take etiquette lessons, she says that a lady shouldn't climb trees or fishing in rivers, but I've always been like this, and I don't understand why it should change now.
(Eris) Being a noble has its rules honey, maybe she doesn't want you to bring shame to the family.
(Celes) but dad and grandpa don't seem to care, what's more, it was grandpa who gave me my favorite cane when I turned 11.
(Eris) men are like that darling, they must be very happy to have a nice girl like you at home, that's why they spoil you so much, and if you love them too, you should at least try to behave in front of other people, As much as they say they don't care, other nobles do, and if your behavior offends someone, you could bring problems to your family.
Celes gave a slight nod as she seemed to understand my words.
(Celes) hadn't seen it that way, I don't want dad or grandpa to have problems.
(Eris) I'm not asking you to change honey, you just have to learn to behave in front of other nobles, I myself had to go through the same thing so I can help you.
(Celes) really? Thank you very much teacher, I am going to make an effort to learn everything that you teach me.
(Eris) I like your enthusiasm darling, but for now let's take it easy, and tomorrow we can start the lessons.
(Celes) okay teacher.
I kept talking with Celes for a couple of hours, she told me stories about her time as a commoner and her time as a noble, she is a very charming girl, and I listened to her carefully, until a story especially caught my attention.
(Celes) and I will never forget my first cotton candy, it was so delicious, at that time I had always wanted to try it, but it was still expensive, and mom told me that she would buy me one on my birthday, but a very good girl gave me one.
(Eris) really? It's so kind of her.
(Celes) yes, but mom got mad at me, she thought I was harassing her until she finished by inviting me one, and she told me to find her and to apologize and return the money, obviously that money was from cotton candy from my birthday so I was very sad, and I wanted to find that girl so that she could tell my mother that I did not force her to do anything, but I never found her again.
(Eris) hmm, wasn't she from the village?
(Celes) I remember that there was a festival, and that girl looked like a rich girl, I remember that she had black hair and gray eyes, she also had a very elegant dress, and was accompanied by a maid, I thought she was a statue until I saw her move, the case is that I never saw the girl again and it took a long time to convince my mother that it was not my fault, and in the end for my birthday she gave me the cotton candy, after that the next cotton candy that I ate was in ... .
A girl with black hair and gray eyes? A servant who looked like a statue?
(Eris) wait darling, that girl, what else do you remember about her?
(Celes) hmmm, it was a long time ago, I think she told me his name, but I don't remember.
(Eris) do you know her name? Please, baby, remember.
(Celes) ahh, okay, what was his name? I think it rhymed with ...
Celes was trying to remember the name of that girl, while I feared the worst, Celes' hometown is in the Croiss territory, so it is not impossible, but it may be a coincidence, it must be a coincidence, if Leonora knew for real, definitely Irma must have been able to feel the powerful magic aura that she emanates.
(Celes) no, sorry, I can't remember, but why is it so important?
(Eris) for nothing darling, I thought it was someone I knew, but I think I must be confused.
Yes, it must be that, but black hair and gray eyes are two qualities that, although they are not rare separately, together I think that Leonora is the only person who possesses them, excluding her sister of course, but after Everything, Celes only saw her once, it is likely that she was wrong, and she was not as she remembers her.
(Celes) wait, I remember... Yes! I remember! it was Leo, Leo for Leonora, I told her if I could call her that, and she said yes.
Celes smiled because she was finally able to remember and was very proud of it, for my part, a chill ran down my spine.
What if it wasn't really a consistency? What if Leonora went to that festival for the sole purpose of seeing Celes? What if Leonora actually knows and has all the descendants marked?
Again, a great series of questions invaded me, maybe I have underestimated Leonora, maybe all this time, she has had me dancing in the palm of her hand.