Before the Page was Flipped

Living room.

"I just wanted to ask you. What is that in your hand?"

Erica is laying on the sofa and Alex is sitting on the floor when she asks an unexpected question.

It's not that unexpected but it seems that she couldn't hold her curiosity anymore.

"This thing? It's called a smartphone."

He let her hold his smartphone, and she looks at the rectangular device.

From top to bottom and side to side, her eyes are full of interest.

Suddenly, he stands up and goes to the storage area, where he takes out one box of smartphones.

He instantly returned and gave it to her.

"It's my gift for you."

Her face now shows that she can't believe what's happening.

"Look, don't take me lightly. Do you believe your aunt has no money?"

She suspected he assumed she didn't have money.

Even though she is her nephew, what he does hurts her pride, but she remains calm and maintains a teasing tone.

"I didn't think like that."

"Do not make a joke, you little rascal!"

"Do you think I am a one-sided character?"

"What one-sided character?"

"Don't mind if you don't understand it. Anyway, just received it."

She stared blankly.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Okay, now I'll teach you how to use it.

Within a few minutes...

"I understand. In other words, an advanced magical tool."

For some reason, she is more relaxed than she anticipated.

Normally, she couldn't handle this type of knowledge, but she thought it was safe because it was about her nephew.

The safe she mentions refers to the origin, magic used, and function of the smartphone.

They registered each contact and tested the chat feature.

They're like kids who figured out how to play without moving at all.

Rica smiles gently as she notices how well the two of them get along.

Normally, they quarrel, but right now, they are really enjoying each other.

She felt a little jealous, but she is a slave, and her devotion is more essential than love.

A whistle sounds in the the pot.

She is currently cooking, therefore she chose to concentrate more.

If not, the food wouldn't be tasty.

As the "helper", she need to at least make the food delicious.

…

Rica halted while washing clothes and stared into the distance, recalling events as if they had happened yesterday.

Her help with cooking and cleaning for her mother, sitting on her father's shoulder while they watched fireworks, and sleeping alongside her parents.

It hurts to think of her parents being gone, yet she is fine.

After all, she'd met Alex.

Without Alex, she would have died from hunger and cold.

Others might believe she paid more than enough when she gave her virginity to Alex, but they were mistaken.

She owns nothing.

What can she give Alex besides herself?

One more thing: she wasn't an easy person, but she fell for the first time, so she had no complaints, and instead, she felt that she received a reward.

Being one with the person you love is very blissful, after all.

Alex approaches from behind and sits in front of her and helps her wash the clothes.

"You don't need to do it."

"I want to so don't stop me."

"I said you don't need to do it but I wouldn't stop you."

She smiles, feeling the pleasure in her heart.

Despite her rather emotionless face and tone, she frequently expresses her actual emotions.

Like the time she looked at him and appeared to want to take a bath with him.

Instead of asking, she waited for him to make the first step before asking her.

"Do you want to join?"

"You only use your third leg all the time."

"…"

This is how she always responded to him, but he always proves her point.

After all, taking a bath is the one time they can do that "thing" peacefully.

On the other hand, Erica is watching what they are doing in the bathroom.

She recently began to hear weird noises whenever someone took a bath.

She had a bad feeling because she couldn't see them in the living room or the shop, so she came here.

She is conflicted since nothing is happening.

She wished that her hunch would not come true, but she also wished that they did.

'For god's sake Erica. She's your nephew!'

She can't believe what she's thinking right now.

Due to her shame, she returned to the living room and read some novels.

…

"It's noon so let's eat!"

It has been a while since she has been the guild building, so Erica pays a visit to her best buddy.

"Why do you do this all the time?"

This tanned woman with a well-endowed figure is her best friend, Angelina Valentine.

"Why do you talk like you enjoy your job?"

Erica reprimanded her while Angelina read and signed some pampers.

"Because I can have a break for a day tomorrow."

"Oh! It is understandable. However, having an empty stomach is bad for the body."

"I wouldn't get hungry for a day."

"There's a new cake that has been sale now."

"Let's go!"

Angelina grasped her hand as if she had teleported there and led her out of the guild building.

Meanwhile, a woman with white hair and pale skin walks into the office.

"It seems my salary will get doubled this week."

Her name is Anna Froze.

She is Angelina's secretary.

Sitting in the guild leader's chair, she resumes her duties.

"Adding rules...reject. Adding regulations, another rejection."

She read the reports and requests of the people, since Angelina is the city's half-leader.

When it comes to royalties and national issues, the duke will manage those matters, while the guild head will handle the city's public relations.

It may seem unjust, but Angelina would not want to be surrounded by aristocracy and royalty.

Also, the Duke and Angelina agreed on this, so it's an equal agreement that no one can talk about.

While continuing to read, Anna came upon a report that made her halt.

"A registered team has not been visiting the guild. We were unable to locate them. Later, we learnt from the guards that they had left the city three days before and had not returned. They told the witness guard that they would come later, but it has been a while and they have not returned till now. A team of three people: Vince Leviathan, Jack Pascal, and Aqua Infinity.

Standing up from the chair, she dashed to the nearby restaurant where Angelina and Erica frequently eat.