Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Magnolia.
January 22, x792.
"Hmm? What's that?" Lucy asked after entering the living room of the Mansion on the Lake.
Lucy was not the only one who just returned to the mansion, though, as Erza followed her into the living room, as well. The two returning in the early morning after a quest. On top of that, Irene, after seeing that her daughter had returned from her quest with Team Natsu, minus Gray, who was still on an undercover quest with Juvia, came along, as well.
As for what Lucy was talking about, there was a small package wrapped in brown paper sitting on the coffee table in front of the couch. Yet, there was no way to determine who the package belonged to.
Hearing Lucy's question, both Erza and Irene turned to look in the same direction. And just like Lucy, they also saw the package.
"I'm sure it's something Grayfia or one of the other girls left here." Erza said as she pulsed her magic power to ask one of the maids to come to the living room. "we'll just ask them when they get here."
Hearing that, Lucy nodded her head before moving towards the coffee table to see what the package was. However, before she could pick it up, her eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"Something's off about this." Lucy muttered while looking down at the package.
"What do you mean?" Erza asked curiously, her body tensing slightly when she heard Lucy's tone.
"I don't know…" Lucy said in a slightly confused tone. "But… How do I put this? It's almost like the package isn't even there. I mean… I can't feel its presence at all. Yet, I can see it just fine."
Hearing that, Erza tensed even further. Then, she gripped Astraia's hilt while going on high-alert.
"Calm down, Erza." Irene said while placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "I have an idea what this is. And if I'm right, I know how it got here, too. But let's wait to hear from the maids before we do anything about it. Not that I think there's a reason to."
Although she nodded in response, Erza did not let her guard down. By the way her mother said it, she did not think that anyone living in the mansion brought the package into the house. So, there was still a chance that something could be wrong with the package.
After Erza pulsed her magic power, it did not take long for Grayfia to arrive in the living room. And just like the others, she immediately noticed the package that should not have been on the coffee table.
"Good morning, madams and Lady Irene." Grayfia said, her professionalism not allowing the shock to show in her expression. "Would I be correct in assuming that you summoned for me to ask about that package?"
"That is correct." Erza replied sternly. "Do you know who brought it into the mansion?"
"Unfortunately, I do not." Grayfia replied while shaking her head lightly with her eyes closed. "It was not there before I went to bed last night. Nor did anyone leave the mansion after lights out. So, I have no way of telling you where it came from or how it got there."
Erza frowned deeply upon hearing that while Lucy looked worried. Someone who was able to get into the house despite the maids constantly using [Magic Power Detection] was bad enough. But then there were Alfonzo's defenses to consider, as well. Anyone who could get past all that was considerably dangerous.
"We should call Alfonzo immediately." Erza said as she tightened the grip on Astraia's hilt.
"While I don't disagree, I don't think things are as dire as you think." Irene said, placing a hand on the hand Erza used to grip her hilt. "If I'm not mistaken, Alfonzo was expecting this package. And if it came from who I think it did, there's nothing you could do about it."
"Alfonzo was… expecting someone to bypass all his security measures?" Erza asked in an incredulous tone.
"Well… Probably not that." Irene replied while smiling wryly. "But yes, he was expecting the package to show up."
"And just who could have slipped through all the mansion's security like that?" Lucy asked in an amazed tone.
"Do you remember who I used to work for?" Irene asked.
"Of course." Lucy replied with a nod. "You were one of the Spriggan 12 of the Alvarez Empire, which was actually run by the Black… Wizard… Zeref… Ahh~~~~~~!"
Lucy's scream was so loud and high-pitched that Erza, who was standing closest to her, winced. On top of that, the other maids in the mansion, as well as the other ladies, who were still asleep, were awakened, as well. Yet, neither Irene nor Grayfia reacted in the slightest.
"You… You're telling me that the Zeref was in our house?" Lucy shrieked, panic driving her volume even higher. "Why? Why would he come here? We haven't done anything to him, have we?"
"I must say, I haven't seen Lucy panic like this in a long time." Erza said with a faint smile on her face. "it's rather nostalgic."
"Now is not the time to take a trip down memory lane, Erza." Lucy shouted as she grabbed Erza and tried to shake her back and forth. "Wait! More important than that, that's a package from Zeref! We need to get rid of it! It's probably super-dangerous."
Yet, because of Erza's abnormal strength, the only thing Lucy ended up doing was pushing and pulling herself back and forth with Erza's armor as an anchor point.
"Calm down, Lucy." Irene said while covering the smile spreading across her face with her hand. "I did say that Alfonzo was expecting it, didn't I?"
Hearing that, Lucy froze immediately, her body leaning backwards thanks to be midmotion. Then, like a robot with rusted joints, she slowly turned her head in Irene's direction.
"Alfonzo was expecting a package from Zeref?" Lucy asked in a horrified tone. "don't tell me… Has he started worshiping Zeref like all those cultists we've fought over the years?"
After hearing that, Irene could no longer hold back. Bursting into uproarious laughter, she moved her hand away from her mouth and gripped the brim of her hat to make sure it did not fall off during her bout of laughter.
At the same time, Erza could not hide the amused smile on her face as she stared at Lucy. Meanwhile, Lucy, after realizing what she just asked, blushed furiously, embarrassed that she would even have a thought like that. Especially since Zeref cultists were the ones who killed his and Elicia's parents.
As for Grayfia, she just stood there with her normal, stoic expression on her face. Though, if you looked close enough, you would be able to see her shivering minutely, most-likely trying her best to hold back her own laughter.
"Just forget I said that!" Lucy shouted as she let go of Erza's armor and covered her face in embarrassment. "I wish the floor would open up so I could hide in it."
"If Alfonzo were here, I'm sure that would be possible." Erza pointed out with a smile. "The entire house is lined with metal, after all. In fact, why don't we give him a call? Maybe he can trigger it remotely."
"Please, stop!" Lucy shrieked as she crouched down, trying to make herself as small as possible while continuing to hide her face behind her hands.
"That doesn't sound like a bad idea." Irene said after getting her laughter under control. "We need to call Alfonzo and let him know about the package, anyway. So, we can ask him then."
Lucy's muffled scream of anguish made Irene and Erza start laughing all over again. Meanwhile, Lucy shot up to her feet, turned towards the living room's entrance, and bolted out of the room at the fastest speed she could muster.
"Ah~! That was fun." Irene said with a smile. She then turned to Grayfia and continued. "Grayfia, dear, if it wouldn't trouble you, could you get a cup of coffee for me? After feeling Erza's return, I woke up much earlier than usual and could use the extra kick."
"Of course, Lady Irene." Grayfia replied with a polite bow. She then turned to Erza and continued. "And Madam Erza, would you like your customary slice of strawberry shortcake, as well? Maria made a fresh one just last night."
For quite some time, Erza has made it a point to eat at least one slice of strawberry shortcake whenever she came back from a quest. And hearing that there was a fresh one waiting for her made her eyes sparkle like stars. Then, she nodded with so much vigor that every strand of hair on her head waved along with the motion.
Seeing that, Grayfia bowed once more. Then, she turned and left the living room to prepare Erza's snack and Irene's coffee. Meanwhile, Irene took Erza by the hand and led her to sit down on the couch. Then, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her lPhone.
"Well then, let's call Alfonzo while we wait." Irene said with a smile, the sight of her daughter bouncing in place with anticipation warming her heart.
'*sigh* I really owe Alfonzo a lot.' Irene thought to herself. 'Without him, I would never be able to sit with Erza like this.'
With that, Irene scrolled to Alfonzo's contact. Then, without hesitation, called him, completely uncaring if she would be waking him up or not at such an early hour.
*Ring!* *Ring!* *Ring!*
It took Alfonzo longer than usual to answer the phone. However, before it went to voicemail, the ringing stop and Alfonzo's groggy voice, accompanied by some faint sounds, came through the phone.
{"Mmm… good morn--- Ah! Fuck… morning, Irene."} Alfonzo said, his groggy voice interrupted by an exclamation. {"You don't usually call me this early when I'm out on a quest. Is something that--- Oh… shit… matter?"}
"Oh, judging by those sounds, I guess I didn't wake the three of you up." Irene replied with a teasing lilt to her tone. "Or, at the very least, I didn't wake all of you up."
{"Fonzie, get off the phone and keep drinking."} Cana said in her sleep.
{"Fonzie… What's for breakfast?"} Elicia similarly asked in her sleep.
Hearing Elicia's and Cana's sleep talk, Irene's eyes widened in surprise. Even Erza stopped bouncing in place long enough to look at Irene's lPhone with surprise, as well.
{"Nah, they're both still asleep."} Alfonzo replied. {"Anyway, what's up? Ah! Shit… Hmph!"}
{"Mmm… Delicious."} A somewhat unfamiliar female voice was transmitted through the phone. {"I hope breakfast is just as good, Alfonzo."}
{"Honestly, it's a wonder you're even up this early, Mei."} Alfonzo muttered in an impressed tone.
Hearing that, both Erza and Irene could not help imagining what must have been going on at the moment Alfonzo answered the phone. And while Irene licked her lips with a seductive smile on her face, Erza flushed slightly. Especially since she had never woken Alfonzo up like that before.
"It looks like the Mizukage really joined our family, huh?" Irene asked playfully. "Make sure she comes to visit sometime soon. I'm sure everyone would love to spend time with her… In fact, try to convince her to ditch that job. All that paperwork will make her age prematurely."
{"I'm not touching that with a ten-foot pole."} Alfonzo replied dryly. {"I know better than to say anything about a woman's age. Even more so than to say anything while she's got my dick in her hand and can spew acidic mud on command."}
{"Good boy."} Mei's voice sounded faintly over the phone call.
Hearing that back and forth, Irene could not help laughing again. Even Erza smiled slightly.
{"Anyway, I know you didn't call me this early just to see if I was getting some wake up head."} Alfonzo said in a helpless tone. Then, he continued in a deadly serious tone. {"So, what's going on at home? Do you need me to come back immediately?"}
"Well, I won't say it's not serious, as someone managed to get into the house through all your protections to leave a package on the coffee table in the living room." Irene replied in a slightly more serious tone. "But I'm pretty sure it's not dangerous. Instead, it seems like it's the package you've been waiting for from our mutual acquaintance."
Alfonzo did not respond immediately. Instead, he took a moment to process what he just heard.
{"I guess I struck a nerve when I said I wasn't afraid of him, huh?"} Alfonzo asked, a sneer audible in his tone. {"Looks like he's trying to let me know there's a reason for me to be afraid of him."}
"So, it would seem." Irene replied softly.
{"Well, whatever."} Alfonzo said uncaringly. {"I'll update the barriers when I get back. It's been almost four years since I did an upgrade. I guess that will teach me to be lazy. Anyway, if you wanna take a look at the book, Irene, go ahead and open it up. Just remember to put it in my workshop when you're done with it."}
"I was hoping you'd say that." Irene said with a smile. "I've never had the chance to look at any of his BOOKS before. So, I'm really looking forward to this."
{"Have fun, then."} Alfonzo replied with a chuckle. {"I know I don't' need to tell you about the precautions you should take. So, I won't insult you by doing so anyway. Instead, I'm gonna get up and start getting ready to go to work. I'll talk to you later. Love you, bye."}
"I love you, as well." Irene replied while smiling sweetly. "And don't worry about the book, I'll tell you everything I figure out when you get back. You won't have to start working from scratch. But please do come home soon. I need to thank you PROPERLY for this opportunity."
Then, without giving Alfonzo a chance to respond, Irene hung up the call. At the same time, Grayfia returned carrying a trAy with Iren's coffee and Erza's strawberry shortcake atop it. Then, once Grayfia set out the refreshments, the mother-daughter pair enjoyed the morning together over coffee and cake.