"If something is weighing on your mind, just say it! Day after day you sit there looking so restless. Seeing you like this makes me feel as though my return has disrupted your private world with Alina, and now you don't know what to do with yourself!"
This morning, Jeanne sat at the dining table, watching Talulah completely miss her target and extend her filled spoon straight toward Alina's face instead. She looked with sheer disbelief at the clearly distracted Draco sitting before her.
People usually say a mother loses her edge for a few years after bearing a child, but you haven't even carried one yet and you are already in this state! I am genuinely worried for your future; how will you ever manage?
Faced with Jeanne's sharp reminder, Alina, who had been completely focused on feeding Fafnir, snapped out of her thoughts. Looking at the spoonful of food Talulah had thrust right before her lips, she didn't think twice and automatically leaned forward, taking the offering into her mouth.
Beholding this scene, Jeanne fell into a profound silence. She took back her previous thoughts; these two had undoubtedly shared secrets during her months away from the settlement. The effortless familiarity between them looked exactly like that of an old married couple.
She even began to suspect that if she had delayed her return any longer, Talulah might have blocked the doorway, shouting something dramatic like, "There is no longer a place for you in this household!"
Then again, if a stubborn Draco ever dared to try such a stunt, Jeanne would simply command her to sit upon the roof beams and sing songs into the freezing night sky until dawn! Two could play at that game.
"Ah! What kind of nonsense are you spouting now? I was merely pondering a few matters of great consequence! Do you truly believe everyone spends their days wandering about aimlessly like you?"
Now fully alert, Talulah's cheeks flushed with color, and she looked thoroughly embarrassed. Everyone in the room could see right through her; the Draco leader was completely flustered by Jeanne's teasing remarks.
"Stop giving her such a hard time! I recall that not long ago, Talulah asked a university instructor to help her gather a large collection of advanced mathematics exercises. You had better be careful, or she might dump the entire pile onto your desk as revenge! Here, Fafnir, take another bite."
Alina smiled softly as she watched the two banter, her attention returning to the youngster before her. If a painter were to capture this sight, it would surely be remembered as a classic portrait of maternal devotion.
Jeanne, however, felt her eyelid twitch slightly at the display. Ever since she brought Fafnir home a few days ago, it seemed as though a very unusual switch had been flipped inside the gentle Elafia!
Alina had developed a spectacular passion for feeding and doting on the youngster. Combined with her serene demeanor—which shared a comforting similarity to Jeanne's own presence—her standing in Fafnir's heart had instantly eclipsed everyone except Jeanne herself.
To the young dragon, this kind sister felt remarkably familiar, shared an incredibly close bond with Jeanne, and offered a soothing warmth. These traits allowed Alina to instantly surpass the favor built up by the Doctor and the others over nearly half a year of constant treating!
Meanwhile, the mention of mathematics problems caused Talulah to remember a specific event. It was a massive crate delivered by that Hippogryph Black Snake during their last "chance" encounter, offered under the guise of a polite greeting gift.
Reflecting on that meeting, Talulah felt certain the old snake had been waiting there precisely for her, harboring no grand malice but simply desiring to pass the materials along.
Since Jeanne's sole intellectual weakness was no longer a secret among those circles, the elder's primary motive for delivering the gift was likely the sheer satisfaction of visualizing the maiden suffering over complex calculations!
Recalling this, Talulah's gaze turned increasingly mischievous as she stared at Jeanne. The look sent a clear warning: she was actively searching for any convenient excuse to saddle Jeanne with a mountainous pile of assignments!
Jeanne thought: ...You just wait, Kashchey! If the opportunity arises, I will not let you off lightly! I will enlist Alina to help me tie Talulah to a chair, submerge her in holy water, and we will spend the entire evening reciting prayers right at her face!
Those books had undoubtedly been sent to torment her. It was practically an evil relic designed specifically to counter her strengths! She needed to devise a scheme to destroy those materials completely.
"Let us not discuss such terrifying matters during breakfast," Jeanne countered, swiftly shifting the topic toward the Elafia. "And you should stop feeding the child by hand; Fafnir is fully capable of eating on her own strength now."
Alina, however, maintained her devoted expression, completely disregarding Jeanne's advice as she continued to offer another spoonful to the youngster.
In truth, Fafnir was being exceptionally considerate of her caretaker. If the young dragon chose to unleash her true, bottomless appetite, Alina would be left with zero time for her daily chores, forced to spend every waking hour feeding a legendary glutton.
"I hear you, I hear you!" Alina replied airily.
She paid little heed to the protest, thoroughly enjoying the unique novelty of raising a miniature Talulah. The experience brought a remarkably fresh and unparalleled joy to her daily routine.
(Talulah: Here I am treating you as a dear companion, yet you are secretly harboring desires to be my mother? Is this truly appropriate?!)
Faced with Alina's distracted response, Jeanne could only sigh. Shifting her focus, she studied the Draco leader once more, trying to discern what deep thoughts had been clouding her companion's demeanor over the past few days.
Yet, whenever Jeanne pressed for details, Talulah remained tight-lipped. She merely insisted she needed to weigh a few choices carefully, promising to share her thoughts once her mind was fully settled.
Given the circumstances, Jeanne could only grant her the necessary time. Whatever choice or challenge lay ahead, she chose to place her faith in the Draco's judgment.
Her companion could be a bit simple-minded at times, but she was entirely reliable when the situation demanded it. If she truly encountered a barrier she couldn't overcome, she wouldn't let pride keep her from asking for aid.
With those thoughts in mind, Jeanne gathered Fafnir and accompanied Alina toward the village schoolhouse. She intended to spend the next few days watching over the child to ensure no unexpected disruptions occurred during her integration into the community.
Alina had suggested taking charge of Fafnir's early education, wanting to instill a few basic concepts of daily life so the youngster wouldn't encounter any unnecessary hardships among the people.
"Jeanne, big sister! It has been so long!" ×2
Just as they approached the structure—which served as a sanctuary during services and a schoolhouse when classes were in session—two familiar voices called out in unison from behind them.
Jeanne recognized the cadence immediately, though for a brief second, her memory struggled to place the names.
Turning around, a warm smile broke across her face as she recognized the pair.
"It has been a long journey! Seeing the two of you now, it appears life has been treating you remarkably well. Sasha, and you too, Eno!"
Standing before her were the two young boys she had rescued before her long departure: Sasha and Eno. Their current appearance marked a stunning transformation from the frail children she had left half a year ago.
Back then, the two youngsters were so severely malnourished they hardly resembled healthy children; they looked so thin a strong gust of wind might have swept them right out of the snowfields.
Now, a healthy color bloomed on their cheeks, and they had clearly filled out and grown taller over the seasonal interval. The settlement had evidently provided them with excellent care.
Eno, however, remained as soft-spoken and reserved as ever. When greeting Jeanne, a shy crimson crept onto his features, demonstrating that despite the passing months, his gentle nature hadn't fundamentally altered. Still, the underlying fragility that had previously worried Jeanne seemed to have softened considerably.
"My... Eno, what is that volume you are holding? Is it... the scriptures?"
Jeanne's eyes fell upon the thick book cradled carefully in the boy's arms. If her memory served, it was the exact text she had brought back from Laterano as a gift for Alina.
Had the child developed a genuine curiosity regarding matters of faith?
"Yes... I find myself rather curious about the teachings," Eno murmured, his voice retaining that soft, gentle quality that naturally made one want to protect him.
"Jeanne, big sister, Teacher Alina, we shall head inside first!"
Noticing Eno's growing bashfulness, Sasha caught his companion by the hand, offered a polite farewell, and guided him toward the entrance.