**Chapter 257: Aunt Shali's Stance**
There's an Inside Story. Seeing Velas's soft smile with a hint of playfulness, I suddenly remembered the Mysterious Tone she used yesterday when mentioning Sarah.
What in the world is going on!! I thought and thought but couldn't figure it out, feeling like my Head was about to explode. Just as I was about to turn back to confirm the Existence of that girl who looked extremely similar to Sarah, suddenly, my chest was hit squarely by a force of impact.
What a Familiar impact!
Habitually, I picked up the thing that had crashed into my arms. It felt as light as a feather. Subconsciously, I stroked it up and down. Mhmm, Familiar Weight, Familiar body temperature, Familiar softness. What reassured me the most was the Maiden's Fragrance in my arms, so captivating it made my Soul yearn.
Familiar? I lowered my Head in surprise—a small pink head was rubbing against me in my arms. Small, soft hands and legs were clinging tightly to my Body like an Octopus, and from her mouth came the tender calls that enchanted me.
"Big Brother, mm-hmm~~, Big Brother, Sarah missed you so much, woo woo~~"
Sarah? That's right, the one in my arms is my Little Sarah. At this moment, I instantly cast aside the Doubt I just had. My heart was filled to the brim with the excitement and joy of our reunion, leaving no room for anything else.
"Yes, it's me, Sarah. I'm back." How embarrassing, my Voice was actually a little choked up. I sniffled, gently cupping the Maiden's delicate, pretty face with my palm. I was so careful, afraid that even a little too much strength would damage the slender Maiden in my arms.
Cupping her face, I examined it closely, almost greedily. Not a single point had changed. White teeth and red lips, her cute little nostrils flared adorably, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly. Even at such close Distance, I couldn't find a single flaw on her delicate and well-defined Features. She was truly God's greatest masterpiece. Those crimson eyes, captivating like Flame, were now filled with mist, her fervent Gaze unreservedly revealing her longing and Love for me.
This face belongs to me, this Body belongs to me, and her entire heart belongs to me too. In an instant, my heart was filled with the exhilaration and pride of a Man.
Seeing me lower my Head and gaze intently at her face, Little Sarah mischievously let go of the hands wrapped around my waist. With a "Heh," she suddenly hung onto my neck. Her small face pressed against mine, rubbing against it continuously. The rough skin of my face tickled from the soft, smooth touch. Besides the Enjoyment, it also made me fully feel the Gap between a Man and a woman.
Haha~, Little Clingy Bug's personality hasn't changed at all. This is my Little Angel! Feeling secretly pleased, I suddenly remembered the scene just now. Who was that girl just now? It definitely couldn't have been Sarah, who is Acting Spoiled in my arms. Their personalities are worlds apart.
"Ah, Sister Vilas." Sarah only then noticed Velas standing behind me, smiling. Her little face flushed, and she jumped down from my Body.
"Sarah, is there another girl here who looks very similar to you?"
Holding my arm tightly with one hand and leading Velas with the other, Sarah dragged and pulled us towards the House, as if afraid we wouldn't go in. Taking this opportunity, I tentatively asked. This question was too serious. It felt uncomfortable keeping it bottled up.
"Huh——" Little Sarah tilted her head, her pure crimson Eyes blinking in confusion as she looked at me.
"A girl who looks very similar to Sarah, hmm~~" she mumbled. Sarah seemed to be trying hard to recall. Who in the Rogue Encampment looked very similar to her?
"Hmm~~"
"Hmm~~~~"
"Never mind, don't think about it anymore." Seeing Sarah looking like an overloaded machine, her pretty face flushed red, almost steaming, I quickly stopped her.
"Woo woo~~ Big Brother, I'm sorry, Sarah really can't remember anyone who looks very similar to me." Sarah looked at me with teary Eyes.
"Haha~, I know, Big Brother was just making a Joke with you. In this world, how could there be another girl as beautiful as my Sarah?" I gently rubbed her little pink head, half-jokingly.
"No way, Big Brother, you're bullying me." Little Sarah wrinkled her little nose at me, then shyly revealed a dazzling, brilliant Smile. Really, she's such a Little Angel who can't handle praise and doesn't hide anything about herself.
Was it my illusion? How could that be? I shook my Head and turned my Gaze to Velas, only to find her looking at me with a beaming smile, her head tilted. Seeing me look at her, she playfully avoided my Gaze—Hmph, hide, I'll let you hide. Can you escape the first day of the month, but not the fifteenth? If you don't explain it clearly to me tonight, I won't let you sleep. I grumbled and rolled my Eyes, deciding to temporarily suppress the Question in my heart. For now, there was a more severe Trial waiting for Velas and me, and that was Aunt Shali's Attitude.
The short Trail in the Front Yard couldn't delay things for too much Time after all. With a nervous Mood, Sarah finally dragged Velas and me into the House. This place, which couldn't be more Familiar, felt strange because I was carrying a completely different Mood than before. I looked around guiltily. The steaming hot Dinner was already laid out on the Dining Table. It seemed the "Lar Family Special Meal-Scrounging Warning Nerve" in my Brain was as accurate as ever. This Ability had truly made Doug and Gus envious for a long Time.
"Sarah, where's Aunt Shali?" Seeing no one inside, I poked my Head in and asked.
"Mother, she—" Before her words finished, Aunt Shali poked her Head out from the Kitchen.
"Oh, it's Wu. I heard you came back yesterday. I was just planning to have Sarah call you over for Food, but you came yourself." After not seeing her for a while, Aunt Shali didn't look old at all. Her Appearance, which closely resembled Sarah's but with a few more hints of mature charm, would make anyone think she was much younger.
Of course, in Fact, we had only been apart for a little over 3 months. Naturally, she wouldn't look old. It was just that too many things had happened in Lut Gholein, giving me the illusion that a long Time had passed. Moreover, Aunt Shali was less than forty years old. Considering the Lifespan in the Diablo World, it wouldn't be surprising for someone well-maintained to look much younger.
With a charming Smile, Aunt Shali's Corner of the Eye flickered, and she paused for a moment. She had spotted Velas standing behind me. After a brief pause, the Smile on her face remained unchanged: "Wait, Dinner will be ready soon. Don't even think about sneaking a bite, you won't starve."
Her final Gaze fell upon Sarah's Body. I wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but she seemed to sigh slightly. Then she withdrew. Was it my illusion? It must be, just random guesses caused by excessive worry. However, the situation seemed pretty good. At least Aunt Shali didn't look angry.
Aunt Shali's Skill was beyond words. But I was a bit tasteless, no, I should say quite in Pain, unable to speak. Facing Aunt Shali's warm greetings and Little Sarah's extremely expectant Gaze, I really couldn't bring myself to say, "I've already eaten." As a Result, bowl after bowl of Food/Meal filled with Sarah's Intent kept coming. Aunt Shali's relieved Smile as she watched Sarah and me being intimate was also one of the reasons I couldn't Refuse. Among the four of us, only Velas knew my current situation, but facing Aunt Shali, she herself was terribly nervous. How could she possibly help me out?
"Come, Big Brother, ah~~" Sarah forked a small Meatball of unknown ingredients, supporting it with her other hand underneath as she brought it to my mouth. The shy, happy affection on her face was just like a newlywed Little Wife full of beautiful fantasies about the future.
Mhmm——, an indirect kiss? I like it. I mechanically opened my mouth. I took the Meatball, fork and all, into my mouth. If not now, when would I take advantage? Under Sarah's shy Gaze, I chewed carefully with a Smile. "Gulp—" I swallowed. Not good, the Food seemed to have piled up from my stomach to my Throat. At this moment, my Eyes were full of tears.
Having finally escaped the cruel Hellish Dinner, I half-slumped on the long Chair, chatting idly with Sarah. Velas was truly good; she knew my predicament and was currently massaging my stomach with a face full of concern.
After selecting a portion of my experiences in Lut Gholein to satisfy Sarah's Curiosity, Time unknowingly passed. Sarah had classes at the Training Camp tomorrow and had to go to bed early. After Acting Spoiled and rubbing against me in my arms for a while, she reluctantly returned to her Room.
After only the three of us were left, the Atmosphere suddenly fell silent. I sat up from the Chair, meeting Aunt Shali's half-smiling, half-not Gaze. I couldn't help but smile awkwardly, feeling a little uneasy.
"You're quite carefree, aren't you?" Looking at me, but with the Corner of her Eye on Velas's Body, Aunt Shali's Smile looked a little terrifying at this moment.
"Uh, well..." I scratched my Head and gave a silly smile, unsure of what to say for a moment.
"Child, come here, let Auntie take a look." Aunt Shali glared at me, then beckoned to Velas, who was shrinking behind me.
"Yes, Madam." Velas replied respectfully, but looked at me with a pitiful, pleading Gaze.
Cough cough, go ahead, don't worry. Aunt Shali is a good person, she won't make things difficult for you.
Relying on the Tacit Understanding between husband and wife, I used my Gaze to comfort Velas. I genuinely had some confidence, not in myself or Aunt Shali, but in Velas. Although in terms of Appearance, she really couldn't compare to Sarah and the others, her gentle and simple Temperament, revealed from her very core, would likely prevent even the most harsh person from feeling ill will towards her.
Sitting next to Aunt Shali, Velas looked like a primary school student facing a strict Teacher's examination. She was shrinking back, her Gaze shy with a hint of unease. She was a girl who was very easy to satisfy and didn't care much about status or titles. What she feared was Sarah's Mother not allowing her to follow the Lord anymore.
"What a truly good girl. Following Wu, she must have been very Wronged." Shali looked Velas up and down and sighed sincerely. Just by looking at her, one could feel the beautiful Aura of the Flower of the Prairie. She also sang well and inherited the title of Singer, which hadn't appeared among the Rogue for decades. Even if she felt a little unwilling, Shali made a fair judgment: this girl in front of her was no less outstanding than her own Daughter.
What do you mean "very Wronged"? Can't you consider your Daughter's Vision/Insight a little? Towards Aunt Shali's words, I could only offer silent protest.
"No, no, no—not Wronged at all. Being able to stay by the Lord's side, even if I can only look at him, I... I am already very satisfied." Velas thought Shali wanted her to leave the Lord's side, so she quickly shook her Head, gathering courage to meet her Gaze. On this point alone, she would absolutely not compromise. Velas was full of Kindness, and also stubborn.
"You misunderstood my meaning." Shali was someone with experience, so of course, she understood what Velas was thinking. She paused.
"I heard, your Parents..."
"Mhmm." A hint of Dejectedness flashed in Velas's Eyes.
"Mother passed away not long after I was born. The year before last, Dad also... during an adventure. But thankfully, the Lord is here." As she spoke, the dimness in Velas's Gaze gradually brightened, and her beautiful Eyes quietly gazed over.
"Poor child." Aunt Shali wiped her Moist/Teary Corner of the Eye and suddenly blurted out something that no one could have expected.
"If you're willing, you can call me Mother from now on."
"Huh——?"
"Pfft——!"
Velas was so surprised she almost jumped up, while I spat out a mouthful of Tea.
"Perhaps you're unwilling? That's true, what Qualification does a terrible old woman you've only met for the first Time have to say such a thing?" Aunt Shali lowered her Head in disappointment.
"O-of course not, Madam, you're not old at all, I, I..." The suddenness of the Matter caused Velas to completely lose her Propriety.
"Silly child, Auntie isn't forcing you to call me that. I just hope you can come over and chat often when you have Time, don't be so distant." Aunt Shali said with a Smile, holding Velas's hands. Ginger is indeed spicier the older it is; Velas was completely led by the nose by her.
I glanced at Aunt Shali thoughtfully. Although her words just now truly surprised me, thinking about it carefully, it wasn't without Principle. Although Aunt Shali seemed gentle, she was a strong-willed Woman at heart. She must have felt unable to accept that the Son-in-law she had decided on was snatched away by someone else first. If she could truly recognize Velas as her Daughter, she would probably feel better about it, at least inwardly. She could also Reluctantly comfort herself with the Excuse, "It's okay if he was snatched, they're all my Daughters anyway, both sides of the hand are flesh." Moreover, this Result was entirely beneficial to Velas. I truly hoped she could find the Feeling of Motherly Love from Aunt Shali. It was truly killing multiple birds with one stone. Tsk tsk, Aunt Shali really planned everything perfectly.
Finally, the two Women, one big and one small, chatted and quickly became familiar with each other. Velas ultimately didn't call her Mother out loud. After all, even if she lost her Mother at a young age, it was impossible for her to throw herself at some auntie she met for the first Time, crying and shouting "Mother" just because the auntie said, "From now on, you are my Daughter, and I'll look out for you." Such a scene could probably only be seen in a Novel. Everything requires Time to adapt and accumulate; one cannot rush it. I believe that with Velas's personality, she will quickly gain Aunt Shali's affection.
I just don't know what to do about Little Ghost. Her experiences are thousands of times more pitiful than Velas's. I estimate that Aunt Shali, overflowing with Compassion, will soon welcome her "third" Daughter.
Seeing the Atmosphere ease, I let out a sigh of relief and finally spoke the Doubt that had been suppressed in my heart.