"Are you really gonna do that?" Zeun asked, his voice laced with a mixture of exasperation and genuine concern, watching his Mom's resolute expression.
Witnessing her son's concern, she made a dramatic frown and questioned, "Wait, am I, like, ancient now? Is he afraid I'll embarrass him in front of the King?"
With all the seriousness of a clown, she scrutinized her own face, then glanced at her breasts and belly, somehow expecting them to spill the secrets of youth. To her delight, everything seemed perfectly, hilariously, and wonderfully fine in her self-assessment.
"Sigh! You silly Mommy, I'm not concerned about your looks. What if the big shots in the Kingdom or even the King himself recognize you? Ever thought about that?"
Helena, realizing her son's exasperation, felt a wave of embarrassment flushing her face a shade redder than a tomato as the realization of her own hilarious oversight hit her like a cosmic pie in the face.
"Also, have you thought about Sister? What will happen to her if you follow me? So please, silly Mommy,"
Zeun lovingly held his mother's arms as if holding the most delicate piece of treasure. Helena's face flushed, a tinge of pink spreading on her rosy cheeks.
Zeun didn't let her speak any further and sealed his lips with hers. His hands instinctively reached for his Mom's ample bosom, but stopped just before touching them.
"Mama! Mamaa, where are you?? Mommy! Brotherrr!"
The adorable high-pitched voice of a girl was heard. Each word was a symphony of innocence, echoing through the air with a mixture of warmth and playfulness that only a child's voice can carry.
"We are here, Little Shrey!"
Zeun answered her call, apparently rushing toward the door, excitement and joy evident in his big red eyes.
A little girl stood before a wooden door with an angry red face, visibly upset at her Mom and brother for leaving her alone. Zeun lifted the girl up in the air and placed a loving kiss on her cheeks.
Seeing her pout even more, he chuckled.
"Mom, I think you should leave now, the earlier the better. Don't worry, we will meet soon," Zeun said.
Helena was actually asking herself, 'How is he aware of all these things which I never told him?' A bitter smile appeared on her face, seeing her two children play. 'I wonder when they would meet again after separating.'
A few hours later, at the periphery of Everlost Forest.
Zeun embraced his Mom and sister before they parted. "Mom, keep this with you." He passed a black box to Helena.
"???" Helena looked at him, puzzled.
"Okay, take care, and you have two rings, right? Be careful using them; no common people possess a storage ring. Keep it in mind." Helena warned her son before she whistled at the sky.
Not long after, a colossal shadow, stretching three meters in length with an impressive wingspan of five meters, loomed on the horizon. Zeun, gripped by a sudden terror, couldn't hold back his exclamation, "Mommm! A b-bird beast!"
Helena burst into laughter at her son's alarmed state, reminiscent of Shreya's reactions when she wasn't napping.
"No need to worry, Zeun. It's my trusty mount. Remember those days we spent catching heaps of fish? We did it for her when she was injured."
As Zeun grappled with the haziness of toddler memories, he sighed, "I faintly recall those fish-catching days; I must've been just a year and a half. Well, time to say goodbye."
But at the very last moment, his perverted nature kicked in as Zeun glanced at his Mom's beautiful, perky, oversized breasts. He couldn't help but drool; his body started to react... Despite the temptation to gulp down Helena's tasty milk, he resisted the urge.
In his mind: 'Why the heck are these thoughts invading my mind right now, and what's up with my little brother, suddenly awakening for the first time? It's like my brain decided to throw a wild party in the middle of a serious moment—maybe it's because of mana vein formation...'
Helena noticed her son's gaze and, for the first time, saw lust in her son's eyes. He was drooling at her breasts. She didn't feel disgusted; instead, she felt happy. 'So I still have the charm for my son to drool over me, huh?'
She moved near her son, kissing him deeply on the lips while placing one of her hands on his pants, holding his penis. A jolt ran down his body as goosebumps appeared in excitement and anticipation as his lower half hardened for the first time.
She felt her son's hardness as her body, which was like a dormant volcano, reacted to a manhood's touch, oozed out some of her hot lava.
Both Zeun's "lower half hardened" and Helena's body reacting like a "dormant volcano" is a mutual physical response to the forbidden touch. This escalates the intensity and nature of their bond.
Just as the tension diffused, a colossal bird gracefully landed. Helena, caught off guard, turned back and, with a face resembling a ripe tomato, awkwardly hopped on its back, scolding herself internally for what she just did.
As the departing silhouette vanished into the distant horizon, Zeun stood there, still dazed, grappling with the surreal events that had just unfolded, as if he were trying to grasp the fragments of a dream slipping through his fingers.
—Sighing deeply, Zeun emerged from his daze, each step he took casting a lingering, elongated shadow—the profound loneliness engulfing him. His heart felt heavy, burdened by the weight of the emotional ties he had just severed especially after such an intense farewell...
The absence of his mother and sister left a void, and as he walked, the solitude echoed louder than his footsteps.
His emotions, a turbulent sea, churned with a blend of longing and the stark realization of the solitude ahead.
The once-familiar landscape seemed alien, reflecting the emotional disconnection that now stretched between him and his family.
The echo of their voices resonated in his mind, intensifying the profound sense of loneliness etched into his every step.
For the next few days, Zeun removed all the mana bricks from the basement wall and stored them in his storage ring. As for meals, he had some decent skills, at least enough not to starve.
He was a foodie back on Earth and loved cooking. He made some rice and chapatis, bought milk and vegetables from the village market, and prepared a vegetable hotchpotch.
'Umm... quite tasty! How long has it been since I ate something like this? Next time we meet, I should make something tasty for Mom,' Zeun said to himself, enjoying the warm, delicious meal he'd made.
Taking out the invitation letter, his eyes widened in shock, and then a dismissive scoff unintentionally escaped his mouth, 'Oh yeah... Thank You!' ,a sarcastic acceptance of the inevitable confrontation with the Royals.
He wasn't excited about the letter's content, but was surprised to see the 'ink' used in the invitation... 'Royal Ink'. Unable to contain his excited heart, he quickly read the invitation.
[King's Seal]
King Russel de Voldamort Royal Palace, Kingdom Voldamort
Date- xx/xx/xx
Dear Proprietor of Common Paper Shop,
Your innovation in discovering a superior paper variety has not gone unnoticed. In recognition of your significant contribution to the realm, King Russel de Voldamort extends a personal invitation to the Royal Capital on xx/xx/xx.
A Royal Guard will accompany you for a safe journey, ensuring your presence at this royal event, where your ingenuity will be acknowledged and rewarded.
Anticipating your honored presence,
[Your Majesty's Royal Secretary]
[Voldamort Seal]
"Sigh, the meeting is in five days. Normally it takes a month to travel via road; but it seems I need to waste a whopping 20 Gold Coins for this ride to reach in time..." He sighed again before putting it inside his ring.
~~
The next morning, Zeun left for Caspara City, glancing at the wooden house one last time before leaving.
Before him stood an adorned structure bearing the simple inscription "Common Paper Shop."
Ironically, the modest name chosen to avoid drawing attention had transformed the establishment into the most renowned paper emporium throughout the Kingdom.
The surroundings had evolved too; within his two-year tenure, the once solitary shop now found itself amidst a burgeoning community of new constructions.
Locals, seizing opportunity, had erected these new structures to cater to the nobles who, having left their retinues, sought lodging in the vicinity. Their purpose: securing limited auction tickets, a coveted weekly event.
"I never anticipated my business would flourish to this extent," he mused, a sigh escaping him. "If only I had known..." Yet, there was no use dwelling on spilled milk. He stepped into the transformed building, now a resplendent mansion.
The once desolate mansion now bustled with activity, maids diligently attending to their chores, and guards maintaining a watchful presence. As Zeun ventured to enter, he found himself halted at the gate.
"Hey kid, you can't just waltz in here like—"
Bam! Something smacked the guard on the head, and a panicked young lady's voice chimed in, "Young master! I apologize for the confusion. He's new and didn't recognize you."
She bowed apologetically, making the bewildered guard awkwardly follow suit.
While bowing, the guard's sandal awkwardly slipped off, creating a comical scene. Struggling to keep a straight face, Zeun suppressed his laughter. The apologetic guard fumbled with his apologies. Assuring them not to worry, Zeun proceeded inside.
As the owner, Zeun strolled inside the transformed mansion, leaving the sandal mishap behind. Turning to Clara, his Mom's trusty manager, he jokingly remarked, "Well, running an Auction House is never a dull affair. What's the latest scoop, Clara?"
Clara's demeanor shifted to nervousness; in her eyes, this seemingly laid-back ten-year-old boy was anything but simple. She understood that his Mom, who had recruited her, held the prestigious title of a Master Rank Mage. The thought of appearing clumsy before this young master sent shivers down her spine.
Underneath her composed exterior, Clara grappled with the weight of maintaining professionalism in the presence of someone who, despite his age, held significant influence. The air was thick with the unspoken understanding that simplicity could often be deceiving, especially when associated with a family boasting such magical prowess.
In the manager's room, Zeun settled into the manager's seat, methodically sifting through stacks of paperwork. Clara, standing across from him, presented a meticulous overview of the Auction House—detailing recent events, the notable nobility involved, and potential challenges posed by adversarial factions. Her tone maintained a formal and utmost seriousness, emphasizing the significance of the information shared. She concluded with the sober note that, excluding herself and the two guards stationed outside, the current inhabitants were temporary, a consequence of unforeseen events.
Zeun, absorbing the gravity of the situation, furrowed his brow, contemplating the intricate web woven within the walls of the house.
---
END OF CHAPTER
THANKS FOR READING:-)
elab and exp as usual...
The "Unforeseen Events" and Temporary Inhabitants: The detail about the "temporary inhabitants" and "unforeseen events" hints at a recent disturbance or a strategic change in the mansion's operations. This adds a layer of mystery and suggests that the Auction House isn't as secure or stable as its "resplendent" exterior might imply. It also makes Zeun's need for a secure home even more apparent.
Introduction of Clara: Clara is introduced as Helena's "trusty manager," signifying the professionalization of their business. Her nervousness around Zeun is key; it shows that even employees who work closely with the "Common Paper Shop" sense there's more to him than meets the eye.
Boomtown Development: The transformation of the surroundings from a "once solitary shop" to a "burgeoning community of new constructions" catering to nobles is a powerful visual of a boomtown. It directly shows the economic ripple effect of his paper business. The detail of nobles lodging nearby to secure "limited auction tickets" emphasizes the extreme demand and scarcity of his product, as well as the lengths to which the elite will go to acquire it.
Zeun's Strategic Thinking: Zeun's "furrowed brow" and contemplation of the "intricate web" show that he's fully engaged, absorbing the complexities of the political and business landscape. He's not just listening; he's strategizing.
This scene effectively transitions Zeun into his role as a business magnate, deepening the understanding of the external forces at play and setting the stage for his strategic response to the King's summons. The mention of "adversarial factions" adds a new layer of danger.