Chapter 197: Chapter 197 - Trust
["TO THE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN MADE IT, WELCOME BACK TO THE COLISEUM OF FUTURE ACADEMY!"]
Commentator Ken’s voice boomed over the arena’s freshly repaired speaker system, carrying a feverish energy that instantly electrified the stands.
Word of the impromptu brawl had spread across the campus like wildfire, drawing thousands of eager spectators.
["We thought Day One had reached its explosive conclusion, but the universe has graciously handed us a masterpiece of an encore! The stakes? The hand, the heart, and the favor of the most beautiful, most powerful woman on the continent–no–the world! Eldoria’s very own Diana Valentine!"]
"""YEEEAAAHHHH!!!"""
["The challengers list? A literal rogue’s gallery of ego-driven adventurers, your ordinary fellow looking for love, nobles, royal guards, and international instructors! The defender? Kurt Rossana! The man who claimed the heart of the queen herself! Grab your popcorn folks because we are witnessing history being formed before our very eyes!"]
.
..
...
Far away from the chaos of the arena, a calming stillness filled the living room of the Rossana-Valentine estate.
On the long plush couch, Diana was sitting quietly with her mother. She had a gentle expression on her face as she slowly rubbed her fingers through her mother’s hair, soothing the lingering tension from the public confrontation.
Julianne rested her head against her daughter’s lap, finally breathing steady, though her eyes remained slightly puffy from her breakdown.
"Diana..." Julianne spoke softly. "Do you think I made a terrible mistake out there?"
"Mistake? What do you mean?"
"About making such a horrific scene in public. Screaming at your father like that... humiliating him in front of the Herst family and hundreds of people. It was... it was incredibly unbecoming of me. I allowed my emotions to take over..."
Diana let out a warm hum, tilting her head down to lock eyes with her mother.
"Let me ask you a question instead. If you could somehow turn back time... would you have kept quiet?"
Julianne went quiet and closed her eyes. She thought deeply about the suffocating silence she had endured for years, the sight of Everett trying to control her daughter’s destiny, and the coldness of her husband. When she opened her eyes, a fierce flash of maternal resolve sparked within them.
"No. I wouldn’t have kept quiet. I hate the arrogant way Everett spoke about you, as if you were a piece of property. And I detested the way your father simply stood there like a stone wall, refusing to listen to his own daughter. I would scream at them all over again."
Diana smiled a beautiful expression of love.
She leaned down and wrapped her arms tightly around her mother, pulling her into a warm embrace.
"And there’s your answer, mom. It wasn’t a mistake. Not even a little bit. And I will be forever happy that you took my side, happy that you stood up to Dad, and happy that you put Everett in his rightful place."
She pulled back slightly and gently wiped a stray tear from her mother’s cheek.
"You can stay here with us for as long as you need. Let that blockhead dad of mine come back to his senses first. Until he learns to respect his family, he can enjoy his empty bed all by himself."
Click.
Wendy entered the room carrying a silver tray with a steaming pot of herbal tea and two delicate porcelain cups. She set the tray down on the low table with an elegant flourish.
"This specific brew contains crushed moon-lily petals, Madam Valentine. It will greatly help soothe your nervous energy and calm your mind."
"Oh, thank you, Wendy. You are always so thoughtful," Julianne said while sitting up and accepting the warm cup. She took a light sip and let out a satisfied sigh before turning a teasing gaze onto the head maid.
"You know, Wendy... you are far too grand for this place. Why don’t you come work for me instead? I’ll double whatever ridiculous salary Diana is paying you, and you won’t have to deal with her stubborn tantrums."
"Mom..."
Wendy let out a soft chuckle, bowing her head respectfully.
"I am deeply honored by your offer, Madam. However, my rightful place is here, managing this household for Ms. Valentine and coordinating the rest of our maids and servants. Not to mention... Now that Master Rossana has joined our daily lives, I have a strong feeling things are going to become much more hectic around here. As he is already proving."
Julianne’s eyes widened slightly when a fond smile spread across her face. "That’s true. This unexpected breath of fresh air... it is all because of him."
At that moment, a mischievous idea seemed to spark within her mind. She turned her gaze back toward her daughter with a deeply suggestive smirk playing on her lips.
"...What’s with that look, mom?"
"You know..." Julianne purred. "I think I might actually know a surefire way to completely win over your father and melt his cold, stubborn heart once and for all."
"... How?"
"Grandbabies," Julianne sat up and whispered ecstatically.
*Cough*
Wendy, who was quietly pouring a second cup of tea, abruptly choked on her own breath.
Diana’s entire face instantly turned a bright shade of crimson. Her jaw dropped in absolute shock before she buried her face into her mother’s shoulder to hide her immense embarrassment.
"Mom! What on earth are you talking about?!" she muffled into the fabric.
Her heart hammered against her ribs at the vivid mental image of a mini-Kurt running around the estate.
Slowly, she peeked her flushed face out. Her crimson eyes were wide, and in a tiny breathless whisper, she asked, "...H-How many grandkids do you want?"
"EEEEE! Diana! Hehehehe~"
"EEEEE! Little Rosie babies! Hehehehe~"
Both mother and daughter simultaneously let out a high-pitched, ecstatic squeal of pure excitement, comically kicking their feet outward and completely abandoning all dignity as they gushed over the fantasy.
Suddenly, Julianne stopped squealing.
Her expression shifted into one of deadpan seriousness as she gripped Diana’s hands.
"I want all the grandbabies. Every. Single. One of them. I want a whole army of tiny blue-eyed, white-haired troublemakers running through my gardens."
""EEEEE~!"" They both squealed again.
Click.
The living room door opened once more. A servant rushed into the room with a look of urgency. "Ms. Valentine! Madam Valentine! Please forgive the abrupt intrusion, but something major is currently unfolding at the Future Academy right about now!"
Diana and Julianne instantly stopped their giggling and regained their composure.
Wendy stepped forward, taking a small, glowing silver tag from the servant’s trembling hand. "This is version two of the recording tag?"
"Yes, Head Maid. They are currently broadcasting a live event. It concerns Master Rossana."
Wendy’s quickly activated the tag.
VREEEEM.
A massive, clear holographic projection screen manifested at the center of the living room, displaying a live broadcast of the crowded Future Academy arena.
THWACK!
Inside the projection, Kurt delivered a vicious kidney punch straight into the torso of an armored Eldorian patrol guard. The force of the impact resonated through the audio feed with a sickening, wet thud.
Before the patrolman could even slide to the floor, Kurt snapped his leg upward, executing a heavy front kick that connected directly with the man’s chest plate, launching him clean out the ring.
["AND THERE GOES NUMBER TEN!"] Commentator Ken’s voice boomed, accompanied by a roaring mixture of wild cheers from the excited spectators and furious jeers from the opposition section.
["A CATASTROPHIC FINISHED! Kurt has just secured his tenth consecutive victory, and my goodness, ladies and gentlemen, the man has yet to shed a single drop of sweat!"]
Kurt casually rolled his shoulders and let out a prolonged yawn, resting his hand on the hilt of his sheathed black blade.
He cast his bored eye over a small, trembling group of remaining challengers who were currently huddled near the edge of the stage, their faces pale with gripping regret.
"Next," he muttered lazily. "Come on, don’t stop now. I’m just getting warmed up here. Who else wants to try and win a date with My Diana?"
The random challengers nervously looked at each other.
Nobody stepped forward.
They had watched Kurt dismantle ten victims back-to-back using nothing but raw physical strength and close-quarters combat. He hadn’t even drawn either of his weapons yet.
"I suppose it is finally time for me to put an end to this pathetic farce," Nakamura spoke smoothly, dripping his tone with an arrogant certainty as he raised his eyes to lock with Kurt’s. "Step down, F-rank. Your luck ends here. I shall defeat you, and then I shall rightfully claim Principal Valentine as my own."
...
Back in the quiet estate living room, Diana’s crimson eyes flashed with a dangerous fire. Her grip on the couch cushion tightened so fiercely the fabric began to tear.
"Excuse me, what?! Who the hell does this Nakamura think he is, making such a ridiculous claim?! I already rejected his stupid advances! How dare he speak about me like I’m some prize to be won! Also, what is Rosie even saying?! Sorry to leave so quickly, mom. But I’m going–!"
Before she could teleport away, a steady hand firmly clasped around her wrist.
Julianne, with a calm and knowing smile, was looking up at her daughter. "Sit down, Baby."
"Mom, you don’t understand–"
"I understand perfectly, sweetie. But look at the screen. Look at Kurt’s face. Let us trust that he knows what he’s doing out there. He is fighting for you, Diana. He is personally weeding out every parasite who dares to look at you with greed."
Julianne gently pulled her daughter back down onto the cushion. "Tell me... you trust Kurt, don’t you?"
Diana’s breath hitched. She looked at the holographic screen, her eyes locking onto Kurt’s relaxed profile. The anger inside her chest slowly dissolved, replaced by an overwhelming warmth that filled her soul.
"Yes, I trust him. With all my being."
"Then sit next to your mommy and," Julianne pulled her daughter close as she grabbed a handful of sweet pastries from the tray. "Let us sit back, relax, and watch your man crush the hopes and dreams of many~"
