The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 188 - Sincere & Strategic Praise Is *MY* Thing!

Chapter 188: Chapter 188 - Sincere & Strategic Praise Is *MY* Thing!

"My lady grew passionate because of your disciplined approach to swordsmanship. She claimed it motivated her own studies and that watching you made her realize she shouldn’t complain about memorizing basic sigil work..."

The nursery’s servant nodded eagerly in agreement. Nearly two years felt like long ago but also just yesterday.

"She spent weeks telling everyone how she was trying hard to follow your example of patient practice. It was known that the young miss was always a fervent reader, but she started carrying the same texts and sleeve of notes on them around the house."

"Indeed. She appeared to be working hard."

Qatrand’s cheek twitched slightly. She knew exactly what her wife had been doing. The ancient cultivator had created a convenient explanation for her suspicious expertise... by attributing her fast progress to inspiration from others.

"Were there other times my... dedication served her like this?"

The Yecine saw that the ’sweet’ smile on Elua’s face remained even as her dulling eyes hinted of desperation. Both servants eagerly began to recall more instances.

"Well, there was that time at the Void Defense Society library when she explained to their senior librarian how your sense of focus helped her try and maintain patience with organizing texts..."

"I was told by the stablehands that she delayed her trip to the city to describe how your growing precision with a blade inspired her careful attention to detail in her leatherwork..."

With each example, the ’dread’ in Elua’s spirit grew, even as she maintained her cheerful facade. Qat could feel her wife’s anxiety building, but knew it would not be for the reasons anyone else might assume.

’She wouldn’t be embarrassed, not after making a point of showing how she... brags.’

The swordswoman understood - Elua had woven her genuine admiration into these covers for her own abilities, but now the ancient cultivator worried that knowledge of this tactic somehow diminished the sincerity of her praise.

The blonde shifted Onya higher in her arms and drew the toddler’s attention from her hair to her face. Qatrand had noticed how, even in private, her wife avoided calling attention to her strengths in *comparison* to her own. While it might be wrong to say that she lacked any form of praise...

’My El doesn’t get it enough.’

"It seems, little one, that I might have to visit more often and tell you about your amazing sister."

Mint eyes stopped blinking as Qat continued softly.

"About how dedicated she was to her crafts. How she notices things and finds a way to learn from everyone around her. As well as how much her kind words and blunt advice make her special."

The ’dread’ that had grown in Elua’s spirit began to dissolve, replaced by a warm flutter of ’relief’. Her touched but wry smile portrayed her opinion as she realized what her beloved was doing.

"Special... well if my husband thinks so, then it must be true."

The teenager had found a very diplomatic way to acknowledge her all while maintaining their privacy. She hadn’t spoken of the reincarnators secrets. What’s more, Elua knew that her beloved wasn’t one to say things with a clear conscience that she didn’t feel were correct.

’My precious gem is truly priceless. Her spirit is so unclouded whenever she talks about acceptance of my past. It’s even so transparent when she speaks her mind about something like this.’

While the heiress appreciated things on a spiritual level, pigeon-blue eyes stared into the soft brown of the small child she held. Qat felt that part of it was just that the infant had been the first she spent any sort of time with

"I’ll start telling you everything I can when the war is settled. You might even start understanding some of it by then."

Onya reached to pat the Yecine’s cheeks with both hands and gurgled sounds back to be included in the conversation. The toddler’s apparent enthusiasm drew light laughter from both servants, easing the moment naturally back to simple family affection... despite the reminder of events to come.

---

In his hidden workshop, an exiled elder tapped his finger on a table. Various birds and small reptiles created a chorus of soft sounds in the space. The Whispering Skydancer that had once been in his possession perched regally on a special stand near his desk.

Its twilight-hued feathers seemed even more vibrant than when he’d gifted it... and its manner had grown quietly haughty like its master already. The bird preened itself and appeared quite pleased over successfully delivering such an ’important’ message.

He studied the elegantly penned letter for the third time and a wheezing chuckle escaped his throat.

"Such polite gratitude to send another thank you. Followed by *casual* mention of how the next few years might see some unprecedented agricultural expansion."

The old man’s eyes crinkled with amusement as he recalled the child who used to secretly visit his shop. At first, the girl acted like she was learning about lures and traps while pretending to know nothing of the criminal underworld. He still wasn’t sure how she discovered his connections.

Now here she was, discussing how some ’modest contributions’ to post-Descent recovery might affect continental economics. Even suggesting he might want to ’adjust his inventory’ to sell off some creatures before their pest-control value became less desirable.

"She made something new and is giving me time and notice. How very courteous of you, little snake."

He couldn’t help but laugh at how she’d grown. No longer a clever child playing at secret dealings, but a true heiress planning moves that would reshape markets. That she bothered to warn him at all spoke volumes about her character. The old man didn’t even have to bother looking in his ledgers to tell.

Gifting her the bird had definitely been the right choice. It was expensive for a single creature, but not more expensive than hundreds. Not to mention the favors and clout that he would gain back by having such *foresight*.

"Well then, shall we send your mistress a properly grateful response?"

The Skydancer tilted its head and stuck out its leg, seeming to await carrying the reply back. Though the old man wondered where it might have stolen that dried berry in its beak from.

---

Evening found a certain Goltbred leaning over her balcony rail. Her mint eyes turned upward at the emerging stars. The Skydancer had returned during dinner, but she decided to wait until morning to read the elder’s reply. It was probably just schemes and she wanted nothing to do with that tonight.

"Are you sure about this?"

The brunette turned to see her beloved standing in the doorway, a rolled bundle of camp bedding under one arm. Qat had changed into more casual clothing for the night. The suffering look she gave Elua when she was told that there were already outfits in her size - prepared and stored in the mansion for weeks - had been delightful.

"Of course I’m sure. The cloudless night is perfect for it."

The ancient cultivator hopped onto the railing without any worries of slipping, then turned and walked up the wall beside the balcony. Getting to visually display this technique in person rather than through illusion felt nice. She extended her hand out toward the blonde with a ’playful’ smile, but it wasn’t taken immediately.

"Don’t tell me my mighty fortress is afraid of heights like mother?"

"I’m not afraid. I just don’t usually watch someone walk on walls."

Qat stepped forward and took the offered hand. The smaller girl’s grip was firm and she stared at the taller one seriously for a moment.

"There’s a first time for everything. Besides, even if you are afraid I wouldn’t let you fall. Though... I am about to throw you. Brace yourself."

The reincarnator pulled hard while twisting her hips, lifting the muscular teenager directly up. She let go once the momentum was established and rushed her steps up to the rooftop to help stabilize the swordswoman’s landing.

Qat landed in a smooth crouch, years of training making the recovery almost automatic. The bedding roll thumped down beside her even as Elua’s hands steadied her shoulders.

"That was... different than I expected. When you said you would help me get on the roof."

"Oh? Were you thinking I’d pull you up the wall step by step? Maybe someday, but for now I don’t have quite that much essence in my field, my love."

The blonde straightened back to her full height. She began looking out over the darkened estate grounds. From this height, the gardens stretched out in a full shadowy maze below them. Her eyes caught the shape of a large tree in the distance in silhouette against the light of the city.

"You’re right. I should have known better."

"Maybe. Come and sit with me before we decide where to make our camp."

Elua settled demurely near the roof’s peak while patting the space beside her. Her soft yellow night dress almost disappeared against the tiles in the darkness. Qatrand had not questioned the change out loud, but was certain that it was a real piece of clothing.

’Her silver dress was laying on her bed. I imagine it has some kind of meaning that she is not wearing it?’

The Yecine joined her wife and sat so close that their shoulders immediately touched as they both gazed upward. The evening air held just enough chill to make the light skinship that much more pleasant. When the Goltbred had privately suggested they share another night out under the stars...

"Did you hope we’ll meditate and I will show you the wonders of the cosmos again?"

Qat didn’t respond to her question immediately. Her pigeon-blue eyes instead traced a few of the additional constellations she’d learned since that night of the wedding. The sky was filled with stars that served as a reminder of those moments she was gifted.

"No."

The blonde turned and brushed some of the hair around the far ear of her wife. She had decided to start handing out more compliments to her El whenever the mood felt right... and Qatrand er Yecine was sure this one was right.

"There’s no greater wonder out there to see than the one beside me."

Elua made a very interesting high pitched sound. That strange, strong flickering ripple in the cute girl’s spirit struck her senses as she watched her bury her face in her own hands and extend the squeal.

"Y-you’re not allowed to do that in front of other people!"