The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 54 - Here Stood A Proud Fortress

Chapter 54: Chapter 54 - Here Stood A Proud Fortress

Dawn was just breaking when Qatrand quietly slipped out of the guest wing. The first rays of light began to be visible through the already uncovered windows in the halls. She noted that the servants of the estate had been busy with their duties. The tall girl paused at her fiance’s door and carefully slid a folded note underneath. With that taken care of, she then more confidently made her way towards the estate’s entrance.

As she reached for the door handle, a questioning voice froze her in place.

"Qatrand? What are you doing here so early?"

She turned around to see Ondua looking her way in confusion... and then eyes growing wider with realization.

"Wait, did you-"

"It’s not what you think, sir."

Qatrand said quickly with her low and firm voice. She understood exactly what it looked like and really did not want to be mistaken for a scoundrel when he had been so good to her.

"I stayed in the guest wing last night, alone. Elua was... upset yesterday and she asked me to be at least that near. If you excuse me, I’ll need to leave and explain everything to my family."

Ondua opened his mouth, closed it, then nodded slowly. It all made enough sense and there wasn’t an *actual* reason to distrust the dark-haired ’boy’. Qat suppressed her smile...

’So that’s where she got that way of reacting.’

"I... see. Be careful, Qatrand. Let me know if you need someone to verify this."

With a respectful nod, she slipped out the door and into the ever brightening morning.

---

The Yecine estate was as usual when the swordswoman arrived. The doorman barely gave her two glances. Directly to the main hall the teenager strode... where she knew all the available elders would be gathering for their morning meeting. Without bothering to hesitate, the young member of the family pushed open the thick doors.

A speaker ceased his conversation and many heads turned towards her. Anper’s eyes in particular narrowed, but before he could speak any words, his progeny stepped forward and bowed respectfully. The voice she would project with was steady despite her heart pounding more than normal.

"Honorable elders. I have something important to discuss with you."

She took a deep breath to steel herself as she straightened her posture. Responding to their questions was always easy enough, but ’bursting’ in to give them information on her own was something new for her. It was strangely exhilarating!

"Instructions were clarified to me regarding the upcoming competition a few weeks ago. I am to put on a good show and then lose to Navuill if we meet on opposing sides. I also know that Elua er Goltbred confronted some of you yesterday."

Murmurs broke out among the elders, who *hadn’t* heard anything about the last part - but Qatrand pressed on without knowing this!

"I want to make it clear that I did not ask her to intervene or complain. She acted on her own after I confided in her about what was said to me. For that, I apologize on her behalf."

She met each elder’s gaze in turn, her blue eyes unwavering in their sincerity. Some of them she didn’t usually meet with so often, so they were unaware of what the ’young man’ was like to talk to. The ones who did used to speak with her frequently for managing the deception... also had a hard time believing who this was!

"However, I also want you to know that I stayed at the Goltbred estate last night. Not out of defiance to this family, but to calm Elua down and prevent any further... misunderstandings."

The hall remained hushed for only a second before Anper spoke, his voice tight with barely contained anger.

"You dared to-"

"I dared to be honest."

Qatrand interrupted him, surprising even herself with her boldness. She quickly restrained that show of emotion on her face before continuing.

"What’s more, I still dare to stand here and face the consequences of my actions and those of my betrothed. I dare to be the respected heir you claim to want me to be, that is useful for more than their marriage."

She straightened her shoulders, standing tall.

"I am here to discuss how we move forward from this, as a family and as cultivators with duty to uphold."

The elders exchanged glances - altogether a mix of surprise, one raging anger, and... a hint of respect in a few? The swordswoman couldn’t be sure, but she stood her ground anyway ready to face whatever they decided to do. She’d thought about it as she was writing that letter to the cute girl. It was her moment to stand up not just for Elua, but for herself. And she wasn’t about to back down.

"Call for Navuill."

The voice of the most senior elder around decided the first matter.

---

A brunette stirred as sunlight streamed through her window. Her first thought was that it was better in the dormitory, where there wasn’t a personal servant to do things like tie back the drapes. She blinked, disoriented for a moment before remembering the events of the previous night.

A ’creepy smile’ crept across her face as she thought of Qatrand sleeping just a few rooms away. She extended her spirit to search for her presence and... frowned slightly.

"Qat?"

For a small moment *that* sort of panic fluttered in her chest, touching at the fragment of the tall girl’s spirit like it was a worry stone. Mint eyes closed and she took a deep breath to help herself to stay calm. It didn’t take much to reassure herself this time.

’She wouldn’t leave again without saying anything. Someone will know.’

When she moved to get off the bed, her eyes landed on a folded piece of paper that had clearly been slipped underneath her door. Elua was so ’calm’ that she practically leapt from the bed on all fours to retrieve it. The heiress sat unreluctantly on the floor and opened it to recognize the Yecine’s neat handwriting immediately.

/ Dear El,

I’m sorry for leaving without saying goodbye in person, but I didn’t want to wake you.

I thought a lot last night. About the way your family has treated me - with kindness, understanding, and support. It has shown me what it is like to be truly cared for. It’s given me the strength to do what I need to do.

I’m going to confront my family about their expectations. I’ll tell them about my feelings over the competition. I’ll even tell them about staying here last night.

I want you to know that I’m not doing this just because of what you did yesterday. Your actions were your own, born out of care for me, and I appreciate that more than I can say. This is something I need to do for myself now that I know I can.

Your parents, and you, have shown me what it means to stand up for what one feels. What it is like to be valued for who you are, not just what you can do or be for others. It’s time that I did that with my own family.

Or finally learn that it can’t be done.

I know you’ll probably worry even after I explained this, but please don’t. This is my choice. Whatever happens, I’m prepared for it. Your support, and that of your family, has given me the courage I need. I understand better than ever that it will be there whether I succeed or fail.

I’ll come over again as soon as I can. Until then, try not to terrorize any more of my relatives? If I hear loud knocking on our gates soon, I’ll assume you weren’t able to fix that problem of yours. /

Elua read the letter twice more. Worry was there in her heart still, but it was properly tied in place by the love and pride she felt - as well as a touch of amusement at Qat’s last request.

’You confront a measly two people in one day and suddenly it becomes *your thing*. Maybe this society is really not so different from the past!’

She chuckled then traced her fingers over the paper, imagining the serious face on the tall girl as she wrote each line.

"Oh, Qat. You really are growing up, aren’t you? I’m so happy for you."

She folded the letter carefully and held it to her chest, closing her eyes and falling back on the hard floor. The urge to rush off and intervene was exceptionally quiet. Part of her did want to go and see it all happening, though. After all, this was the young Yecine’s moment to polish that murky side of herself and the young Goltbred was filled with anticipation rather than anxiety.

"I suppose I’ll just have to wait and see if my ’fortress’ leaves there reinforced... or needing reinforcement. Either way, I can’t wait."

She rose up to start her day and made sure the letter was safely tucked away with all the others - the entire chest of documents was a reminder of the strength and growth of the woman she loved.

---

Qatrand rounded a corner on the estate well after the meeting was over with. She had taken a bath and her steps were light despite the pressure of the morning’s confrontation. The elders’ reactions had been... mixed, but she felt a newfound sense of pride in standing her ground.

At least until she heard the words coming from familiar voices.

"...can’t believe that girl has made the ’son’ I was forced to agree with so weak."

One was her father’s voice, dripping with disdain. Qatrand pressed her back against the corner wall and froze in place. Eavesdropping wasn’t a good habit, she knew. It was even considered particularly dishonorable among her family. But the bitter tone with which Anper was speaking made her not want to walk out and reveal herself.

"If only we had a real male heir. Someone who could amount to more in the coming events than just a marriage pawn. Instead, we’re stuck with a useless woman playing at being a man."

The meaning hit Qatrand like a physical blow, right in the same spot the dagger of his words had the last time. It drove the air from her lungs and she slid down the wall, her legs suddenly unable to support her.

She’d known about her father’s disappointment. Even before he chose to say it so directly weeks ago, she’d known. The girl had realized that it was the reason she deeply wanted his respect in the first place - because she never had it. But to hear the unchangeable ’reason’ laid bare in this way. So cruel and dismissive just because...

The pride she’d felt moments ago crumbled. In its place grew a cold, hollow feeling in that spot of her chest. Qatrand realized that standing up to the elders as a whole had been the easy part. The real struggle - the one for her father’s respect for her basic identity - was far from over.

Right now, the swordswoman wasn’t sure she had the strength or knowledge to fight it.