The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 61 - Silver Spoon Linings on Hungry Shadowed Hearts

Chapter 61: Chapter 61 - Silver Spoon Linings on Hungry Shadowed Hearts

A few hours later the train pulled into the station and the family gathered their belongings and prepared to disembark. Yatrel had thankfully ordered the servants to put the bags on her carriage. While they would only be gone two days, it would have been inconvenient to shop in such a tourist destination.

After letting her betrothed and the man try to talk for an hour, she finally took her rightful spot and kicked him away back to his own wife. Then she curled onto the seat and one of her husband-wife’s thighs and forced herself to nap. The illusionist knew if she stayed awake, she would want to talk about what she had just done.

After they stepped onto the platform, Elua positioned herself on the Yecine’s far side. Without a word or glance towards either of her parents. The brunette’s hand intertwined their fingers with a gentle squeeze now that they were off the train.

To the outside observers, it might have looked like nothing more than a couple staying close in a busy station. But the swordswoman had long sensed something more to it. ’Guilt’ and something like a ’need for reassurance’ was pressing on her fiancee’s mood.

Ondua began chatting amiably with Qat about their travel toward the coast and didn’t seem to notice his daughter being distant. However, the mother lingered on her daughter’s form for a moment. A bit of confusion passed over her features while wondering why her eldest was upset again.

’Isn’t her most loved person doing better already? Is she bothered that she wasn’t the one to make it that way?’

The saltier coastal air rustled everyone’s hair when they stepped out into the mountainous section of land. Despite being a popular location, the town itself was a lot smaller than their city. However the streets were a bit crowded... and it seemed like all the stalls lining it were just trying to be the first to attract your attention.

The four walked past many of them, until the Goltbred father pointed at building a few blocks away from where they had arrived from.

"This is the shop that your mother and I went to on our first visit. They sell silver charms. We should go inside and look, don’t you think?"

His enthusiasm seemed to be trying to drag all of them along with him, but the other three weren’t nearly as excited. One because of her angst over telling her Qat what she’d done, said fiance because she hadn’t brought enough money to ’shop’, and the last-

"I seem to recall you were vastly ripped off? You want to go back in there?

"It... wasn’t that ’vast’. Besides, it’s a memory we could all share, right?"

The man grumbled stubbornly. Qatrand saw his disappointment and offered a supportive nod.

"I’d like to see it. It sounds... meaningful."

Her words were careful, but sincere. Even if she couldn’t afford to buy something this time, she could always pick out something for the next visit. The Dame Goltbred looked askance at the boy’s unexpected support... until a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes as she turned to her husband.

"You know what? Maybe we *should* visit and see if they remember you. Then I could ask for a refund - with interest."

Her husband’s face settled exasperation after dancing through a number of other emotions.

"I’m not sure that’s how a business like theirs works."

"Oh? Watch me try. Don’t you think just telling them my name might do, dear?"

The duelist replied while striding towards the shop.

"Aren’t you going to go after her?"

The Yecine asked with a little concern. It sounded like her future mother-in-law was about to cause unnecessary trouble. The man stared up into the air before responding.

"If I stay out here, I’ll only have to hear about it later and not see it happening. Remember the advice, Qatrand. The blissful moments of ignorance are a great treasure."

’Like not knowing my beautiful little daughter was just like my beautiful wife. Is it the eyes? The eyes must be cursed. But they’re so lovely...’

The heiress tugged a little on her ’fortress’ and stepped forward. Qat felt a little bolstered by the girl’s sudden willingness to follow. The pair trailed the graceful stepping woman at a distance. As they all neared the door, a set of mint eyes turned back with a frown on her face. Did he really think she was going to cause a scene on this day for her daughter?

"Ondua! Are you really going to stand there and not come buy me another one?"

The brunette blinked at the sound of her loud voice and nodded. He shook his head and smiled happily while jogging forward past all the tourists and stall owners staring at him. She had, in fact, caused a scene with her shouting - and with using his name. Many began to whisper and point amongst each other as the four related figures darted into a storefront.

The scent of polished silver and old wood struck them. Rows upon rows of glittering metallic trinkets caught the light coming from the windows. The Goltbred parents approached the counter while Elua hung back near the entrance with her loyal partner.

"Welcome! How may I assist you today?"

Yatrel leaned in toward the elderly shopkeeper with a heavy glint in her eye. The laugh lines around his eyes were *very* familiar.

"I wonder if you remember a rather... enthusiastic customer from years ago? Paid *quite* a sum for a charm?"

The shopkeeper’s brow furrowed at her line of questioning, but Ondua stepped forward and placed a hand on his wife’s shoulder.

"Perhaps we could simply look at the charms? Maybe find one similar to the one we got back then?"

The woman’s expression softened and she nodded. It was enough to protect him from overspending this day. As they perused the charms in the display cases with their heads bent close together, Elua watched from afar. Her expression was unreadable at seeing their whispering and occasionally chuckling,

The brunette’s eyes had scanned the room without much enthusiasm. Sensing her mood wasn’t going to be improved with shopping, the fiance stayed close. However her gaze wandered and mentally noted a few styles of charms she might like to return for someday. One in particular seemed rather cute!

’She doesn’t seem interested right now, but will she like it if I buy it for her?’

Done with her own limited shopping, she noticed the girl’s gaze fixed on her parents. The swordswoman gently squeezed her hand and murmured toward her.

"They seem happy together."

Elua nodded silently, though her grip tightened on Qat’s hand. She was beginning to realize that it wasn’t just about being anxious to tell the Yecine everything about her choices on the train. Her mood was definitely caused by the slip up and what it made her decide to do... but staying buried in it might be for more than just that.

’I didn’t stop and see what my mother would have thought of the truth I let out. That bothers me. I just covered it up, because that’s what I promised Qat. That no one would learn it from me. It also bothers me that I failed there, even if-’

As the reborn cultivator stewed in her thoughts, Ondua triumphantly held up a small silver charm.

"Look, it’s almost exactly like the one from before!"

The man rapidly moved to pay and a softly smiling Yatrel glanced back at Elua. Her smile left and she approached her daughter with concern evident.

"Elua, dear - are you alright? You’ve been awfully quiet since the train. Are you perhaps hungry? You said you had lunch, but we’ve been walking for a while now."

A small growl emanated from Elua’s stomach when she actually considered eating. For the first time since she’d fiddled with the woman’s memories... a flicker of emotion emerged in her eyes. Her cheeks ballooned with air! Was this body a glutton now on top of being hopelessly lustful?!

"Right, then. Husband, let’s wrap this up. I think it’s time we found somewhere to eat."

They exited the shop with the new charm safely tucked away in Ondua’s pocket. He resolved not to tell her how much he spent on it this time. Elua’s stomach growled again when the scent of local sea-based cuisine wafted temptingly on the breeze. She allowed Qat to guide her towards the street.

She wasn’t ready to give up her display... but she would eat enough to fill her stomach. It felt nice to allow herself to actually present herself as she felt deeper down, even though it was probably ruining this part of the trip.

The restaurant the Yecine ’chose’ because of El’s sudden stopping in place bustled with activity. It was filled with locals and tourists alike... and the pick surprised the tall girl a little. She supposed everywhere was a little busy, but wasn’t this place the worst?

The Goltbred family plus Qat settled at a table with the smell of grilled seafood and salty air mingling in the breeze. They were waited upon quickly enough and only sat together watching their surroundings for a relatively short time. The stocky waitress set down a number of plates. It was a spread of the local delicacies - the bounty of the nearby sea.

After looking at them all, Elua fixed Qat with a defiant stare.

"Feed me."

The heiress demanded of the blonde firmly. Was she taking advantage of her own decision to show herself as upset in order to gain a fresh layer of intimacy? Absolutely. But wasn’t teaching the Yecine how to coax herself part of being a wife?

The pigeon blues of the one being ordered squinted at the ’resolute’ and ’yearning’ girl... but with a flush creeping up her neck. She’d seen this done a few times when getting food in establishments. She glanced around nervously, noticing a few curious glances from nearby tables who had heard the ’request’.

’Was this why she chose such a busy place?’

Taking a deep breath, she picked up a skewer of something she wasn’t sure of what to call - but it smelled delicious to her. She hoped the cute girl she was about to... feed thought the same. Her hand trembled as she brought the shiny, thin, and charred meat to El’s lips at an angle.

Mint eyes never left those of her ’fortress’ as she leaned forward and took a bite. The cultivator noted that it was some kind of eel as she’d expected. Her lips brushed against the middle of the skewer. And lingered perhaps a moment longer than necessary. At least according to what happened next.

Ondua coughed lightly in clear ’warning’ with his gaze darting between his daughter and her fiance. On the other hand, Yatrel watched with barely concealed amusement. She was surprised this hadn’t been an issue before now, with them having shared dinner at the estate for so long. She supposed her daughter must have seen people sharing the act during her training.

She was right on that front - the sigilist mentor and his husband tended to be surprisingly intimate in front of her - though it hadn’t been the first time in her thousands of years seeing people being free with things like that.

"More."

The brunette insisted after swallowing and licking lips. Her tone still stubborn but with a hint of something softer underneath. She pointed at something else to show she wanted variety.

The Yecine obliged again. This time she needed to use a spoon - unsurprisingly silver. She raised it to the girl’s mouth and a grain from the dish was left on her cheek while she chewed the spoonful given. Without even thinking, Qatrand reached out with her thumb to brush it away. Her calloused touch was clearly as gentle as possible against the smaller’s skin.

A collective "aww" rose from a nearby table of young women. They had been glued to the display from the start after the demand from the cute and willful brunette. The tip of the swordswoman’s ears grew red, but she quickly stuck the grain back on the spoon while retrieving more of the shrimp dish.

"I should take notes. You two are certainly putting on a show. Should we be joining them?"

Yatrel commented while nudging her husband playfully with twinkling eyes. The man spluttered and coughed out a piece of fish cake. He remembered the first and last time he allowed her to try.

"I think I’ll stick to feeding myself, thank you."

"Are you sure? It looks like you aren’t doing a good job of it..."

He managed to smile at her response - but cold sweat was forming on his neck!

Soon the movements from the blonde teenager became more confident. She found herself subtly captivated by the way her soon-to-be wife’s lips parted for each bite and the way her throat moved as she swallowed them.

She began to realize that most of the time, people ignored studying these kinds of intrusive details. Despite her earlier nervousness, she found herself enjoying this intimate act.

The young miss, for her part, maintained the obstinate expression - but there was an unconcealed softness in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. With each bite her ’fortress’ offered, a little more of her earlier tension seemed to melt away. Also, it caused a question to start simmering underneath it all...

’Please don’t tell me I was more willing to be anxious because I was hungry?’