ID Chapter 27: Mio's Request

Chapter 27: Mio's Request

“Stop right there!”

Mio marched into the room and spotted Valentina standing still, her entire focus on Ethan snuggling with Celia and a gloomy cloud dawned on her face.

Mio slinked to Valentina’s side and gaped.

Meanwhile, Ethan wrestled with the distress spiraling within his heart. He lacked the energy to deal with another woman. He forced himself up and found Valentina frowning contrary to his expectations. He imagined her to be stunned, dazed, or even have hearts in her eyes. Instead, she chilled there with hands tucked in her heavy coat and no sense of emotion in her deep crimson eyes.

High willpower can resist the charm.

The Charm Aspect's description told so.

“Boy, what’re ya?” Valentina broke the silence with a question.

Distress shot through Ethan’s veins. Keeping his composure, he asked, “What kind of silly question is that?”

What am I? Hell if I know the answer to that question.

Valentina drew closer and pinched his cheeks. “I’m talkin’ about this. No man has ever made me feel ‘Holy shit, this guy is irresistible’. Y’know what that means?”

Ethan cocked his brow. Did this make him the most handsome man in the world? Impossible. Plenty of actors had more refined features.

“Let’s put your face aside for now and talk about the fruit you gave to Gina.”

“What about the fruit?” Ethan hit his forehead. “Oh, that fruit I plucked from my school? I saved it for Regina. Aren’t I caring?”

Valentina shook her head, her red ponytail swaying along. She sighed and plopped on the couch. “You saving Gina was already godsent. I won’t probe more if ya feel uncomfortable.”

Ethan let his guard relax a tad and sat between Valentina and Celia.

“A fruit can’t cure someone,” Celia joined the conversation. “It’s kinda concerning if you believe it can.”

“It’s not about the cure. I checked the footage of her room. She slipped and her head crashed into the floor. Y’know why the woman called me back then?”

“Mother called you for paperwork if I am right?”

“Paperwork yes. She needed my sign for ‘We hold no responsibility if your friend died during the surgery’ paper.”

“Surgery?” Celia almost crashed into him. “her doctor told me Reina’s condition wasn’t life-threatening.”

Valentina’s lips curled up. She leaned back, gazing at the ceiling. “Your mother cares for you…”

Celia’s hand on Ethan’s leg trembled. He rubbed his thumb on her soft hand.

Valentina forced Ethan to rethink Marienne’s character. Celia always told Marienne’s exploits, her underhanded tactics to grab other businesses, and her marriage. The woman had tricked the rival company’s only son into having sex with her. Their families, instead of disputing, chose the simplest way to avoid any scandal.

A marriage.

Since that day, the Densford Family had only reached further heights.

Among these tales, an oddity caught Ethan’s attention. Celia never told anything her mother did to her. A chatterbox like Celia hardly hid anything from him. What were the chances Marienne never tried to do anything to Celia and actually loved her?

“Hello, boy? As cute as you are, staring like this won’t get you laid.”

“...”

“Why would Ethan go to you for that?” Celia stared at Valentina with ice in her eyes. “He already has me to take care of his needs.”

Valentina smirked and wagged her finger. “Tut tut tut. Lil’ girl, ever heard of the quote ‘the things forbidden have a great charm’? Look at the man cheating engaged in a relationship. I can bet this lil’ boyfriend can easily get laid. Fuck that, I bet my ass that he can earn millions with his face.”

Her comment pierced through Ethan. She unknowingly uttered the truth of his hard-earned money.

Celia puffed her chest. “That’s where you are wrong. Ethan is still a virgi—”

Ethan covered her mouth with blank eyes. “I should prepare a room for you in the corner, you fine with that?”

Celia’s eyes shot wide open. She freed herself and swung her hands. “Forgiveness.”

Ethan sighed and turned to Valentina. “What did you come here for?”

“To thank you. It means a lot to me. I won’t go deep into shit.” She patted his shoulder and stood, extending her hand to him. “Give me a call if ya ever need something. I will do it even if I have to sell my soul to the devil.”

She spoke some deep words with a straight-to-god face.

Ethan shook her hands. Valentina’s military connections might come in handy if his secret ever gets revealed to the public.

“I have a favor to ask,” Mio requested and bowed her head. “Please, can you teach Ethan about combat?”

Learning from her won’t be bad.

Valentina glanced his way. “What kind of combat? Armed or unarmed?”

She skipped the reason and directly asked his preference.

“Unarmed.”

Guns wouldn’t help much in the long run. After all, Avalon had mythical creatures like Dragon and Phoenix. He cringed at the thought of shooting his tiny pistol at a dragon.

“Are you determined to learn or is it some pastime hobby?”

“I want to learn solid self-defense techniques.”

Valentina grinned. “Want to protect your girl, no? I will ask Gina. She is unrivaled when it comes to close-quarter fights. Hand her a Mossberg and she will wipe out a squad on her own.”

That’s cool.

“Wait, before that. Are you sure Regina is in condition to teach me?”

“Yep, she’s already home. Talking with you will take some weight off her chest,” she finished with a toothy grin.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know.” She blinked her eyes, and then sprinted for the door. “I will send her in the afternoon.”

“Ethan, I have a bad feeling about this,” Celia muttered with narrowed eyes, strengthening his doubt of Regina’s secrets. “That hag aside. Ethan, I will massage your body after the training. Proper rest is necessary.”

She already made plans beyond his training.

Mio jumped into his embrace, settling in his lap. “Onii-sama, train hard~!”

“I will.”

I don’t wanna die a fodder death in Avalon.

He slid his arms on Mio’s back. The same hands he will use to strangle his summoner until they cough up their intention.

“Where would you train?” Celia brought up an important question.

“My room is too cramped… How about the terrace?”

Celia replied with a shake of her head, “Nope. The cold might affect Regina’s health.”

Ethan found himself in another dilemma. All the rooms in his house had inadequate space.

“Onii-sama, should we open Mother’s room? It’s decently wide if we remove the bookshelf.”

“That can be… a good idea.”

It was time to rummage through his Mother’s room.