“Erika, go to the Flower room to practice.
Today’s lessons aren’t finished yet.” The Madam’s gentle but unquestionable voice rang out.
Erika, who had just been animatedly describing Kaname’s actions, instantly became like a deflated balloon.
The little girl was very unhappy, pouting and looking back every few steps, trying to use her eyes to seek help from Kaname.
But Kaname just lowered her head to drink tea, pretending not to see.
Until Erika’s dragging steps disappeared at the end of the hallway and the sliding paper door was closed again.
Only one adult and one child remained in the large living room.
The air grew quiet, leaving only the bubbling sound of water boiling over charcoal.
The Madam was in no hurry to speak.
With an elegant posture, she lifted the iron kettle and personally refilled Kaname’s cup across from her with fresh tea.
The light green tea swirled in the cup, steam rising in curls.
Seeing Kaname hold the teacup with both hands and quietly and politely thank her, the Madam’s gaze became somewhat deep.
Comparison brings harm.
The more she interacted with Kaname, the stronger this feeling became.
No matter how one looked at it, Kaname was far more mature than her own noisy, silly daughter.
She was well-behaved, obedient, and even possessed astonishing intelligence.
If the two were placed on a scale, Erika would seem almost useless.
However.
Even excluding the filter of maternal doting, the Madam still believed Erika was an excellent child.
—After all, she was only five years old.
A five-year-old child should naturally be innocent and romantic, rolling on the floor because they don’t want to go to school, or faking illness to avoid piano practice; that is a normal childhood.
The Madam actually enjoyed the way her daughter looked when she was being educated—unwilling but not daring to resist, only able to puff out her cheeks in anger.
Even if it was willful, the vivid energy unique to children was very cute.
In comparison, Kaname was the anomaly.
She was simply too perfect.
So perfect that she was like a carefully pruned flower branch, not at all like a five-year-old child.
But this did not cause the Madam to feel fear; instead, it stirred a persistence in her heart.
“Kaname.” The Madam put down the tea set, sat up straight, and put away the doting tone she used with Erika.
“I want to sponsor your studies.” “…Sponsor?” Kaname put down her teacup.
She didn’t show the wild joy of someone hit by a windfall from the sky; she didn’t even lift an eyebrow.
She just tilted her small head up, her red eyes calmly gazing at the other woman.
“Madam, what are your thoughts?” Kaname didn’t agree or refuse directly; instead, she threw the question back.
The seasoned response gave the Madam a slight start.
She still wasn’t quite used to it.
Even though she was prepared, seeing a childish five-year-old face speak in such a tone always created a strong sense of incongruity.
But because of this, the Madam became even more certain of her judgment.
The child before her indeed deserved the title of “Prodigy.” “Actually, I have also thought about whether to formally adopt you.” Since the other party wanted to be frank, the Madam no longer hid anything and spoke the truth in her heart with a smile.
“Giving Erika a companion is secondary; the main thing is that I really like you.” “But, I had someone look into you a bit.” The Madam paused, her gaze falling on Kaname, as if trying to Detect her disguise.
“During your years at the Daycare Center, you have rejected adoption requests multiple times.
Even some families with very superior conditions were turned down by you without hesitation.” “I think for a child as precocious and independent as you, being looked after and becoming someone else’s dependent is something inherently difficult to accept, isn’t it?” “That’s why you put on a seemingly reclusive disguise, only wanting to stay in the Daycare Center to enjoy freedom, right?” Listening to the Madam’s analysis, Kaname remained silent on the surface, as if acquiescing to the other’s explanation.
But in her heart, she couldn’t help but silently complain.
…No, you’re overthinking it.
The reason her past self refused adoption was simply because of a reclusive personality and being a bit shy, only wanting to slack off in a familiar comfort zone.
However.
Kaname naturally wouldn’t debunk such a wonderful misunderstanding.
With someone actively helping to round out her persona and providing ample reasons, she was more than happy.
Seeing Kaname “acquiesce,” the smile at the corner of the Madam’s mouth deepened.
“And to be honest—” The Madam sighed softly and raised her hand to smooth a strand of hair at her temple.
“At my age, having to go through the procedures to adopt a child again is actually quite embarrassing.” “Auntie, you are still very young.” Kaname immediately chimed in, her voice becoming a bit softer as she offered a sweet flattery.
“When you walk with Erika, people say you’re sisters.” “Hoho.” The Madam covered her mouth and laughed heartily; clearly, this direct flattery was extremely pleasing.
After laughing, the Madam’s gaze became deep again.
Born of a prestigious family and in charge of a massive family business.
To this Madam, Flower Arranging was not just a means of self-cultivation, but also an art of pursuing the ultimate.
People obsessed with art usually have eyes that are good at discovering beauty—as well as a strong desire for possession and refinement of beautiful things.
In the Madam’s eyes, Kaname perfectly fit her aesthetic.
She looked at the pink-haired, red-eyed little girl before her as if she were observing a rare orchid that would grow wild and waste its talent if not carefully pruned and fertilized, resulting in wild Growth.
“Staying in the Daycare Center is truly a waste of your talent; it’s simply a reckless waste of god’s gifts.” The Madam finally stopped hiding and stated her intentions plainly.
“Current kindergartens serve more to provide care and preserve children’s innocence.” “But for you, such a place is just a meaningless waste of time.
These past two days in the study, I could see the thirst for knowledge in your eyes.” “You need to go to a better school, enter a higher-end circle, and you need more resources invested in you—none of which the Daycare Center can provide.” The Madam leaned forward slightly, her eyes fixed intently on Kaname.
“So, I want to sponsor your studies—I think the reason you’ve been constantly showing your uniqueness and talent before us recently was also to wait for this opportunity, right?” Kaname met the Madam’s expectant gaze.
After a long silence of contemplation, Kaname looked up again.
“…Sponsorship and such is still a bit much.” The little girl spoke unexpected words.
“Eh?” The Madam’s elegant expression cracked; for a moment, she didn’t even react.
She had imagined Kaname would be excited to tears or would hesitate and decline out of self-esteem, but she never thought she would be rejected so cleanly and decisively.
However.
Before she could ask for the reason, the little girl before her changed the subject.
“But, I do have something I’d like to ask of you.” A smile appeared on Kaname’s face.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”