Striving For The Luxury Liner – Vol 10 Chapter 11

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Chapter 11 – Ines’ Defeat

After Ines tells her father and Dario-kun about the hardships that brought them to tears at Ines’ parents’ house, Ines’ mother’s coolly critical comment turns the warm family home into a scene of carnage.

“I-Ines, it’s not true that you lied to me, is it? Mom was wrong, wasn’t she?”

“Oh, I see. Mother, don’t joke at a time like this. You scared me to death.”

Father and son don’t want to believe Ines’ mother’s words, or they try to make a mistake or a joke out of it. That one. It seems strange for me, a man, to think this, but men are simple.

And Ines’s mother, who is not so easy to deal with, stares into Ines’s eyes with a faint smile on her face.

And Ines, defeated, stares back into her mother’s eyes. Her father and Dario-kun are already like air.

I can’t stand the silence either, so I try to escape reality by gently stroking Rimu, who is sitting on my lap. Hmm? I hear a voice from the next room.

“So that’s what happened. I was also suspicious of Ines’ tearful stories!”

“Hahaha, I knew Ines had a good personality even when she was in her hometown!”

Flora-san and Alessia-san’s impersonal conversation echoed in the quiet room. Oh, Ines couldn’t stand it anymore and started to move.

“Hey, we are in the middle of something important, so please be quiet!”

“Ines, if Auntie suspects anything, you won’t get away with it. You’d better give up.”

“Flora, what do you mean, give up? It’s not over yet.”

Ines, when you say it’s not over, it’s a confession. The look in her father’s and Dario-kun’s eyes, which had been like air, cooled down.

“Ines, come over here and sit down.”

Oh, the father’s dignity was in full force. It’s hard to believe that this is the same man who was crying just a few minutes ago.

“What? Ah…”

Ines turned to him in response to her father’s words, and she grew pale as she realized her mistake. Once again, her father asked her to sit down with a voice full of dignity, and Ines slowly walked over and sat down next to me.

“Ines, what does that mean?”

“Nee-chan…”

“I don’t know.”

Ines, who had received suspicious looks from her father and brother, turned her head in the opposite direction and said dismissively. I wonder if she will relax in front of her parents and family. I take a closer look at Ines’ unusual appearance.

“I understand! I just have to talk, right, talk!”

Ines broke down under the silent stares of the three family members.

“But you don’t mind? You’ll be disappointed when I tell you. I was happy when you were convinced by the beautiful story I just told you… Are you really going to listen to this?”

Correction. Ines had not yet broken down. She is creating fear and making them believe that she would be happier if they didn’t listen. Ines is a stubborn person, isn’t she?

“Ne-Nee-chan, what did you say you went through?”

“Dario, it’s okay, just calm down. I already told you. Ines wouldn’t talk like that if it were something really painful. She just wants to avoid being scolded. Ines, talk to me. If you lie to me again, I will talk to the people in the next room.”

Ines’ mother scares me. She’s pushing Ines over the edge.

There was silence for a while, and then Ines began to tell the truth as if she had given up all hope.

＊＊＊

Ines’ father puts his hands over his eyes and looks at the ceiling.

Dario-kun is speechless, wide-eyed, and stunned.

Ines’ mother stares at Ines calmly. But I can see an aura of anger behind it.

“You see, you would have regretted it if you’d listened to me!”

Ines cries desperately. She’s being childish today.

“Wataru-san. Are you going to let Ines go? As a mother, I want to educate her thoroughly.”

Huh? Is she talking to me?

“Well, Ines is an important friend to us, and we would like her to stay with us as long as she does not want to leave.”

But as far as education is concerned, I’d like to ask a favor for that as well. No, I love Ines too now, so it’s just a little, you know? From the next room, I hear Flora-san’s voice saying, “Pure love, isn’t it?” It’s not pure love; it’s a relationship between slave and master. It is rather impure.

“Yes, we love each other. So I don’t need to be educated or anything like that.”

Was love such a flimsy word? It sounds like a word that just wants to escape preaching and re-education. Huh? But I’m kind of glad. Men are so easy to fool, aren’t they?

“Ines, there is something you haven’t told me, isn’t there?”

Ines’ mother calmly continues her question. I think Ines answered honestly, but is there something else she wants to ask her?

“What? I told you everything truthfully.”

“I asked you how you became a slave. But I can’t believe that you are honestly a slave, considering your character. Normally, you would have offered terms that would have immediately freed you from slavery. You have the ability to do that. So let me ask you. Why are you still a slave?”

Well, come to think of it, the conditions of being a slave are also important. Ines’ mother is very sharp. Ines could have found several ways to be free in one day. But she also knows a lot about slaves, doesn’t she? Is this knowledge common knowledge that I just don’t know about?

“How could you know, Mom?”

Ines screams. Apparently, knowledge about slaves is not common knowledge.

“My daughter has become an adventurer. It’s only natural that I do a lot of research in case something happens to her. I did research on injuries, falling into slavery, and the risk of losing one’s life.”

Ines’ mother, perhaps thinking of Ines’ death, speaks with a bit of bitterness. From a parent’s point of view, it must be very worrying when a child becomes an adventurer.

“But I was relieved in a way about the slaves. It’s painful, but with Ines, it won’t be that bad. Compared to the loss of life… there is a lot of hope. Ines, why are you still a slave?”

Parental love is wonderful. Well, now that parental love is driving their daughter into a corner…

“There’s a lot going on. It’s not always a good thing in life to be freed so soon.”

“I agree. I know you seem to be having a lot of fun right now. That’s why I want you to explain. Can you assure me that even if my daughter were a slave, she would still be happy?”

Ines’ mother was now going her own way. The air of Ines’ father and Dario-kun is not hindered.

I, Felicia, Flora-san, and Alessia-san in the next room are all watching, thrilled and excited, like spectators in a drama. The only ones who don’t understand the current situation are Rimu, Fuu-chan, and Beni-chan.

“Or should I ask Wataru-san?”

I was supposed to be in the audience, but I was suddenly brought up on stage. What kind of punishment is it to have to explain the terms of buying a daughter to her parents?

And the terms of the contract with Ines are such that the parents can’t help but be outraged.

“It would be helpful if you could get it out of her mouth a little…preferably in a dialog with your daughter.”

“Is the content of the contract something that would be hard to get out of the master’s mouth…?”

Ines’ father looks terribly worried. The direction is probably a little different from what Ines’ father imagined. But that doesn’t mean that the content isn’t redeemable. The eyes of Ines’ family members are focused on Ines.

＊＊＊

Ines’ father looks at the ceiling again.

Dario-kun, who has stopped thinking and just stares dazedly at a point.

Ines’ mother was shrouded in an aura of almost visible rage.

Well, that’s what you’d expect when you hear what’s written in Ines’ contract. There were other, easier ways to be freed from slavery, but she continued to be a slave, putting pleasure first.

“How long will you stay in the Aquamarine Kingdom, Wataru-san?”

Ines’ mother asks me, ignoring Ines, who has finished speaking. What does she want?

“Eh? Well, I haven’t decided on anything in particular.”

“I understand your position as Ines’ master. If I may be so bold as to ask, would you be willing to give me the opportunity to train her?”

It was a very tempting offer. There is no doubt that I love Ines now. But why do I still find it an attractive proposal?

“Hey, don’t ask such a thing without my permission. As a slave, I can’t leave my master.”

As I was about to answer, Ines, who had been ignored, interrupted the conversation. Just recently, even at boat races, there was supposed to be a slave who had raced all night away from the master, but was that a dream?

“Yes… the purpose of this trip is sightseeing, so we have time. I would like to have Ines at my side, but I don’t want to interfere with your time as a family. As long as I don’t need her help while I’m in the country, I don’t have a problem with it unless I need her help for an adventure or something.

“Hey, Master, you can’t just decide something like that on your own. I don’t want to be disciplined after all these years!”

“Ara, Ines. Is that how you treat your kind master? As your mother, I’m worried about you.”

“It’s all right. Master likes me now. Mother, you don’t know anything, so please be quiet! Right, Master?”

It is true that the present Ines is attractive. But is it wrong that I want to see the graceful Ines that her mother trained her to be? God, please tell me.

“…Um. Discipline aside, since we are so close, I would like Ines to be able to spend time with your family. I will call you when I need your help, so until then. Please enjoy yourself. Now I think it’s time for us to go.”

“Hey, Master! You’re leaving me!”

I’m sorry, Ines. I couldn’t resist my curiosity. I’d really like to see the graceful Ines.

“Wait a minute. I would like to treat you tonight.”

You’ve got to be kidding me. If you show us hospitality under the present circumstances, Ines will take it out on us. I wish Ines’ father didn’t have to come back to reality at a time like this.

“No, no, no. It’s times like these when you should spend time together as a family. Okay, Ines, I’ll come pick you up, I promise.”

“Hey, I’ll come with you.”

“Ines, you mustn’t disrespect your master’s kindness.”

Oh, Ines was caught. I’m sure Ines will be angry with me later, but for now, let’s prioritize escaping.

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