Meliodas gave Fiona two weeks of rest so she could recover. Fiona herself did not really understand how she ended up with such a long break. It was the first time in her life she had been ordered to rest that long. Usually she only rested for one or two days, at most three. But two weeks were something completely different.
Cossette: "Fiona?"
Fiona: "Cough… cough… oh… Cossette…"
Cossette: "You should go back to sleep."
Fiona: "Hmm."
Melina: "I made you soup, Fiona…"
Fiona: "Thank you very much, that's really sweet of you, Melina."
Melina: "Blushes… you're welcome…"
Fiona: "Cough… cough… you two should stay a little away from me, or I'll infect you."
Melina: "Oh please…"
Cossette: "Hehe… Fiona… I think you caught it from us. It just wasn't as strong for us because we get enough sleep and rest. A tired body is easy prey for illness. Jean Valjean used to say that all the time."
Fiona: "Aha… so you infected me…"
Cossette: "Uh…"
Melina: "…I… it was probably… me…"
Fiona: "Hmm."
She gently stroked Melina's head.
Melina: "Huh…"
Fiona: "It's alright, my little one. I'm not angry at you. Come here."
Melina moved closer to her.
Melina: "Hmm…"
Fiona: "You too, Cossette."
Cossette: "Huh… okay."
She moved closer as well.
Melina: "Hmm…"
Fiona: "Since I'm sick… how about you two take care of me?"
Melina: "Hah…"
Cossette: "Yes… yes…"
Both of them were happy that Fiona finally wanted someone to take care of her.
Melina: "I'll handle the food. What would you like?"
Fiona: "I'll leave it to you."
Cossette: "Fiona… is that blanket enough or would you prefer the thicker one?"
Fiona: "No, this is fine. Cossette, help Melina with the cooking."
Cossette: "Okay."
They happily went off to cook.
Fiona: "Hmm… hah…"
She leaned her back against the wall.
Fiona: "Two weeks off… but I'm not staying in bed the whole time. I don't like just lying around…"
Some hours later
Melina: "Here…"
Fiona: "Ugh…"
There was soup, a plate of rice with herb sauce beside it, and green tea to drink.
Melina: "Healthy food…"
Cossette: "Fiona, I made the rice."
Melina: "I hope it tastes good. Oh… those little balls there are meatballs. I put some cooked cheese inside. But those are a reward only if you eat the soup and the rice as well."
Fiona: "Huh?"
Melina: "When it comes to food, nothing should be wasted. There are people who would cry just to receive a plate of rice like this. One should always be grateful for what one has. Mama always said, whoever throws food away is not worth putting effort into."
Fiona: "Hmm… I thought your mother was a noble."
Melina: "She was. But my parents always helped poor people and refugees."
Fiona: "Hmm… respect."
Melina: "Hehe… enjoy your meal."
Fiona began to eat.
Melina: "Hmm?"
Fiona: "Mmm… the soup is delicious…"
Melina: "Hehe… I put carrots, peas, and onions in it. Actually no onions, I assumed you might not like them. And honestly onions are not as healthy as people claim. There are much better things you can enjoy and still stay healthy."
Fiona: "Mmm… yes… the rice is good too."
Cossette: "I made it… I did…"
Fiona: "That's my little one. I knew you two were the best."
Cossette: "Hehehe."
Melina: "Blushes… thank you…"
Fiona took a sip of the green tea.
Fiona: "Oh… it's not that bitter. Did you put sugar in it?"
Melina: "No, that would be unhealthy. I used honey. Honey is the best way to make things sweet and still healthy."
Fiona: "I see."
Cossette: "You really know a lot about cooking, Melina. But you're a noble."
Melina: "Hehe… I was a noble. After my parents died, the Ivanov family cast me out. Then Margherita took me in."
Cossette: "Why were they so mean?"
Melina: "They said I wasn't fit for the Ivanov family. My relatives hated Papa and Mama because they helped the poor. It caused financial loss for the family and ruined some of their plans."
Fiona: "I understand."
Melina: "Oh… you're eating fast. Alright… here…"
She handed her the plate with the meatballs.
Melina: "They're chicken meatballs. There's cheese inside. Cheese isn't unhealthy as long as you don't eat too much."
Fiona: "Hm."
She took one, blew on it, and ate it.
Fiona: "Mmm…"
The cheese melted out. Fiona turned slightly red.
Melina: "Hehe… you're red. That happens when you eat melted cheese."
Fiona: "It's… delicious."
Melina: "I'm really glad."
Fiona: "Hmm… what about you two? Aren't you eating?"
Melina: "Oh… I have to clean the dishes and tidy up. It's a hotel after all. I don't want the maids to put in unnecessary effort."
Fiona: "It's impressive how much you think about others. You're really warm hearted. Keep that up and you'll be a wonderful mother."
Melina: "Huh… blushes… um… okay…"
Cossette: "And me?"
Fiona: "You, young lady, we need to talk. Why did you read that book Fairy Tales in a Perverted Way? It's for adults."
Cossette: "I was bored and saw it had pictures."
Fiona: "Oh… wait…"
Melina: "Did you just say pictures?"
Cossette: "Yes."
Fiona: "Give it to me."
She handed it over. Fiona opened it.
Fiona: "Nughhh…"
She shut it quickly. not need explanation what happend it something Pervert
Cossette: "Fiona… question. Is the woman in the picture in pain because she's screaming?"
Fiona: "Cossette… please just forget everything you saw."
Cossette: "Why?
Fiona: "Topic change."
Melina: "Cossette… I'm glad you're with Fiona now so she can teach you that things like that are not for children. That's something you only do with your partner."
Fiona: "Alright, you two, stop. I'm going to have a heart attack. Melina, take that book and when Remy comes back, throw it at his head. You have my permission."
Melina: "Okay."
The door opened.
Remy: "Hello."
Crash.
The book hit him straight in the face.
Melina: "Oh…"
Fiona: (Sweatdrop.)
He fell to the floor, eyes white.
Melina: "That might have been too strong."
Fiona: "I hope he's not dead. Actually, you know what, if he is, it might be better. Then families won't have to worry about their daughters anymore."
Remy: "Ugh…"
He stood up.
Remy: "That's a terrible greeting. Even wilder than my ex."
Fiona: "Which one? You dated half of Roselande."
Remy: "It was only thirty women."
Fiona: "Change of topic. Children are here."
Remy: "Why did you throw that at me, Melina?"
Fiona: "Because you gave me that perverted fairy tale book. Is it not just a normal book but an erotic one?"
Remy: "Indeed. Someone gave it to me when I was a child. I wanted to traumatize you the same way I was."
Fiona: "If Cossette or Melina turn out like you, I'll kill you."
Melina: "What? I would never… only with my partner after marriage."
Remy: "Boring. Marriage is overrated."
Fiona: "Your haircut is overrated."
Remy: "Sweats… you must be feeling better. The more you insult someone, the healthier you are."
Fiona: "What do you want? I need to rest and resting is very difficult when you're here."
Remy: "Hey… I just wanted to check on you."
Meanwhile
Cinderella: "Hah… hah… who would have thought my brother still has a daughter… and that she is so strong…"
Zantanel: "What a disappointment. You're supposed to be the Princess of Curses? Don't make me laugh."
Cinderella: "Ghh… you can talk easily. You are the Daughter of Death and carry the Death Curse just like my brother."
Zantanel: "Ah… I see. So my father has the same curse. How interesting."
Cinderella: "What do you want from me?"
Zantanel: "I want to kill you and then eat your kidney."
Cinderella: "Ugh."
Zantanel: "Everyone in the Death family has one important organ, correct? The Dark Bride, her most important organ is her intestines. Cinderella, the kidney. Konren, the spine. Rumpelstiltskin, unpleasant but it is the ears, or rather the eardrums. Is that not so?"
Cinderella: "You want to eat my kidney to gain my powers?"
Zantanel: "Correct."
Cinderella: "Don't flatter yourself. You may be half dead, but you are half human as well."
Blood flowed out of Cinderella and formed into a weapon.
Cinderella: "You misunderstood something. Yes, those organs are important. But there are exceptions. With the Dark Bride, you must eat her intestines to gain her power. She may not be the strongest in raw power, but in regeneration and curses she is formidable. Her blood is dangerous. While mine only becomes a weapon, her blood heals her quickly. And she also has her beast, Henry."
Zantanel: "Hmm."
Cinderella: "Well, she does not have him yet. If you want to kill her, I suggest you try before she gets him back."
Meanwhile
Lilly: "Since my big sister has awakened, I suppose I must awaken you as well, my beast. Let us play Beauty and the Beast again."
She held the glass and let it melt.
Splop. Crash.
Henry: "... Lilly."
Lilly: "Finally I have you back. Hehehe… my beast and soulmate."
Meanwhile
Zantanel: "Hmm."
Cinderella: "Won't you attack?"
Zantanel: "Forget it. I cannot fight like this."
Cinderella: "Then I will begin."
She attacked, but Zantanel dodged easily and stretched out her hand.
Cinderella: "Huh."
The hand had a face and a mouth. She jumped back.
Cinderella: "Disgusting."
Zantanel: "Well dodged."
Crash.
She destroyed the house.
A civilian screamed for help. Zantanel grabbed his spine. He screamed and transformed into a massive sword.
Zantanel: "Come on."
Cinderella thought she must be careful. The Dark Umbrella had stolen half her power. She had fled too hastily. She decided to retreat for now.
Suddenly, people wearing strange masks appeared behind Zantanel. The masks resembled those of the artist Philipp Jackson, but they were white or purple instead of bronze.
Zantanel: "Take care of her."
Cinderella: "What are those monsters?"
Zantanel: "My spirits. Observador del Cementerio. Cemetery watchers. Harbingers of misfortune."
They attacked. Cinderella grinned and pointed at them.
Cinderella: "Curse magic… Gluttony."
Multiple mouths appeared and lunged at them, but the creatures destroyed the curses.
Cinderella was injured.
Cinderella: "Rorrr… this time I will not underestimate her. Only when I regain half my power will I kill her."
She transformed into a hyena and ran.
Zantanel: "Follow her."
Back to Cossette, Melina, and Fiona
Fiona: "Hey Melina, thank you for the food. Could you hand me that book over there? It says Vanitas and the Black Hole."
Melina: "Here."
Fiona took it.
Fiona: "Thank you. Come here, you two. Sit next to me."
Melina: "Huh?"
Cossette: "Oh."
Fiona: "Oh sorry, I forgot. I might infect you."
Cossette: "Hehe… we already spread it."
They sat beside her and clung to her.
Cossette: "Hehehe."
Melina: "Hmm."
Fiona: "Alright."
Cossette: "What kind of book is that?"
Fiona: "It is about the black hole and the famous stargazer Vanitas. He was also a scientist, philosopher, and mage."
She opened the book. On the first page was an illustration of the black hole.
Fiona: "That is the black hole. He painted it very well. He must have been talented at art too. I want to see if he truly knew so much about the stars. What do you think? Shall we read it together?"
Cossette: "Gladly."
Melina: "Of course."
Fiona: "Should I read out loud?"
Melina: "No… we just want to be near you. Read quietly."
Fiona: "Alright. I will read softly. If you need anything, tell me."
She began reading.
Vanitas: "I have seen the black hole. It is unbelievable. I had never seen anything like it in my life. I had heard of it but thought it nothing more than a silly legend like the tooth fairy. But no. I saw it and it is dreadful and magnificent at the same time. I do not know how it happens. Is it merely a natural phenomenon or is someone behind it? Is it Death? That cannot be. Even in the days of the Sentinels when they were powerful, it appeared, just as the Namesis did. The crucial question is what connects the black hole and the Namesis. The Namesis are beings that emerge through a rift in the world. They are said to be creatures from the Abyss, but in truth they arise from negative emotions, curses, catastrophes. Perhaps the black hole attracts them. Is the black hole truly a natural event? I must know, whether it is natural or whether Death or the Sentinels stand behind it. It could save lives."
Next page
Vanitas: "I began observing the stars and discovered something. Stars, in theory, are like humans, elves, demis, and stellar beings. They live and they die. That is nature. But when stars die, what happens exactly? They do not simply vanish. They explode with tremendous force. Galileo the mage once said the stars are more dangerous than we believe. What if he was right? The Sentinels called him mad, but they were liars and nobles who wanted all attention for themselves. They had gray wings and claimed to be the strongest, yet even they had no chance against the Death family. Could the Death family be involved? Death itself originates from a curse of the Abyss. Rudeus was cursed as a child. Many believe his strength comes from an Abyssal curse and I think it may be true. Galileo may have seemed strange, but perhaps he was not insane. Near Regulus lie Ceres and Sirius, dimensions within Grimmhoth. The Abyss is more like an underworld. I am certain that with what Galileo discovered about the stars, I can uncover the truth. Most of his works were banned. I must obtain them somehow, perhaps through the black market. It is forbidden, but I will do it for knowledge and perhaps to save people. This black hole may be far more dangerous than I feared."