Kazien froze in place. His sapphire blue eyes stared at the figure of the woman before him with a new perspective. He tried to process the information that had just exploded in his ears.
Aunt...? This terrifying woman is Father's younger sister? Kazien thought, his brain spinning fast connecting dots that had been separated all this time.
No wonder. No wonder the magical energy radiating from this woman feels so familiar. The bone-chilling cold, the ice particles forming in the air without a spell, and the mana pressure that is so dense. All of it is identical to my father's power. It's no surprise that this woman can use high-level ice magic as easily as flipping her hand.
However, another big question arose in Kazien's mind. Why did Father never say anything about her?
During his fourteen years of life, Kazien had never heard the name 'Elisa' mentioned in the main family tree at the Duke's residence. Was there a past conflict? Or did this woman deliberately erase her tracks from the family history? Kazien felt like a child who had just discovered his parents' secret box.
Kazien's daydream shattered instantly as the cold air around his neck intensified. Elisa was not done with him yet.
The woman folded her arms across her chest. Her sharp gaze seemed to pierce through to the bottom of Kazien's soul. In Elisa's eyes, Kazien was just a snot-nosed brat who happened to possess monstrous strength.
"Now answer me, Kazien!" Elisa's voice was low but full of dangerous emphasis. "Is what that Elf brat said true? Are you only interested in men?"
The question echoed, bouncing off the walls of the silent lobby.
Kazien gulped. Cold sweat trickled down his back again, this time not because of the crowd of fans, but because of pure fear.
In Kazien's eyes right now, Elisa did not look like a newfound aunt. The woman's image slowly overlapped with another figure Kazien feared most in the entire world: his Mother.
Yes, this intimidating aura was exactly the same. The way Elisa stared with narrowed eyes, the way she radiated cold air when she disapproved, and her tone of voice demanding absolute obedience. It was all Kazien's nightmare when he was being scolded by his mother.
Terrifying! She is absolutely terrifying! Kazien screamed internally. It's like seeing Mother in a rage!
Kazien's knees trembled slightly. Even though he was an S-Rank who could kill legendary monsters, deep down he was still a 14-year-old teenager afraid of being scolded by his elders. And the woman in front of him radiated a very strong "parental" energy.
Elisa moved her face slightly forward. "Why are you silent? Answer!"
Alvin, sensing his fiancé's fear, gripped Kazien's hand tightly. The warm touch from Alvin's hand gave a little strength to Kazien.
No, I must not back down! Kazien encouraged himself. Even though I'm only 14, I have chosen this path. Alvin is here with me. I have to say it! Come on! Be brave, Kazien! Say everything!
Kazien took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the cold air of the guild lobby. He straightened his back, staring straight into his aunt's purple eyes.
With one firm movement, Kazien nodded.
Elisa's reaction did not explode as feared. Instead, the woman widened her eyes for a moment, surprised by her nephew's honesty. The murderous aura that was so thick earlier slowly receded.
Elisa dropped her guarded stance and held her forehead with one hand, massaging her throbbing temples.
She was in deep shock. Knowing her nephew, still a teenager, already had a different sexual orientation, and on top of that, his partner was an Elf Prince.
"Good heavens..." Elisa sighed softly. "Does Elgard already know about the relationship between you two? Don't tell me you ran away from home because he opposed you?"
Kazien shook his head quickly. His confidence began to return.
"Father and Mother fully bless our relationship." Kazien answered firmly. "We were also officially engaged in Lazavis eight months ago. Even the King himself was the witness."
Hearing that, Elisa was speechless.
Elgard blessed it? And the King also participated as a witness?
Elisa's brain short-circuited for a moment. Her older brother, who used to be known as stiff, actually allowed his youngest son to get engaged to a male Elf prince at such an early age. The world had truly changed a lot since she left home.
Elisa finally sighed in resignation. She didn't want to discuss the details of this teenage romance anymore. Her head hurt enough already.
"Fine, do as you please." mumbled Elisa, waving her hand in the air. "I don't want to interfere in my brother's household affairs or your relationship."
The tense atmosphere melted away. However, whispers among the crowd of adventurers began to be heard again. Those who had been listening to this family drama from the beginning started to realize something big from the conversation earlier.
A senior adventurer dared to raise his hand hesitantly. "Excuse me... Master Elisa." he said softly. "Earlier you referred to Duke Elgard as your biological older brother... Does that mean you are also from the Altavis family?"
That question made Elisa flinch. She just realized that she had lost control due to her momentary emotions.
Damn! cursed Elisa internally. I let it slip.
She looked around. Dozens of pairs of eyes stared at her with overflowing curiosity. The secret she had guarded for decades in this capital collapsed in just five minutes because of Kazien and Alvin's arrival.
Elisa sighed again. It was no use crying over spilled milk.
"It seems I have acted carelessly and revealed my own identity." Elisa said calmly yet with authority.
She straightened her body, radiating the noble aura she had hidden all this time.
"Yes, you are right!" exclaimed Elisa loudly. "My real name is Elisalva Altavis!"
"WHAT?????"
The massive shout shook the guild's windows.
"Master Elisa is an Altavis?!"
"No wonder she is as strong as a monster!"
"So all this time we've been ruled by Duke Elgard's younger sister?!"
The guild went into an uproar again, even noisier than before. The fact that their fierce leader turned out to be a High Noble Daughter was news that would shake the entire capital.
Seeing the chaos, a vein on Elisa's temple popped.
"You don't need to make such a fuss!" snapped Elisa. Cold air spread again, silencing everyone's mouths instantly. "Right now I am just a Guild Master! Nothing has changed! Don't anyone dare treat me differently!"
The adventurers and guild staff immediately fell silent and nodded obediently.
Right at that moment of awkward silence, the staff room door opened. Emma, the receptionist, walked out hurriedly hugging a leather bag that looked heavy.
"Sorry for the long wait!" shouted Emma while walking towards the front desk. "The payment for the Silver Pholidota is ready!"
However, Emma's steps slowed. She realized something was strange.
It was very silent. And the atmosphere in the room felt heavy, as if the air had a different density. Emma looked around in confusion. She saw the pale faces of the adventurers, then looked at Kazien and Alvin standing silently, and finally saw her boss, Elisa, standing with her hands on her hips.
"Master Elisa, you are here too?" asked Emma innocently. "Then... why does the atmosphere here look so tense? Did something happen while I was counting the money?"
Elisa turned to Emma, her face flat and expressionless. She was too tired to lie.
"Nothing happened, Emma," answered Elisa casually. "I just told everyone here that I come from the Altavis family."
Emma blinked. Her brain processed the sentence literally.
"Oh... I see..." murmured Emma while placing the money bag on the table. "So, that's why the atmosphere here became tense like this? Makes sense though..."
Emma began to untie the money bag.
...
One second.
...
Two seconds.
...
Emma went silent for a moment. Her hand holding the bag string froze in the air. Her eyes, previously droopy, slowly widened until they nearly popped out. The information finally reached the logic center of her brain.
The Altavis family?
....
Master Elisa?
Emma raised her head slowly, staring at Elisa with horror.
"What?" Emma's voice squeaked small.
Then, with all her might, she screamed. "WHAT?! YOU SAID YOU COME FROM THE ALTAVIS FAMILY?!"
Emma's scream was so loud it echoed throughout the guild lobby. Emma took a step back, pointing at her own boss with trembling fingers from severe shock.
"S-So... Master is a member of a noble family?!"
Elisa's face turned beet red seeing her subordinate's excessive reaction. "No need to think about unnecessary things, Emma!" Elisa pointed at the pile of money on the table. "Finish your task immediately! Pay them!"
Elisa's snapping voice worked like an automatic reset button. And surprisingly, Emma immediately acted professional again as if nothing had ever happened.
Her body straightened instantly, her panicked face vanished replaced by a friendly smile typical of a receptionist, as if the scream earlier was just an illusion.
"Y-Yes, Master!" answered Emma with a polite tone that trembled slightly.
She turned to Kazien and Alvin, offering the money bag. "Kazien, Alvin, here is your payment. Please check the amount. Thank you for transacting with our guild."
Kazien and Alvin could only look at each other with amazed gazes. The mental fortitude of a receptionist in the capital was indeed extraordinary.