Re:Crafting in Another World
Chapter 70: Lies of a mother

Chapter 70: Lies of a mother

The steam curled lazily from Cassandra’s teacup, tracing invisible patterns in the air before fading into nothingness. She sat on the edge of the velvet-cushioned chair, legs crossed with poise—but her hand trembled slightly as she brought the porcelain rim to her lips.

Across from her, Christina squinted. Not the casual squint of someone fighting sunlight through a window, but the focused, narrowed gaze of a young woman who smelled something off.

"Mother," she said flatly, her voice cutting through the room like a blade. "What is going on here?"

Cassandra blinked, lowering her teacup halfway. "Whatever do you mean, dear?"

Christina leaned forward, her fingers clasped together tightly in her lap. "Don’t try to fool me, mother. I’m asking where Baron is. And who is that merchant boy you sent Padre Osmund to tend to?"

There was a pause. A beat too long. Cassandra sipped her tea to buy time, then set it down with an almost imperceptible sigh.

"As I said before... he’s a very important merchant," she answered softly.

Christina’s lips pressed into a firm line, and she said nothing. The silence spoke volumes.

Cassandra looked away, unable to meet her daughter’s eyes. I hate this, she thought, her chest tightening. Lying to strangers is simple. Lying to your own flesh and blood? That’s something else entirely.

But the truth—Shennong’s presence, his wounds, the truth behind his "merchant" identity—it would cause too much trouble. Questions would spiral out of control. The court would ask. If the fact that she is having a realtionship with Shennong leak, she knew other nobels would pry. And the he would be arrested and Cassandra would be...she couldn’t even imagine what would happen to her.

Cassandra straightened up and cleared her throat. "As for your father, well... Lord Jamie has chosen to seclude himself. He doesn’t want visitors and has locked himself in his study. Only comes out for business meetings or meals. Even I don’t know what’s going on with him."

Christina frowned. "You’re not curious?"

"No," Cassandra said bluntly. "I prefer not to interfere with his work, after all...he would be angry if I do so."

At that, Romina, seated beside Cassandra with a perfectly serene expression, took a delicate sip of her tea. Her posture was the image of composure, like she belonged in this room, in this noble estate, though her plain dress told another story entirely.

Christina’s eyes snapped to her. "And who is she?"

Cassandra stiffened, glancing at Romina with a momentary flicker of uncertainty. Her lips parted—but nothing came. No answer formed on her tongue. Why is this so hard? she wondered. She’s just a friend of Shennong, nothing more. Why does it feel like I’m covering up a crime?

Before Cassandra could form words, Romina gently lowered her cup and spoke in a calm, lilting voice.

"I’m the younger sister of the merchant," she said. "The one injured."

Christina narrowed her eyes. "And what is the younger sister of a merchant doing here?"

Romina offered a small smile. "We were invited, Lady Christina. Lady Cassandra asked us to visit this barony to promote the success of the new mining process she helped to improve the overall quality. My brother and I are among those merchants who helped finance the effort."

Cassandra nodded along quickly, as if to validate Romina’s claims. "Yes, that’s right. They’ve been very helpful. Trusted allies."

Christina didn’t respond immediately. She looked from her mother to Romina and back again, suspicion plain on her face. Her gaze lingered a moment longer on her mother’s shaking hand and Romina’s serene one but that serenity didn’t remain for long, as Christina’s next words caught Romina out of guard.

"Do I know you? I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before... maybe at the academy... or perhaps in the capital," Christina muttered, holding her head. Romina coughed on the tea she was drinking and looked at Christina with wide eyes.

"Huh...? That’s impossible. I’ve never been to the capital or the Academy of Sturgon. I was never there," Romina began muttering in panic, realizing she had made a huge mistake by coming here.

Ever since she had been living with Shennong in the main room, she had forgotten how well-known she actually was, especially after losing contact with other humans following her time with Shennong.

More questions burned on Christina’s tongue—but before she could ask them, a sharp knock rang out on the oaken door.

Cassandra almost leapt from her seat. "Come in!" she called, grateful for the interruption.

The door creaked open, and in stepped Padre Osmund, clad in his dark vestments, his bald head shining under the faint light. His face was a mixture of confusion and concern, a deep frown carved into his features like time-worn stone.

"Lady Cassandra," he said with a short bow. "You summoned me."

"Yes, yes, Padre, come in. Please take a seat." Cassandra gestured eagerly to the open chair.

Padre Osmund nodded and sat stiffly, clasping his hands before him as though in prayer. "You wished to inquire about the patient?"

Cassandra nodded. "Yes, how is Shenn—" She caught herself mid-word, and Christina’s brow shot up instantly. "—I mean, how is the merchant faring?"

There was a flicker in Christina’s eyes. Something clicked.

The priest tilted his head. "Strangely well for someone who fell from a steep slope and was attacked by a wolf. The wounds are deep, but I have begun applying miracles and some holy water to aid his recovery."

"Miracles?" Christina echoed, crossing her arms.

Padre Osmund lifted his eyes to the ceiling, almost reverently. "Indeed. The healing light of the Almighty shall guide his body back to health. But as I always say—the power of faith is not just in the priest, but in the patient."

Cassandra’s smile thinned.

"If he is to truly recover," Padre continued, "he must open his heart to the embrace of the Creator. He must pray. He must believe. For the Lord works best through willing vessels."

Romina quickly hid her worried look behind her teacup, as she knew that was the last thing Shennong had.

Christina looked amused. "And what if he doesn’t believe? Do you not treat non-believers, Padre?"

"Then," Padre said gravely, "the healing shall be slow. The miracles weaker. For the Almighty does not force His grace upon the unfaithful. As much as I want to help everyone, my methods heavily relies on miracles."

Cassandra’s expression darkened. Of course. Of course this was coming.

She masked her frustration with a polite nod. "Thank you, Padre. You’ve done more than enough. Truly."

The priest inclined his head humbly. "The Lord works through me, Lady Cassandra. Not I alone."

As he continued speaking, Cassandra’s thoughts wandered. The Principality’s faith is everywhere—etched into walls, carved into policy, woven into the lives of its people. The Church of the Divine rules more than hearts. It rules courts, commands armies, decides fates.

She thought of the other, smaller faiths she’d once glimpsed—old gods from crumbling villages, whispered prayers over candlelight that had no place in the cathedrals of gold and marble. They were dying slowly, suffocated under robes and scripture. She wondered if Shennong followed one of those, or if he believed in nothing at all.

But knowing his origins with the succubi, Cassandra couldn’t help but wonder what would happen to her if the capital found out she was protecting a demon that most hunters would go crazy over—and a human who essentially had the power to overturn the balance of power of the Sturgon.

She muttered under her breath, "I’ll need to find another healer. this isn’t going to work."

Christina raised an eyebrow. "Did you say something, mother?"

Cassandra offered a tired smile. "Just thinking out loud."

Padre Osmund stood. "If that is all, I shall return to continue the prayers over our guest."

"Yes, Padre. Thank you," Cassandra said.

He bowed, and as he left, the room fell into a thick silence.

Christina looked at her mother one last time, then walked out without another word.

Only Cassandra and Romina remained.

Cassandra sat down again, head slightly lowered. "That could’ve gone better."

Romina refilled her cup and looked at Cassandra. "I think you should tell her the truth. It won’t do any good hiding it. Besides..." She paused for a moment, her thoughts drifting to Shennong. "He’ll make sure that girl accepts him. The only problem is... Baron."

Cassandra knew that despite everything, Jamie was still Christina’s father, and she still had some feelings for him. He had never accepted her or treated her the way she deserved to be loved, but still, the blood bond was there.

Christina had dark hair similar to Cassandra’s, though it was cut short in a bob style. Her eyes, however, were unmistakably those of Baron Jamie. She was a fairly tall girl, much like Cassandra, who stood at 5’8". Yet she lacked the mature womanly charm—namely the impressive chest and bottom—that Cassandra had. Christina was still quite moderate in those areas, which added a unique charm to her appearance.

"Maybe I should. But I’m scared... what if she thinks I’m a harlot for finding happiness with another man, even though Jamie cheated on me first?" Cassandra muttered.

But Romina just smiled at her words. "Do you have so little trust in your daughter? As a woman, she will understand. Tell her the truth before she finds it out herself."

Leaving those words with Cassandra, Romina walked away, determined never to appear in front of Christina again—because deep down, she knew Christina might recognise her true identity if she hung around her for too long.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.