"But still…"

Duke Brandi looked unwilling when he replied to Rant Valo.

"Alright. I won't interfere anymore."

In the end, he sighed and gave up. He could understand where Rant Valo was coming from after all.

"Thank you, Father."

Veia thanked him with a smile on her face.

"...I wish I could have done more for you, my baby girl."

Duke Brandi shook his head as he looked at Veia. He had many regrets in this life, and Veia's disappearance was one of them. Now, he regretted that more and more the more he thought about the suffering she must have suffered.

"..."

Veia could only look at him in bitterness. If she said she wasn't upset that she wasn't protected well, she would have been lying.

"Father-in-law, I want to know what Veia's real name is."

Rant Valo said to him to relieve the sullen atmosphere.

"Her name is… Stella Cresa."

Duke Brandi revealed to them.

"M-My name is Stella… Stella Cresa."

Veia repeated Duke Brandi's words.

"What a beautiful name."

Rant Valo complimented from the side.

"Master, what do you prefer, Veia or Stella?"

Veia turned her head and asked Rant Valo.

"Hm? Veia of course. I'm used to it, and I'm the one to name you that."

Rant Valo replied to her.

"I see. Me too."

Veia looked at Rant Valo with misty eyes and smiled.

"V-Veia…"

Rant Valo was mesmerized seeing her face.

"Ehem."

Duke Brandi couldn't help but interrupt them. He didn't know what to feel seeing his daughter flirt with a man he doesn't know that well in front of him.

"S-Sorry…"

Rant Valo looked away awkwardly. Being seen by his father-in-law flirting with his daughter is very awkward.

"Father, why did you have to interrupt?"

Veia pouted as she looked at Duke Brandi.

"I don't feel well seeing my beloved daughter flirt in front of me."

Duke Brandi replied with a thick skin.

"Hmph."

Veia snorted and turned her head away, imitating Floriana Sabina.

"Anyways, Rant Valo, shall we discuss the marriage?"

Veia's mother interrupted them and asked.

"M-Marriage!?"

Rant Valo exclaimed in shock. He still had Zaria to come back to in the village. If possible, he would prefer it that he marry them all at the same time.

"Marriage…"

As for Veia, her eyes were unfocused as she imagined marrying her master. Such thoughts filled her with bliss.

"Why are you flustered? Isn't it the natural thing to do?"

Veia's mother eyed Rant Valo seriously.

"N-No. It's just that I still want to cultivate more before deciding on such a thing."

Rant Valo quickly thought up a response on the spot.

"I see. That indeed makes sense. Take your time then."

Veia's mother nodded her head in understanding after hearing Rant Valo's words.

"Thank you for your understanding."

Rant Valo thanked her respectfully. It would really be awkward if he had to reveal that he had to marry more girls.

"No problem. The both of you are still young."

Veia's mother smiled at them.

"Mother…"

Hearing the word 'young', Veia felt a pang in her heart. She knew that a long time must have passed from her disappearance before she was reborn back in the cave.

"Don't worry about me. Just live a fulfilling life."

Veia's mother said to her.

"Mother-!"

Veia stood up from her chair and ran to embrace her.

"There, there… Just be happy, and I'll be happy, Stella…"

Veia's mother rubbed her back as Veia embraced her tightly.

Duke Brandi's face twitched seeing them embrace each other. Ever since Veia arrived, she didn't go to embrace him. It was always his wife that she embraced.

"How long do you plan to stay?"

Duke Brandi turned to Rant Valo and asked.

"About a month, I guess?"

Rant Valo replied to him. They didn't have to go anywhere, so he didn't think that they were in a hurry to leave. He would rather have Veia enjoy her time with her family.

"A month… Why don't you live here? I'll even hand the dukedom to you."

Duke Brandi was unwilling to let his daughter leave his side after being away from her for centuries.

"Sorry, but I'm not interested in ruling a dukedom."

Rant Valo shook his head. He was just a villager who turned cultivator. He doesn't think that it will be fit for someone like him to rule a kingdom. He would probably just end up making many mistakes.

"Stella, why don't you remove this hood?"

Veia's mother asked her curiously. She had noticed that Veia had been wearing a black cloak, and she covered her head with its hood.

"I can't, Mother. The sun burns my skin."

Veia shook her head. She would much rather wear cute clothes in front of her master, but she just can't. It was only possible at nighttime.

"Oh, right. You're a demon now."

Veia's mother stroked Veia's hair lovingly. For her, it was like she was reliving the time when her daughter was still young and small.

"Mm. I can't do anything about it."

Veia nodded her head.

"You have someone who will trust you, right? That's enough. Even if you can't socialize with others. Just treasure the people around you now."

Veia's mother said to Veia.

"Mm. I understand, Mother."

Veia nodded her head just like a child.

"That's good. Alright, go back to your seat. Your 'Master' must be feeling pretty lonely without you by his side now."

Veia's mother teased her as she urged her to go back.

"M-Mother! That's so embarrassing."

Veia's face turned red.

"What? You aren't embarrassed calling him Master, right?"

Veia's mother looked at Veia with wide eyes.

"T-That's true, but still…"

Veia looked away, red-faced.

"Fufufu. Alright, alright. I won't tease you anymore."

Veia's mother reassured Veia with a smile on her face.

"Mm."

Veia stood up and returned to Rant Valo's side.

"Butler, order the chefs to prepare a banquet!"

Duke Brandin shouted towards the butler waiting on the side of the door.

"As per your orders, Duke Master."

The butler bowed his head and left.