MTLNOVEL Chapter 237: Reunion?
"You broke one of our windows and engaged in inappropriate activities inside the building."
Mirage, resting his elbows on the table and interlocking his fingers, lowered his chin onto them, staring at her interrogatingly.
Lillian pulled against her collar, vividly remembering what had gone on yesterday. She felt a drop of sweat pour out from her cheek, running down it comically.
It wasn't even her fault, to begin with. Why was it that only she was here?
Lillian coughed into her fist.
"Okay. But why am I the only one here? Shouldn't Beatrice and Marionette be here too?"
Mirage blinked at her, nodding.
"Under normal circumstances, yes. However, due to Beatrice being part of the Student Council and being in charge of disciplinary work, she is exempt from being in trouble in related to this situation."
He then raised his other hand, waving it in a carefree attitude, "As for your girlfriend, which I assume you guys are, she was already dealt with by Beatrice. So, I don't need to do anything with her."
He shaped his hand into a fist, then popped out his index finger towards her.
"So, that just leaves you."
Lillian grumbled, placing her hands on her thighs as her fingers fidgeted at the unfairness.
She gave an exasperated sigh, pulling out her phone.
"Fine... How much to pay for the window?"
"Hm?" Mirage tilted her head before tapping his chin with a pondering expression. Then, he said:
"0 Semis."
"Huh? Zero?"
Lillian tilted her head as well. Except hers was one of confusion.
What was Mirage talking about? Were they not here to talk about payments towards the repair of the window?
Mirage, noticing her confusion, cleared it up:
"The Student Council President herself sorted out the costs. You should thank her the next time you see her."
Lillian widened her eyes. Beatrice took care of the expenses?
If she wasn't in Mirage's presence, she would've gotten onto her knees and prayed at the fact that she didn't need to pay.
"Then... can I leave now?"
Mirage stared at her silently, his smile widening a bit as he clicked his fingers.
The sound resounded and echoed inside the classroom as though it was surveying the interior and unveiling the secrets found within.
And.
It worked to unveil an illusion beside him that hid a person from underneath.
Lillian watched with a raised eyebrow as the illusion fell over the person like a thin blanket before widening her eyes. The person that Mirage was hiding beside him was someone familiar to her.
All too familiar.
"M-mom?"
Standing beside the illusory mage was a woman with light platinum blonde hair, yellow eyes, and a beautiful face that exuded maturity.
She stood at the height of about 5ft9 and wore a gorgeous blue dress that radiated a motherly aura about her.
It was her mother, Veronica Ker Arius.
Just as she was about to open her mouth to ask something—whatever noble impression her mother could have given was soon thrown out the window with what she did next.
"My baby~!"
Her mother dashed forward and leapt over the desk, pouncing straight towards Lillian, whose eyes threatened to pop out.
She quickly sat up to catch the woman, stumbling a bit against her chair and almost tripping over it.
After regaining her balance and watching her mother's feet meet the ground, she asked with clear surprise in her voice:
"M-mom!? What are you doing here—?!"
But she was interrupted again once she felt the woman's hands pulled against her cheek. She watched as her mother leaned in, scrutinising her face worriedly:
"Have you been okay? You haven't called in months... Are the people here treating you well? Have you eaten and drank properly?"
Lillian was bombarded with a multitude of questions, each ranging from her studies, health, and social life.
She was, of course, unable to answer all of these in such a small span of time between each question.
"O-okay! H-hold on! Could you please tell me why you are here?"
She flung her hands up flusteredly, causing the woman to stop in her barrage.
Her mother gave a small hum, staring at her with closed eyes. She then tilted her head, almost as though the answer was obvious.
"I came to spectate you playing in the tournament, of course. Was it fun? I think you had fun. You looked like you had fun."
Words flowed out of the woman's mouth, causing Lillian's head to spin at how much it was flooding into her ears. She eventually stopped her and said:
"S-spectate me? How did you know I was participating to begin with?"
Her mother tapped her chin, thinking.
"Well! Since it's only this time of year where they allow you into the realm under a ticket, I thought it would also be a good time to visit you!"
She smiled brightly, causing Lillian's face to imaginarily light up to reveal her crooked smile.
"Ah... I see... I'm glad..."
"Well you don't look awfully glad." Her mother pouted, placing her hands on her hips with an offended expression.
Lillian smiled wryly.
"Okay then... How about Dad and Victor? Are they here too?"
That was when her mother sighed, "Oh dear... those two are always holed up in their lab. Well, I suppose this time being reasonable considering your father was injured severely while working."
"Huh!? How?!" Lillian yelled, watching as her mother cupped her own cheek and began to recall what happened.
"Ah... I believe your brother went off to release one of the test subjects we had chained in our labs, under the reasoning that it would be funny."
She then shook her head tiredly.
"But because of that, your father was injured, and he is now grounded, much to his disbelief." She raised a hand to her mouth and giggled into it, "You should have seen his face when I told him he couldn't come see you. Your brother was rather devastated when I told him he can't."
Lillian blinked at her—her mind recalling a key trait about her brother.
Didn't he have a sister complex?