Before the start of the Smoke Fairy Festival party, there were some incidents.

"Turing." Oedipus appeared at the entrance of the venue, as if waiting specifically for Turing - but Turing knew it wasn't true, her mother wouldn't do this just for her. She was probably here for socializing... or just to give her some instructions for the competition.

"It's just to win, that's all." Turing pursed her lips, looking down at Oedipus with lowered eyes - Turing wished her bangs would cover her entire line of sight, so that her expression couldn't be seen through by her mother's penetrating gaze.

"What's wrong? You're late." Oedipus held her elbow with her left hand, quietly waiting for the pipe in her hand to burn out.

Oedipus didn't look at Turing, just gazed in the direction of the crowd, looking at the splendid and bustling venue with a light smile. Her eyes were like hollows, absorbing the brilliance not far away.

Her cascading red hair, neither as bright as blood nor as dim as flowers - from a distance, it seemed perfectly verdant and hazy.

"I want to talk to you about the Red Port incident and turn this page."

"While the result of this incident is good, the fact remains that you ran away from home while taking the opportunity to go sketching."

Oedipus held her long pipe, slowly smoking.

Turing, who hadn't smoked for a while, wrinkled her eyebrows as she caught a whiff of secondhand smoke.

"But it's a festival after all, I'll turn a blind eye."

"Consider it a bonus point for being a good kid... Now let's start counting from zero."

"And, your reputation at home is not insignificant now. The Smoke Fairy Festival is based on votes, with such achievements in the limelight, it must be almost guaranteed that you'll win the competition."

"That's one more point then."

"Do you have any wishes you want to fulfill? You can tell me in advance."

"A wish to fulfill?... How can mom help me with that?"

"Mom is not a god..."

Turing was disturbed by her thoughts about whether Merka would come or not.

"Nothing... I don't have any more. Mom." Turing sidestepped Oedipus, her floating steps revealing her uneasiness.

"Don't worry, Turing. The party hasn't officially started yet..." Unexpectedly, Oedipus gently reached out and held Turing's wrist. Although Oedipus didn't exert any force, it was more secure than the strongest handcuffs for Turing.

"Let's consider it as a celebration in advance for you. As a reward, let me give a good kid a hug, just like before." Oedipus spread open Turing's cloak with one hand, a pair of cunning eyes with black pearl-like pupils embedded in her eyes, capturing Turing's restless soul.

But...

"What if... what if Merka comes and doesn't find me and leaves immediately? What should I do?"

"I have to go early."

"Mom... let's forget about it."

"If I go to the party early, I can leave a good impression on people, right?" Turing calmly answered Oedipus' question, her composed attitude even causing Oedipus to be momentarily stunned.

"No, it's not possible... At least not now. Maybe next time, Mom." Turing exerted a slight force, freeing herself from Oedipus' grasp, and quickly walked into the venue.

"Hmm? Unconsciously, you have really grown up." Oedipus muttered, neither confirming nor denying it, and walked towards a reception counter next to the venue.

"Lord Ochia, greetings." "Wishing you a beautiful night, Lord Ochia."...

The diligent attendants who were working immediately stopped what they were doing and saluted Oedipus."Bring me a guest list of the participants of the evening party, I want to take a look," Oedipus said with a voice devoid of warmth, distant and overly perfect. For people he had no interest in, Oedipus didn't even bother to give his statements any inflection.

"Yes, as you wish," a few male servants retrieved a large notebook from the counter and presented it with both hands, handing it to Oedipus in front of them.

"Protocol professors, escorts for the girls, some noble ladies... hmm? And also Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of the Koshiba family," Oedipus extinguished the cigarette in his hand and put away the cigarette holder. With one hand supporting the wooden cover, he pointed with his finger at each name in the guest list and quietly recited their identities and backgrounds, as if he knew every single person mentioned.

"What's this?" Oedipus finally paused when he saw an unfamiliar name.

His gaze moved to the text written after the name, and Oedipus read it aloud with a puzzled expression.

"Agio family?"

"Is there someone named Merka in the Agio family?"

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Without suspense, Turing won. Not to mention the heroic deeds Turing performed in Red Port, just his exaggerated reputation as a perfect gentleman was enough to ensure his victory in the competition, based on what Turing initially possessed among the crowd.

Turing's beauty and bravery touched the heart of every man present at the ball.

[Except for Merka.]

Turing thought.

Although the pain of "heartbreak" made it almost impossible for Turing to continue with the following competition events.

But the inertia of thinking, which had been ingrained due to being controlled, manipulated Turing's body like the strings of a puppet, supporting Turing to persist until the end of the competition.

The imagined rosy life was gone, and Turing felt like life had suddenly lost its meaning.

What else could Turing think of?

To make matters worse, after the competition, Theresa came to pick them up in her car.

But she only took Oedipus and left Turing behind.

The mother Turing had always relied on had finally left.

Turing suddenly realized that it was because of his hesitation between two important aspects of life that he was abandoned by both sides.

A light gray sorrow shrouded Turing's world.

Tragedy slowly sprouted, nourished by the pain of devouring humans.

----------------------------------------------------

"Lady... By leaving the young master behind, he must be very saddened," Theresa drove the carriage in front of Oedipus while riding her horse.

If anyone else saw this, they would surely be shocked to see a titled archmage willingly acting as a coachman.

"Why, feeling sorry for him?" Oedipus' smile was as vast and astringent as the sea.

"In that case, this Laxiss City belongs to the Agio family, who are adept at those boring and intricate arts."

"Let Turing have some extra training."

"By the way..."

"Let me investigate Maria's background."