38 A Girl's Determination

While Arthur focuses on training, Aria finds herself in a difficult situation to answer Margaret's question. She could honestly tell her that it will be very difficult for her, with a common lineage and without an Astral beast at 19 years old, to cultivate, as she would not achieve much. 

Such challenges are not just because of the limitations of her bloodline but also the fact that she would need many rare resources in order to build a stable Foundation, as just a bottle of the oil that Aria used to clean Arthur's Astral Veins costs more than Margaret's families' yearly earnings from selling farm products.

And that's just the tip of the problem since Margaret would also need an experienced Master who could teach her good cultivation techniques…

However, to say such things would hurt and demoralize Margaret, something Aria does not want to do.

"Cultivating..." She looks at the young lady with curious eyes. "Why do you want to cultivate?"

"To get stronger," Margaret gives the most obvious answer, but Aria is not convinced. 

"Why get stronger now? You grew up in this peaceful village, protected from all harm... isn't it easier to just continue like this? Maybe just find a good husband who can take care of you?"

Margaret makes a sad expression. "That's what my parents tell me every day since I can remember..."

"You have to find a good noble to serve, a man who will take care of you, protect you from all dangers..." She imitates her mother's tone mockingly.

Then she looks at Aria with bright eyes of resolution. "I don't want that shit! I don't want to be dependent on some random disgusting nobleman, and I don't want to be with any other man besides Ar-" She stops, unsure if Aria would approve of her feelings for Arthur.

Aria continues to look at Margaret with a curious expression. "So, what do you really want?"

Margaret gathers the courage to be honest, following her intuition. "I want to serve your son."

"Hmm…" Aria raises one of her eyebrows, casting her penetrating gaze into Margaret's bright eyes. "Isn't that exactly what your mother told you to do?"

Margaret quickly shakes her head. "I wasn't clear enough; I don't want to serve him as some maid just for his status, I want to be with him, by his side, as a strong and independent woman; I want to help him, be useful to him, and take care of his needs…"

Aria can see that Margaret's feelings for Arthur are very strong, but she still wants to test the girl's determination.

"Don't you feel this way because he looks like a nobleman from a rich family?" She asks.

"No!" Margaret quickly denies it. "I confess that I noticed him the first time because of his looks… he is so handsome and strong…" She blushes and tries to focus again. "That was more than four years ago when I noticed that he was different from the other boys, but not just because he is taller and stronger than them…"

Her eyes shine with affection. "But it's also because he's always been kind to me, never casts disgusting lascivious glances at my body like other boys…He is good to me, and that's why I know he is the right man for me; my heart knows he is the best, and I love him for that!" She speaks with determination.

Aria sighs. She can't help but feel a little envious of Margaret for feeling that way; after all, Aria never felt such feelings for a man, even for Draven who tried his best. It was him who insisted they start a family, and she accepted because she really wanted one.

Seeing the strange expression on Aria's face, Margaret fears she will be rejected.

"Look, lady Aria, I'm not stupid," She speaks in a respectful and humble tone. "I know I'm not good enough to be his wife, but I can persist to be useful to him. In the last three years, all I have done was improve my cooking skills to be able to cook for him, and I think I'm doing a good job now. If you give me an opportunity to cultivate, I can prove that I can get stronger for him, even if it requires everything from me!" Margaret speaks candidly, showing that she is not blind to the matters of status.

'Three years training to cook…' Aria is surprised to hear that. "So that's why you cook so well… only for him?"

Margaret nods. "Yes, I can do anything for him… and I just want to be in his life."

Aria is truly impressed with Margaret's feelings, as is Nyx, who is listening to the whole conversation from Arthur's Nexus.

"I see…" Aria thinks about many things; as Arthur's mother, she wants the best for him, and even if the idea bothers her a little, him having multiple wives might not be so bad. However, those women would need to be the most remarkable and talented women in the world for Aria to consider letting them get close to her beloved son.

'Margaret shouldn't fit into such requirements due to her humble origin…' Aria can't help but think that way. 'But maybe she can make up for the lack of talent with her solid determination and devotion to Arthur…'

'I guess so,' Aria has a good feeling about Margaret and chooses to follow her intuition.

"Okay, little girl." She smiles warmly. "I'll be your Master and teach you how to cultivate."

"Really!?" Margaret has tried hard to make her determination clear, but hearing a positive answer is still a happy surprise.

"Easy, girl," Aria pats Margaret's head. "This doesn't mean you're entering the family, just that I'm going to help you get stronger, but as far as your relationship with Arthur goes... well, that's between you and him."

Margaret feels as if she has won Aria's blessing, so she gets very excited and starts jumping for joy. "This is incredible!! I won't disappoint you, I swear!!" She exclaims loud enough even for Arthur to hear. He casts a curious glance at the two, and Aria quickly exclaims. "Keep training! We're just talking."

While Arthur goes back to focusing on his training, Aria pulls Margaret to the corner of the yard and speaks more quietly.

"Before I accept you as my apprentice, there are conditions," She says in a serious tone.

"Mm!" Margaret nods with an attentive expression.

"First," Aria shows a finger. "You have to teach me your cooking tricks."

"Oh," Margaret is surprised by such a request and quickly nods. "If this one's humble skills can be useful to you, then this one-"

"Cut the crap," Aria speaks in a friendly tone as she smacks her head. "You don't need to act humble with me; I can see through you, girl."

Margaret casts an apologetic smile at Aria, while biting her little tongue in embarrassment "Got it, I'll do my best." 

"Good," Aria smiles.

Then she shows two fingers. "Second, and listen carefully, as this is very important... you have to contain your advances on my son."

"What??" Margaret is taken by surprise again and tries to feign innocence with a confused expression.

"Don't look at me like that, girl. I already said I can see through your games," Aria says confidently. "I see every time you cast seductive glances at him, and I also know that you did something naughty in the kitchen, right next to me!"

'Damn!' Margaret starts to realize that Aria can be very observant.

Before she can apologize, Aria continues. "I really don't want to get involved in your relationship, but Arthur is at a complicated age for boys... if you keep teasing him, he might end up eating you."

"..." Margaret has been dreaming about that moment for three years; it is literally her fantasy every night before falling asleep. Aria sees the cute girl biting her lip, and that irritates her even more.

"I'm serious, Margaret," she says and casts a severe look at the girl. "I asked Arthur to wait until he turns fifteen before entering his adult life."

"I understand; I mean it!" Margaret nods several times, like an obedient puppy. "I won't do anything bold, I promise."

Aria sighs, but she can't really feel relieved because she knows how Arthur is becoming more and more interested in sexual things. She can't stop her mind from imagining how it will be when Nyx and Margaret taste his big dragon, and then the two will spend all day begging him for it…

'Shit!! Why is this so painful?!?' She grits her teeth in frustration, then shakes her head to get these thoughts out of her mind.

Aria turns her attention back to Margaret as the girl seems about to explode with so much happiness. Then she shows three fingers. "There's one more thing: I won't try to stop you from showing him your devotion, but his decision is the final one; that is, if he accepts you, it's fine, but if not, you'll have to stop pursuing him."

Margaret nods again, but to stop trying to get Arthur's affection is something she couldn't do no matter how she tried. She remembers the conversation they had on the night of his birthday party, and a question arises in her mind.

"He already has someone, doesn't he?" She asks.

Aria nods. "That's also something you'll have to resolve with him; I have nothing to do with it."

She is happy that the possible conflict between Nyx and Margaret is Arthur's problem, but in her heart, she also knows that she won't be able to avoid trying to help him if he needs help with that.

"I understand," Margaret nods. "I will do everything right; I don't want to create problems; just be part of Arthur's life an-"

"And take care of him," Aria completes the words that Margaret begins to repeat. "I got it, but from now on, you have to obey your Master!"

"Yes, Master!" Margaret bows respectfully.

Aria can't resist the urge to laugh and strokes Margaret's hair. "Good girl, maybe you can achieve your dreams if your determination is as strong as it seems."

"I won't disappoint you, Master!" She says again, and can't stop her eyes from glancing at Arthur. Aria knows that having Margaret around will greatly decrease the chances of Arthur waiting until his next birthday before starting to do sexual things, but the end result might be worth it if Margaret is one of his wives.

"Do you want to tell him the good news?" She asks.

"I do!" Margaret quickly responds, her eyes shining beautifully.

"Then do it," Aria urges her as she pushes her from behind, with a warm smile on her face.

Margaret doesn't think twice; her body just acts, and she runs towards Arthur.

"Arthur!!!" She yells and jumps on him, unable to contain her happiness. He barely has time to fear Nyx's reaction because he's worried that Margaret will fall on the ground and hurt herself, even if she falls on the grass.

His body simply reacts, and he catches her in his arms before they both roll on the lawn.

"Margaret???" He is confused because he didn't hear her conversation with Aria like Nyx did.

"Your mother… she…" Margaret is so happy that she doesn't even try to kiss Arthur this time, simply hugging him tightly. "She's going to be my Master!!!"