「 I-I… 」
I’m making Anna Erica-san declare that she’s a slave to me in front of her parents whose thoughts are suspended.
No.
Not yet.
She hasn’t accepted it yet.
「 Stop. I changed my mind 」
I said.
We’re not yet there for the final push.
「 Let’s finish cleaning up first 」
I looked at the Anna couple.
「 Anyway, we have to persuade these people with the situation 」
「 I got this Yo-chan 」
Nei smiled.
「 We need to rationalize why Erica-san ran away from home using their knowledge 」
She smiled.
「 If you can give a convincing reason to a person, they’ll accept most of it 」
Then, she turned to Tsukiko.
「 Then, let’s start with the mother Tsukiko-san 」
「 Okay 」
Tsukiko replies.
Erica-san’s mother thinks that it’s actually her egg cell fertilized with the Grandfather’s sperm, and Takahata Youko-san’s the surrogate mother that gave birth to Erica-san.
Tsukiko stopped her time as soon as she made that confession.
「 I’ll resume her time 」
Tsukiko said.
「 Okay 」
As soon as Nei replied;
「 I’m sorry Erica. I’ve kept it secret from you all this time 」
The mother resumed her time.
「 But, even if Takahata-san’s the surrogate mother that gave birth to you, you’re still my daughter. It might be shocking that you’re not your Father’s child but your Grandfather’s, but, I love you from the bottom of my heart 」
She talks to her daughter desperately.
The mother doesn’t even know the truth…
She thinks that her egg is used to give birth to Anna Erica.
「 Please, keep it a secret to your father. He was waiting for you so eagerly, and he loves you Erica from the moment you were made. If he discovers that you’re not his daughter, he will be sad. It will hurt him. I don’t want him to be in pain 」
Anna Kenichirou-san’s got insecurities towards his late father.
If he discovers that his beloved daughter didn’t even come from his seed, who knows what will happen to him.
「 Erica, please 」
The mother bows her head to her daughter.
Erica-san’s stiff, looking confused.
「 That’s actually the reason why Erica-san ran away from home 」
Nei talks.
「 Anyone would be surprised if they discover that their real father isn’t their father but their grandfather 」
「 Indeed. I’m really sorry Erica. I intended to tell you about it. But, I just thought that it’s too early for you 」
It’s too young for her to know the truth about her birth. The mother thought that she might not be able to endure the shock.
「 The idea of Vitro fertilization and surrogate birth is too vivid for a young girl like her that she wasn’t feeling well. She just discovered that she was born from something that feels like a scientific experiment 」
Nei said.
「 Indeed. I can see why. But, Erica, I desired for your birth. No matter what method I use. Your father was with me, doing infertility treatments multiple times in clinics, tried out various methods, and yet, they all didn’t work, so you were the daughter we made with our very last efforts 」
「 Mother 」
Erica-san looked at her mother. She’s not her biological mother.
The woman in front of her who raised her for fourteen years isn’t blood-related to her.
She’s a daughter of her Grandfather and a woman named Takahata Youko.
However, this woman doesn’t know the truth.
「 Please. Keep it a secret to your father, Erica! 」
Hearing the mother say that, Erica only stares at her dumbfoundedly.
「 It’s okay. Erica-san will keep that secret too, right? 」
Nei told Erica-san with a smile.
「 If Erica-san can stay quiet about it, then we can all settle this peacefully! 」
「 Of course, we will stay quiet too 」
Momoko-neechan tells Erica-san.
The mother thinks that we’re talking about the secret that “Erica-san’s biological father isn’t her father”
However, Momoko-neechan points at the other secret.
The fact that the mother isn’t Erica-san’s biological mother.
「 Yeah, we promise the same. Nobody will talk about the conversation we had here. Ruriko and Shou-neechan too, right? 」
「 Yes, Onii-sama 」
「 I keep my word as the representative of Kouzuki SS 」
Michi and Sebastianus (Yamada Umeko-san) aren’t asked because they’re servants.
Servants follow their Masters.
As for Tsukiko…she’s hiding behind Nei, using her Miko power…
She’s erasing her presence to Erica-san and her mother.
The father is still suspended in this weird situation.
Exposing the secrets of their family with us surrounding them…
Erica-san and her mother accept that fact…
That’s all because Tsukiko uses her Miko power to loosen their thoughts.
She’s not pushing her power that strongly, just creating a space where they don’t notice the weirdness, and stop them from focusing on the odd stuff.
「 Then, Erica-san, you’re okay with that? 」
Nei makes double sure.
「 Yes, I understand 」
Having no choice, Erica-san replies with her small voice.
Erica-san doesn’t hate her parents.
Knowing that there was no ill will from not telling her the truth…
She doesn’t want her parents to worry.
「 Well then, as for the response we will give Erica-san’s father… 」
Nei proposed;
「 Since the father thinks that it’s his sperm and the wife’s egg fertilized to make the baby, let’s just summarize the reason that Erica-san ran away because she found out that she’s born from a surrogate mother 」
That’s…
「 That she’s born from a different womb. But, she’s shocked because her parents didn’t tell them. Let’s push it with that reasoning 」
「 Right… I think that’s the most suitable explanation for my husband 」
The mother said.
「 What about you Erica-san? 」
「 I don’t mind 」
Erica-san replies feebly.
「 Well then, Tsukiko-san, please unsuspend the father 」
「 Certainly 」
◇ ◇ ◇
「 I see. So that’s how it is. So, my daughter… 」
The father accepted Nei and his wife’s explanation.
「 Indeed. It must’ve been shocking for Erica to know about the surrogate mother 」
「 Kouzuki SS looked up Takahata Youko-san’s current home 」
Shou-neechan said.
「 Yes. My late father was in charge of everything until the time of Erica’s birth, and it’s been 14 years since then and neither my wife nor I thanked Takahata-san for being Erica’s surrogate mother. I want to bring Erica now that she’s grown up and say hi to her at least 」
The father says, but…
「 No, Erica-san probably want to meet Takahata-san alone, not with her father and mother 」
Nei said with a smile.
「 I mean, let’s look at it this way, Erica-san’s surrogate mother, Takahata Youko-san, is also her mother 」
「 Right…she did give birth to her 」
Momoko-neechan said.
「 Oh, it’s not like we’re blaming Erica-san’s mother at all! It’s just how Erica-san feels 」
「 No, I can understand what you’re trying to say 」
The mother looked at Erica-san.
「 Indeed. We’re indebted to her for giving birth to Erica. I can understand why Erica wants to meet her 」
「 Right. If that’s the case, we shouldn’t come with her. It will make it easier for Erica 」
The father said.
Tsukiko’s pressing them to feel that way.
「 We’ll arrange the meeting with Takahata-san 」
Shou-neechan told the couple.
「 Thank you, Seki-san. Also, Erica 」
The father looked at his daughter.
「 Anyway, I apologize for keeping secrets from you. It’s as you can see. I’m sorry. But, I told you everything that we need to tell you. So, please come back home Erica 」
「 That’s right, Erica. Say thanks to Kaan-sama, Kouzuki-sama, and Kuromori-sama, and come home 」
However, Erica-san…
「 U-Uhm, that… 」
To live with people who aren’t her real parents…
Erica-san is hesitating.
「 Erica-san is still in a state of confusion. Therefore, we’d shelter her in our home for tonight 」
Ruriko who’s been quiet all this time said.
「 But, won’t she cause trouble? 」
The father fears becoming indebted to the Kouzuki house.
「 Please do not mind it. Onii-sama, she’s okay, right? 」
「 Yeah, of course, 」
Erica-san will become my sex slave later.
「 It’s too late to say that she’s causing trouble. I believe that it’s better for Erica-san’s mental state to stay with Ruriko for tonight instead of returning home 」
Momoko-neechan said.
The father looked at his wife.
「 Then, shall we? 」
「 I agree. It might get worse if we force Erica to come home now 」
The mother looked at Erica-san worriedly.
「 By the way, Anna-san 」
I said.
「 Yes, what is it? 」
「 Shou-neechan…I mean, Seki-san told me that you need to sell some of the stocks that Erica-san inherited from her Grandfather because of your business, don’t you? 」
「 Yes, it is as you say 」
The father gives me a suspicious look.
「 So, could you not sell them to the stock market but to me instead? Of course, I don’t mind if the price is the same in the market 」
「 To you? 」
The father’s surprised.
「 Oh, although I say that, I’m talking about Kouzuki SS 」
「 Grandfather entrusted running the Kouzuki SS to Onii-sama 」
Ruriko explained.
「 Kouzuki Kakka gave Kouzuki SS to you? 」
That’s an unbelievable story.
Kouzuki SS specializes in security for the nobility and companies, and it’s also Kouzuki house’s private army.
It’s not something that a high-schooler like me should manage.
「 Of course, Shou-neechan, oh wait, it’s Seki-san, she’s the one managing the company, but… You know that I’m Misuzu’s fiance, right? 」
「 Of course 」
They’re the representative auditor specializing in large corporations, so he should be catching news when it comes to the latest information in the nobility.
「 Jii-chan, no, Kouzuki Kakka still wants me to learn how to manage the business. And then, well, in Kouzuki SS. Shou-nee-no, Seki-san is there as my overseer, and I can train myself without the various nobility watching over 」
I continue to make a story.
「 With that said, Jii-chan will get angry at me unless I make a profit using Kouzuki SS. So… 」
I look at the father.
「 I heard that the stocks in Erica-san’s possession that are about to be put in the market all belong to stable companies. Stocks that are valuable and have expected dividend 」
「 It is as you say 」
The father nods.
「 Those are stocks that you can’t expect to drop significantly. I can assert that 」
「 And if Kouzuki SS were to possess those stocks, then it will be a good thing 」
「 Indeed. Instead of saving up cash in the company, it’s better to own stocks instead 」
「 So, why don’t I…I mean, Kouzuki SS take it all? 」
The father thinks…
「 Well, that means that Kouzuki house will own it? 」
「 Indeed. It’s in the Kouzuki SS so it’s not the Kuromori house. Kouzuki SS will be the company owning it 」
Kuromori house is an underground company, but, Kouzuki house is on the surface.
「 That sounds good. If that’s the case, I’ll sell it to the Kouzuki house 」
Good
「 With that said, Shou-neechan 」
「 I know. I’ll take care of the rest 」
I don’t know much about stock trading and stuff.
「 Okay, that’s one thing cleaned up 」
I looked at Tsukiko.
「 Certainly 」
Tsukiko clapped her hands.
「 !! 」
「 Hauu!! 」
She used her Miko power to suspend the couple once again.
Their time is paused.
「 W-Why?! 」
Erica-san looked at me panicking.
「 Father and Mother are already… 」
「 Yeah, we’re already done talking to Anna Kenichirou and his wife. That’s good. But, we still have one more thing to finish 」
I said.
「 The lawyer of Erica-san’s late grandfather 」
Erica-san’s late grandfather gave out secret instructions in his will.
That is, for him to pretend to be managing Erica-san’s inheritance, and then send over Takahata Youko-san’s pension from the dividend coming from the stocks.
「 Oh, speaking of which, I recall that the lawyer’s already here, right? 」
Momoko-neechan recalled.
「 He’s already here, isn’t he? Shou-neechan 」
「 Yes, he’s standing by on the other room. 」
As expected of Shou-neechan
「 Well then, call him over here 」
「 Okay 」
Shou-neechan goes out of the room and instructed her subordinates.
This room doesn’t allow any reception to leak out, so…
She has to open the door, go outside, and give orders personally.
There’s an extension telephone, but since it’s inside the hotel, it could be intercepted.
「 Wait a second, is it okay to call him over here like this? 」
Momoko-neechan points at the couple whose thoughts are on pause.
「 If he sees these two in that state, he might misunderstand that we forced them to some drugs or something, right? 」
「 It’s okay, he won’t see it 」
I looked at Tsukiko.
「 Yes, Certainly 」
Tsukiko read the thoughts in my head and replied.
「 Oh, you’re going to use her power so he doesn’t see them 」
Momoko-neechan understood.
On the other hand, Erica-san’s looking at her parents, thinking.
「 Then, call him over 」
Shou-neechan opens the door to the corridor.