Chapter 0.51 Mother and Daughter II

The golden morning light filtered through the tall, obsidian-framed windows of the Rocchi estate, softening the edges of the night that had lingered in Rina Amberhart's thoughts. She stirred beneath the silk sheets, blinking slowly as the fragments of the previous night returned—fragments of scarlet eyes, of teasing words, of her own embarrassing reaction. *That idiot...* she muttered inwardly, face already flushing at the memory of Jin's smirk.

Still, something strange bloomed inside her chest—something warm and light and entirely unfamiliar.

She rose from bed, heading straight for the lavish marble-tiled bathroom. The hot water soothed her, steam curling around her as if to cocoon her from the whirlwind of thoughts. After her shower, she dried her fire-red hair, brushed it out with gentle precision, then slipped into the elegant outfit her maid had left for her. A hint of makeup followed—just enough to define her lashes and draw out the golden gleam in her eyes.

By the time she left her room, her heart beat with cautious excitement. *He's really going to the academy… with me.* She wasn't sure why that thought made her happy. But it did.

As she stepped into the hallway, her mother's door opened at the same time. Amelia Amberhart emerged in a floor-length wine-red robe, her long fiery hair cascading over her shoulders in soft, intimidating waves. Her golden eyes landed on her daughter with a sharp, assessing gaze—cool, commanding, yet proud in a way only a mother like Amelia could be.

"Good morning, Mother," Rina greeted, trying not to sound too cheerful.

Amelia arched a brow slightly. "Well, well. Someone seems unreasonably… happy this morning." Her tone was cold and firm, but the corner of her lips quirked up, amused. "Tell me, my dearest daughter—did something happen last night?"

Rina's steps faltered.

Amelia stopped, a glint of wicked curiosity in her eyes as she tilted her head and added with a deceptively sweet tone, "Wait, don't tell me… you did something *rioter* with Jin, didn't you? Oh Rina, sweetheart. At the very least, you could've informed me. I would've brought you some proper contraception. You didn't forget that part, did you?"

Rina froze.

Her entire face turned crimson. "W-What?! M-Mother! No! Of course not! We didn't—! I mean—! Why would you even say that?!" She waved her hands, stumbling over her words, her voice rising an octave with each syllable. "Nothing happened! And—And why do you always ruin everything?! I hate you!"

She pressed her hands over her face, utterly mortified, her ears burning as if they were on fire.

Amelia simply chuckled under her breath, finding herself far too entertained. "Oh come now, Rina. You're blushing far too much for someone who claims 'nothing happened.' I'm your mother. I can tell these things."

"I *hate* you," Rina hissed again from behind her palms, voice muffled and desperate.

"You already said that," Amelia replied, smirking with a devilish elegance only she could pull off. "But it warms my heart every time."

Rina groaned and turned away, storming down the hallway, her heels clicking with each step, hoping to escape the onslaught of embarrassment.

"Don't forget to bring protection *next time*, darling!" Amelia called after her, her voice echoing sweetly down the corridor.

"*Ughhhh!*" Rina's strangled scream of frustration rang through the halls as she fled, her pride shredded into tiny, golden, glittering pieces.

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