The SSS-rank Guide Doesn't Need Saving

A day had passed since the incident in the garden.

It was finally time for Aisha to be discharged from the hospital. The staff had wanted to keep her under observation longer after the chaos surrounding the berserk sentinel. But Aisha was determined to get out of there. So, after a full examination and getting a healthy result, the hospital finally let her go.

Daisy packed what little belongings Aisha had accumulated during her stay, chattering nervously about how wonderful the mansion the Novalis family lived in was. Remembering that Aisha lost her memories, Daisy took it as her responsibility to remind her.

Aisha only half-listened, her attention fixed on her tiny spiritual beast.

When it was finally time to leave, Aisha and Daisy went to the hospital lobby.

At the hospital’s front entrance, a black hover car was parked; its sleek frame gleamed under the daylight. Beside it stood a middle-aged woman dressed immaculately in a tailored coat. Her posture was straight and rigid, with a stern expression.

It was Aisha Novalis’s mother.

The moment she saw Aisha, no warmth appeared in her eyes. She watched her approach with an icy look, nothing that resembled what a mother should feel seeing her child released from the hospital. Not even a word of comfort or gentle coaxing.

"Get in." She turned before Aisha could speak to her. "I don’t have all day to waste here. I only came here to get you because Irene begged me to since she was worried about you."

They did not exchange a single greeting. Her mother’s dismissive attitude made it only clear where Aisha’s standing in the family was now. Aisha Novalis would’ve cried and felt miserable for herself.

But Aisha only tilted her head, studying the woman with mild, detached curiosity, as though studying a stranger.

Erika Novalis, even with the passage of time, still possessed the beauty that made her renowned throughout the empire. She even got the former emperor hooked on her. But for fear of crossing the previous empress, her family decided to marry her off to a wealthy merchant.

It wasn’t easy for her. The previous emperor was determined to have her, and hearing that they were still not with child after years of marriage, he even thought of forcing her. Fortunately, she got pregnant before the emperor could have her.

After two sons, Erika desired to have a daughter, who not only possessed her beauty, but also someone she could treasure. Unfortunately, she didn’t have one even after many tries.

In the end, they got to adopt Aisha, a child whom the couple came across on the street of a lower sector where crime and contaminated zones ran rampant. She was picking up rotten food and lay beside a corpse, presumably her deceased mother.

However, what made Erika decide to take her as a daughter was not out of pity for an unfortunate child. Rather, that beautiful pair of mist-eyes and face that reminded her of her younger days.

And the same pair of eyes was now staring at her with quiet indifference, the same way one would look at an object without a label on.

"Why are you still in a daze?" Erika knew she was being harsh on her. One of her sons even reminded her to be gentle with Aisha, who had just been released from the hospital.

But the actions Aisha had done in the past weren’t easy for her to forget. Especially her constantly making trouble for her youngest daughter.

Just thinking of what would happen in the future was giving her a headache. Besides, if Aisha finds out that Prince Soren has been courting Irene, who knows what she might do.

Remembering what her son told her, she softened her tone, "Aisha, I know you’re still unable to accept the annulment of your engagement with Prince Soren, but there are some actions you shouldn’t make. You’re still young, so you must not understand—"

"I understand," Aisha interrupted. "The engagement between me and the prince was made by our grandparents. If the prince wants to annul it, then annul it."

Her words made the things her mother wanted to say become stuck in her mouth.

"Do—do you really think that way?"

"Of course."

Seeing her calm countenance, Erika was relieved. Although she was still doubting Aisha’s sincerity, she dropped the topic.

What she didn’t know was that Aisha really had no problem with annulling her engagement with the prince. If she had, she wouldn’t have signed that day.

But Aisha did not reveal that Prince Soren came and made her sign their annulment papers. No one can know for now.

Thinking about the 25 million in her account, still unspent, Aisha felt satisfied once again.

She’d have to think carefully about what to spend her money on.

Erika hesitated, then cautiously asked, "And... your room. Can you stay in another for now?"

"Hm?" Aisha blinked, turning to look at her. "What happened?"

They didn’t share a room as far as she could remember from Aisha Novalis’s memories. In fact, they lived in a huge mansion bought with the money their father earned from being a stellar merchant. So, there should be a couple of vacant rooms. Why take hers instead?

"Since that inci... that night, we thought your room might have been contaminated with negative energy. Your father and I have decided to tear it down."

"On whose idea was it?" Aisha asked in return, her expression still the same gentleness that made her mother wonder if this was the person who had been so adamant and troublesome to deal with before.

Erika blinked and opened her mouth to say it was their united decision to do it, as her parents. But then, something inside her coaxed the answer forward.

"It was Irene," she said, dazed. Then she snapped out of it, adding as an explanation, "She said she read it in a book at the academy that a person’s mind might become influenced by their environment. She thought your room was depressing and filled with negative energy. When we heard that, we decided to tear your room down and turn it into something else."

Aisha quietly stared at her, patiently listening to her mother’s words until she finished.

"You don’t mind it, right?" Erika smiled at her daughter. "Instead, I’ll let you pick what room you want to stay in from now on."

"Sure," Aisha nodded, smiling back at her. "As long as you’re happy, Mom."

Erika breathed a sigh of relief.

For some unknown reason, her harshness evaporated, replaced by something softer and gentle affection towards Aisha.

When the hover car flew up, Erika heard Aisha add, "You’ll promise I can take whichever room I want."

Erika’s eyebrows twitched, but the refusal at the tip of her tongue disappeared.

"Alright," she agreed. "I promise."