I Reincarnated into a Single-celled Organism! - Chapter 186

Mara’s eye fluttered open, and for a few moments, the pair of us were staring at each other. She looked down to see my hand resting on her chest. I was putting the last bit of energy into her, helping finalize her evolution. The energy flow had been extremely warm, smooth, and comfortable. Even in the middle of a lightning storm, Mara had remained completely asleep and didn’t even feel it. I felt a strange surge of contentment knowing that she had crossed this barrier unharmed.

I might not have even needed to go to this extent, but she had a mutation. A normal evolution from mortal to paragon shouldn’t have needed any lightning strikes. After all, what human could survive one, let alone five strikes of lightning? Of course, the paragons had their ways of reinforcing someone’s chance of survival, but they still involved pain and struggle I didn’t want Mara to go through that. Thankfully, my calculations were accurate. I looked down at her and smiled.

Her cheeks turned pink and she glanced away. “P-pervert!”

My mouth fell open, but then I heard someone clearing their throat and I quickly pulled my hand away and stood up. Behind me, Abigail was standing there with her arms crossed, a frown on her face.

“She has just been through an ordeal. You should let her rest,” Abigail declared.

I opened my mouth but then closed it. There was no point in explaining myself. What exactly did she think I was going to do? Mara was like a sister to me.

I coughed awkwardly. “She’s mutated. I believe it’s her magic.”

Abigail nodded. “A double magic mutation, that would explain it. Even Cousin Penny doesn’t have a double mutation. Her mana is already at the level of a high-tier evolved. By the time she reaches my level, she’ll have the magic of a flawless.”

I looked back down at Mara. “You should go get some sleep. Use the techniques Abigail showed you to absorb your energy and consolidate your evolution.”

She bit her lip, glancing over at Abigail before looking back at me. “Can you… please stay with me. J-just for tonight!”

“I don’t mind, but…” I looked back at Abigail, whose lips thinned a bit.

“Do as you want.” She finally sighed.

I nodded, reached down, and picked Mara up like a princess. She let out a small cry, her face turning a deeper shade of pink. Abigail watched as I carried Mara toward the manor, but her expression gave nothing away. I didn’t sneak in this time but allowed Abigail to escort me.

“Why did you have to leave earlier?” I asked a question I already had the answer to.

“We had guests from another family, the Strides wanted to try to trade for your technique. That woman, Tiffany, offered quite a bit. Even I was tempted by their offer. If I accepted, our money issues would be resolved for a time.”

For a time? That only meant there was a couple of months respite. I wasn’t so certain the offer was real anyway. Did Tiffany try to steal the technique because Abigail said no, or would she have tried to steal it because she never planned to honor the offer in the first place? Tiffany didn’t seem to have the authority in her family to make too large of a trade.

“Why didn’t you agree then?” I asked.

“The technique wasn’t mine to offer,” Abigail responded simply, but when I glanced at her she continued. “Even if I traded it to them, we’d have lost out. Her offer was only tempting to me. Had it been anyone else in my family, they would have laughed her out of the house.”

“I see…”

“You know, you can still present the technique to my family. You’d be able to become a fully supported member of the main branch. I’m sure our family head would hand me over with a bow on my head if they could get a hold of it.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What are your thoughts on that?”

She gave a little shrug. “I will be forced to marry someone eventually. I am engaged to you. Whether it is you or someone else, it all needs to happen eventually.”

I smirked. “Are you saying you wouldn’t be against following through with this marriage?”

She stiffened slightly. “I’m saying you’re no worse than my other options, which include my cousins.”

I chuckled. “Well, we’re here, uh…”

I looked down to see Mara had fallen asleep in my arms. Abigail looked at her, and I could see some affection in her eyes.

“She trusts you,” Abigail spoke absently.

“She’s known me her entire life,” I responded. “We’re family.”

“Family can’t always be trusted.” Her expression darkened slightly. “Everyone always has an agenda.”

“Do you think she has an agenda?” I asked, as I entered her room and laid Mara gently on her bed.

Abigail fought back and smiled, shaking her head. “I don’t… but what about you?”

“Me?” I cocked my head.

“What is it that you want? What is your agenda?”

I gave a weak smile. “I’m just some ordinary farmhand looking to change my lot in life.”

“I struggle to believe that.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know you well, but the one thing I know about you is that you’re certainly not ordinary.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I responded as I tucked Mara into bed.

“Spirit…” she muttered in her sleep, but she didn’t open her eyes.

I kissed her forehead and then left with Abigail. I followed my wife-to-be silently down the corridor, the cool night air gently disturbing her otherwise immaculate hair tied up in a bun. The only sound was the quiet creak of the floorboards after each step and the faint rustle of her silk gown brushing across the ground.

Abigail didn’t speak, walking forward with a dignified pace, her arms crossed, and her chin raised slightly. I let the silence stretch as we reached the backdoor leading out of her manor. The night was still young though, and I was a bit reluctant to leave just like that.

“You’re not going tell me more?” I asked, a grin forming on my lips. “About how extraordinary I am?”

She paused as if in thought. “You play the fool too well. It must be an act.”

I leaned against the doorframe, taking on a casual posture. “Maybe, I’m just a fool who gets lucky. After all, I’m engaged to a beauty like you.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”

“Is that a challenge?” My grin grew larger.

“Insolent,” she muttered, her cheeks flushing slightly.

“I’ve been called worse.” I reached out and gently lifted a loose strand of her hair, tucking it behind her ear. “You didn’t answer my question though.”

“I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“Isn’t that the same thing as saying luck is a kind of skill?”

She gave a dry laugh. “If luck is a skill, I would rather evolve that than any other status.”

“That’s the thing, you don’t need luck, you just need to find the person who has it and cling to them.”

“And who is that, you?” She snorted.

“Is that so wrong?” I asked, my voice slightly softer than I intended.

The amusement in her expression faltered for a moment, and she took a step back. “What are you suggesting?”

“All things considered, we’re already engaged. Perhaps, instead of working on two separate goals, it would be better to work on one united goal. In that way, my luck might start rubbing off on you.”

She studied me for a bit, her lips parted like she wanted to say something, but she ultimately didn’t. Instead, she looked away.

“You should go,” she said finally, quietly. “If anyone sees us.”

I nodded and stepped back. “Goodnight, Lady Capala.”

Her gaze met mine once more, a certain something flashing in her eyes. “Goodnight… Spirit.”

The pair of us walked separate ways. I made sure I didn’t look back, but my sentinels told me that she did. I disappeared into the darkness, the primary manor shrinking behind me. No matter what world I lived in, women were pretty much the same. It didn’t take a lot to appear mysterious and catch their interest. That was all I was doing. As for the reason? I supposed it was to help Mara. Why else would I pull out my best material?

The walk back to my estate was brief. The little mansion, with most of the renovations now finished, looked somewhat impressive where it was situated behind a grove of trees, standing with quiet dignity.

“Master, you finally returned!” Priscilla stood there at the door, her arms crossed and her brow arched.

“I got caught up,” I replied, stepping inside. “Had to rescue a damsel in distress. Two.”

“Hmph! You’re engaged to Madame! You shouldn’t be thinking of other girls,” she chastised.

I smirked as I stepped out of my boots. “Engaged isn’t married, you know.”

Priscilla huffed, tapping her foot. “You’re as good as married, although I don’t know what madame sees in you.”

Since Priscilla had moved into my mansion, she had become increasingly bolder and more comfortable in her speech.

“Jealous?” I asked, unbuttoning my coat and tossing it over a chair. “You sound like you wish you had me all to yourself.”

She sputtered, her cheeks flushing. “A-as if! I just don’t want you embarrassing the Capala household!”

I grinned, stepping closer, my voice dropping. “You’re always scolding me, Priscilla. That’s very wifely too.”

“Don’t say ridiculous things!” She looked away, her breath catching in her throat.

“Okay, how about this then – Take off your clothes.”

Her eyes widened. “Wh-what?”

“You’re my maid, aren’t you? I need a bath, and it’s your job to take care of me.”

She was stunned, backing away a few steps at a time. “I-I’ll draw your bath! I-if you so much as…”

“As what?” I called after her. “I just want my maid to pamper me a bit!”

She cursed at me a few times before fleeing the room. When it came to Priscilla, it was all for fun.