In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities-Chapter 279: Triumphant Return

The warmth in Alexa's voice and touch seemed to slowly penetrate Natalie's fear. Gradually, Natalie unwrapped the plate from her apron, her tense shoulders relaxing.

Looking down at the plate, tears welled in Natalie's eyes. She realized how much this small, simple object meant to her—a symbol of everything she had lost, of the life that had been taken from her, and of the peace she thought she'd never regain.

Alexa gently stroked Natalie's back, offering comfort. "Mother, there's no need to worry anymore. They said this was given to us freely. No one is going to take it away."

Natalie looked at Alexa, her doubt still lingering. But Alexa smiled and shrugged as if to say, "Why would I lie?"

"If this weren't true, how could we be living in such a beautiful home?" Alexa reasoned. "They said this house was built by magicians and magical beasts. That's why it's so sturdy and was finished so quickly."

A look of relief began to soften Natalie's face.

Natalie's trembling subsided, and the stiffness in her back began to ease. She swayed slightly as she hummed a familiar tune her mother used to sing to her long ago.

The melody was one Sergey and Alexa also recognized. Watching Natalie's transformation, they smiled quietly. The children, too, stood silently, their faces softening at the warmth of the moment.

For the first time in what felt like forever, the house was filled with sunlight and the gentle hum of Natalie's song.

When she finally stopped singing, Natalie stood slowly and walked toward one of the three rooms in the house. Opening the door, she stepped inside. The room was simple but cozy, with walls finished in warm wooden tones and curtains of white lace fluttering in the breeze.

On a small table sat a bouquet of dried lavender, filling the air with a subtle, calming fragrance.

Natalie paused in front of the bed at the center of the room. It was topped with a mattress stuffed with fresh straw and covered in crisp white linen.

With cautious steps, she approached and ran her hand over the soft blanket. After years of sleeping on hard floors or unyielding bunks, this bed felt like an extravagant gift.

A sense of peace enveloped her, and she began humming the tune again, basking in the sunlight streaming through the window. "Everything will be fine now," she thought.

From the doorway, Alexa and Sergey watched Natalie with warm smiles.

After the tragic loss of Pierre, Natalie's well-being had always been a concern for them. Seeing her finally find a moment of tranquility brought them immeasurable joy.

Their attention turned to the children, who stood hesitantly behind them, their eyes brimming with curiosity.

The eldest, Dmitri, maintained his usual composed demeanor, though his inquisitiveness was evident. Meanwhile, the mischievous twins, Mikhail and Irina, barely hid their excitement. Even the youngest, Anastasia, was sucking her finger, watching her parents for permission.

Alexa gave them an encouraging smile. "Go on, pick a room you like. You can each have your own space, and your father and I will take the remaining room."

With her blessing, the four children raced down the hallway, their little footsteps echoing through the house.

After some debate, the children chose the room with the largest window. The bunk bed inside immediately captured their imaginations, and their laughter filled the air, driving away any lingering tension from their journey.

Alexa and Sergey exchanged a knowing smile.

"Maybe we should divide the room and let Dmitri have the corner by himself," Alexa suggested. "The bunk bed can go to Mikhail and Irina, and Anastasia can stay with us. Dmitri's old enough now to have some space."

Sergey nodded silently, his thoughts momentarily drifting back to their journey. The sight that greeted him upon disembarking the ship would stay with him forever: the dark, foreboding tunnels, the unease that gripped him, and the eventual joy that came with the administrator's explanation of their new lives.

Now, his youngest, Anastasia, who had once been frail and sickly, ran to him with a radiant smile. Her rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes were unrecognizable from the gaunt child she had been.

"Daddy!" she exclaimed as she leaped into his arms.

Sergey lifted her effortlessly, her tiny frame fitting snugly against him. Her voice was pure joy, and her warmth melted his heart.

"Is it true the lord will be here tomorrow? Can we go see him?"

Sergey suppressed the lump in his throat and nodded gently.

Tomorrow, the lord of the estate, the renowned Grand Duke Michael, was expected to visit. The thought of meeting the man who had transformed their lives filled Sergey with a mix of awe, gratitude, and an inexplicable sense of nervousness.

Carrying Anastasia, Sergey headed toward the room, his emotions swirling.

"What kind of man is Michael von Crassus?"

At the same time, Michael and Dominic were making their way back to the Crassus estate. Following them were the soldiers who had accompanied them to the battlefield.

The group had returned with considerable profits, and morale was high. While there had been losses—soldiers who now rested in unfamiliar soil—it was an accepted reality of war. The compensation provided to the families of the fallen had eased much of the sorrow, ensuring the estate's residents remained content.

As they entered the estate, they were greeted by throngs of people lining the roadsides. Faces alight with energy and joy, the townsfolk welcomed their return.

Cheers erupted, and flowers rained down on the procession as children waved and jumped excitedly. Adults, holding handfuls of petals, smiled and joined in the chorus of celebration.

"Long live Grand Duke Michael!"

"Our savior!"

From his carriage, Michael gazed out at the cheering crowd, his lips curling into a satisfied smile.

The estate had transformed entirely. Endless fields of cultivated land stretched out before him, with crops swaying gently in the wind. The roads were well-kept, the villagers' clothes clean and orderly, and their faces healthy and content.

The poverty and despair that once plagued his estate were nowhere to be seen.

Michael made a silent vow to himself. "This prosperity must extend beyond these borders—to the entirety of Lania."