Chapter 53 Memories
Chapter 53 Memories
No matter what was being said outside, Elara stubbornly stayed in the kitchen.
Jarvis, who was getting breakfast ready, seemed to understand what was going on.
Instead of pushing her, he let Elara help out, stretching the time a bit.
But it was breakfast, and it was soon ready.
Harrison sat down first, followed by Kieran and Seraphina on either side.
Elara and Percival sat facing each other.
The breakfast spread was a mix of everything.
There was a cake Elara made for Kieran, sandwiches for Seraphina, and various soups, salads, and more.
After preparing the meal, Jarvis and the maids left.
Kieran, maybe on purpose, smiled slightly, a rare sight, and grabbed the cake Elara had made for him.
He took a few bites with a spoon and nodded unexpectedly.
"Hmm, it tasted good."
Kieran coughed and glanced at Seraphina.
Seraphina's mouth twitched, and she smiled faintly. "Yeah, last time Elara brought a cake, wow, I was so full."
With that, both Seraphina and Elara rolled their eyes dramatically.
'Oh my God, this is so fake. Mr. Blackwood, do you really have to throw me under the bus every time? And Percival doesn't even believe it.' Elara thought.
This was the first time she made a cake.
Elara was exasperated.
Percival, with his strong mental fortitude, knew he was being excluded but didn't say anything.
She took a sip of milk, ate her sandwich with great seriousness, and smiled.
"It was really delicious. Maybe you could teach me sometime."
"Percival, you flatter me."
Elara quickly replied.
Harrison, sitting at the head of the table, seemed oblivious, focused on drinking his milk.
After drinking about half a bowl, he wiped his mouth, paused, and suddenly said.
"Elara, I heard you double-majored in history and archaeology in college. Is that true?"
Elara nodded. "Yes."
Harrison chuckled. "I'll ask a few questions. If you don't want to answer, you don't have to."
There were very few people in Vossshire whom Harrison would speak to so politely.
Elara felt a bit anxious, unsure why this influential figure was suddenly being so courteous to her.
Elara made her stance clear, "You're too kind. I'll answer any questions you have."
Though she said that, if there were questions she didn't want to answer, she could always make something up. No one would know.
As she was thinking, Seraphina gave her a mischievous look and smiled oddly.
After spending so much time with Seraphina, she knew exactly what she was thinking.
Harrison continued, "Can you tell me why you chose to double major? Both history and archaeology are tough fields. To stick with them, even through graduate studies, requires great determination. It's not just about passion."
By the time Harrison was halfway through his question, Elara had already planned to talk about her love for archaeology and history, mixing truth and fiction to get through it.
But Harrison seemed to anticipate her response and cut her off with his next words.
"Partly it's passion, but as you said, passion alone isn't enough. It's also about my longing for my mother," Elara replied.
It was something from many years ago.
She initially wanted to study archaeology, but her mother's sudden death made her decide to study history as well.
When she went to college, she resolutely chose to double major.
"You are honest, not lying," Harrison said, glancing at Kieran.
"Let me explain. I knew your mother. She was the best archaeologist Vossshire University ever had, a pioneer in Vossshire's archaeological theory, and a historian. I heavily funded the history and archaeology department at Vossshire University. Your mother monopolized the scholarships every year. I met her a few times and invited her to join the Blackwood Heritage Group. She declined and stayed to teach, but she contributed significantly to the Blackwood Heritage Group's success."
"I'm telling the truth. Given my status, I do not need to lie. You can tell the difference," Harrison said.
Elara looked up sharply!
Kieran and Seraphina were equally surprised.
They hadn't expected Elara's mother to be so accomplished, but it made sense.
Her family background had clearly nurtured Elara's talents and interests.
No one had expected Harrison to know her mother.
Memories like wandering winds found their way into her heart all at once.
Her mother's image became clearer in her memory.
Elara took a deep breath, her eyes reddening.
Kieran watched her quietly, a hint of sympathy in his expression.
Elara said, "You knew my mother, so you must know her well."
Harrison nodded, "An absolute authority in artifact identification, a beacon of integrity in academia, generous to her students, never forming cliques or academic factions, a guiding light for countless archaeology students."
Elara choked up, "Then I have a personal question. When my mother was accused of academic fraud, did you believe it?"
Harrison didn't speak but shook his head firmly.
Tears streamed down Elara's face.
Seraphina opened her mouth to say something, but was stopped by Kieran, who seemed lost in thought, perhaps recalling his own experiences.
"I was very young then, and didn't understand much. My mother was expelled from school, accused by her peers, and no one spoke up for her. You said the Blackwood Heritage Group owes much to my mother. You were powerful in Vossshire. Why didn't you help her, even just to say a word?"
Elara sobbed uncontrollably.
She could never forget the night her mother was expelled, coughing violently.
Soon, she coughed up blood.
Elara was only five then, holding her mother and saying, "Mom, why are you coughing blood?"
Her mother replied, "My dream is shattered."
A few years later, her mother passed away.
At her mother's funeral, no friends or colleagues came to pay their respects.
Only Sylvia, Ethan, and relatives from her mother's side attended.
Elara chose to study archaeology and history in college to repeatedly read and research her mother's papers, every word a gem, every sentence a truth, none of it fabricated.
Except for one paper, which bore her mother's name but was far below her mother's level, clearly a setup.