I Reincarnated to Another World as a Woman-Chapter 191: Boundaries

"Maeve," Jonathan says again, gently shaking her hands. "Please... say something."

Maeve keeps blinking.

"What... what can I say... I—I don’t understand," she says weakly, her mind racing. She frowns.

The two senior men take her frown as dissatisfaction.

They exchange a glance.

Jonathan guides her to sit on the nearby sofa.

All three of them sit down.

"Maeve," Jonathan starts.

"Tell me what you’re thinking. You haven’t really told me anything." He exhales. "I’m sorry I haven’t been a good father to you. I really am. Now, please. Tell me how you and Arthur met. Tell me everything."

The moment Maeve hears the word father, an alarm goes off in her head.

She looks up, her gaze shifting between Jonathan and Victor.

"You’ve read the report," she says curtly. "That’s how I met Arthur."

She takes a breath.

"Teacher, the reason I came here before the appointment with Arthur has nothing to do with Arthur or his team. It’s about us." Maeve straightens. She decides to be direct. She still doesn’t fully understand what Jonathan and Victor were talking about, but this part, she does.

Jonathan nods gently. "Alright. Then what do you want to talk about?"

Maeve is caught off guard.

Jonathan has never used this tone with her. He’s always been short, sharp, precise. Cold.

"Teacher," she says carefully, "forgive me for being straightforward, but I am not your daughter. And you are not my father."

Jonathan pales.

"You made that clear yourself, ever since you took me in," Maeve continues. "You raised me and made me your apprentice because you saw that I had talent in wielding magic."

Jonathan’s face drains of color.

"And you reminded me of that constantly during the first two years," Maeve adds. "After that, you still reminded me. Maybe once every month or two."

This time, Victor is the one who pales.

"Me working at the Library was also your decision," Maeve goes on. "You told me to. And since I didn’t have anything else at the time, I agreed. But I never intended to work at the Library forever."

She pauses, then continues more firmly.

"I found something I want to do. Something I like. And I found it."

"And as it turns out, I’m very good at it."

Jonathan’s eyes narrow slightly.

"Is it clearing dungeons with your magic?" he asks.

Maeve nods.

"Have you forgotten how I taught you magic?" Jonathan says coldly.

The sudden shift in his tone shocks both Maeve and Victor.

Victor stares at Jonathan in disbelief.

But Maeve, she feels relieved.

This is the Jonathan she knows.

She takes a deep breath.

"No, I haven’t. If you hadn’t taken me in, I wouldn’t be here today," she says firmly.

She doesn’t deny it, because it’s the truth.

"Then you need to show your gratitude," Jonathan says coldly. "Don’t you think?"

Victor is stunned.

If this is how you usually talk to her, he thinks grimly, no wonder she moved out and resigned.

But he can’t interrupt. He knows this isn’t his conversation. And yet, he can’t leave either. He needs to make sure Jonathan doesn’t lose sight of their goal.

Maeve nods, resolute.

"Yes. That’s exactly why I moved out and resigned," she says. "Because I want to focus on clearing dungeons."

She lifts her chin slightly.

"Arthur offered me a permanent place on the team. I want it. And I need to train with them to improve our teamwork."

She doesn’t hesitate.

"I don’t want to be just good," Maeve continues. "I want to be the best. That’s why I resigned. And that’s why I moved out."

Silence falls.

After a beat, Maeve continues. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"You’re my teacher. You’ll always be my teacher. You’ll also always be the one who saved my life and raised me. I’ll never forget that," she says steadily.

"But it’s time for me to live my life the way I want to."

Jonathan’s expression hardens. He looks at her for a long moment before asking,

"And replacing me as a Custodian?"

Maeve nods.

"I will replace you as a Custodian when the time comes."

"And the deal with Arthur?" Jonathan presses.

"The dungeon deal?" Maeve replies. "He’s waiting for your answer about access to the knowledge. Isn’t that why you’re meeting him? To tell him the conditions?"

Silence falls.

"That will be between me, Victor, and Arthur," Jonathan says finally, his tone turning formal, distant. The conversation is clearly over.

Both Maeve and Victor are stunned. Victor more so than Maeve, because she knows Jonathan better.

Maeve nods once.

"Okay, Teacher. I’m glad it’s all clear. If you don’t have anything else to discuss, Arthur is already at the café."

Jonathan brightens slightly.

"Alright. Let’s go there together."

"No." Victor cuts in sharply.

"I want to talk to you first," he says to Jonathan.

Maeve nods in understanding. She knows exactly what they want. To strategize.

"Then I’ll leave first," she says calmly. "Goodbye, Teacher. Mr. Langford."

------------------------------

"Did you hear that?" Jonathan asks once Maeve is gone.

Victor rolls his eyes. "Of course I heard. I was right here. I’m not deaf."

"I can’t believe you were right, Victor," Jonathan says firmly. "She’s in a relationship with Arthur."

"What?" Victor stares at him. "Jon, are you alright? Did you not hear a single thing she said?"

He gestures sharply.

"She said she wants to focus on clearing dungeons. Meaning what? Meaning every time she clears a dungeon, we get heartstones!"

Victor exhales, suddenly wondering if his old friend is already slipping.

"Victor, you don’t understand," Jonathan insists. "Maeve has never defied me before. She always obeyed. Always. Then she meets Arthur, and suddenly she moves out and resigns? This is obviously Arthur’s influence."

Victor pinches the bridge of his nose inwardly. What is wrong with this man?

Instead of arguing, he asks calmly,

"So you’re saying you don’t want to work with Arthur and his team?"

Jonathan hesitates.

"Jon, it’s too late for that," Victor continues. "If we don’t work with him, we won’t get heartstones anytime soon. Maeve is already a permanent member of his team."

"Right now," Victor adds bluntly, "she’s all we have to negotiate with."

Jonathan blinks.

"What?" Victor presses harder.

"You think you can find another apprentice and train them this fast? The Arcanus have already moved. They cleared a dungeon. We have nothing."

He looks Jonathan straight in the eyes.

"Are you really going to sulk over Maeve?"

Victor doesn’t wait for an answer.

"She already said she’ll do the job we assigned her. Clearing dungeons with Arthur’s team. And Arthur will share the heartstones with us. Fifty-fifty."

He spreads his hands.

"Who else can offer a better deal, Jon?"