Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 908 - 18 Puppet on Strings_2

Chapter 908: Chapter 18 Puppet on Strings_2 Chapter 908: Chapter 18 Puppet on Strings_2 Winters wanted to continue inquiring Mr. Leo about something, but Anna was already urging them to start the meal.

“Please try this braised beef tripe.” She passed the plate with a smile, “I’ve restored it as closely as possible to Sea Blue’s recipe, but since we’re missing a few spices, I’m not sure if it suits your taste.”

The ingredient for [Braised Beef Tripe] is the cow’s omasum, a dish originating from the City of Flowers, a favorite among textile workers. Offal was a disdained ingredient, hence relatively cheap, and affordable for ordinary workers.

After being introduced to Sea Blue, braised omasum quickly captured the hearts of the dockworkers. According to the unwritten classification, braised omasum was labeled as “dock cuisine.” Before Winters left for school in The Federated Provinces, a significant reason for visiting Benwei’s house every now and then to freeloader was the braised beef tripe.

It was rare for Anna to cook Sea Blue’s cuisine herself; it was just unfortunate Winters was not in the mood to enjoy it.

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Dinner ended in a stifling atmosphere, Winters was at a loss for words, and Mr. Leo had lost his usual knack for spirited conversation.

Only Anna continued performing her duties as a hostess: maintaining the conversation, introducing dishes to the guests… as if nothing had happened.

...

Leo didn’t stay long, briefly touching his cutlery before hurriedly taking his leave.

Winters and Anna walked Mr. Leo out of the bachelor officers’ quarters, and in contrast to the somewhat unnatural mood of the male host, the female host maintained her politeness and composure throughout.

Watching the figure of Mr. Leo disappear into the night, Winters felt it was time to say something.

He hugged Anna, trying to sound as light-hearted as possible, “It seems like your mother has given you to me.”

But the next moment, Winters could no longer utter any witty remarks, as Anna began to sob uncontrollably.

“How could Mom do this?” Anna cried, deeply distressed.

…

…

Hearing the guest had left, Catherine and Scarlett quietly sneaked into the dining room.

Catherine glanced at the table and confidently said, “It seems the atmosphere wasn’t too good.”

“How do you know?” Scarlett asked back.

“Just look at the plates,” Catherine picked up a knife and poked at the fish on the plate, “Hardly touched.”

“Don’t touch it if you’re not eating it.” Scarlett smacked Catherine’s hand, clearly regretting, “What a waste, I’ll take it to the guards.”

At that moment, Winters came back supporting an almost unsteady Anna.

Hearing Anna’s crying, Catherine rushed out of the dining room to see what had happened.

“What happened?” Catherine stood at the door, startled, glaring at Winters, “Did you bully her?”

At the sound of her sister’s voice, Anna threw herself into her sister’s arms and began to cry bitterly.

Anna’s sudden and abnormal behavior surprised and frightened Catherine, who awkwardly held her sister, patting Anna’s back gently, “It’s alright, it’s alright… what happened?”

“Mom.” Anna’s tears soddened her sister’s hair, “How could Mom do this?”

…

…

Five minutes later, in the living room of Winters’ residence.

Anna had stopped the uncontrollable crying but was still sniffling softly.

“What exactly happened?” Catherine, holding her sister on the couch, looked at Winters suspiciously, “Did Mom threaten Anna?”

Winters, sitting alone across from them, heaved a sigh, “Worse, Mrs. Navarre didn’t even make any threats.”

So Winters recounted what Mr. Leo had said. At first, Catherine was frowning and listening intently, but as she listened more, she became dismissive.

“And I thought it was something serious?” Catherine exclaimed, feeling deceived, taking the opportunity to ruffle Anna’s hair, briefly enjoying the pleasure of being an older sister, “Is it just cutting off the mother-daughter relationship?”

At these words, not only Winters but even Anna, with her swollen eyes, gazed at Catherine.

“After all is said and done, sister, you’ve just experienced too little. You’ve never been scolded by Mom before, so when you really encounter her anger, you’re scared like a little bird,” Catherine said with a hint of smugness, “I don’t believe Mom would really dare to cut off the relationship with you.”

Winters anxiously shifted his weight, “No, I feel Mrs. Navarre’s attitude is very firm, not just bluffing.”

“Yeah, right.” Catherine snorted disdainfully, “If she doesn’t make you think she’s serious, how else can she bluff?”

“Kate.” Anna sobbed softly, speaking in stops and starts, “I think Mom is really angry.”

“Of course she is! Mom must be furious. She might even have thought about killing someone outright,” Catherine glanced at Winters, then turned to her sister, “But as I said, she won’t do anything to you.”

“But…” Anna hesitated, clearly not comforted by Catherine’s words.

Winters also felt Catherine’s attitude was too flippant and unreliable.

Seeing she couldn’t convince Anna or Winters, Catherine began to feel a frustration akin to hating iron for not becoming steel.

She gathered her courage and pinched her sister’s cheek, “You see, Mom has always had a tight grip on you from the start. Even being so far away, she still controls you. Since you don’t believe me, I won’t say anything more, suit yourself.”

“Don’t… Don’t…” Anna hugged her sister tightly, pleading softly, “Kate, don’t…”

Perhaps this was Anna at her most vulnerable, at least in Catherine’s not-so-long life, she had never seen her sister in such a state.