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{3rd Pov}
"Fufufu, worry not, Father. This concubine shall satisfy your every need—emotional, physical, and divine—in ways these inferior women could never dream of," she whispered, grinning with smug confidence.
Everyone's face froze.
The room fell silent, as if reality itself had just crashed.
And no one—absolutely no one—knew what to say next.
Reina's Reid quivered subtly, as if eager to be unsheathed—acknowledging her as a worthy opponent.
Echidna let out a low chuckle, interpreting the gesture as nothing less than a challenge.
"I suppose she needs a reminder of why they call me a Witch," Echidna mused inwardly, a small smirk tugging at her lips.
Echidna took immense pride in her form—it was nothing short of a masterwork, an exquisite blend of elegance and power—and she was more than ready to entwine it with the one she loved most.
A chilly aura radiated from Emilia's body as her fists clenched at her sides. She didn't entirely understand the feeling welling up within her, but seeing Zero in such close proximity to another woman stung her heart. It filled her with a sharp, bitter resentment she hadn't expected.
Even Ram, usually so composed, felt a fleeting pang of envy stir within her chest.
As for Rem?
She remained unfazed—cool, composed, and unbothered.
She was cool as hell.
"Anyway," Subaru began, voice steady, "it's time I lay out my plans. All of you need to be involved."
"Lord Zero," Frederica interjected politely, stepping forward with a slight bow, "forgive me for interrupting, but none of you have eaten breakfast yet."
Subaru blinked, realization dawning.
"Ah, right! Right, let's eat first," he said with a sheepish smile, rising to his feet. One by one, the group began making their way to the dining room in quiet procession.
Except for Roswaal, who had retreated to his office to have breakfast separately.
He no longer joined the others at the dining table as he once had. The reason was painfully obvious—he couldn't bring himself to watch the woman he adored give her attention, her affection, and perhaps even her heart to another man. To sit there and witness such scenes would be unbearable for someone whose devotion ran so deep it bordered on obsession.
He chose solitude instead, dining alone amidst silence rather than enduring the slow agony of watching his master smile at someone else like a love-struck girl.
As soon as Subaru settled into his chair, Gloria confidently took her place—directly on his lap. She nestled against him with unashamed ease, her arms wrapping lightly around his neck as she buried her face into his chest, breathing in his scent with visible satisfaction.
"Father's masculine scent is the best," Gloria thought contentedly, closing her eyes with a small sigh of delight.
"Hey! Sitting on my contractor's lap is Betty's rightful privilege!" Beatrice snapped, her eyes narrowing as she glared at Gloria with indignation.
"Hmph! You've monopolized my father long enough," Gloria replied coolly, her voice detached and unbothered. "Now that this concubine has a proper body, it's only fair I receive the affection I've been unfairly denied."
Her tone was light, but her words carried an unshakable self-assurance.
Gloria was fully aware of her strengths—Beatrice may have had more life experience, but in raw power and presence, Gloria stood taller. It wasn't prideful arrogance that fueled her—it was undeniable confidence.
"Betty, don't be upset," Subaru said, trying to ease the tension as he gently patted Beatrice's head. "You've had my lap to yourself for a long time. Let Gloria have her turn for now. I'll make it up to you at dinner—you can sit on my lap then."
Even as he tried to play mediator, Subaru couldn't help but feel awkward. Unlike Beatrice's petite, childlike frame, Gloria's form was far more mature—voluptuous, commanding, and intimately close.
Still, he couldn't deny that she was adorable in her own way.
She was, after all, his daughter—no matter how strange or unsettling her incestuous affections might seem.
(A/N: Haha bro lost it and just made them their daughters)
To his right sat Reina, calm and elegant as ever. On his left, Echidna, composed and alluring. Beatrice, despite her complaints, ended up seated beside Echidna with a resigned pout.
Though she loathed her mother, Beatrice still considered Echidna preferable company to anyone else in the room—barely.
Emilia stood by hesitantly for a moment, eyeing the seats next to Subaru—the one on his right and the one on his left—both occupied. Even his lap had already been claimed.
Jealousy crept into her chest like frost, subtle yet chilling. A small pout formed on her lips as she finally took a distant seat, glancing at Subaru intermittently.
"Is something troubling you, Emilia?" Geuse asked, watching her closely. Her eyes weren't on the food in front of her; they were fixed on Subaru—who, at that very moment, was being doted on by Gloria, Reina, and Echidna, each offering him bites and attention.
"N-Nothing," Emilia replied hastily, looking away and focusing on her untouched plate. The food suddenly looked far less appetizing.
Geuse, perceptive as ever, narrowed his gaze thoughtfully. His eyes shifted from Subaru—receiving the affections of three powerful, striking women—to Emilia, who continued to sneak wistful glances in his direction, eyes shadowed with faint jealousy.
Then back to the three women—each radiating presence, poise, and strength in their own way.
"To think Emilia would fall in love with Master Flugel..." Geuse thought quietly to himself, eyes drifting toward the silver-haired girl.
Earlier, when Subaru and the others had departed for the royal capital, Geuse had found an opportunity to converse with Echidna in private. It was during that exchange that she had revealed a shocking truth—Subaru was none other than the legendary Sage Flugel himself.
However, there was a crucial caveat. Subaru, despite being identified as Flugel, possessed no memories of his time as the great Sage. He had warned Geuse not to pursue the matter further, at least not until the circumstances behind his reincarnation—or whatever strange fate had befallen him—were fully understood.
Even so, Geuse no longer harbored doubt. The truth was written in every action, in every word Subaru spoke. But what left Geuse truly perplexed was the startling fact that Subaru appeared to be far stronger than the Flugel of the past. It defied logic, and yet the evidence was plain to see.
In terms of personality, the similarities were striking—yet something about Subaru was different. The Sage had always been humble. Subaru, while still kind and thoughtful, carried himself with a confidence that bordered on boldness completely contrary to the sage.
"Emilia, my dear child... you face formidable rivals," Geuse thought, shifting his gaze toward the women gathered around Subaru.
There was Reina Van Astrea, the great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Reid Astrea, the original Sword Saint. Echidna herself had confessed, in a moment of rare honesty, that Reina had long since surpassed her fabled ancestor in both skill and strength. That alone spoke volumes.
Then there was the Witch of Greed—Echidna herself. Geuse knew better than most how insatiably greedy she could be when it came to things she desired. She was dangerous in her own right, but her obsession with Flugel had tempered her monstrosity. Without his guidance and teachings, Echidna might have become a being even more terrifying than the Witch of Envy.
Next was the newly ascended Great Spirit. Geuse could feel it—the way mana swirled and gathered around her, forming a dense, natural flow. It rivaled even the passive absorption of a Sword Saint. She was no ordinary spirit now—she was in a league entirely her own.
Geuse could only hope that the Great Sage—the man once known as Flugel—still had a place in his heart for Emilia. As her guardian, he wanted nothing more than for her to be happy. And deep down, he believed that Subaru was the best partner Emilia could ever hope for. If not him, then who?
The very fact that so many powerful, beautiful, and intelligent women were drawn to him—competing for his attention—said everything about the kind of man Subaru had become.
With a deep sigh, Geuse lowered his gaze and resumed eating, silently offering a prayer for Emilia's future happiness.
The dining room was filled with familiar faces: Geuse, Emilia, Echidna, Subaru, Reina, Gloria, Beatrice, Rem, Ram, and Frederica all sat together at the long table, the sounds of cutlery and conversation creating a warm morning atmosphere.
By the time Subaru and the others had finished their breakfast, the time had come for Rem, Ram, and Frederica to take their own meal.
Although Subaru had kindly invited them to eat alongside everyone else, they had politely declined. They insisted it would be improper for maids to dine at the same table as their master, maintaining a formal sense of duty and etiquette.
Subaru, understanding their position, hadn't pushed the issue. He respected their choice, and in the end, allowed them the freedom to act according to their own values.
To be continued...