Chapitre 497: Important Discussion (3)

"Yes... you're missing something in that equation. I wasn't... 'blessed' through Astra to become fertile; Astra was blessed and able to 'make me fertile' whenever we made love, and that's it. So if you, or the Queen, or anyone else tries to sow their seed inside me, it won't take root. Only Astra's seed will take root. Which means that I can't be the one to just... give the Queen a reward in hopes of aiding you all. Besides, that would take months or so before I finally was able to conceive again."

Rhefia frowned at that, clearly not liking the answer I had given her and instead wanting to find some other way out of this situation that didn't involve her wife being impregnated by another woman, which I could understand and relate to, even if I was more partial to the idea than she was.

"So all I'm hearing is that yet again, Astra is doing something spectacular and miracle worthy and we just need to accept it or face the sheer weight of the things she is able to do and be crushed by it? Sounds good to me."

Sari shrugged as she leaned back into her chair, her eyes roaming over the occupants of the room before she focused on her kit, who was still busy suckling - even though her siblings were currently full and dozing off resting against Astra's chest, the black haired, red eyed kit was still pawing at my breast and draining it of milk.

I did worry a little that she would fill herself up too much to the point of bursting, but considering she seemed so content and was in such a blissful state, I couldn't bring myself to try and 'save' her; I just watched her closely and made sure she wouldn't end up harming herself somehow.

"Miracle worthy..?"

Though I was curious as to what the older Catkin meant, so I looked up and searched for an answer, which was given by Aethisia as she smirked at me, her long white hair and pale red eyes making her a really standout Deerkin, even more so when you took in her tall, lithe figure that was rippling with muscle.

She was quite the specimen, though considering who her parents were, it only made sense that she had both beauty and brawn in equal measure.

"How much space do you think this house has, Duchess? Just this floor?"

I nodded, looking around at the quaint but spacious house, only to frown as I realized there weren't any areas available for sleeping, especially not for a family this large, which Aethisia picked up instantly as she asked "And if I were to tell you that there wasn't just one level below this house, but instead three? What would you say?"

"Three levels... below? That's impossible, even for an Earth Mage. The weight of the earth around us and the integrity of this house's foundation just... wouldn't work."

"Oh, but we do have three levels below us. Excavated AFTER this house was constructed. You see, Mother has... 'Crafting Magic', but if it was given a jolt, boost, and injected with many performance enhancing drugs. And then some. If some was equal to a lot."

My confusion only grew as I stared at Aethisia incredulously, before I turned to look at Astra instead, who just smiled at me and raised her hand, summoning a small cube of wood and just... letting it go.

But instead of dropping to the ground, it simply remained in place where she had summoned it, even after she tapped it on all six sides; it didn't budge at all.

There was no mana around it, nothing supporting it, and yet... it floated; even when she placed a plate atop its surface, the cube and the plate remained stable, like nothing had happened at all.

"What..?"

Astra nodded, while Rhefia shook her head and muttered "Still can't figure out how that works...", and the rest seemed impressed and intrigued, but not entirely surprised... besides Shelur, Inik and I, of course.

"Hehehe~! Isn't it awesome?! If you're curious, I believe I can make an entire house ABOVE the ground, but I uh... don't really like that idea since one slip means someone could get injured... so I'd rather just burrow into the earth and be protected that way. Oh, and I trust this remains between us now~? Since we're all family and everything..."

She looked between Inik and I since Shelur was staring at me, leaving the decision to me; my Orc guard was just as confused and surprised as I was, but she still had sworn to protect me and listen to me, so it was up to me to decide how she felt about all of this.

Inik on the other hand was on her own, the Hawkkin staring at the block for a few seconds more before looking towards Kalia, who was seated beside her with a small smile and a gleam in her pink eyes, which made the Hawkkin shiver slightly.

"I... Yes, it will remain between us. This is... quite a lot to take in."

"How do you think I feel when I hear that yet ANOTHER woman is being brought in, and that she has a baby in her belly? It is a LOT to take in, Lady Duchess, but..."

Exchanging a smirk with Sari, Rhefia looked at me and said "I'm quite hoping you'll take me in, Lady Duchess~! More than once, hopefully... Think of it as payment for being in our home~?"

Astra remained quiet, but considering her slightly red cheeks and hopeful expression, it was quite clear what kind of house this was - even though I had never really doubted for a second that this was a house built on lust and love in equal measure.

"Um... I wouldn't... count on it being often..? No offense, but..."

Pursing my lips, I looked towards Astra before glancing at Shelur, nodding to myself as I said "I don't mind the idea, but I think... I think I'll be just fine watching..."