Bab 26: 026 I....
Aurelius's mind raced as he thought about the options he had, which weren't many.
His brows creased while his heart drummed against his chest, feeling the weight of the decision he had to make.
'Right now, I have three options: the first is to stay here in the village, sending Lilith alone.' Conflict rising in his heart, with fear and frustration coiling around it like vines, trapping him in a dilemma.
His arms spun around her, pulling Lilith closer to him, trying to ease his growing inner turmoil.
'The second option is to go with Lilith, but that has risks too!' he muttered, pursing his lips, 'I don't know what dangers I have to face if I go with her.'
The first option was safe, but slow—painfully slow.
His second option came with opportunities—to meet powerful women, 'but that itself can be a con, as they are unpredictable!'
He shot open his eyes and gazed at Esper, who was looking at him with a hint of curiosity and annoyance.
'She is the best example!' Aurelius commented as he looked at Esper. A hint of disgust and humiliation glinted across his face, her showcase of power still fresh in his mind.
'The third is to fight! Fight Esper and hope and pray that we will survive!..... which we won't!'
Aurelius ended his thoughts by clenching his jaw and tightening his fists until they turned pale.
Frustration and rage swirled in him, reminding him of his own helplessness. That he could do nothing but swallow them and bury them deep inside his heart.
SIGH
He took a sigh of relief, letting out the heavy feeling brewing inside his chest. His gaze went toward Esper and was about to answer her—but stopped.
He turned back to see Elara tugging at the ends of his robe. Her eyes resembled those of a puppy getting abandoned by its master.
She didn't utter a thing, but Aurelius understood what she wanted to say by the way she was biting her lips.
Sarah and Griselda, too, had similar expressions worn on their faces; they didn't know what was going on, but they didn't want to lose him.
Aurelius's gaze softened as his deep blue eyes shimmered softly at them. He let go of Lilith and placed his hands on Elara's and whispered, "Don't worry, I will return!"
SOB
Elara broke into tears as she heard his decision, her heart shattering, her cry getting louder with each second, as her body spasmed in sorrow.
Aurelius pursed his lips as he looked at her. He knew that it would be hard for them, but he just can't let go of the new opportunity, even if he might not come back.
He turned around toward Esper and answered, "Lilith and I will come with you!"
SNICKER
But Esper replied with a snicker; her face, which was curious with a hint of annoyance from before, vanished as it contorted into one of disgust.
Her purple eyes glowed violently while her hands curled into fists.
GRIT
Gritting teeth echoed through the hut as Esper glared at Aurelius, 'How dare a plaything decide for the master's daughter!'
"Esper…!" Lilith growled as she glared back at her. She lowered her stance while her hands glowed pink, but they weren't aimed at Esper.
Esper's eyes went wide in shock as she looked at Lilith as if she were a crazed maniac. She immediately stepped back in fear that Lilith might do something stupid.
Her teeth bit her lips, puncturing them and making blood leak out of them as she saw Lilith slowly pull her hand from her neck.
That's right!—Lilith threatened to kill herself, scaring the wits out of Esper.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS!!? Esper yelled, horrified by the implications of Lilith's actions. Her heart pounded against her chest while her hands trembled in fright.
"Try to do something against him and you will see how serious I am!" Lilith replied with an elated smirk on her face.
"He is a fucking plaything!" Esper exclaimed; her mind still couldn't believe the fact that a succubus was ready to sacrifice her life for a plaything!
'Fuck! If only she weren't the only surviving child of the master! I would have dragged her ass back before killing everyone in this fucking village!' She grumbled inwardly as she clenched her jaw, her face twitching at them as her gaze darted between Aurelius and Lilith.
A tense atmosphere settled in the hut as the air crackled with the glares of Lilith and Esper. The two women stared at each other for a while, with Lilith's elated smirk annoying Esper to her core.
'She is just like her fucking mother!' she cursed inwardly as she remembered just how stubborn her master was.
'And I cannot annoy her too much; after all, she will become my new master after she takes over the mantle from her mother! Fuck!'
TSK
But Esper clicked her tongue defeatedly as she turned around, her steps heavy, shaking the hut itself.
"We leave tomorrow!" she said as she turned her face back. Her eyes glowed hatefully as the air around her vibrated in fright as she continued with hate, "This isn't over yet, plaything!"
'Master will kill you the moment she lays her eyes on you!' she then mumbled inwardly with a smirk, and then,
WHOOSH
Esper vanished from her place, leaving a relieved Aurelius and Lilith behind.
"That was close…" Aurelius mumbled as he grabbed Lilith's hand, with which she threatened Esper.
His fingers gently rubbed her soft, squishy palms while his gaze lingered on her face.
Lilith blushed heavily under Aurelius's gaze; her heartbeat, which was maddeningly beating against her chest, calmed to normal as she relished his soothing touch.
"Your Holiness…" Elara mumbled as the trio behind Aurelius stood up. Her eyes were swollen due to all the crying, while her limbs shivered once in a while.
"It's okay," Aurelius whispered; his mouth felt bitter as it left his lips. "Everything will be fine."
Although his words were hollow, it still reassured the three women, giving them a sense of relief.
He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the three women, trying to give them a sense of peace for the chaotic times that lay ahead.
SNIFF
He then took a deep breath, calming his heart as he muttered, "Call the others; I have to say something to them before we leave."
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
DaoistYd0crO
DaoistYd0crO Thank you for reading the novel, and add it your libraries if you haven't done so already.
Special thanks to reader_incognito. New_info_daily, Eruca, Heavenly_Taken, Pranaw_koduri for the power stones.
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