Things had been changing rapidly in since the previous day, but it was the first time Vahn had seen such an awkward atmosphere at dinner after everyone moved into the Manor. Ais had a relatively blank expression on her face while Lefiya kept her head low and nibbled at her food without saying a word. Even though they hadn't said anything, it was very obvious by their behavior that something had happened when the two girls went to retrieve Vahn and Riveria. Given the revelations of the previous days, many of the girls could infer what kind of things 'might' have happened, especially when they looked at Riveria eating with her eyes closed as she refused to make eye contact with anyone.
Vahn was doing his best to act casually, but he wasn't that great an actor and his behavior was the primary reason for how awkward the atmosphere had become as he had made several attempts to try and change the mood by talking about the wedding preparations for tomorrow. A large crew of workers had already come through and set up a large stage during the afternoon and the entire staff of the Hostess of Fertility had been 'booked' to cater the event. They had been spending the majority of the day preparing for the wedding tomorrow and the reason for Ais and Lefiya coming to receive Vahn and Riveria was because everyone was doing a small celebration.
Fenrir had been sitting with Tiona and Preasia and, perhaps because of her own curiosity and frustrations, eventually got annoyed with the atmosphere and asked, "Did Vahn and Riveria have sex?" Though her question sounded 'innocent', it fell like a hammer on the heads of almost everyone present. Vahn felt like his body tilted about eight degrees to the side and Riveria, who had previously been taking a sip of tea, had completely shattered her cup. Her eyes opened slightly and she looked at the mess she had made before saying in a low tone, "Vahn and I did not have sex, Fenrir..." before releasing a sight and saying, "Excuse me..." as she rose from the table and left the room.
Realizing she had done something wrong, Fenrir's large ears flattened against her head and she mumbled, "Sorry..." Then, as if suddenly realizing something, Fenrir jumped up from the table and followed the same direction as Riveria. Vahn followed her back with his eyes before looking around at the various expressions of the girls at the table. He had the urge to show a wry smile and trying to play down the issue for a brief moment but instead decided to explain things clearly. After taking a deep breath through his nose, Vahn smiled slightly and said, "It is very likely that Riveria and I will have a relationship in the future that will likely cause conflict between the Alliance and the High Elf Forest. Even I can't say when things will develop to that point, just know that it is a secret and be prepared for anything."
Though they had also been influenced by the awkward atmosphere earlier, Tiona and Tione both had wide-eyed expressions on their faces as Tione remarked, "I expected something to happen since you had children in the Divination, but I didn't think it would be so soon..." Her sentiments seemed to be shared by many of the girls at the table so Vahn raised his hand slightly to calm them and explained, "Riveria's primary pursuit in the 97 years she has been alive has always been to expose the Elves to the rest of the world and ease the tensions between species. Since that is something we will all be striving for in the future, as it is the only way to protect our family and livelihoods, Riveria is doing what she thinks is best for her people. I have decided to support her to the best of my ability, but I will understand if any of-" Before Vahn was able to continue, Syr coughed to interrupt him before a beautiful smile appeared on her face and she laughed lightly.
Syr made brief eye contact with everyone at the table, Vahn included, before saying, "Everyone here understands the significance of the events that had been discussed previously. Riveria's actions should come as no surprise considering how serious she treats such things. I'm sure many of you have also been considering your own futures, so try and show some understanding. If you have any concerns, please bring them to Hestia, Tsubaki, Milan, or myself and we will do our best to alleviate your worries~." As she spoke, Syr looked between several of the girls present but kept her focus primarily on Vahn himself.
Vahn understood she was trying to tell him that he shouldn't be saying such things that constantly emphasized the girls had other 'options'. Even if they didn't have thoughts about leaving the Manor in the future, if Vahn kept harping over it over the course of several years, he could inadvertently push them away. With the exception of Mona, who was away with Mama Mia, everyone present had already made the resolve to face their enemies together. Even though he was trying to be more decisive, Vahn was saying things that bordered on indecision because he was constantly giving them alternatives to their current lifestyle. He needed to let them make their own decisions and let those that were better suited to dealing with people take care of things without his interference. Understanding this, Vahn gave a somewhat apologetic smile toward Syr that caused her to send him a wink as they continued the rest of the dinner discussing less serious matters.
Because he was getting married in the morning, Vahn wasn't going to have another 'event' during the evening and instead decided to relax. However, this didn't mean he was going to sleep alone and he had instead taken the initiative to invite Milan, Tina, Shizune, and Fenrir to stay with him. Milan was somewhat flustered at first until her brain processed his invitation properly and she showed a happy smile on her face before all the girls, with the surprising exception of Fenrir, accepted his offer.
Fenrir had apparently already made plans to have a sleepover with Tiona and Ryuu, who had suddenly become very friendly with the wolf girl since the discussion about the Divination. Because she knew she had done something 'bad' to the two girls, Fenrir was also doing her best to get along with them and, since she had been in a good mood all day, had easily agreed to their invitation. The fact that she kept her 'promise' with them, even after Vahn invited her to sleep with him, made him smile and he promised to reward her in the future for being such a good girl.
Vahn ultimately ended up having Tina and Shizune cuddle up on top of his chest while Milan used his shoulder as a pillow and hugged around the bodies of her two daughters with a contented expression on her face. Even though their union had been relatively brief, Milan was very satisfied because she knew things would be much 'easier' to deal with in the future. A lot of her pent-up frustrations had been released in the short period of time and she fell asleep thinking about what she and Vahn would be doing in the future. She was determined to get her 'fair' share before Tina and Shizune reached maturity because she didn't want to 'compete' with the two girls.
Not knowing what their mother was thinking, Shizune nuzzled into Vahn's neck and he had to periodically jerk his head slightly because she would randomly place her lips against his neck on 'accident' and had even tried to lick his collarbone at one point. Tina behaved properly, but Vahn knew she was paying attention to Shizune's actions and he could feel her body shake slightly before pinching her adopted sister's thigh a few times before they finally fell asleep. Vahn fell asleep soon after them while thinking about methods to help Shizune 'cope' with the next few years.
It was troublesome dealing with a highly experienced woman that was essentially 'trapped' in the body of a young girl. Because of his interactions with Eva, Vahn didn't actually have a lot of defenses against her behavior because he understood her situation well. Shizune turned eighteen in less than two months and had spent a large part of her life developing 'habits' that were hard to resist falling back into. If not for the fact that she had a strong support group, especially with Milan and Tina as her surrogate family, it was very likely she wouldn't even be a virgin anymore. Having to wait an additional four years would be a great torment to her unless she could one day learn to resist her urges properly. Unfortunately, there was a big problem with this as it didn't really seem like she wanted to resist her urges at all.
Vahn knew Shizune actually was something of a 'bad' influence on many of the other girls because, even though she didn't do it in front of him and Milan, it was very obvious she talked dirty behind their backs. Fenrir had been negatively influenced by her and Vahn could tell by Tina's reactions that she was very aware of her 'little' sister's habits. Shizune often spent time talking with Haruhime and the other former slaves and had even started to get closer to Tiona, Ais, Tione, and, very likely, Lefiya herself. She even tried to tease Vahn without much consideration for the situations so he assumed her behavior was even more problematic when he wasn't around...
---
Knowing that Tina was a heavy sleeper and that Milan was very tired from the day's exertions, Shizune actually woke up around three hours after falling asleep because she had been rather restless. She had been breathing in Vahn's scent as she slept and she knew the state of her own body had become somewhat 'dangerous'. As a Kitsune, her nose was quite strong and Vahn's scent had almost because addicting to her in the past few weeks ever since she moved into the Manor. Since he was the only man around, it was like his scent had become a central part of her existence and, being able to smell him up close, made her body ache greatly.
After shifting her body slightly, Shizune tried to slip her hands into her nightgown but she froze when she saw a pair of slightly luminescent aquamarine eyes open and stare directly at her. She had been thinking of bringing her body some 'comfort', but it looks like her actions were noticed by Vahn who typically didn't wake up no matter how much she moved around. Biting the bottom of her lip, Shizune tried to appeal to Vahn with a pleading gesture as she writhed about and tried to reach down once again. She could see Vahn's eyes squint slightly as he shook his head so she released a hot sigh against his chest and pulled her hand free of the 'humid' nightgown.
Vahn had felt a bit of warm moisture on his stomach and felt Shizune moving around on his body so he immediately awoke from his dreamless sleep and saw her attempting to comfort herself atop his body with Tina sleeping next to her. He actually pitied her a great deal but still shook his head when she pleaded to him with her moist purple eyes that shone like amethysts in the near-complete darkness of the room. To ease her mind, Vahn hugged her body loosely with his right arm and held her head against his chest as he gently stroked the back of her hair as he inserted calming energy into her mind and body.
Shizune seemed to calm down for a short while but it wasn't long before Vahn noticed her aura had started to flare up as a deep, almost sickly, red spread through it. Though he should have noticed it earlier, Vahn realized that Shizune was exclusively breathing through her nose and had become completely enamored by his scent instead of calming down. By holding her close to his body in an effort to comfort her, he had just given her an excuse to indulge in herself a bit more and she had even tried to slip her calf between his thighs in a provocative manner.
As if she knew looking at him would be an end to her mischief, Shizune kept her head low and avoided looking at him even when Vahn removed his hand from her head. In an almost inaudible tone, Shizune muttered, "My body aches...Pa-" Before she could finish her words, Vahn pressed into a pressure point near the base of Shizune's neck and she couldn't complete the dangerous word. He had immediately been reminded of Lenneth from the Divination and a bit of anxiety spread through his heart as he whispered, "Shizune...don't call me that when you're acting like this...it isn't funny at all."
Vahn noticed that Shizune's aura began to flicker in a panicky manner as her body began to shake atop his and she tried to form silent words with tears building up in her eyes. She knew she had messed up a great deal and was afraid that Vahn was now going to chase her away and refuse to spend time with her as they had done in the past. However, when she looked up at Vahn's face he released a sigh before looking at her with gentle eyes before gesturing to the side with his head and gingerly rolling her body away from his. Shizune was very confused with his action until Vahn handed her a fresh pair of panties from out of nowhere.
Shizune's eyes widened before she accepted the panties and clutched them as if they were a lifeline before moving a fair distance away from Vahn. His bed was massive so there were several meters of space unoccupied for her to make use of. After moving nearly three meters to the side, Shizune looked over at Vahn and could see his reflective eyes watching her actions. She could feel her heartbeat quicken as she set aside the fresh panties and reached toward her own with a bit of eagerness. For a brief moment, Shizune harbored the delusion that she would be able to keep eye contact with Vahn as she pleasured herself but, before she could make get any 'advantages' against him, a heavy blanket appeared in the air above her and covered her body.
Because of how thick it was, Shizune understood Vahn was telling her to keep quiet and take care of her 'situation' on her own. She had a pouting expression on her face until she smelled a powerful aroma coming from the heavy blanket which she now realized was a thick mantle that smelled exactly like Vahn. Though it was still a bit 'lonely' to tend to herself on her own, Shizune was grateful for Vahn's reprieve as she clutched the cloak and breathed in his scent as she reached down with her left hand and brought some comfort to her aching body...
Vahn contracted his domain and created a soundproof barrier but he could see feel the vibrations of Shizune's movements through the bed because of how sensitive he was. Even though he wasn't looking at her, Vahn could detect her aura even with his eyes closed so he began focusing on the [Mantra of Eternity] to tear his attention away from her immoral act. He really did feel bad for her, but that didn't mean he could set aside his own principles and 'help' her deal with things directly. Eva was an exception, as her body would never develop and she was well over six-hundred years old. She also had much better control than Shizune, most of the time, and had a very mature disposition.
Deciding that it would probably be for the best if he didn't invite Shizune to sleep with him in the near future, Vahn did his best to fall asleep but was immediately brought back to his senses when he sensed Shizune nearing him once again. Opening his eyes, Vahn could see Shizune's moist purple eyes staring back at him as she crawled back onto his chest and snuggled up with Tina without saying anything. Vahn observed her for a short while and noticed her aura had begun to recede and stabilize so he felt a bit of relief before looking over at the somewhat soiled pair of panties that were balled up on the bed at the side. His [Shadowsilk Cloak] was also there and Vahn hesitated for a short moment before storing them both away into his inventory. Expanding his domain, Vahn then found the location of the laundry hampers and inserted the 'dirty' garments among the pile of other clothes before turning his attention away from them as if he had just disposed of a bomb.
---
Vahn awoke the next morning at the same time as normal and saw the two 'innocent' girls sleeping on his chest while hugging each other close like real sisters. Shizune looked to have slept well after tiring herself out and she now had a contented expression on her face as if the previous night's incident never happened. Vahn awoke Milan first and she quickly moved to awaken the two girls before helping them prepare for the day. However, when Shizune peeled off her nightgown and began to change into proper clothing, Milan noticed that her panties had changed during the night and gave Vahn a somewhat incredulous look.
Though she didn't actually give him a look of blame, Vahn still felt a bit of an impact and shook his head before gesturing at Shizune with his eyes and shaking it once again. Milan, seeing the honest expression and frustration on Vahn's face understood the situation somewhat and frowned slightly before saying, "Tina, Shizune, I think we need to re-arrange our room assignments in the future. You're both maturing girls so you need to start sleeping in your own rooms in the future. There may be nights in the future where I stay with Vahn, so it is necessary for the future..." Tina startled momentarily at Milan's words before a resolved look appeared on her face and she pumped her fists while wearing nothing but her panties and saying, "Okay, Mom~nya! Make sure nyou work hard~!"
Milan showed a confused expression on her face before realizing what Tina was implying and showing a slight blush as she muttered, "I don't think..." Vahn, covering for Milan's embarrassment, placed his hand atop Tina's head and ruffled her hair as he said, "Get dressed, Tina, we have a busy day today." As if she just realized the state of her body, Tina startled once again and covered her chest as she said, "Don't stare at my body, Papnya~! Look after Mom until I become a beautiful adult woman~!" Vahn tilted his head to the side in confusion and Milan began to laugh playfully as she walked forward and smoothed the wrinkles from Vahn's tunic and said, "Go, Vahn, I'll take care of our daughters. You have other matters to attend to, fufufufu~." Vahn lazily nodded his head before leaning forward and kissing Milan's forehead and giving her head a stroke before ruffling Tina's hair once again and escaping the room.
While all of this had been going on, Shizune had been curiously looking around the bed before Milan asked, "Shizune, what are you looking for? What kind of trouble did you cause for Vahn last night?" Hearing herself being addressed, Shizune looked directly at Milan with an expression that didn't belong to a child at all as she explained, "You're not the only one that has needs, Mom...I'm sure you understand how difficult things can be..." Milan's eyes opened slightly wider before she released a sigh and pat Tina's still bare shoulder as she said, "Get dressed and head downstairs, Tina. I need to talk to your sister for a little while..." Tina nodded her head before digging through the small wardrobe that contained clothing that fit her size. Vahn had several different wardrobes in his room for the various girls that visited, including the members of the youth troupe.
Once Tina left the room, Milan sat down on the edge of the bed and pat next to her with a patient expression on her face. Shizune furrowed her brows slightly and said, "I'm very grateful for everything you've been doing for me, Milan, but I don't think I'll be able to keep up this kind of lifestyle for another four years." Milan's smile didn't change much and she continued to pat the empty space next to her as she said, "Shizune, come and sit with your Mother..." Shizune showed a pouty expression that matched her age much better than the straight face from earlier as she said, "You're not my real Mother, Milan..." Once again, without her expression changing much at all, Milan continued to stare directly at Shizune as she asked, "What is your name...?"
Shizune's pouting expression deepened and she stared at the hand that continued to pat the space next to Milan. She had officially had her name changed to Shizune Yuel and had even been adopted by Milan and added to their official registrar with the City census. Even though Milan wasn't her biological mother, she was, for all legal intents and purposes, her actual mother. As she had grown up with the comfort of her own, Shizune had actually found Milan's presence to be very therapeutic and calming to her ever since their current arrangement was established. With a pouty sigh, she trudged over to the bed and crawled into it as Milan hugged her body tightly and said, "There we go...Shizune is a well-behaved daughter, even though she is a bit mature on the surface..."
She didn't want to admit it, but it was very comfortable being hugged tightly by Milan as she spoke comforting words into her ears. After hesitating for a bit, Shizune asked in a low tone, "Why are you so kind to me...?" Milan hugged Shizune's body a bit tighter and said in a quiet tone, "Because I believe you deserve to live a life away from the cruel fate life had dealt you...and you wouldn't have been able to stay in the group if I hadn't done this..." Shizune's eyes widened at Milan's words and she looked up to see the seriousness contained within her expression. Though it was painful to consider, Shizune knew Milan was correct and it was highly likely she wouldn't have been able to stay at the Hearth Manor if she hadn't been adopted by Milan. Vahn probably would have done his best to arrange things for her, but there was no way she would have been able to get to the core of the group so easily.
Feeling Shizune shake slightly in her arms, Milan continued in a quiet tone, "You know it well, Shizune, as you are a very intelligent girl...you will one day be able to get closer to Vahn and, when that time comes, he will more than likely exceed any expectations you might have. However, if you continue to press him like this it will only make things more difficult for both of you...after all, do you think Syr, Hephaestus, and Eina will tolerate this kind of behavior...?" Hearing the dreaded three names, Shizune's body turned a bit rigid before she pitifully said, "Mom...how did you go so long without a man...? My body, it aches so much..."
Milan nodded her head in understanding and allowed her mind to wander slightly as she said, "It wasn't easy at all...if not for the fact that I had Tina, I might have gone crazy due to how lonely I felt at times. I found solace in focusing on my work and trying to ensure Tina grew up properly...it will be easier if you find a hobby or something that interests you to focus on. If you can't deal with things on your own..." Before she had to extrapolate, Shizune had already nodded her head and said, "I know, there are lots of ways to deal with my urges...I understand why you're trying to get me to stay in my own room..." Just as she had done the night before, there were several methods she could use to 'heal' the aching of her body, at least temporarily. Because she had been staying with Tina and Milan, however, she hadn't had many opportunities to tend to her needs because it would heavily impact the small family they had built.
After understanding the situation better, Shizune hugged Milan's body tightly in return and asked, "Even if I get my own room...can I still stay with you sometimes...?" Milan's expression softened greatly as she leaned down and kissed the top of Shizune's head as she said, "Silly girl, you can sleep with me whenever you want...I'm your mother after all..." Shizune bit her lip and could feel her nose tingling as moisture built up in her eyes and she buried her face into Milan's blouse and cried for a short while as the motherly woman stroked her head gently and patted her back in a comforting manner...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'RIP Teacup-san...','Shadow of Lenneth...','Familial Love')
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As a result of the wedding later in the morning, the training for the day had been canceled yet everyone was already well awake and moving about with varying degrees of excitement. Vahn was intercepted by Syr at the base of the stairs and they both smiled at each other before she giggled and said, "Today is your big day, Vahn~." Vahn released a contented sigh before saying, "It's a little hard to believe..." Syr grabbed Vahn's arm and guided him toward his designated location as she asked, "Are you nervous?" Shaking his head, Vahn said in a casual and calm manner, "No, I'm happy. They are both women I love dearly and hold close to my heart...I have no reason to be nervous at all."
Syr nodded her head before squeezing his arm slightly and mused, "I'm a little envious~." Knowing that she had missed the 'timing' to meet Vahn by just a few days, Syr often wondered how differently things could have gone if she had met him sooner. Of course, she was actually very happy with how things had turned out because she couldn't see herself elevating Vahn to his current status on her own. His happiness was her happiness, so Syr was all smiles even though her words were a bit melancholic.
The two entered the waiting area where Vahn was going to be 'kept' until Eina and Hephaestus arrived and could be whisked away by the others girls. As the groom, it was his duty to receive the guests that would arrive later, but he wasn't supposed to see Eina and Hephaestus until the ceremony began. He could almost perfectly envision how they would look, but Vahn knew it was important to go through the motions for such things as it was a very significant event for everyone involved.
Waiting in the room for his arrival, Vahn saw Fenrir, Ryuu, and Tiona sitting on one sofa familiarizing themselves with each other while Ais, Tione, and Lefiya sat across from them. Most of the girls were taking care of various tasks, but each of the girls present were part of the 'internal security' and were intended to keep Vahn distracted until Hephaestus and Eina arrived. Hestia and Tsubaki had already left to go receive the two and Vahn had an hour or so to spend with the girls before his own duties began.
They had all been waiting for him, but it was Tiona who first called out as she raised the brush in her hand and waved as she said, "Good morning, Vahn~! Come take over for me. Fenrir has been a good girl and deserves a reward~." Fenrir showed a somewhat crooked smile at Tiona's words before sitting proudly with her back straight as she exclaimed, "Yes, Fenrir has been a good girl! Kukukuku-"
Vahn smiled at everyone present before Syr let go of his arm and said, "Well, I have my own duties to attend to. Take care of Vahn for a while, okay~?" before leaving the room in a casual manner.
Vahn replaced Tiona on the sofa, though she didn't actually leave it and just squeezed together next to Vahn was a cheerful smile on her face. For the next hour, Vahn carefully tended to Fenrir's somewhat messy hair while making conversation with the girls. Everyone congratulated him for his marriage, even though it hadn't actually taken place yet, and they all seemed to be in a very good mood so Vahn felt even happier with how things were developing. He knew there was a chance something might happen later, but he decided to enjoy the moments when he could be happy without worrying excessively about such things.
During their conversations, Tione asked in a somewhat dismissive manner, "So, do you plan on marrying anyone else after this? I know Hephaestus and Eina are calling themselves 'First Wives', so that means you intend to get married to more girls, right?" Though she had a plain expression, Vahn could see her aura flaring up slightly and, hearing Tione's words, most of the girls present were affected as well. Without harping over the matter, Vahn smiled as he skillfully braided part of Fenrir's hair and said, "I will most likely marry several girls in the future, though I'm not sure how things will develop before such a time comes. It would be best if I consult Hephaestus and Eina about such things, though I imagine I will end up marrying Riveria at some point regardless of what happens..."
Ryuu, Lefiya, Ais, and Tione all twitched slightly when Vahn casually mentioned marrying Riveria in the future, even though they weren't actually in love with each other yet. Ryuu and Lefiya understood Riveria's position well, so they actually knew that Vahn's words were likely to be true as it would cause even more problems if they didn't get married. However, hearing him mention it now was a bit of an impact for the two Elven women. As if he had understood their concerns, Vahn continued in an equally casual manner, "I don't care about social standing and how outsiders view us at all, but I know Riveria will likely have direct correspondence with the High Elf Forest in the future. As for those that stay within the Manor, as long as they have a good reason I don't mind marrying them. After all, after the matters in the Divination, I feel like getting much closer to everyone so that such a tragic thing never happens again."
What Vahn was saying was his actual intent and, once he managed to get Eina's affection to the max, he intended to use the [Hearts Desire]'s of everyone that he had yet to use. He had originally been worried about knowing about the past of the girls in a one-sided manner, but now such concerns seemed pointless since he had an emotional attachment to almost everyone in the Manor and wanted to make them happy. Now that they had all taken 'Lifelong Vows' and decided to stay within the Manor, Vahn had lost his reason for delaying things. Just like he was starting to be more proactive with the other girls he had been keeping at arm's length, Vahn wanted to take more decisive action regarding how he treated his relationships.
After releasing a short burst of laughter, Tiona grabbed Vahn's free arm and looked upwards at him with a large smile on her face as she asked, "If I tell you how much I love you every day, is that a good enough reason for us to get married~?" Ais's golden eyes began to glow with a competitive flame as she stated plainly, "I want to get married as well...though not for a while?" Though she started off confident, Ais wavered a bit in the end as she looked to her right and left at Tione and Lefiya respectively before saying, "I will wait..." Even without her explaining things properly, Tione and Lefiya knew she was saying that she wouldn't want to get married until Vahn was with both of them. Tione furrowed her brows slightly before showing a small smile while Lefiya hung her head low and everyone present could see a deep blush begin to spread up her face and through her ears.
Vahn smiled at their reactions before several presences entered his perspective and he turned his attention toward them. However, the moment he turned his head to the side Vahn saw a flash of brown before Tiona covered his eyes and said in a playful tone, "No peeking, Vahn~!" Everyone on the network knew that, even if he couldn't see through things in detail, he definitely had the ability to look through walls and other obstructions. When they had been in the Dungeon hunting Bloodsaurus, Vahn would often look through walls and was able to see things long before anyone else was able to pick up on them. If it was just the influence of his domain enhancing his perception, he wouldn't have been 'glaring' at things through walls like he had done.
With a somewhat wry smile on his face, Vahn continued to brush Fenrir's hair even though Tiona was still covering his eyes and giggling. He knew he hadn't kept his secrets well, so it wasn't a surprise that the information had spread around on the network especially since insightful women like Riveria had been present. His actions of skillfully tending to Fenrir even with his eyes covered was his way of saying he didn't mind the matter of them knowing his ability anymore. Tione, however, seemed to find this interesting and asked in a teasing tone, "Can you see through clothing whenever you want?"
Tiona stopped covering Vahn's eyes and he could see sparkles in her's as she stared directly at him with a curious look on her face. Vahn tilted his head in thought before nodding his head and saying, "It's actually very difficult to see through things like clothing since people usually move around a lot. Because of how thin the layers are, I'm more likely to see into the body of the person I'm looking at than seeing their nude figure..." Tione had a mischevious smile on her face when Vahn first started speaking but then she became somewhat pale after imagining what it would be like to look at the muscles, bones, and organs of a person while trying to sneak a peek at them.
Vahn laughed at her reaction and explained, "One of the reasons I'm such a skilled physician is because I have that capability, so don't let it bother you too much. It's not like what you're expecting, just know that it isn't really practical for the 'purpose' you were thinking about initially. Besides, I don't think I have any need to peek at other women with the Manor in its current state..." With few exceptions, Vahn was almost positive he could get nearly any girl in the Manor naked if he actually asked them. He loved to admire the bodies of the girls, but he didn't need to do it in such a roundabout manner given the current circumstances.
Hearing his words, almost every girl present nodded their heads in 'understanding' while some of them even had slight blushes on their faces. As Vahn assumed, they didn't really mind him seeing them naked at all so there wasn't any need to sneak a peek at them at all. Even Lefiya shared the same bath with everyone and had 'exposed' herself to Vahn more than thirty times at this point. Though she was definitely bothered by this fact, she didn't really have any inhibitions about it anymore and just felt embarrassed by her own thoughts at times. Unlike Vahn, who was somewhat 'bold' with how he looked at others, she was ashamed that she often snuck peeks at his naked body at times.
As they were talking, one of the somewhat larger presences approached and Syr arrived at the door before smiling as she said, "Okay, until the reception phase comes to an end, you'll need to personally greet all the guests that arrive, Vahn." Vahn pat Fenrir's side and she obediently hopped out of his lap before trotting off to a mirror to check her current appearance. She had been behaving herself as the others were speaking because she knew she was the 'lucky' person that got to sit in Vahn's lap. Seeing how Vahn had styled her hair, Fenrir showed a big toothy grin on her face and gingerly poked at some of the braids with her claws. Her own body was immune to her abilities, so there wasn't any danger of cutting through her own hair.
---
Vahn followed Syr to the gate where they would be greeting the guests together before having Emiru and Maemi escort them to the proper location. Syr had a list of everyone that would be attending and Vahn was present merely for the sake of formalities. He had quickly swapped into formal wear that matched the dress of the Far East because he wanted to pay homage to Tsubaki being the person that 'raised' him after he entered the City. Since he had a healthy tan with dark brown hair, Vahn easily matched the common appearance of someone that hailed from the Far East, except for the fact that he had different facial features and aquamarine eyes.
By the time they arrived at the gate, Vahn noticed there was an incredible amount of security located around the outside of the Manor, even though the wedding was supposed to be a relatively small and private affair. He even detected a massive presence that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up and, if not for the fact that it glowed with a gentle yellow, Vahn would have thought a powerful enemy had arrived. As if she could read his mind, Syr giggled and explained, "The Freya Familia had agreed to help provide security for the wedding and she has placed some of her elites in hidden areas around the premises. I imagine you must have detected one of them~?" Vahn nodded his head as he used his [Eyes of Truth] to get a better look and saw a man he recognized, even though they had never met, standing next to a woman he recognized but was unable to sense for some reason...
---
Ottar was standing in the shadows of a window located in the same place that was previously used by the people spying on the Hearth Manor in the past. They had specifically chosen this building, not because they had any relationship with Vahn's enemies, but because it was actually one of the best vantage points to view the Manor without being too obvious. Seeing Vahn turn his attention toward him, Ottar squinted his eyes slightly before saying in a deep voice, "His perception is commendable."
Sitting next to him on a relatively luxurious wooden chair and sipping a cup of wine, Freya smiled as she looked into the crystal ball in her hands at Vahn's face. She could see his eyes flicker with a stark blue color and deviate from Ottar and land on her current position...
A peal of sensual laughter escaped Freya's lips and she said, "He can even detect me when I'm wearing an artifact that completely masks my presence...or perhaps he can see through the walls with those beautiful eyes of his~?" Ottar nodded his head with his arms crossed and said, "He didn't notice you until he looked in this direction to stare at me..." Freya's smile widened and she set the crystal ball and wine glass on the small table next to her and rose to her feet. She slipped off the silvery robe she had been wearing and revealed her godly raiment which consisted of an incredibly revealing black dress accented by red flower petals, very similar in structure to Hestia's. Without any explanation, Freya pulled at one of the petals and the entire dress began to wilt from her body as she muttered, "If you're so curious, please look at me, fufufufu~"
All the while Freya was acting strangely, Ottar's expression didn't change for even a moment and he simply continued to watch Vahn with an unwavering gaze. He saw the boy's eyes widen before he averted them to the side and avoided looking directly at them. Since Freya was beginning to lose herself in her own world, Ottar stated plainly, "He turned away..." As she had just been tracing her hands down her naked body and began to get excited, Freya was somewhat disappointed by Ottar's words before gently waving her hand and sending the petals around her feet dancing about in the air before they stuck to her body once again. After sitting back in her chair, Freya picked up her wine glass and asked, "What kind of expression did he have when he saw my body...?
Without any hesitation, Ottar explained, "He was flustered but otherwise unaffected...it was a very honest response." Freya's eyes squinted after hearing Ottar so she picked up the crystal ball once again and looked at Vahn's face reflected in its surface. Ottar wouldn't lie to her so this meant that Vahn hadn't been affected by her charm at all, at least not in any meaningful way. Though she already expected this, it was still a small hit to her pride and caused an urge to well up inside her to make Vahn her's once again. However, this urge passed quickly when Freya remembered everything she stood to obtain in the future by maintaining amicable relations with the Alliance, and Vahn himself.
In exchange for helping deal with the Thanatos Familia and providing security for the wedding, Hephaestus and Loki had agreed to allow her to meet Vahn much sooner than planned. She wasn't sure what had happened, but Freya knew a significant event must have taken place for everyone to urgently gather at the Hearth Manor previously. It seemed like Hephaestus and Loki were more willing to compromise with her now, but Freya could also discern through their actions that they were also being very wary of her, even more so than in the past. This was why she wanted to meet with Vahn sooner and she was actually surprised with how quickly they both agreed...
Sloshing around the contents of her glass, Freya ruminated for a short while before asking, "Ottar, dear, who do you think is the most qualified man to impregnate me~?" Though his expression generally never changed, Ottar's eyes squinted slightly as he considered the matter seriously and responded, "If it were based on strength and capabilities, it would be me..." Freya nodded with a smile on her face and turned her silver eyes to Ottar as he continued, "If it were based on potential, I can tell that boy, Vahn Mason, will likely become stronger than me in the future. Even though he wouldn't be able to take an attack from me right now, my instincts tell me this won't be the case for much longer..."
Freya laughed like a bell before saying in an amused tone, "That is indeed the case...even though I haven't seen his soul for myself yet, my intuition tells me his potential is limitless. Even though he has only been in the City for five months, he has already risen to such a point..." Setting her glass to the side, Freya held the crystal ball with both hands and hugged it to her chest as she asked, "Ottar, if I left the decision to you, what do you think I should do~?" Ottar inclined his head slightly before contemplating his response and saying, "I think you should always do as you please...you are like the wind, free and unfettered, so it isn't right for me to think on such matters. Allen may become a problem, but he shouldn't do anything that would offend you..."
Uncharacteristic of her typical behavior, Freya pulled her legs up into the chair and cradled the crystal ball as she said, "I have the option of bearing the child of anyone I choose, even amongst my own Familia now...but if I choose Vahn, I will be unable to maintain my relationships with my currents lovers..." Hearing Freya's words, Ottar's expression became somewhat solemn until Freya began laughing playfully before saying, "Don't worry, there are always ways around everything...besides, I think I may allow you to be the one to sire my child first~." This time, Ottar turned around to look directly at Freya and saw the seriousness in her expression. Nodding his head, Ottar said, "If Allen causes too much trouble, I will deal with him..." Freya's smile turned somewhat sad and she muttered, "It really is such a waste...he is such a cute boy. If only he wasn't so brash and obsessive..."
Of all Freya's 'children', Allen was the most 'crazed' amongst them when it came to his devotion toward her. Though they didn't fight seriously, Allen would definitely try to strike down Ottar if he were the stronger of the two. When it came down to the matter of Freya bearing a child, it was likely that he would take up his spear and cause a commotion in an effort to 'earn' the right. As he was nearly ten years younger than Ottar, he actually had a fair amount of room to justify such a right and would likely not stand idly by as the opportunity slipped through his fingers. If it were the case where he could sire a child later, it might not be that bad, but once it was known that he would lose his chance to Vahn, he would likely let loose his wrath. Unable to defeat Ottar, he may very well turn his spear on Vahn himself, especially considering that Allen had been complaining about his sister being 'stolen' by Vahn lately.
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahnguard Assembles','Silver eyes in the darkness','Allen's frustrations')
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