Chương 217: Winter Break VII
After finishing the day's training, I joined the girls in the evening, just as I received news about my Medal for Merit and the rewards ceremony. It would be held right after New Year's but before the academy reopened, which meant a round trip back to the Slatemark Empire from the West.
"Honestly, it's the bare minimum," Cecilia said as we lounged on the bed, and this time, I was relegated to her lap. Fairness demanded a rotation after all, since Seraphina couldn't hog that privilege every night.
"Yes, well, you did save our lives," Rachel added, her expression a mix of gratitude and wistfulness. "Who knows what could have happened if you hadn't been there?"
The thought made me wince. The memory of Luke's fall still haunted me—he'd been my closest friend here, someone who understood this world like few others. And yet, his choices had led him down a path that left me with no choice but to act.
It was a sobering reminder.
Demons and forces beyond my control. A threat that lurked beyond the horizon, unpredictable and powerful.
I exhaled, resolving to be ready.
"Besides, who else would have the patience to listen to Rachel's endless theories on courtly etiquette?" I said, feigning a sigh, which earned me a smirk from Rachel and a good-natured swat on the shoulder from Seraphina.
Cecilia rolled her eyes, "If the empire doesn't give you the highest commendation, I'll personally lecture the Emperor on decorum. It's the least they could do."
Seraphina, watching from her spot beside Rachel, gave a small smile. "And I'll back her up with the full, weighty authority of the East."
I chuckled. "Oh great. I'll have half the empire demanding a parade."
"Exactly," Rachel grinned, leaning over. "Prepare for fanfare, Arthur. You're a hero now. There's no escaping it."
At her words, I felt both the warmth of friendship and the weight of responsibility, as well as a renewed determination to be ready for whatever came next. For now, I'd revel in this company—and maybe survive the impending parade of "glory" with a smidgen of grace.
I caught Cecilia's gaze lingering on my abdomen. "Is my nightgown not quite up to your royal standards this evening, Your Highness?" I teased, raising an eyebrow as her cheeks flushed and she quickly looked away. This time, I'd made sure to wear a nightgown that actually covered everything—no repeat of last night's... unplanned transparency.
She leaned in close, her voice barely a whisper, "I'd actually prefer nothing." Her fingers brushed my forehead as she spoke, and this time, it was my turn to blush.
Before I could muster a comeback, Rachel held my hand with a small, wistful smile. "When you're off to the West… don't forget to call, alright?" There was a softness in her voice that caught me off guard.
Seraphina nodded beside her, wrapping her fingers around my other hand, her expression uncharacteristically tender. "Yes. Don't leave us wondering… alone."
"Like I could ever forget," I replied, smirking as I brought both their hands up and pressed a light kiss to the back of each. "With three of the most beautiful women I know waiting for me? I'd be a fool not to."
Cecilia, who'd been quietly watching, leaned down from her place above me. Before I could even blink, she was holding my face in her hands, her lips brushing against mine in a bold, unexpected kiss that left me too stunned to think.
When she pulled back, her emerald eyes sparkled with both mischief and warmth. "That's just to make sure you remember."
My heart was thudding as I tried to summon something witty, but all I managed was a smile that probably looked more dazed than dashing. Somewhere in the background, Rachel and Seraphina exchanged glances before each giving Cecilia a knowing, exasperated look.
"You are so unfair, Ceci!" Rachel huffed, crossing her arms before reaching over and, to my surprise, pulling me up with enough mana-boosted strength that I didn't have much say in the matter.
Before I knew it, my face was nestled against her chest as she held me close, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. Leaning in, she whispered, "See? Far better than Cecilia, right?" Her voice wavered, her confidence almost hiding a touch of nervousness as she gently patted my head.
Cecilia watched with raised eyebrows, her smirk not hiding her amusement. "Well, Art? It seems you've been caught in a, shall we say, tight spot?"
I chuckled, pulling back just enough to meet Rachel's eyes. "I'd say I'm in a rather… unique position." Seraphina, who had been quietly observing, shook her head with an exasperated smile, muttering something that sounded suspiciously like, "Honestly, the three of you…"
Rachel's blush deepened, but she held on, clearly intent on proving her point. Meanwhile, I could only pray fervently that no updates were being shared with their fathers.
'Please, for the love of all that's holy,' I mentally begged the three Ascendant-rank knights. We eventually settled in, and the room grew quiet as everyone drifted off to sleep. Or so I thought.
Just as I was about to close my eyes, a soft whisper brushed against my ear.
"Art."
I turned, meeting Seraphina's gaze, her crystalline blue eyes bright even in the dim light. She had an almost petulant pout on her face that made me bite back a grin.
"Aren't you being a little unfair?" she whispered, weaving her mana into her voice so Rachel and Cecilia wouldn't stir.
"What do you mean?" I whispered back, arching an eyebrow, already knowing where this was headed.
She tilted her head, the moonlight catching in her silver hair. "You know exactly what I mean. Make it up to me… hug me," she whispered, pulling slightly on my nightgown for emphasis.
I shook my head, chuckling, but slid an arm around her shoulders. "Happy now?"
Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint as she shook her head, guiding my arm lower, until my hand rested on her exposed midriff, her breath catching for just a moment.
"Sera…" I murmured, feeling my own heart rate kick up a notch.
"It's only fair," she said, flashing a grin that was both innocent and entirely self-assured as she settled her hand over mine, keeping it in place. With a little sigh of satisfaction, she nestled in and closed her eyes, clearly content.
And as I lay there, between a smugly sleeping Seraphina and the other two, I felt both the weight of the situation—and the start of a smile.
Despite the chaos of the morning—sparked by Seraphina's playful move from the night before and the ensuing looks exchanged between the girls—it seemed par for the course now. Just another part of this unusual but somehow endearing reality I was living.
As I gathered my thoughts amid their bickering, a nagging question pressed itself forward in my mind.
'One last thing.'
If I could understand how I had come to this world, some hint of why I was here, I might finally be able to settle. I just needed a sliver of certainty—a single thread of understanding—to know that I wouldn't simply vanish once I'd reached the "end." Then, maybe, I could let myself truly love them without reservation, without fear.
A small, genuine smile curved my lips as I watched them, feeling a warmth I hadn't expected. Because, deep down, I already did love them—with everything in me, these remarkable, frustrating, and undeniably captivating women who had somehow made their way into my life.
"Good morning," I greeted them, and the bickering paused just long enough for me to catch their smiles.
For now, that would do. And maybe, that was already more than enough.
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực