In a dimly lit room, a girl was sitting in the chair of her study., her gaze fixed on the scattered papers before her.
After a long moment, she sighed and let the pages fall onto the table "Strange, there's nothing special about Taylor Flame."
A knock echoed at the door, but there was no waiting. A girl entered, dragging the body of someone wrapped in a black cloak.
From beneath the fabric came faint, strangled groans. Letting the body drop to the floor, the newcomer said "Duchess Bianca, it seems the people from the Deep Sea Monster Cult are still trying to infiltrate your territory."
Bianca glanced at the body, then lifted her eyes to the girl "Take me to the location. I'm certain he's not the only one."
She nodded silently and followed Bianca out, heading to a place far from the villa, a forgotten cemetery, wrapped in heavy, stagnant air.
Bianca surveyed the area, then spread her wings and rose into the air. Her fingers traced runes in the darkness, and a dark energy began to spread, covering the ground.
Twisted shadows started emerging from beneath the soil.
"So that's where the rats were hiding" the girl muttered, preparing an attack.
But Bianca's voice cut sharp through the air "I'll handle this. Move to the edge."
She obeyed without a word. Above the heads of the enemies, dark spears materialized.
They tried desperately to form defensive runes, but had no time to complete them, they were annihilated in an instant.
Bianca descended slowly to the ground, her wings folding with a dark rustle. She was about to return to the villa when a massive figure materialized before her.
A man ten meters tall, a mountain of compressed muscle in humanoid form. The shadow he cast swallowed half the path.
Bianca didn't change her pace. She walked past him as if he were air.
Only when she was behind him did the man speak in an urgent tone "Duchess, the Kingdom of Luthyriel requires your return. Otherwise, they will be forced to use harsher methods."
Bianca turned calmly; a sphere of energy formed in her hand. The man reacted immediately, bracing himself and creating a surge of electricity before him like a shield. He barely managed to defend himself.
The girl approached Bianca, speaking to the man "You can tell them that if they have the courage, they can come forward themselves."
Then she followed Bianca back toward the villa.
The man watched them leave and muttered under his breath "The Kingdom won't let itself be underestimated by someone like her."
Upon reaching the villa, Bianca said to the girl "We should accelerate the preparations."
The girl responded with an excited voice "Yes, we'll destroy all those who think they can stop the growth of your expansion."
Bianca returned to her study, and the girl went to deliver the duchess's orders to the others.
While Evelyn was getting to know Jessica, she was interrupted by Marianne's voice "What are you doing, Evelyn?"
Evelyn turned to her and asked "Is something wrong, aunt?"
Marianne, having heard her niece's voice only now, turned to Taylor, certain it was his doing.
She didn't answer Evelyn, but addressed Taylor "I don't know the intentions of the heir of House Flame, but I won't allow a despicable person like you to deceive my niece."
Evelyn didn't expect her aunt to interfere in her love life. Before she could say anything, she heard Taylor speak in a cold voice "This is not your place to decide who she loves, Especially for someone like you who can't protect her."
The clear provocation made Marianne's anger rise, ready to attack him, but Evelyn stood up suddenly and delivered a strong slap to her.
Marianne was stunned by Evelyn's action, while Evelyn, with sharp eyes, said loudly "Don't you ever dare think you can attack the person I love."
At that moment, guards appeared beside Marianne, ready to arrest Evelyn.
Taylor drew a rune in midair, and the guards' bodies exploded an instant later.
He stood up, took Jessica's hand and then Evelyn's. Looking at Marianne, he spoke in a cold voice "It was my decision to let her reunite with her family six years ago,but now I'm taking her back."
Marianne wanted to react, to do something, but an Essence Crush spread throughout the villa, immobilizing everyone except Taylor and the four girls.
Before leaving with Taylor, Evelyn said "Aunt, I'm sorry it had to come to this."
Sofia, walking toward the exit with Taylor and the others, complained "You could have done this from the start if it was going to end like this."
But she was ignored by Taylor. Sitting in the carriage waiting outside, he was embraced on both sides by Jessica and Evelyn.
Then, turning to Evelyn, he lifted her chin, planted a kiss on her forehead, and said "I prepared a gift for you and to make up for the ruined banquet."
With a sweet smile, Evelyn asked "Really?"
Taylor nodded and, closing his eyes, leaned back against the seat. Evelyn decided to continue the conversation that had been interrupted with Jessica.
They arrived shortly after. Exiting the carriage, Taylor saw Jessica carrying Sofia and asked, confused "Couldn't you have left her inside and waited for her to get up and come on her own?"
Jessica looked at him, shocked, searching for a sign of irony but finding none.
She sighed and said "Darling, being Sofia's older sister, it's obvious I take care of her."
Evelyn asked, curious "That girl named Nyssa, why doesn't she live here too?"
Taylor replied indifferently "She's just someone who works for me; there's no need to have her at home."
As soon as they entered, Taylor escorted Evelyn to their room, while Jessica would arrive later, after putting Sofia in her room.
Upon entering, Evelyn noticed an aquarium next to the table by the window. She ran to it, her eyes shining, and saw a small dragon inside.
"Is this my gift?" she exclaimed excitedly.
Taylor nodded "Yes. Although it's only about five centimeters now, it will grow and become strong depending on how you feed it."
Without hesitation, Evelyn bit her thumb, letting a few drops of blood fall into the aquarium. The water turned red, and within seconds, the blood was absorbed by the aquatic dragon.
Evelyn, happy that the pact had been sealed, turned to Taylor, ran to him, and hugged him. On her tiptoes, she kissed him on the lips.
Pulling away from the kiss, Evelyn asked with a sweet smile "Can we sleep together tonight?"
Taylor with an indifferent expression, said "You don't need to ask, we'll always sleep together."
He sat down on the bed while Evelyn continued to watch the aquatic dragon. Soon after, Jessica arrived and, ignoring the two, lay down on the bed.
Seeing that Jessica was sleepy, Taylor got under the covers next to her. Evelyn, taking her eyes off the aquatic dragon, slipped in on the other side of Taylor, hugging him affectionately just like Jessica.
Taylor returned the hugs from both girls on either side, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.