Broken let out a slow breath, exhaling deeply at Queen Nerisa's last statent.
Their child?!
Damn.
How the hell did an idea like that even get into this woman's head?
He turned to her, expression flat. "How exactly am I the father of sothing that didn't even co from ?"
For the first ti, Queen Nerisa smiled. It was faint—barely there—but it was a genuine, soft curve of her lips.
And honestly? It was the first ti he had ever seen her smile.
So she could smile after all.
"Both of us have supplied mana to the egg," she answered calmly.
Broken narrowed his eyes slightly. "And that makes us its parents?"
Nerisa gave a small nod, still composed.
Broken sighed again, rubbing his temple.
This was ridiculous.
His gaze flickered toward her again. "You do understand the concept of having offspring, right?"
His tone was dry, slightly amused, but also tired. "We only supplied mana to the egg. Who even knows where this egg originally ca from?"
At that, Nerisa simply inclined her head slightly before gracefully rising to her feet.
She stepped away from him, returning to her seat across the room, where she elegantly crossed one leg over the other.
"As for your proposal to make your bride," she dropped another bomb.
What.
Excuse .
He NEVER proposed!
Before he could even react, she continued, completely unfazed.
"I may consider it. Once the conflict with the demons has been resolved."
Broken exhaled slowly, leaning back against the couch.
…Well.
That actually didn't sound bad.
He wasn't about to dwell on it too much, but still.
A familiar voice echoed in his mind. "Master, make sure you marry Ivana first before considering this one. You must know your priorities."
"Shut up, Gaia."
"Besides, Queen Alora has no issue with you having multiple wives."
"Gaia. Quiet."
"I can see it, Master. You desire her."
"Gaia, I swear!"
He clenched his jaw. Why did he even let Gaia talk sotis?!
If she had a physical form right now, he would have wrung her neck.
Pushing aside Gaia's nonsense, he focused back on the real issue at hand.
Even now, he still wasn't sure just how severe the rfolk's threat was.
And it would take months before the egg even hatched—let alone beca strong enough to help.
There were other priorities right now.
This? This could wait. One step at a ti.
If simply supplying mana to an egg made him a parent, then…
Would that an Pawpaw was technically his first child with Alora?
Broken frowned, his expression twisting slightly.
Hell no.
Pawpaw did not feel like his child.
If anything, that demon beast felt more like a little parasite that constantly drained his resources.
And honestly? Pawpaw listened to Alora way more than he ever listened to him.
That damn cat had the nerve to blatantly call him by na instead of Master—or at the very least, sothing remotely respectful.
Having Pawpaw as his child was a terrible idea.
Besides, he was already about to have an actual child—his own bloodline, directly from Alora.
And then… There was also Elaine. Her seed was still being nurtured by Alora's mana as well.
And now, this Abyssal Naga egg?
…Wait.
Four.
FOUR.
He blinked slowly. In just a short ti, he had unintentionally beco the 'father' of four different beings.
And that was absolutely insane.
***
Broken decided to test his luck. And conveyed that he wanted to walk around outside.
To his surprise, Queen Nerisa agreed without hesitation.
She turned smoothly and gestured for him to follow.
As they stepped out of his chamber, she raised a hand, making a slow, fluid motion.
Imdiately, the water around him shifted.
A soft current swirled, forming a small, clear do around him and the queen, separating them from the water itself.
Well… that was convenient. He had struggled moving underwater, but with this? He could walk freely.
"That's useful," he murmured, taking a few testing steps.
Nerisa glanced at him but didn't comnt.
Two rfolk guards fell in line behind them as they left the palace.
As they moved through the grand corridors, Broken couldn't help but notice that every rfolk they passed paused what they were doing and bowed respectfully toward the queen.
Even among the strongest warriors, there was no hesitation in their reverence.
Then, as they stepped through the palace gates, he saw it. The mont Queen Nerisa appeared, the rfolk citizens stopped their activities.
One by one, they turned, and just like inside the palace, they lowered their heads in absolute respect.
A ruler whose presence alone demanded unwavering loyalty.
They continued walking, but honestly? This didn't feel like exploring the city at all. It felt more like a royal procession.
With the way every single rfolk's eyes followed them, Broken couldn't exactly wander freely the way he wanted to. So much for sightseeing.
Then, Queen Nerisa finally spoke.
"It is my duty as the ruler of this region."
Broken glanced at her, studying her face.
Even as she walked with calm elegance, her expression was firm, unwavering.
And yet, her beauty didn't fade under that seriousness.
If anything, it only made her presence even more commanding.
"To protect all who live within my territory."
Territory?
Broken narrowed his eyes slightly. "Do you an to say there are other rulers in the ocean?"
Nerisa turned her head slightly, as if the question genuinely surprised her.
"Did you think I ruled the entire ocean of Yunatea?"
Broken let out a short breath, shaking his head. "I had no idea. This is my first visit to an oceanic kingdom, after all."
The queen's lips curved faintly, almost amused. Then, she faced forward again.
"There are many territories. Many kingdoms. Each ruled by different sovereigns—just like the land."
Broken gave a slow nod, absorbing that fact.
"Though, you should know…"
She glanced at him again, her voice carrying a quiet certainty.
"The ocean is far vaster than the land."
Broken nodded again. "I figured as much."
It was basic common sense, after all.
"So that ans… there are even more kingdoms under the sea?"
"More—and far stronger."
Her voice was smooth, confident.
"The land is nothing compared to us beneath the ocean."
Damn. This queen has so serious confidence.
Thinking about it again, it actually made sense. Judging by the sheer strength of the rfolk in this kingdom, the oceanic races were naturally powerful. Even if King Alorik had faced Queen Nerisa, Broken wasn't sure he could have won—at least, not without the Golden Paragon.
Yet, even with that level of strength, she was still asking for help. That alone spoke volus. He let out a slow breath, his thoughts turning over the implications.
Then, Nerisa continued. "We also wage war against other rulers."
Broken turned to her again. "For power?"
"Kind of," she said simply, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. "It is a natural thing, isn't it?"
His brow furrowed slightly. "So your enemies aren't just the demons, but other oceanic rulers as well?"
He continued, "If that's the case, then wouldn't getting this Guardian you're hoping for only make you an even bigger target? Tell if I'm wrong."
Nerisa didn't waver. Instead, she smiled—a calm, knowing smile. "That will only make stronger and more powerful." Her tone was unwavering, filled with quiet confidence. "We will simply strike first."
Broken blinked. Damn. Life under the ocean really was more chaotic than on land.
As they continued walking, Queen Nerisa spoke again. "Tell , King… how did you obtain the egg of the Sacred Abyal Naga?"
Broken paused for a mont, considering her question.
This queen… She always asked questions that dug straight into him.
If she wanted answers, he might as well use this opportunity to his advantage.
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