Lyan, for his part, could only sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to figure out how to defuse the situation. "Well, this is going to be the biggest pinch of my current life probably."
His words seed to hang in the air, and for a mont, he wondered if the tension in the room would escalate. However, just as his mind began running through various escape routes or clever responses, sothing unexpected happened.
Alina, who had been sitting with her arms crossed, suddenly chuckled. "Biggest pinch of your life, huh?" Her tone was teasing, but not without affection. "You do have a talent for getting yourself into situations like this."
Belle smiled, shaking her head. "It’s not like we’re mad, Lyan. We just want to know..." She hesitated before continuing, "Are we all equally important to you?"
Lyan blinked in surprise. The question, simple yet direct, cut through the noise of the playful banter and teasing. He felt a wave of relief wash over him as he realized that, despite the way they had been pushing him for an answer, what they truly wanted was reassurance. They weren’t looking for conflict or so kind of hierarchy; they just wanted to know that they were all loved.
The weight of that realization hit Lyan, and he smiled warmly at each of them. "Of course you are," he said softly. "I love all of you equally."
There was a collective sigh of relief, the tension that had been building slowly dissipating. Lyan knew that he couldn’t leave things there, though. They deserved more than just vague reassurances. He had already thought about this decision carefully in the days leading up to this mont, knowing that the issue of wives and concubines would co up eventually.
"I’ve done so research," Lyan began, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "In this world, a noble can have up to three wives and multiple concubines. Now, I don’t expect all of you to be okay with that... but I want all of you to be a part of my life. My decision is to have three of you as my wives, but the rest will still be my concubines."
He paused for a mont, watching their reactions carefully. No one looked angry or upset, but there was a mix of curiosity and uncertainty in their expressions.
"But before you think that being a concubine is sohow ’lesser,’ I need you to understand," Lyan continued, his eyes soft and sincere. "All of you are equally important to . There won’t be any favoritism. The reason for choosing three wives is purely for the sake of appearances—nobility and politics have their own rules. But as for my heart... it belongs to all of you."
The room went quiet as they processed his words. Wilhelmina, who had been listening intently, finally spoke up. "You do realize, Lyan, that you’ll face a lot of scorn for this decision, right? Other nobles, the kingdom—they won’t see it the way you do. They’ll gossip. They’ll judge you."
Lyan chuckled softly, leaning back against the bedfra, his arms behind his head. "Wilhelmina, you should know by now that I don’t care about my image. I’ve never been one to follow what society expects of . This is my life, and these are my choices. If people want to talk, let them. It won’t change how I feel."
His words hung in the air for a mont, and then slowly, one by one, the won began to smile. There was sothing freeing in hearing him say that, in knowing that they all mattered to him, regardless of titles or societal expectations. It was a heartfelt mont, and Lyan could feel the bond between them strengthening.
"Besides," he added with a playful smirk, "I doubt any of those nobles would have the guts to challenge once they realize how powerful this family truly is."
Belle was the first to break the silence with a soft laugh. "You really don’t care about what they think, do you?"
"Not even a little bit," Lyan said, grinning. "As long as I have all of you by my side, I’ll be fine."
Josephine, who had been quiet up until now, smiled warmly. "You’re going to make us all your wives and concubines, huh? I can live with that."
Alina, ever the pragmatist, shrugged. "As long as we’re together, I don’t care about titles. I’ve already given myself to you completely."
Xena smirked, crossing her arms over her chest. "Wife, concubine—doesn’t matter to . Just don’t expect to start acting all noble and proper, okay?"
"Wouldn’t dream of it," Lyan replied with a chuckle.
The mood in the room lightened even more, and it wasn’t long before the playful teasing returned. Lyan found himself at the center of their attention again, but this ti, it was different. There was no tension or uncertainty, just love and affection.
And, of course, it didn’t take long for things to escalate.
The playful teasing turned into soft touches, which quickly turned into sothing far more heated. Lyan, ever the opportunist, found himself surrounded by the won he loved, their hands and lips exploring his body with an intensity that left him breathless. The room filled with soft moans and whispered nas as they lost themselves in each other, the passion building until it finally spilled over into the most intimate of acts.
By the ti they were done, the sun was high in the sky, and the room was once again in complete disarray. Lyan lay in the middle of the bed, his chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. The won were draped around him, their bodies tangled in the blankets and sheets.
He was exhausted, but there was a deep sense of satisfaction that settled over him. He had made his decision, and they had accepted it. They were a family, a strange and unconventional one, but a family nonetheless.
Lyan’s thoughts were interrupted when he felt sothing small and warm curl up next to him. He opened his eyes and glanced down, only to find a small lion cub with light pink and gold fur lying on top of Wilhelmina, its tiny body rising and falling with her breaths.
Lyan blinked in surprise. He vaguely rembered hearing the familiar prompt of a summoned creature being unlocked last night, but in the heat of the mont, he hadn’t paid it much attention. Now, though, it was clear that the prompt had been real.
"Well, hello there," Lyan said softly, reaching out to pet the cub. Its fur was soft under his fingers, and the little creature purred contentedly at his touch. A na appeared in his mind, and he smiled as he spoke it aloud. "Holy Lion, huh? Welco to the family."
Wilhelmina stirred beside him, her eyes fluttering open as she noticed the cub on her chest. "Lyan? What... is this?"
"It seems we have a new family mber," Lyan said with a grin, scratching the lion cub behind the ears. "Looks like you summoned it last night."
Wilhelmina blinked, still groggy from sleep, but she smiled as she looked at the cub. "I guess I did. It’s beautiful."
As the rest of the won slowly woke up, it wasn’t long before Alina’s stomach let out a loud growl, breaking the peaceful silence.
Lyan couldn’t help but laugh. "Looks like soone’s hungry."
Alina blushed, rubbing her stomach. "Well, after everything last night, can you bla ?"
"Let’s get so food, then," Lyan said, sitting up and stretching. "I think we’ve earned a good al."
The group made their way to the dining room, where they were greeted by Abraham, who, as always, had anticipated their needs perfectly. The long dining table was already set with an impressive spread of food—roasted ats, fresh bread, honeyed fruits, and a variety of cheeses. There were pitchers of wine and water, as well as steaming platters of vegetables and soups.
The maids and cooks moved through the room with precision and elegance, serving the al with such grace that even Wilhelmina, who had grown up as a noble, was impressed.
"Your staff is incredible," Wilhelmina remarked, watching as a maid poured her a glass of wine without spilling a single drop.
"They’ve had the best training," Lyan replied with a wink, clearly pleased with the complint.
Abraham, who was standing at the head of the table, bowed deeply as Lyan and the others took their seats. "I trust everything is to your satisfaction, my lord?"
"More than satisfactory, Abraham," Lyan said, smiling. "You never fail to impress ."
Althea, the head maid, was about to take her place beside Abraham, but before she could, he gently placed a hand on her arm. "You’re the head maid, yes, but you’re also one of the master’s mistresses. Please, enjoy the al first, my lady."
Althea’s face softened, and for a mont, she looked as though she might cry. But instead, she smiled warmly and took her seat at the table, her hands folding neatly in her lap.
The al was nothing short of glorious—a feast worthy of a king. There were roasted ga birds stuffed with herbs, freshly baked bread slathered with creamy butter, and hearty stews filled with vegetables and tender at. The scent of spices and roasting ats filled the air, making everyone’s mouths water.
Lyan took a bite of the roasted pheasant, savoring the rich flavor as it lted in his mouth. The perfectly balanced seasoning and the crisp texture made him let out a contented sigh. "Abraham, you’ve truly outdone yourself," he said, smiling.
Abraham, ever the humble butler, bowed slightly. "I aim to serve, my lord. I’m pleased the al is to your liking."
"Not just liking—it’s incredible," Belle chid in, her mouth full of bread and butter. She quickly swallowed and grinned. "I swear, I’ve never tasted food this good in any noble household."
Alina nodded in agreent, her small body hunched over a large bowl of soup. "The cook really knows what he’s doing."
Lyan, still basking in the warmth of the camaraderie and the feast, turned to Abraham. "Actually, I’ve been aning to ask—I have a few recipes from my old world I’d like to try out. If possible, I’d love to train the cook personally and show him how to make a few new dishes."
Abraham’s eyes lit up with interest, and he bowed again, this ti with more enthusiasm. "It would be an honor, my lord. The staff would be most eager to learn from you."
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