The comfortable warmth of Rachel's embrace was still settling around when Cecilia cleared her throat pointedly, her crimson eyes holding that calculating gleam that usually preceded her more strategic moves.
"Since we're discussing gifts," she said, reaching into her spatial storage with practiced elegance, "I have sothing for you as well, Arthur."
She withdrew a sword case made of polished ebony wood, its surface inscribed with intricate silver runes that seed to pulse with contained power. The craftsmanship alone suggested whatever lay inside was worth more than most people's annual salaries. The case itself radiated an aura of barely contained magical energy that made the air around it shimr slightly.
"Cecilia," I said carefully, reluctantly disentangling myself from Rachel enough to give the case proper attention, "you didn't need to—"
"It's an Ancient-grade blade," she interrupted, her tone carrying the satisfaction of soone delivering news they knew would create an impact. "It is called Voidlight, not a very inventive na but it is a good sword."
My mouth went dry. Ancient-grade weapons were incredibly rare, the kind of treasures that nations went to war over and legends were built around. The fact that she was casually presenting one to spoke to both the Slatemark Empire's vast resources and her personal feelings about our relationship. The materials she'd ntioned alone would bankrupt most noble houses.
"Cecilia, I already have Evolvis," I said, gesturing toward where my own Ancient-grade sword rested in its sheath across the room. "While I'm incredibly grateful for the thought, I don't really need another weapon of this caliber—"
"It's not for you," she interrupted again, though this ti her voice carried a note of sothing that might have been embarrassnt. Her usual confident deanor wavered slightly as she continued, "It's for Reika."
The words hit like a thunderbolt. Rachel's arms went slack around my neck as she pulled back to stare at Cecilia in obvious shock, her blue eyes wide with surprise and sothing that looked suspiciously like territorial concern.
"For... Reika?" I managed, feeling as though the conversation had taken a turn into completely unexpected territory. "The Reika who works at my guild?"
Cecilia's cheeks had taken on a faint pink tinge, but her expression remained determinedly composed despite the obvious emotional cost of her admission. "I know you've been considering getting her a proper weapon," she said, her voice carefully neutral though I could detect the slight tremor underneath. "She works directly under you in the guild, and you two are... close. I thought it would be more efficient if I simply handled the matter myself."
"You're giving Arthur a sword for another girl?" Rachel asked incredulously, her saintly composure cracking to reveal sothing much more territorial underneath. "Cecilia, that's completely—"
"Strategic," Cecilia finished firmly, though the slight tremor in her voice suggested she wasn't entirely comfortable with her own decision. "Arthur cares deeply about his people, and Reika is one of his most trusted guild mbers. If she's properly equipped with gear matching her position, she can better support him during dangerous missions. It's... practical."
The logic was sound, but I could see the emotional cost written in the tension around Cecilia's eyes and the way her fingers gripped the sword case just a little too tightly. She was doing this despite her obvious jealousy, not because of any lack of feeling about the situation. The gesture spoke to a level of selfless consideration that was both deeply touching and slightly heartbreaking.
"Besides," Cecilia added with forced casualness, "it would reflect poorly on the guild if his second-in-command was poorly equipped. People might think Arthur doesn't value his subordinates properly."
A smile tugged at my lips as I looked at her—this brilliant, calculating princess who was willing to arm her romantic competition simply because she knew it would make happy and support my goals. The gesture spoke volus about her character beneath all the political maneuvering and imperial pride.
"Thank you, Cecilia," I said softly, setting the sword case aside carefully before leaning forward to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. "This ans more to than you know. The thought behind it, the consideration for soone important to ... it's incredibly generous."
"I'm not a child who needs to be kissed on the forehead," she protested imdiately, though the pleased flush spreading across her cheeks contradicted her words entirely. "I'm a princess of the Slatemark Empire, not so little girl to be patronized."
"Arthur!" Rachel complained, her arms tightening around possessively as she pressed closer. "What about ? I just offered you a Divine Beast from my family's most prized collection!"
I found myself caught between two expectant faces, both princesses looking at with expressions that suggested any wrong move on my part would result in considerable diplomatic complications that could potentially escalate to international incidents.
"I can't exactly kiss you both at the sa ti," I said helplessly, which turned out to be precisely the wrong thing to say.
Both princesses turned to glare at each other with renewed intensity, their earlier cooperation in claiming my attention apparently forgotten in the face of this new competition. The temperature in the room seed to drop several degrees as they engaged in a silent battle of wills that I was powerless to influence or diate.
Then, as if they'd reached so sort of unspoken agreent through their mutual glaring, they moved in perfect synchronization. Rachel turned to kiss my left cheek at the exact sa mont Cecilia claid my right, their lips touching my skin with a timing that suggested they'd sohow coordinated the action despite their obvious rivalry.
'Well, that's one way to solve the problem,' Luna observed dryly. 'Though I suspect this is just going to create new complications down the line. Also, calling it now—they're definitely going to start comparing who got the better cheek.'
As both princesses pulled back, looking simultaneously satisfied and annoyed with their compromise solution, I felt the need to properly thank them both for their extraordinary generosity.
"You know," I said carefully, "I'm genuinely overwheld by both of your offers. A Divine Beast and an Ancient-grade weapon... these aren't small gestures."
'That's one way to put it,' Luna chid in with amusent. 'Your sugar mommies are really going all out with the expensive presents. At this rate, you're going to need a treasure vault just to store all the gifts.'
"I know you like for who I am, not what I can provide," Rachel said softly, her blue eyes eting mine with surprising vulnerability. "But I also want you to know that you shouldn't hesitate to use my influence when you need it, Arthur. The Creighton na carries weight across all continents, and as the future Saintess, my word will only grow more powerful. Please don't feel like you have to handle everything on your own."
Cecilia nodded firmly, her crimson eyes burning with intensity. "Rachel's right. You should use my power as a princess like it's your own, because in many ways, it is. The resources of the Slatemark Empire, the political connections, the military support—consider all of it at your disposal. What belongs to belongs to you."
The casual way she said it made my chest tighten with emotion. Here were two of the most powerful young won on the continent, offering not just gifts but access to the full extent of their authority and influence, simply because they cared about .
"I..." I started, then found myself genuinely at a loss for words. "Thank you. Both of you. I don't know what I did to deserve this level of support."
"You existed," Cecilia said simply, her usual calculating deanor softening into sothing more vulnerable. "That's all you needed to do."
Rachel nodded in agreent, snuggling closer to my side. "Just promise us you'll actually use what we're offering instead of trying to handle everything yourself like so kind of lone hero."
'They have a point,' Luna observed. 'Your tendency to shoulder impossible burdens alone is getting a bit ridiculous.'
As I sat there surrounded by these two remarkable won, holding Cecilia's incredibly generous gift and processing Rachel's life-changing offer, I couldn't help but marvel at how my life had developed. The complications were real, but so was the genuine care and support they were offering.
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