(Orlax’s POV)
Because of the light entering my right eye, I felt a headache.
It was slightly painful because this was the first ti this eye had ever been used.
The scene around was blurry, but it gradually beca clearer until my vision turned normal.
However, there was sothing different that appeared before .
Particles of light floated in the air, and these particles were particularly gathered around Alice as if they were drawn to her.
’What is this?’
I tried to grab them, but they slipped through my fingers.
The multicolored particles danced around Alice as if begging to stay by her side.
I looked at my body and noticed red-colored particles floating around in large numbers as well.
’Is this... mana?’
The scenery around was so srizing that I was captivated for a mont.
"Are you seeing with your right eye? How is that possible? All the doctors told that eye would never see again."
Alice’s astonished voice snapped out of my thoughts, and I turned to see her surrounded by an array of vivid, colorful lights.
"Well, I actually..."
I explained what I had done—how my eye was considered an artifact, which allowed to gift it to her, and how I also turned her eye into an artifact.
"That’s... sothing I never even thought of before."
Alice seed a little shocked by the information I gave her. I left her to ponder it while I refocused on the mana particles.
I activated control magic and saw the particles around move rapidly toward the target I had designated.
They quickly ford into the shape of a red hand and lifted the cup in front of .
The whole process happened within re fractions of a second, but I observed every detail.
’This... changes everything for . I can use magic in ways I never imagined before.’
I focused on the red particles shaped like a hand and, this ti, made them slowly turn into a fist.
Crash!
"Kyaa! What happened? Why did the cup suddenly break?"
Alice was startled by the sudden breaking of the cup and let out a soft scream.
"Nothing. Just a small experint."
I reassured her before returning to my thoughts.
’I can use magic more efficiently this way. And more importantly...’
I suddenly rose from the couch, surprising Alice, but I ignored her and walked over to the bed.
I fixed my gaze on the sleeping Sera—and was shocked by what I saw.
"What the hell is this!"
I cursed at the sight that had been revealed to .
Sera’s body was bound by dozens of red chains, tightly coiling around her like restraints.
’What are these chains? Why are they on her? Who could’ve done sothing like this?’
I tried to use my magic, and the red particles shot toward the chains.
I manipulated my magic, attempting to destroy them, but even after so ti, I couldn’t move them at all. Sera’s expression started to show discomfort, and suddenly she woke up in a panic.
"Owww, Papa, it hurts! It hurts!"
Tears welled up in her eyes as she cried from the pain, prompting to stop imdiately and rush to her side, embracing her.
I gently patted her back while holding her, trying to soothe her pain, and eventually, she cald down.
"What’s happening? What’s wrong with Sera?"
Alice approached with a worried expression, clearly distressed by Sera’s tears.
"Take my hand."
I didn’t want to explain everything, so I asked her to hold my hand and showed her my mories.
After a while, Alice let go of my hand and looked at Sera with even more concern.
"What are these chains, for heaven’s sake?"
"I don’t know either. But when I tried to remove them, you saw how much pain it caused her."
I gently stroked Sera’s hair as I recalled what had happened earlier.
"What will you do, then?"
Alice’s worried tone made pause for a mont before I replied.
"I won’t do anything for now. I don’t see any negative effects caused by these chains... but I will try to learn more about them."
"If you say so..."
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Just as Alice finished speaking, we heard knocks at the door, which made clutch my head in pain.
’Can’t I get so rest?’
"Co in."
I called out wearily to the person behind the door.
The door burst open with great force, making it imdiately obvious who it was.
A girl with red hair and a wide smile walked into the room.
She froze in place when she saw Alice standing near the bed, staring at her, but quickly regained her composure.
"What is Alice doing here at this hour?"
Riana asked with a questioning tone, eyeing Alice suspiciously as she stood beside my bed.
"Nothing, we were just talking."
Riana didn’t seem convinced by my answer, even though it was true, but she let go of her thoughts and walked over to the other side of the bed, lying down there.
"What are you doing here, Riana?"
Although I already had a pretty good idea, I asked anyway to confirm.
"Nothing. I just ca to sleep with you."
Riana answered casually, as if it wasn’t a big deal, resting her head on the pillow.
"Wha—sleep together?"
Alice gasped, covering her mouth in shock upon hearing Riana’s casual statent.
’Why are you reacting like she’s committing a cri, Alice?’
"Yeah, what’s the problem with that?"
Riana asked with genuine confusion at Alice’s strange reaction.
Alice looked slightly upset by Riana’s calm deanor and pointed at her accusingly.
"What’s the problem? Show so respect, Riana. You’re speaking inappropriately to the Emperor."
’I’m pretty sure that’s not the real reason you’re upset, Alice.’
Riana didn’t seem to care about Alice’s words and closed her eyes in boredom.
"He’s my husband before he’s the Emperor. There’s nothing wrong with my behavior."
’You’re just making things worse, Riana.’
I focused on Riana, lying nonchalantly on the bed—and was surprised once again.
There were no mana particles floating around Riana like with or Alice—since she wasn’t using mana.
Instead, there was a small girl with red hair and golden eyes, hovering around Riana with a smile on her face. She was tiny—no larger than a finger.
She floated around Riana, watching the scene with delight.
As soon as our eyes t, the tiny girl seed surprised but didn’t avert her gaze—instead, she smiled at .
’Is this her unique skill? [Sword Spirit]? She looks like a tiny version of Riana.’
"You! Didn’t we have an agreent?"
I was pulled out of my thoughts by Alice’s angry voice directed at Riana.
’An agreent? Why don’t I know anything about this?’
While I was distracted, the tiny red-haired girl floated over to Sera and gently patted her head with a warm smile.
A smile appeared on Sera’s face as she slept in my arms.
’Can Sera sense the Sword Spirit?’
"Agreent? I don’t rember anything like that."
Riana turned her head away as she answered Alice, making it obvious she was lying.
The Sword Spirit moved toward and sat on my shoulder, watching the scene with a smile.
[Sword Spirit greets you]
[Sword Spirit advises: You should intervene before a conflict starts between them]
Several translucent blue screens suddenly appeared in front of , displaying these ssages.
I turned to glance at the tiny girl sitting on my shoulder, still smiling.
’It’s communicating with ? This is new.’
"Alright, alright, both of you, stop."
I took my eyes off the girl on my shoulder and turned to Riana and Alice to stop the argunt between them.
"Instead, why don’t you join us in bed?"
I ignored Riana’s grumbles and focused on Alice, who was standing in front of .
"Really?"
A bright expression appeared on her face when she heard my words, making close my eyes.
"Of course."
"Yay!"
Alice jumped in excitent and lay down on the bed with a happy smile.
"Tsk."
Riana clicked her tongue upon seeing Alice get in bed too.
I gently placed Sera on the bed and lay beside her, with Alice to my left and Riana to my right, next to Sera.
"Alright, so quiet now. I need to rest. I’m exhausted."
I covered myself with the blanket after making sure Sera was sleeping peacefully and asked them to quiet down.
I closed my eyes, ready to sleep—only to suddenly feel a soft sensation to my left.
I opened my eyes and turned to my left to see Alice, eyes closed, clinging tightly to my arm.
I shut my eyes again but felt movent on my right, so I looked again.
I saw that Riana had gently picked up Sera and placed her on the other side of the bed.
She lay next to and grabbed my right hand, making feel that soft sensation again—but more intensely this ti.
’Sigh... Looks like it’s going to be a sleepless night for .’
And so, I spent the whole night turning in bed, trapped between these two girls.
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