Click…!
The sound of the door opening right next to my bed stirred me from my bewildered state.
A figure emerged, ck hair cascading gently, and golden eyes widened with surprise as they met mine.
A faint smile graced Analise''s lips as she greeted me, her maid uniform reced by a pure white robe reminiscent of Elena''s attire.
"Young master, it seems you''re awake" she remarked with a knowing tone.
"Ana?"
I stammered, still trying to make sense of the bizarre scene around me.
The girls, the unfamiliar bed, and the sheer surrealism of it all left me feeling disoriented.
Ana, however, seemed to have some inkling of what happened.
"Good morning, young master" she teased, her eyes dancing mischievously as she surveyed the scene. "Fufu…It seems you''re having a good time" she said while looking at my bottom half.
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and I fumbled for words.
"G-good morning... Wait, can you tell me what''s going on?"
I asked, a bit desperation evident in my voice. As I tried to change her attention.
And besides this whole situation had me utterly confused.
Thest clear memory I had was greeting the others with Elena.
After that, it was a nk te.
What had unfolded after? And why in the world did I find myself surrounded by these girls?
What about the dragon? I vividly remembered cutting its wing, but I knew I hadn''t in the creature.
So many pieces were missing from the puzzle.
"You don''t remember, young master?" Ana''s voice carried a hint of concern as she gazed at me with those knowing golden eyes.
"Remember what?" I replied, still grappling with the foggy confusion that clouded my recent memories.
"Well, I suppose it wouldn''t be surprising if you don''t recall. It all happened quite unexpectedly" Ana exined.
"After everything was over, you suddenly fell unconscious young master... There was actually quite amotion that happened… although I only saw you when you hit the ground, it seems your body was consumed by an intense fever after the light in your sword disappeared…. young master. It seems you pushed yourself a bit too much back then" she said while looking at me a bit angrily.
"It''s been four days since then. I''m genuinely relieved to see you''re okay now"
As she spoke, she gently wiped my forehead with a cool, damp towel, a soothing touch that grounded me in the present moment.
Ana''s care and concern were palpable, and a sense of gratitude washed over me.
"You''re not feeling any pain, are you, young master?" she inquired with genuine worry. "Do you want me to prepare you breakfast? I suppose it would be lunch now, but are you hungry, young master?"
"Wait, 4 days...?"
I mumbled, the weight of the realization sinking in slowly.
As I tried to piece together the fragments of memory, the moment when everything turned ck lingered in my thoughts.
Had I really fallen unconscious then? The idea didn''t seem far-fetched, considering the immense strain I had subjected my body to.
Contemting the recent events, it became clear that wielding my authority and pushing the boundaries of my divinity had consequences.
Regardless of my divine status in that short moment, the truth was that I had surpassed the limits of my normal capabilities.
The nature of the divinity I wielded shed with my own, and the repercussions were catching up with me.
It made sense that my body had initiated a shutdown mode, a self-preserving response to the overwhelming strain.
"Fufu... Everyone was really worried about you, young master, especially all the girls here" Analise''s tone shifted to a more serious note as she locked eyes with me.
Considering she said all the girls here she that probably includes her as well.
The weight of her words hit me, and a mix of gratitude and guilt washed over me.
ncing around at the concerned faces of the girls, I realized that their worry extended beyond the casual kind.
Analise, too, was part of this collective concern for my well-being. Her touch on my cheeks was gentle, and a warm smile apanied her words.
"I know you did it for everyone... But please take care of your body, young master" she implored, a hint of vulnerability in her expression.
"You don''t know how worried everyone was" The sincerity in her voice resonated, prompting me to acknowledge the impact of my actions on those who cared about me.
Although the desire to apologize lingered within me, a hunch told me that vocalizing it might lead to more nagging.
So, instead, I offered a genuine nod, hoping it would convey my gratitude.
Ana seemed to understand, and a reassuring smile crossed her face.
She resumed cleaning me with practiced skill, skillfully navigating around the still-sleeping girls, ensuring not to disturb their peaceful rest.
As Ana diligently went about her task, a question bubbled up within me.
"By the way, where are we?"
I inquired, taking the opportunity to survey the room.
From the ceiling to the walls, and even the floor, everything was immactely white, with subtle gold and gray finishes enting the pristine surroundings.
It was a stark contrast to the chaotic events that had unfolded in the city.
If I had truly been asleep for four days, waking up in a tent or some makeshift shelter wouldn''t have surprised me, given the recent disaster.
But the reality was quite the opposite.
"We are in the Holy Kingdom, young master"
"After everything was over, Bishop Austin stubbornly insisted on bringing you to the Holy Kingdom to rest. Lady Lilliana and Aria opposed, suggesting they would take you back to the duchy instead. Despite their objections, they had to relent eventually, given your position as the hero and your ties with the Church of Light."
"Though that doesn''t mean they backed down without a fight" Ana added, a wry smile crossing her face.
"They made the bishop bring me and the others along. Youngdy Be wanted toe as well but was prevented by the principal, who insisted she was needed to relocate the citizens."
As Ana recounted the events, a sense of realization dawned on me.
Bishop Austin''s immediate move to im ownership over my well-being wasn''t entirely unexpected, considering the weight of the hero''s mantle I now bore.
However, the swift action surprised me, especially so soon after waking up.
I guess the bishop was afraid of potential conflict with the empire if Aria and Lilliana sessfully took me back to the duke.
This situation, though not entirely ideal, seemed to be thepromise reached to avoid escting tensions.
Honestly, I didn''t have much desire to see the duke, and considering the empire''s emperor, he would undoubtedly try to exert control over me.
As I pondered the political intricacies, Analise, with a warm smile, then said, "I''ll prepare some stew for you, young master" She gracefully moved towards the door, ready to attend to her duties.
"Wait… can you at least help me out here first?" I requested, gesturing to the girls sprawled on my bed like a collection of peacefully sleeping kos.
The room, now adorned with the soft hues of morning light, highlighted the serenity of their slumber.
"Fufu, I can''t help you with that, young master. I''m sorry, but can you please let them enjoy this moment for a few more hours?"
"They were really worried for four days straight now since you didn''t show any signs of waking up" she said while looking at them gently.
"They actually held themselves back quite a bit, considering they didn''t jump on you for all those days. Even the mostlyid-back Lady Louise, who always seems to hold her feelings back, couldn''t restrain herself and imed your chest right away when everyone was debating on where to sleepst night. For the record, I was also sleeping right next to you, young master" Analise said, her tone a blend of happiness and a hint of seduction.
She winked at me before gracefully stepping out of the room.
As the door closed behind her, I couldn''t help but chuckle at what she said.
The dynamics among the girls seemed to have taken an unexpected turn during my unconscious days.
It was both amusing and endearing to know that, even in their worry and concern, the girls had found moments of lightheartedness and connection.
The camaraderie among them was evident, and it brought a smile to my face as I marveled at the intricacies of their rtionships.
As I relished in this heartwarming revtion, a sudden, unexpected sensation jolted me.
"Ow…?"
I eximed, feeling a simultaneous tug on both my left and right arms.
Aria and Elena, standing on either side of me, were engaged in a subtle but yful battle, each attempting to pull me in her direction.
Even though I can tell they were deep asleep.
They''re still fighting?
It seemed the notion of connection was still open for debate….
Now that I think about it, I wonder what happened to Tristan?
….
In a dimly lit room, the ambiance carried an air of secrecy and tension. A man, dressed in regal attire, knelt before an orb that emanated a golden glow.
Suspended in the air, a holographic screen materialized, disying the image of a man seated on a magnificent throne.
The man''s resplendent appearance was characterized by reptilian-like green eyes, and his intense pink hair almost appeared crimson due to its vibrancy.
"Duke Frederick, it seems you''ve been keeping secrets from me" the man on the screen dered with authority.
With a snap of his fingers, additional holographic images materialized, depicting faces and news snippets that unveiled the events at Estelle Academy.
One word stood out prominently in the news—''Hero''—and associated with this title was Adrian Vulter Tellus, Duke Frederick Tellus''s second son.
Duke Frederick, maintaining hisposed posture, allowed his golden hair and stern red eyes to scrutinize the unfolding holographic scenes.
The news presented apelling narrative, tying his family to the extraordinary tale of a hero, Adrian Vulter Tellus.
The gravity of the situation pressed upon him, and after a moment of contemtion, he addressed the regal figure on the screen.
"I have no knowledge about all this, Your Majesty," Duke Frederick stated with his customary cold yet resolute voice.
His gaze remained fixed on the holographic disy, attempting to discern the extent of the revtions before him.
The room held an air of uncertainty as the man on the throne continued to scrutinize Duke Frederick''s reactions.
''He''s not lying…'' the Emperor thought as his dragon eyes, piercing and discerning, delved into the truth behind the Duke''s words.
Although he considered Frederick a close friend, more than a mere sword, unlike many others in the empire, the Emperor understood that his role as the sovereign was unwavering.
No amount of camaraderie could allow friendship to undermine the hierarchy he stood atop.
Amidst the dimly lit chamber, the golden glow of the orb illuminated the contemtive expression on the Emperor''s face.
The weight of pressing matters bore down on him; too much had transpired in the span of a single day.
Lives were lost, and a cascade of problems emerged—dungeon breaks, demonic incursions, the injury to their guardian dragon, and, most notably, the arrival of the hero.
The very foundations of the continent seemed poised to shake under the weight of these unprecedented events, and the Emperor found himself grappling with the urgency of seeking answers.
''I knew I shouldn''t have ignored those warnings,'' the Emperor thought, the regret echoing within him as he turned his gaze back to the Duke.
"It seems the church has already taken custody of your kid…"
"Yes, Your Majesty"
"Bring him back to the empire" the Emperormanded with authority, a tone that brooked no argument.
"As you wish, Your Majesty…"