Luke and Olivia came to a room after they finished dinner. He told her he was going to go in the bath before bed (yes, the two sleep in the same bed occasionally).
In any case, Jurnick wasn't present for the meal since he didn't have an appetite so the Berkley family were alone with the rest of the imperial family.
All throughout dinner, all Luke could think of was Ronia.
What exactly does she have planned? She didn't elaborate how she was going to do it but strangely enough, everyone who was present at the time seemed to believe her.
It's widely known that Ronia isn't a fighter so the most logical ways for her to turn an enemy into an ally is to either promise that person benefits that would outshine their initial goal. Or the other is to have an equal force on her side that can defeat the individual.
However, her words weren't "I will stop Arnold" but rather "I will bring him on our side" so the latter is ruled out. Luke isn't that good at reading people so he doesn't have any judgmental skills to determine her goal.
As such, he leaves that sort of stuff up to Olivia, who warned him about Ronia initially. She might even know or have an explanation for what Ronia meant.
As his face was half submerged in water, Luke heard the door open. It was quite late so he didn't expect anyone else to come in.
What he saw was a naked Olivia carrying her towel in one hand, her silver hair covering her pink nipples barely. With no shame on her face, she walked over to Luke and silently dipped her toe in the water to check the temperature.
She glanced at the bewildered Luke.
"What? The bath is big enough for both of us."
"T-That's not the issue… Isn't it against tradition for unmarried couples to see each other naked…?"
Nobles especially so.
"That is true but what of it? The only scrutiny I will face is being called a whore who wants to seduce the Hero and have his child before marriage, citing impatience for power as the reason."
"…"
She put her towel down and climbed inside. There is no need to wash before coming in the bath since there's already a magic item in the water that does that for you and cleans the water at the same time, releasing it as steam.
"Mmm…" the princess sighed as she sat down next to Luke, "To be honest, this is my first time being naked in front of a man other than Arnold… which is four years since."
She glanced at him as she leaned back, "What about you, Sir Luke? Have you ever seen your beloved Norn's naked body?"
That was quite specific..
"…Uhm…" he tried to remember all the times he walked in on her naked in the bath, sitting on the toilet or walking to a river and seeing her naked there.
Out of all these three instances, he was always met with a flying fist, kick or a rock thrown at him. To top all of that off, Norn screamed as if her life was in danger.
Luke recounted all those times to her, which made the princess chuckle a bit, "That's quite the silly way to react. Shouldn't the two of you be comfortable with each other by now since you've been together your whole lives?"
Apparently not…
"Speaking of her, she didn't take her mother's death as well as you have… You should consider spending more time with her this weekend."
"But I'm not that good at cheering people up." He lamented.
"Not even her?"
"I-It's just… she's always been the one to cheer me up. I've never seen her without a smile on her face."
"What would she do to cheer you up?"
"There isn't much to do in the countryside but… our favourite thing to do was make up stories together, even write it out and enact plays, with only Miss Claudia as an audience."
"…"
"No matter how bad we messed up our lines or how non-sensical the stories were, she would always clap at the end. Later on, she even brought her friends along and then the entire village would watch our plays. Many became interested in the plays and wanted to take part in it."
"What was her favourite story?"
"It was about a young queen who was put on the throne after her family died in a war against a powerful nation. Soon after taking the throne, the nation was invaded again and she only managed to escape when everyone sacrificed their lives for her. She only had her personal knight with her after all of that. The two are then cornered by enemy soldiers and barricaded themselves." He blushed all of a sudden, "It's supposed to end with her giving her first time to the knight after he confessed his love since he thought they would die together. Instead of kissing to signify the start of that, we would… dance instead."
He remembered how awful he was at dancing. But Norn was surprisingly good. Claudia must've taught her.
"…She's into love stories? She never seemed like the type."
"Yeah…"
The door opened, interrupting the two. They turned back at the same time to see who it was.
"—Looks like someone else is already here—huh, it's Luke and Olivia."
Adrianna and Anna stepped into the bath chamber—both completely naked.
Their large breasts gently swayed as they walked toward the water, steam curling around their figures. They didn't even seem to mind that Luke could see everything.
'Is it normal for noble relatives to bathe together!?'
Did Arnold also see his mother and sister naked? Probably. But did he always take baths with them?
"The two of you are breaking tradition by coming here together," Adrianna said, her voice more teasing than scolding.
"At least Lukie is behaving like a proper gentleman and not pouncing on Olivia like Al would," Anna added with a smirk as she slipped into the water, her chest rising to float lightly on the surface.
Both mother and daughter shared the same breast size.
She leaned back with a relaxed sigh. Adrianna followed suit, settling in across from them.
Olivia and Luke exchanged a glance.
"We can move to the other side if you're having a private talk," Adrianna offered, as her eyes remained fixed on Luke.
"No, our conversation isn't exactly that special. We were talking about his childhood friend."
"Huh? You have a beauty like Olivia in the bath with you, showing her breasts and everything else and you're thinking about someone else? Shame on you, Lukie." Anna splashed Luke with water.
"A-Ah!" he was unfortunately hit by the wave.
"Please don't do that!" he exclaimed.
"Sorry, sorry." She didn't sound sorry at all.
"The two of you are getting married at the end of the year so why are you not using the mansion Marcus bought for you?" Adrianna asked after she washed her face, "The servants are eager to welcome you."
"Yeah, you two should be living together now to get used to it later on. Besides, the mansion isn't that far from the academy, even closer than our second residence. Hold on, you don't hate each other, do you?"
"We appreciate your concern but I assure you we do not." Olivia glanced at him, "Though we have our differences and have quarreled, I will do my utmost to ensure there is no lasting hatred between us."
"Something happened, then?"
"…We had a bit of a disagreement at school. Something I am mostly at fault of." She lowered her head.
"That's healthy." Adrianna smiled, "Not every relationship is perfect where no conflict will exist. Rather, I would be surprised if such a couple existed, especially so in the aristocracy."
So, Luke shouldn't feel guilty about speaking up to her?
"Mom's right. Just don't forget to work together to fix whatever is broken. That will just cause hostility between you two. And with all of humanity now knowing Lukie is Promethius' successor, society will expect an heir to take over in the future."
"Carrying a child of the man you hate will only cause you to hate the child as well." Adrianna added, "I may not have gone through the same thing or have friends that experienced this but from the many things I've read over the years, and the experience I've gained as a mother and woman, I know the outcome of hatred."
"…" Olivia rubbed her stomach, "…Why did you insist on pushing my marriage with Arnold in the past if you are so certain of it, Mother? Weren't you… afraid I would have killed our child out of hatred?"
"Because I know you don't actually hate him. You hate that the present Al killed off the old Al and you had no way of finding a way to get him back." She answered without a moment's delay as if she expected the princess to ask this.
"I see…"
"You two better not prevent me from seeing my grandchild, though. All the women who gave birth to Al's children never once allowed me to see the children. And with how the laws work in the modern era, I couldn't exactly force them to do that."
"Not to worry. I have no such intention. It's better for the child to grow up with the whole family there to watch them." Olivia assured.
"Victoria, who I had hoped would give me a grandchild first, is still struggling. Last time I heard from her, she told me the potions I gave her didn't work even though she was guaranteed to become pregnant."
"But… how is it possible for him to have made children with anyone if he's now the Head of the Taelith House?" Luke asked in confusion.
"That isn't just a rumor?" the mother and daughter pair looked at each other.
"I don't know." Anna shrugged her shoulders.
"Long story short, a member of the Taelith Household came to the academy and declared him king of the dragons and her beloved. With everything that happened in just a day, I do not know how to react to finding this out." Olivia answered.
"Mom, don't tell me you are secretly a half elf who mated with a dragon back in the day…" horrified, the daughter grabbed her mother's shoulders.
"I'm not! I do not know how this came to be, okay!?"
"Not just that, he is apparently the incarnation of a dragon lord." Olivia answered, "I want to ask this Myrena girl tomorrow if she can explain everything to me in detail."
"Before that, how are we certain it's true?"
"He now possesses the Draconic Halo, eyes that only a dragonkin can awaken upon taming the soul of an ancient dragon."
The mother-daughter pair looked at each other again, both sharing the same disbelief.
"I thought I knew my little brother the most but to think this was kept from me all this time…"
"I concur… I never knew this about Al… But I would like to sit down with him and have a chat about his life. I've never paid much attention to what happens in his life and now all of this happens."
"Don't beat yourself up over it, Mother. You were busy and I'm sure he knows this and understands."
"How are you… so certain, Olivia?"
"He told Miss Judith that he would like to eat with the family again if you will have him as a guest. He will most likely welcome you learning more about his life."
"…"
"However, he might not have any intention of returning as Arnold von Berkley again but someone else instead."
"Is that so…" eyes downcast, she continued, "It pains me that I was not always there for him as a mother, just an elder who chided him for making mistakes and never showing him that I worried about him. Now that chance has slipped away."
Olivia didn't say anything but her gaze conveyed her sympathy.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to brood."
"No, it's only human for a mother to feel this way." Olivia and Adrianna smiled to each other.
"Speaking of motherhood, aren't you ashamed that Olivia is going to outpace you at this rate?" Adrianna looked at Anna, "Remember, you were the one who said you want to save yourself for marriage. I don't expect a grandchild from the two this soon, maybe after Olivia's graduation, but that's something I can wait for. You, however, have kept your mother waiting for almost ten years now."
"It's not that easy to find someone, okay!? Why is the topic suddenly shifting towards me, anyway!?"
"It's hard not to think about this when I was under the impression that I had several grandchildren already whose mothers never gave me permission to see them."
"Uhm, we're supposed to have a child after your graduation, princess?" Luke glanced at Olivia who was rubbing her arm with foam.
"My studies take priority so I cannot just have a child this early. Having the child during a gap year is more convenient. After that, I can return to furthering my education."
"You want to continue studying even after the academy?"
"I can't just apply to join an army upon graduation. There's a whole process—more convoluted than simply applying. First, I need to become a knight, which requires sponsorship from a noble house or battlefield merit. Only then can I be considered for officer training. After that, I might be assigned a small unit to command. Leading real armies takes years of service, recognition, and political backing. Dreams don't make it easier just because I'm a princess."
"Can't His Majesty just help you join?"
People probably won't even deny she has the skills to lead her own unit since the empire is well aware of how talented she is. She is always near the top of the academic year at Ardark, after all. That speaks volumes and institutions are always watching.
"I don't want to use the power I was born with to open doors for me." She then stared forward, but not at Adrianna and Anna who were bickering but it looked more like a distant stare, "I suppose that's what makes me and my sister alike."
"Ah."
"I am still grateful for the privileges in my life but I would never be able to be proud of myself if I looked back, knowing I used my own political power as a stepping stone."
He honestly didn't know this about her even though the two knew each other for quite a while.
"What is your aspiration in life, Sir Luke?" she asked him.
"…I always wanted to become a knight but now I want to become a mercenary."
"That's not a sustainable position nor does it need qualifications…"
"I-I know that. I also know that it's impossible to become one now that everyone knows who I am."
"Indeed, a mercenary is someone who is free to travel around and do whatever they can for money. But what changed your mind to become a knight in the first place? Do you crave freedom?"
"That's not it… I would like to help people out regardless of the job I end up taking. Becoming a mercenary was just one of many. My… master is a mercenary. Even though she's a full-time instructor, she always finds time to go out on adventures."
"Miss Flora knows what you are so even if you did not let that aspiration go, she would have refused to permit you to go on adventures with her."
"Haha, you're right…"
It still sucks that he can't spend more time with her outside of training. Flora isn't the type of person who chit-chats during lessons so they almost never have casual talks. The two of them see each other in the mornings and evenings but only for a short while most of the time.
"That means you have a victory lap over her, Olivia," Anna teased with a grin. "Don't let Flora steal Lukie away. Though i suppose that would be difficult since he seems so captivated by you that he always obeys. Hahaha!"
The implication was obvious and even Luke understood it.
"W-We don't have that kind of relationship…" Luke spluttered, cheeks going pink.
"Oh please," Anna waved him off. "You're always hovering around her like a lost puppy. It's adorable."
"Forgive your sister," Adrianna said, lounging back with a calm smile. "She has too much free time to meddle in others' love lives instead of finding one herself."
"Hey, that's not true!" Anna huffed.
"Then get a lover already. Everyone in the family keeps asking me if you found someone."
"I'm not just going to pick some random guy to shut you all up."
"Engagement letters come in every month," Adrianna said. "Surely one of them knows how to write more than just 'I find your face agreeable.'"
"Oh gods," Anna groaned. "Don't remind me. One guy sent a painting of himself shirtless on a horse. Who does that?"
"Was he at least good-looking?"
"No! He had the posture of a soggy broomstick," Anna said, scowling. "And he wrote his name in gold ink. On velvet no less as if that would impress me."
"That's kind of impressive, to be quite honest. He has a lot of confidence."
"That's the wrong kind of confidence."
Olivia smiled quietly through all the banter, clearly enjoying the exchange.
"Anyway," Anna said, resting her chin on the edge of the bath, "I still think Olivia's got you wrapped around her finger."
Olivia's smile suddenly vanished and a shadow formed over her face.
"…I think it's about time I get out now. Drowsiness is about to set in and I don't want to fall asleep in the bath." The princess stood up, "Goodnight, Mother, Sister Anna."
"Night~"
"Goodnight, Sweetie."
Luke also hurriedly said goodbye to the two before following after Olivia.
It would feel awkward to stay behind with them in the bath.
He just noticed something while in the bath—he wasn't excited at seeing their bodies at all.
Even looking at Olivia's bare back as the two walked, he felt no inkling of excitement.
He's also seen Flora naked a few times. But it was the same back then. It seems that he can only get excited by Norn.
That's what he believes…
"I can feel your eyes burning a hole in my head." when she was about to open the door, she glanced back at Luke.
"S-Sorry."
"Don't worry. I am your future wife so it is fine to stare. But no touching is allowed until our consummation." She glanced down, "I'm glad both of you understand."
Her voice sounded almost amused.
**
"—Princess, you said something about staying away from Ronia. But why is she so dangerous?"
As they were drying off, Luke asked Olivia something.
"I don't know why," she finally said, wrapping the towel around her waist. "But whenever I think about Ronia or I pass by her, I feel... off. I get chills. And when she talks to me, or even looks at me, it's like there's this... pull. Like I'm supposed to listen and obey."
Luke furrowed his brow. "Charm magic?"
They studied this kind of magic last year. It didn't matter if he's not in the magic class division. It's important for a knight to recognize when they're charmed since this can place their colleagues and clients in danger. There are usually signals, most often the memory itself. Even now Luke could remember how dreadful it felt to know someone might be playing with his mind.
Imagine going through life like that for years just because the origin of that magic turns out to be your sibling.
"I thought so, too. I even wore a magic item designed to detect foreign mana influences — a sensory type, high-end stuff. It didn't pick up anything. Nothing external is invading me."
"Then what is it?"
"I think something's tampering with my thoughts directly. Something that's already inside me. Like a switch whenever I think of one specific detail. Maybe it makes me a mindless zombie to erase any trace of doubt then I'm me again, back to my usual self and not an inkling of doubt in my mind."
Luke looked concerned, but she pressed on.
"A few years ago, I tried writing down everything I could remember about Ronia and the things I suspected of her. Every strange thing, every moment that felt... wrong. I enchanted the paper to preserve it, even made sure no one saw me do it. Then the next morning, I checked the note. It was drenched in ink, making the contents unreadable."
"Wait—what? But you said it was enchanted."
"It was. That's the strangest part. No alarm spell was triggered. No sign of intrusion. Whatever did it either bypassed the magic entirely… or I did it, and I don't remember."
She looked at herself in the mirror, "I've thought that I was the issue or someone else in the family or outside it. But no one gives me chills like she does. I don't even know if it's my sister. I can only remember the current Ronia from 10 years old. Before that, there's a dark abyss waiting for me. And when I enter it, I always forget what I was looking for. Strangely, no one else has experienced this, making me question my sanity many times."
Silence fell between them.
Luke shifted uneasily. "You're saying... you think someone's altering your memories?"
"Or erasing them. Maybe even every time I get too close to the truth. I don't know what's going on, but Ronia… she doesn't feel real anymore. She's like a mask someone else is wearing or an evil spirit that took control of my sister. Like I said, every time I try to prove it, something resets me."
Luke frowned. "But how do you know it's not just paranoia?"
"Because I've never felt this helpless before," Olivia's body was filled with goosebumps and she looked pale, "This is like fighting something I can't even see. And even though I don't want to, human curiosity forces me to do so."
She looked at him, "I don't know what's there to actually fear but if my suspicions are right, it's best that you don't do anything to make you a target of it all. If it's truly mind control, you are in the most danger to become a puppet. Even if it's not certain that it's my sister, please tread carefully when you meet her and don't ever antagonize her."
"…Okay."
It was the first time since they met that Luke realized how empty her gaze truly was whenever the topic shifted to the oldest princess of the Imperial family.
**
The room was dim, lit only by the silver spill of moonlight across the floor.
Luke lay beside her, one arm draped awkwardly over the blanket, chest rising and falling in the slow rhythm of sleep. He snored softly completely unaware of how loud the silence in her mind had become.
Olivia lay on her side, staring out the window with half-opened eyes.
She couldn't get what Anna said out of her mind. That offhand comment—"got you wrapped around her finger"—something inside her clenched.
It was too close to the truth. Or… to what used to be the truth.
Olivia curled her fingers into the sheets.
Some used to whisper behind her back that Luke was like an obedient dog, trained to heel at her command. The thought made her stomach twist. She'd never allow anyone to reduce him to that. He was the Hero, the Chosen of the Gods, the future ruler. Not a pet. Not some leashed mutt.
But even now, she couldn't entirely deny that she had played her part in molding him.
She'd always believed she knew what was best for him. Who he should talk to. Who he should stay away from. She had done what she felt was appropriate to keep him under her "control".
As a princess, control came naturally—expected even, since royalty is always raised with the expectation that they will lead others.
But Luke isn't just some subject under her rule. He is her future husband, future emperor of this empire and the Gods' Chosen.
She is strong enough to admit that she wanted the power that comes with controlling such a man. It would be difficult to do so when he's older so she wanted to do it early on so that he would know his place.
Olivia laid on her back and looked at Luke.
One of these days, she will offer this man an heir and bind him to her for life through their child. It should be a privilege to any woman to have this opportunity.
She had even planned ahead for this future and looked forward to it. But she looked to the future expecting Luke would be a mindless puppet who obeys everything she says.
But his outburst when she touched a sensitive subject changed everything. It made her realize she was going a bit too far sometimes.
"Haa… I just want a normal romance…"
She closed her eyes after whispering the thing she yearned for but will probably never get.