"Purr~"
After Zeke sat down, Kiana swiftly shifted her head from Raiden Mei's lap to his, inhaling the comforting scent and dozing off without realizing it.
"Eating till full then sleeping—just like a pig." The presumptive emperor delivered this harsh remark, gently stroking the little swine with no one daring to refute him.
Bronya lounged softly nearby, receiving Seele's attentive feeding service while observing sideways, "She must be exhausted from overworking herself during yesterday's non-stop journey. She hasn't fully recovered yet; if not for waiting for you, Bronya suspects she would've fallen asleep on Big Sister Mei already—so, it's all Zeke's fault."
Her milky voice exuded sheer laziness, tinged with a hint of huskiness that sparked imaginative thoughts. In response, Zeke lightly pinched her cheek, prompting Bronya to grasp his hand affectionately and nuzzle it against her face.
To give credit where it's due, Duck Duck truly excels at flirtation, never missing an opportunity to win favor!
Bronya then turned and winked at Seele beside her, silently asking: Got it?
"..."
Seele picked up a piece of apple with her fork, placed it in her mouth, and quietly lowered her head.
Bronya genuinely wanted to help Seele, and Seele never doubted Bronya's kindness toward her—but this kind of assistance left her speechless. She felt she could never master such skills.
Zeke paid no attention to the sisters' exchange outside his line of sight. Instead, he scanned the room and asked, "Have Rozaliya and Liliya already left?"
"Yes, Zeke-san. The Alliance Leader sent a special escort for them. Their exceptional performances during previous disaster recovery efforts bring great comfort to those recently traumatized. You might not know this, but there was once a saying online that whenever Rozaliya and Liliya took the stage, it signaled the end of calamity."
"Ah, I see." Zeke nodded in understanding, then looked at Raiden Mei's serene smile and said:
"Speaking of which, your 'Zeke phobia' doesn't seem to be acting up this time. Have you overcome it?"
To test her reaction, Zeke casually patted Raiden Mei's shoulder.
Her radiant smile instantly froze, remaining stiff for several moments before shifting with deep resignation. She softly replied,
"What's this 'Zeke phobia'?... There's no such recognized medical condition."
"Well, as long as you're doing better now. Bronya will soon lead both the military and scientific research departments independently, leaving me short of a capable all-around assistant. You'll take on that role."
"Huh?" Raiden Mei was taken aback.
Bronya also seemed surprised but, given it was Zeke's arrangement, she had no objections and simply nodded.
Honestly, military command and technological research were indeed Bronya's strongest suits, where she could make the most significant impact. Moreover, the advancement in these two domains is crucial for the final battle. With Bronya overseeing them, she ensures the precise execution of Zeke's directives—an equally important aspect.
"I understand," Bronya replied without hesitation.
Raiden Mei snapped back to her senses and hastily stood up, bowing deeply toward Zeke.
"Yes sir! I'll do my best! Please guide me!"
In response to the girl's earnest commitment, Zeke merely shook his head with a sigh.
"Do you know what sets you apart from Bronya?"
"Huh?"
"You both have had access to the same educational resources. While differences in intellect play a part, your greatest limitation is your tendency to be passive. Bronya has long proven herself capable of handling responsibilities independently. Even without me, she can assume leadership roles where needed. Yet here you still are, trailing after Dr. Einstein or myself... This isn't meant as criticism; it's not that I doubt your capabilities, nor am I saying there's anything wrong with being purely an Enforcer. However, if you wish to progress further, you should reflect on this dependency issue."
After a moment of thoughtful silence, Raiden Mei expressed genuine gratitude: "Thank you for your guidance. Mei will take these words to heart."
"You're welcome. Everyone has their own path: Kiana excels as a front-line charge; Bronya is an exceptional all-rounder; Sin, a fearless assault specialist; Wendy serves both as vanguard and frontline commander; Seele thrives in medical services, adept at organizing wartime medical teams... Mei, you've dabbled in many areas, but merely learning isn't enough to utilize them fully. As a Herrscher, your potential surpasses even Bronya's. Take some time to consider what you truly want to achieve."
"Thank you, Zike-san... Wait, should I call you 'Your Majesty' now?" Raiden Mei asked with a sly smile.
Zeke's lips curved slightly, nodding in acknowledgment.
The new title was appropriate, and her playful banter indicated that the so-called "Zeke Phobia" seemed largely resolved—a positive development indeed.
"Everyone, get some rest soon. Days this tranquil won't last much longer," Zeke sighed softly. He then prepared to carry Kiana back to their room.
Just then, Kiana's eyes suddenly opened.
They were radiant golden irises, exuding a distinctly cold arrogance.
"Human, do not touch my body." Sirin, resting her head on Zeke's lap, spoke coldly as he moved to lift her. Overloaded with Honkai Energy, her voice resonated with a distinctive timbre.
Zeke gazed at her impassively and continued reaching out, gently pinching her cheek.
"Human!"
"You asking for another slap?"
"...(╯^╰)!" Sirin snorted, unsure whether it stemmed from defiance or annoyance. Nonetheless, she sat up, wincing slightly as she felt the fatigue and soreness in her waist.
"Shameless! Vulgar!" With a dark expression, Sirin scolded, recalling some unmentionable scenes flashing through her mind.
Leaning back casually, Zeke crossed his legs and replied, "Kiana and I are lovers, destined to marry someday. Isn't engaging in intimate acts between us perfectly natural? If you're displeased, simply confine yourself to the black room and avoid witnessing it."
"How do you justify this? Is this what you call love? As expected, nothing but hypocrisy and utter shamelessness!" Sirin pointed towards Bronya, whose face remained emotionless.
Bronya blinked innocently, giving no reaction.
Instead of addressing Sirin, Zeke extended his hand, pulling Bronya into his embrace.
With their remarkable understanding, Bronya instantly grasped his intent. She turned to face Zeke, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her soft lips against his—a gentle, fleeting kiss like a dragonfly skimming water.
Then, both Zeke and Bronya turned their heads simultaneously, casting identical calm gazes at Sirin.
"This concerns Kiana and us," Zeke stated, "What does it have to do with you?"
Sirin's eyes widened incredulously, forming a "(? ? 皿 ?)" expression!
Despite feeling her blood rush to her head, Sirin remembered that Kiana could awaken at any moment and seize control, while Zeke was not someone easily countered by merely possessing Void abilities. So, she took a deep breath and composed herself.
Yes, no matter how outrageous Zeke's actions might be, it's between him and Kiana—what does it have to do with me, Sirin?
Persuading herself thus, she let out a cold huff, refusing to give attention to these infuriating idiots any longer, and instead turned back to watch television.
"Hmph! Cartoons? How old are you now? So childish!" Sirin sneered as if everything annoyed her.
At this point, before others could react, Bronya, still embracing Zeke, widened her eyes first.
"What did you say? How dare you belittle Homu cartoons? They're true works of art! Not shallow or juvenile kids' stuff!"
"Hmph! Childish!"
"Never mind, the quality of the Homu series has long been acknowledged worldwide. There's no need for Bronya to argue with those who lack appreciation."
"It's still just animation, childish!"
Golden eyes locked intensely with gray ones, seemingly sparking electricity between them. After a brief standoff, both snorted audibly and turned away from each other simultaneously.
"Hmph!" x2
Zeke gently stroked the hair of the girl in his arms, soothing Bronya's discontent somewhat, then addressed Sirin:
"Why did you decide to show up now?"
"This is between me and that idiot—what's it got to do with you?"
Now it was Sirin's turn to sneer contemptuously at Zeke, essentially telling him, "Mind your own business!"
Zeke choked momentarily, but since he inhabited Kiana's body, he didn't want to burden her further during this time. Silently, he made a mental note of the incident without showing any reaction on his face.