Zeke once again pressed his hand to his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. His gaze fell upon Wendy, who was feigning composure, and Seele, holding back tears with anticipation and anxiety in her eyes—their youthful faces as lovely as blossoming flowers.
Had their affection never stirred even the slightest emotion within him?
Of course not.
Zeke merely possessed greater rationality than most people; he wasn't an infallible saint devoid of vulnerability.
Ten years ago, Zeke had two reasons for postponing this complicated emotional issue. First, he needed to focus entirely on preparing for battle, leaving no room for sentimentality. Second, considering their young age, he doubted whether they truly understood romantic love or were simply mistaking dependency for it. However, ten years have passed since then. Wendy and Seele remained steadfastly by Zeke's side in the Imperial City, unequivocally proving their genuine feelings.
Both Wendy and Seele were flawless girls, impeccable in appearance and character. How could any normal man remain indifferent to their affections?
Now, only two factors restrained Zeke.
Firstly, Zeke had initially seen himself as their elder, treating these girls like younger ones needing guidance and care. However, this perceived generational gap existed solely in Zeke's mind; it was not a genuine relationship distinction, and the girls were entirely unaware of it. Moreover, among his four wives now, aside from Fu Hua, didn't they all share similar backgrounds? In short, this mental barrier had long become insignificant, hardly posing any real issue.
Secondly, Zeke wasn't certain if his initial feelings of prideful satisfaction and wavering, driven by male instinct, could genuinely develop into true love. This wasn't merely about giving a nod of consent; only mutual love could bring happiness after union. If he merely indulged his possessive desires, it would inevitably lead to deeper hurt for them in the future.
Love is one thing that Zeke couldn't calculate or predict with certainty, which is why he had consistently avoided providing a definitive answer.
"..."
The prolonged silence caused Seele to sadly lower her head, clenching her hands yet unable to hold back the tears falling drop by drop.
Wendy bit her lip, realizing that her impulsive words had hurt Seele deeply. Suppressing her disappointment and frustration, she was about to end the conversation.
"Sigh—"
Just then, Zeke let out a resigned sigh and gently touched the corner of Seele's eye.
"Alright, stop crying now. I'm truly sorry for delaying this decision so long. Also, haven't you just returned from your mission? Aren't you tired standing there all this time, Wendy?"
Zeke wiped away Seele's tears, addressing both girls with a rare tenderness evident in his actions and voice.
"Hic...hic..."
Taking deep breaths, Seele gradually stopped sobbing under Zeke's gentle touch. Embarrassed, she rubbed her eyes, her reddened eyelids and cheeks making her look like a small bunny trapped in a cage.
Wendy slowly sat down, scratched her face, then took one of Seele's hands, offering her an apologetic smile. Though it started as a slip of the tongue, her initial comment led to this awkward situation and caused Seele's distress.
Sniffling, Seele shook her head at Wendy.
"I-I'm okay now, Wendy. And Big Bro Zeke."
With great effort, Seele managed a smile, not wanting everyone to feel down because of her.
From childhood, she had always been this way—completely devoid of temper and consistently concerned about those around her whenever issues arose. However, it was precisely due to the constant love and protection from the people close to her, creating a warm and nurturing environment, that allowed her to maintain such purity.
Everything is interconnected.
Zeke's lips curved slightly upward as he gently patted Seele's head and whispered softly:
"I'm uncertain how to respond right now. The issue isn't with you two; rather, I believe agreeing without genuine love would be the greatest disservice to both of you."
"Big Bro Zeke, Seele understands."
"Tch! Just as expected from you. But since you've said your piece today, I won't press further. Take your time thinking, dummy!"
Seele nodded obediently, while Wendy rolled her eyes unhappily. For the moment, they let it go—not because Zeke disregarded their feelings, but quite the opposite: his cautiousness stemmed from valuing them deeply.
Having interacted with him for so many years, they understood Zeke's character well.
Once they grasped this aspect of his personality, their slight disappointment willingly gave way to acceptance.
The atmosphere naturally turned somewhat somber after that exchange.
Zeke turned his gaze towards the setting sun at the horizon, its rays painting the sky with vibrant reds and illuminating a golden sea line. After a long moment, he softly spoke:
"Let's take a break after the New Year and go on a trip together."
"Huh?" × 2
"I'll give you both an answer once I've sorted out some issues," said Zeke, his words carrying a hint of apology for the prolonged delay but also a touch of inexplicable relief.
Wendy and Seele exchanged glances, seeing the same gleam in each other's eyes. They then faced Zeke simultaneously, nodding enthusiastically.
"Yes!" × 2
It felt like the impenetrable fortress they had been trying to breach for ten years was finally showing signs of weakening, sending their hearts racing with joy. They were too excited and filled with anticipation, barely considering the possibility of rejection.
"Crunch! Crunch!" × 3
At that moment, the trio of eavesdropping wives couldn't help but quicken their chewing pace, suddenly finding the melon in their hands even more delicious!
Late at night, Wendy carried her pillow to Seele's room, and they decided to sleep together tonight.
After exchanging simple greetings, they lay side by side on the bed. With the lights extinguished, the moon and stars outside their window shone particularly brilliantly. Of course, they didn't immediately fall asleep but instead chatted under the covers.
"Listen, Seele, are you really sure about putting yourself through this? That guy has no shortage of admirers; it just feels like...a waste to throw yourself into that mix," Wendy turned to Seele, pouting as she complained.
This wasn't about competing with rivals for affection; Wendy genuinely believed Seele deserved better. In her eyes, Seele merited a perfect love exclusively dedicated to her, not shared among so many others.
Seele clutched the blanket edges, speaking in her usual soft and gentle voice: "Seele... Seele has thought about this too, but when I consider it carefully, being with Big Sisters Kiana, Bronya, and everyone else doesn't seem so bad. I...am simply happy to be able to stay with all of them."
"Waste! It's such a waste! How dare that brutish blockhead!" Wendy angrily pounded the blanket in frustration.
As someone sharing similar feelings with Seele, Wendy had grown very close to her over the years. She fully appreciated Seele's worth and cherished this dear friend from the bottom of her heart. The mere thought of Seele falling into Zeke's arms left her torn between feeling jealous for Zeke or disappointed for Seele!
"Ahh! Seele is way too adorable for this—it's truly unfair!"
Wendy called out once more, spun around, and hugged Seele tightly, vigorously nuzzling her face to alleviate the frustration she felt for Seele's sake.
Unaccustomed to such intimate gestures yet unwilling to push Wendy away, Seele let her continue for some time before timidly asking:
"What about you, Wendy? Aren't you discontented at all?"
"Of course I am! I'm not some subservient woman from feudal times; naturally, I wish...wish that he belonged only to me."
"Heh-heh! But Wendy, didn't you also come to terms with it eventually?"
"I... Okay, fine. Being with Big Sister Kiana and the others actually doesn't bother me much. They're all wonderful people, and even within that kind of relationship, I believe we can still have a delightful life together. When I think about it, haven't the five of us been quite happy these past years? It clearly shows there isn't any real issue. Besides, they were the first ones to connect with Zeke, and I arrived later. What choice do I have?"
Wendy muttered intermittently, expressing both her discontent and acceptance of this relationship dynamic. Though it was indeed a compromise, she found solace in it.
Then, Wendy noticed Seele stifling a giggle, even giving her a warm, almost maternal smile.
Her cheeks instantly puffed out indignantly.
"Oh, you think that's funny? Haven't you heard? I'm one of the most formidable Herrschers in combat! Take this!"
Wendy reached for Seele's armpits and waist, tickling with skillful precision.
"Ha-ha-ha... Wendy... ha-ha... stop it... I can't take anymore... ha-ha-ha..."
On the pink bed, the two girls entangled themselves, swiftly turning the neat bedding into a mess. They finally drifted off to sleep, still embracing each other, well into the late hours of the night.
Meanwhile, deep into the night, Zeke was reviewing political documents.
Page by page, he skimmed through them, committing each to memory. Zeke assessed the current state of affairs and planned the policies for the upcoming year.
Suddenly, his gaze froze.
A file buried beneath numerous others appeared on the virtual screen, catching Zeke's attention as he slowly tilted his head.
"Welt requesting six months off...for a honeymoon..."
Zeke blinked and read it again, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Huh?!"