Lillie's words reflected her own thoughts. Maybe Lusamine would be a perfect partner? But no one can make decisions for others, and Carl certainly wouldn't make promises under such circumstances.
"I never said you should only marry my mom," Lillie suddenly interjected, disrupting Carl's train of thought.
"What did you say?" Carl was taken aback.
"Don't treat me like a child," Lillie pouted. "I've noticed all those little interactions between you and Serena. She even calls out your name in her sleep."
Serena, who had just reached the doorway, froze on the spot.
"And then there's Sabrina," Lillie continued. "She's usually so indifferent, but her eyes soften when she looks at you."
Sabrina, about to speak, was also stunned into silence.
"I'm not sure about Caitlin," Lillie shrugged, "but she relies on you a lot, so she probably won't escape either."
Caitlin, overhearing this, felt indignant. Why was she being left out?
Leaving Caitlin aside, Lillie earnestly asked, "If both Serena and Sabrina have feelings for you, would you choose to give up on one of them?"
Carl stared at Lillie, unsure of how to respond. The girl had a sharp eye, seeing right through his nature. He had indeed underestimated her before.
"You can't fool me," Lillie huffed, "You act like you don't care, but you always get what you want. I admire your ambition."
"I admire the first emperor of your Nine Isles most."
"He once said, the problem isn't about rebellion, but whether one has the ability to rebel."
"And you, you have the power to control the world."
"As soon as they enter your life, they can't escape, and no one can take them away!"
Carl couldn't help but want to applaud. He hadn't expected Lillie to be the one who understood him best, even knowing so much about history.
The mentality of a laid-back person pursuing what they want—are they contradictory? Not at all.
"So, what exactly are you trying to say?" Carl was curious about her intention.
"I could guess what you were about to say," Lillie said seriously. "That my judgment about Mom might not be accurate."
"That feelings need to be nurtured by both parties, and can't be forced."
"..."
"That I have no right to make decisions for my mom, right?"
"Exactly correct." Carl admired this clever girl even more. Her mind was truly impressive.
"I'm not making decisions for my mom, I'm making decisions for myself." Lillie stated solemnly, "Regardless of what Mom thinks, I have to do what a daughter should do."
"I believe you're the most suitable choice, for reasons I've already mentioned."
"Mom has sacrificed so much for me, and I want her to be happy. So, I'm going to do everything to help you two get together."
"I'm asking if you're willing to take responsibility, so I can confirm whether you're an ally or a hindrance!"
Carl was taken aback.
So, if he agreed, she'd help him pursue Lusamine, and all he had to do was cooperate.
"If I didn't have these intentions, why would you insist on setting us up?" Carl thought. "This is a bit too much."
It wasn't like he had any such ideas, yet he was being pushed towards this role. Even the great conqueror would be envious.
"What if your dad were still alive?" Carl didn't respond directly but asked, "If he suddenly came back, what would you do?"
"Thirteen years without a word, how is that different from being dead?" Lillie replied firmly. "Making Mom wait all these years, he should feel ashamed. People need to look forward."
Carl nodded silently, not because he agreed with pushing Lusamine towards him, but because he appreciated Lillie's understanding and care for her mother. Though her approach was extreme, it was better than those who were obsessed with a missing father, ignoring their mother's suffering.
"I'll think about it," Carl replied evasively. He couldn't just agree outright, surely Lillie didn't realize that everyone was listening to this conversation.
"Take your time," Lillie glanced at him, suddenly changing her tone. "Now take me over, I want to talk to Mom."
She had noticed that her mother had left in haste due to embarrassment and wanted to comfort her.
"You and Dawn are very much alike," Carl suddenly chuckled.
Both had a tendency to overestimate their own abilities.
At this moment, Lusamine would least want to face Lillie. The shadow of feeling betrayed hadn't faded yet. But Lillie was completely oblivious, eagerly drawing closer.
"Dawn?" Lillie tilted her head, a hint of confusion in her eyes. She secretly guessed that this was another new girl around Carl.
"Nothing," Carl quickly stifled his smile, becoming serious. "You stay here, I'll go over and talk to her."
Before he finished speaking, he had already wrapped himself in psychic energy and flew straight into the teleportation ring. To ensure safety, he secretly signaled to Mew to have Hoopa remove the ring device immediately. This would prevent Lillie from following and ensure their conversation remained private. As for the return trip, he had already arranged to use Cosmog's power.
The ring vanished suddenly, and Lillie, about to speak, found herself reaching for nothing. She furrowed her brow in confusion, "Why is he so eager? Did I miss something?"
In her view, women like Lusamine, who had a child, shouldn't attract Carl's interest. With his status, he could easily pursue top trainers like Cynthia, so why choose someone married? Lillie had volunteered to help Carl pursue Lusamine but found his eagerness puzzling. She was about to search for advice online when she felt the surroundings darken.
Looking up, she saw Serena and two other girls standing before her. Lillie forced a smile. Serena, her face flushed, questioned her, "What did you mean by saying I was flirting with Carl?"
Lillie didn't back down, "Did I say anything wrong? Aren't you pining for him?"
"I'm not!" Serena hastily denied it, but under Sabrina and Caitlin's watchful eyes, she dared not continue. She couldn't possibly tell them what happened that day at the hot springs.
Seizing the moment, Lillie took out her phone and played a recording: "Carl, isn't this too fast..." Before it finished, Serena snatched the phone and dashed into the room, leaving only a wisp of smoke behind.
Lillie grinned triumphantly. She hadn't intended to record such things, but each time she shared a room with Serena, she'd hear those embarrassing murmurs. The worst part was when Serena once woke her up by squeezing her with her legs, prompting Lillie to record evidence to tease her sister later.
Seeing this sister being a bit dense, Lillie decided to take on the role of a love advisor.
"You don't want me to turn you into a doll, do you?" Sabrina said, staring into Lillie's eyes.
Lillie blinked and flashed an innocent smile, "Sister, I have a gift for you."