In Axel's room
When Grail appeared, the aura she exuded tensed the atmosphere. All of Axel's women felt an instinctive discomfort, as if an ancient presence had claimed the space.
Some looked away. Others held her gaze in defiance. None said anything, but the silence was more hostile than any words.
As the hours passed, the tension shifted into bewilderment, though beneath the surface a mute rivalry continued to throb.
The woman who seemed noble and arrogant turned out to be disarmingly naive.
"Dear Grail, your dress is the most beautiful," someone said, almost in disbelief.
"Of course. It was tailor-made for you, sister Grail," Lois Lane added.
Lois approached with excessive familiarity, adjusting the fabric with a smile laden with intention. Not all of those present approved of the gesture; some gazes sharpened at how quickly Grail accepted the contact. Grail's simplicity amused her; during that time, they had grown unusually close.
The red dress, bold and tight-fitting, contrasted with the black stockings that wrapped her legs. There was no modesty in the choice, only a direct aesthetic. Grail frowned for barely a second; something felt strange to her, but she decided the outfit was appropriate.
Lois's eyes gleamed with cunning.
"Grail, believe me. Axel will like it."
Upon hearing Axel's name, Grail nodded with an almost solemn calm. That simple gesture was enough to make several presences in the room tense once more.
"That is good."
She did not understand the nuances of desire. Only one certainty guided her.
"Sister Grail, what do you feel for Axel?" Lois asked, curious.
Amnesia had dismantled any defenses. To Grail, the other women were merely nearby shadows; to them, however, Grail was already a clear threat. Grail answered without hesitation:
"In this world, he is the only one who can be with me. I want to give him a child."
Emotion crossed Lois's face; she had found a reflection of herself.
'A firstborn will bring an age of darkness,' she recalled, a prophecy that had led her to choose the most powerful man.
Grail held her gaze, firm.
"Although I don't remember my past, I feel that you and I are similar… only you are weaker."
Lois was not offended. Axel had told her who Grail was.
"My heart warns me of powerful enemies," Grail continued. "That is why I must unite with Axel. A strong lineage needs a strong family."
Lois nodded, enthusiastic.
"How many children do you imagine?"
Grail looked genuinely surprised.
"To withstand the enemy, a family must be numerous. Hundreds, at least."
"Hundreds…?" Lois murmured, stunned.
Night fell, heavy. Some women left the room with forced smiles; others stayed, watching, measuring, reminding themselves that this place belonged to them as well.
On the wide bed, Axel rested with the serenity of one who controls destiny. Several gazes lingered on him before withdrawing, laden with reproaches they did not dare voice. Lois settled at his side, wrapping herself around him with a possessive gesture. Axel smiled and stroked her hair.
"Grail has been waiting for you," Lois whispered. "She talks about children, about an empire."
"Always so mischievous," Axel replied.
Grail remained seated, following simple instructions, with an unsettling stillness. Her red eyes, clear and resolute, held a dangerous blend of purity and ambition.
"Although I lost my memory," she said naturally, "I know enemies will come. To defeat them, we must grow stronger."
Axel observed her with calculated interest.
"Having children… is a serious task."
"For our future empire," Lois added with a restrained smile.
The intimacy did not erupt; it folded in on itself, dense, like a silent oath. In that room, pleasure was not sought, but legacy.
And fate, once again, seemed to agree.