Dante nodded, though his hands paused. Vexion suddenly stiffened, her confidence evaporating the moment she felt something firm press lightly against her ass.
Her face instantly flushed. "M-My Lord, we..."
"Master?" Lexa's voice interrupted her. As she stepped through the doorway, she was greeted by a sight she never thought she would witness. ...Actually, that wasn't entirely true. She had long known these two maniacs belonged together. At least, they made perfect sense to each other.
Vexion's unwavering devotion toward an inhumane monster and Dante's shameless possessiveness over her had always been beyond Lexa's understanding. At some point she had simply accepted that trying to understand either of them was pointless.
Still... Seeing them standing like this... Her Lord gently holding Vexion against him... She couldn't stop the small pang that pierced her chest. They looked... Beautiful. If someone didn't know them, they would mistake the scene for two young lovers sharing an innocent moment.
Only Lexa knew the truth. It was simply one psychopath looking into another psychopath's eyes with unconcealed desire. She quietly pushed that ridiculous thought aside. Vexion immediately stepped away from Dante, cheeks burning scarlet, while Dante calmly turned toward Lexa as though nothing unusual had happened.
The contrast made her sigh. "...Master. Do you ever get embarrassed?" Dante tilted his head. After several seconds of genuine contemplation, he answered with complete seriousness. "If I had a small dick, I would." Lexa simply stared. Her mouth slowly fell open.
Behind him, Vexion covered her mouth as quiet laughter escaped her.
"..."
Lexa pinched the bridge of her nose. "I honestly believed you only spoke like this because you were young and lacked proper noble etiquette." Dante merely waved a dismissive hand. "Noble or not, everyone stops talking once their head gets cut off."
Lexa sighed. "Master... you always take everything to such extremes." Dante ignored the complaint. He casually walked through the palace halls, servants immediately bowing as he passed. More than one maid quietly wiped tears from her eyes. Eventually they reached a spacious courtyard reserved exclusively for the royal family.
The farewell waiting there was...
Chaotic.
Aurora's face was already soaked with tears. Justin wasn't much better, repeatedly wiping his own eyes while trying—and failing—to maintain his dignity. The Empress and Dante's aunts watched with amused smiles. Ryan, meanwhile, looked at Justin with complete disappointment. His expression practically screamed,
'You're one of the strongest beings in existence... stronger than Ancient Sovereigns... and this is how you behave? Have some dignity, you fool.'
Dante couldn't help chuckling. For just a moment...A distant memory resurfaced. Two parents. Parents who had abandoned him. People who had happily left him behind, barely providing enough food to survive, celebrating that they were finally free from...
"The thing."
That was what they had called him. His chest tightened for only an instant before he looked back at the family standing before him. People who loved him more deeply than words could ever express. He smiled.
"I'll come back to visit. So could everyone please stop acting like you're never going to see me again?" Aurora only managed a stream of unintelligible sobs.
Justin pointed at him through watery eyes.
"Jeremiah said exactly the same thing! The last time I saw him was thirteen years ago!"
Dante laughed. "You know Second Brother and Second Sister are the most free-spirited out of all of us. They're busy preparing for their graduation examinations as well." Justin merely harrumphed. Dante then walked toward his youngest sister.
The quiet genius.
Tears streamed freely down her face. Opening his arms, he pulled her into a gentle embrace. Among all his siblings...She had always been the closest to him. She buried her face against his chest."...Don't be too arrogant, Brother. I doubt you'll need anyone's help, but ask for it when you do." Dante smiled. "I don't intend to put myself into such a dumb situation."
She laughed softly before finally letting him go. He exchanged farewells with his aunts before finally stopping in front of Aurora. His calm smile only made her cry harder. She wrapped both arms tightly around his waist.
"My little boy..." Dante quietly returned the embrace. "My dearest Mother?" She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "If you're ever in trouble...Come home. Find me. Find your father. But never convince yourself that risking your life is acceptable."
Dante nodded gently. "I will. Although… I can't spend my entire life hiding behind Father and Mother. I still need to catch up to my older siblings." Justin immediately interrupted. He clearly wanted to argue. Instead, he simply pulled Dante into another hug before roughly ruffling his hair. "You know very well..." His voice cracked.
"I already failed you once. I never want to lose you... or any of you... ever again." Dante laughed quietly. "I'd normally guilt-trip you into giving me another treasure, but considering I'm already carrying enough wealth to start a small kingdom...I think you've done enough."
He paused before looking between Justin and the women standing nearby.
"...Although...I'm fairly certain you're already working on making me a few more younger siblings." Aurora froze so did he Empress, before every concubine as well standing nearby turned bright red.
"Dante!" Aurora slapped his chest, blushing furiously. "Mind your words!"
Justin, meanwhile...
Grinned wider than anyone present. Aurora's embarrassment only deepened. Ever since Dante's birth had nearly claimed both their lives, she had subconsciously feared becoming pregnant again. The thought alone still frightened her.
While Dante walked away to discuss travel arrangements with Justin, Aurora quietly pulled Vexion aside. Without warning, she wrapped the young woman in a warm embrace. "My son is finally eighteen..." She smiled mischievously. "But don't rush into getting pregnant. You still have plenty of time aim to become stronger and reach the Mythical Tier. Aim even higher. That way your children will inherit even greater potential."
Vexion's face became scarlet.
"M-Madam.. I-I..." She couldn't even finish a sentence. Aurora laughed before gently placing a kiss on her forehead. Vexion felt tears welling in her eyes. "Vexion...please keep your promise. Become his sword , become his shield."
"I'm certain now more than ever that you're capable of protecting him." She gently cupped Vexion's cheeks." I already consider you my daughter. So take care of yourself. You hold a very special place in my son's life. He may appear emotionally detached. He may seem uncaring, but when it comes to you...He's incredibly possessive. And in his own way...He truly cares."
Vexion lowered her head with a shy smile. She understood Dante better than anyone. His feelings were nothing like the romances written in storybooks. He valued strength, loyalty competence and submission.
She possessed all of those qualities. That was why he treasured her.Not because he would recklessly throw himself into danger for her.
But because, in his eyes...
She was irreplaceable.
And somehow...
That was more than enough.