A mana-boosting potion was placed in Enrico's hands while the five girls in front of him smiled at him. Quickly, he drank it in front of them, and when he finished, he tapped the potion's glass with satisfaction.
"This will be very useful, thank you very much."
"You're welcome, dear. I also have another gift, but you have to come with me tonight, alone—"
Before Aoi could finish, Serenya pulled her aside and took the lead. She was watching closely to make sure none of them stepped ahead of her.
"Did you all forget that I'm his leader?"
"Serenya, don't forget your family is still finalizing the contract with the Solcren, while ours was completed today. We can already be officially his fiancées."
"Shut up, that doesn't change anything. And besides, it won't be long before my family convinces them."
Realizing that his family was meddling too much in his life, a small vein appeared on Enrico's neck.
"Serenya, don't worry. I'll talk to my family so they accept you fully."
"Subordinate, are you serious?"
"Of course I am."
Enrico had an irritated expression. He hated that that shitty family meddled with his companions. They really had the nerve, after how they treated the original, to decide who he could or couldn't marry.
'In a way, this doesn't surprise me… especially coming from the Solcrens.'
"Subordinate, you're the best future husband I could have."
Serenya hugged him tightly while still trying to keep her noble posture, while the others felt discouraged — now they had no way to bother Serenya.
'Great, now she's going to be even more arrogant.'
She was absolutely right about that thought, because Serenya had an arrogant expression that irritated them deeply. Seraphina, however, had the biggest thoughts about her relationship with Enrico once they reached the next level, so she was feeling especially selfish.
'I want to see that arrogance when I become the first.'
Leaving Serenya's embrace, Enrico noticed Elian with his head lying on the table — the special place Angela had set for Enrico's future wives.
"I need to go somewhere. Can you wait a moment?"
"Of course, my Ketsumei."
"Just don't take too long, subordinate."
"Right, just a moment."
He stepped away from them and went straight to the special table. Sitting down, he gave a playful smile and whispered into Elian's ear in a deep tone.
"Did I make you wait too long, dear?"
"H-huh?"
Elian was a bit startled. Realizing it was Enrico, he grew embarrassed for being caught off guard — he couldn't even sense Enrico's presence, so he'd have to improve a lot.
'Calm down, he reached the sixth circle. Don't be disappointed in yourself.'
"Looks like you need to cheer up a bit."
Enrico handed him a cup of Elian's favorite juice. As Elian drank it, he seemed a little more lively. Their whole team had spent a lot of time together, so they knew each other well.
"Let me guess, you're like this because you think you're being underestimated."
"How do you know?"
"Even after two years away, I know you all well. I can always tell when you're feeling down."
"And here I thought I was hiding it well."
Hiding it well? For Enrico it was easy — Elian kept his head down most of the time, and he had a certain problem: whenever he felt down, he let out two sighs every half hour.
"You're right. I feel like I'm being underestimated."
"For what reason?"
"Ever since you returned, they've been calling me your seventh wife."
"But it's true. Is there any problem with that?"
The seriousness on Enrico's face when he said that was terrifying for Elian. Deciding not to dwell on it, he looked away, trying to change the subject.
"You know they're just teasing you, right?"
Looking back at Enrico, he saw a calmness on his face that made him realize he was taking those words too seriously. Deep down he already knew it — they just wanted to annoy him, that's why he got used to them so easily. The real problem was that Enrico did the same.
"Of course they're joking, but I'm not."
"You're not going to stop, are you?"
"If you think I'm joking, we can settle this right now."
Enrico leaned in, and Elian immediately ran away in embarrassment. Before getting too far, he heard Enrico's voice:
"Be careful, because just like Serenya made me her right hand, to me you're my left hand — since Yumeha is the right."
Eyes wide, he watched Enrico walk away with a proud smile. Truly, he had overreacted — clearly, of all of them, Enrico trusted him the most.
'He really is the leader I want to follow.'
Without a doubt, he wanted to grow stronger and stand proudly beside his two leaders. Turning around, he noticed a paper in his pocket. Taking it out, he saw Enrico's handwriting — instructions on how to direct the wind in a certain way to move his body better. Smiling, he gripped the paper tightly.
'What a cruel leader. He's only been back a few days and he's already making me train? Truly the best leader.'
Looking back, he saw that Elian seemed fine now. With everything resolved, he headed toward the hallway where the teachers were. What he was going to ask wasn't anything much — just a request for Virelle to increase his training when it began.
[You're already going to make him train? Don't you feel bad for your subordinates?]
'Who told him to make that face? If he wants to be stronger, then he'd better work hard.'
Passing through a doorway, Enrico was suddenly pulled into a room by two hands. Danyana, who had been hiding behind a wall, stepped out and stood guard by the door with an excited expression.
'When this is over, I'll finally have my soulmate to myself.'