"Relax, who would even say something like that?" Ash chuckled at Cynthia's irritation. As for Gardevoir, he had already decided—tomorrow, he would ask his grandfather and Skye Draconis to help him find one.
Just as Cynthia had pointed out, with Ash's current strength—and the power of his partners—capturing a wild Gardevoir would be far too easy to bring any sense of accomplishment. Not to mention, the odds of encountering one in the wild were extremely low. In the end, Ash was inclined to listen to her.
"Oh, Ash… when are you going to confess to Sabrina's sister? The way things are between you two right now isn't exactly couple-like." Cynthia teased suddenly as she lay in his arms.
Ash looked a little uncomfortable at the question. Cynthia knew full well what his status meant: Ash would never belong to just one woman. Given his position, there were too many who longed to marry him. If she allowed jealousy to control her, she would've been consumed by it long ago.
So instead, she had come to terms with it. Better, she reasoned, that someone familiar like Sabrina should be close to Ash—where Cynthia could keep an eye on things—rather than some stranger who might steal his heart elsewhere.
"What can I do? You know how things are between me and Sabrina. She's always obedient, but it's not that I don't feel anything—it's just… strange." Ash shrugged helplessly.
The truth was, whenever he faced Sabrina, Ash always felt an overwhelming urge to dominate. Her immense psychic power seemed to instinctively yield before his own mental strength, almost as if her spirit was waiting to be conquered.
On the surface, Sabrina carried herself like a cold queen, but deep inside, there was a submissive streak. The way her body reacted to him, the joy that sparked in her whenever they crossed paths—it all made her psychic power crumble easily under Ash's will.
And that was exactly what Sabrina desired.
The night passed swiftly. In the morning, Ash and Cynthia dressed and went to wash up together. At the Draconis estate, Cynthia wouldn't dare stay in bed too long—she wanted to leave a good impression on Skye Draconis and the others.
She had already given everything she had to Ash, saving only one final step until their engagement. That last moment, she hoped, would remain a perfect memory.
Since choosing to stand at Ash's side, Cynthia resolved never to give those around him any reason to look down on her. Here, she behaved with the utmost care.
"Ash, Cynthia, you're awake. I was just about to call you. Come, breakfast is ready—Grandma made preserved egg porridge today. Eat plenty." Yuko Draconis greeted them warmly when they entered the living room.
"Thank you, Grandma. Where are Grandpa and Skye?" Ash asked politely. Just then, Suzie and Sabrina also arrived. Cynthia and Sabrina settled themselves on either side of Ash, while Suzie sat down beside Sabrina.
"Don't mention it," Yuko Draconis sighed. "Your grandfather and Skye started arguing first thing in the morning—they're playing chess now to decide the winner."
Ash could only give a wry smile. Those two never changed. Their bond was closer than brothers, yet they quarreled constantly. How such a friendship had lasted all these years, he couldn't begin to understand.
"Suzie, how have you been adjusting? Are you used to everything?" Ash asked after a moment.
"I'm doing well. My days are fulfilling, though… I'm still not satisfied with my progress in medicine-making. Theory is one thing, but putting it into practice feels much harder."
Suzie admitted with a small smile. Since joining Ash's group, her life had become richer—between caring for Pokémon daily and training her refining skills, there was little idle time.
"Medicine takes patience," Ash advised calmly.
"Rush it, and you'll fail. Go slowly and carefully, that's the only way."
Suzie nodded, quickly pulling out a small notebook to jot down his words. She had a habit of recording anything she learned from others, reviewing it whenever she had a spare moment.
Watching this, Yuko's heart warmed. Ash's composure and earnestness left her deeply satisfied. Even Shiro, in his youth, had gone through a mischievous phase—and if not for Skye Draconis's strict discipline, Shiro might never have reached the heights he enjoyed today.
...
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