After finishing their meal, both women stood up to leave.
"Bye, Boss! I'll come again!" Rugged Woman called out cheerfully, throwing a playful wink at Zack before heading toward the door.
"Um... bye, Boss," Subordinate Woman said softly, her eyes lingering on him for a moment before she bowed respectfully and turned to follow.
Queen Mother gathered up the empty dishes, and a still-complaining Sio trailed after her, leaving Sasha and Zack alone in the quiet room.
"They're good girls," Sasha said, breaking the silence with a gentle smile. She reached over and patted Zack's head affectionately. "I won't say anything. It's your life, so choose wisely. Just... talk with Nat before doing anything, okay?"
She stood up slowly, smoothing down her clothes. "I have to go now, so get some good sleep. You must be exhausted from all that absorbing weird energies and jumping around without care of the world."
Her smile was small as she started walking toward the door, her head slightly bowed. Just as her hand reached for the handle, Zack's voice stopped her.
"Where are you going, Big Sister Sasha? Come back here."
"Huh?" Sasha turned around, surprised.
Zack was sitting up slightly, his arms open wide, and a bright, genuine smile spread across his face. "I missed you. Let me see if my sister is doing all right."
"ZACK!" Sasha's entire demeanor changed instantly, her energy returning in a rush. She ran toward the bed happily, her heart swelling with warmth.
Just as she was about to reach him, Zack suddenly held up a hand. "WAIT!"
"Huh? What?" Sasha stopped in her tracks, pouting in confusion. "Don't stop me! I haven't had a chance recharge my energy in all this mess happening around us!"
"Ahm!" Zack looked away, his cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment. "I want to sleep with my Big Sister... like we usually do."
Hearing those words, Sasha's smile stretched from ear to ear. She felt an overwhelming wave of happiness wash over her, and she began jumping up and down excitedly. "KYAAA! Zack, did you finally fall for your sister? Hehe! I'm so happy that my little brother asked me to do that! Hehe!"
Without wasting a single second, Sasha began removing her clothes with practiced ease. Ruffle, ruffle, ruffle. Her garments fell to the floor one by one until she stood completely naked, her hourglass figure on full display in the soft light.
She brought her hands up playfully and struck a seductive pose, her curves accentuated beautifully. "So? What do you think? I'm sexy, right?" she asked with a teasing grin, her large breasts and smooth thighs practically trembling with happiness.
"What are you even saying? Just come here," Zack said with a warm laugh, opening his arms again in invitation.
Sasha enthusiastically jumped onto the bed and into his embrace, wrapping her arms around him tightly. Her bare breast pressed against his bandaged chest as she felt the warmth radiating from his body immediately. She melted into the hug, sighing contentedly.
She brought her thighs up and positioned them over his legs inside the blanket, resting them above his crotch, which remained completely still and unresponsive. Sasha smiled to herself and squeezed closer, letting her own crotch area press gently against the side of his thigh.
Sniff, sniff. "Zack... I couldn't get hold of you," she murmured, her voice slightly muffled against his shoulder. "Those witches took you away from me. Can't you just... break up with her and throw those women away?"
"Geez, don't be like that," Zack said gently, his hand moving to stroke her naked back and waist soothingly. "You know you're my first priority, right? I could love a hundred women, but my Big Sister... you're the special piece of my heart where no one else can enter."
"Hmm... I know," Sasha whispered, not saying anything more. She simply closed her eyes and basked in Zack's warmth, feeling herself calm down completely. A peaceful smile spread across her face.
After some comfortable silence, Zack spoke again, his tone suddenly serious. "Don't go to the 1st Rock District."
"Huh?" Sasha looked up at him in surprise, her eyes searching his face. "What are you saying? I have to go."
She shook her head firmly. "I have to."
"I said no." Zack's voice was firm, unwavering. "I don't want you to experience something like that again. I didn't say anything at first, but... I don't want you to go. Stay here."
He tightened his hold on her, pulling her closer as they lay together.
"Don't be a kid," Sasha said with slight irritation creeping into her voice. "I can manage myself. Everyone is risking their lives. Why should I stay back?"
"There was only a small percentage of risk for the others," Zack replied, his voice clear and honest. "But if you go there, there's no way you'll come back untouched." He paused, his next words cutting through the air like a blade. "Can you really handle one more man violating you?"
"AGH!" Sasha's mind froze completely. Her hand instinctively moved down to cover her naked crotch, and her entire body began to shiver. Not from cold, but from the weight of those memories she'd tried so hard to bury.
Zack let out a long sigh and forced himself to calm down. He slipped his hand beneath the blanket and gently placed it over her hand, the one covering her most vulnerable place.
"Don't ever think you're not helping," he said softly, his voice filled with tenderness. "You're doing more than necessary. I wouldn't even be able to move right now if you weren't here. The others rely on you so much. So please... don't let yourself get hurt, okay?..... Big Sister, don't go. I'll talk to them myself and apologize if I need to."
He continued to pat her back gently, rhythmically, until Sasha's breathing slowly evened out. She nodded weakly against his chest, then carefully removed her hand and allowed Zack's hand to rest on her crotch area instead.
She felt his warm palm against her most intimate area, and gradually, a small smile returned to her face. "Fine... I won't go. My brother is begging me, so I can only obey him, right? Hehe."
Sasha finally felt the tension drain from her body. Deep down, she don't want to go there anyway. With Zack's hand resting protectively over her crotch, she no longer shivered when she closed her eyes. She hugged Zack's side tightly, pulling the blanket up over both of them.
Within minutes, they both drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep, holding onto each other like they had when they were younger, before the world had become so complicated and dangerous.
.
.
Meanwhile, at the palace entrance, Subordinate Woman and Rugged Woman stood bowing respectfully before Queen Mother.
"Thank you, My Queen, for helping us," they said in unison.
"Don't worry about it," Queen Mother replied with a warm smile. "You've contributed far more than you realize. This is just a small token of my appreciation."
"Humph! Even if you saved Big Brother Zack, I still don't like you two!" Sio declared, pouting cutely with her arms crossed over her chest in anger.
Subordinate Woman's expression softened. She smiled sweetly and approached Sio, bending down to her level. As she gently adjusted the little girl's slightly messy attire, she spoke with genuine sincerity.
"I'm sorry, Miss Sio. I know we've hurt you and the Queen by coming between the Princess and Boss, but... what can I do?" Her voice grew quieter, more vulnerable. "Boss was the first person who ever believed in me. He said I was useful. I was so happy that Boss trusted me and kept me beside him all this time."
She paused, her fingers smoothing down Sio's collar carefully. "Don't worry. Boss told us to forget about him and live good lives, and I'll try to do that... but I don't know if I can follow that order." She looked up, meeting Sio's eyes. "The Princess will always be Boss's woman. She's the best woman in this whole city. We're just... normal people. Hehe."
Subordinate Woman smiled sadly as she stood back up and bowed again.
"As for me," Rugged Woman chimed in with her usual boldness, "Boss accepted me despite my past being filled with me basically living life as a whore. He didn't judge me for it. And of course, he's strong and handsome too! Hehe! I love men who are stronger than me, and Boss is the man for me. So in the future, I'll live for Boss and die for Boss!!!!!"
She grinned stupidly, completely shameless in her declaration.
Listening to all this, Queen Mother smiled knowingly and patted Sio's head. The little girl stared at the two women in surprise, her anger fading into confusion.
"If you're serious about him," Queen Mother said casually, "why not meet my daughter?"
"Huh?!" Both women froze, their eyes wide with shock. They couldn't believe the Queen was actually suggesting this.
"I... I don't know..." Subordinate Woman fidgeted nervously, completely unsure whether she wanted to or not.
"OOOHHH! Interesting! Sure, I'm in!" Rugged Woman exclaimed enthusiastically. She grabbed Subordinate Woman's arm and smirked. "She'll also go."
Subordinate Woman panicked immediately. "But... but what if Boss gets angry?"
"Hehe! I like your spirit!" Queen Mother said with delight. "Sure, you can meet her. And don't worry about Zack. I'll talk to him myself."
She smiled sweetly, then called over some guards and spoke a few quiet words to them. The two women left shortly after, carrying bags containing their old clothes and some money Queen Mother had generously provided.
As Sio watched them disappear down the corridor, she turned to Queen Mother with a puzzled expression. "Queen Mother, why did you do that?"
Queen Mother smiled, but this time, there was something almost wicked in that smile, something that made Sio shiver slightly. "Well... I want to see who comes out on top. Hehe."
Sio blinked, confusion flickering across her face before her expression hardened with seriousness. "How can they love a man who's already taken?" she asked. "I know you said men don't treat it as seriously as long as there's no emotional attachment, but even after Brother Zack's mission ended, when he no longer had any obligation to them, he was still so gentle."
Her brows knitted together as her voice dipped. "That only made those women fall for him even more."
She frowned deeply, frustration evident. "Don't men also seek emotional connections with other women too?"
Queen Mother's expression softened as she considered the question carefully. "Then what do you want Zack to do?" she asked gently. "They helped him tremendously. The least he could do is treat them with respect and dignity. And didn't he clearly say he doesn't love them?"
She placed a hand on Sio's shoulder. "Earlier, I was explaining the stereotypical ways men and women end up hurting each other, often without truly understanding their potential partners feelings. That doesn't mean women can't be physically intimate with other men if her feelings have yet to bloom for her favorite man, or that men can't form emotional connections with other female friends."
She continued evenly, "Of course, this applies to people like Oliver, you, Big Guy, and others, especially those who are single and open to forming relationships, like those girls."
Her tone grew firmer. "But for Zack and Nat, who are already in a committed relationship, knowingly forming deeper emotional attachments or becoming physically intimate with others without their partner's consent crosses a line. That is betrayal."
She sighed softly. "Still, no one is completely immune to temptation. As you've seen, Zack has his own battles to face, especially when he's surrounded by women who love him."
Queen Mother began walking, and Sio fell into step beside her. "What truly matters isn't the act itself," she said calmly, "but the intention behind it, and how that intention is perceived."
"If Zack were to hold you close, Nat wouldn't feel threatened. And if Big Guy hugged Nat, Zack wouldn't feel threatened either. That's because both of them understand the emotional boundaries involved. They know where affection ends and desire begins. They trust not only the other person's actions, but the meaning behind those actions, how they look at each other, how they think, what they want."
Her voice hardened slightly. "That trust doesn't excuse betrayal, though. I'm not defending Zack. If he were to pursue those women without Nat's consent, crossing from understanding into selfishness, I'd slap him to death myself."
She smiled at that last part, making Sio giggle nervously.
"Queen Mother, you're far too tolerant of Big Brother Zack," Sio said, clenching her fist with stubborn resolve. "If I were older than him, I'd have scolded him countless times by now."
She hesitated, then spoke more quietly, as if turning the thought over in her mind. "But listening to you... I'm starting to understand that men and women truly are different. Big Brother Zack clearly drew the line, but those women didn't seem to back down."
"Mm, of course they are! Haha!" Queen Mother laughed, her tone light but knowing. "And the sooner you accept that, the easier life becomes."
Her smile softened as she continued, "Still, they're also the same in many ways. Men and women are alike, yet different. As I said before, it's society that shapes how each learns to think and behave. So don't be too quick to judge when someone acts differently, or does something people like to call outrageous."
Sio tilted her head thoughtfully. "Queen Mother... isn't it you who taught Zack all of this? That's why he accepted that rugged woman's past like it was nothing. She herself said she was a whore, and Zack accepted her past, said it was normal, and even thanked them for loving him."
She glanced up at Queen Mother, who was now scratching her cheeks in embarrassment.
"Haha... well, I had to do it," Queen Mother admitted with a slightly sheepish smile. "I knew Zack liked Nat from the very start, so I had to, you know, teach him a few things that would help my daughter. Since we're Crowns, there are many instances where Nat has been approached by many men. Not just people like Cok, but even genuinely good men. That will surely trigger any normal man." She sighed. "So I taught Zack to be more accepting, so that Nat could have one part of her life be easier. Call me selfish, but... I don't want Zack to end up like Jorri."
Queen Mother's shoulders slumped as she thought about him, a shadow of sadness crossing her face.
"That means, Queen Mother... you...?" Sio asked cautiously, her voice trailing off.
"Hmm, yes." Queen Mother nodded slowly. "In my youth, I was quite the firecracker. Hehe. My parents' time in this City was relatively stable, so I grew up like a true princess. I had many men throughout my life. I even had several men roaming behind me all day. I even slept with many of them! Hehe, looking back, it was quite fun...."
Her smile faded slightly. "But when Jorri came into my life, I slowly changed. I didn't realize it at first, but I hurt him far more times than I ever understood. And then I was forcefully married to Nat's father..." She shook her head. "I've made many mistakes in my life. Getting no real power when I became Queen was one of them, and that created the mess we're in now. Sigh....."
Queen Mother smiled sadly, lost in memories of the past. Then she looked down at Sio. "So, what do you think? Was I a bad woman in my youth?"
Sio's eyes widened in shock. She couldn't speak for a few long minutes, her mind racing to process everything she'd just heard. Finally, she spoke slowly, carefully choosing her words. "If you weren't playing around... then you weren't bad."
"Yes," Queen Mother agreed. "Remember, you have to be genuine and respectful to your partner. Playing around purely for pleasure and money... that's just bad."
"Hmm..." Sio looked up at the sky thoughtfully as they walked. "I wonder if there's a world out there where no power exists and people live peacefully without hurting their partners."
"Haha! There's will be always some kind of power present in every world" Queen Mother said wisely. "It may be different, but there will surely be something. And why are you looking for another world for a person who don't hurt their partner, when a sweet young woman stands before my eyes right now who wants to be a perfectionist?"
She glanced at Sio with a knowing smirk.
"Hehe, of course I am!" Sio patted her chest proudly.
"Right, right," Queen Mother chuckled. "Now stop thinking too much about these things. People are complex, and so are their relationships. You'll see many weird things in this world, things that are just like dust on a mirror. Don't try to wipe that dirt off every single time. If you do, you'll always be thinking, always feeling more and more tired." She reached over and ruffled Sio's hair. "Just feel whether what you're seeing is right or wrong, and stop asking me all these questions. I'm really tired!"
Queen Mother shook her head and started walking faster.
"Haha! Queen Mother, don't run off!" Sio called after her teasingly. "I'm just a cute, sweet young girl who's curious about the world! Guide me, Queen Mother!"
She quickened her pace to keep up.
"You're just a brat who wants to poke her nose into everything! Go away!" Queen Mother shot back, laughing as she walked even faster.
"WAIT! My legs aren't as big as yours! MOOO!" Sio started running, her little legs working overtime to catch up.
They both laughed together as they made their way through the palace corridors, their voices echoing warmly through the halls. A Queen and a young girl, bound by family and complicated love, trying to make sense of a world that rarely made any sense at all.
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END OF CHAPTER
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AUTHOR NOTE
Are Men and Women Same ? Or Just Completely Different ? Or We all are just People with emotions ?
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