He found a table, with Lexa taking the seat across from him while Vexion naturally settled beside him. After waiting a short while, a waiter arrived and politely took their orders before departing.
As silence settled over the table, Dante suddenly looked toward Lexa. "Lexa."
She turned away from observing the restaurant. "Yes, my Lord?" Dante rested his chin on one hand.
"I'm rather handsome, you know."
Lexa blinked.
"Scratch that... I'm gorgeous. I don't mean to brag, of course, but I'm genuinely very good-looking."
Lexa stared at him with complete disbelief. Vexion, however, merely tilted her head curiously. She wholeheartedly agreed.
Her Master was... beautiful.
His voice was deep yet calm. She had never once heard him truly raise it in anger. His appearance alone attracted passing glances from men filled with envy and women filled with curiosity.
To her... It wasn't even something worth debating. So she simply wondered where this conversation was going.
Lexa, on the other hand...Was once again left speechless.
'How do you say "I don't mean to brag"... then immediately say all that?' After a brief pause she nodded. "I would agree with that, my Lord."
Dante nodded in satisfaction before asking, "Then why, unlike Vexion, have you never shown any interest in me?" He casually counted on his fingers. "I saved you when I was still just a teenager. I saved your sister."
"I saved your life. I prevented your empire from collapsing. I even stopped my own empire from invading yours."
Vexion quietly listened.
Her heart tightened.
'...So Master still desires someone else.' She lowered her gaze toward her lap, gently gripping the fabric over her thighs.
A faint ache spread through her chest.
She had expected this eventually...
Her Master was extraordinary.
There would always be other beautiful women.
Lexa remained too stunned by Dante's shamelessness to notice Vexion's change in expression. She frowned, "You expect me to fall in love with you because of those reasons?"
Dante immediately shook his head. Before he could answer, their meals arrived. The aroma filled the table as everyone thanked the waiter.
Dante took his first bite before replying. "It sounds like something girls usually fall for." He shrugged. "You know... prince saves the damsel. Damsel falls in love."
Vexion quietly picked at her food. 'Master noticed that beautiful demoness yesterday...He has every reason to become interested in someone like Lexa as well.'
Her chest felt increasingly heavy.
Lexa's face scrunched together. She picked up one of her fries before pointing it toward both Dante and Vexion.
"I have to ask...What exactly would I become? A second lover?"
"A fifth?"
"A tenth?"
She folded her arms. "And what about Vexion?" Her expression became more serious. "If you truly wanted me... why not actually court me like a proper gentleman?"
Dante answered without hesitation while continuing to eat. "I don't."
Lexa blinked.
"I already have Vexion." He took another bite before casually adding, "To this day I haven't met anyone sexier or in any way whether as a women or subordinate, better or comparable to her."
"So why would I waste my time trying to woo another woman?"
Silence. Vexion froze. Her heart, which moments ago had been aching... Suddenly beat loudly.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Warmth flooded her chest.
A bright blush spread across her cheeks as she slowly looked toward Dante. An overwhelming urge to throw herself into his arms surfaced once again.
To hug him...
To kiss him...
To disappear into his embrace.
Her usual cheerful smile quietly returned.
Across the table...
Lexa simply stared.
'...Why does it suddenly feel like I'm the one who got rejected?' She rubbed her forehead before sighing. "I admire you, Master...But your personality is absolutely dreadful."
Dante looked genuinely offended. "Excuse you—"
Before he could continue speaking, Vexion calmly removed the piece of food from his hand.
She placed it back onto the plate before giving him the familiar look she always wore whenever he spoke while chewing.
Dante sighed dramatically. "...Yes, yes I get it."
She ignored the remark. Instead, she patiently waited until he properly chewed before wiping the corner of his mouth with a napkin.
It had become such a routine that Lexa barely reacted anymore.
Several nearby diners, however, watched with complicated expressions.
'He's a fully grown man...'
Lexa shook her head before continuing. "Just as you have a type, Master...So do I."
She calmly began counting. "Apart from your strength and appearance...You're cruel."
"Manipulative."
"Vindictive."
"Heartless."
"Uncaring."
"Destructive."
"Heinous."
"Lazy."
"Shameless."
"You possess almost no common sense."
"You're impulsive."
"Randomly violent."
"Selfish."
"Narcissistic."
"Rude."
"Completely classless—"
She stopped.
Not because she'd finished.
But because Dante wasn't even listening anymore. His eyes had somehow wandered back toward Vexion's cleavage while she leaned over to wipe his mouth.
Lexa closed her eyes.Then spoke considerably louder.
"You can't even pay attention while someone is insulting you!"
Dante finally looked back. "What exactly am I supposed to do?"
He swallowed. "Sit here and quietly accept such baseless slander?"
Vexion nearly spat out her drink. She hurriedly covered her mouth while laughing.
'Master is impossible...'
Lexa simply gave up. 'Talking to him really is like talking to a wall.'
Changing the subject, she asked, "Then why did you even ask that question?"
Dante looked confused. "What question?"
Lexa pinched the bridge of her nose. 'Dear Lord of Winds...'
Vexion quietly giggled again.
Dante ignored both of them. "Anyway..."
Lexa sighed 'He lost interest...'
He glanced toward the bracelet floating before his eyes. "They've announced tomorrow's timetable distribution. I need the two of you to find that man Lexa mentioned. If either of you sees him... Talk to him."
"No need to force anything." He looked toward Lexa. "The same applies to the Fairy. Those two would make good subordinates but the fairy not so much a priority. Their skills alone are worth recruiting. But before any of that... I'll give both of you new skills."
"We'll do it three days from now. Just before heading to the Northern Combat Territory. It'll be a good opportunity to test them in actual combat."
He paused. "In two days we'll have Skill Theory again. You can decide whether you want to attend my classes or remain with your own tier."
The answer came immediately.
"I want to stay with Master." Both spoke simultaneously. Lexa smiled awkwardly afterward."...Though realistically..."
"I think attending the Legendary classes is wiser for now. I can continue searching for the Fairy...the mysterious man...and Gorgan."
Vexion sighed before reluctantly nodding.
"I'll go with Lexa. The sooner we finish...the sooner I can spend time with Master again."
Dante nodded approvingly. "What about your residence, Lexa?"
Vexion's cheeks immediately turned bright red.
Dante hadn't even asked where she would stay.
She already knew why. The thought alone made her thighs press together beneath the table.
Lexa answered after a moment. "The mansion is enormous."
She looked between them. "...Unless the two of you are particularly loud."
Dante slowly turned toward Vexion. A mischievous grin spread across his face. Vexion immediately hid behind her glass. Her face burned pink "...Not loud enough for you to hear." He shrugged. "The place has three floors. It's wide enough that we'd have to intentionally shout."
Lexa nodded. "Then I'll move in as well."
"It'll make coordination easier." She thought for a moment. "Once we establish a faction...we'll probably all end up living together in one enormous residence anyway."
Vexion looked toward Dante. She had assumed the same. "Most likely."
Dante finished the last bite of his meal. "It depends entirely on what benefits faction housing offers compared to private residences. If it's worth it...We'll move."
"If not...We'll simply build our own."
Both women nodded.
Soon after finishing their meals, the waiter returned carrying a crystal payment tablet.
Each of them simply turned the face of their academy bracelet toward it.
A soft chime echoed.
–80 AP
The deduction immediately appeared across each of their interfaces. Dante raised an eyebrow. "So..." He stood up. "Apparently eating decent food here isn't cheap."
Vexion giggled.
Lexa simply sighed.
"...Welcome to Midvest Academy."