...
{3rd Pov}
By the time they finally reached Rimpleton, the sun was already sinking into the horizon, staining the sky in shades of orange and red.
Teleportation would have been faster and unquestionably more convenient, but for official matters—especially those involving aristocrats and political negotiations—etiquette demanded a formal entrance.
Appearances mattered, even if they were inconvenient.
The drawback of such "decorum" was obvious: traveling by carriage left far too much idle time, which inevitably led to Subaru and Reina engaging in intimacy.
Gloria, of course, inserted herself into the situation before long, transforming the cramped carriage into a V-shaped configuration of a threesome—, both women were focused entirely on Subaru rather than on each other.
The details after that were predictable enough, and the rest, as they say, was history.
Both carriages eventually slowed to a halt, the wheels grinding gently against the stone road before stopping in front of the luxurious hotel they had reserved for the upcoming meeting.
Rem, who had driven the first carriage with steady hands for the entire journey, dismounted from her seat with practiced grace.
She adjusted her uniform briefly, then stepped toward the carriage doors to begin helping her passengers alight.
The evening breeze carried with it the muted chatter of the city, the glow of lanterns beginning to fill the streets, and the unmistakable scent of dinner drifting from nearby restaurants.
The first carriage's windows lacked curtains, allowing Rem to see clearly inside as she approached. Emilia was rubbing her eyes, evidently having just woken up from a brief nap.
Her silver hair was slightly tousled from resting against the seat, and she blinked several times in an attempt to shake off the lingering drowsiness.
Roswaal sat beside her with his usual unreadable expression, neither amused nor annoyed, simply observing the situation with quiet detachment.
Geuse, seated across from him, had been staring intently at Roswaal a moment prior before shifting his gaze toward the outside as Rem reached for the handle.
With practiced politeness, she opened the door for the occupants to disembark.
Meanwhile, at the second carriage, Ram had already moved toward the door.
The curtains there had been drawn open, revealing the interior without obstruction.
Subaru sat in the center seat, flanked closely by Reina and Gloria.
Betty and Sylphy occupied the remaining space, perched comfortably as if they had been there the entire journey.
Ram's eyebrows lifted a fraction.
She hadn't expected the three spirits to emerge from Subaru's Spiritual Space so casually, especially during travel.
Still, her surprise was brief and mild.
She didn't linger on the thought, and with her usual composed efficiency, she reached for the carriage door and swung it open.
"Betty hates this woman, I suppose," Beatrice grumbled as she hopped down from the carriage first, her voice laced with irritation.
Sylphy followed after her in quiet succession, then Gloria with her usual aristocratic confidence, then Reina with a composed but sharp expression, and finally Subaru descended last.
Ram didn't bat an eye at the spirit drama.
She was well aware that the spirits never remained peaceful for long; complaints, sniping, and petty rivalry were practically their standard mode of interaction.
Nothing about their bickering surprised her anymore.
"Lord Zero," Ram said evenly, straightening her posture, "Lil' Sissy and I shall take the carriages to be stabled. In the meantime, you may proceed into the hotel."
Subaru nodded.
Despite how close their group was in private, the outside world still operated on hierarchy and decorum.
Social roles mattered here, and if Subaru intended to project authority—especially for the meetings ahead—he had to respect those protocols.
Informality could undermine him, and that was something he couldn't afford in front of nobles, merchants, or Priscilla.
If one were to map out their current hierarchy, it would place Subaru and Emilia at the top—both in position and influence—followed by Subaru's spirits, whose status was unique and derived from power rather than politics.
Beneath them would be Roswaal, then Reina and Geuse, with Rem and Ram occupying the lowest tier in the visible structure.
It wasn't a matter of affection, capability, or value—merely the order the world recognized and respected.
Emilia was a Royal Candidate, and Subaru, as her direct ally and a formally recognized noble in his own right, held a status parallel to hers.
Unlike Roswaal, who acted as Emilia's sponsor and supporter, Subaru's standing wasn't derived from patronage but from his own title and political alignment.
In that particular chain of power, Roswaal technically ranked lower than Subaru despite his influence and wealth.
Subaru's contracted spirits added another layer of complexity to the hierarchy.
Because they were bound to him, they automatically inherited his authority—at least in practical terms—even if the Kingdom of Lugunica refused to acknowledge spirits as "people" within the legal framework.
If the government did recognize them as people, then by definition they would possess political standing equal to Subaru, and by extension would match Emilia's level as well.
And that was something the nobles of Lugunica were not ready to deal with.
More importantly, spirits capable of walking, talking, and thinking as individuals were classified as True Spirits.
True Spirits always commanded respect, even among nobles, and were leagues above Quasi-Spirits or Lesser Spirits.
In Lugunica's social system, Lesser Spirits weren't viewed much differently from household servants; they lacked both legal rights and political consideration, and thus failed to qualify as "human" in the bureaucratic sense.
Below Subaru's camp of spirits stood Roswaal.
His position was technically significant—advisor, sponsor, and mage—but still subordinate in hierarchy.
Beneath Roswaal came Geuse, who functioned as an advisor and spiritual overseer but lacked a formal title tied to nobility.
After Geuse came Reina.
Despite being the rightful heir to a duchy, she did not currently hold the official title of Duchess.
Her status as Subaru's direct knight also lowered her perceived rank; knightly authority bowed to noble authority under Lugunican rules.
Finally, at the bottom of the visible hierarchy were Rem and Ram.
Their positions as maids, regardless of personal capability or loyalty, placed them at the lowest rung in noble society's eyes.
In public spaces, titles mattered more than power, affection, or merit.
Such was the distorted structure of aristocratic etiquette.
Subaru had to admit that the societal norms in this country were absurdly rigid.
Status, bloodline, and noble titles controlled nearly everything, and breaking free of that structure required overwhelming strength or overwhelming achievement.
It was the only loophole the system respected.
Even though Lugunica's laws did not technically acknowledge spirits as "people," the nobility still treated True Spirits and Great Spirits with a level of respect that bordered on reverence—simply because they were powerful enough to enforce that respect.
The Sword Demon's story was a perfect example.
If not for his military accomplishments and unmatched prowess, there was no universe in which someone of his standing would have been allowed to pursue the Sword Saint.
Under normal circumstances, Theresia would have been married off to another noble house to secure alliances or strengthen bloodlines.
Power was the only reason tradition hadn't swallowed her whole.
After finishing that idle line of thought, Subaru turned toward Patrasche and gave the faithful ground dragon a few firm pats along the neck.
Patrasche snorted with visible satisfaction, flipping her tail once as Rem and Ram moved to take both carriages to be properly stabled.
With transportation handled, the group shifted into formal mode.
Emilia naturally took point, leading them toward the hotel entrance.
Subaru and the others followed behind her in appropriate hierarchical order.
Inside, the lobby was quiet but elegant, lit with warm lamps and staffed with polite attendants trained for noble clientele.
At the reception desk, Emilia presented the insignia of the Mathers household.
The emblem alone was more than enough to eliminate any need for explanation.
The receptionist's posture straightened immediately, her demeanor turning respectful as she confirmed their reservation and guided them toward the private suite that had been prepared in advance for their housing.
The hotel itself had been deliberately constructed with noble clientele in mind.
Every suite included private bedrooms, each equipped with its own washroom and toilet, along with a bed large enough to accommodate multiple people without issue.
The reason was hardly subtle.
Nobles frequently enjoyed engaging in intimate activities during their travels—usually a male noble with his primary wife and, if circumstances allowed, one or more concubines.
It was considered normal in their circles, so the beds were designed accordingly.
Ahem.
Once the check-in procedures were completed, the staff escorted them toward their assigned quarters.
They had also reserved a private meeting room specifically intended for noble gatherings and negotiations, ensuring privacy for the discussions Subaru intended to conduct.
Room allocation followed both protocol and convenience.
Emilia received a room entirely to herself, befitting a Royal Candidate and the dignity of her station.
Subaru's room, meanwhile, was shared with Reina and, technically, all six of his spirits—since their presence was tied to him regardless of physical space.
Roswaal and Geuse were each provided their own rooms as well.
Despite Geuse's spiritual nature, he could not share a room with Emilia; unlike Puck, who presented as a small cat-like spirit, Geuse's form and relationship made such an arrangement inappropriate—extremely so, for obvious reasons.
Finally, Rem and Ram were assigned a shared room, which suited them just fine.
For a pair of maids accustomed to working and living side-by-side, the accommodation didn't feel out of place in the slightest.
Once Rem and Ram returned from stabling the carriages, there was still one more formality to handle before anyone could relax.
They needed to deliver a letter to Priscilla's camp announcing their arrival and proposing a time for the meeting.
This was standard procedure among nobles—letters, couriers, and scheduled discussions kept things civil and prevented misunderstandings that could turn political.
The twins made their way to the suite designated for Priscilla and her entourage.
They were fully prepared to hand the letter to a maid or a senior attendant.
Instead, they were greeted by a small boy dressed impeccably in a butler's uniform.
He accepted the sealed letter with both hands and then disappeared briefly, only to return with a written reply confirming receipt.
Rem and Ram exchanged a look of mild surprise at the unexpected intermediary.
The boy introduced himself as Schult, adopted by Priscilla.
That revelation caused Emilia, Roswaal, and Geuse to raise their eyebrows when news reached them—adoption was a rare and deliberate action among nobles, especially for someone as self-centered and unpredictable as Priscilla.
Subaru, however, showed no reaction whatsoever, as if he already knew.
Reina and the spirits were even more aloof; unless the matter directly involved Subaru or concerned something that would benefit him, they couldn't care less about social surprises.
After a short exchange of papers and formalities, the schedule was confirmed: the meeting would take place at dinner.
While Rem and Ram busied themselves with post-arrival duties, Rem eventually noticed her sister lingering near one of the window curtains taken from the carriage she had driven earlier.
The curtain had somehow gotten dirty during the journey—probably from dust, luggage, or passengers brushing against it.
Rem approached with the intention of helping, but Ram rejected the offer with a dismissive glance.
"I will handle this myself," Ram stated firmly, as if the curtain were a matter of personal pride.
"You should go attend to Lord Zero."
Rem hesitated for a second but ultimately obeyed, slipping out of the room to carry out Ram's orders.
What Rem didn't know was that the moment the door closed, her elder sister's composure cracked.
Within the sealed room, muffled sounds began to leak into the stillness—moans and breathy noises that made it clear Ram's priorities had deviated sharply from curtain maintenance.
Meanwhile, Subaru paused during his preparations and frowned faintly.
For some inexplicable reason, he felt as though he had missed something—something important, even if he couldn't identify what.
(A/N: Ram be like: finger, finger, finger… fap, fap…SQUIRRRTsquiiiiiirt! 😭😭)
...
By the time dinner rolled around, night had fully settled over Rimpleton.
Lamps burned along the streets outside, and the hotel staff shifted into their evening routine in preparation for noble guests.
It was finally time for the meeting.
As Subaru and the others prepared to leave, he made a point of instructing Gloria to remain in the room.
There were several reasons for this.
First, what Gloria had done earlier in the carriage had been unexpected even by Subaru's standards.
Second, bringing both Reina and Gloria into the same formal setting risked detonating the meeting before it even began.
Gloria's personality was a guaranteed catalyst for conflict, and conflict was absolutely not on the itinerary.
Subaru was admittedly curious to see how Priscilla would react to Gloria.
Two egos of that magnitude clashing in one space had the potential to create spectacular chaos.
Unfortunately for Subaru's curiosity—and fortunately for political stability—he was here to negotiate and make deals, not to spectate a live harem brawl.
Not that he would ever admit that watching women fight over him ranked among his favorite pastimes.
(A/N: Subaru… I'm disappointed and proud at the same time. 🤣😂)
What Subaru did not expect was Beatrice speaking up and announcing that she wished to stay behind as well.
The moment she made that decision, the rest of his contracted spirits promptly followed suit, deciding they would remain in the room together rather than accompany Subaru to the dining hall.
For Beatrice, this was genuinely unusual.
She was practically glued to her contractor on most days and would sooner cling to his coat than willingly put physical distance between them.
The fact that she made the choice on her own—without prompting—was surprising enough, but the context made it more understandable.
Beatrice had been present when the earlier chaos unfolded, and knowing her, she probably wanted to confront Gloria directly in private rather than leave things festering.
Subaru didn't protest.
Women needed their girl time, men needed their bro time, and by that logic spirits probably needed their "sprite time."
If hashing it out among themselves prevented future explosions during official business, then letting them have the room for a few hours was an easy decision.
So while Subaru left with Emilia and the others to attend the diplomatic dinner meeting, the spirits began hosting a meeting of their own—one that promised to be no less dramatic.
…
"Why did you do that, I suppose?" Beatrice asked bluntly, refusing to dance around the subject.
Her butterfly-shaped pink pupils locked onto Gloria with unwavering focus, refusing to blink or drift for even a second.
Gloria didn't answer immediately. Instead, she shifted her posture on the bed, lounging in a reclined position with one elbow propping her up as if she were posing for a portrait.
Her expression was the same signature arrogance she always wore—calm, condescending, and utterly pleased with herself.
"Which act of this concubine are you referring to, mongrel?" Gloria replied, her tone layered with insult and superiority in equal measure.
Sylphy watched the exchange, glancing back and forth between them like a spectator tracking a match.
The remaining three spirits stayed quiet, each taking in the confrontation without interference.
The air was charged enough without extra voices adding fuel.
Beatrice gritted her teeth.
"Having sex with Zero…" she forced out, the words sounding both accusatory and incredulous.
Gloria didn't flinch.
"That was a foregone conclusion," she stated smoothly.
"If you recall, mineself has always referred to her own person as 'this concubine.' I was destined to bed Father from the beginning."
Her expression made it clear she believed it—not as opinion, but as objective fact.
"You intervened… Daddy's funtime," Sylphy added, her voice calm yet accusatory.
She personally had no desire for sex, but that didn't mean she didn't understand what it implied or why the others cared.
"Umu! What Sylphy said!" Agni chimed in enthusiastically.
"It's not about why you had sex with him. The issue is—umu!—why did you interfere while he was making out with Reina during the process?"
"You ruined the mood completely," Aqua complained, slapping her tiny palm into her other hand for emphasis.
"It went from Absolute Cinema to Absolute Water! Total downgrade!"
"Maybe she has a cuck fetish?" Gaea suggested casually, and in an instant the temperature in the room plummeted.
Dozens of light-based weapons materialized midair, all of them aimed directly at Gaea.
"Mongrel," Gloria said coldly, her smile far too sweet to be genuine, "it appears you have chosen death."
The Spirit of Earth trembled, bobbing up and down in surrender as imaginary sweat began to form on her forehead.
"Oh, Your Majesty! This lowly mongrel begs forgiveness!" Gaea squeaked out immediately, bobbing up and down in rapid succession.
"She will not court death again! Also, for the record, this mongrel has hots for Father anyway!"
The sudden confession made the rest of the spirits pause.
Several stared at her blankly, processing what she had just admitted without hesitation or shame.
Beatrice blinked once, twice, and then her expression shifted into one that clearly screamed I knew it!
She crossed her arms and let out a small sigh, as if all of this merely confirmed her long-standing suspicions.
"Betty has seen enough, I suppose," Beatrice muttered, lifting her chin.
"But Betty must ask—how many of you mongrels intend to bed Betty's contractor once you become Great Spirits, I wonder?"
Her gaze swept across the room, eyes narrowing as she assessed each spirit one by one.
Several of the spirits nearly burst into laughter at hearing Beatrice casually refer to them as "mongrels," though none dared to voice it aloud. Gloria, for her part, wore a faintly amused expression, but Beatrice was too busy scrutinizing the others to notice.
"Sylphy… wanted to be daughter," Sylphy said in her usual slow, deliberate tone.
"And will be… forever… Daddy's daughter."
The statement was simple, but her small, young body conveyed the rest.
Spirits were locked into the physical form they evolved into; the shape they chose reflected their identity, future, and sense of self.
Once that evolution occurred, changing material form was impossible.
For Sylphy to choose the form of a petite, cute young girl meant she intended to remain Subaru's daughter for the entirety of her existence.
She had no interest in sex at all, and during her evolution she had completely discarded the concept.
In spirit terms, that decision was equivalent to having no sexual organs or functions whatsoever. Gaea muttered something about "commitment," while Aqua nodded sagely as if Sylphy had just imparted deep philosophical wisdom.
Sylphy simply blinked, content with her role and identity.
Gloria, for her part, made no effort to hide her intentions.
Her evolved form was that of a mature woman, and she had openly admitted that even during her evolution she entertained the idea of eventually bedding Subaru.
She wanted to experience both roles—Subaru's "daughter" in their familial dynamic and Subaru's "woman" in the intimate sense.
Taken at face value, it made the situation look outrageously incestuous and morally depraved, yet Gloria treated it as a perfectly reasonable aspiration.
Beatrice shifted her scrutiny toward the other spirits, especially Gaea.
The Spirit of Earth did not hesitate for even a breath.
"I am going to be a mommy when I evolve!" she declared proudly, puffing herself up.
"Hmph! You all just wait!"
"Umu!" Agni chimed in right after.
"Father already knows how hot I shall become, and he must cool me down," she giggled, radiating smug confidence.
Staring at the two orbs of mana that housed Gaea and Agni, it didn't take much imagination to predict that once they evolved into True Spirits with humanoid forms, they would be sprinting after Subaru's lower half with alarming enthusiasm.
Beatrice pinched the bridge of her nose.
The future competition was going to be insufferable.
Then all the spirits shifted their attention toward Aqua.
Given her personality, they fully expected something bizarre to come out of her mouth.
Aqua did not disappoint.
"Is it wrong to lust after your father in another world?" she asked innocently, as if pondering a philosophical question rather than announcing depravity.
For some reason, Beatrice and Sylphy both felt an immediate sense that something about Aqua's statement was fundamentally off.
Even though they understood Aqua was declaring her own intent to chase Subaru just like the others, it somehow felt… illegal.
Possibly cosmic-level illegal.
It didn't help that Aqua was the youngest spirit present, giving the entire comment a layer of wrongness that was hard to articulate.
"Betty is tired of you lecherous spirits, I suppose," Beatrice sighed, rubbing her temples with exaggerated exhaustion.
After a moment she lifted her gaze and focused it squarely on Gloria.
"But Betty must ask—why did you push things so fast, I suppose?"
The room quieted again, all attention shifting to the arrogant Light Spirit.
Gloria smirked, eyes narrowing with confidence.
"Indeed, mongrel, as you said. This concubine could have waited until Father would have taken me himself. But this concubine decided to give him a little push."
She leaned back on her elbow again, voice dripping with smug superiority as she continued, "During intercourse, Father's mind was hazed with lust, and the same goes for that redheaded woman. That was the perfect moment for this concubine to intervene. In such a state, neither would be capable of anger at this concubine's intrusion. Instead, they would accept it—and accept this concubine much easier."
Her grin widened into something far more deranged.
Gloria rose from the bed in one smooth motion, her clothes shifting instantly into a clean, refined dress as if responding to her emotions.
Her expression warped into full-blown obsession.
"With this act, Father will cease to see me only as a daughter. Now he shall see a woman—one who can share his bed. A woman worthy of him."
Her voice grew louder, feverish, almost sermon-like.
"Everything is fair in love and war, and this is a love that this concubine will most assuredly win."
She took a step forward, hair swaying with each movement.
"You mongrels forget—he is merely eighteen, regardless of how mature he appears. Even with the memories of his other self, he is no older than twenty-four in total. He is still shackled by human morality and restraint regarding sex."
Her eyes gleamed with fervor.
"But this concubine intends to make him understand that he need not follow the petty rules of mongrels. He is not some commoner. He is a King!"
Gloria finished her declaration with the confidence of someone who believed destiny was already decided in her favor.
The other spirits stared at Gloria's obsessive grin in complete silence.
There was only one collective thought running through their minds:
Damn… she's a crazy bitch.
They had always assumed Reina held the title for unhinged devotion, but after witnessing Gloria's full display of madness, it became painfully clear that the gap between them was smaller than they'd believed.
If Reina was crazy, then Gloria was at least within clawing distance of her throne.
Meanwhile, far away in the hotel's meeting hall, Emilia and the Priscilla faction were beginning their own diplomatic negotiations.
While politics and trade agreements took shape over dinner, the spirits remained in their private room, quietly sizing each other up and realizing just how insane their future competition truly was.
All they could do was exchange long, resigned looks—each silently acknowledging that no matter how powerful they became, they would be forced to coexist with a level of craziness that defied reason.
To be continued...
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