The moment those words left her mouth, both Kabe and Irene froze on the spot like statues.
Cana and Levy shot up from their chairs with a loud scrape, their eyes wildly darting back and forth between the two.
As for Brandish, who knew slightly more than the others, she panicked so badly that she toppled directly out of her chair and struggled several times before managing to crawl back up.
"N-No no no, that's impossible!
Irene is Erza's ancestor!
If she and Kabe do that, wouldn't the entire family hierarchy become completely messed up?!"
Levy no longer cared about her weird verbal tic as she fiercely protested.
"Hah?? She's an ancestor from four hundred years ago. Based on your human lifespans, that's already who knows how many generations apart. Why would that matter anymore?"
Selene, unaware of the truth behind their relationship, naturally treated the surface explanation as fact.
But Brandish knew better.
Terrified that things were spiraling completely out of control, she hurriedly climbed back up and desperately tried to stop this madness.
"No no no, it's still way too weird! No matter what, Irene is still a senior figure! If she gets together with Kabe, then what is Erza supposed to do?!"
Selene merely waved a dismissive finger at the panicked Brandish.
"How she feels has nothing to do with me. Irene herself said she'd agree to any condition I asked for. It's too late to regret it now."
After speaking, she rose from her seat and moved behind Irene, placing both hands on her shoulders with a teasing smile.
"Calling me a shameless dragon, but honestly, Irene, you're pretty starved yourself, aren't you?
Four hundred years without a partner's affection... I can't even imagine how lonely and empty that's been."
The warm breath brushing against Irene's ear made her proud body tremble slightly.
Seeing her reaction, Selene smiled knowingly before slowly sweeping her gaze across the anxious faces of Cana, Levy, and Brandish.
"If that girl Erza has even a shred of conscience, then while she's out enjoying the pleasures of romance herself, she shouldn't leave her lonely ancestor suffering alone.
Helping a widowed elder find a suitable partner is also part of a younger generation's duty, isn't it?
Tell me, doesn't what I'm saying make perfect sense?"
Cana and Levy:
'...Why does that actually sound kind of reasonable?'
Brandish:
'NO! It's completely wrong! Irene-sama! Kabe! You absolutely cannot listen to her nonsense!!!'
The three girls struggled fiercely inside their hearts. Brandish especially wanted to speak up countless times, yet she had absolutely no way to explain the truth.
Meanwhile, the one suffering the most mentally was still Kabe.
He had long guessed that the bizarre relationship between Irene and Erza would eventually cause a disaster someday.
And now karma had arrived in full force.
Grinding his teeth, he decided he needed to do something.
"Um... Selene, maybe don't interfere in this kind of thing. How about giving me some face and changing the condition?"
The moment he spoke, Cana, Levy, and Brandish all let out relieved sighs.
But Selene merely glanced at Kabe with disdain before leaning down and whispering directly into Irene's ear.
"Never trust a man's words.
He's saying that now, but in his heart he's already imagined thoroughly devouring you. He's probably even fantasized about you together with Erza..."
"STOP! Lady Selene, please stop talking! Irene, don't listen to her nonsense!"
Kabe instantly surrendered on the spot.
His attitude had become so humble that he looked only one step away from kneeling.
But in Selene's eyes, his reaction simply became proof that she'd exposed his true thoughts.
"Heh. See? I hit the mark, didn't I? That's definitely what he's thinking."
"AHHH! Please, seriously, stop talking already!!!"
Amid Kabe's despairing cries, Irene secretly glanced at him.
For some reason, seeing him panic this much made a strange feeling of unwillingness rise inside her heart.
Yet beside her ear, the devilish whispers continued relentlessly.
"So? Are you willing to agree to my condition?
Of course, since we're technically sisters, even if you refuse, I'd still teach you the magic.
But you were once a queen yourself. If you can't even uphold your own promises, then the great name of Irene Belserion might be a little undeserved, don't you think?"
In front of her were the silent Cana and Levy, alongside Kabe and Brandish desperately shaking their heads in refusal.
At her side was Selene's endless stream of temptation and provocation, whispering like a devil.
And within her mind, images of Erza's respectful and admiring expression replayed over and over again.
It should have been an easy choice.
As long as she firmly refused, Selene likely wouldn't force the issue.
Yet for some reason, Irene simply could not say the words of rejection.
'Could it be... just like she said... that I've really become that lonely and shameless...?'
Irene questioned herself internally.
But she quickly denied the thought.
'No. What I value is the promise I made myself.
Irene Belserion always keeps her word.
This was simply an accident. At worst, I'll just never make such reckless promises again in the future.'
Little by little, Irene found a reason convincing enough to justify her decision.
The hesitation gradually vanished from her expression.
When she looked back at Selene this time, her eyes no longer contained uncertainty.
She gave a light nod.
At that moment, she discarded all hesitation and calmly answered,
"If that's your condition... then I accept."
Cana and Levy simultaneously let out long sighs, both suddenly feeling headaches coming on.