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Serendity Town, Westirifer Duchy.
As per Allen's arrangements and Mia's order, all four core members—including Westeria, Veronica, Lady Talmora, and Elder Guntor—rose from their respective seats and began walking toward the entrance of the ducal palace, followed by Allen himself.
While the duo of Westeria and Veronica was leaving the ducal courtroom, four feminine figures suddenly emerged from their shadows and began walking alongside Westeria and Veronica as though the two ladies were VIPs. These figures were, of course, Lucifer's shadow-daughters: Luvina, Lucelith, Gracy, and Vritra.
After living in Westirifer Duchy for more than a week, both Elder Guntor and Lady Talmora still did not understand who these shadow-born of Lucifer were. Yet all three members of Velmora treated them as if it were perfectly normal. The most surprising thing was that nobody except Lucifer knew anything about them, yet everyone accepted them as their own family without a single question.
As Talmora followed behind Veronica and Westeria, her full concentration remained fixed on these shadow-born. Elder Guntor, on the other hand, did not even try to think about it. He had already received first-hand experience of facing one of their mothers at Keilname Count's mansion back when they were still the family of the Count. From that day onward, Elder Guntor had no desire to face them ever again.
After walking for about a quarter of a bell and teleporting from one stop to another, they finally reached the entrance of the ducal palace. There, Lady Commander Artemis stood at the forefront like a seasoned marshal, holding the ceremonial flag of the Velmora family. Behind her stood all twenty-six members of the spy unit and about two hundred soldiers of the Viper Guards.
Although this force was not large in quantity—just a few hundred in total—the thing to notice was not the quantity, but the quality.
Seeing them all standing like this, Westeria clicked her tongue.
"Tsk… Is it necessary to stand and wait for them like this? Look at these poor souls… standing here all day, and for what? Only to welcome guests… And what do we do to welcome them? Only offer some kind words and a bit of flattery."
Sensing the dissatisfaction in Westeria's voice, Veronica shook her head and said,
"Sister Westeria, what can I say… but it is the ethical way to welcome people of high stature.
I know this process is utterly useless, but it is still necessary.
That is why, when they arrive, welcome them with a smile on your face—even if that smile is only superficial."
Westeria replied briefly, "Umm."
Time passed at its constant pace. After some waiting, a loud sound suddenly rang out from the clock tower—"Runggggg… Rungggg… Rungggg"—the sound of the 18th bell of the day, indicating that it was properly evening time.
Just as the 18th bell finished ringing, everyone waiting at the entrance of the ducal palace heard the sound of marching cavalry. Various citizens and shop vendors stopped whatever they were doing and, with unparalleled enthusiasm, grabbed their respective bowls of flower petals and gathered near the boundary of the main road to welcome their homeland's guests.
In the blink of an eye, the marching cavalry of both Florence County and Livingstone Duchy, along with the noble carriages of both noble families, passed in front of the citizens of Westirifer. The citizens welcomed them by showering flower petals upon them, while some sang melodious local spring songs that invigorated the spirits of the soldiers and cavalrymen.
After passing the locals of Serendity Town, the delegation proceeded forward at their regular pace toward the entrance of that massive fortress city, which they had been able to see from many miles away.
After marching for another quarter of a bell, the soldiers and cavalry finally arrived at the entrance of the massive ducal palace of Westirifer. As the carriages of both neighbouring states' noble families stopped near the entrance of the grand ducal palace, the people inside saw that a female warrior stood at the front of the entrance, holding a burgundy-coloured flag bearing the seal of the Velmora family.
Behind her stood a group of twenty-six people of unidentified gender. Judging by their facial muscles and body structure, however, it was clear that these twenty-six people were definitely men. Each of them held a spear and stood in an attentive and alert position, arranged in two groups of thirteen on opposite sides, giving a clear view of the entrance.
Behind these twenty-six men stood another rank of soldiers—at least a hundred on each side—holding cleavers and shields in both hands. Although this group of soldiers and palace personnel was rather small for welcoming noble families, they radiated a terrifying yet composed aura of attentiveness and dread.
And finally, at the entrance stood a small group of nine people. That group consisted of two men, three women (two of whom were visibly pregnant), and four young but well-matured girls who radiated an aura of aloofness mixed with elegance and regal charm.
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Seeing that the guests from both neighbouring territories had finally arrived, Allen, together with Elder Guntor, walked past the standing Viper Guards and the guards of the spy unit. Both of them took positions beside Lady Commander Artemis, one on each side.
In front of them stood seven carriages, guarded by soldiers on both sides. Among those seven carriages, four belonged to Florence County and the other three bore the emblem of Livingstone Duchy.
As the carriages finally came to a stop in front of the entrance of the ducal palace, both Allen and Elder Guntor took the initiative to welcome their guests.
From the rear of both lead carriages stepped down two men dressed in a manner similar to Allen, indicating that they were the butlers of the Countess of Florence County and the Duchess of Livingstone Duchy. Both of them came forward to their masters' respective carriages and opened the doors in the proper manner.
As the doors opened, two handsome men stepped down simultaneously. One of them wore a beautiful black-coloured formal dress, while the other wore a black animal-hide robe that covered his body and nothing else underneath. Both men then extended their hands inside, inviting whoever was within to take hold and step down.
From both carriages then stepped down two mesmerisingly beautiful women—world-toppling beauties.
One of them had ice-blue hair decorated with a silver tiara. She possessed olive-green eyes, rosy-pink lips, a face as beautiful as a lotus, and a well-defined mature body. She wore a green regal gown with small gems embedded at the centre of each floral pattern, and from her came the fragrance of flowers that had just bloomed in the morning dew.
The woman who stepped down from the other carriage was quite different. She wore minimal clothing, as though she found clothing unnecessary. Apart from her beautiful face, blonde hair, silver eyes, blood-red gorgeous lips, and a well-defined, mature, voluptuous, sexy, and muscular body, she carried the demeanour of a barbarian in her clothing sense.
Although in this world wearing clothes was not strictly necessary—and most people felt extremely comfortable living naked, since nakedness implied they were always ready for sexual activities—this was not a normal situation. She was not in her hometown but in Westirifer, and she was a guest. Nevertheless, she simply wore a brown furry leather robe that covered her from the back. In front, she did not even bother to hide her beautiful breasts, and below she wore simple white trousers, just as a regular man might prefer.
From their clothing alone, Allen and Elder Guntor immediately knew who was who. The woman and man in well-defined, elegant dress were the Countess of Florence County—Lady Cinthia Grace Florence—and her main husband, Sir Sherek Loveheart. The other woman, who was practically half-naked, and the man who shared the same clothing sense, were the Duchess of Livingstone Duchy—Lady Velora Livingstone—and her main husband, Sir Nicole Kidman.
As both ladies stepped down from their carriages, Allen moved toward the Livingstone Duchy delegation while Elder Guntor moved toward the guests from Florence County.
After reaching the ladies and their main husbands, Elder Guntor and Allen performed a slight bow of respect. Then, speaking in sync, they said:
"Countess Cinthia from Florence County / Duchess Velora from Livingstone Duchy.
We, the people of Westirifer, welcome you all to our Westirifer and to our ducal palace."
After saying this, both Elder Guntor and Allen gave a slight nod to the husbands standing beside the ladies.
While Elder Guntor and Allen were welcoming the other members of the noble families—including the remaining husbands, sons, and daughters—Velora glanced toward Elder Guntor and asked,
"Your face… I think your face is familiar. It's as if I have seen you before."
At her words, Elder Guntor laughed a little.
"Hahahaha… Sure, sure, little Velora. We are familiar. It's just that the passage of time has made my face fade from your memory.
How is your mother, Grand Duchess Celethia?"
Intrigued, Velora asked,
"From the way you are speaking to me—beyond those formal lines of welcome—I think you are familiar with both me and my mother. Just who are you, old man?"
Guntor laughed once more, then fixed a piercing stare on Velora. After that he nudged Allen and said,
"You, Head Minister… do one thing: handle all the congratulations and welcomes yourself. How did you even consider that I would speak to these girls in a formal tone when I helped Lady Celethia and the late Lady Petunia raise both of them?"
Elder Guntor's words now attracted the attention of not only Velora but also Cinthia. Allen, meanwhile, was giving him an incredulous look.
A moment earlier Velora had asked Guntor about his identity in an informal tone, as though questioning a subordinate. Now Cinthia voiced the same question, but with elegance and a polite tone, for she realised that this old man had known her late mother—Lady Petunia Grace Florence.
After hearing Cinthia's melodious voice, Guntor said,
"Little Cinthia, have you forgotten those days when you used to ride horses with your uncle and hunt those snowman elk whose liver sausage used to be your favourite food? And then you would exhaust that same old man by asking him to create a new house with earth magic whenever he asked you to embrace him?"
Listening to Guntor, Cinthia's memory drifted into the past. There was a vague recollection of when she was only eight years old—still a little girl—when her mother introduced a muscular man to her, saying he was a close friend of hers as well as a renowned and powerful Count.
Time passed with its own grace, and that old man became a very close figure in Cinthia's heart. The two of them used to ride horses, hunt, eat, play… doing almost everything together.
Because Petunia, her mother and Countess, was a single mother who never married anyone else until Cinthia's eldest brother, Briar Grace Florence, came of age at seventeen and then married her own son, Cinthia had always felt the absence of a father. Yet whenever she spent time with that manly Count, she never felt that tingling sense of absence.
The good days went by, and with the passage of time little Cinthia became an eighteen-year-old, well-defined young lady. On the day her mother, Petunia, asked Cinthia to choose her first husband, Cinthia answered without a single doubt:
"Mom, I want to marry that friend of yours who is a Count and always plays with me."
But her mother refused, informing Cinthia that she was the future Countess of Florence County and that the man was the Count of a neighbouring county. If the two of them married, either Cinthia would have to leave Florence County or the man would have to leave his own.
Hearing this, young Cinthia became heartbroken. Seeing her melancholy, Countess Petunia asked her to marry Briar, her brother—just as she herself had married him. But Cinthia, being stubborn, refused, saying she did not want to marry her brother.
Frustrated, Countess Petunia finally gave Cinthia two options.
The first was that Cinthia would not be allowed to marry the Count, but if she wished to satisfy her urges she could spend a year with him and do whatever she wanted. After that year, however, she would have to choose a life partner.
The second option was that her mother would prohibit her friend—the Count—from ever setting foot inside Florence County again.
Listening to those options, Cinthia placed a heavy stone upon her heart and chose the first. From then on, until the next year, both Cinthia and the Count spent their time together.
During that period Cinthia learned that the Count was the ruler of the neighbouring territory known as Kielname County, and that his name was Guntor. She contemplated why Guntor was always available for her and received the answer from Petunia:
"As you know, when I conceived your elder brother I was unmarried—and it was the same for you.
I do not know who impregnated me with your brother, because at that time I was unconscious during an orgy in the Royal Palace.
But I know from whom I conceived you.
It was that same Count who always plays with you, for he considers you his own daughter.
Yet the rules of this world say that a father can only be the mother's current husband.
At that time I was not married, so even though Guntor is your biological father, he cannot claim to be your father.
And now that I am married to your brother, according to the world's rules you have become the biological daughter of your brother."
When Cinthia heard all this, she felt quite satisfied that the man she always liked to spend time with was actually the one who had sired her. At the same time she felt melancholy, knowing she had only a few months left to spend with him. This crisis of time hardened her resolve: she decided to become impregnated by Guntor and carry his seed in her womb so that she would always remember him.
That day, unknown to Cinthia, Guntor returned from a fight with two S+-rank serpents. Due to the fierce magical combat he was restless, his body demanding the release of days of accumulated pressure. When Cinthia saw Guntor lying on her bed without clothes, displaying his abs while still holding his magical staff, naughty thoughts filled her mind. Being a young girl, she pounced on him and with swift motions began playing with and teasing his body.
Her teasing increased Guntor's arousal as well. He began to undress her with the ferocity of a bear. But Cinthia held her ground and said naughtily to the aroused Guntor,
"I will only offer my body when you agree to barter something with me—something that I want."
Already aroused, Guntor was in no mood to play games, yet he still complied and asked,
"What does my princess want?"
Cinthia playfully answered,
"Aren't you an earth mage?
I will only get laid with you when you create a house for both of us from scratch—
a new house only for the two of us, at the flower garden."
The moment Guntor heard her demand, he picked Cinthia up in a princess carry without a second thought and jumped through the window. They arrived at the flower garden, where Guntor painstakingly created a single-storey house of two rooms, exhausting all his remaining mana. Without delay he pulled Cinthia inside, and the two of them became one. This was also the very first time Cinthia lost her virginity.
From then on both Cinthia and Guntor loved each other and ravaged each other's bodies, exploring every part. Every time, Guntor tried hard to impregnate Cinthia—but as if fate itself opposed it, they failed every time.
Time passed little by little until the one-year grace period finally arrived. On that day Cinthia bid farewell to Guntor with eyes filled with tears, hoping for another chance for him to return. But that time never came again. Guntor had entered her life like a spring, and when he left, he never came back.
Cinthia knew it was her mother's arrangement, yet she still felt bitterness in her heart. Time passed, and the little Cinthia who had been only nineteen became thirty years old. On her thirtieth birthday she ascended to the position of Countess.
Time always fills the bitter holes in life, and so Cinthia buried her past love and moved forward on the path of life. In the years that followed she married man after man, and finally became pregnant by someone at the age of thirty-four, giving birth to her son Jackvert. At thirty-six she gave birth to her first daughter, Lisa; at forty to her second daughter, Lilly; at fifty to her third daughter, Furia; and lastly at fifty-eight to her youngest daughter, Regisa.
In the flow of her life she completely forgot the man who used to sweetly call her "princess." But now those forbidden memories were resurfacing. The heavy stone on her heart was lifting once more.
Seeing the first love of her life again, Cinthia felt her heart fluttering as if caught by rapid winds. There was no longer any Grand Countess Petunia to stop her.
While Cinthia was lost in these thoughts, she was pulled back to the present when someone called to her:
"Princess, what happened? Remember something?"
When she heard those words, the memories of the past began flooding back even more strongly. In Cinthia's eyes the old face of the man before her was replaced by the face of the young adult she had once known. She no longer cared about anything in her surroundings; everyone else faded away until only Guntor remained.
Then she stepped forward, one step after another, and with a sudden motion hugged him tightly—so tightly that she seemed afraid Guntor would leave her once again. Hugging him with all her might, Cinthia asked,
"Uncle Guntor, why didn't you ever return to me? I was waiting and waiting…
Even waiting when my mother died… even waiting when I felt I was all alone… Why haven't you returned to me?
Did you find my playfulness of the past a nuisance?"
Cinthia kept asking question after question, but Guntor never replied. He simply accepted her embrace and kept stroking her head, saying,
"Little princess, how can a Countess cry? What will people think?
You are a big girl now."
But his words had no effect on her, and he himself knew that many things were better left unspoken, for speaking them could only cause harm.
On the other side, seeing this development, Velora looked at Guntor in surprise.
"Grandpa Guntor… how are you still this robust when you are in your two-hundreds?
Well, my mother is also in her two-hundreds and she is beautiful… but she is an athletic lady, so she is healthy.
But how are you still alive as an earth mage who does his work by instructing golems?
Truly, the world is fascinating."
When her words concluded, Guntor gave her a horizontal chop on the head with fake anger, while Velora continued bickering with him.
Later, Cinthia introduced everyone who had come with her to Guntor and Allen. Velora did the same.
While escorting both Cinthia and Velora toward the entrance gate, Allen and Guntor introduced Talmora,Westeria, vritra, gracy, luvina and lucelith to the two guests. As for Veronica, there was no need for introduction, for everyone already knew she was the former Queen of the Lustbound Kingdom who had officially cut ties with them. Even so allen introduced her to both the guests ,and both Velora and Cinthia greeted her in happy spirits—because Veronica was no longer the queen of that kingdom, but one of the wives of Lucifer and the future queen of the Empire of Westirifer.