The grand royal banquet drew to a close, the aristocratic guests dispersed into the night, and life within the Corneas mansion returned to its usual, tranquil rhythm.
Normally, on a joyous night like this following a formal diplomatic return, the other girls in the household would have deliberately orchestrated private opportunities for Sphinx, celebrating her status as the newly wedded bride.
However, that scenario didn't play out tonight—largely because Sphinx herself actively refused to accept such special kindness.
In her analytical mind, the exclusive time she had spent traveling alone with Regulus over the past weeks was already more than sufficient. Even if calculated using a strict formula of fairness, she had received vastly more of her husband's attention than the other women in the mansion. Now that they were back under one roof, logic dictated she make proper concessions.
As for what 'formula' she was referring to... it was actually derived from the psychological data she had gathered during her three hundred years of observation within the experimental facility.
Her own emotional capacity was naturally lacking, but to compensate for that innate void, Sphinx had developed a sharp habit of observing human behavioral patterns. Over three centuries, she had witnessed the exact same dynamic play out countless times: whenever a single individual in a closed community received an unequal share of resources or affection, it inevitably bred covert friction and envy among the rest.
Truthfully, Sphinx didn't personally care about the emotional grievances of others. The only existence that truly mattered in her world was Regulus. But simply because she didn't care didn't mean she could act recklessly. If she ignored the underlying group harmony, the resulting domestic drama would eventually cause unnecessary friction for Regulus—and that was an unacceptable outcome.
Thus, the optimal solution was clear: sacrifice immediate personal benefit in exchange for communal approval.
Just as Sphinx was walking through the mansion gardens, her path was blocked by Shion and Laila.
"Huh...?" Sphinx tilted her head, her dark, deadpan eyes blinking in mild confusion.
The two Elven Maidens looked extraordinarily strange tonight. Shion appeared flushed, shy, and deeply conflicted, while Laila radiated an intense, sharp anger, her jaw set in absolute resolution.
"Shion, Laila... good evening," Sphinx greeted flatly. "By the looks of your expressions, has Regulus angered the two of you again?"
That was the only logical explanation Sphinx could compute. Ever since they had met on the road, Laila had been clashing with Regulus almost daily, while Shion remained constantly caught in the middle, wringing her hands in helpless anxiety.
Of course, Sphinx could fully understand why Laila was perpetually angry. Regulus's late-night actions were undeniably outrageous—not only teasing her during the day, but even sneaking into their carriage to forcefully feed them strange potions at night.
From a logical standpoint, no normal girl could easily accept such aggressive, boundary-violating behavior. Even Sphinx herself... if anyone other than Regulus had attempted such intimate acts with her, she would have unhesitatingly eradicated them on the spot, regardless of the consequences.
Was that visceral, immediate repulsion toward other men a natural girl's instinct?
For an ordinary, normal woman, perhaps it was. But in Sphinx's case, she suspected it was the residual influence of inheriting part of Echidna's memories and emotions.
Or perhaps it wasn't complicated at all. Perhaps that absolute repulsion toward all other males stemmed directly from the pink crest engraved low on her abdomen—that absolute mark of ownership belonging exclusively to Regulus.
Regardless of the exact origin, it wasn't something Sphinx or any of the other wives felt the need to overthink. As a woman and a devoted wife, maintaining absolute physical and emotional distance from all other members of the opposite sex was simply as natural as breathing. If a woman couldn't even manage that basic boundary, then either there was a fundamental flaw in her character, or the society she lived in was horribly distorted—such as an extreme imbalance in the ratio of men to women.
"Being angry doesn't quite cover it," Shion explained, letting out a helpless, weary sigh. "Actually... Laila insists on leaving the mansion right now to go stay in an inn downtown."
Originally, Laila had reluctantly agreed to stay in the guest wing of the mansion for the night. But after the Old King's public address during the royal banquet—where he had openly referred to them as ladies of Regulus's household—Laila's stubborn mind had completely flipped. She declared that remaining under the same roof as the 'predatory' Regulus was far too dangerous, and that renting a hotel room in the city was infinitely safer.
"I strongly advise you against doing that," Sphinx stated plainly.
"Why?" Laila snapped, crossing her arms defensively.
"Although the civil war has officially concluded and both factions have agreed to peaceful co-existence, finding suitable lodging in the Capital as demi-humans at this specific stage will not be an easy task," Sphinx analyzed logically.
"Nonsense. There is no merchant in the world who would turn down gold coins," Laila grunted, grabbing Shion's wrist and dragging her toward the estate gates. Her attitude was unyielding.
Watching the two figures march into the night, Sphinx didn't move to stop them.
"Sphinx! Please explain the situation to Regulus for us!" Shion called back frantically over her shoulder, unable to break free from her friend's stubborn grip.
Sphinx nodded in agreement. However, her analytical calculations remained extremely pessimistic regarding their chances of securing a room.
After the two elven figures vanished into the darkness beyond the gates, Sphinx turned and made her way toward the main quarters, eventually locating Regulus in a specially modified, luxurious bedroom suite.
"Regulus," Sphinx reported flatly, stepping into the dimly lit room. "Shion has been pulled away by Laila to stay in a hotel downtown."
"Gone to stay in a hotel?" Regulus raised an eyebrow, casually leaning back against the velvet headboard. "When did they leave?"
"Just now."
"Is that so," Regulus murmured, his expression showing zero surprise. Given Laila's stubborn, defensive nature, such a petty rebellion was entirely within his calculations.
He looked down at the dark-haired Ninja Girl kneeling submissively before him on the plush carpet.
"Zero," Regulus commanded smoothly, "I'm giving you a task: follow them into the city and ensure they return here immediately."
Hearing her master's order, the Ninja Girl raised her flushed, striking face, her eyes filled with absolute obedience.
"Understood, my Lord," Zero whispered softly. She stood up, adjusting her sleek, dark attire and fixing her weapon straps.
Before she could step toward the window, Regulus reached out with his free hand and pulled Sphinx into his lap, wrapping a firm arm around her waist.
"Also, before you slip out," Regulus added, a dangerous, alluring smirk gracing his lips, "notify Lycoris and Ine. Tell them to bring the others over to this suite right now. Our... real banquet is about to begin."
"Yes, my Lord," Zero bowed deeply before melting into the shadows of the room like a ghost.
Meanwhile, after spending several grueling hours wandering through the chilly streets of the Royal Capital, watching the bustling markets gradually empty out as midnight approached, Laila was forced to admit a bitter truth: Sphinx's warning had been entirely correct.
Every single innkeeper, tavern owner, and hotel clerk had slammed their doors directly in their faces the moment they saw their pointed elven ears and demi-human traits.
'To actively turn away pristine Holy Gold Coins... are the humans in this city completely out of their minds?!' Laila raged internally, her hands trembling with frustration.
Yet, beneath her fiery anger, a heavy wave of anxiety washed over her regarding Shion's future. If the human population in the Capital harbored such deep, uncompromising prejudice against demi-humans even after the peace treaty, how could Shion possibly manage a massive, cross-faction trade network? Even with the direct political backing of His Majesty the King and the terrifying deterrence of Regulus, her friend's work was going to be an agonizingly steep uphill battle.
Finally...
"Hoo..." Laila let out a long, defeated sigh, her shoulders slumping.
"Let's go back," she muttered with extreme, painful reluctance, turning back toward the direction of the Corneas mansion.
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