Kingdom of the Alizad

The capital

The only ones who returned to the capital were the ones following Shin.

Susan and Tor were returning to the cave together with the warriors to bring back the civilians.

Leo Lenan didn’t greet with Aria or Shin, he directly left after seeing Muir’s death.

Qui was the only one remaining of the soldiers from the Kingdom of Leran, to observe from a distance and report when everything was over. During most parts, Qui had cold sweat running down his face because everything had went through his expectations.

The sun went down from the horizon, the empty capital should have been quiet, but there a lot of noise coming from the castle in the centre of the capital.

In a certain room in the castle.

Kali stood tall, unmoving in front of a lot of women who was coldly staring at her with murder intent.

“I will not give him to any of you…!”

Kali’s voice sounded out as she stared back at each of them.

It has to be said, Shin stood behind Kali, not knowing what was going on. He tilted his head, trying to understand what they were talking about.

“You should move away if you don’t want to be cut into two.”

Azane stepped one step forward as she glared at Kali.

“Humph, let Shin come over here, I bet that he is terrified of you.”

Lola snickered as she gazed at Kali.

In another room in the castle.

In that room, it was quiet and peaceful as ever. There was only a bed and a chair in it, on the chair sat Aria with a cold expression on her face as she stared at the bed. Because, on the bed was a girl sleeping on it, the girl didn’t have her usual outfit as she was covered in bandages. But, she had black hair, she was; Laura.

Aria knew that Laura had to be forced into betraying her, but what Laura had done was unforgiveable. It endangered Shin’s life, Aria would never forgive Laura for that.

After a few moments, Laura opened her eyes, she was shocked that she wasn’t dead. Laura was able to sense someone else was near her, after sensing the aura, she immediately knew who it was.

“Are you awake?”

Aria asked as she stared at Laura, Aria tried her best to control her tone, but anger could be felt from the vibration of her voice.

“Yes, Empress…”

Laura nodded but was stopped by Aria at once.

“You still dare to call me ‘Empress’?”

Aria narrowed her eyes slightly.

“I don’t want to speak meaningless words with you.”

“Tell me, why were you working for a God?”

Laura’s body trembled slightly, but she opened her mouth and started speaking.

“When I was very young, even before I came to this Capital, I lived with my parents in the forest. Both my parents died by beasts and I got ill with a disease.”

“When I was about to die, that God offered me to work for him if I did everything he wanted me to do.”

“After having me cured, he told me to be a maid for the royal family in the Kingdom of Alizad.”

“Didn’t you work for many years before I was born? What was the point of you working in the royal family?”

Aria asked a question after thinking for a moment.

“I wasn’t told much, only that he was planning to plant spies in all Kingdoms to gain detailed reports about the civilians and for when the Child was born…”

Laura said in a low voice.

Aria sneered but didn’t speak.

Neither did Laura say anything more. She knew that she had committed a grave crime.

After ten whole seconds, Aria finally opened her mouth.

“Why did you not follow his orders to attack us?”

Laura lowered her head and didn’t say a single word.

“Humph…”

Aria stood up from her chair, turning around towards the door without glancing back.

Laura couldn’t even glance at Aria, when Laura thought that Aria had gone, she heard Aria’s voice.

“There is still a lot of things to do, don’t slack and start working after you have calmed yourself down.”

Aria left after speaking these words. Aria’s eyebrows were slightly furrowed, she clearly understood that Laura had limited choices. And, in the end, she didn’t go against herself and Shin proactively.

When Aria left the room, she heard a ruckus at a room far away. Aria raised her eyebrows before tapping the ground, rushing towards her bedroom, where Shin should be resting.

Aria opened the room flabbergasted, she could see Shin on the bed with wide open eyes as he stared at Kali, Azane, Lola, Zura and Mekina clashing.

“What are you guys doing in front of my son?!”

Aria bellowed in a deep voice as she reached out from her scabbard.

“You’re not doing better, ‘mother-in-law’…!”

Kali sneered when she saw Aria wanting to grab her scabbard.

“Do. Not. Call. Me. That…!”

Aria said every single word with a cold voice.

“Oh, you’re finally here, mother-in-law. Look, that witch won’t let me bring Shin back to Evainheim so I could marry him!”

Lola neared Aria and spoke with an upset tone.

Aria’s face twitched repeatedly, she really wished that she could cut them all in two, so she could only be the one to stay with Shin.

“Now now, don’t fight in front of Master. If you want to settle any problems, do it outside.”

Ker’Vrak walked out of a shadow in the corner of the room.

“Shut up!”

The four shouted towards Ker’Vrak in unison.

Even Ker’Vrak flinched when he heard the four ladies yelling at him.

Ker’Vrak shook his head as he stared at Shin.

“Right, Master, now that everything is settled. What do you wish to do?”

Shin pouted for a moment before answering with a smile.

“I want to stay with everyone, enjoying life every day.”

A gentle smile appeared on Aria’s face as she gazed at Shin.

A feverish expression appeared on Kali’s face as her mouth went dry, Kali licked her lips, she stared at Shin as her small little prey.

Lola smiled gleefully as she stared at Shin in hope to marry her.

Mekina showed a warm smile, she had been waiting since the Ancient Era to stay with Shin.

Even Azane showed a shy expression as she gazed at Shin. Her whole life belonged only to him, Azane would like to stay with Shin till the end of her life.

“I understand.”

Ker’Vrak did also smile, after thinking for a moment, Ker’Vrak asked a serious question.

“Then my question is, who will you be marrying?”

“What does that mean?”

Shin pouted as he still didn’t understand the meaning of ‘marrying’ others.

Everyone in the room tensed up for a slight moment.

In the end, it was Kali who answered his question with a bright smile.

“It means that you and the person you’re marrying will stay together for the rest of their lives.”

“Oh!”

Shin showed an excited expression as he planted a fist on his palm.

“Then, I will marry everyone…!”

“Puh!”

“Cough cough!!!”

Kali coughed violently, it wasn’t only her, no one was able to hold back their shock.

Shin tilted his head curiously.

“I can’t…?”

Shin’s eyes started to become watery, he wanted to stay with everyone forever.

“Of course, you can.”

A voice sounded out in the room, when everyone turned their head towards the owner of the voice, it was a man with white ponytail.

Gin’Iro smiled as he stared at Shin, before speaking seriously.

“You can marry almost everyone. The rules are that they have to be females and you can’t marry your own mother because she will stay by your side no matter what.”

“Gin’Iro!”

Shin leapt towards Gin’Iro with wide arms.

“Ahaha, did you miss me? It hasn’t been a day yet.”

Even Gin’Iro wasn’t able to stop smiling in front of Shin.

While Shin stayed in Gin’Iro’s arms, he turned around to speak with Aria.

“Mother, can I marry everyone?”

Shin stared at Aria with anticipation and anxiety.

Aria tightened her fist and her teeth were almost cracking. But, in the end, she let out a sigh before smiling.

“Yes.”

It took Aria almost all of her energy to say that one word.

“Yey!”

Shin leapt from Gin’Iro’s embrace to Aria’s embrace, Shin hugged her tightly.

Gin’Iro smiled as he stared at Shin.

Even when he is stronger than anyone, he acts like a child.

No, it is more that strength doesn’t count as anything for him, he would rather want a loving family.

Hehe, I will have to do my best to make it happen.

Without even knowing about it, Gin’Iro was slowly able to forget about the pain of losing his younger brother and put all his attention on Shin, his grandson…