Chapter 253: A Time To Rest... Or Not
Azel rang the doorbell of the mansion, It was already evening and he was wondering what he was going to even say about this.
Anya answered immediately.
She had been expecting Medusa since afternoon... the woman had been assigned to buy ingredients for dinner, after all but she never showed.
"Medu— M... My Prince," Anya stammered, her words faltering the moment her eyes landed on him.
Azel stood there carrying Medusa in his arms like a bride.
"Did something happen to Medusa?" Anya asked with concern on her face... She had never seen Medusa like this before, except when she was sleeping.
Azel sighed softly.
Even though she had already been impregnated after their first round, Medusa had insisted on continuing nine more times, claiming something about guaranteeing it.
It had been intense, even by her standards.
"She was helping me do something very important," Azel said at last, stepping inside.
Still, as she moved aside to let them pass, Anya couldn’t help biting her lower lip.
’When will he do me too?’ she thought, her cheeks flushing as she unconsciously rubbed her thighs together.
It wasn’t easy being in a house of women all interested in one man.
Azel didn’t notice though.
He carried Medusa through the quiet halls and finally he reached her room.
Azel nudged the door open and stepped inside then laid her gently on the bed, brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, and pulled the sheets over her.
Her breathing was soft and even and as always, she looked really cute.
’And that’s that,’ he thought, straightening up.
He stretched, his gaze moving toward the window. There wouldn’t be any classes for the next week or so, the Academy was still recovering from the attack.
’Should I use the time to go to the Keyhole of Lycas?’ he wondered. ’Nah... I’d rest.’
It wasn’t easy to get a moment to rest... especially with the chaotic plot, and while he wanted to get to those werewolves as soon as possible. There was no way he was going to waste a chance to sleep in with his daughters.
He closed the door quietly behind him.
Just as he was about to turn toward the staircase leading to his room, a small voice broke the silence.
"Papa!"
He turned just in time to see Lillia running toward him, her pink curls bouncing wildly as she carried something bundled in a soft blanket.
Azel barely had time to open his arms before she used a burst of magic to hover up and press a kiss on his forehead.
"Welcome home! Mama was worried," she said proudly.
"Thanks, cutie." He chuckled, returning the kiss on her forehead.
The girl giggled and handed over her bundle, his youngest daughter, Isolde.
Azel adjusted his grip, holding the baby securely against his chest.
Isolde giggled, her tiny fingers reaching for his face. He smiled softly, brushing her little hand with his thumb.
Even now, months later, holding her still didn’t feel real.
It felt like a dream...
"You’re going to grow into a beautiful woman," he said. "And when you bring a man home to marry, he’ll have to beat me in battle first."
’Of course I’ll be trying my hardest to kill him.’ He thought, who would let their daughters run around with a man that couldn’t protect her?
Isolde laughed and finally grabbed at his hair.
"Hey, careful," Azel said playfully.
By the time he looked up again, Lillia was gone, darting down the corridor shouting something about helping her mothers with dinner.
He sighed fondly.
’That girl never stays still.’
This was what he meant by staying with his family... what was he looking for outside when the home was this lively?
"Hey, hubby."
Before he could turn, a pair of lips met his, they tasted like strawberries.
Azel blinked, then relaxed into the kiss. Veyra pulled away, making sure he could hold Isolde properly.
"How was the Academy?" she asked, tracing a finger along his jawline.
"It’s getting better," he replied. "They’ve started rebuilding the destroyed classrooms. I guess the parents will start rallying soon."
Veyra frowned slightly.
Even though she didn’t fully grasp the Empire’s politics, she could understand the pain of losing a child, just like she had lost her younger sister when they were children.
"Forget about it," she said quickly, brushing it off. "Edna and I are preparing dinner, so you might have to wait a while. Medusa didn’t come back on time with the ingredients, so Anya had to go instead."
Azel didn’t even get a chance to answer before she kissed his cheek and walked off.
He looked back down at Isolde, who was now yawning, her little hands clutching his shirt.
"At least I’ll get a few free days," he murmured, tickling her softly. "What could possibly go wrong?"
Isolde gurgled in response and he kissed her forehead again.
...
Azel sat at the head of the table, Lillia perched on his lap while Edna, Veyra, and Anya chatted across from him.
Medusa was still fast asleep upstairs, completely drained from earlier.
The calm was... pleasant.
It had been so long since they’d had a normal evening together.
Then, as Azel reached for his glass of water, Anya approached the table.
"My Prince," she said softly. "This parcel came for you after you arrived."
Azel looked up. "For me?"
Anya nodded, placing a small, square-wrapped package on the table.
He broke the seal carefully and pulled out the folded letter. It had the academy insignia on it.
’I don’t think this is good news,’ he thought as he began to read.
His eyes traced the first few lines.
Whatever words were written there drained the warmth from his face. He folded the paper abruptly and slammed it onto the table.
"Is it bad?"
Four voices asked at once and all the women at the table were looking at him with curiosity.
Azel exhaled slowly, pressing a hand to his temple.
"A bit..." he admitted. "I have to go somewhere."
The room fell silent. Then comically, everyone just nodded in understanding..
He blinked.
’Why are you all being so understanding?!’ he thought. ’It’s not like I spend that much time outside anyway.’
And just like that, his peaceful evening was over.