Yasenia looked at Lea, and many thoughts flashed in her mind while thinking of that question.
Du Xian joined the conversation, giving her opinion. "Lea, harems are no good, right? Isn't having a traditional one-on-one relationship better than a harem?"
Yasenia stopped her thoughts and paid attention.
Meanwhile, Lea answered Du Xian's question with confusion. "Why do you think so? Isn't a harem a proof of status?"
Du Xian blinked. "What kind of status are you talking about?"
Lea spoke while smiling at Yasenia. "While one-on-one relationships are traditionally praised, a strong partner will eventually get a few lovers. For example, Big Sister Sarah has ten lovers besides me and can make us all happy and stronger. Even Yasenia here has a harem. If your partner is strong and capable, gaining more than one lover is normal."
Yasenia looked deeply at Lea. She asked with a normal tone. "Don't you think it is unfair for those in the harem? While in a small harem, the harem head can still give attention to their lovers. If the numbers grow, it will become lonelier for those in it, no?"
Lea blinked, feeling something amiss, but she answered what she thought. "Isn't it their blessing? If a harem head can have many lovers, it just means they are that capable. A strong male or female should be able to gather many of the opposite or same gender. Furthermore, while it is true that attention is important if the harem head can satisfy the lust of their harem members, I think it's enough."
Du Xian and Laurina frowned, feeling that the logic was somewhat correct but also feeling that it was wrong somewhere.
The one who answered their strangeness was Angel, and her tone was flat. "The higher the number, the more capable? That's something stupid to think about."
Lea's smile froze, and she looked at Angel strangely. "If you think so, why are you with someone with five other lovers? If you had thought that one-on-one relationships were better, you would not have been a couple with Yasenia."
Angel looked at Lea with cold eyes. "First of all, I became her lover and attracted to her before I knew about the harem. Second of all, if I could, I would take Yasenia all for myself. Third of all, if you are with Sarah because she can pleasure you, then you are not in a relationship with a lover but with a sexual reliever. Bonds like that are weak, as they can easily break once a more powerful person appears."
Lea also got angry. "Are you saying that those who joined after you are sluts that would open their legs for anybody? I would love to see their reaction to your words!"
Angel sneered. "You are very imaginative, placing words I didn't say in my mouth. All the girls in Yasenia's harem, me included, were informed about the reason for the harem, and we all know about Yasenia's dislike toward building a harem. If it weren't a necessity, Yasenia wouldn't have even accepted us as lovers in the first place. Do you think that she can only please six women?"
Angel crossed her arms and continued. "What I'm speaking about is not the harem size, head, or anything else. I'm focusing on the connection. While a connection through pleasure is lasting, it can be easily overridden by someone more skilled. For a harem head with dozens of harem members, those inside their harem can and will eventually leave if they find someone who can give them more. Cultivators are selfish by nature, they want everything they can get. That's why, if you think a harem is just the ability of the harem head to please those inside, you are very wrong."
Lea felt a chill, and her heart pounded with uncomfortable feelings. 'Do you think I don't know-'
But, before Lea's thoughts continued, Sarah received a message far away.
[Ding! Lea's affection has dropped ten points. Current points 77.]
[Ding!
Sarah's face dropped, and she quickly spoke to the other girls. "We need to find Lea quickly!"
Meanwhile, Lea's thoughts changed. '-but even if that's true, I just love Sarah.'
Lea spoke, her mind feeling hazy. "Yasenia just doesn't increase her harem because she is not confident in her ability!"
Angel barked a laugh. "Are you even listening to what I'm saying? If she wanted, even after adding a zero or two, she would still be able to pleasure those numbers physically! Does Sarah need ten partners? Can you say that Sarah gives you her undivided attention? I can! Even with six lovers, Yasenia makes me feel like I'm not in a harem but in a monogamous relationship by working her ass off every day."
Angel looked at Lea and sneered. "Do you know how many days she has slept in the past year? Six! She has slept only for SIX DAYS! And that's because she uses her sleeping schedule to do sect management and cultivation so that during the day, she is freer and can share time with us! Has Sarah ever done something like that?"
[Ding! Lea's affection dropped by fifteen points. Affection reduced to 65 points.]
[Ding!
Lea retorted, placing her hand on her forehead. "Sarah becomes stronger the more partners she has. This is something we've realized, and that's why it is okay to increase the numbers! Not only that, she can make her harem stronger!"
Angel's lips arched with disdain. "Are you even listening? Do you think Yasenia can't do that? She could dual cultivate common people into geniuses comparable to us if she wanted to. But instead of plowing every hole, she takes care of a group she can manage without wronging any of us. While Sarah's harem will grow into the hundreds, we six will stay as Yasenia's only real lovers. And I can trust her with that because of her past actions!"
Angel then challenged. "Tell me that if Sarah said she would stop adding people, you would believe her. Tell that to my face those words!"
[Ding! Lea's affection dropped by thirty points. Affection reduced to 50 points.]
[Ding!
Lea shouted back. "Even if I can't, Sarah will never abandon her lovers!"
Angel lifted her eyebrow. "I've seen how she behaves; I've seen how, during the first six months, she ignored all of you and couldn't even satisfy you properly. I've seen you mix with others in the harem because you felt frustrated. Yet, you still say that she won't abandon her lover? When was the last time you got a full day with her? The last time you received a present from her? The last time you had a full night alone with her instead of a wild orgy where you can't tell who is having sex with who?"
Lea's eyes moistened with tears. "I-."
[Ding! Lea's affection dropped by 120 points. Affection reduced to -40 points.]
[Ding!
But those tears became anger. "So, what if I can't tell? While it is true that Sarah does not give us the attention we seek, she has grown enough to satisfy us!"
Angel laughed. "And yet, after gaining that little ability, she started looking for new lovers outside the harem. Probably going on dates, seducing them with items you thought were unique to you, and having sex with people you didn't even know the name of."
Lea's heart squeezed with painful feelings. No one liked seeing their lover be close with others behind their back. She couldn't help but feel hatred.
[Ding! Lea's affection dropped by 150 points. Affection reduced to -70 points.]
[Ding!
But then, Lea thought that Sarah also didn't have a choice. "But if she wants to become stronger, she needs-."
Angel sighed and stopped her words with a hand gesture, walking back to Yasenia's side. "I see that you love her enough to ignore all her faults, and that's commendable. However, you should really try to see if Sarah is worth all that love. What differentiates Yasenia and Sarah as harem heads is their dedication to the members inside, the trust they put in them, the care they treat them with, and the love they are capable of giving."
[Ding! Lea's affection dropped by 25 points. Affection reduced to 55 points.]
[Ding!
"Sarah has many secrets. Has she told the people closest to her, her harem members, about it?"
[Ding! Lea's affection dropped by 20 points. Affection reduced to 60 points.]
[Ding!
"All the items you said she bought or gave you, do you even know where they come from?"
[Ding! Lea's affection dropped by 10 points. Affection reduced to 70 points.]
[Ding!
"Did Sarah care when you mixed with others in the harem to get her attention? Or did she look away and act as if she didn't know?"
[Ding! Lea's affection dropped by 60 points. Affection reduced to 20 points.]
[Ding!
Angel saw the expression changes on Lea's face, and Yasenia was closely looking at the mess of emotions inside the petite woman in silence. 'Something is wrong… But what?'
Lea was very dizzy but felt a lump in her throat, and her eyes became moist. The confused emotions in her mind and heart made her body tremble and feel weak in her legs. Her tone sounded wronged and pitiful. "D-Did you have to put things like that to my face? I just love Sarah, nothing more…"
Angel looked at her for a moment and then looked away. "If you didn't have intentions toward Yasenia, I would have been more merciful. But I dislike your attempts at flirting with her and trying to make Sarah sound so good. You are clearly trying something, although I don't know what, so I wanted to squash any thoughts related to that. Yasenia will not leave us, even if Sarah is the Heavenly Saint of Love and Passion. That's my confidence, our confidence in her."
Lea's eyes opened. "H-How?"
Angel rolled her eyes. "You've been giving looks to her since a while ago, and your words were not that hidden. Even if I'm not that perceptive, I know when someone is trying to get close to Yasenia. If you don't want to continue being hurt, kill your intentions toward her."
Yasenia had been silently looking at Angel, feeling delighted. As the number one fan of her dears, the dragoness already knew all her lovers had a very sharp and mature personality toward outsiders. Still, she usually didn't get to see it since they all acted pampered toward her. 'So, this is how Angel is toward outsiders that she doesn't consider close. Wow~. I want to hug and rain kisses on her serious little face~.'
On the spectator's side, Laurina grabbed Yasenia's skirt's hem and asked with a depressed whisper. "I-Is there really not a chance?"
The dragoness was a bit surprised at Laurina's words. She recomposed herself quickly and commented. "I've said it a few times. Unless an exception happens, I don't plan on adding more wives."
Lauren blinked and thought. 'So, it's not impossible… Wait, wives?'
Yasenia gave Laurina a side-eye, shaking her head. 'Well, the maids and bloodline spreading situation is still in the air, and my girls know it, so if she gets the hint, that's that.'
While all our girls knew that Yasenia wouldn't open her heart to anybody else, they also knew her desire to spread her bloodline. Therefore, they had accepted the maids becoming something similar to concubines.
Well, most of them. Angel and Cecile were still thinking about it.
Yasenia knew it, and if they never agreed, or if they agreed reluctantly, she would never place this plan in motion. They were all very open about these things and had discussed them together in the past, so there were no hard feelings.
This was the secret for the lack of drama between our girls and why all of them trusted Yasenia so much. She would always tell them about what she was thinking, her plans, and in what direction she wanted to develop, allowing them to speak up when something felt uncomfortable much earlier than when it happened, reaching conclusions all of them were happy with.
Yasenia hugged her baby and kissed her forehead, her eyes, and finally, her lips. "I love you, baby."
Angel's face had already melted back to her pampered self, and she rubbed her face with Yasenia while mewling. "I love you too~."
Tatyana's eyes never left Lea during all this time, shining with white energies related to her Fate abilities. 'I see. That's how it works… Mirrory.'
Mirrory answered. 'Don't worry. I agree with your thoughts. I was a bit hesitant, but this situation makes it clear.'
Tatyana laughed. 'Perfect~.'
The dragoness looked at Lea and asked. "Do you want to continue exploring with me?"
Lea struggled and finally said, while looking at the floor. "I will return to Sarah's side."
Yasenia nodded and then asked. "You won't answer the device?"
Lea blinked, feeling a bit dizzy still. "Device?"
Only then did she realize that the communication device was vibrating. She picked it up. "Yes-?"
Sarah's angered voice boomed from it. "Yasenia, what did you do to Lea!?"
The dragoness eyes opened with confusion.
"If you touched a single hair of her body, I won't forgive you! She is my woman!"
Sarah's second angered and resentful shout allowed Yasenia to understand what she was insinuating. 'Did she…?'
Her entire body's temperature dropped to the point that the ground around her began freezing. 'She wouldn't dare…'
Her blood boiled with anger, but her head and thoughts became colder and colder.
Then, a voice so frosty that gave goosebumps to those gathered escaped her luscious lips.
"What are you implying, Sarah?"
When Du Xian, Du Lian, Laurina, Angel, Lea, and Tatyana looked at her facial expression, they all froze as the pair of draconic slit pupils thinned to a line while pure anger radiated from every pore of her body.
Tatyana hadn't seen Yasenia so angry since the day Tengliu challenged her bottom line. This made her lips arch in delight. 'Perfect~.'