The scorching weather often discourages activity, the intense sunlight making people drowsy. Even Ryan's family sought refuge from the heat in their air-conditioned estate. Surrounded by greenery and various entertainment facilities, Ryan had commissioned dwarf craftsmen to build a small outdoor pool where the women could swim to their heart's content.
Besides Veronica, who became very active and trained incessantly during the summer, even Morgiana was persuaded by Ryan to join them in the pool for a while. After swimming, they all sat by the pool, enjoying cold drinks made by Ryan and Teresa. The winery had air conditioning, making the hot summer more bearable.
Brittany's climate was mild and pleasant. After the hottest period, the weather gradually cooled, and thunderstorms became more frequent. Ryan reduced his outings during this time.
"Crackle~" Another stormy night arrived, rain pattering against the master bedroom windows with a crisp sound.
Ryan and Sulia lay in bed, chatting. Sulia was reading a book about the Holy Grail Knight's expeditions, while Ryan fiddled with a wooden elf sculpture. His personal maid, Olica, fed him fruit as she lay in his arms. The dark elf, always his personal maid, slept in the same room as him, even during intimate moments with Sulia.
Olica had perfectly adapted to her role, rarely speaking unless Ryan asked, and she was good at keeping secrets.
However, she spoke up today: "Master, I think Morgiana is pretending."
"Of course, she's pretending," Ryan said, amused, turning his gaze to Sulia. "Sulia, do you think Morgiana is pretending too?"
"Ryan~" Sulia smiled at her husband, putting down her book. She extended a hand clad in lace silk pajamas, poking Ryan's face with her delicate finger. "You know, but you shouldn't say it out loud~"
Morgiana had reluctantly joined them in the pool, claiming she couldn't swim and needed Ryan to teach her. Despite spending a few days teaching her, she always clung to Ryan or hung on to him in the water.
Sulia, a devout follower of the Lady of the Lake, couldn't voice her amusement as directly as Olica, so she kept her thoughts to herself, often finding humor in her husband's popularity and the need to manage the household dynamics.
Sulia could easily tell which women had been intimate with Ryan by checking for his spiritual mark on their lower abdomen. Recently, she inspected the castle's maids under the guise of a health checkup and found that only Olica bore Ryan's mark, not even Emilia.
Thinking of Emilia, Sulia brought up a topic: "What do you plan to do about Emilia?"
"What can I do? All I can do is respect her decision," Ryan shrugged. Since the arrival of Elspeth von Draken, the Lady of Nuln, and Chief Judge Theodore Bruckner, Emilia had become reclusive, rarely leaving her room except for her maid duties, immersing herself in training with her rapier, single-handed swordsmanship, and firearm use.
Sulia had no comment on this matter, but she remembered something. "By the way, I recall you had a little maid when you first came to Brittany. But after our wedding, I haven't seen her."
"You mean Miranda? After serving me for five years, I granted her freedom. She's now running a tailor shop in Sharon Town," Ryan recalled. "My maid team has changed several times. Except for Emilia as the head maid and Olica as my personal maid, no one is irreplaceable. I'm not like some bloated nobles; maids are rotated out after two years to prevent any unrealistic ambitions."
"That's right~" Sulia nodded, knowing this was indeed Ryan's character.
After chatting a bit more, Sulia left voluntarily. She didn't sleep in Ryan's room tonight; it wasn't her turn.
Olica stayed behind, curling into Ryan's embrace, offering her affectionate kiss. "Master~ it's just us now~"
"Yes, Olica, just us," Ryan said, smiling. The two exchanged a knowing glance.
As midnight approached, the winery fell silent, with only the sounds of cicadas and the wind. The magical lights in the dim corridor had been turned off, leaving the hallway in darkness. Ryan and Olica were sound asleep, entwined in each other's arms.
"Rustle, rustle~" Footsteps and faint breathing sounded at the room's door.
The visitor hesitated, sometimes raising a hand to knock, then lowering it to pace back and forth, deeply conflicted.
After five such movements, when the visitor raised a hand to knock again, the door opened on its own.
"Who goes there?!" Dressed in disarray, Olica appeared at the door, holding a pair of daggers with branch patterns. The dark elf, in a purple-red velvet nightgown, had her front buttons undone, revealing her tan, delicate skin and impressive bust, with a lucky pendant swaying between her breasts. "You shall not approach the master!"
The intruder moved like lightning, her rapier flashing twice in the air, aiming for Olica's head. The dark elf skillfully parried with her daggers, her movements like a butterfly in flight, each motion graceful yet deadly, her cold blades grazing the intruder's neck, forcing a retreat.
The intruder didn't back down, flipping and continuing her assault.
Olica didn't intend to give the intruder a chance to recover. She extended a long, slender leg in white stockings, aiming a powerful kick at the intruder's head, forcing another retreat and exposing a brief opening.
Just as Olica prepared to subdue the intruder, a large hand covered her mouth, and another gently pressed her abdomen. "Enough, Olica, you know it's her."
"Mmph, mmph~" With a few subtle movements, Olica went limp, unable to stand. Ryan held her in a bridal carry, whispering, "It's alright, Olica, this isn't her time; it's our night."
"Emilia? Why are you here at this hour?" Ryan asked the figure at the door.
"We can't keep dragging this out," Emilia said softly.
"Don't just stand there, come in," Ryan invited. Emilia nodded, following him into the room and closing the door.
After laying Olica on the bed, Ryan turned on the lamp, surprised by what he saw.
Emilia stood before him, tears streaming down her face. She wore a simple ruffled short-sleeve dress and silver princess shoes, sobbing quietly. "I'm sorry, Ryan, I've made my decision."
With that, Emilia broke down, her voice trembling. "I've decided to return to Nuln."
Ryan smiled gently, hugging her and patting her back. "You've made your decision, dear Emilia, that's good. I'm happy for you."
"I'm so sorry, Ryan! I don't want to go back; I just want to be your maid. I don't want to leave you, but I can't... I can't leave Nuln without a ruler. I can't abandon the vassal families who've served us for generations. I can't forget my father's words when he handed me the holy sword in the Dragon Forest, telling me to survive. Too many have died protecting me. Nuln needs me now, and so does Wiesenland. I can't... I can't... Maybe this is life, Ryan. I don't want to leave you, but I have no choice."
"It's alright, Emilia. It's okay. This is your duty, your responsibility. I accept your choice, whatever it is, and I support you," Ryan said, stroking her back. "You've been with me for nearly seven years; you owe me nothing. Now, you must fulfill your mission. Go ahead, Emilia, I will support you."
"Emanuella von Lebowitz-Bernardino, that's my full name. The titles I can inherit include Elector of Brescia, Grand Duke of Nuln, Grand Duke of Wiesenland and Solland, Chancellor of Nuln University, Honorary Chancellor of Nuln Gunpowder Academy, Grand Count of Nuln, Grand Baron of Wissenburg, Knight of the Highest Order of the Black Rose, Knight of the Highest and Most Ancient Order of Edelweiss, Honorary Commander of several Knight Orders in Nuln, Imperial Privy Council member, Honorary Commander of the Black Rose Legion... and twenty-one other titles," Emilia recited, her words almost dizzying.
Finally, she laughed through her tears, looking up at Ryan. "How about that, Ryan? Isn't your maid impressive?"
"Yes, very impressive," Ryan knew there was more to her words.
"So, Ryan, you still have time to divorce Sulia and marry me," Emilia said, her tone shifting to one of seduction. "If we marry, I can be an Elector and an Elector's wife."
Dark energy swirled around her, and before Ryan could respond, she continued, "But you didn't take the chance. Despite all these years, you never touched me!"
"Don't joke. If I had, you wouldn't have liked me," Ryan retorted, giving her a knowing look. "I know you don't want to be a maid forever. You want to be the lady of the house."
"But that position is taken by Sulia!" Emilia leaned against Ryan, her tone maturing into that of a noblewoman, her voice carrying the distinct cadence of high aristocracy. "That should have been mine. I should have been your wife, Emanuella of Nuln!"
The Emilia before Ryan was now a dignified, elegant noblewoman, with light makeup and a serene expression filled with innate pride. Her every gesture exuded nobility, her red-rimmed eyes and deep affection the only reminders of the maid he once knew
.
This was the real Emilia, or rather, Emanuella.
As proud as a swan, as elegant as fine wine.
Everything before had been a facade. Since her escape, she had disguised herself as a simple, taciturn mercenary.
Upon finding sanctuary with Ryan, she became a demure, soft-spoken maid.
All these were for her protection, always guarding her secret, not wanting others to know.
Emilia wiped her tears, sighing with regret. "Sulia has been very kind to me. She saw through my identity but treated me well. If not for various reasons, we would have been good friends. Now, we can only be sisters."
What's the difference? Ryan thought.
"So, the Emilia I knew was all fake?" Ryan asked softly.
The room fell silent. Olica lay nearby, listening to their conversation. She wanted to speak several times but chose to remain silent. Ryan, holding Emilia, waited for her answer.
"Not entirely fake, Ryan. Being your maid made me very happy. It was the happiest time of my life," Emilia said, removing her silver princess shoes, her white stocking-clad legs swaying gently. "Women are different in front of the men they love. What's so strange about that? This dark elf is cold and hostile to others, but to you, she's a soft, sweet pillow."
"Hmph~!" Olica instinctively wanted to retort, but realizing Emilia was right, she stayed silent.
"Ryan, your rise exceeded my expectations. I thought you'd be a baron by thirty... but now, it's meaningless," Emilia said, gripping Ryan's hand tightly. "But giving up is impossible. Ryan, you're too outstanding. With you as the standard, how could I look at other men?"
"Blame me~" Ryan chuckled, unsure how to respond, so he changed the subject. "I understand your decision, Emilia. Even as Elector and Duchess, we can still meet. Nuln can establish a teleportation array to my place. You can visit anytime. The autonomy in Nuln is high; the city council and mayor, along with Wiesenland nobles, can handle many issues..."
"I can visit, why can't you come to me?" Emilia's tone turned displeased as she lifted her head and kissed Ryan. "I need an heir, Ryan. Someone to inherit my titles, and that heir can only be yours."
Another one asking for a child, Ryan thought.
He had a lot on his plate.
"I've discussed my return conditions with Karl Franz, Elspeth, and Theodore. My condition is that any child we have must inherit all my titles and legal claims!" Emilia said, gripping Ryan's collar. "You can't just give everything to Sulia and those two witches. I want a mark too!"
"I don't think I agreed," Ryan said, conflicted.
"You will, because it benefits you greatly. If you don't, I'll marry an old, ugly noble and, as Elector, pressure the Empire to cut trade and strategic support with the knights," Emilia said, her plan chilling Ryan. "Nuln is the Empire's southern stronghold and industrial heart. What do you think the Emperor will choose between foreign and domestic matters?"
"That's illogical! You can't do that!" Ryan, shocked, protested. "You can't disrupt the hard-won trade agreements for such reasons. It would break the Order Alliance, giving chaos and evil forces an opportunity!"
"Don't talk logic with women, Ryan," Emilia said confidently. "You're a hero for humanity. To protect human interests, you need only make a small concession to save the situation. Ryan, please, I've been your maid for so many years. Just agree."
She whispered in his ear, "Give me a child, Ryan. You'll be the father of the Grand Duke of Nuln and the Elector of Brescia. I don't care much for being an Elector or Grand Duchess, but after long escapes and following you, I'm tired of nobility. But I know you need my help, and I'm willing to help."
"You've chosen me, Emilia," Ryan understood her as she understood him, having spent years together. With both emotional and beneficial ties, he couldn't refuse. "So, what's your answer?"
Ryan pondered for a long time, then nodded heavily.
The sweltering midsummer night neared its end, dreams dissolving like bubbles, leaving reality and promises.
Autumn had arrived.
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!] [www.p@treon.com/INNIT]