性瘾者

Brigitte smiled while watching Skylus, Monik, and Claude ran in the garden of the floating island.

[I can’t believe that we’re really on a floating island– and it’s moving.]

A dome-like “roof” covered the entire island. According to Paige Avery’s explanation earlier, the dome kept the air inside normal. Hence, they could breathe just fine. Moreover, the floating island was hidden by clouds created by Jeno Dankworth.

[The children’s names are familiar since some of them are nobles in the empire. I haven’t heard of Lady Paige’s name before, but she feels familiar to me. And it’s not only because she used to work as Claude’s nanny.]

Anyway, the entire place was really pretty.

In the middle of the small island was a strange yet beautiful villa. She said ‘strange’ because she hadn’t seen that kind of architecture before, especially the interior design. However, she wouldn’t deny that the entire place was beautiful.

Especially…

“Mommy, can we swim?”

.....

Brigitte wasn’t sure how to answer Monik’s request because the ‘swimming pool’ in front of the villa. It was like a huge tub that could fit at least twenty people.

[Lady Paige called it a ‘swimming pool’ earlier.]

If she remembered it correctly, the water in the pool was six feet deep. Her children were still very small…

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty,” Paige Avery assured her. “Our Princess Neoma sent some items over that the children can use to safely play in the pool.”

As if on cue, the man named ‘Xion Redgrave’ appeared while holding some strange yet cute items.

“Donuts!” Skyler said while pointing at the giant “donuts” that the man was holding. “I want the blue donut!”

“I want the donut, too!” Claude exclaimed excitedly. “I want the yellow one!”

“I want that big pink flamingo!” Monik said while pointing at the huge flamingo-like item on the side of the pool. “Can I ride that, Uncle Xion?”

“Only if your mother approves,” Xion said, then he turned to Brigitte. “Your Majesty, these are called inflatable floaters. These will help the princes and the princess play in the water safely. Of course, I’ll also keep an eye on them.”

“We’ve also prepared proper swimming attires for everyone,” Paige added. “The children will be able to play in the water more comfortably if they wear proper attires.”

Brigitte turned to her children.

Monik, Skylus, and Claude were all looking up at her with big, round puppy dog eyes.

[Aww… how can I say ‘no’ to these cuties?]

“I think it’s alright to trust these children, my queen,” Glenn, who was standing beside her, said. By “children,” he was talking about Xion and Paige. “I feel like our children are safe with them.”

“I feel the same way, honey,” Brigitte said, then she turned to Xion and Paige. “I leave our babies to you.”

***

NOW THAT the children were playing in the pool while being guarded by Xion, it was time for a serious talk.

Brigitte and Glenn were having tea with Paige Avery in the garden of the villa. From their spot, they could see the pool. Hence, Brigitte and her husband could still keep an eye on their children from their location.

“Your Majesties, first of all, I’d like to apologize for deceiving you,” Paige said, bowing her head towards her. “I have no intention of hurting your family when I applied as Prince Claude’s nanny. But I understand that in the end, I still deceived you. I’m really sorry.”

“To be honest, my husband and I felt betrayed at first,” Brigitte said. “However, if it wasn’t for you and Xion Redgrave, Prince Calyx would have killed our entire family.”

She felt chills all over her body after getting reminded that her entire family was almost killed by the First Prince.

Since the Great Moonasterion Empire was the most powerful on the entire continent, she was pretty sure that they could cover up even the death of the entire Griffiths family. Hence, she didn’t want to imagine what could have happened to the Hazelden Kingdom had they died.

“Lady Paige, we’re in your debt,” Glenn said. “Thank you for saving our family.”

“It’s nothing, Your Majesties,” Paige said politely. “We were only following Princess Neoma’s order.”

That name again.

[The name that could give me inner peace by simply hearing it.]

And it was also the name that made Brigitte trust Paige Avery and Xion Redgrave. She could tell that it was the same for Glenn.

[We feel safe just because of a name. I wonder what we’d feel once we met her?]

“To be honest, I’d like to hear about Princess Neoma’s story,” Brigitte said. “However, I’m worried about the Hazelden Kingdom. The First Prince tried to assassinate our entire family. But since he failed, I’m afraid Prince Calyx would attack our kingdom while we’re away.”

“I’m also worried about Prince Calyx framing us for attempting to kill Prince Nero,” Glenn added worriedly. “What if his goal is to create a reason to wage war on our kingdom? What if there are imperial troops already on their way to invade Hazelden?”

“Don’t worry, Your Majesties. That won’t happen,” Paige assured her. “Right now, the Ice Spirit is protecting Hazelden. To be precise, Lord Delwyn is hiding the kingdom from the outside. Even if Calyx Dalton sent troops to attack Hazelden, they will never find it.”

Brigitte looked surprised because of how confident Paige Avery sounded.

[And she sounds trust-worthy.]

She could tell that her husband felt the same way.

“Your Majesties, please trust us. The Hazelden Kingdom will be fine for a few days even if you don’t return right away,” Paige said in a polite yet firm manner. “Princess Neoma will be arriving in our secret base. Would you like to meet her first before returning to Hazelden?”

***

“ARE YOU going on a vacation, Duke Hawthorne?”

To say that Jasper was surprised to see Rubin Drayton in his estate would be an understatement.

And it just so happened that he was about to go on a “vacation.”

But he didn’t want to appear suspicious. Hence, he didn’t try to hide the fact that he was leaving the estate for a few days. However, he didn’t expect Rubin Drayton to personally pay him a visit as soon as his departure was confirmed.

[There’s a spy among my people then.]

“How rude,” Jasper scoffed. “You’re just a noble child who hasn’t inherited his father’s title yet. Where did you get the audacity to come to my estate UNANNOUNCED?”

“I apologize for my sudden visit, Your Grace,” Rubin Drayton said, and he didn’t look sorry at all. “However, I believe we have something important to talk about.”

“What do we need to talk about?”

“The night Lady Hanna was abducted by the pirates,” Rubin Drayton said, smirking at him. “You were there, weren’t you?”

[Ah, so they already suspect me.]

“Meow.”

Hmm?

Gin, who was in his cat form, meowed loudly while looking up at Rubin Drayton.

“What?” Rubin Drayton growled at the cat. “Stay away from me, you filthy animal.”

Gin suddenly jumped high enough to reach Rubin Drayton’s face and scratch it with his sharp claws. “Meow, bitch.”

Rubin Drayton, whose face was bleeding from the cat’s scratch, yelled angrily.

That was Jasper’s cue to fight and run.

***

THE ATMOSPHERE between Neoma and Ruto had been awkward since the moment she said she was disappointed with him.

However, she didn’t have time to make up with him because they had to work.

[Thankfully, I could use this reason to avoid Trevor in the meantime.]

Right now, Trevor was guarding Phoebe Willows who was still unconscious after she cut off the string that connected the child to Lady Astrid– the Goddess of Beauty.

On the other hand, Neoma was in the drawing room with Ruto and Dahlia.

[This is a meeting among Elemental Guardians’ masters.]

“So, are you saying that the fourth Elemental Guardians summoned us?” Neoma summarized after hearing the story from Ruto and Dahlia. “But they wanted us to find them once the three of us are together?”

“That’s right,” Ruto confirmed while nodding. “However, the fourth Elemental Guardian is a playful one. They want us to find them.”

“Is it hard even for you to find them?” she asked curiously. “I thought you can recognize Elemental Guardians?”

“The fourth Elemental Guardian is special,” Ruto explained. “They can change their form every time they are reborn.”

“They gave us a clue,” Dahlia added. “Apparently, they were born as an animal that can walk, swim, and fly. But both Lord Ruto and I are having a hard time figuring out what kind of mythical creature could walk, swim, and fly. We tried looking for all the mythical creatures on the continent that fit the description, but to no avail.”

Okay, she felt relieved to hear that.

[Now I know why Ruto and Dahlia had been traveling together all these years.]

Not that she was jealous, okay?

[Anyway...]

She knitted her eyebrows, confused. “But why are you looking for mythical creatures instead of normal animals?”

Ruto tilted his head to one side, confused by her question. “Because it’s an Elemental Guardian, so it must be a majestic creature like the Thunderbird, the White Lion, and the Blue Whale...”

Well, Ruto had a point.

.....

The Thunderbird that ruled the sky could control lightning-slash-electricity.

The Blue Whale that reigned the sea had command over water.

The White Lion, on the other hand, was the king of the land.

Of course, it was natural for Ruto and Dahlia to think that the fourth Elemental Guardian was as majestic as the other three.

However, she thought differently.

“It’s a duck.”

Ruto and Dahlia both looked confused by what she said.

“It’s a duck,” Neoma said casually. “A duck can walk, swim, and fly— and it’s majestic, too.”

***

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