Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Shortly after calling the emergency council to a close, Vahn found himself back in his chambers with only Artoria and Mordred at his side. Even Gray had taken upon herself to step out for a moment as, while her status allowed her to be present for such things, she rarely stuck around for family matters.Even without asking, Vahn already had an idea about what was troubling Mordred. It was something he and Artoria had talked about at length in the past so, after taking a seat, Vahn asked, "Tell me, do you regret becoming my daughter?"Without any delay in her response, Mordred adopted a serious expression on her face as she stated, "There is no way that could ever be the case! Chichiue is an excellent father, someone I respect with all my heart...!!"Hearing Mordred's instant reply, Vahn couldn't help but smile appreciatively but, taking advantage of her word choice, he added, "Not all your heart, I fear...there is a part that views me in a different light, is there not?"Though she already expected this line of questioning, Mordred paled slightly, her head hanging low as her bangs covered her eyes. At the same time, she balled her hands into fists, words escaping her as she didn't know the 'correct' way to respond to such a question.Just as Mordred's eyes began to swim around for an excuse, she was liberated from her stupefied trance by a soft and warm hand being placed on her shoulder. When she looked up, she found her Hahaue smiling gently toward her and, though there was a complicated look visible in her eyes, she still whispered, "Calm down, Mordred. You should know better than most...your father isn't someone you should fear."Artoria wanted to say something to support her daughter but, understanding exactly what it was the latter wanted, she, too, was at a loss for words. After all, depending on how things went, there was a very good chance she would be losing her daughter in the near future.If she were forced to admit her innermost thoughts, Artoria wouldn't be able to deny that the last few years, while filled with various troubles but, had been incredibly fulfilling. She had learned from her failings as a Father and King and, though she believed she still had a long way to go, she liked to think she had become a capable Mother and Empress. Now, however, even though she had seen this coming for a long time, she couldn't help but feel a small amount of anguish as, in a way, she had, once again, failed Mordred...Seeing the struggle in her Hahaue's eyes, Mordred's feelings of guilt began to increase exponentially but, before she could say anything, a firm yet guiding voice reached her ears, calling her name and drawing her attention. Though she had known where the voice originated from, Mordred was still at a loss as, rather than conflict and struggle, her Chichiue had a calm and accepting look on his face. His smile didn't seem forced and, rather than judgment or disappointment in his eyes, he looked at her the same way he always had, like a father trying to guide his daughter through her struggles...Though she would normally feel better just having her Chichiue smile at her, Mordred's feelings of guilt made it hard to even look at him, much less smile in turn. She hated that she couldn't control her own emotions properly and, as a result, she was on the verge of destroying everything that had made her happy in life. She felt lower than the greedy and depraved men and women that made up the vast majority of the human race as, even after obtaining happiness, she couldn't help but want even more...just like the people she hated most.Sensing a palpable increase in Mordred's negative emotions, Vahn's smile faded slightly as he firmly said, "Mordred, raise your head.", drawing her eyes back to him. Then, before she could sink further into an ocean of negativity, he explained, "You have made a lot of progress over these last few years. Even if I locked myself away into a [Space-Time Orb], no amount of time would be adequate to put into words how grateful I feel towards you. Being a father is the greatest purpose I have ever found and, seeing how much you have grown over the last three years, it fills me with hope and gives me the confidence to walk my own path..."Hearing her Chichiue's words, Mordred's emotions began waging a war within her mind but, on the surface, she did her best to appear calm and attentive. She would normally be beside herself with glee to hear him say such things but, due to the circumstances, it felt like metal stakes were being driven into her heart. Though she had a few expectations about how things were meant to go, no amount of mental imaging could have prepared her for this increasingly tense conversation. It was comparable to the feelings she had felt while facing her Hahaue down in her past life, something she never wanted to experience a second time.As he had been closely gauging Mordred's reaction, Vahn fought to prevent his smile from turning awry. He knew Mordred had never been the type to indulge flowery words and long explanations so, in the hopes her downward spiral would cease, he released a tired sigh within his mind while raising three fingers, explaining, "There are three choices available to you. Though these are not the only three, they are what your mother and I came up with after a number of long discussions...I hope you will properly consider your choices before making a decision."Seeing that her now had Mordred's undivided attention, Vahn gave an appreciative node before holding up one finger and explaining, "Your first option is to change your status from First Imperial Princess to First Imperial Prince. Before my meddling, you always identified as a man and I've seen how you interact with Fenrir, Mash, and Astrid. If you pursue this path, you will live the rest of your life as a man and, when the time comes, I will directly prepare you to rule in my stead."Though she expected any number of things, Mordred hadn't even considered the possibility she would be offered the chance to become a man. For a brief moment, her mind drew a complete blank as, in more ways than one, it was something she had always desired. Prior to being 'reborn', she had even considered the fact she had been born a female as a kind of curse. Though it helped that her 'father' had also been female, making her feel a lot closer to the person she had most respected, she still had the mentality than men were, in many ways, superior.While Mordred's mind was still drawing a blank, Vahn held up a second finger, pulling her back to reality as he explained, "Your second option is to continue fulfilling your duties as Imperial Princess, increasing your status and prestige through your own efforts. This is similar to your current path but, towards the end, I can promise you something beyond your current ambitions. Rather than be the Emperor of one world, I will nurture you to become a being above even the Gods. If you choose this path...becoming a Goddess, you will be able to stay at my side for eternity, helping me to shape, not just one world, but countless worlds. Also, as the standards for Gods are completely different than those of mortals, I will...take you as one of my wives..."Hearing her Chichue's final words, Mordred's breathing became audible and, though she managed to retain her composure, it was easy to see how much they had affected her. She was the type that always sought to rise above, gaining even greater power and authority. Being told she would be able to become a literal Goddess, ruling over countless worlds, there was no way she could ignore such an opportunity. Though it was true that she could have always followed this route, the same could be said for becoming a male as, so long as she earnestly desired something, her Chichiue would not deny her...As this thought crossed her mind, so too did Mordred's awareness of her current situation. From the very beginning, her Chichiue had only been listing out options that had always been available to her, not special deals that would come and go if she refused them. If she really wanted, creating a fourth, fifth, or even a hundredth option was possible. The only thing he really cared about was that she was happy and, so long as it didn't interfere with the happiness of others, she was free to choose at her leisure.In timing with this conclusion, Vahn held up his third finder, adopting a somewhat wry smile as he added, "The third option is the easiest, really...you give up your status as Imperial Princess, denounce our parent-child relationship, and follow a path similar to Illya. Truthfully, there is very little difference between your situation and hers. I would be a hypocrite if I refused you for no better reason than my ongoing relationship with your mother. In a way, your situation is even less complicated as, in much the same way as Gray, you were born into...unique circumstances."Hearing the third option provided, Mordred fought hard to prevent herself from laughing out loud, even as tears began to build in her eyes. It was both funny yet surprisingly painful to be reminded of the fact that she could always just throw away her status. Though her Chichiue treated her with the care and concern of an actual parent, they weren't truly related and, if she chose to be selfish and pursue her desires, the seemingly unbreakable bond they had forged as parent and child would be shattered in an instant. This thought was liberating but, at the same time, Mordred couldn't help feeling indescribable anguish...Seeing Mordred fighting back tears with an awkward smile on her face, Vahn's own heart felt pained so, instead of discussing the matter further, he patted his right thigh and said, "Come, sit.", in a soft and gentle tone. As a result, he found himself practically tackled by the still armor-clad Mordred as, for reasons she couldn't put into words, she began crying her heart out. Shortly after, Artoria came to sit at her side and, for the better part of twenty minutes, they comforted the crying Mordred as a Mother and Father should...---Though she hated crying, Mordred couldn't deny that she always felt much better afterward. Her body felt lighter and, as she almost exclusively cried around her parents, there was always a soothing warmth that came along with it. She would never admit it but she enjoyed being pampered as, prior to her 'rebirth', Mordred had never been able to experience anything like the care and concern of a parent...After calming down enough to organize her thoughts, Mordred broke the silence by sitting straight and declaring, "I refuse to give up my status as your daughter. I thought I would be happy being one of your women but I won't abandon everything I have worked for just to become one of many. I will become much stronger, strong enough to lay even Gods low in a single blow. Then, no matter how much time passes, we will always be together...as family...and much more..."Mordred's words were directed to both of her parents but, as she was sitting on her Chichiue's lap, it was hard not to stare directly into his eyes. They held a force that seemed to draw others in and, at times, Mordred had wanted to swim within their depths. With this in mind, she decided to just throw propriety aside for a brief moment and, knowing it would probably be the last time for many years, she wrapped her arms around her Chichiue's neck and claimed his lips as compensation for, well, a lot of things...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Not your average family tensions...','The choice is yours...','Prelude to the Dragon's rise (UwU)...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Vahn couldn't be certain his handling of Mordred's situation was the best but, considering how fervently she threw herself into training, it was better than letting her spiral in negativity. Though it did cause some awkward tensions between them, especially when he was doing things like helping baptize her body in Source Energy, it wasn't that different from normal. Rather, Mordred seemed a lot happier than before so, while things would eventually come to a head in the future, Vahn decided not to worry about it too much.Fortunately, or perhaps not, he had far more pressing matters to attend as every version of Scáthach, sans the child-like form she used to attend the Clock Tower, had vanished. She had traversed back to her homeland and, though only a few days had passed in the real world, a massive stone castle now stood along the banks of Loch Eishort. This was the location of Dunscaith Castle, the place that had served as Scáthach's home prior to her disappearance into the Shadow Lands.Like all Heroic Spirits, Scáthach would be most powerful at the location where her legend had begun, so, when they next met, Vahn had little doubt she would be far stronger than he was used to. If the final challenge really was a battle to the death, the Isle of Skye, and even Scotland itself, may not be able to withstand their clash. Fortunately, he had Arcueid on his side as, even if he tried to use one of Da Vinci's modified [Space-Time Orbs], there were no guarantees it could withstand the strain of their all-out attacks.The only real preparations Vahn needed to make were mental as, after training under Scáthach for years, part of him 'expected' to lose. Though he wasn't lacking in confidence, there were times when Scáthach forced him onto the defensive and, despite his efforts to reverse the momentum, she was almost always able to overwhelm him. The only way around this was to remove his mental blocks as, if he truly went all out, even he didn't know the full extent of his power. All he really knew was that, if it came down to it, even Aoko and Arcueid, two Tier 5 being, might not be able to last more than a few hours against him...To prepare himself for the climactic battle, Vahn left Artoria and Gawain to deal with most official matters while Luvia and Bedivere worked together to arrange the upcoming ball. Though he kept to his normal schedule for a few days, Projection Time, he spent nearly three full days doing little more than meditating atop Leviathan. As a result, his mind slowly became completely devoid of thought as his existence itself seemed to blend into the surroundings. The only thing going through his mind was the subtle sounds of the [Mantra of Eternity], its words just as imperceptible to him as the day he had first obtained it.Even Sis didn't know how powerful the [Mantra of Eternity] was but, at the very least, it was graded as SSS-Rank, even within the Nasuverse. This indicated that, from the perspective of The Path, it was an existence at the very peak of Tier 5, likely even Tier 6. The fact he had obtained it 'randomly' in the past, when he most desired strength, indicated it was The Path's answer. If he focused on trying to master the [Mantra of Eternity], it was all but guaranteed he would reach the ridiculous amount of strength he needed. With that being the case, Vahn could even rationalize, as scary as it might be, there was even a chance it could be Tier 7.All Vahn really knew about the [Mantra of Eternity] was, when used, it made him feel 'greater' than his usual self. It was almost like he was expanding, becoming something far more than the person he currently was. If he gave himself to that feeling, Vahn had no doubt he would obtain something far beyond anything he currently possessed but, in exchange, there was a chance he would lose that which was more precious to him. Thus, for the time being, the [Mantra of Eternity] served as a means to rejuvenate his Spirit, rapidly replenish his Source Energy, and calm his mind.When Vahn finally opened his eyes, the 'bubble' that had formed in the atmosphere, creating a void nearly ten kilometers across, slowly dispersed. Vahn then sloughed off the layer of ice that covered his entire body, blinking a few times to remove the flakes sticking to his eyelashes. Then, before he went down to inform the others he would be departing, he lightly caressed the top of Leviathan's head, saying, "Thanks for the assist."In response to his words, Vahn felt a ripple pass through his shadow and, in the next moment, a soft voice answered, "You need not thank me...your growth is my reward. I look forward to seeing how far your efforts will take you."Hearing Leviathan's supportive words, Vahn issued a light chuckle before taking a few phantom-like steps and leaping off the side of the 30km long whale-like serpent that made its home high above the clouds. He could just teleport down but, after a long session of meditation, Vahn always had the desire to 'experience' the world. It was hard to describe just how comfortable he felt at times like this and, though it wouldn't last long, Vahn enjoyed the sense of 'oneness' with the world around him.By controlling his descent, Vahn was able to land soundlessly atop the ivory-white walls of his castle and, for a brief moment, he enjoyed simply gazing out over the peaceful island that was his home. It would take some effort but, one day, he would ensure everyone had the opportunity to experience this same kind of peace. Even if Karma and other factors ensured there was always conflict within the world, he would still make it a place where those who sought it, could find peace.With a natural smile spreading across his face, Vahn gave one last look at his surroundings before expanding his domain. As a result, his peaceful state was replaced with a phenomenal amount of information, to the point that Vahn was even aware of individual blades of grass, the composition of the dirt, and every insect crawling around inside of it. Despite this, it was a very different feeling than the 'oneness' he experienced during meditation as, rather than being just a part of something bigger than himself, he was now the 'center' of everything within the bounds of his domain.Sensing Artoria alongside Gray, Nero, and Rin, Vahn teleported just outside the room the occupied and, after lightly knocking, made his way inside. As per usual, Artoria, Gray, and Nero all rose to their feet but, having always been more casual regarding matters of propriety, Rin remained sitting with a cup of tea in her hands. Vahn didn't particularly mind this but, based on the wry smiles on Artoria's and Gray's faces, combined with Nero's 'curious' expression, he expected it wouldn't be long before the latter also dismissed with propriety.Though it would be nice to stay and chat for a while, Vahn didn't move from the threshold of the door as he plainly stated, "I will be going." in a calm tone. He didn't need to explain where, exactly, he would be going as, prior to his meditation, he had already discussed the matter, at length, with most of the girls. Thus, in response to his statement, Artoria released an almost inaudible sigh before adopting a supportive smile and saying, "Go. I will take care of the Empire while you are away. We will all be awaiting your triumphant return..."Vahn had already been smiling but, hearing Artoria's words, he couldn't help but reveal how happy her support made him, his smile widening until his eyes squinted slightly. Though she may not hold the central position in his heart, Artoria had been one of his life's greatest blessings. Just like in the Record of Danmachi, things would have been a lot different if he didn't have competent, powerful, and tolerant women at his side. With the exception of Fenrir, she had become the person he relied on the most in the Nasuverse and, knowing she would continue to support him far into the future, he nearly teared up on the spot.Seeing Vahn's unexpected reaction, all four girls were more than a little taken aback as, while he wasn't exactly lacking in expressiveness, it was rare to see Vahn appear 'vulnerable'. Since she had been the catalyst for his reaction, Artoria's supportive smile melted into a far more affectionate one as she glided over to his side and wrapped her arms around him. Their size difference made hugging while standing a little awkward but, much like how it would during combat, her body had moved on its own...---After finally parting ways with his infinitely compassionate Empress, Vahn could feel his momentum begin to surge up in anticipation for what was to come. His calm was slowly leaking away and, after a much longer embrace than was necessary, it felt like his Spirit had been supercharged with positive emotions.By the time he reached the garden, where Arcueid was tending to the flowers alongside a group of adorable Companions, Vahn had regained his usual, confident, smile. This caused Arcueid to greet him with one of her own and, after lightly patting each of the helpful Companions, she rose to her feet and quickly alighted to his side. Since his presence at this time could only mean one thing, she gingerly placed her palm over his chest, asking, "Is it time?"In response to her question, Vahn took her hand into his own, nodding his head as he answered, "I'll be counting on you."Hearing the 'magical words', Arcueid's smile became even more vibrant as she tip-toed and planted a delicate kiss on his lips in response. Then, her sapphire-blue eyes putting to shame even the most beautiful gemstones, she happily replied, "You can always count on me~", before giggling and stealing another kiss as her reward.If it wouldn't undo all the preparations he had made, Vahn would have whisked Arcueid away to give her a 'real' reward. She always behaved in a way that made him want to relax and spend more time with her but, with Scáthach already waiting a few days for his arrival, Vahn felt a strong compulsion to seek her out. He didn't want to be seen as a coward in the eyes of his Shishou and, knowing she would be able to ascertain what he had invested his prep time on, Vahn elected to remain focused.Fortunately, though she could be quite 'greedy' at times, Arcueid already knew Vahn's intentions so she didn't do anything to rile him up further. She had learned quite a bit from her sisters in the Inner Sanctum so, if she really wanted to, it wouldn't be that difficult to egg him on. The main lesson she had learned, however, was to do her best to support Vahn as, when it really came down to it, there was little he wouldn't do to support them. Thus, even if her body always felt like it was on fire when they were together, she settled by just nestling into his embrace for a few moments, knowing there was a good chance she wouldn't be able to spend time with him for a few days.When Arcueid was finally done 'recharging', Vahn kissed the top of her head before pulling her along as he said, "We'll fly to the Isle of Skye. I want to feel the cold wind against my face and body before facing off against my Shishou. There is always a chance something unexpected will occur so make sure you stay on your toes, okay...?"Though she nodded her head in understanding, Arcueid wasted no time in clinging to Vahn's arm with a wide smile on her face. Flying through the sky was one of the things she enjoyed most so, to have Vahn to herself for even a few minutes longer, she was more than happy to accompany him...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Eternity echoes throughout all of time and space...','Endless Blessings : Infinite Tolerance','Prelude to the climax...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Even as the battle was ongoing, Vahn had been part of an ongoing war council back at Avalon. He was seated at the head of a massive three-dimensional diorama in his official regalia, Artoria at his side and every ranking military official gathered around them.Though it wasn't nearly as capable as CHALDEAS, the satellites produced by Da Vinci to enhance the SHEBA network allowed them to view a detailed representation of real-world locations. It was still in its nascent state, making it roughly as useful as previous GPS satellites but, soon enough, they would have the means to observe even the density and composition of mana all throughout the world.Currently, Vahn was discussing the feasibility of investigating, securing, and destroying most of the world's Bounded Fields. This would have long-standing effects on the planet as, while most existed solely to benefit the Magus families that had developed them, many prevented excess mana from the Reverse Side from leaking into the world. They also prevented monsters and other Phantasmal Species from freely roaming the countryside so, if they truly destroyed them, the Empire would have yet another problem to deal with.As the ranking military official, behind only Vahn and Artoria, Gawain was the one to offer a solution, saluting as he boldly exclaimed, "Your Majesty, though I am remiss to use them in such a way, would the simplest solution not be to send the Companions to investigate? Splitting our forces any further than we already have will only cause gaps within our existing security network. We cannot abandon our efforts to maintain order around the various food distribution sites so I do not see any solution outside of producing more Companions, Golems, or Homunculi..."Hearing Gawain's suggestion, Vahn had to take a deep breath through his nose to remain calm. He actually hated the idea of mass-producing weapons and, as a result of his views on the responsibility of a creator, Vahn couldn't easily accept Gawain's proposal. While it may, indeed, be one of the 'best' solutions, they would be required to cross a moral boundary he wasn't comfortable even skirting.After ruminating over the matter for nearly a minute, Vahn ultimately shook his head, stating, "I will not pervert the Companions further. I was convinced to allow them to accompany the Empire's and Atlas Temple's Response Forces but only as support units. Changing tune and converting them into weapons, merely for the sake of convenience, isn't something I'm willing to do..."As the words left his lips, Vahn couldn't help but briefly pass his gaze over everyone present within the room, each someone who, from a certain point of view, he had exploited. The primary difference between them and the Companions, however, was that they had at least some choice in the matter. There had yet to be a single Companion to develop a true Ego just yet and, though outlier like Skoll and a few of Astrid's pack were pretty close, they were also fiercely loyal.Every Companion already had the ability to make individual choices but, as a result of how they were programmed, combined with their original function, there was little they wouldn't do to help. If they knew their deaths would benefit those around them, nearly every Companion would willingly march to their demise, most without hesitating in the slightest.Vahn didn't mind being seen as an Evil Tyrant who would do whatever it took, so long as it met his end goal, but that mainly applied to him, not the people around him. If he could, he would take care of everything himself, leaving his loved ones to live peaceful lives without any worries. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he twisted the Companions, creatures who were meant to provide love and support, into weapons of war and slaughter.Though it would put more strain on them in the interim, Vahn formulated a plan within his mind as, rather than simply refute Gawain's words, he needed to come up with a solution. Thus, following his refusal of Gawain's proposal, he added, "What the Empire lacks is personnel. Though it is earlier than our initial projections, we will advance our plans of converting our allies and affiliates into citizens of the Empire. Our partnership with the Atlas Temple has set a precedence so it is time for us to extend an olive branch to those who have been wanting to join us."Hearing Vahn's words, there were mixed reactions amongst his concil but, as it was one of the better alternatives, none argued against it. Luvia, in particular, was in complete agreement so, after gaining permission to speak, she stated, "My family has been making preparations for some time now. After the collapse of the Three Monarchal Lords, our Alliance has become the most powerful faction within the Mage's Association. Various family Heads have been pressuring us to join the Empire so this is a good opportunity to put them to work, ohohohoho~."Vahn nodded his head in agreement but, seeing Aoko smiling wryly at the side, he asked, "Is there something that troubles you, Aoko?"Being put on the spot all of a sudden, Aoko laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head before answering, "It's just that...well, the Mage's Association has always been a pretty messed up place. It hasn't been all that long since they were brought to their knees so I can't help but worry about the future of the Empire if we directly mingle with them. Magi are nothing if not crafty and longsighted."Understanding Aoko's concerns, Vahn gave another curt nod in response but, as it actually invited even more trouble trying to weed out dissidents completely, he allayed her concerns, explaining, "I believe the vast majority here understand the truth behind your words. This is the reason behind the establishment of the Common Law and the proliferation of the Companions. There is nothing we can do to completely root out things like evil and corruption as, given enough time, it will come from within our own ranks. The most we can do is take preventative measures and do our best to unify under a solitary idealogy, one that believes everyone has an inherent right to happiness. We cannot be afraid of dissidence as the desire to break free from the constraints of an established system is an intrinsic part of, not just humans, but the vast majority of sapient species..."Though it wasn't the first time she had heard Vahn say similar words, Aoko offered another wry smile in response before muttering, "I guess this is what makes you an Emperor, huh...?" Then, as if fired up by her own words, she adopted a more confident smile and exclaimed, "Alright! I'm in! That's how it should be, right? Living without any regrets!"As the mood had been growing increasingly tense, Vahn took the opportunity provided by Aoko to laugh in a lighthearted manner. Truthfully, her words struck very close to home and, while it would indeed be stressful, everything they were doing was for a better future. So long as he never made compromises, such as perverting the function of the Companions, the world would, one day, match his vision of the future.Since he had already hogged the glory of taking down an enemy stronghold, Vahn quickly recovered from his bout of laughter, stating, "Luvia, I will leave the matter of gathering prospective allies to the Edelfelt family. I imagine it has been a while since anything festive happened so feel free to organize a ball or something. Even if nothing comes of it, I'm certain the current family heads will jump at the opportunity to mingle with members of the Imperial Family."Though she had intended to hold a private banquet to negotiate with the members of the Alliance, Luvia found Vahn's proposition far more interesting. Truthfully, she had never particularly cared about such things but, as it would be an event hosted by her family, there were ample opportunities to turn the affair into something far more interesting. This event would establish a precedent for how all other social gatherings between profligate families would go as, with the fall of the previous nobility, the Empire was set to redefine even the basics of etiquette.With her mind racing with the possibilities, Luvia had a radiant smile on her face as she confidently exclaimed, "You can rest assured, Your Majesty, I will make this an event to be talked about for years to come! I will need a few days to make the arrangements but I can have the guest list completed by the end of the day. Would you like me to forward it to you~?"Seeing how happy Luvia was, Vahn couldn't help but adopt a gentler expression as he nodded his head and answered, "Yes, I would appreciate it. Please include a copy for Bedivere as well. He will be in charge of preparing the attendees from our side so it is important he knows who you have chosen to attend. This is an opportunity to officially debut Mordred and Sakura as First and Second Imperial Princesses so I would appreciate if you kept that in mind."Hearing her Chichue's words, Mordred, who had been looking pretty bored at the side, suddenly sat up straight, blurting out, "Eh? Do I really have to do..."Before Mordred could even finish her words, both Vahn and Artoria turned their eyes toward her. As a result, her words trailed off, turning into a dry laugh. If possible, she would like to continue keeping her status a secret as, while she was proud to be Vahn's and Artoria's daughter, Mordred didn't want it to be what defined her. The moment it was made public, she would 'always' be treated as the First Imperial Princess, something she would, honestly, rather avoid...Vahn could see the momentary struggle in Mordred's eyes but, before he could say anything to allay her concerns, she recovered with a smile and said, "I'll make you proud, Chichiue, Hahaue. Just leave it to me."Despite her misgivings about bearing the title of Imperial Princess in an official capacity, it wasn't in Mordred's nature to disregard her duties. She respected her parents too much and, though it would place a burden on her, it was nothing compared to what they had to bear on a daily basis. With this in mind, Mordred tried to bury the part of herself that harbored unspeakable delusions, adopting the best smile she could manage to avoid worrying them.Vahn and Artoria could easily tell that Mordred was forcing herself but, knowing she would now insist on attending, it was too late to address it at the table. They would have to discuss the matter in private as now was neither the time or place to have such a conversation. However, as he didn't want her to assume he was shelving the issue, Vahn picked up his seal from the table, saying, "As there is little else to discuss, we will adjourn here and reconvene tomorrow at 10 AM. I will be returning from my excursion shortly so, if there is anything, please wait until then."Though there was actually quite a bit left to discuss, there was no need to have the entire emergency council gathered. Gawain could be trusted to organize everything and, by the time he held Court the following day, most of the less pertinent issues would be resolved.It didn't take a genius to understand that Vahn had brought the meeting to an end on her behalf so, while she did her best to adopt a remorseful expression, Mordred couldn't hide the small twinkle of happiness in her eyes. She felt guilty about worrying him but, knowing he cared for her to such an extent always made her feel happy. He often spoke about being a Father before an Emperor so, at times like this, she always felt gratified to be his daughter, even if it also left a bittersweet taste in her mouth...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Do not corrupt the cute...!','Luvia about to plan a wrestling event instead of a ball...','Sweet Summer child...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1397: Matters of the Heart