Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After a week's worth of preparation, the day for the Imperial Gala finally arrived. It had been set to take place at the Edelfelt mansion and, though the guest list contained well over a thousand total guests, there was still plenty of space within the massive, highly decorated, ballroom.Those that had attended parties at the Edelfelt mansion in the past weren't all that surprised by the glamor and decor but, considering the vast majority of invitees were 'new' families, they were quite taken aback by the splendor. Though some rationalized that the Edefelt family had always done everything in a very showy manner, others interpreted the display as her family showing off the benefits they had received from the Empire.During a time where nearly every other family was struggling, as it became increasingly difficult to acquire various goods and services, the Edelfelt family had continued to thrive. This had caused a number of people to feel bitter but, with fake smiles on their faces, they still flocked to the Edelfelt family in the hopes of obtaining their own benefits. The only path to prosperity was throwing your lot in with the Empire so, in order to preserve their family and legacy, most Magus families, both old and rising, sought to ingratiate themselves to the Edelfelts.Luvia was no stranger to people trying to cozy up to her for benefits but, with the Empire at her back, the only thing she stood to gain from any of them was 'authority'. There were few benefits to associating with the older Magus families and, while they provided an ample workforce, even the up-and-coming families weren't particularly beneficial to the Empire. Vahn had established a system with functionally infinite resources, including Magical Energy, so the 'value' of everything had immediately become inconsequential...Fortunately, people themselves still had considerable value and, as Vahn intended to establish a system based on individual merit, there were quite a number of reasons to proactively socialize. It was impossible to completely remove the idea of perceived and inherited status from people's minds so, given enough time, there was certain to be a perceived class divide in the future. After all, if a reasonably powerful person made a name for themselves, acquiring great fame as a result, the common consensus of people would be to elevate that person and their family.Even without a monetary system, people would never stop seeking to distinguish themselves from others. The vast majority of humans had an intrinsic desire to elevate themselves amongst their peers; This was one of the cornerstones of human society so, despite Vahn's optimism, Luvia knew it was only a matter of time before someone exploited the system and tried to directly oppose him.To prevent Vahn from being blindsided by 'human nature', Luvia was willing to act as one of the many shields that protected his vision. The Edelfelt family had always been gifted with the ability to game the world's system and, as the latest and greatest in her line, Luvia would elevate her status and fame to the point that, when others attempted to do the same, she could knock them down if they proved to be a threat. After all, in the world Vahn wished to create, one of the most powerful political tools would be dragging your opposition's reputation through the mud using the leverage you were able to obtain...---With the Imperial Gala scheduled to start at 7 PM, most guests had made sure to arrive at least an hour early. Nobody wanted to show up later than the Guests of Honor so, even before the gates of the Edelfelt mansion had been opened, many had gathered in the periphery, patiently waiting for their chance to enter. This included the so-called high-brow members of society as, no matter how highly they regarded themselves, any status they held prior to 'The Fall' had lost its meaning.Though some people still clung to old titles and holdings, it was no longer something they openly bragged about. It had become dangerous to stand out in the current political climate so, fearing the loss of what little they had been able to preserve, even 'former' Nobles did their best to lay low.Among the exceptions to this rule were those like Reines El-Melloi Archibald, the current Lord El-Melloi Archibald. While the status of Lord had all but lost its meaning over the past few months, she had spent decades trying to reclaim her family name and title so, as one of the first members of the Alliance, she unashamedly flaunted her status.While most people just silently lingered around the ballroom awaiting the arrival of the Emperor and his entourage, Reines, wearing a lavish, sapphire-colored, dress, wasn't shy when it came to drawing attention to herself. She, accompanied by her husband, Waver, and her daughter, Ridley, wasted no time in approaching Luvia the moment she arrived. Her aura was enough to drive away the couple that had been previously conversing with Luvia who, upon seeing Reines, offered her usual business smile as she said, "I'm glad you were able to attend, Reines. We have a daycare set up if you'd like to send little Ridley off to play with the other children."In response to Luvia's greeting, Reines returned a cold and calculating smile of her own as she mused, "You are looking as radiant as ever, Lady Edelfelt. Tell me, when is His Imperial Majesty's group expected to arrive? Rumor has it that the Imperial Family will be in attendance so I would like to properly introduce Ridley to her future friends and colleagues."As if acting on a cue, Ridley performed a prim and proper curtsy immediately after her mother's words. This caused Luvia to offer a polite smile in turn but, within the sanctity of her own mind, she couldn't help but roll her eyes. Reines had always been an opportunist but, if she kept trying to push her daughter forward without proper consideration, it was only a matter of time before she stepped on Vahn's bottom line.Causing Reines' expression to darken perceptibly, Luvia waved over two neatly dressed security personnel, saying, "Please escort Miss Ridley to where the other children are playing. Make sure she is well fed and properly entertained until her parents are ready to depart."Since Luvia was hosting the gala, Reines didn't have the leeway to try and overrule her decision. She was well aware of the fact that her status couldn't be compared to the golden witch standing before her so, while it caused her eyes to sharpen slightly, she allowed Ridley to be escorted away before asking, "What is this about, Lady Edelfelt?"Now that Ridley was, albeit momentarily, removed from her mother, Luvia adopted a moderately serious expression as she answered, "I do not wish to see you and your family brought to ruin by your lack of consideration. The Empire is vehemently against the idea of exploiting children and using social gatherings like this to forge connections and arrange marriages. With how drastically things are changing, how far do you think your outdated sensibilities will take you? If you want to succeed within the Empire, you'll need to work on that character of yours."Though it didn't show on her face, at least from an outsider's perspective, Reines was incensed by Luvia's words. She wanted to say something about how Luvia had just been lucky to jump on the bandwagon as a result of her relationship with Rin but, knowing the former wasn't shy to violence, she opted to withhold her comment. Instead, she did her best to remain calm, intertwining her arm with Waver's as she said, "I'll keep your advice in mind, Lady Edelfelt. Truthfully, I just want to provide my daughter with the opportunity to succeed in this changing world. Surely, you will not begrudge me for thinking about her future..."Without footing around the issue or using flowery words, Luvia gave a curt nod in response to Reines' words before saying, "If you are concerned about your daughter's future, become a better person. You aren't a fool, Reines. Though your interactions with Vahn have been limited, you have had plenty of time to properly consider things. If you keep trying to take shortcuts in an effort to increase your status and authority, you're going to hit a wall. If you're truly concerned about your daughter, stop treating her like a political tool."In the past, Luvia wouldn't have particularly cared about how Reines raised her daughter but, after becoming a mother herself, her perspective had changed a lot. The way Vahn raised his children had left a deep impression on her and, after spending a considerable amount of time with Ulla, it became impossible for her to empathize with anyone who treated their children as tools...---After being separated from her mother, Ridley's doll-like face had been set into a tiny frown. She hated being treated like a child as, despite the fact she was only six-years-old, she had mastered the basic curriculum taught at the Clock Tower. Her mother had educated her to be far superior to her peers so, while others her age were filled with whimsy and a general zest for the world around them, Ridley, emulating her mother, had already become a cold and calculating young lady...Upon seeing a number of young children, many of whom were even younger than her, Ridley's face visibly darkened as she turned to her escort and asked, "Would it not be possible to have a private room? I am not feeling well and I would hate to get anyone else sick..."While others might be easily tricked by Ridley's words, the elite security forces of the Edelfelt family weren't so soft. The room housing the children was the most heavily protected area of the entire mansion so, if there was an enemy attack, she would be much safer inside. Since it would also require them to send several people to watch over her elsewhere, the young man instantly shook his head, stating, "You will stay with everyone else. If you are feeling tired, rest on the sofa or eat some of the snacks provided. You needn't worry about getting anyone ill as you would not have been allowed to pass the barrier if you carried something infectious."Seeing how quickly her escort had shot her down, Ridley's face morphed into a dour expression as she issued a 'hmph' and entered the room. Immediately afterward, the two men exchanged a knowing look between them before the man who had refuted Ridley just shrugged. They weren't authorized to actually enter the room so, without idling about any longer, they quickly alighted to return to their duties...Despite her general loathing for other children, Ridley knew that everyone gathered within the room should be the sons or daughters of affluent families. With this in mind, she forced herself to at least make an introduction as, for all she knew, there could be children with a much higher rank and status than her own. She would eventually be forced to interact with her peers at some point in the near future so, rather than make a bad first impression, Ridley adopted her practiced smile before approaching the two oldest girls in the room, both having peculiar white hair.Even before reaching the two girls, Ridley felt a strange sense of incongruity as, for reasons she couldn't fathom, part of her felt a strong desire to actually befriend these two girls. She did her best to bury this thought in the back of her mind but, by the time she was standing in front of the strange duo, her smile became noticeably more genuine as she politely curtsied and said, "Good evening. My name is Ridley, daughter of Lord El-Melloi Archibald. If possible, I would like for us to be friends..."Though the older of the two girls just tilted her head cutely, the white-haired girl around her own age smiled in a way that made her seem much older as she answered, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ridley. My name is Aura and I'm always happy to make new friends~."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'If someone has power, someone else is coveting it','Luvia might be one of the best when it comes to playing politics but that doesn't mean she is playing games &gt;:D...','It's a trap...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With nearly every attendee having already arrived, Vahn was patiently waiting to make his own entrance. He was intending to arrive precisely at the changing of the hour and, after that, other guests would not be allowed in.It was common for the Guests of Honor to arrive at social gatherings later than was reported. In the interval between the time they are scheduled to appear and the moment they actually appear, everyone would be paying close attention to new arrivals. Thus, in the past, anyone that wanted to draw attention to themselves or their status would arrive during that brief window. This was a political statement of sorts and, despite how foolhardy it would be in this situation, Vahn knew a handful of people would still take the risk...To bide time until his entrance, Vahn was helping to style and fix the girls' hair, a skill he had all but mastered after well over a hundred years of practice. There were no limits to the shapes he could mold hair into and, due to the peculiarities of how hair behaved in some Records, they held their shape surprisingly well.Though this would be their official debut as Imperial Princesses, Sakura and Mordred had both elected to wear a modified military dress, rather than gowns. Neither girl had any interest in being treated like a delicate flower and, though Sakura once harbored an interest in being the type of princess found fairy tales, she quickly grew out of that phase after her training began. Now, she and Mordred were both wearing form-fitting white trousers, vermillion, military-style, blouses, and half-mantles that were colored white on the outside and red on the inside.Overall, both girls seemed more like Knights than Princesses. This would give the impression that the Empire was a military state but, after setting 'The Fall' in motion, Vahn didn't particularly mind how others saw them. It was better than having people assume his children were political tools that were vulnerable to external pressure and assassination attempts.After styling Sakura's hair into a neat bun, similar to how Artoria and Mordred tied up their hair, Vahn smiled at her through the mirror, asking, "Are you nervous?" in a gentle tone. In response, denying her true feelings, Sakura shook her head and answered, "I have trained hard for this day. I won't allow myself to be bullied or embarrassed...!"Hearing Sakura's remark, Mordred laughed at the side before jumping on her from behind and saying, "That's the spirit, Sakura! Let's teach these smelly bastards not to look down on members of the Imperial Family~!"Though she was used to Mordred's excessive physical contact, Sakura quickly extricated herself before smoothening any wrinkles in her uniform. This was evidence of just how nervous she was, causing Vahn and Mordred to exchange a quick glance that basically communicated, 'take care of your sister'. Mordred understood this well so, without any words between them, she just nodded before apologizing and helping Sakura fix her outfit.---At seven minutes till 7 PM, 1308 people had gathered together in the spacious ballroom. This relatively small group of people normally represented the majority of power within the Mage's Association but, compared to the people that had just arrived, even their combined strength wouldn't amount to much. Just the presence of the robed individual with green hair was enough to cow every member of the Clock Tower's faculty that was present within the room...Though they weren't actually the strongest among the group of new arrivals, Solon led the way as Zelretch, Director Atlasia, Sion, and the infamous Professor Alpha followed close behind. Sion had already been exposed as the 'former' Vice-Director of the Atlas Temple so, while very few people could recognize who Director Atlasia was, the fact he was followed closely by two affluent figures in the Department of Unified Thaumaturgical Theory spoke volumes about his status.While most of the attendees had turned statuesque with the arrival of such powerful figures, Luvia gracefully made her way over, her presence like a wandering star traversing a silent abyss. Then, further awing the crowd that had been gathered, the group headed by Solon was the first to give a polite greeting, something unimaginable to most. This sent ripples throughout those gathered along the periphery as, while Luvia's status had always been presumed to be high, it now seemed a lot higher.Finding the gossip in the surroundings bothersome, Solon, now wearing their usual blindfold, lifted their rather fair hand, creating a bubble that blocked all sound as they asked, "When is Vahn expected to arrive? I only just arrived and I already feel like leaving..."Though she was actually feeling quite nervous to be standing before the infamous Director of the Mage's Association, Luvia managed an unperturbed and elegant giggle before answering, "His Imperial Majesty will be arriving shortly. He has chosen to advocate for punctuality so he will be arriving at precisely 7 PM."Hearing what they had wanted, Solon gave a small nod before dispersing the soundproofing barrier and following behind Luvia as she guided them through the hall. Their action of simply walking to their destination caused the rest of the gala's attendees to quickly disperse, giving the group a very wide berth for fear of triggering the infamous Director's ire. Though Solon looked like a child at a glance, even the former Monarchal Lords hadn't dared to oppose them so, with monstrous existences like Zelretch present, none were bold enough to approach the group and introduce themselves.With the purging of the corrupt Noble houses and the abolishment of various practices within the Mage's Association, there was now a vast gulf between the lesser nobility and the most powerful members of the magus community. A massive power vacuum had also been created but, due to the Empire's presence and influence, it was impossible for anyone to actually take advantage of this.The only group poised to take control was Luvia's faction but, with her family having functionally limitless resources due to the Empire's backing, the Alliance now served more as mediators than anything else. It was for this reason that so many families had reached out to her as, without a mediator, trying to negotiate with the Empire seemed all but impossible. Most people failed to get a proper read on Vahn's character and, after he basically flipped the world on its head, few had the courage to even try...Amongst the group that dared to press their luck, there were only those such as Reines who, after seeing the Director's entourage, unhesitantly made her way over. Her family was one of the first to join the Alliance and, though they hadn't done much to earn the Empire's support, this did little to stop Reines from taking advantage of her presumed status. Thus, despite feeling more than a little intimidated by the group's presence, Reines neared Solon before adopting a smile and saying, "It is rare to see you out and about, Director. I did not expect to see you at a social gathering such as this."Despite wearing an embroidered leather blindfold, completely concealing their eyes, Solon had been staring at Reines from the moment she deigned to approach. This was more than enough to deter most people from approaching as, unlike Vahn, the fear of death wasn't something people could simply ignore. With their Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, anyone unfortunate to fall under Solon's gaze would feel vulnerable and powerless, much like a normal human suddenly finding themselves in a den of hungry tigers.Without minding Reines' actual words, Solon instantly shut her down by saying, "There is a fine line between bravery and seeking death. You would do well to consult with your husband before you end up making an irreversible error. He seems to have considerably more sense than you..."While Reines had been doing her best to adopt a casual demeanor, Waver, pulled along by her, had closed his eyes and lowered his head ever so slightly. He had often talked with Reines about her mistaken beliefs but, after obtaining so many of the things she had coveted for decades, she had been riding a high that made her previously cautious and calculating self seem like nothing more than a facade. She was too eager to seize greater power and authority, despite having done little to deserve it.In response to Solon's words, Reines visibly tensed, her smile becoming somewhat unnatural as she fought to maintain composure. Then, convincing herself that Solon was just a relic of the past, Reines gave a cursory bow before pulling Waver along to wait for Vahn's arrival. If she could get close to the Imperial Family, it wouldn't matter what other connections she had...Seeing Reines drag away her husband, Solon just shook their head before turning to Zelretch and saying, "There are power-hungry fools in every era. Tell me, during all of your stints into the future, was there ever a timeline where that woman succeeded?"Hearing Solon's remark, Zelretch's toothy grin showed just how much effort he was putting in to avoid laughing out loud. When he finally answered, Solon's inquiry, he explained, "Prior to Vahn's emergence, that woman was fated to lose her life after several failed ploys against the Archibald family. More often than not, she ended up getting tortured and killed by Bathomeloi Lorelei...as for the futures where she managed to succeed, most of those were timelines where Magecraft had rapidly stagnated. As a result, she was able to use poisons and assassins to eventually secure a pretty high position for herself."Even before Zelretch had finished explaining things, Solon had already imagined Reines to be a snake in the guise of a woman. If not for the fact Vahn kept company with some of history's most notorious poison users, Solon would have been tempted to remove Reines from existence. With their Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, it was possible to directly strike the Origin of a person and, as a result, even memories related to their existence would rapidly fade away.Understanding his long-time friend well, Zelretch lightly tapped Solon's leg with the tip of his cane, saying, "Vahn isn't the type of person that will punish someone for ambitions alone. Let that woman make her own mistakes. If she does something heinous enough, you needn't lift a finger as only death awaits those who directly oppose the Empire."Though Zelretch's words hadn't been spoken aloud, many people in the hall had been trying to listen in on their conversation. As a result, those who had been harboring thoughts about trying to resist the Empire in the future suddenly changed their plans as, with his 'Operation of Parallel Worlds', Zelretch was the person who knew best about the future. Considering Vahn had already killed a considerable number of people, his words had even more weight to them...Around the time their thoughts turned to the infamous Emperor, the lighting in the hall began to dim, the only exception being near where Luvia had been entertaining guests. This was a tiered area where, throughout the duration of the gala, an orchestra had been playing music. Located behind the conductor's podium, two tiers higher than where the orchestra itself was playing, a large stage had been visible since the onset of the event.With all eyes focused on the stage, Luvia, having changed into a completely different sapphire-blue dress, made her way to the very center. Then, using Magecraft to enhance her already loud voice, she performed a polite curtsy before smiling as she said, "I would like to thank all of you for attending tonight's event. Though I am acting as host of this evening's Imperial Gala, it wouldn't be much of an event without its Guests of Honor. With that in mind, please give light applause for the Empire's Steward, Sir Bedivere..."Following Luvia's introduction, a fair-skinned man attired in formal wear that resembled both a butler and a military officer stepped onto the stage. He had a regal and noble appearance with perfect bearing, befitting of his status as both a Knight and Imperial Steward. As a result, many members of the audience were awed while a number of women, and even some men, began to harbor untoward fantasies regarding the handsome Knight...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Dao of Hairdressing','Reines' death-seeking habits','Imagine learning most of the former Knights of the Round Table are still single...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Following the conclusion of his meeting with Solon, Vahn, accompanied by his new entourage, consisting of Okita and Altera, made a quick stopover at the Edelfelt mansion. Though he could send her a direct message, Vahn preferred to deliver news personally as, with the ability to teleport, other methods just seemed impersonal. He also knew Luvia herself would appreciate his visit so, with the silent and attentive white-haired duo standing on his flanks, Vahn teleported into the foyer where, as per usual, an entire team of Maids and Butlers were waiting to greet him.Despite the 'The Fall', and the penultimate collapse of the global economy, the Edelfelt family had continued to prosper. Luvia unashamedly made use of the Empire's resources and, though her core forces still consisted of the Edelfelt elites, they had recruited tens of thousands in support of relief efforts all over the world. Since they were one of the only military forces in the world that still had operational aircraft and a small naval fleet, it hadn't taken long at all for Luvia to cement her family as one of the most powerful forces in the world.Though they were intrinsically related to the Empire, the Edelfelt family was given autonomy to act in their own interests. As a result, they had been able to help people with the stigma of being directly associated with the Empire. The fact they still used technology from the 'old era' encouraged a lot of people to rally behind them and, though there were quite a number of opportunists that had tried to take advantage of this, the solidarity of the Edelfelt combat forces prevented any major uprisings.After a short trek through Luvia's fortress-like mansion, renovated as a courtesy of the Dwarves, Vahn found himself in an auditorium-sized training room. There he found Ulla happily clapping her hands while at the side while, on oversized wrestling ring, Oliva and Luvia were flying around like luchadores as they performed a variety of acrobatic feats. This wasn't entirely unexpected but, seeing that Ulla had also been dressed up in an adorable little leotard, Vahn couldn't help but adopt a wry smile...Almost immediately after he had entered the room, Olivia slid underneath Luvia as the latter used the ropes of the ring to vault through the air. She managed to land nimbly after missing her catch but, before she was able to turn around, Olivia snaked up behind her with surprising agility, her arms wrapping around Luvia's waist. In the next moment, despite their height difference, Olivia managed to bend backward, performing a perfect arch as Luvia was suplexed into the ring. As a result, her legs froze in a rather compromising position but, fortunately, things came to a swift end when the referee slid across the ring on their stomach, quickly counting her out.With her victory determined, Olivia raised her first toward the sky, a victorious smile on her face as Luvia pretended to be knocked out. This caused Ulla to fret a great deal as, while she was happy her Grandma had won, she was sad that her mother had lost. Her doll-like face formed into a worried expression and, seemingly determining her mother was more important than the match, she climbed up the side of the ring, shouting, "Mommy!"The moment she heard her daughter cry out, Luvia rose to a seated position, a vibrant smile on her face as she caught Ulla out of the air. Then, while happily rubbing her cheek against the latter's face, she chimed, "Ah, my darling Ulla, your voice awakened me~! I feel ten times stronger than before, ohohohoho~."Though they were both well aware of the fact Vahn had arrived, Olivia and Luvia were still putting on their play so, hearing Luvia's comment, Olivia crossed her arms proudly and claimed, "You'd have to be at least eleven, no, thirteen times stronger if you want to defeat me, kukukuku~."Hearing her Grandma's remark, Ulla showed a serious expression and, as this wasn't her first time in this situation, she hugged her Mother tightly as she said, "I believe in you, Mommy! You have to go for the legs! If you go for the legs, you can win...!"As if her greatest secret had just been exposed, Olivia took a few faltering steps backward, surprise visible in her countenance as she exclaimed, "No! How did you learn about my injured left knee!?" Then, seemingly realizing something, she lightly pat her own chest before adopting a taunting smile and saying, "Well, it's too late! The referee already declared my victory! If I rest properly, my leg will be good as new before our next match...!"With an expression that looked like she had swallowed a bug, Ulla glared at her Grandma before rising to her full height, a diminutive 85cm, as she shouted, "I'll just have to defeat you myself...!"Moving 'faster than Olivia could react', Ulla launched herself toward her Grandma's right leg. She still had a bit of trouble determining her left from her right, at least when it came to other people, but, in spite of this, Olivia fell to the ground, a howl of pain escaping her throat. Then, as Ulla did her best to perform a leg lock, Olivia helped position her arms and legs properly, lending a rather ridiculous quality to the whole scene...While Ulla was busy 'defeating' her Grandmother, Luvia reclined onto her elbows, leaning her head back to smile at Vahn. This brought an even bigger smile to his face as, despite knowing Luvia had a lot going on, the fact she always made time to play with their daughter made him feel even more attracted to her than normal. There was nothing more beautiful and endearing than a good mother so, when they both had a free moment, Vahn decided he would reward her plentily.With her 'weakness' targetted, Olivia ended up tapping out, unable to bear the pain of Ulla's leg-lock. Afterward, Ulla copied her Grandmother's previous display, raising her tiny fist high into the sky to proclaim her victory. Just as she was about to cry out, however, she noticed Vahn standing at the side of the ring and, seemingly losing interest in the match, shouted, "Daddy~!" before running over without hesitation.Catching his airborne daughter out of the air, Vahn spun around a few times before pulling her close and giving her a firm hug as she happily wriggled about in his arms. This prompted Luvia and Olivia to rise to their feet and, after being waved away by the latter, all of the staff within the room quickly cleared out.While leaning against the ring's ropes, her hair done up in two drill-tails, Olivia cheekily asked, "Are you stopping by for business or pleasure? My afternoon is free so I can help out with both if you'd like~."Since he had already grown accustomed to Olivia's 'propositioning', Vahn just rolled his eyes at her before explaining, "Solon and Zelretch have agreed to attend the gala. After this event, the Mage's Association will unofficially be under the control of the Empire. I thought Luvia would like to know sooner, rather than later, so I stopped by immediately after my meeting ended. I'm glad I did, too, as I got to see just how strong my little jumping bean has become."To punctuate his statement, Vahn gave Ulla a kiss on the cheek, making a loud 'mwah' sound that caused her to giggle happily before returning the favor. At the same time, Luvia adopted a far more serious expression than before, asking, "Will they be announcing their full support of the Empire or is the intention to officiate the current Alliance?"Rather than go into the finer details, Vahn set Ulla onto his shoulders before saying, "Unless you are busy, we can talk about it later. For now, how about we enjoy a light lunch? It's getting pretty close to lunchtime and I have some time on my hands."Though he was generally very direct and honest with his children, Vahn didn't like talking about the affairs of the Empire in their presence. He liked to make them the center of attention, not bore them to death with long, and often droll, conversations.Understanding his intentions, Luvia hopped over the top rope, landing smoothly next to him with a smile on her face as she answered, "Certainly! I'll have the chefs cook up something scrumptious~!"Luvia wasn't particularly hungry but, as it was an excuse to spend time together, she wasn't going to pass on the opportunity. She and Vahn were generally very busy during the daylight hours so it had been a while since they dined together within the mansion. Though they almost always ate together during the evenings, it was hard to enjoy the moment to the fullest when there were between twenty and thirty people present...Before Vahn and Luvia could wander off with Ulla, Olivia reminded them of her presence by saying in a firm tone, "Wait a minute you two love birds. Before you eat lunch, make sure to wash up properly. Don't go teaching Ulla any bad habits or I'll put you into a full nelson when you least expect it!"Hearing Olivia's warning, Vahn just waved his hand, tiny beads of sweat pooling together from the bodies of Luvia and Ulla. At the same time, a fragrant aroma began to spread throughout the area, a technique he had stolen from Da Vinci. He had previously modified his 'Cleaning Magic' to have a deodorizing effect but, as the lack of an aroma caused a bit of incongruity, he spent a considerable amount of time learning how to infuse an aroma into his domain.With Vahn seeing through her plan, Olivia clicked her tongue before hopping up and using the ropes to bounce herself backward. She landed nimbly on one of the corner posts before pointing down at Vahn in a theatrical way and proclaiming, "You can't use magic to solve everything! Be a responsible parent and take Ulla to take a bath! Don't the Japanese teach the importance of skinship between a parent and child!?"Though Vahn was going to ignore Olivia's outburst, his plans changed when Ulla leaned against the top of his head, doing her best to look into his face as she said, "Daddy, let's go take a bath. I want to wash my hair and change my clothes."Since his children's 'orders' were absolute, Vahn nodded his head in affirmation, causing Ulla to bob happily. Before he alighted from the room, however, he looked toward Okita and Altera who, from the beginning, had been standing like a pair of statues at the side. The moment he turned his eyes toward them, they seemed to 'boot up', eagerly awaiting his next order.Nipping any of Olivia's plans in the bud, Vahn adopted a somewhat malicious smile as he said, "Will the two of you please keep the Edelfelt Matriarch company? I wouldn't want her to feel lonely while Luvia and I take Ulla into the bath. Don't worry, we won't be too long. Until then, however, ensure we are not disturbed."Hearing their Master's orders, Okita and Altera both nodded in understanding, the former saying, "I understand..." while the latter chimed a monotone, "I see...". Then, as if they had a highly advanced auto-targeting system, both girls locked onto the grimacing Olivia. She had been intending to invite herself into the bath but, as Okita and Altera were impossible to reason with, bypassing them would be all but impossible. If she made a serious effort to break into the bathroom, there was a very real chance they would become destructively hostile...Satisfied with Olivia's response, Vahn turned away as Luvia followed behind, her amused laughter echoing throughout the expansive room. She enjoyed the interactions between her Grandmother and Vahn, even if it sometimes gave her a strong desire to reward her Grandmother with a fist to the top of her noggin. She, like Vahn, knew that Olivia was 'mostly' just playing around but, as there was a part of her that seriously vied for a chance to get a taste of her husband's 'godly' capabilities, she couldn't drop her guard...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Hyenas became the Kings of the Jungle','Wrestling is real, I swear~!','The ultimate matriarchal technique, 'Cougar Stalking Dragon'~!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1407: Mingle