Mushoku Impact

Interrupting the long moment of silence that had set in between Paul and Ningguang, Zhongli entered the room to say, "We just received word from the scouts traveling ahead of the convoy. Lord Amarant will be arriving in the next hour."
Without raising her head from Paul's shoulder, Ningguang replied, "Thank you, Zhongli. Have everyone begin preparations immediately."
After a quick bow, Zhongli closed the door and headed off to carry out Ningguang's orders. Silence once again permeated the room, but before it could settle in, Ningguang began tracing the tip of her index finger around the palm of Paul's left hand as she whispered, "You don't need to make a decision now, Paul. However, the longer it takes to form your resolve, the greater the pressure you will feel. Your family, the slaves we have saved, the Princess...these are just a few of the things that tie you to the Milbots Region. As their numbers continue to grow, you will feel less and less like you have a choice. Just remember...you always have a choice..."
Raising Paul's hand, Ningguang planted a lengthy kiss on his fingers. She wanted any true acts of intimacy between them to be initiated by Paul, so, at least for the time being, Ningguang could only tantalize and offer him advice...
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Though nothing was mandating him to be waiting outside to receive his father, Paul elected to help reinforce Ningguang's position by waiting with her for Amarant's arrival. He also wanted to be the one to notify his father of Princess Andromeda's temporary stay, so, even though it was snowing outside, he stood quietly with Ningguang's arm linked through his.
Fortunately, Amarant's large, magically reinforced carriage arrived less than three minutes after Paul, Ningguang, and Ganyu emerged from the Estate. When it pulled up, the first to disembark after the carriage driver opened the door was a stoic yet haggard-looking Flute. Her appearance reminded Paul of the message he had been consigned, but now wasn't the best time to convey it.
With his boots making a loud crunch as he descended onto the snowy ground, Paul and Ningguang bowed ahead of the servants and staff that had gathered to welcome Amarant home. However, the only person to speak was Paul, stating, "Welcome home, father. It lightens my heart to see you safely returned from your travels."
Adopting a rare and broad smile, Amarant walked forward to ruffle Paul's hair as he cheerfully replied, "It's great to see you, my boy. You've grown quite a bit since the last time I saw you."
Though he was a little taken aback by his father's return greeting, Paul managed a sincere smile as he stated, "I'm hoping to be as tall as father when I mature."
Exhaling a gratified chuckle, Amarant shifted his leafy-green gaze to Ningguang as he asked, "I trust the affairs of the Estate are in order...?"
Without raising her head, Ningguang calmly replied, "Lady Valentine has been an excellent mentor."
As it would have been inappropriate for Ningguang to take credit with her current status, Amarant nodded his head to approve of her response. As fond as he was of the brilliant and reliable young girl, he still expected her to observe proper decorum. If she couldn't, the Royal Family would tear her apart when she attempted to attain the status of Lady.
"Excellent. Now, let's make for the interior before a chill sets in. The two of you shall apprise me in my study."
Bowing their heads respectfully, Paul answered, "Understood, father." while Ningguang chorused, "Yes, my Lord." Then, while the 50 or so staff present helped to unload the carriages, the five of them, counting Flute and Ganyu, made their way into the Estate.
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"Hmmm...I'm surprised you brought her back. I had thought you would lay low for a while longer..."
During the discussion regarding Paul's stay at the Academy, the subject of Princess Andromeda eventually came up. This included the revelation that she was currently staying as a guest in the Notos Estate, specifically within one of the larger rooms located in the East Wing.
Having prepared a response in advance, Paul calmly explained, "I saw an opportunity to do what was right and took it."
"Hmmm..."
Recalling his son's past actions, Amarant wasn't particularly surprised by Paul's response. In his mind, Paul embodied the very essence of what it meant to be a Noble, so, while he knew Princess Andromeda's presence would invite trouble, he saw no reason to scold or even gently chastise his son. Instead, he asked, "Are you confident in your decision...?"
Seeing his son nod in affirmation, Amarant supplied a curt nod of his own before adding, "Then that's the end of it. At this point, I'm merely holding onto the position of Lord until you and your lot are ready to take it. Where you lead the family after that is for you to decide..."
Though he was a little surprised by his father's words, a smile developed across Paul's face as he lowered his head and said, "I...no, we will do our best. I swear it."
With Paul, Ningguang, and even Ganyu lowering her head from her little corner of the room, Amarant couldn't help feeling an immense feeling of gratification. He knew his son's nature was bound to invite conflict, but such was always the case when great men and women graced the world with their presence. Even if the entire Milbots Region was destroyed, he believed wholeheartedly that his son would eventually rise and leave his name inscribed into the very foundation of the world.
"You have never once let me down, my boy. Now, away with you. I need to cleanse myself so that I may meet with your mother."
Though he found it more than a little tedious, Amarant had been making sure to both clean himself and have Detoxification Magic applied to him before meeting with Valentine. Ningguang had explained the concept of germs, bacteria, and communicability to him, so he had been extra careful to avoid transmitting anything to his wife.
Rising to his feet alongside Ningguang, Paul was prepared to leave, but there was one final matter he needed to address, asking, "If you have no pressing need for her, might I borrow Flute for a moment?"
Though he raised his brows slightly, Amarant didn't need to consider his response as he waved his hand and declared, "Everything in the Estate is yours to do with as you will. I will only interfere in if things get out of hand or if you need advice."
Surprised yet again, Paul was beginning to feel a little emotional. He knew his father's attitude was likely the result of Ningguang's performance and his Chamberlain's treason, but still. It was nice to feel trusted...
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Though she was initially confused as to why Paul would want to speak with her, Flute wasn't even remotely surprised by what he had to say. In response, she just closed her eyes and exhaled an inaudible sigh before opening them, lowering her head, and saying, "Thank you for telling me..."
Furrowing his brows, Paul asked, "What are you going to do? If you want, I can hire you as a permanant member of our staff. I'm sure Lilia would be happier to have you around than not..."
Offering the briefest hint of a smile, Flute replied, "Master Paul truly is a very kind young man...unfortunately, my continued presence at the Estate will only cause tension further down the line. I would rather you take care of my daughter than inconvenience yourself with concerns about me..."
Though he wasn't surprised by Flute's response, Paul couldn't just let her leave the Estate once her service period had ended. He seriously doubted Augusta would leave any money for her, and the stipend she earned from her service would run out quickly if she wanted to live a comfortable life.
As Paul was thinking of ways to convince Flute to stay, Ganyu whispered something into Ningguang's ear. When the latter heard what she had to say, her brows raised slightly before she promptly interposed herself into the conversation, asking, "Pardon me, Ms. Flute, but are you perhaps with child?"
Since it wasn't something she could keep hidden, Flute nodded her head, answering, "That is the case, Mistress Ningguang..."
"Wait, what...?"
Reaching the most obvious conclusion, Paul's expression hardened into a severe grimace as he asked, "Is it my father's...?"
Though she was concerned that Paul would take exception to the fact he would have a half-sibling with the blood of a commoner coursing through their veins, Flute lowered her head, answering, "There can be no other..."
As Amarant had appointed her to the position of his 'Relief Maiden', Flute couldn't sleep with other people even if she wanted to. Amarant had also been making use of her 'services' near-daily since her acquisition, so the chances of the child belonging to anyone but him were zero.
Smacking his forehead, Paul exhaled the most exasperated sigh of both his lives. He had actually expected something like this to happen, just not while his mother was pregnant.&nbsp;
Exacerbating matters like a sledgehammer to the head, Ningguang left Paul beyond speechless as she asked, "What are your thoughts on letting Master Paul and myself care for the child? Not in any official capacity, of course, but as practice for rearing our own. In exchange, we will Sponsor both you and your child until they graduate from an upper-level Academy of their choosing."
Though she could feel her heart racing in her chest, Flute's expression remained neutral as she shifted her amethyst eyes to him. Ningguang may be the future Lady of House Notos, but the only one who could approve a Sponsorship was the Lord.
Fortunately for Flute, Paul did his best to avoid making decisions based solely on his emotions. Since Ningguang had been the one to offer the proposal, he seriously considered it before eventually nodding his head and saying, "I trust my fiancee...if you consent, we will raise your son or daughter as our protege. With proper guidance, they should excel in any Academy throughout the Continent. After that, their path will be their own to decide..."
Feeling tremendous relief wash over her, Flute was unable to prevent a smile from developing across her face. The compensation Amarant would have provided would undoubtedly help, but it was a pittance compared to the funds they would receive from a Sponsorship. It effectively afforded her an additional ten years to remarry or get her financial situation sorted.
Bowing as low and respectfully as her condition permitted, Flute's voice quivered a bit as she said, "Thank you...truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you..."
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"My mother is pregnant...?"
Nodding his head in response to the bespectacled girl standing across from him, Paul repeated, "She is, and I would like your help in raising it. Ningguang and I have agreed to parent it as a practice run for our future children. However, due to my schooling and Ningguang's management of the Estate, we won't be able to dedicate our full attention to it. Thus, we will have you work with your mother as both a Nursemaid and the child's Governess."
Though she was still a little taken aback by the whole situation, Lilia had always been quick on the uptake. She understood this was Paul's method to give her and her mother a chance to rekindle their relationship. It was also a legitimate opportunity to accumulate experience as a Governess as she would invariably be responsible for helping her mother look after Lady Valentine's second child. After that, she would likely go on to become the Governess of Paul's actual children.
Similar to her mother, Lilia was unable to keep a smile from her face as she lowered her head and said, "Thank you so much, Master Paul. I might never be able to repay this-"
Interrupting Lilia's heartfelt expression of gratitude, Paul placed his hand on her shoulder, stating, "I'm just doing what I ought to do. Just do your best, and don't worry about things like debts or repayment, okay? So long as you, your mother, and our future half-sibling can live happily, I'm more than remunerated."
"Master Paul..."
Accompanied by a feeling of heat spreading through her cheeks, a layer of moisture rapidly developed over Lilia's eyes. She hadn't had much time to interact with him, but Paul had been kind to her from the moment they first met. It was truthfully a little overwhelming as she felt like the debts she owed him were constantly increasing. Hearing him say there were no debts between them only made her feel even more indebted to him. Thus, when he suddenly hugged her and whispered everything was going to be okay, Lilia squeezed him with all her strength and allowed herself to cry...
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With Amarant's recent return and Ningguang not wanting to leave her projects untended for 8-10 weeks, Paul's scheduled tour of the Region was canceled. Instead, he spent his vacation much like his time at the Academy, primarily focused on training and interspaced by periods of borderline philandering.
When Amarant first saw Paul's progress in the Water God Style, he was genuinely surprised. Even the average Knight was only an Intermediate Rank Swordsman, so while Paul was technically still a Beginner, being at the precipice of Intermediate Rank at seven years old was incredible. He might have already become one if Augusta didn't have significantly higher standards than the average Instructor.
Fortunately for Paul, Amarant didn't compare him to any of the girls he had summoned. If that were the case, he would be near the bottom of the barrel. His physical strength and endurance were even higher than Jean's, but if the two of them were to fight, she would trounce him 99/100.
Among those Paul had summoned through the Intersection of Fate, the only people he could reasonably contend with were Barbara, Xinyan, and Yaoyao. Xiangling could have been among them, but ever since she had attained her second Constellation, she was nearly as strong as Jean. The latter would win all of their spars, but the fact it was close at all said a lot about the power of Constellations.
Paul was leaps and bounds ahead of the other children in his world, but he still had a very long way to go to be considered powerful. To that end, he asked Ei to oversee his and pretty much everyone else's training. She had nothing better to do, so Paul ended up training even harder while on vacation than when he was back at the Academy. After all, he didn't have to hold back or conceal his true power back at the Estate, and, much like Ei, he had nothing better to do...
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"Ningguang..."
"Yes, my Lord~?"
"Remind me how I ended up in this position..."
"Mmm...we were talking about what you thought my best feature was back in your world. One thing led to another, and now we're here..."
"Right..."
Though he would be lying if he said it wasn't surprisingly comfortable, lying back with Ningguang's thighs wrapped around his neck gave Paul the impression she was about to strangle him. He might have asked her to if they were much, much older, but it felt incredibly borderline considering their current appearances. It didn't help that Ganyu was currently seated on his lap...
"I think I should be going soon..."
"Oh~? Is there some important matter that requires your attention? And here I thought we had both cleared our afternoon schedules in order to spend some...quality time together..."
Flexing her still-developing but already firm thigh muscles, Ningguang elicited a low grunt from Paul as he instinctually grabbed them. Before she could continue teasing him, however, Ganyu suggested, "If Master Paul is uncomfortable, we should stop. This was supposed to help him relax and enjoy himself, not add to his stress..."
Since Paul could easily pry her legs apart or order her to stop, Ningguang didn't release him from her thigh hold. Instead, she began massaging his head and hair, muttering, "He is just being obstinate and a little dishonest with himself...isn't that right, Master~?"
Prying Ningguang's legs apart, Paul gasped before drawing in a series of deep breaths. His face was more than a little red, but that was currently the least of his concerns as Ganyu uttered a meek, "Oh..." before blushing up to her ears.
"Yeah, no...this is no longer borderline. We're way, way over the line. Let me up."
Though she hoped Paul would just go with the flow and let his 'instincts' take over, Ninnguang promptly released her hold and scooched back to let him lay flat on the sofa. The movement caused Ganyu's face to turn a much brighter shade of red, but she calmed down pretty quickly once she Paul lying with his eyes closed, willfully trying to calm himself...
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"I assume you invited me here for a reason other than simply harassing me...?"
Amused by Paul's sudden standoffishness, Ningguang covered her mouth to suppress a titter before answering, "You'll be returning to the Academy in a few days. We need to discuss who will be attending you and whether or not we should use the Intersection of Fate. There are presently 95,512 Asura Gold Coins in our private coffer. I need roughly 65,000 for my plans, but the remaining 30,000 can go toward bolstering our forces."
Since this was his first time hearing how much gold they had, the cogs in Paul's brain briefly stalled. Given how much Ningguang had spent, he half expected their funds to be running low. 95,512 was roughly 43,000 more gold than he had left her with...
"I mean...I see no reason not to? But what did you mean about who would accompany me? Aren't-"
Interrupting before Paul could finish, Ningguang explained, "While you are well within your right to play favorites, other girls need a chance to spend time with you. If you stick with the same four girls for the rest of your stay at the Academy, the others will begin to feel neglected. You will also have trouble picking the best people for specific jobs, prioritizing those you are comfortable with over the people most qualified."
"..."
Though he could understand what Ningguang was saying, Paul couldn't imagine Barbara, Xinyan, or Xiangling being okay with a long separation. Jean would probably be okay, but the other girls had really bonded to him during their stay at the Academy. If he was being completely honest, he had grown attached to them as well...
Seeing the problem, a melancholic sigh emanated from Paul's throat as he muttered, "Barbara is going to throw a tantrum..."
Nodding her head, Ningguang replied, "Most definitely." before shrugging her shoulders and adding, "Unfortunately, such is the hand we have been dealt. No matter how much she desires to keep you to herself, we need to prioritize the group's unity. We are no longer individuals fighting to obtain happiness for ourselves. We are a conglomerate with the penultimate goal of saving one world so that we can restore another..."
Placing her hand over Paul's heart, Ningguang's expression softened as she said, "You are the lynchpin that holds everything together. It will be difficult, but you need to have a heart strong enough to endure the stress of more than a hundred people's ambitions. People like Ganyu and myself will do our best to help share your burdens, but there is only so much we can do without infringing upon your autonomy..."
Preempting Paul's question, Ningguang's voice became a sultry purr as she susurrated, "Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answer to...for the sake of both our worlds, I don't mind becoming a monster..."
Though it was more of a last resort than anything else, Ningguang had plans to relocate Paul to one of the most isolated regions in the world. If he died, every single one of her plans would fall through. They would also lose their chance to restore their world, so if it were up to her, she would lock Paul away, assign someone like Ganyu to take care of him, and just send out the Archons to crush anyone who got in their way. It was, after all, the most 'efficient' method to guarantee the success of their mission.
Fortunately for Paul and the world as a whole, the agreement they made with the God of the Boundaries prohibited them from interacting with the world in a way that contradicted the Champion's will. Paul effectively had the final say in everything, so unless he gave her permission and ordered her to take him away, Ningguang had no choice but to play nice...
Feeling a bone-deep chill run through his body when Ningguang purred in her ear, Paul elected to take her advice and avoid asking what she meant by infringing upon his autonomy. Instead, he asked, "Did you already have someone in mind regarding who will accompany me...?"
Nodding her head in affirmation, Ningguang revealed, "If we don't access the Intersection of Fate, I was thinking of sending Yaoyao, Diona, Minne, Rosaria with you. I had originally planned to have Lilia accompany you as well, but I want her to be here when the children are born."
"Are you sure? Rosaria and Yaoyao I can understand, but Diona and Minne would struggle quite a bit within the Academy..."
Moving her hand from Paul's chest to his abdomen, Ningguang casually rebutted, "That's only because you're considering having them enroll as students. Most servants attending the Academy remain in their Master's quarters or work within the surrounding town. Even if you just have them stay home and keep the house clean, Diona and Minne would be beyond ecstatic just being able to help you..."
"Right..."
Recalling how Diona would cuddle up to him despite reacting with hostility whenever he tried to pet her, Paul could see what Ningguang was getting at. As for Minne, well, members of the Beast Race were just 'programmed' differently from humans. They were remarkably impressionable and had a habit of imprinting on those who showed them kindness. Their tribe was like one giant family, and anyone who had earned their trust was regarded in a similar light.
"And what about the IOF? Did you have anyone in mind...?"
Though this was her first time hearing Paul refer to the Intersection of Fate as the IOF, Ningguang immediately understood what he meant. In fact, she intended to use it herself in the future as it was better to avoid referencing it directly.
"Truth be told, I'm at my wit's end with just myself, Ganyu, and Xingqiu. I'll be able to manage, but things would become much easier if you managed to acquire even a single additional member of the Qixing..."
After seeing how hard Ningguang worked these past eight weeks, Paul no longer questioned her smoking habits. He genuinely had no idea how she was able to manage it, but he supposed it was that drive that allowed her to become the youngest Tianquan in the history of Liyue.
"Then we'll keep going until we get one or reach 27,000 gold spent. Sound good...?"
Though she understood 27,000 gold was nowhere near enough to ensure a specific person, Ningguang had high hopes. Paul had only accessed the Intersection of Fate 270 times yet had managed to acquire an additional Archon and the exact person he needed to treat his mother. He had also managed to obtain her, so it wasn't an overstatement to say his luck was exceptional.
Walking her fingers up Paul's body, Ningguang whispered, "Let's make a deal...if you manage to obtain a member of the Qixing, I will stop trying to wear down your defenses until your tenth birthday. If you fail...well, you'll at least be able to relax once you return to the Academy..."
"..."
Resisting the urge to hit Ningguang with a 'bruh,' Paul briefly considered her offer before shaking his head and saying, "Though I can be extremely hypocritical at times, I've learned never to tempt fate. The last time I let myself be baited by this kind of compromise, I ended up having my face sucked by an insatiable kissing demon..."
Though they had even made out a few times at this point, Paul was still recovering from the awkwardness he endured during his previous gacha spree. If he agreed to Ningguang's proposal, he might not even make it to his birthday before someone 'pounced' on him. Considering her status as a member of the Beast Race, there was a good chance it would be Minne.
"Let's just grab the others and do a normal summoning..."
Since it was ultimately Paul's decision, Ningguang didn't try to force the matter. Instead, she briefly shifted her gaze to Ganyu, who, after a brief moment of confusion, nodded her head and said, "I will return shortly." before rising to her feet and speeding off to gather the others...
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"Master Paul...if it isn't too much trouble, I would like to go check on your mother..."
Though she didn't mind cuddling together in front of the hearth, Ganyu had gotten used to frequenting Valentine's room. She wasn't her servant or anything, but she proactively performed many of the same duties.
"Mmm..."
Raising his chin from Ganyu's head, Paul released her from his embrace as he said, "We'll go together. I'm sure my mother would enjoy the company."
Nodding her head in approval, Ganyu used Paul's knees to help her stand before extending a hand to help him up. He seemed to really like hugging her, so she had been sitting between his legs as he held her from behind and rested his head atop hers.
"Nyaa...!?"
As she had been resting her head against Paul's back, Diona was a little surprised when her support suddenly shifted. Fortunately, Xiangling and Xinyan had been sitting at Paul's sides, so they managed to catch her as she exclaimed, "What's the big idea, moving all of a sudden? Haven't you ever heard of a warning!?'"
Scratching the back of his head, Paul adopted a wry and apologetic smile as he said, "Sorry...it won't happen again..."
Snorting through her nose, Diona pulled her arms free from Xiangling and Xinyan, crossing them as she said, "It better not!"
"Diona..."
Hearing Jean say her name, Diona looked toward her asked, "What...?" in a slightly nervous tone. In her mind, Jean was still the Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius. She would sometimes appear to break up bar fights or deal with unruly customers, so Diona had a mixture of fear and respect for Mondstadt's most revered Knight.
Before Jean could chastise Diona for speaking to him rudely, Paul said, "It's fine, Jean...I prefer the bold yet adorable Diona. Besides, at least when we're alone together like this, I would prefer if everyone just acted like themselves..."
Though she exhaled a soft sigh, a sincere smile developed across Jean's face as she replied, "Of course..."
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After accompanying Ganyu and spending some time with his mother, Paul decided he would explore his family's massive, fortress-like Estate on his own. Jean, Barbara, Xiangling, and Xinyan offered to accompany him, but, as accustomed as he was of the four girls' presence, there were moments when he just wanted to be alone. At least, that's what he thought...
"It's no wonder other Nobles traipse about like perverted idiots...with the exceptions of work, training, and studying; there is literally nothing better to do..."
Though he could easily find someone willing to sit down and play a game of chess with him, Paul didn't think it invalidated his point. He was looking for something to do on his own, not impose upon others.
"You should feel grateful..."
Hearing a cold voice sound out from behind him, Paul replied, "Every day of my life. That doesn't mean I can't feel bored..."
Looking back, Paul was confused yet unsurprised to find Rosaria standing behind him. He had been able to 'sense' someone following him for quite some time, but they hadn't been radiating any hostility. The only people he could imagine doing something like that were Kaeya and Rosaria, so it made sense for the latter to appear when he started speaking aloud.
Squinting her eyes, Rosaria asked, "You knew I was here...?" in an aloof, accusatory tone.
"I still have a long way to go, so you shouldn't underestimate practitioners of the Water God Style."
Surprising Paul, Rosaria shook her head, asserting, "You're wrong. Though I risked discovery on three occasions, I was able to collect information on each of the Sword Saints employed by your father. My constitution makes it impossible for a normal person to detect me..."
Raising his brows, Paul asked, "You mean the grey skin thing? I always thought that was just a stylistic choice of the artist who created you...at least back in my world..."
"Mmm..."
Though she wasn't fond of the idea that someone from Paul's world had created and dictated the life of a version of her, Rosaria chose not to let it bother her. Instead, she remained silent for a few seconds before asking, "Tell me, Paul Notos Greyrat, what is it you expect at the end of the path you currently walk?"
Furrowing his brows, Paul took a moment to consider Rosaria's question before asking, "What do you mean?"
Pulling out a silvery dagger from somewhere around her thigh, Rosaria twirled it between the fingers of her left hand as she questioned, "When everything is said and done, where do you expect to end up? What are your goals? Do you intend to start a family? Will you proclaim yourself a King? An Emperor? A God? I want to know what drives you, what pushes the man named Paul Notos Greyrat forward..."
Though his eyes momentarily followed the dagger, Paul eventually met Rosaria's as he answered, "I honestly have no idea."
Spontaneously ceasing her twirling, Rosaria exhibited a rare change in expression, brows raised as she asked, "I beg your pardon?"
Helplessly shrugging his shoulders, Paul attempted to explain what he meant, revealing, "Before I was given access to the Intersection of Fate, the only things driving me forward were a desire to be strong enough to protect myself and meet certain people. Other than that, I just wanted to live my new life to the best of my ability. Asking me something like where I expect to be once this is all over...I honestly have no fucking idea. I just wanted to live an interesting life without devolving into a piece of shit..."
"..."
Expecting something a little more profound, Rosaria wasn't sure what to make of Paul's answer. It wasn't a bad answer, per se, but it wasn't the type of answer she expected from a man who could command even the so-called Gods to do his bidding...
While returning her dagger to its hidden sheathe, Rosaria squinted her eyes and asked, "One last thing...do you believe people deserve second chances?"
Exhaling a sigh, Paul crossed his arms before answering, "I believe some people do. It just depends on the situation. If they're not actively seeking redemption and only search for it once shit hits the fan, they deserve the same amount of mercy as their victims..."
Nodding her head, Rosaria muttered, "Well said..." before turning her back and walking away. After taking a few steps, however, she turned back and said, "I'm usually not one for praying, but I will do so in the hopes you live a long and prosperous life, Paul Notos Greyrat..."
"Thank you...?"
Not sure what else to say, Paul just followed Rosaria's departure until she vanished around a corner. He had expected her to ask if he wanted her to accompany him, so her sudden departure left him nearly as disappointed as he was confused...
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After roaming around the other sections of his family's massive Estate for the better part of three hours, Paul returned to his female-infested wing in search of food and companionship. What he didn't expect to encounter was Zhongli walking around with a book on her head, closely followed by more than a dozen young girls.
"Ah, Master Paul, what a pleasant surprise."
Removing the book from her head, Zhongli turned to the group of young girls and said, "We will reconvene in the first floor commons at 2 PM. Run along now."
After responding in the affirmative and bowing towards Paul, the group of girls quickly scurried off like a group of cluttered ducklings. In their haste, one of the younger girls even fell flat on her face. Fortunately, the others immediately helped her up before promptly pulling her along with them...
"..."
Seeing through Paul's thoughts, Zhongli explained, "Lady Ningguang has made a concerted effort to ingrain the image of Master Paul as a kind and benevolent Master who disdains the very thought of slavery. In the minds of these girls, you are the Hero who has spared them a life of misery and inequality. I imagine your appearance has also aided in their impression of you..."
Suppressing a sigh, Paul forced a smile as he asked, "And? Why did you send them running off? It's not as though I requested your assistance for anything..."
Impervious to Paul's standoffishness, Zhongli's expression retained a hint of amusement as she explained, "Ningguang asked me to bring you to her if our paths just so happened to cross. Shall we move along?"
Since he was planning to search for Ningguang once he had finished eating, Paul shrugged his shoulders in response to Zhongli's words. He could go a few more hours without eating, so he saw no reason to refuse.
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With Zhongli leading the way, Paul eventually found himself in the corridor outside his former library and study. Ningguang had evidently seized it for herself during his absence.
"She wasn't joking around when she said she would take everything that was mine..."
Amused by Paul's words, a faint yet reverberating chuckle emanated from Zhongli's throat as she pulled open the door without knocking. Ningguang had sensed them approaching thanks to her affiliation with the element of Geo, so she was already waiting patiently at her desk for their arrival.
Entering the room at Zhongli's behest, Paul's face immediately scrunched as a nostalgic yet severely out-of-place aroma tickled his nose.
"Have you been smoking weed...?"
Assuming weed was a colloquial term for processed hemp back in Paul's original world, Ningguang nodded her head before calmly answering, "Not enough to affect my mental state or cause harm to my body. I can stop if it displeases you, but as there are no laws against it, I would appreciate it if you allowed me to continue."
Though he shook his head in exasperation, Paul didn't say anything else regarding Ningguang's smoking habit. Instead, he just made his way over to one of the sofas in the room, sitting down before asking, "You wanted to see me?"
Seeing Paul make himself comfortable on the sofa rather than in the seat across from her, Ningguang was briefly reminded of her conversation with Jean. Paul didn't seem to be aware of it, but he had unconsciously placed himself into the 'superior' position by sitting further away and forcing her to come to him. Had he sat in the chair she had prepared, it would be the same as saying she was in charge. Instead, he made himself comfortable in a situation where others would have felt tense...
Rising from her seat, Ningguang made her way over to Paul before sitting at his side. She could have sat across from him, but she had already made her bed and intended to lay in it, asking, "What are Master Paul's thoughts on children...?"
"..."
Though he had expected Ningguang to broach the subject at some point, Paul hadn't expected it to be now. Fortunately, he had already rehearsed a response, answering, "They're adorable poop factories that can coo like an angel and scream like a banshee. More importantly, they're something only fully grown adults should concern themselves with..."
Instead of immediately refuting Paul's words, Ningguang nodded as if to agree with him. She actually wasn't all that fond of children, so she would prefer to adopt if it wasn't necessary to produce a legitimate heir.
Having rehearsed a response of her own, Ningguang remained silent for a few moments before stating, "Regardless of our views on the matter, this world will view us as young adults once you reach ten years of age. While I am okay with waiting a few years, our actions will be severely restricted until we produce an heir. It is one of the requirements for the Lordship, so, unless you've changed your mind about traveling, we will need to produce at least two children before you can venture out..."
Inhaling a deep breath, Paul allowed the tensions in his body to drain as he sank into the sofa. He had already considered everything Ningguang was currently mentioning. Before he gained access to the Intersection of Fate, he even anticipated being forced to marry and produce an heir. His situation had changed rather drastically since then, but it hadn't affected his 'duty' in the slightest.
"And if I just wanted to throw everything away and flee to the other side of the world...?"
Adopting a faint yet sincere smile, Ningguang rested her head on Paul's shoulder as she answered, "We would come with you and do everything in our power to ensure you're able to live the life you desire..."
Though he had half-expected Ningguang to say something along the lines of, "Sounds like fun," Paul wasn't surprised by her words. Zhongli had said something similar more times than he could count, so it wasn't strange to hear Ningguang express her 'support' for any decision he made. The hard part was actually making one...
...
..
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Chapter 40: MI40: Bonds of Trust