Mushoku Impact

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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"What troubles you, Master?"
"Can't I just be thinking about nothing...?"
"..."
"It was just a joke, Eula...please don't apologize..."
"I see...I'll remember that..."
"..."
Suppressing a sigh, Paul just closed his eyes, the soft feeling of Eula's inordinately developed thighs helping to calm his turbulent mind.
Nearly five years had passed since Paul was first given access to the Intersection of Fate. Since then, he had summoned a total of 33 out of a purported 108 'characters'. Eula, the icy-blue-haired tween letting him use her lap as a pillow, was one of Paul's more recent summons. She was also one of only two people to attend him during his final year at the Academy, so Paul was nervous, excited, and a little afraid to return home.
As fate would have it, Barbara ended up being the person to accumulate the most Constellations among the people Paul had summoned. She was now at Constellation 4, and, due to her mastery of the Regeneration Spell, she could even give Jean a run for her money.
Before Paul set out for his final year at the Academy, Barbara had gotten into a pretty tense squabble with Ningguang, Jean, and a few others. She eventually calmed down, but Paul could still remember the frustration and pain in her eyes during their last parting.
"Is it too late to run away...?"
"Master Paul is not the type of man who flees from his troubles...however, if you wish to go, I will open a path..."
Placing her gloved hand on his head, Eula gently combed her fingers through Paul's unkempt brown hair. Her perpetually stoic expression didn't change, but there was a definite tenderness in her golden eyes.
"Mmm...if I wasn't certain that Barbara and the rest would hunt me down, I might have considered it..."
Imagining the angry face of Barbara after she had tracked him down, a faint shiver ran through Paul's body. Once she had obtained her second Constellation, it had become difficult for him to keep up with her. Since the effects of a Constellation compounded previous boosts, C4 Barbara was a 'monster' that Paul had spent the last years training to overcome.
"Did you catch a chill? Shall I warm you with my body...?"
Having long grown accustomed to such requests, Paul replied with a lazy, "Maybe later..." before rolling over so that he was now facing Eula. A very faint shade of pink spread through her cheeks, but that was generally the limit of her expressiveness.&nbsp;
At least when she wasn't angry...
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After a six-day journey, made shorter by the addition of several highways, Paul emerged from his carriage with a wry smile on his face. Not because Ningguang had gathered nearly half the Estate to greet him, but because Lynette, his self-assigned assassin/bodyguard, appeared from below the carriage with a ghastly pale countenance and a visible trail of snot coming from her left nostril.
"You wouldn't be so cold if you stayed inside..."
With lightly furrowed brows, the grey-haired cat girl responded with a curt, "Shut up..." before 'reluctantly' accepting the coat Paul had been proffering toward her.
Turning back to face Ningguang, who now resembled a young girl closer to the age of twelve than ten, Paul whispered, "You get more and more beautiful each time I see you..." as he made his way forward to kiss the back of her hand.
Giggling in amusement, Ningguang offered a soft, "Six out of ten..." before retracting her hand and linking it through Paul's left arm. Then, in an even softer voice, she delivered him a metaphorical punch in the gut by asking, "Have you made your decision...?"
Instead of responding to Ningguang's question, Paul looked around at the veritable army of incredibly disciplined Maids, Butlers, and uniformed staff members. There was a thin layer of snow covering some of them, but they didn't so much as shiver as he passed.
"How are Philemon and Aubert? I was hoping to see how much they had matured these past ten months..."
Squinting her eyes, a knowing smile developed across Ningguang's face as she answered, "Two-year-olds have no place venturing outside in frigid temperatures...fortunately..."
Timing her words just as a team of Maids opened the front doors of the Estate, Ningguang added, "That's what the entrance hall is for."
"Brother Paul...!" "Uncle Paul...!"
With their mothers, Valentine and Flute, remaining inside, two little boys, one with light brown hair and the other a deep shade of burgundy, ran towards Paul. Ningguang had already released his arm, so Paul was able to kneel in front of the remarkably similar duo, deftly snatching them in his arms as he asked, "Did you miss me?"
While the two boys laughed due to Paul picking them up and spinning them around, Valentine stepped forward to whisper her usual, "You've returned to me, my Little Sun..."
Adopting an even wider smile, Paul promptly set down his two younger brothers in order to welcome his mother's impending embrace. A year or two back, this would have meant consigning himself to having her either bend down or pick him up by his head. Now that he was just over 148cm tall, 17cm shorter than his mother, Paul was at the 'perfect height' for her to both embrace him and press his face into her bosom.
"Mmm...my cheeks are no longer cold..."
Hearing her son's remark, a bell-like laugh emanated from Valentine's throat as she held Paul's head tighter and whispered, "Rascal..." in an affectionate tone before eventually releasing him.
"How was your journey back? I hear the conditions of the road have improved tremendously these past few months..."
Directing her gaze towards Ningguang, Valentine made it clear who was responsible for their Region's recent improvements in infrastructure. The costs had been immense, but Ningguang had managed to get the Royal Family to bear the burden by transferring ownership of the various mines she had discovered to the King. Of course, Amarant had been the one to broker the deal, but he did so with Ningguang's coaching.
Returning a smile, Paul surprised his mother with a chaste kiss on the lips before releasing her from his own hold and saying, "It only took six days, even with the snowfall. Offering the villages tax exemptions in exchange for helping to maintain the roads was a stroke of brilliance..."
Directing his gaze to Ningguang, Paul surprised her by extending his hand and guiding her to stand in line with him. Then, for the first time in front of one of his parents, he placed his hand on Ningguang's waist, pulling her a little closer as he said, "I have a very capable fiancee..."
Though she was well aware of the arrangement between Ningguang and her husband, Valentine's eyes practically lit up when she heard Paul refer to the remarkably capable and breathtakingly beautiful girl as his fiancee. If not for the presence of several servants and staff, she might not have been able to suppress the girlish squeal threatening to escape her throat.
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After freeing himself from his increasingly excitable mother, Paul made his way to his father's study without an escort. He was keen to meet with the people he had summoned from the Intersection of Fate, but there were a few matters he wished to discuss before all hell broke loose.
*tok* *tok* *tok*
"Come on in, son. I've been expecting you."
Opening the once heavy door, Paul was a little surprised to find his father standing in front of his desk rather than sitting behind it. In his hand was an astonishingly expensive bottle of wine, a vintage so rare and valuable only Kings and successive generations of the Notos Family knew its taste. More specifically, the Lords of House Notos...
"Father..."
Waving his son over, Amarant's expression was solemn as he placed his hand on Paul's shoulder and said, "I'm proud of you, my boy...even if not by your hand, you have already done more for the Milbots Region in these short five years than I have in my past twenty. While it can't be officiated until you produce a viable heir, I intend to announce my retirement during your forthcoming birthday celebration. If you accept this drink, then from that moment onward, you will be the Lord of House Notos..."
Instead of waiting for Paul to take it himself, Amarant picked up the glass, proferring to his son as he said, "Take it..." in a firm tone.
Inhaling a deep breath, more to suppress the sour feeling in his nose than anything else, Paul accepted the glass and answered, "It was my greatest fortune to be born as your son. Thank you, father...and I accept..."
Following his heartfelt words, Paul downed the scantily filled cup of wine. The taste was actually beyond terrible, but he swallowed the entire thing in a single gulp.
Preempting any response Paul might have given, Amarant stated, "Tastes like piss mixed with spoiled grapes, doesn't it?"
Offering a wry smile, Paul replied, "I couldn't have said it better..." before setting the glass on the table and asking, "Got anything more 'recent' to wash it down?"
Adopting a rare smile, Amarant's leafy-green eyes glistened as he walked around to the back of his desk and pulled out a silver canister, explaining, "That little Beast Race girl is a genius in the art of mixing. I had her throw together a little something special for us this morning..."
Placing his hand on the canister's lid, Amarant hesitated a moment before removing it to reveal a haze of cold mist. A fragrant aroma of alcohol and fruit immediately permeated the entire room, its fragrance, alone, enough to stir the hearts and minds of men.
"Even once I retire to the Capital, promise you will send me at least one, no, three bottles of Diona's Brandywine to me..."
Raising his brows, Paul replied, "I'll send ten." before asking, "You intend to retire to the Capital? Isn't it a little...early?"
Pausing before he could fill his and his son's glasses, Amarant's smile faded as he answered, "After seeing how well Philemon and Aubert get along, I have decided to take Flute as my Second Wife. Once I pass the Lordship to you, I will move to our residence in the Capital so that your younger brothers may enroll in the Royal Academy. Their talent may not compare to yours, but I believe they can become competent Knights or Mages. Two-year-olds being able to use Beginner Level Magic is beyond extraordinary..."
Though he was initially a little surprised to hear that Amarant would be taking Flute as his Second Wife, Paul quickly regained a smile as he said, "That's excellent news, father. However, there was something I wished to discuss with you before you go traipsing about in the Capital..."
"Hmmm? Out with it, boy."
Taking the opportunity to fill the two glasses, Amarant nearly spilled both when Paul said, "I intend to go on a pilgrimage to the Sword Sanctum and train there for two years."
After reaching Advanced Rank in the Water God Style, Paul felt as though his progress had slowed drastically. Augusta told him this was because he was still growing, but he also speculated it was an issue with affinity. Paul had trained like a madman, yet even after besting one of the Saint Ranked Instructors in two out of ten matches, he only had a basic grasp of Touki.
Paul knew the actual reason for his stunted growth was his secret training with Visions, so he wanted to journey to the literal Holy Land of Swords to 'purify' himself. He also needed to go there if he wished for Ei and the rest to receive official titles, so Paul wasn't ready to 'settle down' just yet.
Since he had also dreamed of going on a journey to the Sword Sanctum in his youth, Amarant couldn't blame his son, a far more talented swordsman than he, for wanting to do the same. He also wasn't planning to depart for the Capital until the boys were nearing their fifth birthdays, so while Paul had initially expected him to protest, Amarant just shrugged his shoulders and said, "If that terrifying little lass of yours gives her permission, I have nothing else to say on the matter. Now, stop stalling, and let's drink. If you keep interrupting, I may actually punch you..."
Without waiting for his son to respond, Amarant emptied nearly the entire contents of his glass in six large gulps. When he was finished, he exhaled a loud sigh similar to a drunken Yakuza, stunning his already slack-jawed son to silence...
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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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Chapter 41: MI41: Burden