Mushoku Impact

Though it would potentially cause problems if he stayed too long, Paul wasn't in a hurry to separate from his kids. A part of him felt like he was intruding on their lives, but that didn't stop him from trying to spend most of the day with them.
As purported, Aiden was an exceptionally talented young boy with a calm, albeit perverted nature. He spent most of his day with his nose buried in a book, but that would change when beautiful women were around. In that regard, he was the textbook example of a young Asuran Noble.
A stark contrast to her brother, Aria was a quiet and reserved girl who appeared genuinely fascinated by the world around her. When she found a new animal or insect, she would often stare intently at it until her eyes began to dry out. When Paul asked why, she shyly revealed that she used to try and play with things but eventually stopped as they would always end up 'broken.'
Though Paul was initially worried about Aria's admission, it turned out he was behind the curve as Aiden had already been helping her try to control her excessive physical strength. He was also the one that got her to stop 'playing' with things, promising that their Grandpa would buy her all kinds of animals if she could learn to show restraint.
Since he was a little curious, Paul met with his Father only to learn that Aiden was making the entire thing up. The boy was barely two years old but already had a basic grasp of manipulating the people around them to get them to behave how he wanted. If that wasn't enough, he seemed to understand the importance of positive reinforcement, patting Aria's head, praising, and hugging her whenever she did well.
While it was possible Aiden was every bit the prodigy he appeared to be, Paul's personal experiences and insight made him increasingly suspicious of the bright-eyed youth. Aiden was simply 'too proactive,' almost like he was actively moving towards a future he had already mapped out. He also had a penchant for using his 'innocence' as an excuse to get away with all kinds of perverted behaviors, his hands, body, and head brushing against girls in the bath as he slowly and methodically tested the limits of what he could get away with.
After around two weeks of living in the Estate, Paul was pretty convinced of his suspicions. By then, everyone except for Eula had experienced some form of 'inadvertent' sexual harassment at the hands of Aiden. The only reason Eula hadn't was because she had noticed the look on Aiden's face when he 'accidentally' slipped his hands under Venti's skirt when she was hugging him.
Though he didn't want to think it was possible, Paul's personal situation more than proved the plausibility of his suspicions. Thus, after telling his son he had a surprise for him, Paul carried Aiden through one of the many vineyards surrounding the Estate, their destination a lone pear where he used to take naps and listen to Barbara sing.
"A pear tree...?"
Nodding his head in response to his son's question, Paul replied, "That's right. Though, in this world, people call them Boscs..."
As Aiden was riding on his shoulders, Paul could feel the youth's entire body tense before subsequently slacking as he asked, "Really? The book I read referred to them as pears. How strange."
Having reached the base of the pear tree, Paul removed Aiden from his shoulders and set the boy down. As he did, he noticed Aiden staring back at him with caution in his eyes, the smile on his face belying the fear that was beginning to exude from his entire being.
With his suspicions all but confirmed, a weary sigh escaped from Paul's throat as Aiden suddenly backstepped away from him and unleashed a chantless, Beginner-Ranked Water Ball. As it approached, Paul didn't even bother dodging as the softball-sized sphere impacted his body and broke like a cheap water balloon.
As Aiden spun around on his heels, seemingly with the intent to flee, Paul calmly stated, "I can break the sound barrier over short distances. Where do you intend to run...?"
Hearing Paul's words, Aiden slowed to a stop, the distance between them opening a mere 9m despite several seconds passing. Then, after standing still for several seconds, he turned around to reveal tears streaming down his face as he asked, "Are you going to kill me...?"
Furrowing his brows, Paul immediately replied, "For someone that likes to play the part of a prodigy, you can be pretty stupid. Even if you did come to this world from another, you're still my kid. Unless you do some fucked up shit like going around raping and murdering people, I see no reason to harm you. Now, come take a seat. We need to have a serious discussion."
Sitting with his back against the tree, Paul left Aiden feeling speechless as he slapped his right thigh. Now that the gig was up, Aiden didn't really see the reason for them to continue 'playing' parent and child.
"Really, man? You want me to sit in your lap...?"
Adopting a deadpan expression, Paul asked, "What did I finish saying? You may be a reincarnator, but you're still my son. Whoever you were in your past life, you need to set that aside. This isn't a game or a fantasy novel, Aiden. And I can pretty much assure you that neither of us is the Main Character..."
Though he suspected there was a real possibility that Aiden had inherited the same spirit as the original Rudeus, even the latter had never been the 'true' Main Character of Mushoku Tensei. Sure, he was the protagonist of his series, even going on to become the Magic God, but he always served others and ultimately died long before the threat of Laplace and Hitogami had been removed.
Exhaling a sigh that belied his age, Aiden dragged his feet over to Paul before plopping down on the latter's thigh. His expression looked like he had eaten a bug, but he didn't complain as he asked, "I take it you're also a Reincarnator? Just my luck..."
Smiling wryly, Paul asked, "How do you think I feel? I wasn't even ready to be a father, yet here I am finding out that my first-born son is probably some 30-40 year old Otaku that won the lottery by saving someone about to get hit by a truck. We both got fucked over on this one, kid..."
Furrowing his brows, Aiden retorted, "Don't call me kid. For all you know, I'm older-"
Plopping his hand on Aiden's head, Paul reiterated, "You shouldn't bring sentiments like that into this world. As far as I'm concerned, you're a two-year-old brat with exceptional intelligence. If you really want me to treat you like a grown man, how do you think I should react after catching you so wantonly groping my girls...?"
With Paul radiating a bit of bloodlust, Aiden's body tensed to the point of resembling a statue. A part of him wanted to argue that Paul shouldn't be allowed to monopolize so many beautiful women but ultimately chose not to as he would probably lynch someone for suggesting the same to him.
"Fine...I'm a two-year-old brat...now what? You must have had a reason to call me out here like this."
Nodding his head, Paul's expression softened ever so slightly as he said, "We need to talk about your's and Aria's futures. Given your 'intellect,' you should have realized our situation isn't exactly ideal. I'm doing my best to keep you safe, but, as it stands, even if you were to run away and become an Adventurer, Assassins serving the First Prince's interests would pursue you to the edge of the world. If they can't capture you to use as leverage, they will kill you and probably do much worse to your sister..."
Adopting an expression of genuine outrage on his face, Aiden asserted, "I won't let that happen."
Though he could appreciate Aiden's conviction, Paul poured cold water on the youth's head as he replied, "Good mentality. Unfortunately, the people of this world aren't NPC's or incompetents without any ability. Unless you possess some kind of Golden Finger you're trying to keep hidden, the only way you can protect yourself and Aria is with adequate power, status, and dependable allies. As you are, you would probably get your ass handed to you by a random street punk. How will you defend yourself against people who can attack at supersonic speeds or erase cities with a single spell...?"
"..."
Hearing Paul speak, Aiden realized he had severely underestimated the power scaling of the world he was in. The most powerful people he had met thus far were Saint-Ranked Mages and Swordsmen. While they were certainly very impressive, it wasn't difficult for him to imagine surpassing them. What Paul was describing was something far more terrifying...
Reinforcing Aiden's thoughts, Paul revealed, "People may refer to me as the youngest Sword Saint in history, but nearly every single one of those girls you so carelessly harassed could wreck me in a fight. I have trained nearly every day for eight years, apprenticed under numerous Gods, and even possess an artifact that grants me functionally endless stamina. I've pushed my body beyond its natural limits, managed to exceed the sound barrier, and will soon be contending against others for the future position of Water God. Despite all of that, there are still dozens, if not hundreds of people who could completely destroy me..."
Though he initially intended to complain about Paul boasting about his accomplishments, Aiden's expression became progressively somber when he realized where the conversation was headed.
"Is that why you allowed yourself to be expelled from House Notos? You got scared...?"
Shaking his head, Paul exhaled a sigh as he said, "It's more complicated than that. If I had attempted to oppose my exile, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. I would be rotting in a shallow grave, and, if not, my parents, siblings, and tens of thousands of others would be. Our actions have consequences, Aiden. Some even have the power to shape the entire world..."
Turning to meet his son's gaze, Paul's expression softened as he said, "On that note, let's talk about the options available to you right now..."
Furrowing his brows, Aiden asked, "Don't you think it's a little messed up for one Reincarnator to try and dictate the life of another? We might not be the 'main characters' of this world, but you've clearly been able to do as you please. Why can't I...?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul replied, "Because I want you to live long enough to be able to. If you'd like, I can whisk you and your sister away to someplace far, far away. I could effectively you away from the world and give you all the time you need to grow stronger. However, take it from me when I say an 'unchanging' lifestyle leads to stagnation. The moment you surpass your peers, you will eventually hit a bottleneck that can only be overcome by venturing into the world abroad..."
Adopting a wry smile, Paul appended, "Simply put; you would eventually get bored out of your mind. So, unless you want to spend your entire life being protected by others until they eventually grow weary of you, you'll need to be willing to take a few risks..."
Maintaining his furrowed look, Aiden questioned, "So what, exactly, are you suggesting? After saying this much, you must have already thought of something, right...?"
Nodding his head, Paul surprised Aiden by revealing, "Indeed. And if you play your cards right, you may even be able to become the King Consort in the future. I wouldn't mind you becoming the actual King, but trust me when I say the person you'll be protecting is far more qualified for the position. You just need to protect her and Aria until she is strong and wise enough to rule. After that, you'll be able to enjoy a status equaled only by the Great Lords..."
"But still less than you...right...?"
Raising his brows, Paul gave Aiden a look as if he was staring at an idiot as he said, "Kid, if I cared about things like that, I might already be sitting on the throne. Only idiots covet things like the throne of a Kingdom when there is an entire world to explore beyond the horizon. In other words, so long as you don't become a little monster with a god complex, I'll do what I can to support you as your Father. Just don't go trying to manipulate the Princess or grooming your sister. I'm a pretty easygoing guy, but if I found out you did some shit like that, even God-Ranked Healing Magic might not be enough to fix what I do to you..."
Feeling Paul's bloodlust, a knot formed within Aiden's throat that he could not swallow. He was serious about keeping Aria safe, but he would lying if he said he hadn't considered the 'benefits' of growing up alongside a cute girl that was also his twin sister. They bathed, slept, and cuddled together on a daily basis, so he had been looking forward to Aria eventually gaining an interest in the opposite sex. He didn't plan to cross the line, but he had intended to use his position as her 'reliable older brother' to teach her lots of things...
Seeing through Aiden's thoughts, Paul narrowed his eyes like a predator as he said, "Don't make me force you to sign a magical contract, you little shit..."
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After confirming his suspicions about Aiden being a reincarnator, the relationship between him and Paul appeared to, at least on the surface, improve. Before, there had always been an awkward tension between them as Paul didn't really know how to be a parent, and Aiden typically just did his own thing. Now, though he was more than a little upset by his inability to continue playing innocent around the girls from the IOF, Aiden and Paul could speak with one another without issue.
"Stinking father, how much longer are you going to keep showing off? Are you trying to make me jealous, huh? Well, it's working...!"
Seeing Paul enjoying a lap pillow from Ei after an intense sword exhibition, a tiny vein appeared on Aiden's left temple. A few days prior, he had been able to guilt the violet-haired woman into letting him sit in her lap and hug her. She had grimaced when he nestled his face between her breasts and rubbed his cheeks against them, but she hadn't chastised or tried to stop him.
"Calm down, brat. Unless you go out of your way to ruin your body, you're bound to be just as attractive as your mother and me when you grow up. Stop coveting what others have and focus on making yourself worthy of the things you want to obtain..."
Rising to a seated position, Paul softly thanked Ei for letting him use her thighs before turning to meet Aiden's slightly resentful gaze as he added, "You've seen how loose the morals of this world are. With your talent and looks, countless women will want a piece of you. Just remember that not everyone has good intentions. If you become the Princess' Guardian, for example, you can be sure that many of the women who approach you will be assassins. Now, pick up your sword..."
"Tch..."
Though he clicked his tongue, Aiden still listened to Paul and raised his wooden sword. He initially didn't have an interest in swordsmanship, but Paul had shown him the Water God Style's ability to cut through and even deflect Magic back at the caster. It was also a purely defensive style, so Aiden was willing to learn a bit if it meant he could improve his physique and protect himself...
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Having inherited her father's keen eyesight, Aria silently observed the stance training between Paul and Aiden through a window on the third floor of the Estate. She would ordinarily be told to stay away from the windows of the second and above floors, but things were different now that she had trusty companions.
While Ghislaine hovered nearby, Aria sat atop the transformed Ganyu as she assumed a form roughly the size of a large dog. Paul had asked all of the girls to keep Aria safe, but she didn't really like Jean, Venti, Xinyan, Ei, or Eula. As a result, it had fallen upon Ganyu and Ghislaine to babysit and keep her company.
Feeling a little excluded, Aria looked towards Ghislaine with a slight pout on her face as she asked, "Father and Onii-chan no like Aria...?"
Shaking her head, Ghislaine's maintained her usual deadpan despite mimicking Aria's way of speaking as she answered, "Paul and Aiden boys. Aiden becomes strong to protect Aria."
Scrunching up her face, Aria countered, "Aria strong. Onii-chan weak but smart."
Instead of denying Aria's claim, Ghislaine nodded her head before stating, "Aria too strong. Need delicacy and control. Then you become strongest."
"..."
Though she puffed out her cheeks, Aria didn't refute Ghislaine's words. Instead, she returned her attention to the scene outside, her eyes barely blinking as she burned the image of each stance into her mind...
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"How much longer do you intend to stay? I understand your desire to be with your children, but tensions are already beginning to increase in the Capital."
Before answering his Father's question, Paul took a moment to savor the taste of the whiskey in his mouth. Diona's cocktails were the best, but he was far fonder of whiskey's fiery and rich kick than the tart, almost rotten taste of wine.
Exhaling a contented sigh, Paul enjoyed the sensation of warmth filling his body before replying, "We'll be leaving soon. I just wanted to give Aria the chance to spend more time with Ghislaine and Ganyu..."
Though it was only for a brief moment, a flicker of desire flashed across Amarant's eyes as he suggested, "You could always have them stay and look after her. That girl with the horns has always gotten along well with Valentine. As for that beast woman..."
"Father..."
Without needing to release his bloodlust, Paul was able to quell Amarant's nonsense with a sidelong gaze. In response, the man adopted a wry smile as he averted his eyes and stated, "They are remarkably beautiful women. Once you reach the Capital, you'll need to be very careful..."
Nodding his head, Paul muttered, "I am well aware..." before finishing off the contents of his glass. When he was finished, he placed it on the table next to him and revealed, "I am considering marrying Reida..."
Blinking in surprise, a look of faint disbelief marred Amarant's expression as he advised, "You should reconsider. As things stand, you still have the option of being adopted into one of the other Houses via marriage. If you marry the Water God, that path would no longer be open to you. There is also the matter of her other children. I cannot recall his exact age, but her eldest son should be around twenty years your senior. I can't imagine him being too pleased about having his inheritance robbed from him by a man young enough to be his son..."
"That's...a very fair point..."
With his Father's reminder, Paul recalled that Reida had basically lived an entire life before their fateful encounter. The Vision he had gifted her had all but halted her aging process, but it didn't change the fact that she was well into her forties. There was a literal two-generation gap between them as she was already a grandmother by the time he had inadvertently, albeit with tremendous effort, knocked her up...
Seeing his son fall silent, Amarant decided to give him a bit of advice, not as Paul's Father, but the Lord of the Milbots Region. It kept him awake at night knowing that his proud and capable first son had been reduced to the status of a peasant, so, after a moment of deliberation, he suggested, "Once you've reached the Capital and had your audience with the King, you should seek out Philip Boreas Greyrat. His eldest brother, James, the Heir Apparent of House Boreas, has been unable to produce an heir even after taking in three mistresses. The odds of a succession battle occurring once Philip graduates from the Royal Academy are extremely high."
Though his upbringing allowed him to guess where the conversation was headed, Paul furrowed his brows as he asked, "And? What does that have anything to do with me...?"
Understanding that his son was playing dumb, a moderately exasperated sigh escaped Amarant's throat before he went on to say, "If you intend to support the Princess' ascent to the throne, you will need the backing of at least three of the Great Houses. House Eurus has all but publicly declared its intentions to support the First Prince's claim, so you will need to secure the favor of the other two if you want to clear a path for Princess Ariel and your children..."
"Old man..."
Ignoring the faint bloodlust radiating from his son, Amarant narrowed his eyes as he said, "Philip has always been a clever boy. If you help him in the succession battle, he would readily invite you into House Boreas once his wife births a daughter."
"..."
Though he had accurately anticipated his Father's words, Paul was still left speechless. The man was, quite literally, suggesting a marriage between him and a girl that hadn't even been born yet. Paul knew there was a very good chance that said girl would be Eris, his favorite heroine from the series, but that was only a small consolation. After all, even if he liked the original Eris, there would be a seventeen-year age gap between them in terms of age. Such gaps weren't particularly uncommon, even in his previous world, but Paul still found it unbelievably fucked up...
Understanding his Father was just trying to help, Paul eventually shook his head and muttered, "I'm just going to pretend this conversation never happened..."
Adopting a serious expression, Amarant insisted, "You should consider it. I know that woman of yours is cooking something up in the East, but the Asura Kingdom is still your motherland. The plans you've suggested have you intrinsically interconnected with the politics of this Kingdom. Without roots of some kind, the King's trust in you is bound to wane. In the 'worst case' scenario, he may even pressure you into marrying the Princess..."
As he had come up with the idea of marrying Reida to avoid such an outcome, a beyond-exasperated sigh emanated from Paul's throat before he muttered, "I fucking hate politics..."
Though he grunted in approval, Amarant wasn't done trying to convince Paul, stating, "Despite your physical appearance, everyone that matters knows you're just a thirteen-year-old boy. If your information is correct, Princess Ariel will be born around the time you turn fifteen. The current Queen Consort is roughly twenty-three years younger than the King, so he is unlikely to view the gap between your and the Princess's age as an issue. Rather, if it means securing a powerful ally and strengthening the bloodline of the Royal Family..."
Forcing a smile, Paul countered, "Isn't that what Aiden is for? He has already agreed to become the Princess' Guardian, so there is a good chance they will produce offspring at some point..."
Shaking his head, Amarant's tone became firm as he said, "You know as well as I do that things are rarely so cut and dry. Aiden might be just as prodigious as you, but he has yet to prove himself. If your timeline of the Princess' birth is correct, Aiden will be, at most, five years old at the time. If you were a King looking to secure the future, who would you choose to control. The successor to the Water God and the youngest Sword Saint in history, or a child just beginning his studies...?"
"..."
Before Paul could respond, Amarant offered the correct answer, stating, "If the circumstances allowed, you would choose both." in a firm tone. He didn't mean Paul, specifically, but anyone in the King's position.
Unable to refute his Father's words, Paul reached for the nearly full bottle of whiskey at his side, inadvertently snapping off the top as he attempted to pop the cork with his thumb. He ended up getting a pretty nasty cut on his finger, but it was already beginning to regenerate as he muttered, "So you're telling me my options are to marry girls that are even younger than my literal children...?"
Snorting through his nose, Amarant grabbed his own glass as he retorted, "Remind me, son, who was it that recently proposed the idea of marrying the Water God? That woman just turned 47 around three months ago. She is 34 years your senior, yet you didn't so much as flinch as you suggested marrying her..."
"That's..."
"It isn't different if you view the situation objectively. You only see it that way because you consider yourself a mature person capable of making responsible decisions. While I can understand your apprehensions about being engaged to a girl much younger than yourself, it is only a matter of time until they mature. By then, issues such as an age gap won't matter in the slightest. Also..."
Adopting a serious expression, Amarant gazed directly into Paul's eyes as he added, "If Philip didn't agree to marry his daughter to you, he would invariably agree to marry her to someone else. In that regard, would she not be better off marrying someone who genuinely cares about her well-being rather than a Noble who only views her as an outlet for their sexual desires...?"
Hearing his Father's words, the image of Darius, one of the most infamous and disgusting villains from the original series, entered Paul's mind. If not for the timely intervention of Ghislaine, the then nine-year-old Eris would have been kidnapped and forced to become his sex slave. With Ghislaine currently following him around like a loyal pup, the chances of her coming into the employ of House Boreas were near zero percent...
"Fuck my life..."
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After adequately psyching himself up, Paul knocked on the door to his Father's study.&nbsp;
"Enter."
Doing just that, Paul pushed open the door to find his Father, Amarant, facing away from him while standing behind his desk. The scene gave off an impression of sobriety, but Paul just played it off by asking, "Have you been getting the care packages Ningguang sent...?"
Though it wasn't overt, Paul noticed his Father twitch when he brought up the care packages. Ningguang wasn't the type to allow the favor she had painstakingly curried to wane due to complacency. Thus, even after three years had passed, she continued to send alcohol and other luxury goods to the Notos Estate through a backchannel.
After coughing a few times to cover his embarrassment, Amarant turned to face Paul with a severe expression on his face. His eyes widened a bit when he saw just how much Paul had grown, but he was still able to ask, "Is it true? Did you really exhaust your lifespan to gain power...?"
Seeing no reason to conceal the truth, Paul shook his head and answered, "No. That's just an inference the Sword God made after seeing the state I was in following the forceful awakening of my Touki. Thanks to my Vision, I not only made a full recovery, but my physique is nearing the upper limit of what humans can achieve without modification."
Extending his right hand, Paul produced not one but two Dendro Visions. Kusanali had acquired two more after receiving her Constellations, so he currently had three in his possession. Since he had previously gifted his Mother Zhongli's extra Geo Vision, he felt obligated to provide his Father one as well.
Understanding Paul's gesture, Amarant walked around to the front of his desk and accepted the Vision without a fuss. He truthfully didn't think he had the ambition to make use of it, but that changed pretty quickly when Paul explained the 'benefits' associated with a Dendro Vision.
"Hoooooo...you really are a filial son. Truth be told, the dynamic between your Mother and I has shifted ever since she made a full recovery. If this functions as you say, I should be able to even the odds..."
Placing the Vision into his pocket, Amarant's expression became slightly accusatory as he met Paul's gaze and said, "Speaking of which...the two of you didn't do anything, did you? I understand how alluring your Mother can be, but there are limits to everything..."
Exhaling a weary sigh, Paul admitted, "We kissed and held one another, but I eventually came to my senses before things could get too far out of hand. We may not see eye to eye on everything, but I still respect you as my Father..."
"Mmm...then we'll leave it at that..."
Though he suspected there were details Paul was glossing over, Amarant wasn't particularly interested in hearing the specifics. Instead, he moved over to his liquor cabinet to retrieve a bottle of vintage wine before filling two glasses as he remarked, "Getting the Water God pregnant...even now, I still find it difficult to believe. However, when I see those two children..."
Handing one of the glasses to Paul, Amarant narrowed his eyes as he said, "It's only a matter of time before the truth comes out. When it does, the First Prince's Faction won't remain idle. Given your presence here, I'm assuming you have a plan...?"
Nodding his head in affirmation, Paul downed the entire contents of his glass before going on to explain, "I have no intention of staging a coup or trying to destabilize the Kingdom. However, I'm not going to keep sitting on my hands as the First Prince continues making things difficult for the people I care about..."
Meeting his Father's gaze directly, Paul narrowed his eyes as he said, "I intend to crush the First Prince's Faction. Not directly, at least not at first, but by collaborating with the Factions who oppose him. I plan to weaken them as much as possible so that when the 'rightful' heir appears, we'll be able to support them to the best of our ability..."
"Mmm...and what about the twins? I can protect them for the time being, but their talents are too great to remain hidden for long."
Though the expression on his face soured noticeably, Paul revealed, "We have already considered that..." before going on to lay out the plan he and Ningguang had hammered out over the past five weeks...
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"That woman never ceases to amaze me..."
Smiling wryly in response to his Father's words, Paul appended, "I know what you mean. There are times when it feels like she has the entire world in the palm of her hands. If I were a little more ambitious, I have no doubt she could have placed me on the throne years ago..."
Furrowing his brows, Amarant gave Paul a sidelong look as he asked, "Is that such a bad thing? I'm still loyal to the Crown, but I've come to realize how truly 'stagnant' the Kingdom has become in the absence of your little friend. With someone like her helping to manage things, the Kingdom may have been able to enter a new Golden Era..."
Instead of refuting his Father's words, Paul nodded his head and replied, "You're right. Unfortunately, I can't help being a little selfish. If I were to aim for the throne, I would want to acquire it with my own power. Since I know better than anyone just how much I'm lacking, I would rather focus on growing strong enough to protect my way of life and the people I care about..."
Since he couldn't really argue with Paul's words, Amarant just hummed in response. In truth, he wanted to say that his son was more than qualified to be a King. He had capable subordinates and, more importantly, knew when to delegate responsibilities to people more qualified than himself. In the grand scheme of things, the only traits a King genuinely needed were a decisive nature and the ability to judge one's character. Paul had shown a remarkable talent with the latter; the only thing he still lacked was self-confidence...
Shaking away his treasonous thoughts, Amarant began to pour himself another glass as he said, "I have viewed you as the Lord of this Region since the eve of your tenth birthday. Your younger brother, Philemon, is of a similar opinion but is doing his best to ensure he is qualified to hold the position should you choose to abstain from it. Regardless, know that we will continue to support you no matter which path you choose..."
Holding up the glistening, leafy-green Vision Paul had given him near the start of their discussion, Amarant's expression softened in a fatherly smile as he expressed, "Ensuring my children are able to walk the path of their choosing....that is my ambition..."
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With newfound respect for his Father, Paul departed Amarant's study with a pensive expression on his face. The man's parting words had given him a lot to think about, particularly in regards to his own status as a parent.
If Paul went with the plan Ningguang had devised, he would spend the next 2-3 years gaining the King's trust. Then, once Ariel was born, they would convince him to let her attend the Milbots Academy with his kids acting as her Guardians.&nbsp;
Though there was a lot more to the plan, everything hinged on whether or not Paul was willing to consign his children to a life of servitude. Ariel was a decent Master to serve, and the title of Guardian was one of the highest a person could attain, but it didn't change the fact they would be servants for life...
With his Noble status and title revoked, Paul's best options to protect his children were to secure them a protective status, hide them away like birds in a cage, or to 'full nuclear' and basically declare war on the entire 'civilized' world. He would start with the Asura Kingdom, but there was no way the rest of the world would sit on the sidelines as the most powerful nation collapsed from the interior. In other words, destabilizing the Asura Kingdom was the same as instigating a global power struggle that would likely result in the deaths of millions...
Reaching the outside of his Mother's room, Paul hesitated for a moment before knocking. When it finally opened, he was greeted by the smiling face of Ganyu as she asserted, "You're going to adore them. Their auras are nearly as bright as Masters..."
Returning a somewhat wry smile of his own, Paul replied, "I'm sure I will." before making his way into the aromatic antechamber. Inside, he found his Mother, each of the girls that had accompanied him, and two adorable little kids with hazel-brown hair and leaf-green eyes.&nbsp;
Though there were some obvious similarities between the two, Paul took note of the fact that Aiden possessed windswept hair reminiscent of his own while Aria's was sleek, slightly curly, and had been allowed to grow past her shoulders. Both had gender-specific clothing, but the thing that stood out the most, at least to Paul, was that they had tiny moles under opposite eyes. Aiden's was on his left, similar to Paul's, while Aria's was on her right.
As Paul took notice of them, Aiden immediately took notice of him. The young boy had been sitting atop Ei's lap and reclining against her with a &nbsp;contented smile on his face, but the moment he saw Paul, his expression immediately formed into a frown. As for Aria, she was currently engaged in a staring contest with Ghislaine, so she had yet to notice someone new had entered the room.
"You've finally arrived. I trust you were able to work things out with your Father...?"
Though he nodded his head in response to his Mother's question, Paul's focus was on the twins as he asked, "Are these really my kids? I know I'm handsome, but it's almost unfair how cute these little brats are."
Turning her eyes up at Paul, Valentine was tempted to chastise him for referring to his kids as 'little brats,' but quickly decided against it. Instead, she earned a disproving pout from Aria as she picked up the little girl and handed her over to Paul, saying, "Look, Aria, it's your father."
As if she had only noticed Paul's presence upon being handed to him, Aria visibly recoiled as an even poutier expression marred her face. She didn't wriggle around too much, but it was apparent she didn't enjoy being held by a 'stranger.'
Just as Paul was about to try and coax the two-year-old into giving him a chance, Aiden abruptly stated, "Aria, it's our Father. Remember? The one Big Sis Lilia and Grandmother are always telling us stories about. He isn't a bad person."&nbsp;
Though he was a little taken aback by how articulate Aiden was for a two-year-old, Paul was even more surprised by Aria's response. The moment Aiden assured her he wasn't a bad person, a faint smile developed across her face as she stopped leaning her upper body away from him.
Demonstrating a marginally more normal vocal range, Aria tilted her head to the side as she inspected Paul's face and questioned, "Aria's Father...?"
Adopting a wry yet affectionate smile, Paul softly cooed, "That's right. It's good to meet you, Aria. Sorry it took so long for me to arrive..."
As if responding for his sister, Aiden stated, "Don't worry, we know it wasn't your fault." before adopting a friendly smile and adding, "All that matters is that you are here, now. Welcome home, Father."
Emulating her brother's greeting, Aria nodded her head and said, "Nn. Welcome home." before surprising Paul with a kiss on the cheek. Then, as if her previous apprehensions were an illusion, she wrapped her tiny arms around his neck and gave him a surprisingly firm hug...
...
..
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Chapter 125: MI125: Confrontation