Understanding dawned for both Erik and Runa. ’So, kind of just protectiveness, I guess,’ Erik realised inwardly, not bothered by it. He was possessive of his won, but not to the point where he’d be disturbed by other n in their lives—certainly not when those n were essentially family.
Besides, Kudzai was obviously prey, not predator. He was no threat.
A sigh from Runa interrupted his thoughts. Slowly, his mother leaned forward again, placing her elbows on the table as she looked at Naeku sombrely. "After losing Silvy’s father, I don’t believe I will ever et another man whom I’ll truly love romantically. Care deeply about, sure, but not love."
Naeku instantly surged forward, looking deeply into Runa’s eyes as she grabbed the opening. "Then—!"
"But that’s not what you said," Runa interrupted her sternly. "You said your promise involved soone ’he’ loves, not necessarily the other way around, right?"
Blushing with frustration, Naeku beca flustered again. "I— I an, technically, but—"
"One-sided love doesn’t have to be a bad thing, Naeku," Runa continued, a little gentler as she interrupted her again.
Once again, she used Leia as an example by waving in her direction. "Look at Leilei. She’s obviously already fallen in love with Silvy, but he doesn’t feel the sa way, else he would have proposed to her already. Still, Erik does care about her." She looked at Erik with a cocked eyebrow. "Right...?"
Leia blushed shyly in Erik’s arms... and listened intently for his answer.
Patting her hair, Erik shrugged nonchalantly. "She may have only entered my harem a short ti ago, but I care about all my won. Leia is cute, excitable, and beautiful. Why wouldn’t I care about her?"
A bright smile spread across Leia’s lips, and she buried herself a little deeper into his chest.
Naeku looked at the display and didn’t really know what to say. She quickly started seeing where Runa was going with this, and didn’t really want to hear it.
"As you can see, Leia is happy with the situation," Runa explained sternly. "Why can’t it be the sa for Kudzai? Do you hold their lives to different standards?"
"N— No!" Naeku imdiately denied, quickly glancing at Leia. Fortunately, Leia was smiling encouragingly at her. Clearly, she didn’t believe that.
So, Naeku sighed in relief, then looked back miserably at Runa. "Of course I don’t, but... it’s different! S— Sohow...? I— Ugh..." Groaning, she grabbed her forehead and fell silent. Now that Runa had called her out on it, Naeku realised she was being a little hypocritical, but unsure why.
Sighing, Erik wrapped Naeku in his free hand and sent comforting emotions through their bond.
Losing her stern expression, Runa grinned victoriously and cocked her head. "Because you trust Erik, but not ? You know he makes his won happy, but you’ve only ever seen make your father unhappy because I refuse to join his harem? Is that about it?"
Instantly, realisation struck Naeku’s mind. She shot up from Erik’s arm and pointed at Runa animatedly. "Yeah!" Just as quickly as the realisation set in, however, she also deflated again. "Ugh... That’s bad, right...?" she muttered apologetically.
Chuckling, Runa leaned back in her chair again with a shrug. "I an, it doesn’t feel great. We’ve known each other even longer than you’ve known Erik, after all. But I do get it."
Frowning, Runa then waved her hand. "But what you need to understand is that Kudzai is who he is, and that likely won’t change. Dominant won are always going to take advantage of him—as is happening right now—unless soone’s properly scratching this itch he’s got."
Crossing her arms, she looked at Naeku sternly. "You can either let do it, or wait and hope for the best."
"For what it’s worth," she continued with a domineering grin. "I’ll make sure he’s happy, content, and madly in love with ."
Pouting, Naeku rolled her eyes. She didn’t much like it. She still wanted the person she considered her little brother to end up with soone who loved him back... Yet, perhaps this really was the best option for him. Thinking about it, she really felt kind of silly for subconsciously distrusting Runa in this regard.
"Fine..." Naeku finally sighed reluctantly, leaning against Erik for support. From there, she narrowed her eyes at Runa. "But I’ll keep my eye on him! If you make him unhappy, or if he finds soone he loves and loves him back, you have to let him go!"
Runa smirked confidently. "Oh, I’ll never keep him against his will, and there’s no way he’ll be unhappy with ..." She licked her lips. "I want him to serve properly, after all..."
Instantly, Erik and Naeku both groaned, with the forr also feeling a cold shiver down his spine. anwhile, Leia simply giggled.
Naeku pald her face. "Can you please... keep those kinds of statents to a minimum while I’m in earshot...?" she grumbled, unwilling to think of Kudzai in such a way. It was no better than thinking about her father like that.
"I concur," Erik imdiately agreed, grimacing a little.
"You’re both prudes!" Runa laughed freely in response.
Erik’s eyebrows twitched, and so did Naeku’s, and even Leia’s. After last night and, in fact, most of Erik’s sexual exploits, calling them prudes was probably about as far from the truth as possible.
Still, Erik wasn’t going to argue with her, and neither where the others...
"Alright!" he coughed awkwardly and got up from his chair, Leia still on his arm. "Thanks for your ti, Mom... but we have a lot to do, still. Naeku wants to go into seclusion to reach the third rank, and I have my own full plate."
Runa imdiately sighed dramatically. "Alright, Silvy," she pouted, "but don’t be a stranger, alright? You make so little ti for your poor mother..."
Erik rolled his eyes. "I visit you at least once a week, Mom."
A sly grin broke through on his mother’s face. "Maybe I’ll be happy if you make it once a day...?"
Erik sighed and reached a hand out to Naeku. The young princess, also eager to leave at this point, quickly took it and stood up next to him. They turned around. "Goodbye, Mom!" Erik quickly waved after putting Leia down.
Runa sighed even deeper, slumping down in her chair as they walked away. "My son is cruel!" she cried out desperately.
Despite knowing she was playing him, Erik couldn’t help but halt in his steps and palm his face. "You’re impossible, Mom..." He turned around exasperatedly. "I’ll try to co more often, alright...? I just really am busy!"
Instantly, Runa’s depression vanished like snow before the sun, and she jumped out of her chair. "That’s the spirit, Silvy! See you soon, alright? And good luck, Naeku!"
"Yes, Mom," Erik sighed obediently, while Naeku muttered an awkward thank you. Then they finally left. Leia giggled at their interaction as she watched Erik and Naeku go.
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