A soft voice emanated from the to again.
"Forgive this humble servant for asking, Radiant One... but I have noticed sothing. There is one particular man... the one with imnse talent, second only to the Eyes of Truth user himself. He saw before, long ago... Yet he has not returned to seek my knowledge since his first encounter. May I inquire... why he does not co again?"
"How would I know?" Francesca tilted her head, smile widening. "Perhaps it’s best if you ask him yourself later~"
She paused, tapping a finger thoughtfully against her lips. "He’s a stubborn one, you know. Probably decided he doesn’t need ancient tos when he has his own inventions to keep him busy. Or maybe..." her eyes glinted, "he’s just waiting for the right mont."
Francesca gave the to a playful side-eye with a teasing smile. "Ara~ Don’t tell ... you’re interested in him? Hmm?"
"Pardon , my lady..." the voice replied, its tone flustered but still respectful. "I am but a creation, a vessel of knowledge. I do not possess feelings or a body to harbor such... interests. My purpose is to serve, not to desire."
Francesca chuckled softly. "You can lie to others, but you can’t lie to , you know~" Her eyes sparkled with gentle amusent. "I know you better than you know yourself, Serena. Even a to can hold a heart, especially one as old and wise as you."
There was a mont of stunned silence from the book, before a softer voice replied, "I... I do not know what you an, Radiant One. I am rely a collection of pages and ink, bound by your grace."
"Ara~ Really? Hmm?" Francesca smiled again, her eyes glinting with playful knowing. "Correct if I’m wrong, but ’soone’ did transform herself into a maid to look after ’soone’ back when he was just a boy~"
Serena flustered, the glow from the to flickering slightly. "I... I don’t know what you’re talking about, Radiant One."
"My~ Serena~ Like I said before, one can lie to others, but one cannot lie to this one~" Francesca’s tone was gentle, but it carried the weight of absolute certainty.
"I saw you, you know. That quiet maid with flowing gold hair and soft golden eyes. Always nearby whenever a certain little boy wandered into the library. Always there, dusting a shelf, leaving a magical book open on the table for him to discover, or subtly guiding him toward a text that would spark his curiosity."
Francesca paused and smiled, her expression softening with fond mory.
"You thought I didn’t notice?"
Serena flustered, falling silent for a mont.
Francesca leaned back against the cushions, a soft, understanding smile on her lips. "I won’t tease you any further for now~" She tilted her head gently. "Now, I want you to assess these five girls for their true talents. I don’t need you to give them a skill just for the sake of it. Show them only what resonates with their nature and potential. If nothing is suitable, then nothing at all. Their growth should be natural, not forced."
"As you wish, oh Radiant One."
"Good. I believe ’he’ will co here later once he notices his future wives are taking too long to et ~"
"P... pardon?" Serena’s voice wavered, the light from the to flickering again. "You an... the young master?"
Francesca’s smile widened. "Yes, my Honey Bun. He’s quite protective, you know. And very observant when it cos to his girls. Once he realizes they’ve been summoned and haven’t returned, he’ll co looking. And when he does..." her eyes twinkled with gentle mischief, "...perhaps you’ll have a chance to speak with him again. Properly this ti."
anwhile... In the office.
A knock was heard from outside.
Javier narrowed his eyes and raised his palm, stopping Varrick and the others from standing.
"Just co in, Mimi. I know it’s you."
The door opened, and a head peeked in. She bit her lower lip, her little fang showing as she gave him a playful, sheepish grin. "Nya~ How did you know it was , Husband?"
Javier exhaled softly. "Of course I know. The way you knock. Only you knock with that little rhythm, like you’re tapping out a happy tune."
"Tehe~" Mimi jumped inside, her tail swaying in excitent as she ran toward Javier and leaped onto his lap, facing him. She planted a quick kiss on his lips, then glanced up with sparkling eyes.
Javier smiled and patted her head, looking into her eyes. "You must have been scared about what happened earlier."
"Nya?" Mimi tilted her head, confused. "No... I could sense soone rushing toward , so I gave him a dropkick, just like you taught ~"
"Hmm? Since when did I teach you my dropkick?" Javier narrowed his eyes, genuinely confused.
"Nya? Rember our first ti eting? Tehe~ I copied your way of kicking the monster! Ehehe~" She giggled, her tail swishing happily as she puffed out her chest proudly. "I watched you very closely, nya! And I practiced a lot!"
Javier smiled. Felicia just shook her head with a soft smile, Delya continued happily munching on her chocolate, Gloria nudged her glasses and kept reading her book, and Liana simply glanced at Mimi with a fond, gentle expression.
"So... where have you been?" Javier asked Mimi, his tone warm and curious.
"Nya? Oh~ I was with Mother-in-law~ We were chatting~ She taught about sothing~" Mimi explained, her voice bubbling with excitent as she wiggled happily on his lap.
"Oh? About what?" Javier smiled and asked again.
"Nyaaaa~ It’s a secret~ Mother-in-law said not to tell anyone~ It’s just between and her~" Mimi put a finger to her lips, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Even ? Your future husband?" Javier chuckled softly.
Mimi put one finger on her lips and glanced up, her tail swaying excitedly behind her. "Mm... still can’t, nya~ A promise is a promise~ Mother-in-law said if Husband kept wanting to know, I should tell you to ask her directly~"
"Alright, alright~" Javier chuckled again. "I won’t ask anymore. Sheesh, so secretive~"
"Tehehe~" Mimi buried her face into Javier’s chest, nuzzling affectionately.
"Now, now," Javier said with a smile. "Go sit with Liana and the others. I’m going to finish my work here, and after that, we can all eat together."
"Nya? Really?" Mimi grinned, but then she suddenly froze, her eyes widening as she rembered sothing.
"Nya!!! Liana! Gloria! Onee-sama! Delya! Mother-in-law is calling for us!" Mimi jumped off Javier’s lap and rushed over to tug at Liana’s sleeve in a panic. "Faster, faster! She said to co right away, nya!"
( End Of Chapter )
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