Javier, who had just finished his soft laughter, smiled and glanced at all of them.
"I already finished crafting them. Don’t worry~"
Liana’s eyes glead. "So... when will we get one?"
Gloria nudged her glasses and held Javier’s arm a little tighter. "Did you craft them specially for each of us? Or are they all the sa?"
Felicia buried her face against his back, mumbling softly with a smile. "I really wish we each got sothing different..."
Delya smiled dreamily, her eyes distant yet focused on him. "I also want sothing more special... sothing that truly feels like ~"
Mimi’s ears perked up, her tail swaying back and forth as she grinned cheekily. "Ehehe~ Mimi wants sothing that suits , nya!"
Javier exhaled and shook his head, then let out a charming smile toward all of them. "You’ll know soon."
Liana tilted her head down and glared up at him playfully. "So... when is this ’soon’? Hmm?"
Gloria joined in. "Yes~ I agree with Liana. When will it be?" She leaned in slightly. "Or do we need to wait until you’re nearly eighteen~?"
Javier gave them a look of mock disbelief. "Oho~? So you’re all ganging up on now?"
Liana smiled, tightening her grip on his arm. "You could say that, Young Master~ It’s been taking us too long just waiting for you to claim us. And now I wonder how long you’re going to make us wait for it to be official~"
Gloria smirked. "Indeed. What Liana said is true, Young Master~"
Felicia gripped Javier’s outfit from behind. "We’re just hoping for you to make it official soon... so we can stop wondering and just... be yours."
Delya’s dreamy expression sharpened slightly with rare focus. "A promise feels more real when you can hold it close..."
Mimi nodded vigorously, her tail swishing. "Nya! I want to wear sothing that says I’m yours, too!"
Javier exhaled and smiled. "Fine."
He glanced at them while carefully adjusting his little sisters in his arms, making sure they were still comfortably asleep. "I wanted to give them to you all the mont I finished crafting them, but Mother ntioned sothing about Liana and Gloria still being part of the Armand Beauty Maid Ranking."
Liana narrowed her eyes, confused. "What ranking?"
Gloria adjusted her glasses, her expression turning curious. "What are you talking about, Young Master?"
"Hmm? You both don’t know?" Javier raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes.
"Eh?" Liana and Gloria both pulled back slightly from his shoulders and glanced up at him.
Javier chuckled softly and explained, "Mother started a new program, a nationwide broadcast ranking the most beautiful maids in Armand. It’s being shown on holo-screens across the nation. There are two categories: single and partnered. You two are currently tied in the partnered category."
"We... we didn’t know about it," Liana said, exhaling softly.
"That’s why if I gave you two the official engagent necklaces now, you’d be officially removed from the ranking. I don’t mind, but Mother asked if I could at least let you stay in until the final results are announced. Erinette already forfeited, so her votes are being redistributed. It’s basically a stalemate between you two right now."
"So..." Gloria said while nudging her glasses. "What if I want the necklace and forfeit from the contest?"
"Hmm? Sure. No problem. If you agree to that, I’ll make it official after Aelius and Athine’s wedding."
Liana nodded and smiled. "So... what do we get if we win?"
"Ah... for that, the prize hasn’t been announced by Mother yet, but you two know how she is. She’s never stingy, it’ll be sothing aningful."
"No..." Liana said, gripping Javier’s arm tighter. "If I win... what will you personally give ?"
Javier rubbed his chin gently against Vivica’s head, making her flinch slightly in her sleep. "Hmm... how about you can ask anything from ?"
"Alright. I’ll join," Liana said, her tone decisive. "Since Mother insisted, and it sounds like fun."
Gloria’s eyes widened. "Eh? You’re joining?"
"Of course. Since you ntioned you want to forfeit, right, second wife?" Liana gave Gloria a playful, knowing look. "That ans winning is guaranteed for . So I can ask Young Master for anything~"
"I... I never said I want to forfeit!" Gloria bit her lower lip, gripping Javier’s arm tighter.
"My my~ But you said earlier that you want to get the necklaces and forfeit from the contest~" Liana gave her a teasing, triumphant smile.
"I was just asking!" She turned and glared at Javier. "So the engagent necklaces, even if we don’t join the contest, you’ll still give them to us after Prince Aelius and Princess Athine’s wedding, right?"
"Hmm? Yes. That was the plan all along. I’ll make it official once their wedding is complete."
"Mou! I’m joining then!" Gloria huffed and glared at Liana. "Just so you know, ’cousin’~ I will win this~"
"My~ Really?" Liana raised a palm to her lips, her eyes sparkling with playful challenge. "I’m sure winning will be easy since Mrs. Erinette already forfeited, second~ wife."
"Ara~ Really, first wife? Just because you’re first wife doesn’t an you can get ’first rank’ in this contest~"
Felicia, Delya, and Mimi gripped Javier tighter.
"Ow, ow, ow! What?" Javier glanced toward them, while Liana and Gloria on either side continued to glare at each other, sparks practically flying between them.
"We... we didn’t get to join this?" Felicia asked softly.
"Eh? Why are you asking ? This is for the Armand Maid Contest. You three aren’t maids."
"But aren’t Liana and Gloria also no longer maids?"
"Ah, that?" Javier shrugged. "Mother said they were officially no longer my maids once they beca officially engaged to , but they’re still eligible for the contest because they were part of the ranking before the announcent."
All three of them gave him gleaming, pleading eyes, glancing up at him.
"Ehhh? Even if you all give those eyes, I’m not the one in charge of Armand’s new broadcasting program."
"Husband..."
"Danna-sama..."
"Husband...nyaaaa~"
Javier exhaled. Just as he was about to say sothing, a sweet, lodic voice was heard.
"Honey bun?"
Javier glanced up toward the voice, while the others turned to look as well.
"Yes, esteed Mother?" Javier said, seeing Francesca walking gracefully toward him, escorted by Erisa and several other special battle maids in full-face masks.
"I was wondering why you all were so focused on other things when the toast for the wedding is about to begin~" Francesca said with a gentle, knowing smile.
"Ah... Mother... about that..." Javier was about to explain when Mimi, Delya, and Felicia turned toward Francesca, their expressions shifting into soft, hopeful looks.
"M... Mother~"
( End Of Chapter )
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