Azel sighed, rubbing his temple with mild exasperation.
She was just like that these days.
Edna always found a way to make him smile, even when she was pouting.
Even when she was teasing.
Even when she was pretending to be jealous of their unborn child.
"You know I love you more," Azel said softly, his voice firm with reassurance.
His hand cupped her cheek before pressing a kiss onto her forehead. "You’re the woman carrying our child, aren’t you?"
Her eyes glistened at those words, and for a moment she looked giddy, almost girlish, like a maiden freshly in love.
She buried her nose into the crook of his neck, breathing him in as though he was her only comfort in the world.
"Honey," she whispered against his skin, "Mother-in-law said you should rest."
Azel let out a long breath and finally leaned back down against the pillow.
Truth be told, she was right.
He was still exhausted.
His body ached, and though his cores were full, his muscles hadn’t caught up yet.
Besides... there wasn’t much else to do at the moment.
Well, except maybe to check what Veyra and Medusa were up to.
Before he could dwell on the thought, there came a knock at the door.
Knock.
Knock.
Edna perked her head up, adjusting herself into a more comfortable position on his arm.
"Who’s there?" her voice called, smooth but cautious.
’I hope it isn’t the maids again...’ she thought inwardly.
Technically, she wasn’t even supposed to be here.
After the family found out she was pregnant, she had been given her own spacious chamber, a grand room with dozens of maids waiting on her every need, every hour of the day.
They pampered her, guarded her, kept her well-fed, well-rested, and well-dressed.
But none of that compared to being here. With him.
She cuddled against Azel’s hand, squeezing his fingers as if she wanted to melt herself into him.
’Is it wrong to want to be with my man?’ Edna thought, bitterness swirling underneath her tender smile.
She could only see him properly at dinner.
Diana insisted she not stay in his room overnight.
She claimed it was for her health but Edna knew the truth.
’She doesn’t trust me not to crawl back into his bed.’
And maybe she was right.
Because Edna already felt tempted.
So very tempted.
After that one unforgettable night, her body still burned with the memory.
Even her own fingers couldn’t bring her the relief she once knew.
Not when Azel had ruined her so thoroughly.
He had knocked her up with such fierce passion, filled her until she forgot what empty felt like.
Her insides ached to remember him.
And though she should’ve been embarrassed by that longing, she wasn’t.
She loved it.
She clung tighter to his arm, unwilling to let go.
The door opened.
A shadow slipped inside, and Edna’s body tensed before she let out an audible sigh of relief.
It was Feng.
The young warrior walked in wearing a simple robe.
His forehead was bandaged, a clear sign of recent battle.
"Feng, did something happen?" Azel asked immediately, his instincts on alert.
For Feng to appear so suddenly, surely there was a reason.
But Feng didn’t answer at first.
Instead, he dropped down onto his knees, lowering his body until his forehead smashed against the ground with enough force to crack the tiles.
"Master!" he exclaimed, his voice raw with emotion. "I’m sorry I couldn’t escort you! Because of that, you were too exhausted. Please... punish me!"
Azel’s brows furrowed.
Feng had changed a lot since joining them.
He was no longer the proud cultivator that had just gotten a way to get stronger.
Time with Azel had stripped him of much of that pride.
Now, he was easygoing, loyal, and... well, far too eager to receive punishment, at least only to Azel, he didn’t know how Feng acted around others.
Azel sighed again.
"There’s no need for punishment. You were doing good." His gaze softened slightly. "Do you feel any better with the spear?"
Feng’s head snapped up instantly, his expression lighting with enthusiasm.
"Of course, Master!" he said eagerly. "I can use the spear almost as well as Mister Anthony!"
There was pride in his eyes this time.
"Good," Azel nodded. "I’ll test you out later."
His stomach rumbled quietly then, and he added, "Oh and could you get me some food?"
Feng jumped to his feet and bowed deeply.
"Yes, Master!" He dashed off without another word, excitement pouring out of him even for such a simple errand.
Azel blinked after him.
’...Weird kid,’ he thought, shaking his head slightly.
They were the same age, yet Feng acted like a boy eager to please his elder.
Before he could dwell further, the door opened again.
This time it wasn’t Feng.
A group of maids entered, their steps light and uniform.
They bowed politely.
"Greetings, Young Master," they said in unison.
Azel barely had time to acknowledge them before they moved swiftly toward Edna.
She squeaked in protest as two of them took her arms, gently but firmly pulling her away from his side.
"Let go of me!" she cried out, struggling half-heartedly.
"The Matriarch has prepared a new set of clothes for you, my lady," one of the maids explained, her voice calm even as Edna resisted. "She said they will look very nice on you."
"Husband, save meee!" Edna complained dramatically, her eyes wide with playful despair as the maids dragged her toward the door.
She already knew what awaited — hours of trying on outfit after outfit, standing still while they fixed her hair and talked about the baby.
The door shut behind them, leaving Azel alone at last.
Silence filled the room.
Azel lay back and stared at the ceiling.
’Is Lillia doing something?’ he wondered.
Usually, the little girl was curled up in his arms around this time.
The room felt strangely empty without her.
"Are you going to keep staying there?"
Azel said and turned his head toward the window.
As expected, Veyra pulled herself through, slipping into the room with practiced ease.
But she wasn’t wearing her usual warrior clothes.
Instead, she wore a simple dress.
It was meek compared to her usual garb, soft fabric flowing around her figure.
But even so, it clung to her curves, outlining a body honed by combat yet softened by femininity.
Azel raised a brow. "I never really expected you to wear something like this."
Veyra smirked and crossed the room, settling herself onto the bed beside him.
She gave his shoulder a playful punch.
"I’m a woman, darling," she said with a teasing tone, "I should be allowed to wear stuff like this."