Harem System In A fantasy World

"So two children on the way?" Isla, who probably felt disconnected from the conversation because she didn’t know three names that had been mentioned, decided to ask something that she could.

Elion rubbed the back of his head. "Well... Three, Ophelia, Esme’s... mother, the other succubi I met here in Grimholt some time ago is also with child."

Aria’s mouth slowly opened wide with shock; shockingly, tears began to flow from her eyes. "B-but you said..." She sniffled, "You said I would be the first!"

And just like that, she started bawling her eyes out without a care. Elion was dumbfounded for a moment. While he admitted that he had indeed said that, he didn’t really think it would be an issue.

But wasn’t this reaction a bit too exaggerated!?

Under everyone’s twitching gazes, Elion pulled Aria into his embrace, and after a few words of apology and gentle coaxing, she finally stopped sobbing, but she didn’t seem too eager to speak or stop sniffling.

Yup, she was pouting like there was no tomorrow.

In the end, Elion let her be. He allowed her to stay like that, hugging him tightly, and looked back toward the other annoyed women in the room.

Mira suddenly started laughing softly, ’Typical Aria...’

She already knew this information as well, but clearly it was a bit too much for Aria to take in and accept immediately; however, she preferred this kind of reaction from Aria, as she had said before; tears were much easier to deal with.

In her opinion, this was a fairly restrained reaction from Aria. "Elion, you have done it again, truly; how could we ever have expected anything less?" Mira said with a naughty smile on her face.

Tessa nodded slowly, "I hate that she has a point. But, still... Celeste is really carrying your child?"

It seemed they had all unilaterally decided to ignore Aria’s outburst and move on.

"Yes," Elion said softly. "She is. I know this is a lot; Aria’s reaction says as much." He looked down at Aria in his arms. "Maybe I should have told you sooner."

Aria bit her lip. "I do not know what I feel."

"That is fine," Elion said. "You do not need to decide how you feel right now."

Mira watched him quietly. "For what it is worth," Mira said, "I am happy for them, and for you. I guess I should say for us..."

Elion looked at her.

Mira’s expression was gentle. "Children are not a small matter. If Ophelia, Esme, and Celeste are carrying your children, then they are already part of this family too. Which means, as you said, they must be protected properly."

Elion smiled, "That is exactly what I was trying to say."

Tessa slowly leaned back. "So you are already going to be a father."

Elion blinked and, strangely, he became quiet. The word felt different when someone else said it; it made his heartbeat quicken.

Perhaps he had been too casual about the fact when children were proposed to him by the three absent, pregnant women.

A father.

Elion let out a slow breath. "Yes," he said quietly. "I suppose I am."

"You really do move fast," Tessa added.

Elion looked at each of them again.

"This is why I need all of us to think seriously," he said. "Not only about ourselves, but about what we are building."

His gaze moved from Mira to Aria, then Tessa, Isla, and Zenith.

"I want a place where all of you can be safe. A place where our children can be safe. A place where no one can simply reach in and take what belongs to us. As things stand, I believe I have plenty of resources to protect us; however, it is not enough: it can never be enough until we find our own place to call home."

They all looked at him seriously and quietly as he spoke, apart from the pouting Aria, of course. After a brief pause that signalled the end of the formalities, he decided to stop here for the day.

"With that being said, there is no need for us to go over everything in one day." Elion looked at Isla, Mira, Aria, and Tessa.

They all looked sleepy, tired, and weary, Mira especially. It had been a long day for her. "I will let you all rest for the night."

Mira looked like she was about to say something, perhaps to refute him. Knowing her, she definitely wanted to spend the night in his bed tonight, but Elion shook his head before she could speak.

Horny as he was, Zenith would have to take that role for tonight, even if Mira was a masochist; he really needed to vent tonight, and Zenith was the only one who could keep up with him.

"We can catch up some more tomorrow," he said. "You should all go and sleep. There are plenty of rooms for everyone."

He glanced around the lounge.

"I will let Mira show you around. I have not exactly stayed in this house long enough to know my way around properly." He chuckled, and he clapped his hands twice. "Anyway, the first family meeting is adjourned."

He tried to get up, only to realise once again that a pouting Aria was still in his arms. She was holding tightly onto his shirt like a spoiled child. "Aria..." She ignored him.

"Aria..." Once again, he was ignored. Elion sighed, "I am sorry, okay? Now tell me how I can make it up to you."

Aria’s fingers tightened slightly. "I want one too," she muttered under her breath.

Elion’s lip twitched.

He was not the only one. For a moment, the room became strangely quiet. Elion did not really mind granting her wish, since he had already said he would.

’What was that saying? Three was already a lot; what is one more?’

Though he was a bit concerned about making someone as troublesome as Aria a mother, he also didn’t have the balls to deny her the privilege, especially since he had already made her promise.

And he wasn’t going to start breaking promises so soon into building this little family. That would reflect poorly on his reputation as the Alpha of this family. But he could try to dodge the subject and postpone it for a bit.

If that failed, that was fine as well.

"I do not mind another baby-making mission," Elion said, "but are you sure? You are still in the academy, and becoming pregnant means you will get expelled."

Aria finally got up from his arms and sat properly beside him. "I have already thought about it."

Elion looked at her, "You have?"

"Yes."

Her expression became serious.

"You are no longer in the academy, so there is no reason for me to stay there. And Senior Celeste was in the academy too, but she did not hesitate to have your child despite that. Why should I?"

Elion raised a brow. "Really? Are you sure?"

"I am."

’Well, that’s not going to work...’ He thought quietly.

"What do your parents think about you leaving the academy? I don’t want to be the one to create a rift between you or anything like that..."

"After that incident, I already told them about it," Aria said. "They do not mind as much as you probably think. They said I can do whatever I want."

Elion stared at her for a moment. "Then I guess it’s alright..." He sighed.

’Looks like there’s no way out of this one.’

"Yes." Aria immediately stood up and tried to pull him along. "Let us go."

Elion remained seated. Was she really so eager that she wanted to get it done with today? ’This girl!’

"Not today," Elion said, and Aria froze. "I already said you should rest for the night. We have plenty of time to make babies."

Aria pouted again, but she reluctantly nodded her head. At least she was listening to him now.

After that, Mira finally got to her task of assigning everyone a room. Elion still had individual gifts for a couple of them, but he would do that some other time, and preferably one by one. For now, everyone needed rest.

They didn’t have powerful bodies and minds like him and Zenith. And this sudden flood of information must have taken a toll on their minds.

As all the ladies began leaving toward the large door leading out of the lounge, Elion gave Isla a reassuring smile. She had been looking back at him frequently after standing up; perhaps she wanted to say something.

Or perhaps she simply felt a little overwhelmed, being surrounded by so many new faces in an unfamiliar place. However, other than the reassuring smile, Elion did not call out to her or anything.

She needed this. Sooner or later, Isla would have to get used to being around the other girls: The sooner, the better. He would not always be around to keep her company, so it would be great if Mira and the others managed to break down her walls and make her open up a bit more; otherwise, she was going to be very lonely when he was not around.

He could speak with her the next time they went out on another date; hopefully, he would be able to make things official during the same event as well.

And so, as the ladies left the lounge, giggling and speaking softly among themselves, Elion remained alone.

The room slowly grew quiet as the warmth of their voices faded down the corridor. Elion leaned back in his seat and let out a slow breath.

For a moment, he allowed himself to simply sit there. He was back, and bit by bit, this little Manor was starting to feel like a real home.

Elion’s expression became serious.

Tonight, he would undertake his breakthrough into the next rank, and perhaps, if he still had the energy afterward, he would also integrate the World Eyes. But first, it was time to check how his status had changed after gaining the Dragon Bloodline.

That way, it would be easier for him to gauge the changes after levelling up as well.

"Status," Elion called out.