Chapter 101: A Morning Filled with Laughter

She stammered, "Th-thank you, Victor."

She quickly turned away, hiding her blush.

Her mind raced back to last night.

How she and Anna had managed to smuggle their way into Victor’s room.

Watching him with Lane.

The memory burned her face even hotter.

He doesn’t know, she mused to herself, gently fanning.

’His body... The way he moved...’

She bit her lip.

’Stop it, Clara. He’s your nephew.’

But the thought lingered.

Victor thought she reacted a little strangely but didn’t say anything about it.

---

Fifteen minutes later, the breakfast was ready.

Lane and Skyla entered together from the kitchen.

Carrying the final dishes.

The blonde wore her hair in a high bun.

Her green eyes sparkled with cheerfulness.

Her D-cup breasts bounced with each step.

He paced alongside her as her jet-black hair spilled.

A satisfied smile on her face.

Her E-cup breasts swayed gently.

"Good morning, everyone!" Skyla greeted cheerfully.

"Morning," Lane responded, as he sat next to Victor.

Rias emerged from her room.

Her expression calm and composed.

Her red hair was now tied back.

Her D-cups were tight against her red robe that had black stitching upon it.

She took her seat at the table.

For an instant, her eyes of fire locked with Victor’s.

Their gazes crossed.

Then she quickly looked away.

"Good morning, Rias," Victor said.

"Good morning," she replied softly.

Her voice was quiet, almost shy.

Now that Rias was seated, there were five of them around the table.

Victor.

Lane.

Skyla.

Rias.

And Clara.

The table was already crowded with food.

Plumes of steam lazily drifted from a number of bowls of congee. The scent was cozy and inviting.

On the table, were platters of stir-fried vegetables, still vibrant from the cooking.

There was a basket of hot bread at the center.

It was accompanied by a pot of fragrant tea, which was nice and fragrant.

Victor looked over the table.

A small smile appeared on his face.

"Everything looks wonderful."

He picked up his chopsticks.

Skyla immediately smiled.

"Most of it was made by Aunt Clara," she said. "Lane and I assisted a bit."

Victor grabbed a piece of food and bit into it.

He chewed slowly.

The flavor surprised him.

It was simple.

Warm.

Comforting.

And it somehow tasted even better because they’d cooked it.

"It’s delicious," he said.

He looked toward Clara.

"Thank you, Aunt."

Clara’s expression softened.

The she smile that stayed on her face for so long have started to disappear now.

"You’re welcome, Victor."

She offered him a small smile then went back to her meal.

The table’s atmosphere slowly began to loosen up.

The uncomfortableness from before just gradually seemed to fade away.

Then the women started talking about what they were going to do that day.

"I’ll be helping Sister Anna with the refinement of the pill," Clara said.

She took a gulp of tea and was quiet.

"She requires others to help her out for the next round."

"I’ll be cultivating," Rias said simply.

Her answer was brief.

She looked down at her bowl again and resumed eating.

"I will destroy all my enemies."

"That’s good, Rias," Victor said.

"You’ve been working hard."

Rias nodded.

A faint smile on her lips.

"Thank you."

Lane and Skyla exchanged glances.

Before Lane spoke up.

My Lord, are you free for another game of chess after breakfast?

"You want to lose again?" Skyla teased.

"I didn’t lose yesterday!" Lane lamented. "It was a draw!"

"A draw because Young Master helped you."

"That still counts!"

Victor laughed.

"After breakfast I am going to have a big play with you both."

"Yay!" Lane cheered.

Skyla smiled sweetly.

"Thank you, Young Master."

Clara smiled as she looked on.

"You three get along so well."

"Of course," she said, she threw back her shoulders proudly.

"We’re Young Master’s maids."

"And we take our responsibilities very seriously," added Skyla.

Rias raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so?"

"Very seriously," Lane confirmed with a grin.

Victor coughed awkwardly.

Recall how "seriously" Lane had taken her job the night before.

Clara noticed his expression and smirked.

"Wrong about something, Victor? Well, you appear a touch uneasy."

"Nothing at all, Aunt," Victor said quickly.

Clara chuckled but didn’t press further.

„You are full of beans today, Victor," said Clara.

"I do?"

"Mmm. You were... Active last night."

Victor’s face flushed.

"I don’t know what you mean, Aunt."

Clara’s eyes sparkled.

"Oh? I’m sure you don’t."

Anna, who had just sat down and arrived, looked back and forth between the two.

"What are you two talking about?"

"Nothing, Mother," Victor said quickly.

Clara smirked.

"Just Victor’s... Activities."

Victor coughed.

"Can we please talk about something else?"

Rias raised an eyebrow.

"What activities?"

"Nothing!" Victor said loudly.

All the women looked at him.

Then they burst into laughter.

The sound filled the room.

Warm.

Joyful.

Family.

Anna smiled warmly.

"Victor, you’re so easy to tease."

"I’m glad I’m entertaining, Mother."

Clara reached over and patted his hand.

"You know we love you, Victor."

Victor’s heart warmed.

"I love ya, too, Aunt."

7. I know, Aunt. I love ya all, too.8.

I know, Aunt.

I love ya all too. Only following these steps will guarantee you provide the most effective composition possible for your program.

Still grinning Rias looked at him.

"Victor, thank you again for the gift."

You are very welocome Sister in law. I’m happy that you loved it.

Clara nodded.

"Young man, you have taste.""I have good teachers."

Clara laughed.

"Flatterer."

Skyla giggled.

"Young Master is always so charming."

Lane nodded.

"Too charming for his own good."

Victor grinned.

"And yet you two can’t resist me."

Both maids blushed.

Clara shook her head.

"You’re incorrigible."

The breakfast continued with more lighthearted conversation.

Talking about a recipe Skyla said she was looking for.

Rias talks about some martial technique she was learning.

Clara told of her recent travels foraging for ingredients.

Victor listened contentedly.

Enjoying the warm atmosphere.

Against all odds-the perils, the transmigration, the ambiguous future-he found some peace of mind in the company of these women.

---

Following breakfast, Victor plays chess with Lane and Skyla for a while.

She was getting better and making errors.

Both: However, Skyla was becoming very good – is sharp strategic mind.

"You’re getting better, Skyla," Victor praised.

Skyla beamed.

"Thank you, Young Master. I’ve been practicing."

"She’s been practicing with me," said Lane, pouting.

"But she keeps winning."

"That’s because you don’t think ahead," Skyla teased.

"I do think ahead! I just... forget what I was thinking."

Victor laughed.

"You’ll get there, Lane."

Following the game of chess, Victor left the house to go into the garden to do his martial arts.

He concentrated on the spear techniques he had studied from the previous Victor’s memories.

Refining his movements.

Building his strength.

The sun rose higher in the sky.

The air grew warmer.

But Victor didn’t stop.

Nothing unusual happened.

And the entire day passed swiftly.