Okay, this chapter, definitely my favorite!
Lucretia & Lumiere Arc.
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(POV: Lumiere)
After Senesica departed for Tenebrous Slade, I took one more quick nap just to get some of my strength back for the day ahead.
It was still quite early in the day since she left even before the sun had come out.
I had plans with Lucretia, and I still needed to find a way to contact Genny since I kinda ditched her when I went looking for Lilith.
Jeez, so much to do...
I opened my eyes and yawned, feeling the weight of something on my body.
"Hmm, something's... On me..."
It felt heavy, and like it had arms.
"..."
Panic jolted through me, and I hastily removed the blanket.
It was Silica, embracing me so tightly in her sleep that it seemed as if her body was seamlessly entwined with mine.
Maybe if I actually calmed down to sense what was underneath the blanket then I wouldn't have panicked like an idiot.
"Luckily, Stellaria's still asleep..."
If she saw me panic like that, it'd turn to another of her unnecessary jokes.
Letting out a sigh, I gently tapped Silica's head, rousing her from slumber. She rubbed her eyes tiredly and released her tight hold on me, sitting up on the bed.
I looked at her as she groaned a bit, obviously still sleepy.
"Good morning, daddy..." she drowsily mumbled.
I replied, slightly taken aback, "Uh, yeah... Sure. How are you feeling?"
Silica let out a heavy yawn and murmured, "I'm doing okay, I guess, but I'm still super tired."
"Eh, remind me to get you your own bed."
I felt it'd be more comfortable for me, if I got her a new bed.
For now, no one besides Stellaria and Lilith knew about Silica, so if anyone were to barge in here without permission and see her snuggling with me, they'd get the wrong idea.
The really... wrong idea...
I mean, more than 40% of the nobles above the ages of 20 had a thing for little girls, and I still didn't know why.
Either way, I had to make sure I kept my daughter safe from their perverted eyes that are "scouting young talent". Tch, that's the most stupid thing I've ever heard.
In response to my words, Silica gently shook her head and said, "NO!".
"Huh?" I was absolutely confused. "Wait, but why?" I asked her immediately.
"Beacause I want to sleep with daddy... Sleeping alone is super scary!"
Mocking her choice of words, I chuckled and asked, "Again with the 'super'?"
Yeah, I might sound like a jerk for this, but it had to be said. I was aware a lot of children had crutch words that they used now and then until they'd be properly developed their English vocabulary... but did her's have to sound so goofy— "super". Each time she said that, I imagined her as a sorority girl, and it immediately scared me.
I'd lose my daughter to the hands of those sassy girls that had more air in their heads than my [Wind Magic] could create.
And then she'd say something like— 'go away dad, you're so super old'.
It's already feeling like a nightmare, jeez.
We were sitting together on my bed, and as Silica looked at me with a touch of concern, I turned my gaze to the wall beside me, my mind racing.
THIS IS BAD...!
I couldn't help but worry about the future.
Silica had the potential to grow into a beautiful woman, and I mean like a really beautiful one.
To be honest, I was proud and at the same time scared out of my pants.
I imagined the challenges and dangers that lay ahead when she would inevitably attract attention from boys her age and perhaps even older men.
I pounded my fist into my palm. That was how serious I was about this.
I couldn't let those scandalous little boys and shameless old men chase after my daughter when she showed the first sign of ass development. And much like her mother, Silica was definitely going to have a lot of that, plus, she might just inherit my curves...
If Mojito could fall for my curves, then imagine such dangerous artillery in the hands of my daughter, she'd be an absolute man magnet!
As a responsible father, I needed to have a contingency plan, one that would ensure the opposite sex wanted nothing to do with her, or where so scared that they couldn't perform in bed...
At least, until she's reached the right age to marry.
But for now, I needed a plan to ensure she was safeguarded against unwanted attention.
She belonged to me until she was of age.
"ONLY TO ME!" I shouted at the top of my voice.
Silica called my name, pulling me from my thoughts. "Daddy, are you all right?" she asked, looking a little worried.
"Sorry, Silica. I was just thinking. I'm here for you," I assured her, feeling a pang of guilt.
"Here for me?" Silica looked at me, confused.
I laughed nervously. "Hah~ Don't worry about that, sweetie."
Silica looked down, her lower lip quivering. "You don't want to spend time with me, do you?" she said softly.
"No, no, Silica," I said hurriedly, reaching out to hold her hand. "Of course I do. I'm sorry. Your safety is just very important to me."
She looked confused again. "My safety?"
"Yeah, daddy wants to keep your dungeon safe until it's ready for an excalibur..."
"Eh, excalibur?"
Shit, she's a child Lumiere, have you no decency?! Imagine if Senesica were here, imagine if Serena were here, imagine if Lucilia were here... what would they think?!
"Nevermind, dad jokes, am I right?"
Silica tilted her head as she looked at me.
I gulped.
"Haha" she laughed. "Daddy's super weird."
I gently patted her head and told her, "Hah, I guess I am.."
She then sunk in to gently wrap her arms around me and hug me.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Uh, Lumiere, you in there?"
It was Lucilia's voice.
"Lucilia... No, don't come in yet!"
And ignoring my warning, Lucilia opened the door and walked into the room, and the first thing she saw, was me, almost an adult, and a little girl who hugged me on my scattered bed.
Lucilia's face immediately turned into a furious one.
"Crap! Lucilia, I swear, it's not what you think!"