The main hall of the mansion was in chaos.
Cassandra and Daniela's voices echoed off the stone walls, a mixture of indignant shouts and sharp words that seemed to cut through the air.
Both were standing in the center of the room, their elegant and imposing figures contrasting with the childishness of the situation.
Strax, for his part, was sitting in a nearby armchair, with an expression that oscillated between various things, but mainly amusement, his arms crossed as he watched the two women bicker with a fervor he would never have imagined.
"You have no right to interfere in my time with him, Daniela!" Cassandra exclaimed, her eyes blazing with fury. "I'm the eldest, and he's the one who chose to marry me! I have my rights!"
"Oh, please!" Daniela retorted, crossing her arms defiantly. "You only accepted because you were jealous of me. And if you ask me, I'm a lot more fun than you are. He clearly enjoys spending time with me more, after all, he had sex with me first!" She threw it in Cassandra's face, who got more nervous.
"Fun?" Cassandra stepped forward, her voice laden with sarcasm. "Yes, of course. Shameless flirting and breaking into his bathroom in the middle of training is what you call fun?"
Daniela blinked, clearly shameless. "It works, doesn't it? We get laid, don't we, darling?" She cast a provocative glance at Strax, who merely raised an eyebrow but said nothing, but he grinned broadly.
Cassandra snorted, her face turning red. "You're annoying me, Daniela! This isn't a childish competition. We're talking about a serious relationship. He needs someone who treats him with dignity and respect, not a spoiled child who acts on impulse and is a big airhead!"
"Oh, and you're the picture of maturity, aren't you?" Daniela retorted, stepping forward. "You're so busy trying to look superior that you don't realize he likes a lighter approach. He doesn't want a nanny, Cassandra. Besides...
I clearly heard you being pampered in the hot springs, you were screaming like a crazy bitch while he spanked your ass!"
Strax snorted, trying to intervene. "Ladies..."
"Be quiet, Strax!" they both said at the same time, pointing at him without even looking.
He raised his hands in surrender, leaning back in the armchair and deciding it would be safer to watch. The two continued.
"At least I have something to offer that goes beyond... teasing him with that cleavage in a training outfit!!!" Cassandra shouted.
"Ridiculous?!" Daniela looked offended. "I'm gorgeous, and you know it! And, just for the record, he loved it. Isn't that sweet?"
Strax again remained silent without answering, he was still weaker than them, so it was two times before he was beaten.
Cassandra clenched her fists, clearly on the verge of losing her patience. "You're a pervert!!!"
"And you're a bore!!!" Daniela retorted.
At this point, they were both so close that they seemed on the verge of physically attacking each other. Strax sighed, realizing that the situation was getting out of hand. He stood up slowly, walking over to stand between the two, hugging them and pulling them close to him, holding onto their waists with just one hand on each
Strax raised an eyebrow, keeping his tone calm. "Let me guess: something fatal?"
Bela laughed softly, an almost musical sound. "You have no idea. Mom is possessive of her daughters, you know? Especially when it comes to... suitors. She believes that no one is worthy enough. Even though she lets us choose..."
"Not that you understand much about it, Bela," Cassandra said, with a touch of irritation in her voice. "You've never been interested in anyone, despite looking like an enthusiastic young woman, you're the one with the most virgin pussy here right now."
"Do you want me to remind you how many years it took you to lose your virginity? You're over 800 years old and you only lost your virginity yesterday." Bela said, turning slightly in a theatrical movement. "I just have higher standards than you. But it won't take me 800 years to discover life's pleasures, that's for sure."
"High standards?" Daniela snorted. "Or do you just like spying on other people's lives because yours is boring? Knowing you, I hope the sheets upstairs aren't wet."
Bela smiled as if it were a compliment. "I have no idea what you're talking about. But honestly, what else did you expect? Mom's going to be furious."
"Let's not involve our mother in this," Cassandra declared firmly. "She doesn't need to know anything."
"Oh, but she'll find out eventually, if she doesn't already know that her guest had sex with two of her daughters," Bela sang, casually settling into one of the armchairs. "And when that happens, do you think she'll spare Strax? You know how she hates men like that..."
Strax kept looking straight at the beautiful woman. He didn't seem the least bit intimidated. "Scarlet can do what she wants," he said, his voice firm. "But I'm not going to walk away from Cassandra or Daniela. I've already made my decision, and if that means facing your mother, then so be it."
The three sisters were silent, surprised by Strax's statement. Bela narrowed her eyes, as if trying to decipher him.
"You're brave," she admitted, crossing her legs. "Or incredibly crazy. I haven't decided which yet."
"Maybe a bit of both," he replied with a defiant smile. "But that doesn't change anything."
Bela tilted her head, clearly intrigued. "Well, that'll be interesting. I think I'll wait and see how it all unfolds before deciding whether or not to tell Mom."
"Bela," Cassandra began, but her sister raised her hand, interrupting her.
"Relax, Cass," Bela said, laughing. "I'm not going to tell. For now. But if this turns into a bigger mess than it already is, I won't hold back."
With that, she gracefully left, straightened her dress and started walking towards the exit. Before she left, she stopped and looked at Strax one more time.
"Good luck," she said with an enigmatic smile. "You'll need it."
The room was silent for a moment... until Strax was nudged by Cassandra...
"Darling... Why is there a floating message in front of us?" Cassandra wondered as she read the message...
"[Conquer Bela Vermillion]" Daniela said out loud and Strax froze... 'Shit! I forgot the System!