Dalila Leehan blinked like an innocent lass as she glanced around with her pupils, thinking that she had brought about this by lifting her hand first, all the while feeling that she was going to be severely rebuked for her impertinence. But contrary to her expectations, the entire room lifted their hands in support of Natalya following her.
All she wanted was for Tanya Frostblight to not become miserable as she could sense the other party's feelings for Davis like her. She had felt like they had bonded numerous times while awkwardly exchanging some information, but even if that was one-sided, she still wanted to help her if she got the chance.
Aiding Tanya Frostblight didn't cross her mind until Natalya spoke, and that's why she rapidly raised her hand. Otherwise, she may never have opened her mouth for fear of overstepping her bounds. After all, the debt may have been canceled, but the one weighing on her heart cannot be easily removed, not to mention that she herself hadn't felt like she earned it.
However, she was willing to do whatever it took to untie this knot, and the only way was for her to live up to his expectations and become a Pill Empress as soon as possible, but for the moment, she cast a glance at Davis and saw him opening his mouth.
"Natalya, you do realize the consequences, right?"
Davis's voice was part solemn and part amusement.
"I am perfectly aware that I'm losing the time I spend with you, husband. However, please don't take it from Fiora or anyone else but take it from me since I'm the one being willful."
*Bang!~*
"No! I'll share all burdens with elder sis!"
Fiora rudely banged the table with her palm as the dishes in front of her momentarily jumped before falling back on the plates.
"Shut up, Fiora." Natalya returned the gaze and uttered coldly, "You don't know what you're talking about."
Fiora gnashed her teeth, "Elder sis, you brought me here, allowing me to experience bliss with husband. I would rather die than see you lose his favor even by a bit."
"You-"
"Alright, alright." Davis interjected with a gentle voice before Natalya could get angry, "I know you two sisters are willful yet deeply caring about each other, but when I said consequences, I didn't mean that."
"…?"
Everyone turned to look at him with doubt. Did he mean Tanya's loyalty? Natalya had just vouched for it.
"Natalya, I know you pride yourself in the art of ice, but if Tanya overtakes you, will you be able to digest it?"
"…" Natalya couldn't help but blink.
"After all, you would be the one who brought her here."
"You… didn't take her because of me…?"
"It's not like that completely." Davis shook his head, "After thinking about it many times, I ultimately didn't approach her because of you. I didn't want to take away your pride in skill in Ice Laws for no reason, but it would be another matter altogether if I had loved her. At that point, I would be coaxing you into accepting her, but since I don't love her and you're the one wanting her here, will you not feel regret if she ever surpasses you in the future?"
"This is different from your blood sister. I'm not aware of the depth of your recent friendship with Tanya Frostblight, but certain things between friends must be equal or else, uncontrollable jealousy is inevitable."
Natalya went into contemplation after hearing his words. She pursed her lips for two seconds before looking at him again.
"Can I ask a question?
Davis nodded.
"How are you friends with Drake Blackburn whose lesser in everything than you?"
Davis couldn't help but widen his eyes before he smiled.
"We both know that I need to humble myself, and he needs to overestimate himself. That's how you maintain the balance between friends with a disparity in their cultivation base and status. However, it is entirely easy to break if the jealousy is unchecked, but it's a different matter altogether as we have not broken any boundaries. You can't see them but feel them."
"So that's why you went to apologize…" Natalya raised her head and nodded in understanding.
"Indeed. It would be fine if Niera attacked somewhere else, but she disfigured Kara's face. That's not a good thing to happen, even if her man says it's fine as it's an accident. It's nothing but a spark that might light up into a blazing fire of resentment in the end."
"I see."
Natalya felt enlightened while Niera dryly giggled, but the both of them felt thankful to him.
No matter what they asked, he would always reply without holding anything back, even if it was personal. This kind of sensation and care really left them feeling that they were vastly important to him.
"I understand, and I have no qualms about Tanya if she were to ever surpass me."
But, Natalya was not intimidated by Tanya Frostblight surpassing her because she had her own confidence!
"Looking at Fiora, I only have great confidence that you will take care of Tanya, making her experience bliss." She declared, matching gazes with Davis, who couldn't help but chuckle.
"Alright. I'll give her a chance as you wish." He nodded and looked at the others, "Anything else?"
For some time, the women went silent again. They could only look at each other's faces as though they had nothing else to ask and were waiting for others to say something.
But a short while later, Zestria raised her hand.
"What about… Bylai…?"
"Why is it another woman?" Davis's expression scrunched up.
"I-I'm sorry… I-"
"No, I didn't mean that way, Zestria."
Davis hurriedly stopped Zestria, who trembled ever so lightly before he touched his forehead, feeling that he had to make it clear for them.
"Where are the materialistic tendencies of women I heard about? If you are intentionally suppressing it, please let it out." He sincerely asked.
He is the feared Emperor of Death, for heaven's sake! There was almost nothing he couldn't obtain in this world, yet how could they not want anything?
It didn't make sense to him in any way unless they were intentionally suppressing their vanity, which is never good as one has to let them steam off some time or risk blowing up inwardly.
However, there was still silence as no one seemed to ask about anything.
"Davis, what are you going on about when our materialistic needs are already fulfilled with the wealth you gave us?"
Natalya narrowed her brows.
"That's nothing but a drop in the ocean." Davis iterated.
"That's enough."
"…"
Davis could only be stunned by Natalya's answer. Nevertheless, knowing that Natalya was only looking at him most of the time, he turned to look at the others and saw that they were… actually resonating with her words.
"…" He wondered if something was wrong with them or himself.
"It may just be we couldn't think of anything we would want at the moment." Evelynn giggled, "When we do, we promise we will not hold back and ask you, so rest assured."
"Yes!~"
Natalya and the others melodiously replied, causing Davis to shut his mouth that had something to say. He then looked at Zestria, wanting to hear her out, when suddenly Isabella's voice echoed from the side.
"But seriously, my Emperor. I have delivered Bylai Zlatan to you on a silver plate, and you haven't made her yours yet? If you don't need her, just throw her away. Any woman who isn't yours doesn't need to stay near us."
"You do realize that she's still atoning for the Zlatan Family's wrongdoing, right?"
"Doesn't matter to me." Isabella shrugged to Davis's response, "If I really held a grudge against Bylai, I wouldn't be asking you to take her in the first place."
Davis raised his brows.
"You… your hatred has dissipated…"
"Not really. We already conquered them, and I have your legacy. I have no time to bother with them but only concentrate on our empire, on our child…"
Davis saw his Isabella become tame with his child in her belly. The usual Isabella would've never been able to let go of such offense, even if it was just a little bit. Nevertheless, it made him feel all the more protective of her, casting a gentle look at her as he watched her caress her belly.
At the same time, he didn't notice that the eyes of others flashed with a bit of envy that they suppressed as it came. They wanted to bear his progeny in them as well but not yet, as they convinced themselves to become strong first. However, Evelynn remained absolutely free of any negative emotions as she caringly gazed at Isabella and Shirley's belly.
Shirley's child symbolized his revival, while Isabella's child was practically hers.
In fact, Evelynn had already resolved herself after becoming a fey and returning to him that even if she never has the gift of bearing his child after becoming an immortal, somehow, Isabella's child could always be considered hers. They had even spoken about it in secret and agreed after their bond vastly improved after sleeping together with Davis.
Therefore, Evelynn and Isabella's bond as of right now was nothing short of Natalya and Fiora like blood sisters under a single man.