"Finally, I had some peaceful days after so long. However, it seems that my peace is about to end now that that crazy bitc—Ahem! My elder sister has shown up all of a sudden, without informing me beforehand." Emperor Philip Lionheart took a deep breath and sighed, leaning back against his throne.
"Still, I'm curious about the group of people she brought with her, especially that handsome young man Minister Vesta just mentioned. I wonder what kind of relationship he has with my sister." The Emperor couldn't help but dwell on the young man's identity.
After all, everyone in the Imperial Capital City knew how much Valeria despised men. It was truly shocking to hear that she had brought one with her.
"I should inform my family about my elder sister's return before she storms in and causes a scene. Only my wife can tolerate her; even my daughters are terrified of her because of her brutal training methods." Emperor Philip's expression grew serious as the mere thought of Valeria's angry face sent a shiver down his spine.
After contemplating for a moment, Emperor Philip stood up from his throne and hurried out of the room, his expression urgent, as if doom itself loomed over him.
"Father, where are you rushing off to? Did a war break out somewhere?" Crown Prince Daniel called out, noticing his father's anxious demeanor.
"I-It's an even bigger problem than a mere war! It's your aunt Valeria!" Emperor Philip halted, his face pale and his voice trembling.
"What?! Aunt Valeria is back? Does that mean Yuan and his wives are with her too? What exciting news, Father! I'll go and meet them as soon as possible!" Crown Prince Daniel exclaimed, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.
Emperor Philip stared at his son, dumbfounded, disbelief etched across his face.
'How does he know about that young man and the women with him? Has he met them before? And why is he so excited to see them?' Philip thought, utterly perplexed.
'And is he really serious about meeting that devilish sister of mine? Has he forgotten the hellish training she put him through for six months?' The Emperor's expression reflected his confusion, unable to comprehend his son's eagerness.
Moments later, Crown Prince Daniel looked at his father and said, "Father, wouldn't it be a good idea if we all went to greet Aunt Valeria together? She'd be happy to see us united."
"Good idea? My ass! You have no idea what that devil of a sister did to me in the past! Have you forgotten the madness she inflicted on all of you in the name of training?" Emperor Philip exploded with rage, his fury manifesting in a powerful burst of mana that radiated from his body.
'What the hell is this? I knew Father was strong, but I never thought he could control surrounding mana like this!' Daniel muttered inwardly, disbelief written all over his face.
Realizing he had unintentionally released his aura, Emperor Philip quickly withdrew his pressure. He cleared his throat, noticing his son now kneeling on the floor.
Taking a deep breath, Philip said, "You've been slacking off in your training... You couldn't even withstand that little bit of pressure. Get stronger if you want to take my place in the future."
"By the way, you seem to know that young man and the women with him. Tell me, what's my elder sister's relationship with that man?" Emperor Philip demanded, a deep frown forming on his face. It was more of a command than a question.
"You don't need to worry about that," Valeria said, her smile becoming more distant. "My father passed away, so you won't be meeting him. As for my mother, she's been bedridden for years due to a rare illness that keeps her confined to her bed."
"I'm sorry for bringing up painful memories," Yuan said softly, pulling her into a warm hug and kissing her gently.
Their passionate kiss lasted several minutes before Yuan finally pulled back. Just then, Anna approached, sitting on his other lap and leaning into his chest.
"Fufu~ You're being so lovey-dovey with her and neglecting the rest of us. That's not fair, you know," Anna teased, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Yuan looked at Anna with a gentle smile, kissed her forehead, and drew her into his embrace, making her feel safe and relaxed.
"Don't worry, Mom. I haven't forgotten about you all. I just wanted to pamper Valeria a little. She deserves it," Yuan whispered into her ear, wrapping his arms around her slender waist. Anna smiled, feeling the warmth of his affection.
"I see... In that case, take extra good care of her, dear," Anna whispered back, kissing his cheek before returning to the others.
A short while later, the group emerged from the bath. As cultivators, they could soak in the warm water as long as they liked without any adverse effects. After thoroughly cleaning themselves, they dried off, changed into fresh clothes, and left the bathroom.
Meanwhile, the household servants were buzzing with shock. They had just learned that Lady Valeria had shared a bath with Yuan and his wives, all in the same room—and completely unclothed. It was a scandalous revelation that spread quickly among them.
"Do any of you have any idea who those people with Lady Valeria are? Especially that handsome man... I've never seen anyone as breathtaking as him," one maid said to the others, her eyes sparkling with excitement at the mention of Yuan.
"I have no clue," another maid replied. "Lady Valeria hasn't said a word about them. Maybe he's her lover or something?"
"A lover? I can't imagine Lady Valeria having a lover... It just feels so surreal," another maid added, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Why not? That man is beyond handsome! I'd be willing to become his slave if he'd just be with me once a week," a third maid chimed in, drool practically forming at the corners of her mouth.
"Well, he 'is' the most handsome man I've ever laid eyes on. It's definitely possible he's her lover," one of them agreed.
"Indeed. I mean, there's no way she'd let them into the bath with her, let alone stay naked together, unless there was something serious between them," another maid remarked, nodding in agreement.
Sometime later, Valeria led Yuan and his wives into the grand dining room. Everything about the room was luxurious, from the decor to the tableware, even the plates used for serving food were extravagantly expensive.
"What do you think of my dining room? It's enormous, isn't it?" Valeria asked with a wide grin, pleased to see the surprised expressions on Yuan and his wives' faces.
"I'm speechless... You've used magical monster materials to craft the dining table and chairs. I'm truly impressed," Yuan said, his smile growing wider.