Chapter 113: Illusionary Traveler
"Do you want to rest a bit?"
Lucian gently caressed Dunya Musta'sim's smooth bare back.
Feeling Lucian's tenderness, Dunya Musta'sim found herself deeply intoxicated by his warmth. It was the first time she had ever felt such warmth. This was a man she could truly rely on...
"I'm not tired."
Dunya Musta'sim spoke softly. "I actually have some stamina, you know. I've had combat training in the past."
He could certainly tell. Despite her timid personality, Dunya Musta'sim's combat prowess was nothing to scoff at. Coupled with the fact that she hadn't been intimately touched in a very long time—and needed an outlet for her pent-up emotions—she had more than satisfied Lucian.
That "combat prowess" was just the right amount.
"I can definitely see that." Lucian chuckled lightly, tightening his hold around her. "But mental fatigue isn't something you can ignore. This... is your home. My embrace is your eternal safe haven."
"Mhm... Thank you, Lord Lucian."
Hearing his words, a look of pure bliss washed over Dunya Musta'sim's face.
Because of her fragile nature, when the Dark Metal Vessel failed, the emotional pillar she had built through escapism collapsed right along with it. She had no one she cared for, and no one who cared for her. She had lost her home and her family.
When Lucian chose her as a resident of the Divine Court while she teetered on the edge of a breakdown, she naturally developed an intense faith in him. Later, Taluvi's support helped her through her most confused phase. Hearing Taluvi constantly chatter happily about Lucian naturally fostered a deep yearning within her.
At her core, Dunya Musta'sim was simply searching for a sense of security. But that didn't mean she wasn't happy, nor was it a bad thing.
Seeing the genuine happiness radiating from her now, Lucian was certain that even if this wasn't quite "love" yet, he couldn't possibly reject her.
"You really are adorable."
Lucian gently played with Dunya Musta'sim's green hair, sighing softly internally.
The pure-hearted princess had endured a tragic fate. She had done nothing wrong, and ironically, neither had the culprit who destroyed her kingdom. It was just terrible timing; she had suffered an unprovoked disaster.
Even though Dunya Musta'sim's parents had essentially brought it upon themselves, dragging Dunya Musta'sim into their retribution felt cruel. Matal Mogamett hadn't been wrong either.
Lucian really didn't want to dig through that messy account. But if Dunya Musta'sim truly wanted to, he wouldn't stop her. She absolutely had the right to seek vengeance.
Fortunately, Dunya Musta'sim wasn't fixated on revenge. In the original story, she only pursued revenge because she had literally nothing else to live for. The original version of her hadn't even thought things through, willingly allowing Al-Thamen to use her as a pawn.
But now, with Lucian providing her a safe haven, she no longer dwelled on thoughts of hatred.
I should spend a few good days keeping her company,
Lucian decided.
After basking in the afterglow for a while, the three of them got dressed and headed to the pavilion in the central plaza.
"It's so peaceful,"
Taluvi stretched luxuriously. While it was different from Beltane—much livelier and far more magical—this was exactly the kind of everyday life she loved.
Chatting over tea, feeling the warmth of her lover, and watching the bustling crowds... It was pure bliss.
Of course, wherever Lucian went, he inevitably became the center of attention.
"Good afternoon, Lord Lucian."
Scheherazade was the first to approach, taking a seat beside him. Her golden hair cascaded down to her heels, radiating a warmth reminiscent of a miniature sun.
"Good afternoon, Scheherazade."
Lucian smiled faintly. Golden Rukh fluttered around his hands before landing gracefully on Scheherazade like glowing butterflies.
Pop. The Rukh burst like tiny bubbles, turning into a shower of radiant light that illuminated her beautiful features perfectly.
Elegant, stunning, and gentle. Inside the Divine Court, she didn't have to carry the weight of the Reim Empire, allowing her to show her true self.
"You really know how to please a girl, Lord Lucian."
Scheherazade glanced at Dunya Musta'sim, a meaningful glint in her eyes.
"So, did I please you?"
Lucian volleyed back.
"As a proper lady, I am certainly no exception,"
Scheherazade replied smoothly.
Soon, a cluster of young women gathered around them, chatting and laughing in an incredibly picturesque scene. Bathed in sunlight, surrounded by the lively chatter of the girls, Scheherazade fell into a slight daze.
No one here cared about her status. She didn't have to bear the will of the Reim Empire. This freedom was incredibly intoxicating.
She felt like she had experienced something similar before... back before the Reim Empire was established, and shortly thereafter. The first king she had chosen had passed away, leaving her to protect the Reim Empire all alone for over two hundred years. Now, it seemed... she could finally relax.
Even though the atmosphere was completely different from back then.
As Scheherazade pondered, realization dawned on her.
Before and during the founding of the Reim Empire, what she felt was the camaraderie of friends. Over two hundred years of guardianship, what she felt was the maternal love of raising the Reim Empire like a child. Now, it was finally time for her to chase her own romance.
It was just that the competition seemed rather steep, and Lucian was a busy man. Monopolizing him was completely out of the question, which was the only unfortunate part...
Thinking of this, Scheherazade gazed at the relaxed Lucian, her expression softening affectionately.
The leisurely days flew by, and several days passed in the blink of an eye.
The Zeus Familia and Hera Familia had successfully conquered Knossos. The Guild was absolutely thrilled by the labyrinth's existence.
Since the main storyline hadn't begun yet, and the world wasn't in a state of severe crisis, Ouranos, Zeus, and Hera had no plans to initiate the Shaft Plan. But leaving such a valuable resource untouched would be a massive waste.
Daedalus Street was a structural nightmare filled with a chaotic mix of people. It housed numerous gray areas and was, for all intents and purposes, a genuine slum.
Normally, the Guild wouldn't want to touch a place like that with a ten-foot pole. Firstly, there was no profit in it. Secondly, the complex situation made it incredibly difficult to manage. Pouring manpower and resources into it would likely result in zero returns.
But now, the entrance to the artificial labyrinth—Knossos—was exposed right in the heart of the convoluted Daedalus Street.
With profit on the line, everything changed. Not only could they develop the artificial labyrinth, but they could also completely eradicate the slum of Daedalus Street in the process.
Knossos had numerous doors and passages stretching from Daedalus Street all the way to the 18th floor. It was a tantalizing piece of the pie.
Developing the entirety of the artificial labyrinth to form a secondary underground city would yield staggering profits—potentially rivaling the immense value of the Marine Fortress Hringhorni.
No matter how greedy the higher-ups were, a pie as massive as this meant that, let alone the soup, even the remaining crumbs would be more than enough to satiate the needs of Daedalus Street.
When that time came, Daedalus Street would become a crucial thoroughfare, inevitably transforming into a prosperous district. There would certainly be conflicts and chaos during the transition, but the overarching outcome would be positive.
Another piece of news was the Denatus—the meeting of gods to decide the aliases for high-ranking adventurers—that Hera had mentioned earlier.
Though it didn't hold much meaning for Lucian, it was a fun novelty. With Hera's assistance, he had successfully been bestowed the alias "Illusionary Traveler."
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