Chapter 160 Hera’s Thoughts
Hera finds herself grappling with conflicting emotions. On one hand, she experiences guilt, recognizing that she’s toying with someone’s emotions—a truth she hesitates to acknowledge. However, she rationalizes her actions by reminding herself of her ultimate motive: to preserve her own life and spare her grandfather from the impending consequences of her downfall. In this context, the male leads and Xavier’s involvement serve as a catalyst for potential future events, prompting Hera to rein in her feelings.
Leo presents a different dilemma for Hera. She contemplates whether to keep him close, valuing his potential assistance in the future. However, she hesitates to entangle him in her uncertain path, fearing the repercussions if things go awry. Despite her reservations, Hera senses Leo’s genuine intentions, which is why she refrains from pushing him away.
She acknowledges her current selfishness, aware that the weight of impending futures presses heavily upon her. Having someone genuinely supportive by her side offers a solace she finds hard to resist. Uncertainty looms large; Hera questions the likelihood of successfully luring the male leads away from Alice and what lies beyond that accomplishment. The future remains shrouded in ambiguity, leaving Hera grappling with the unknown consequences and the enigmatic rules of the world and its storyline, including the potential backlash from the world’s consciousness, should it truly exist.
As these thoughts gnawed at her mind, she made a conscious effort to quell her overthinking and simply go with the flow—for now. After all, according to her best friend, the world they inhabited was meant to be a reverse harem. Yet, she couldn’t fathom how the male leads could bear sharing their affections with others, let alone witness their beloved being intimate with someone else. She pondered how such dynamics might impact her in the future. Perhaps, she reasoned, she could leverage this understanding to execute her plan: stealing away Alice’s life and halo, a venture that would test the boundaries of the world’s tolerance.
"Are you alright?" Leo’s voice, filled with concern, reached Hera in a gentle whisper as he edged closer to her. Xavier, too, observed her closely, searching her face for any signs of distress. They both sensed the subtle shifts in her emotions, even behind her seemingly composed expression, they shared a mutual concern for her well-being. Worried that their silent competition for her attention might be weighing on her, they consciously dialed back their efforts to ensure she felt less burdened.
After Hera’s attention snapped back to reality, she swiftly lifted her head, locking eyes with Leo’s deep blue gaze, filled with genuine concern. His expression brought a smile to Hera’s lips. "Yeah, just lost in thought about what to cook and how to make the process enjoyable for all of us," she replied casually, a soft chuckle escaping her lips.
She appeared genuine, relieving Leo and Xavier of their concerns. They ceased their silent competition, opting instead to collaborate and alleviate any potential stress for Hera. Following her lead, Leo and Xavier silently resumed their tasks, fully engaged in the kitchen activities. Meanwhile, Zen observed from the countertop, his own tasks abandoned as he watched the trio work closely together, almost resembling a couple.
He observed the trio’s coordinated movements with a sense of tacit understanding, akin to a long-standing couple adeptly sharing responsibilities. While the atmosphere wasn’t perfectly harmonious, there existed an unspoken agreement among the men, each willing to tolerate the others for the sake of their shared partner.