Gathered together in a small circle, the group of friends talked about the vilge’s recent events. More specifically, they were discussing the pns being made to find new sources of income.

  Truthfully, the children weren’t particurly interested in such complex—though very important—matters as finances. What truly excited them was the trip itself… and the chance to hunt magical beasts.

  “So if we hunt some magical beasts… will we get to travel to the town of Nopal?” Sebastián asked, making everyone’s eyes begin to shine.

  It was obvious how excited they were by the idea of traveling. Above all, they were hoping for a positive answer from the young Lord.

  But their enthusiasm quickly faded when Christopher shook his head and told them what would actually happen.

  “No, we’re not going on the trip. In fact, Mama and Dad told me there’s no way they’ll let us go, and that we should give up on that idea.”

  “That’s so unfair!” Mathias excimed, the first to compin. “Adults ruin everything!”

  “It’s true,” Selestia added, joining in. “We could help them fight! Maybe they’ll need us! That’s exactly why we should go with them!”

  “I could watch over things while the adults go eat!” Anita proposed, swept up in everyone else’s excitement.

  It was funny—and even heartwarming—to hear the children compin with such earnest, childish seriousness.

  “Yeah, I know,” Christopher admitted with a defeated sigh. “Adults are way too confident. They don’t realize they’ll need us… I know I could help them fight… but they already said we can’t go.”

  He sighed again, but then his expression changed completely as a huge smile spread across his face.

  “But! My dad said he’ll take us to hunt magical beasts in the forest!” Christopher excimed, overflowing with excitement.

  He looked like a child who had just opened the gift he’d been longing for more than anything in the world.

  His words made the other children perk up immediately, giving the young Lord of Gignit their full attention.

  “WE CAN?!” everyone shouted in unison, bursting with such intense joy that it felt like even the forest leaves trembled.

  Even little Diana let out a small giggle. She didn’t fully understand what was happening, but she was swept up by everyone else’s excitement.

  “Yes!” Christopher added. “And he also said we’ll get to keep all the gold they give us for the magical beasts we hunt! No one will take it from us!”

  “We’ll earn our own gold!”

  The children celebrated in a state of pure jubition, immersed in a happiness that was innocent, contagious, and overflowing.

  “So… do you think you’ll get permission to go hunting?” Christopher asked, looking at his friends. “My dad will come with us, so he’ll protect us from anything dangerous.”

  “I’m in!” Mathias cheered, grinning from ear to ear and showing his feline fangs. “My parents won’t have any problem letting me go if Lord Alexander is watching over us.”

  “I’ll go too!” Sebastián excimed. “My parents won’t mind either—my dad will probably be happy I get to train.” He eagerly volunteered himself. “There’s no way I’m missing this perfect chance to show off in front of Selestia.”

  Mathias shot Sebastián a sharp gre.

  Anita, on the other hand, looked at Mathias with a hint of nostalgia in her eyes.

  At the same time, Selestia completely ignored Sebastián and turned her gaze toward Christopher.

  “I’ll go, and I’ll prove that I can face magical beasts,” she said firmly.

  Selestia had always aspired to surpass herself, and this was no exception.

  “I’ll show Lady Valentina that I’m a strong elf. Very strong—just like her… and maybe then she’ll want to be with me too… not just with you.”

  She said the st part quietly enough that no one else could hear her.

  “I still need to ask my dad, but since Lord Alexander is coming with us, I’m sure he’ll give me permission,” Anita said, finally pulling her gaze away from Mathias as she joined in the excitement of the hunt.

  Christopher was smiling. He looked radiant—thrilled about his first mission, even if he wasn’t an adventurer yet.

  And amid jokes and ughter—and above all, a few warm hugs—the young Lord of Gignit focused all his attention on Selestia. For some reason he couldn’t expin, she seemed to shine… or at least, that was how she appeared through his fascinated eyes.

  The conversation he had once shared with his parents echoed deep within his subconscious. He remembered how they had teased him—jokingly—about his obvious affection for Selestia… all because of his desire to someday start a family with someone of another race.

  A sudden blush colored his soft cheeks, as white as winter snow. He couldn’t help it.

  I’ll help you win Selestia over…

  Valentina’s voice echoed clearly, like a gentle whisper slipping through every corner of his mind.

  He swallowed and let out a quiet breath. And even though Selestia seemed to shine like a small, angelic being, he gathered his courage and called out to her with a firm voice.

  “Selestia…” he said aloud, making everyone turn to look at him. “You don’t have to worry if a magical beast comes after you, because… I’ll protect you.”

  “Eh?”

  Selestia’s beautiful blue eyes opened wide. Her lips parted slightly, shaped by disbelief… and happiness.

  Her face, white as snow, slowly took on a soft crimson hue. She lowered her gaze, embarrassed, as if trying to hide an uncontrolble joy. She brought a hand to where her delicate maiden’s heart rested, covering it—now racing faster than ever.

  It was the first time Christopher had ever spoken to her with words so sweet, so sincere… and so beautiful.

  And she liked it.

  “Y-yes…” she replied shyly. “Thank you, Christopher.”

  “Oh my…” Anita smiled, wearing a dreamy expression. She looked at Sebastián and Mathias, who were burning with jealousy, as if they might spit fire at any moment. “Take notes, boys. That’s how it’s done!”

  Damn it, Christopher… I won’t let you win Selestia over.

  Both of them thought it at the same time, as if their minds were linked by rage.

  What they didn’t know… was that the battle for Selestia’s heart was already tipping in Christopher’s favor.

  ? ? ?

  Only five days remained before the journey to the city of Nopal would finally become reality.

  And now that Alexander had some time to spare, Christopher’s group would at st have the chance to go out and hunt a magical beast. Until then, it hadn’t been possible, since both Alexander and Valentina had been busy organizing the products that would be sold.

  For this important occasion, the children wore proper gear for an adventure: leather armor, long trousers, and their respective weapons.

  Metal ptes reinforced key areas such as the knees, shins, thighs, and calves.

  The same applied to the young dies—no ridiculous skirts, useless miniskirts, or absurd steel bikinis. Only a fool would dress like that when facing a magical beast. They too wore leather armor, with metal ptes protecting their shoulders, chest, abdomen, and lower back.

  The main difference compared to the boys was that their armor was tailored to fit their bodies, respecting their curves while allowing full freedom of movement without sacrificing protection.

  Of course, each of them carried their weapon of choice—a reflection of their combat style and personality.

  Mathias, although he carried the sword Alexander had gifted him on his back, preferred close combat, relying on his cws. His fingerless gloves, reinforced with steel ptes over the knuckles, allowed him to fully exploit his feline instincts.

  Christopher also wore gloves like Mathias’s. He was a versatile fighter, skilled with both fists and sword—the tter strapped to his back.

  Sebastián favored a katana, though he had no issue fighting barehanded if the situation demanded it. He wore a belt holding small throwing knives, ready to be used with speed and precision.

  Anita’s weapons were her bow, arrows, and a pair of daggers. When it came to combat, she favored a long-range fighting style.

  Selestia carried a bow and a quiver full of arrows on her back, along with two daggers strapped horizontally at her waist.

  They all moved forward along a winding path through the forest, alert to any sign that might reveal the presence of a magical beast.

  The hunt had begun.

  Walking behind them was Alexander, carrying little Diana on his back, watching the children with pride—they were the future of Gignit.

  “I want to remind you,” Alexander said firmly, “my duty is only to observe you and take care of Diana.”

  Shifting her position, he now held her in his arms as if she were a bride.

  “I’ll only intervene if we run into a magical beast you can’t handle. Is that clear?”

  “Yeeees!” everyone shouted in unison, swept up by excitement.

  They continued walking for another twenty minutes, until Mathias’s ears twitched slightly, as if catching a sound hidden among the trees. His body tensed at once—like a living radar.

  “Guys, finally! Something’s coming!” he warned, thrilled.

  “Everyone, stay sharp,” Christopher ordered in a low voice.

  At once, they all took their positions, ready for combat.

  Anita and Selestia moved to the rear, bows drawn and ready to fire. Sebastián, Mathias, and Christopher took the front line, prepared to face head-on whatever threat might emerge from the forest.

  Alexander leapt nimbly onto the branches of a nearby tree and settled there with ease. He seated Diana beside him, making sure she was well protected and had a clear view of the scene. From that elevated position, he had a perfect view of the terrain and every move the children made. He analyzed everything in silence, missing no detail.

  “All right, kids… let’s see how you do,” he murmured with a calm smile, like a mentor proudly watching his disciples grow.

  The children fell into absolute silence.

  Their eyes were fixed on the bushes Mathias had indicated, hearts pounding, hands tense. They were ready to face whatever emerged from the shadows.

  And then, from the dense vegetation, two fshes of electricity burst forth.

  “Watch out! Lightning!” Sebastián shouted urgently.

  “Dodge!” Christopher ordered.

  He, Sebastián, and Mathias reacted instantly, springing to the sides in quick leaps as the magical bolt buzzed beneath them like a spear of light. The lightning shattered into an explosion of sparks when it struck a tree trunk, tearing away bark and leaving behind the sharp scent of burning wood.

  “Mathias, where is it? Can you hear it?” Christopher asked the moment his feet hit the ground.

  The three of them covered each other’s backs, standing back-to-back, eyes sharp for the slightest sign of danger.

  Mathias’s ears twitched again, straining to catch any sound that might reveal the creature’s position.

  “I can’t hear it… that magical beast is intelligent,” he warned seriously.

  Sebastián nodded cautiously. “Looks like it stayed still after unching the first attack.”

  “It’s definitely watching us,” Mathias added, lowering his voice.

  “Tsk…” Christopher clicked his tongue in frustration. He hadn’t read much about magical beasts, so he wasn’t sure what kind of electrical creature they were dealing with.

  He gnced toward the girls, positioned up in the trees, ready to fire.

  “Selestia! Anita!” he called out. “Do either of you know about beasts that shoot lightning and live in these forests?”

  Neither of them took their eyes off their surroundings, but they clearly heard Christopher’s voice. They remained focused and alert, yet fully connected to the group.

  Selestia answered calmly.

  “Many magical beasts in our forests can use electrical attacks… but judging by the low intensity of that lightning, it’s most likely an Electric Antlered Deer.”

  “I see… so it’s that magical beast,” Christopher murmured, just as he and the others dodged another incoming attack.

  When they nded, the creature finally revealed itself. It was indeed a deer, just as Selestia had said… but it looked anything but harmless.

  “It’s a young magical beast,” Alexander commented quietly, only loud enough for Diana to hear.

  The children still cked the experience needed to face an adult specimen—and even so, this young deer already looked imposing.

  It wasn’t an ordinary deer. It was an Electric Antlered Deer, a BETA-css magical beast in its juvenile stage. Despite its youth, it was far stronger than a normal adult deer… and far more aggressive.

  Its antlers were unusually rge. Its body was lean and fibrous, every movement making the muscles along its fnks stand out. Its eyes, shifting between blue and white, shone with almost blinding intensity. Its fur was dark and thick, and its legs were muscur, ending in cwed hooves.

  Sparks of electricity crackled along its antlers, as if it were charging another attack.

  Taking advantage of a brief moment when the deer seemed distracted, Anita and Selestia loosed a pair of arrows.

  However, just before impact, bolts of electricity burst from its antlers—branching like tree limbs—and formed a natural shield.

  “This magical beast is dangerous, especially considering that the metal ptes on our armor are excellent conductors of electricity,” Selestia warned, her deduction precise.

  “If it hits us, we’re toast,” Anita added seriously, though her tone still carried a hint of humor.

  “So… what do we do?” Mathias asked, turning his gaze toward Christopher.

  “Give me a moment to think,” Christopher replied, frowning. “I don’t have much information about magical beasts… I promise that from today on, I’ll study them.” He fell silent for a second, deep in thought.

  “Although…” This time, his voice carried the sound of realization.

  He turned toward the girls.

  “Anita, Selestia—could you each fire at least two arrows?”

  “Of course,” they both answered in unison, already readying their bows.

  Diana watched the entire scene in awe, her eyes shining with excitement and admiration for Christopher.

  Alexander, silent, smiled with satisfaction.

  Looks like he figured it out, the Lord of Gignit thought.

  “What are you pnning to do?” Sebastián asked. From his point of view, the arrows would be easily blocked by the protective lightning.

  “Now, Anita!” Selestia ordered decisively.

  “Yes!” Anita replied, and both of them acted at once.

  Each of them fired two arrows, all aimed at the magical beast.

  The deer’s antlers crackled violently, and between them formed a sphere of energy that released four lightning bolts in rapid succession, stopping the projectiles midair.

  “Perfect!” Christopher excimed.

  His friends still didn’t fully understand. To them, the attempt looked like a complete failure—but Christopher had noticed something important.

  “Did you see it?” he asked, a spark of excitement in his eyes.

  “See what?” Mathias asked in return. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand—it was just that the action had seemed utterly pointless.

  “That deer needs both antlers to generate its lightning. Which means that if we manage to break one off…” Christopher smiled, pointing at the magical beast with confidence.

  After hearing Christopher’s deduction, everyone seemed to light up, realizing that the attempt hadn’t been pointless at all—it had been a test to confirm a hypothesis.

  Christopher was brilliant.

  Selestia, whose feelings for him were quietly beginning to bloom, looked at him with a mix of admiration and tenderness.

  “But getting close will be difficult… can any of you withstand an electric shock?” Anita asked, her tone almost teasing.

  Still, her observation made perfect sense.

  “There’s probably a limit to how many attacks it can stop,” Sebastián said calmly, thinking it through.

  Christopher nodded. Sebastián had taken the words right out of his mouth, but it didn’t bother him at all—on the contrary, he was gd his friend understood his intentions so well.

  “Then I think we should throw our arrows and knives at it, just to see how many it can block,” Selestia proposed.

  It was an excellent idea.

  If the four of them each threw two projectiles, that would make a total of eight. They could unch them in sequence, one after another, and see how many the creature was capable of repelling.

  “How long does it take for it to raise its defense?” Anita asked, narrowing her eyes as she analyzed the beast’s behavior.

  At that moment, Alexander smiled with pride.

  The children were demonstrating excellent tactical analysis, considering multiple angles at once. However, there was still one st crucial detail about the deer that they had yet to notice.

  “What if we rip off its antlers?” Sebastián suggested, a spark of boldness in his eyes.

  “Even without its antlers, it would still be extremely dangerous,” Mathias replied, pointing toward the magical beast’s legs.

  That was when everyone looked more closely at the deer’s massive cws.

  “As a semi-human, I know exactly what those cws are capable of,” Mathias expined gravely. “They don’t just look sharp—they look like they could tear us apart… even split us in two. And the worst part is that it has them on both its front and hind legs.”

  Mathias gestured toward the majestic creature.

  “That thing can attack us with all four legs,” he warned, tension knotting his voice.

  The children broke into sweat the instant the deer unched another attack. This time, it wasn’t one or two bolts… but six in total.

  Two of the lightning bolts shot toward the boys, and four toward the girls.

  Three of them traveled with blistering speed; the other three moved slowly and deliberately.

  The boys leapt into the air, while the girls quickly descended from the tree where they had been positioned.

  They realized their mistake far too te.

  As they fell from their jumps, Christopher and Sebastián noticed that one of the slower lightning bolts was headed straight for the spot where they were about to nd.

  The same thing happened to the girls. Each of them dodged the bolt aimed at their original position—but the other two, the slower ones, were heading directly toward where they would nd after their jump.

  “This can’t be happening!” Christopher excimed, his breath catching.

  He understood the magical beast’s intentions far too te.

  There was no time to conjure protective magic, nor elemental magic, to defend himself or counter the attack.

  Then, Mathias sprang into action.

  “Behind me!” Mathias roared. Maneuvering mid-fall, he managed to pce himself in front of his friends.

  “Racial Magic: Beast Magic: Humanoid Phase.”

  He activated semi-human racial magic—a transformation into a beast form, specifically its humanoid variant.

  His torso and several parts of his body began to swell. Muscles expanded, veins stood out, and his form changed with controlled brutality. His face shifted into that of a tiger, a powerful jaw and sharp fangs emerging as the transformation took hold.

  The feline’s distinctive fur completely covered his skin. His eyes shone with a golden glow. His hands became covered in fur, and where nails had once been, cws now formed—shaping a terrifying humanoid silhouette.

  Below the waist, his garments adapted without tearing, reshaping into feline hind legs. His boots—specially made for him—adjusted with precision, and his tail lengthened, completing the transformation.

  The moment he nded, Mathias crossed his arms in an X-shape and took the attack head-on.

  Meanwhile, the girls were facing a critical situation of their own.

  “Arboreal Magic: Root Soil.”

  They spoke in unison.

  From the exact spot where they were about to nd, thick tree roots spread outward and burst from the ground, forming a secondary ptform beneath them. The vines rose to a height of nearly three meters.

  The lightning struck violently… but the girls were safe.

  “Kkgg… uck…”

  A pained groan rose from the cloud of dust still hanging in the air.

  The dust on the boys’ side finally settled, revealing Mathias. He was clearly injured—light burns covered his body, thin smoke rising from his skin. The attack had affected him far more than it had first appeared.

  “M-Mathias… are you okay?” Christopher asked, his face twisted with worry. He and Sebastián were utterly shaken.

  Their friend had taken the hit for all three of them. There had been no time to react, no chance to prepare any kind of defense.

  “T-that attack would’ve… k-killed me if I hadn’t u-used my beast form,” Mathias stammered. He coughed lightly and exhaled heavily, releasing the tension. Little by little, he regained his mobility.“Be careful, guys… it looks like the second attack was weaker… but even so, for you, it would’ve been lethal.”

  Both of them stepped back instinctively.

  Fortunately, Mathias didn’t need help to stay on his feet. Still, taking another hit like that could knock him out of the fight… and leave him in critical condition.

  “Anita, Selestia… are you okay?”

  Both nodded firmly, though the pain from the fall still lingered in their bodies.

  “All good over here,” Anita reported, forcing confidence into her voice.

  “Guys, I’m sure you’ve already realized this,” Christopher said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand and flicked it aside. “That magical beast… it’s intelligent.”

  “Yeah… it can think. Damn it,” Mathias muttered.

  He didn’t want to imagine how dangerous the Electric Antlered Deer could become if it decided to fight seriously.

  “Any other pns?” Sebastián asked, his tone edged with irony. “Because if that deer can think, I doubt it’ll just let us turn it into mince.”

  “Hey!” Selestia called out. “That magical beast is really strong.”

  “Christopher, we’re out of arrows,” Anita warned.

  But Christopher smiled… and pointed straight at the deer.

  “That creature can fire six lightning bolts in a single attack. If it could fire more… it would’ve already done so. And since it didn’t, it means it simply can’t.”

  That was the missing piece.

  Now he was certain.

  “I know what we’ll do,” he said. “Mathias… do you think you could withstand another discharge?”

  Mathias and Sebastián looked at him with tense expressions, fully on edge.

  “What the hell kind of question is that?” the semi-human growled, rolling his shoulder to shake off the tension. “Of course I can. If you want, I could take two more.”

  “Electrocuting Mathias?” Sebastián asked with a sly grin. “I like this pn.”

  “Girls, come here,” Christopher ordered.

  They hurried over at once.

  The deer sensed the tension hanging in the air. Its sharp instincts screamed at it to flee, and it began to slowly back away.

  “Mathias, don’t worry,” Christopher said. “We’ll attack the deer as well. We’ll throw every throwing weapon we have to force it to defend itself.”

  “If it really can only fire six lightning bolts, you’ll be fine. Otherwise…” he added, pcing a hand on Mathias’s shoulder, “…it was nice knowing you, my friend.”

  “YOU BASTARD!” Mathias shouted furiously, looking like he might breathe fire through his eyes.

  “You’re in charge of ripping off its antlers,” Christopher ordered.

  The semi-human nodded without hesitation.

  “Most likely, the pain from all the daggers that make it past its defense—combined with losing its antlers—will drive it completely insane. Sebastián, you and I will attack from the sides.”

  Sebastián nodded, and Christopher continued.

  “It’ll probably look from side to side… and the moment it turns its gaze forward again—”

  Christopher and Sebastián exchanged a gnce and nodded in unison.

  “That’s when we cut its throat, right?” Selestia finished, wearing a smile as sweet as it was dangerous.

  “Trust us,” Anita said firmly.

  The two girls smiled at each other, sharing a brief moment of silent trust.

  “Alright then… attack!”

  “HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!”

  The war cry tore through the air as the pn was set into motion.

  Mathias burst forward in a blistering sprint, charging straight at the Electric Antlered Deer at full speed.

  For the first time, the beast showed clear signs of unease… even fear.

  “Now!” they all shouted in unison.

  Everyone threw their daggers.

  Mathias slowed his pace just as the deer’s antlers began to crackle with electricity once more, a violent dance of lightning forming around them.

  The deer’s face twisted in confusion. Its jaws hung open, trembling, as if it couldn’t decide whether to attack… or flee.

  Mathias saw ten throwing knives fly past him—fast, lethal blurs.

  The magical beast defended itself desperately, and just as Christopher had predicted, it only managed to bring down six of them.

  Four knives pierced through the electrified defense and smmed brutally into its chest. The creature let out a cry of pain that shook the air itself.

  Mathias took one final step, gathered all his strength, and leapt straight toward the deer’s antlers.

  The beast thrashed wildly from side to side, furious, gring at him with eyes filled with hatred.

  “Do you really think that’ll stop me?! I’m a damn tiger… and you’re my prey!”

  With both hands—or rather, cws—he grabbed hold of the creature’s antlers and, twisting his body backward, tore them off in one brutal motion.

  “HYYOOOOOOO!”

  The deer let out a guttural scream, a raw expression of unbearable pain.

  Blood burst from the torn antlers.

  Immediately after, it felt a deep ssh along its left side. Blood poured out, spshing everything in its path.

  It turned its head in shock and saw Sebastián, who had just delivered a clean, brutal cut.

  The pain struck again—this time on its right side. It turned and saw Christopher mirroring the attack.

  Then, piercing screams erupted from straight ahead.

  “HAAAAAA!”

  The cry tore through the air like a bde, heralding the final blow.

  The st thing the creature managed to do was lift its gaze… before feeling the cold arms of death close around its neck.

  Out of arrows and with no time left, the girls used their remaining daggers. With precise, synchronized movements, they cut down the magical beast.

  “Gurruaa…”

  The sound of choking and blood filled the air.

  The deer staggered one st time, suffocating on its own blood…

  Then it colpsed heavily onto the ground.

  Dead.

  “WE DID IIIIIIT!”

  They knew they shouldn’t shout like that in a dangerous forest… but they couldn’t help it.

  They had defeated a magical beast.

  All by themselves. Five children… only five years old.

  Alexander watched in silence; his expression serious. With every action the children took, he analyzed possible outcomes, searching for alternatives and evaluating their decisions.

  So far… they were doing astonishingly well.

  He had no reason to compin.

  The children had truly analyzed the situation and, based on that, devised an attack pn with carefully calcuted distractions—preventing the beast from noticing the true final blow.

  Once again, he appuded them… though only in his mind.

  He picked up little Diana, who wrapped her arms tightly around him. Then, with a nimble leap, he dropped back down to the ground.

  “I think that’s enough for today. If you’d like, you can continue tomorrow—once you’ve finished your studies—and go hunt a few more beasts,” Alexander said, giving a proud thumbs-up.“Excellent work, kids. I’m proud of every one of you.”

  The children ughed, relieved.

  Then, with the precision they had been taught, they cut off the beast’s head, legs, hide, and heart. They also collected the antlers, leaving the rest behind—they couldn’t carry any more. With that, they left the area.

  The girls, wearing expressions of utter disgust, forced Christopher, Sebastián, Mathias… and even Alexander, to carry the beast parts.

  They absolutely refused.

  The smell—and simply looking at the remains—was far too much for them.

  ? ? ?

  As they walked back toward the vilge, Alexander couldn’t help but ask the girls about the tactic they had used to avoid the lightning.

  “Girls… why didn’t you use Earth Elemental Magic to build a wall and block the impact? Wouldn’t that have been easier?”

  The girls exchanged a silent gnce, as if sharing a thought that needed no words.

  “Yes,” Anita replied, “but if we had used that kind of magic, we might have knocked down some trees… and there could be insects or small forest spirits living there.”

  Selestia nodded as well.

  “We have to protect the forest. As an elf, I have a very strong instinct to protect it. I can’t help it… protecting its pnts, its animals, and everything that lives within it is part of who I am.”

  “I can’t use magic that might harm it… unless it’s to defend myself or the vilge. In those cases… I have no choice.”

  Alexander, who moments earlier had been smiling, frowned slightly and raised both eyebrows. The children kept surprising him.

  Even he had never thought that way.

  He couldn’t help letting out a small chuckle as he remembered how many times Valentina had scolded him for crushing a pnt when he could have easily avoided it.

  He smiled at them—this time with genuine kindness.

  He was deeply proud of the children of his beloved vilge…

  “If Valentina knew that you both think that way, she’d probably go crazy with love for the two of you.”

  He hadn’t meant to say it out loud… it had simply slipped out as a thought.

  Selestia stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes sparkling with emotion.

  “Y-you really mean that?!” she excimed, while Anita looked at her and ughed.

  It was no secret to anyone that Selestia adored and idolized Valentina—in the best possible way. Having the chance to be spoiled by her… was a small fantasy she kept tucked away in her heart.

  “Yes,” Alexander replied with a warm smile.

  “A-and… c-could you… tell her that we…?” Selestia stammered, blushing deeply.

  She felt terribly embarrassed. She wanted so badly to be pampered by the woman she admired so much… but at the same time, she thought asking her ruler to mention something like that to his wife would be terribly rude.

  “Don’t worry, Selestia. I’ll tell her,” Christopher cut in.

  He smiled and gave both girls a wink, making Selestia beam with joy.

  “I’ll make sure to speak very highly of you to my mom. Is that okay…?”

  “YES, DO IT!” Selestia shouted, unable to hold herself back.

  Everyone burst into ughter as she—her face red as an apple—looked around in embarrassment, realizing she had let her emotions take over.