"Let's have a date."

This phrase repeated many times in Medea's mind before she finally grasped the meaning of his words and began to blush heavily. Her face was already on the verge of boiling because of the heat.

"A-a date!?"

Sol smiled at how cute she was acting as he nodded. Sometimes he tended to forget that she was older than even the first generation of the Luxuria family. He had to admit that the gap was truly delightful.

"Indeed. I only have to go visit the Highland family tonight. Before that, I am totally free."

Looking at the time, it was still the afternoon. Noon just went past. He had far more than enough time to have a good outing with Medea and give her some beautiful memories. What's more, this time he already knew most of the beautiful places of the capital suitable for a date.

"So, what do you think? Or, perhaps you don't want to?"

"Of course I want to!"

Feeling a hint of disappointment in his voice, she desperately tried to placate him.

Seeing her frantic like that, Sol felt a little bit guilty. He had just tried to joke around with her when he acted as if disappointed. He never thought that she would have such an intense reaction.

At the same time, he couldn't help but understand how Jupiter managed to so easily manipulate someone as smart as her.

Medea was the kind of woman who, once in love, devoted her everything to her lover. If seen in a good way, she was a devoted and loyal partner. But from a more sarcastic point of view, it just means she was the kind of woman who would spoil rotten her husband and make him a useless scumbag.

'I have to be careful about this.'

"Then why don't…"

"Wait!"

He was interrupted by Freya.

"Hum… Is there a problem?"

"Oh. I don't really want to disturb you guys. But I think that it is better to push it to tomorrow morning after your visit ends."

"...Could I know why?"

"For one. I think you are going too fast. She just left her prison. Give her some time to think at least. Also, while the clothes she is wearing are extremely beautiful, I don't think they are suitable for a date. What do you think?"

Sol observed Medea's dress in silence and had to accept it. He had forgotten about it since he was so used to seeing her in it, but even at first glance, it was clear for anyone to see that this dress wasn't the kind of thing anyone could wear.

He also remembered having never seen her wearing anything other than this dress.

Laughing a little, he asked Medea, "What do you think?"

Clasping her cheeks, she continued, "I think this is a splendid idea. There's no need to worry."

Sol didn't insist on that. Be it today or tomorrow, the most important information was that he had obtained her ascent.

Under the puzzled glance of those two, he began to walk toward the end of the bed and took a beautiful tiny olden bell suspended on the wall of the room and he shook it with quite some strength. Despite the absence of sound, a few seconds later, three gentle knocks could be heard from the other side of the door.

"Your highness."

The one who entered was a tall and slim woman wearing the maid uniform with a tanned skin. From a first look, she looked like a young girl, but the steadiness and aura of calm she showed was not something a teen could show normally.

"Medea, Freya, let me present you Alice. A dark elf, she is also an extremely skilled tailor and is the one who works on the different clothes I wear with the help of Milia."

Alice, at the mention of her name, simply bowed in acknowledgments to Medea and Freya. Despite how polite she was, it was easy to feel a sort of deep pride in her.

Alice was one of the first maids with whom he had a sexual relationship. She was usually a quiet and confident girl, but her cold expression would completely melt once they went to bed together.

Sol always avoided having a one-one session with any maid other than Milia. The world of women was one cold and unforgiving place where the social place could be easily inferred.

As the head maid and his first woman, Milia's power over the maids both old and new was as high as ever. Still, if he ever had a one-on-one session with another maid, this situation would spark confusion in the food chain. The maid in question would become 'special' and even without any official post, she would get preferential treatment.

Even now, all the maids with whom he had sex were already considered to be at a level higher than the normal maids.

'Still, I need to choose a personal maid.'

It was an issue he had to deal with sooner or later. Not just a personal maid. He also had to have his own personal guards and servants. Those people would become his hand and his representatives once he became a king.

'At least the knight position is already filled with Setsuna. I just need one or two more. For the personal maid, Alice is a good choice but with Clara who is coming, I don't know if they will work well. From what I know, elves of different races do not really mesh well.'

Sol thought idly while the three women began to discuss the most recent trend. He wasn't in a particular hurry. After all, his contracted partners would without a doubt be the people closest to him.

'If Chloe wasn't a holy daughter then I would have asked her to form a contract after my first contract and Setsuna.'

[Many hours later]

The sun was slowly setting down on the horizon. The festival was still going on strong and people were smiling and laughing on the street.

Despite the obvious happiness on the streets, in one of the bedrooms of the Highland family, the mood was rather gloomy.

"Sigh, I know this old man is trying to sell me."

Facing herself in a full-body mirror, a red-haired woman complained while holding her hand horizontally while two maids, seemingly of human race, busied around her by helping her dress.

A pearls of laughter escaped the two maids and one of them even boldly declared,

"Athena. You know very well how much your grandfather is worried about your marriage. You made all your fiance candidates flee in fright."

If anyone saw this scene, they would be astonished at how maids could speak so daringly to their mistress, but they would understand more if they paid attention to the crest on their hands. A pair of wings for one and a shield on the hand of the second one.

Athena growled at the cheeky maid, but all she received in response was another bout of laughter and snickers from them.

The worst was that she had no counter to their words. Since the day of her awakening, she had joined the army and fought in many skirmishes against Wratharis. Even though she had never participated in a true full-scale war, she was already shown the horror of the battlefield many times.

Compared to her, most of the nobles in her eyes were pampered little brats who knew nothing of the reality of the world. Even though they were given the privilege to form a contract with spirit in the Astral world as their first contract, most of them were barely superior to hardworking commoners. How could she accept marrying someone from such a group of wimps?

She didn't need her husband to be strong, she was willing to protect him if necessary. But she wanted a husband who could face her as an equal and who could understand her desires and worries.

Thankfully, her grandfather despite being rather stubborn in some situations was also extremely kind to her and never forced her to marry.

"Nike, Aegis. Stop mocking me and be serious. What about you, Sirin? You have been awfully quiet."

Saying so, she looked at the corner of her eyes where an owl was standing while observing the situation. From the owl, an aged woman's voice came out calmly.

"As you asked I observed the fight of the prince for you. He is very strong, most likely even stronger than what he has shown. I am sure he is already able to use magic."

"Magic? Did he make a contract?"

"No, at least I didn't see any foreign mana in his body while watching him."

"I see. I guess being a hybrid dragon has its perk. So, what is your judgment? Do you think we would lose?"

The laugh died down instantly at this question as to the three women-focused entirely on the white owl.

"If it's one vs one and with you using magic. Your chances of winning are about 7 to 3. If the four of us were to act, the odd would be 9:1. I must precise that those are the odds solely based on what he has shown. Depending on how much power he has hidden and what kind of magic he has, the odds could change greatly."

Athena sighed at those words."So my six years of training since my awakening only gave me such a meager advantage?"

"You don't seem disappointed."

Athena shook her head at this question.

"Disappointed? Why should I? Instead, I am happy. A strong monarch isn't necessarily a good one. But in this world, I'd rather have a strong monarch than a weak one. The stronger the prince is, the better it is for the kingdom."

The answer she gave clearly made the two maids and the owl happy. She was their most beloved master and what attracted them to her back then was her pure and courageous heart as well as her outlook on life.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

"My lady. We received a message that his highness is about to reach the gate of the castle. His lordship asked to come to fetch you."

Hearing this, Athena closed her eyes before slowly opening them while exhaling deeply.

"I guess it's time for me to meet him. I really wonder what kind of personality he has."

Athena never fully believed in rumors. She always used her own eyes to judge a person. She was happy that the prince was so strong. But it wasn't enough. She still needed to judge his character. Only then, would she pledge her full loyalty to him.