“I want your child.”

Hearing those words, Sol’s eyes widened in shock for a short while, before narrowing in concentration.

“Explain.” He asked in a calm voice. Still, it was clear from his voice that if her explanation didn’t please him he would absolutely refuse her request.

Freya, still on Sol's laps, frowned as she searched for the right words. She suddenly regretted bringing this so soon, but she also knew that she shouldn’t lie in this situation.

“To be honest. I have many reasons. The first one is of course to verify if it’s indeed possible for a dragon to impregnate a witch.”

This was a very important question. Until now, that theory had for sole basis the ability a dragon had to impregnate any being able to give birth. But here was the problem. Were witches even physically able to do so?

“My sister Persephone, the witch of life, has tried all possible means to find a solution. Even cloning and indirect impregnation. But all of them failed. Still, from the experiments she conducted, the body of a witch possessed all the organs necessary to give birth, the only problem being the absence of menstrual cycle.”

Freya sighed, “From what we understood, our ability to steal life is even affecting our ovaries. Meaning when an egg is out, it gets completely devoured. That’s why we tried indirect impregnation by using an egg and spermatozoid outside of the body, but the egg itself endowed the life devouring and any spermatozoa entering got devoured.”

She swept her hair in frustration as she thought about it, “So, even with a dragon as a partner, the chances of success are absurdly low. What’s more, you aren’t a full dragon but a hybrid one and also blessed. There are so many uncertainty factors. This is a true nightmare for any scientists you know?”

Releasing a helpless chuckle, she continued, “Aside from wishing to determine the truth, I...I really want to have a child."

Freya wasn't lying. As a witch seeker of knowledge, she was extremely curious about the process of giving life. But as a woman, she also wished to give life.

She didn't think that women who did not give birth were lesser in any ways. But, nevertheless, she wished to have a child.

"I am sorry but I will have to refuse."

Sol's answer was simple and clear. Freya shivered a little at this answer but asked in the calmest way possible.

"For one. I refuse to let my child be some lab rat. No matter how noble the goal is it doesn't particularly matter to me."

Sol sneered a little before continuing, "Secondly, I am simply too young to have children."

Sol knew that in this world, people were already considered adults as long as they reached 15 years old. As such, women with family at 16 or so were nothing rare. This has also been the case with Lilith after all.

Still, for Sol, the simple thought of having to educate children frightened him greatly. He still saw himself as a kid, albeit one who got to enjoy many things most kids could only dream of, and having to raise one seemed another one seemed to be a tall order.

This wasn't just a matter of age, but of mentality. He knew himself enough to understand that even though he had somewhat grown, both mentally and in strength, in those few months, it was still not enough to properly take care and educate a child.

Finally, "I do not love you."

This was the simple and harsh truth. Lust and love were two very different things.

Sol could have sexual relationships with women he did not love. But he refused to do something like having a child with someone he didn't share close ties with. Doing so would be very cruel to the child who never asked to be born.

Freya, hearing him, shook her head, "I understand. After all, I feel the same about you."

No matter how handsome Sol was, love couldn't blossom with just the few interactions they had with each other. Freya never believed in love at the first sight. Such love was nothing more than an illusion born out of chemicals reactions and would vanish at the slightest difficulty.

True love was, in her opinion, was something incredibly beautiful and incredibly stupid. Something that could create miracles or something that could destroy everything.

Still, even though she knew that,

"I still want a child."

This was one of the greatest dreams all the old witches had. But she didn't want to force Sol either. So,

"Then I just have to make you fall in love with me."

Saying so, she jumped from his laps and began to wave her hand without looking back.

"I already got my answer, so I won't bother you anymore. Good luck for the two remaining ducal houses."

Watching her small back slowly going away, Sol sighed and decided to not let something like pity sway his decision.

'Well, initially, I wanted to go on a date with Setsuna and Lilin, but I guess it's out for now. Better train a little then go meet the Duchess.'

[Milaris Mansion]

The Milaris mansion was a rather dreary house.

Even though the zone under the control of the Milaris family in the capital was the entertainment district, the surroundings of her house were basically void of anything that could be called entertaining.

In fact, some people could even compare it to a more well-maintained horror house.

In the main room of this mansion, seated on a reclining chair, a black-haired woman was sipping on a luxurious red wine as she gazed absentmindedly at a portrait.

Said portrait was representing a semi-nude long-haired handsome man, his blushing face showing how embarrassed he was.

Remembering the scene when she asked him to pose for her nude painting, the duchess Milaris let out a rare chuckle.

Caria Arachne Milaris was an artist.

Painting, dancing, singing, sculpting, weaving, writing.

Despite her young age, she mastered them all.

It was to the level that calling her a genius would have been an insult. If not for her clearly black hair, some people would have thought she was blessed.

If it was just so, people wouldn't particularly envy her.

After all, in this world, what mattered more than anything were financial and martial might.

But, not only was she an incredible artist, she could even fuse her art with her technique, creating a way of fighting never seen before.

One would think that such a person gifted to such a level people could only cry in anguish would be happy.

But Arachne wasn't.

For her, her gift was only a curse.

No matter how much she wrote, no matter how much she painted, she could never find it.

The spark of inspiration that could transcend everything.

After all, she was already close to perfection.

It was then that she met him.

Mars Luxuria. The crown prince of Lustburg.

The very first moment she looked at him, heard his voice, and touched his hand, she felt her mind explode.

She knew then, that this was it. He was the one she had searched for all her life. The one who could make her transcend her art…

"...My lady."

Shifting her gaze from the painting of Mars, she settled it on her most loyal friends, displeasure, clear in her eyes.

"How many times did I tell you to not disturb me when I am in this room?"

He was the only one she allowed to enter this room. This was her sanctuary. Still, even he should know that he couldn't enter her without good reason.

Grinning, he simply shrugged his shoulders, "I was just here to tell you that the dinner prepared to receive the prince is ready. What's more, it shouldn't take long for him to reach here."

Arachne frowned a little before downing her wine in one shot.

Her flushing face, giving an alluring feeling.

"My friend, tell me, do you also think that I am a foolish and crazy woman? Obsessing a man who never saw me as anything more than a good friend or a little sister?"

He smiled at her question, "I have lived a very long life and contracted with many humans. Of them all, you are without a doubt the most foolish and pitiful."

Arachne smiled at the bluntness of his words. She felt no happiness for it was true. Still, even though she knew it was foolish, even though she knew it was pitiful, she could never forget him.

After all, "I really really loved him."