Chapter 1070: Talking Plant
Chapter 1068 of "Primordial Villain With A Slave Harem" kicks off revealing: The crystal in Felicityâs necklace pulsed one final time before dimming. The kingâs presence was... Find out whatâs next!
The crystal in Felicityâs necklace pulsed one final time before dimming. The kingâs presence was gone.A heavy silence followed, broken only when Lucille spoke up. "... That was the king? The same Alexios I remember?" Her tone dripped with disbelief. "He was a monster back then. Cruel, uncompromising, the kind of man whoâd hang you for breathing wrong. All of us kids were scared to even breathe in his presence, and our parents fared little better. And now heâs..." she gestured vaguely, brow furrowed, "This... easygoing? Reasonable? I donât even know what to call it."
Aurora felt a great deal of emotion as well. "Lost for words doesnât even begin to cover it. The last twenty-four hours have been... insane. I need to rest before my head splits in half." She rubbed her temples as she began walking away, but then her eyes darkened. âAnd... my parents werenât there,â she thought inwardly.
They had been alchemists, brilliant but reckless. Curiosity had driven them too far, into secrets they should have never touched. Namely, the secrets of the Elixir of Awakening, the very potion the crown hoarded to grant mage classes to their most loyal and notable vassals and their children. It was used as a reward for loyalty.
Their search led them to the wrong place at the worst possible time: the outpost where Iris had been exiled after torturing her fellow soldiers. That was where they met Geim, Rosieâs parent.
Auroraâs parents had been captured after the kingdom found out where they were sniffing around. At first, they believed Greenvale had taken them; after all, it happened in their duchy. But they were not among Alastiarâs captives.
No, they were elsewhere, held deeper, closer to the throne itself.
Most likely in the kingâs own dungeons.
If they were alive at all.
Auroraâs gaze wandered, soon landing on Felicity.
The princess was still clinging to Feng as if her life depended on it, face pressed into the girlâs shoulder. Auroraâs expression softened, but only briefly, before her mind turned cold again.
A hostage exchange was possible. Obvious, even. Two imprisoned alchemists in return for the kingâs daughter. Alexios would likely never hesitate to agree.
But Aurora said nothing.
She knew Quinlan. He would do it if she asked him, without hesitation. And that was exactly why she stayed silent.
Felicity being here was more than a bargaining chip. It was a golden opportunity. As long as she remained under Quinlanâs care, Alexios would keep calling. They would be forced to speak, to interact, and perhaps evenâAurora dared to think itâbecome allies. Such a door would never open again if an exchange happened.
And even if they tried to make the exchange...
Aurora knew it. Trust was the foundation of any exchange, and Quinlan had made it perfectly clear; he didnât trust the royal family. Not even a little.
Besides, the bounty on his head was still there. Alexios hadnât removed it, even after knowing Felicity would be under his protection.
It was a bit contradictory considering how he wanted to ensure Felicity was safe... But it only served as proof that Alexios ideally wanted to be on friendly terms, but he didnât mind getting his hands dirty and forcing things, because he wanted Quinlanâs secrets for himself. Alexios was not a pacifist, nor a benevolent being. He was a true warrior, someone who fought his way to the very top of the food chain from being a level 1 boy.
Such a man would not turn into a saint even if he acted like a retired grandpa most of the time. He just wasnât interested in most things. But now...
Auroraâs chest tightened. Her lips trembled. A single tear escaped the corner of her eye. She lowered her head, deciding then and there: she would sacrifice her parentsâ freedom for Quinlanâs future. For their future. âPlease forgive me... Father, Mother...â
Her somber moment was abruptly shattered when a tiny, bright voice rang out:
"Mommy Aurora!! Why are you sad?!"
Aurora blinked, startled, as a blur of green shot through the air. Rosie, the little dryad, zipped straight at her like a leafy comet. She landed against Auroraâs chest with a soft pomf, after which her big, round eyes instantly snapped up to peer at her with innocent concern. Tiny fingers clutched Auroraâs hand like she was holding onto the most precious thing in the world.
Aurora froze. Rosie had always rushed into Quinlanâs arms first. Always Quinlanâs little shadow, a true daddyâs girl through and through. But now, in this moment, she had chosen her.
And... yes. Aurora was her mommy now.
They had talked about it before. Aurora once tried to tell Rosie to treat her like a big sister because she didnât want to give up being Quinlanâs plump little princess, his spoiled lover. But the moment Rosie came into their lives, that role was no longer hers. It belonged to the child. And Aurora... had grown out of it. She asked Rosie to see her as a mother instead. An adoptive one, like the others.
"...Iâm not sad, little one," Aurora whispered, quickly wiping her cheek. "Just happy itâs all over. I was... stressed."
Rosie squinted at her, unconvinced. But after a long second, she decided to let it go. Instead, she wrapped both arms around Auroraâs head in a big leafy hug and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Cheer up!" she declared with all the conviction a child could muster.
Then, like a bolt of lightning, she shot off, straight into Quinlanâs arms.
"Daddy!" Rosie squealed, clinging to his neck. "You were gone far too long!"
Quinlan gave Auroraâs trembling back a single glance, deciding to speak with her in private. Then, he chuckled, catching the little driad easily. "Whatever could you mean, I wonder... Itâs been less than a day."
Rosie puffed her cheeks, then nodded firmly. "Exactly! Far, far too long!! You even took Auntie Yoruha with you! Rosie was soooooooo bored!"
The courtyardâs previous tension broke under the cuteness. Even Felicity, finally pulling herself out of Fengâs arms, let out a little yelp when she noticed the small green creature snuggling Quinlanâs face.
"Whâwhat is that talking plant?!"
Feng giggled, visibly amused based on her eyesâ sparkling. "Thatâs his daughter."
Felicity gasped. "His daughter?! But I thought you were his only daughter?!"
Feng shook her head softly. "No. I was just playing the role. Like the angry black-haired woman over there, whoâs busy beating and getting beaten by the samurai woman. By the way, sheâs not my mother either. We just look similar, so it was easy to sell the story." Her gaze drifted toward Iris and Ayameâs duel, which was made a lot more colorful with the curse words they let go of.
She frowned. "Rosie is his only daughter. The little princess of this family. So Iâm not his child. Iâm just... his..." Feng trailed off, at a rare loss for words.
Quinlan pinched both of Rosieâs chubby cheeks, tugging them apart until she squeaked.
"Feng, or Jiai as you know her," he spoke up suddenly, eyes never leaving his daughterâs pouty face, "is my cherished companion. Thatâs all that needs to be said."
Feng blinked, caught off guard. Her lips parted in surprise, but no words came. Then, slowly, like dawn creeping over a horizon, a smile spread across her face. She repeated softly, "His... cherished companion." The words seemed to wrap around her like a cloak, her eyes shining with something that was very nearly tears.