by Jason Hale
Chapter 43 - The Holy Consort’s Breathtaking Gifts
The male servant who struggled to remain on his feet gave a quick, fearful nod, then lowered his eyes to the ground.
"You can leave. Have them bring in the…gifts."
Wolfgang took a second to register the situation then let go of the frightened man who deeply bowed before rushing out of the study.
"I'm quite curious as to what Else finds fitting to send us the day following Ilaina's return. This cannot be simple. Let's go. We can discuss the competition afterward."
Konnor managed to stand back on his feet and follow the puzzled count toward the main hall where more than one Kracht noble stood with similar confusion. Needless to say, they were aware of the current situation.
Viscount Wulf, in particular, ran circles. His daughter was still within the hands of Else; thus, more than anyone else, he dreaded the possibility of further clashes between the two parties.
His evident concern didn't escape Wolfgang, who now eyed him with an apologetic gaze.
"Rest assured that as long as Daphne is within Else's hands, I won't go beyond a certain limit."
He guaranteed while clasping his brother's shoulder with his large hand.
"Thank you…elder brother."
Wulf nodded. At that time, the hall's door opened, revealing a procession of eleven palace ladies followed by the Kracht servants who pulled in several hefty coffers. Of the eleven palace ladies, nine were veiled, leaving only the two at their helm to show their face.
Konnor's gaze ignored those coffers and locked on two of the veiled palace ladies who stood at the back of the procession. The reason for that sudden show of attention was that within his mind, he could feel the presence of two harem rings, and their owners immediately appeared within his mind: Faidra, and Aliki!
"What's the meaning of this?"
He wondered. Naturally, all the gathered folks showed various degrees of puzzlement. Especially when the coffers' contents were revealed to be nothing more than luxury fabrics and jewelry, the Kracht household stared with wide eyes.
"Is this a joke?"
While those fabrics and jewels were worth a substantial wealth, they were nothing for an Uradel house like the Kracht's. Unless she was making fun of them, for Else to send such trinkets as "gifts" was incomprehensible.
However, to Wolfgang's words, the two leading ladies gave a profound bow before replying.
"My lord, please do not misunderstand. Those gifts are not for house Kracht, but ornaments for the actual gifts."
They then motioned toward the nine ladies at their back who one after the other removed their veils, revealing faces that caused the entire mention to turn deathly silent.
"How…how could this be? Daphne?"
Wulf broke the silence while staring at his daughter who stood among her attendants with a mischievous grin.
"Dad, I'm back!"
But as the Kracht focused on Daphne, Konnor's gaze moved between her and the two blue-eyed bombshell blondes behind her attendants.
Indeed, they were his two early conquests, the sisters Faidra and Aliki, and right now, their shimmering gaze also locked on him.
Their presence gave a different meaning to the "gift." This wasn't a gesture for the Kracht; it was a gesture for him, Konnor.
"The Holy Consort really treats me well, doesn't she?"
Meanwhile, the initial stupor had vanished, replaced by looks of shock, worry, and disbelief.
Wolfgang stared at Zamira who stared back at him while Ilaina's eyes went back and forth between Daphne, her attendants, and the two maids at her back.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Wulf aside, not many could take this scene without some measure of apprehension. Unlike Ilaina, Daphne was an imperial consort. From the moment she stepped into the palace with that title, she was destined to die within its walls, never to return to the outside world.
Only on rare occasions were high ranking consorts allowed to step outside of the imperial palace's walls to visit their relatives. Even then, tight escort would follow. In the last centuries, only Else had received the privilege.
However, if the palace ladies' words were taken at face value, this wasn't merely a visit. They were sending Daphne back to house Kracht for good!
To say nothing of the Holy Consort, even the Holy Empress and the Dowager couldn't order such a thing.
This was the Holy Emperor's jurisdiction!
The palace lady at the left then pulled out a golden parchment from which words of golden light shone.
"Count Wolfgang, receive the Holy Emperor's decree!"
*Thud*
Immediately, the entire house Kracht fell on its knees to receive the emperor's decree.
"Daphne of house Kracht is returned on this day unspoiled, but her status unchanged. Once a consort, always a consort. We allow her to spend the rest of her days within the warmth of her familial home, but never will she be able to marry, and we reserve ourselves the right to at any time, recalled her to the palace."
"Count Wolfgang, do you accept the decree?"
"Your vassal accepts!"
Whether to accept or not was merely a formality. When the consequence of refusing an imperial decree was family extermination, who dared not accept them?
The palace lady then folded the parchment, and alongside her "coworker," made way for Daphne to step toward her relatives.
Now, apprehension had vanished in the hearts of most people, but in Wolfgang's discomfort was rising, and filling his mouth with an acidic taste.
"She's saying three things. First, she is telling her that although the empress still controls the inner court, her influence on the emperor is rising and will soon replace the empress'. Second, she is giving us an opportunity to bury the hatchet and move on with our lives. Lastly, she's warning us that what she can give, she can take and that what she can take, she can return in a whim. We are hers to toy with as she sees fit.
Damnable woman!"
However, Wolfgang could only say those words within his heart, and even as he rose from the ground, untold frustration shook his powerful body.
Was the emperor this much of a fool? Where was the talent that wrestled the throne from the hands of his elders with inferior forces? Did putting the crown on his head make him muddle-headed?
The two palace maids excused themselves and left with haste, leaving only Daphne, her six attendants as well Faidra and Aliki to stand in front of the Kracht household.
As soon as the palace ladies were out of sight, Daphne's eyes glittered with joy, and she strode toward Wulf who was taking trembling steps toward her.
"Daddy!"
"My girl!"
Wulf stretched out his arms, ready to embrace her, but then, the unthinkable happened.
Daphne ran past him, and leaped into a surprised Konnor's chest, wrapping her arms on his back.
"*Sniff* *Sniff* Daddy Konnor, I missed you!"
The scene returned to a deathly silence, broken only by an incredulous Wulf who turned to see his daughter tightly hugging his future "nephew" and call him "daddy Konnor."
"What is the meaning of this? Daphne, are you confused? Your father is here!"
He snapped, but to his great dismay, Daphne didn't even turn toward him.
"Sorry, you've been demoted to little dad. Konnor is now my big daddy!"
Black lines spread on the many gathered foreheads like wildfire. Konnor's was no exception.
Chapter 44 - All Must Surrender to Daphne
It was well known that Daphne had always been the little tyrant of house Kracht, afraid of neither heaven nor hell. Still, no one expected that upon her return, she would cause such a shocking scandal.
Poor Wulf teetered, struggling to not fall on his butt while seeking help in his elder brother's eyes.
There was no help to find.
"Wolfgang, say something! What sorcery did your son-in-law use to bewitch my daughter?!"
To Wulf's ire,
Wolfgang really didn't know what to say. Thus, he opted for silence and started looking for an opportunity to disappear.
It was then that a furious voice thundered within the hall!
"Slut, let go of my man!"
Ilaina roared and yanked Daphne away from Konnor's chest with a pull of her hairs.
"Aaaargh! Let go of my hairs. What's wrong with you?"
Daphne's aggrieved words only heightened the soaring wrath within Ilaina's chest. Her slit emerald eyes burned with the rage of ten thousand furies as she held her cousin by the hair.
"What's wrong with me? You've not even been here for fifteen minutes that you're shamelessly snuggling against my fiancé? What's wrong with you?!"
"Fiancé? What, since when?!"
Outraged, Daphne sought answers within the eyes of the gathered kin, and only now did she register her father calling Konnor Wolfgang's son-in-law.
It seemed that since their night in the palace, Ilaina had been working on keeping Konnor for herself, but how could that stop her?
"So what if you first got a legal status? I screwed him first!"
"Can you compare?"
"I gave him an orgy with six gorgeous mature ladies!"
"Can you compare?"
Instantly, the Kracht were in an uproar. Even Wolfgang who was already aware of the events stared slack-jawed at Daphne's boldness. As for Wulf, his jaw trembled and cold sweat trickled on his forehead.
"You…said what?"
To her father's dismay, Daphne freed herself from Ilaina's grasp and rushed back to Konnor's side, wrapping her arms around his right one and leaning on his shoulder.
"Yes! Also, I must add that we've done it more than once. Konnor has so much to offer that the party just never ends…"
Her words and the sight of her rubbing her head against Konnor's shoulder like a docile cat caused the already trembling Wulf to lose balance and collapse on the floor. It seemed he was having a stroke!
As for Konnor, the events had evolved too fast for him to react. He knew the girl brazen, but brazen to this extent he could not imagine.
This was already beyond the realm of shamelessness. Daphne was insane!
However, with a reputation to maintain, he could not display his shock to the outside world and simply adopted an aloof, indifferent stance.
Daphne's overbearing words had shattered Ilaina's attempt to retake the initiative and for an instant, she didn't know what to say so like many others, she turned toward Konnor, hoping to hear him make a statement, but was enraged to see him turning his gaze toward the ceiling as if none of this concerned him!
"Konnor! You…"
"You what? You yourself! Stop making things difficult for my daddy. He's thinking about what kind of scenario we will enjoy tonight."
Konnor's forehead creased, but he didn't dare lower his gaze. Meanwhile, Faidra and Aliki who stood silent behind Daphne's attendants were astonished by what they were hearing. Did their master really dare mess with that lunatic of a woman?
Truly brave! They wanted to come to his aid, but with their low status and nonexistent right to speak, they knew they could only hold their tongues.
"Ilaina, in any case, I've already said that as sisters, we should share everything. I'm not a greedy woman. As long as you obediently follow me, you will have your share of the big daddy."
"Follow you? You should follow me! I'm older and prettier than you!"
Still, Daphne remained undaunted.
"So what if you're slightly prettier? My boobs are bigger, and my butt is curvier. At night when the lights are out, what is he going to care about? The face he cannot see, or the large mounds within his mouth? To say nothing of the soft buttocks pressing him!
You lose!"
Zamira was impressed, Ilaina staggered, Wolfgang's knees gave out, and Wulf passed out from shame.
"Aaaargh! Dad, annul! You must annul the engagement!"
To Ilaina's indignation, Wolfgang roared back in rage.
"Annul what? After what happened last night?
We have not even cemented the engagement that you've already given up the fort and allowed the invader in!
Now beside him, who can you marry?!"
"Ouiiiiin!"
Ilaina burst into a mixture of shame and tears and ran back toward her room!
Victorious, Daphne snuggled tighter against Konnor who hummed all the random tunes that flashed within his mind while staring at the ceiling as if his life depended on it.
...
The commotion came to an end with Wolfgang storming out and locking himself in his cultivation abode. Wulf was carried toward his chambers while Daphne followed Konnor like a good little puppy with her attendants and the silent sisters at her back.
Once they reached his chamber, Konnor asked for the attendants to arrange the "gifts" and their mistress' lodging and brought Daphne, Faidra and Aliki into the room.
"What is the meaning of this? Why did the Holy Consort send you back? Also, what are those two doing with you?"
Hearing his words, the sisters believed he doubted the purpose of their presence and immediately fell on their knees.
"Master, please don't misunderstand. We've obeyed your words scrupulously and never revealed a thing! But suddenly, one of the Holy Consort's attendants ordered us to follow lady Daphne back to house Kracht. We don't know what happened!"
The clear apprehension caused Konnor to realize his choice of words had caused the two of them to misunderstand him.
"Stop that, rise and come sit on my lap."
He gently ordered, causing their nervousness to fall. The sisters stood up, stepped toward him and respectively sat on his left and right thighs.
"So, you aren't doubting us?"
"Of course not. I'm merely puzzled as to why the Holy Consort would order such a thing. Though, I suppose it matters not at this point."
Seeing him tenderly stroke their hairs, although Daphne wasn't one for jealousy, she felt she was losing ground to those newcomers.
"Hum, hum, I have no idea why either. The ladies just came to my quarters and announced the emperor's decree. I didn't waste time to ponder the reason, packed my things and left."
Daphne wasn't one to get involved in the usual plotting that infested the nobility circles. For her, those were uninteresting things that brought nothing but trouble. There was no enjoyment to have in such boring matters.
"All right, there is no point in further investigating. If that woman wants to reach me, she will. You can leave."
The "you can leave" made Daphne believe that Konnor was sending the sisters away to spend some quality time with her. She was already puffing out her chest and adopting a victorious stance when she saw them rubbing their heads against Konnor's like favored little pets.
He wasn't rejecting them.
"Wait, are you talking about me?"
"Of course I am. I have some catching up to do with my girls. Maybe I will visit you when I'm done."
"What?"
The bewildered stare with which Daphne stared at him caused him to go further down that road.
"Dissatisfied? I was already having problems with that damnable father-in-law, but in less than fifteen minutes, you've made sure I would become the public enemy of all the males within house Kracht! It would be a miracle if I can live until tomorrow!"
To say nothing of the Semi-Saint Wolfgang. Wulf alone was a fifth step Transcendent Knight and not what the current Konnor could deal with. If he came knocking on his door for accounts, how could he breathe?
Was it possible that he would have to hide behind Zamira during his entire stay in this mansion?
Harmed, she'd truly harmed him!
"But…but…I missed you so…"
*Sniff* *Sniff*
She complained with droplets of tears in her eyes, like a child in a woman's body.
However, Konnor wouldn't submit to the tearful play!
"All right, all right, tonight I will punish you for your misdeeds. Happ
y?"
Instantaneously, Daphne's eyes lit up with joy.
"Happy, happy! Daddy, please punish me well!"
Chapter 45 - Wolfgang's Disgrace
Like a delighted little deer, Daphne strutted out of Konnor's chambers and returned to hers, not forgetting to sway her hips back and forth to give him a good show. He was now free to deal with Faidra and Aliki whom he pulled into his spatial pouch to reveal his true nature.