When the plot-skips players into the game world

Because of Meg's presence, Aiwass didn't go to the White Ballet Shoes Club today. Instead, after class, he followed Meg and left together.

But to his surprise, Meg ultimately led him to Aiwass's own dormitory.

Roning Street Number 14.

It seemed that Meg also had the key to the villa.

Aiwass wasn't sure if it was a privilege of being a department head, or if Isabel had given it to her… Considering Isabel hadn't mentioned anything, Aiwass thought it was probably the former.

"Have a seat, kid."

Meg casually sat down in the living room and handed the bottle of wine she had been carrying to Lily.

At the same time, the old lady casually asked, "Can you drink?"

"What kind of wine is this?" Aiwass didn't recognize the bottle.

"Fino Sherry, not strong."

Meg summed it up: "Sweet."

"Okay then."

Aiwass happily agreed.

Seeing Meg's friendly attitude, he gradually let down his guard.

If the old lady really came to settle accounts with him, she probably wouldn't invite him to drink.

Although he hadn't had dinner yet and drinking on an empty stomach wasn't good for the body… But since it was sweet, it probably wouldn't be a problem.

Lily skillfully poured wine for both of them and added ice cubes. Then she stood quietly behind Aiwass with her hands crossed.

"Hey, you sit down too."

Meg said cheerily to Lily, "You don't need to be so formal with me, help yourself to a glass too—no objections, kid?"

"Of course not." Aiwass nodded approvingly.

He certainly didn't think "that's not proper." Rather, he and Lily were quite informal when they were alone without outsiders.

Although Lily would sometimes be shy, she actually enjoyed it.

But that was in private.

Now, in front of Meg, the Grand Arbitrator, she still felt somewhat uneasy. She wasn't familiar with Meg and didn't know if this was just a polite offer or if she really meant it.

However, since Aiwass had spoken, she had no choice but to listen to her master.

While Lily was pouring the wine, Meg took a sip and got straight to the point: "Tell me, kid. What do you think of Little Isabel?"

Lily's hand quivered involuntarily, almost spilling the wine. Fortunately, her hand was steady, so it only wobbled slightly.

"A very good girl… Why?"

Aiwass hesitated for a moment but still answered that way.

"Oh," the old lady said nonchalantly, "when are you two planning to get married then?"

"Cough, cough…"

Aiwass choked on his drink.

—There it was, the signature elder trait of pressuring for marriage upon meeting!

But, come on, couldn't you lead into it a bit?

"That…"

Aiwass smiled helplessly: "Let's wait a little longer…"

"Wait for what? Do you have other girlfriends?"

"No, I don't."

"Really? [Tell the truth]."
Continue your adventure at empire

"I really don't."

Aiwass answered affirmatively: "I've never had a girlfriend before. Also, Department Head Meg… could you not use Word Spirits on me?"

"Oh, sorry."

Meg nodded candidly: "I'm used to it. Since you don't like it, I won't do it again in the future. After all, this is not an interrogation, just a conversation.

"…But you've really never had a girlfriend? According to my investigation, your reputation doesn't reflect that…"

"Reputation is reputation, person is person."

Aiwass shook his head: "Many girls at this age don't understand why they feel a flutter in their hearts. It might be just one earnest act of help, perhaps a pleasant word of thanks, or maybe a moment of close physical contact. But I think they aren't truly looking into their own hearts."

"Oh, I see."

Meg crossed her arms, summing it up: "So you mean to say, you're the one being pursued but haven't been caught—what are you, some traditional young lady? So hesitant and difficult to chase. You're not still a virgin, are you?"

"Ah, that I'm not…"

Aiwass nonchalantly took a sip of his wine. Lily, beside him, did the same, and then coughed softly, having choked on it.

Meg glanced at her and had an epiphany: "Oh, right. You lads have personal maids.

"How old were you when you started?"

"The young master was around thirteen or fourteen at the time, just having begun his enlightenment. And I was about twenty-two or twenty-three."

The one who replied wasn't Aiwass, but Lily.

She said earnestly: "And it has continued up to now.

"This is the duty of a personal maid. To prevent young masters from fathering illegitimate children too early… that would become leverage against the family. It's also to avoid excessive desires in youth, being easily deceived, or neglecting studies.

"In the end, it usually leads to an arranged marriage within the family. It becomes quite troublesome if one already has a lover by then. Besides, given the young master's personality, he's quite likely to attract trouble. If he can't control himself, problems might arise."

She was a bit flushed when she started, but her expression normalized as she continued: "But aside from me, the young master hasn't touched anyone else."

"…You Knight Family folks sure play it fancy."

Meg's expression grew complicated.

But that was to be expected.

Teenagers are easily impassioned. She had been that age herself and understood.

However…

Meg looked at Lily with a hint of puzzlement and asked, "Aren't you an illegitimate child yourself?"

"Yes," Lily nodded, "and that's why I don't want anyone to live a life of pain like I did."

"Not very likely, right? Although this little Fox seems quite flirtatious, he probably won't be a scumbag like Charles."

Meg bluntly cursed someone.

Charles was Lily's biological father. That very man who had murdered her mother, who had wanted to kill his own biological daughter... and who didn't even remember Lily's voice, Charles Drost.

"...It's not just for that reason."

Lily shook her head stubbornly, "Being a bastard is never good; it's not honorable. It only leads to misery for everyone."

She obviously had a very firm stance on this topic.

So Meg didn't pursue it further.

Meg turned back to Aiwass, "So, you wouldn't want Isabel to cast aside her dignity and status to chase after you, would you?"

"I just feel that she doesn't really understand me."

Holding his glass of wine, Aiwass said softly, "Her understanding of me, her fondness for me, a large part comes from our first encounter in her dreams. Her perception and expectations of me might be misplaced... she might not actually like me, but perhaps just 'Fox' from her dreams."

He usually couldn't discuss such things with anyone.

It was only in the presence of Meg, a respectable elder who also had a tight-lipped nature, that he could finally speak openly, even if just a little.

The two of them were husband and wife in the dreams, and she was also "Aiwass's mother." Such an intimate and complex relationship could easily intoxicate a girl who had never experienced social interactions, like a dreamlike lover falling from the heavens.

"But to take advantage of her when she is captivated by the fantasy, that would be immoral," Aiwass said seriously, "Besides, I'm not ready to get married just yet. So please don't bring it up again."

Although he appeared quite a flirt, he usually flirted without following through.

That's because he was actually very cautious about relationships, worried about choosing the wrong person and about the other party choosing him erroneously.

If he were to choose a lover, it would definitely be someone whose personality and habits were most compatible with his own, someone who truly loved him, whom he also loved enough, and who would stay by his side until the end.

If after confirming the relationship, either party regretted it or even felt unhappy for a moment, Aiwass believed that such a relationship was sloppy and incomplete.

"...How peculiar, a perfectionist when it comes to relationships."

Meg, who had seen it all, hit the nail on the head regarding Aiwass's nature.

She sighed, "That's really not an easy person to be with... Little Isabel really chose a difficult match for herself."

"It's not about being adversaries,"

Aiwass corrected, "In the way of love, it's not about competing against each other. It's a partnership... Surely you have some experience, don't you?"

"Hahaha, you sure do speak your mind, kiddo!"

Meg laughed heartily upon hearing this.

She finished her drink in one gulp, leaving just the large ice cubes clinking back into the glass.

Watching Lily pour her another, she let out a burp.

"I was young once, too,"

Meg sighed, "Although he passed away quite early... around his early thirties, perhaps?"

"Did he die in battle?" guessed Aiwass.

"Oh, you're giving him too much credit. He wasn't that impressive."

Meg summarized in a very crude dialect, straightforwardly saying, "He got too cocky on an adventure, which led to him getting eaten by a dragon. We were just newlyweds, and in the end, we didn't even have a child."

...No, I think that's actually more impressive than dying in battle.

Aiwass thought to himself.

So many people never see a dragon in their lifetimes... Nowadays, many young people even think dragons are just a myth and don't actually exist.

Aiwass of course knew that dragons existed but was also aware that they were very rare.

"So, I think I understand your sentiment. I don't believe it's correct, but I don't think it's wrong, either."

Meg sighed and lifted her glass, "It would be easier if you were some morally depraved playboy. Then I could just tell Isabel straight. She might cry for a while, but it's better than challenging a malevolent dragon."

"Not exactly a malevolent dragon, though..."

"Hmm, perhaps not," Meg's gaze seemed as if it could see into one's soul.

She snorted with laughter, "Let's not talk about that. What do you plan to tell Little Isabel?"

"Let's spend more time together... at least help her advance a few more times,"

Aiwass answered, "Just relying on Sherlock might not be enough to help her—mainly because she might not listen to Sherlock's commands."

Sherlock and Isabel clearly didn't click.

Even though Sherlock was loyal to the queen, they quarreled fiercely the first time they met in a dream when they didn't recognize each other; this proved their incompatibility. It was precisely because they were unaware of each other's identity that their true attitudes were revealed.

After Sherlock later recognized "Lulu's" identity, his attitude noticeably changed.

But that wasn't good.

It wasn't good for Sherlock because it was obvious he didn't want to take Isabel along and she was like dead weight to him; and it wasn't good for Isabel either... because she was too emotional to understand Sherlock's reasoning and plans.

And Aiwass could act as a lubricant.

He could befriend most people—as long as they weren't someone he detested. If they were someone he disliked, then Aiwass would just wish for their death.

"But I might not live that long."

Meg furrowed her brows, contemplating whether she should push the matter further.

At that moment, Aiwass's brow relaxed.

"That's easy."

Aiwass said breezily, "Would you like to live longer? I have a way to make that happen."

"...Just to be clear, I have a strong aversion to Dusk, and I'm an abandoned child of the Hourglass. Neither the life-prolonging effects of Balance nor the Dusk Path would work on me," Meg cautioned.

"I know."

Aiwass nodded, "I have other methods.

"For example, Breaking the Cocoon into a Butterfly... a rejuvenation ritual."