Once Arthur had calmed down, the real conversation began. Alicia and the others were excused to get some rest, leaving Ard and Eva to explain everything to Arthur and Alexis, with Abel filling in the gaps. Arthur's face, which at first seemed like he couldn't be bothered with his son's excuses, gradually became deathly serious.

As he listened, he realized their story perfectly connected the dots of everything happening at the academy and across the world. When they finished, Arthur let out a heavy sigh and leaned back in his chair. He stayed silent for a moment before looking at Ard and Eva with a piercing gaze.

"Fine. I understand. I realize the two of you were destined to meet. But as you know, the situation is dire. War has already broken out between the Orthus Empire and the Ateras Kingdom. Your presence here in Fredonia is a serious matter, Princess Evangeline," Arthur said.

"I understand... Papa," Eva replied.

At the word Papa, Arthur's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Ard, Alexis, and Abel all whipped their heads toward Eva so fast it looked like they might snap their necks.

"Hey, Eva... what... what did you just call my father?" Ard asked.

"Papa. Because I'm serious about this. I'm not here because you dragged me along; I'm here because I want to be here, with you. I know exactly what's happening with my father, Emperor Ellard III. So please, don't let my presence here become a diplomatic nightmare between two nations," Eva stated firmly.

Arthur studied Eva as she sat before him, meeting his gaze with unwavering resolve. Slowly, a smile spread across his face.

"Good. That's the answer I was waiting for. Honestly, I have no desire to complicate things. While we aren't at odds with the Orthus Empire, we are close allies with the Ateras Kingdom. If they ask for help, we will step in. I won't let this become a diplomatic issue, and I understand why you fled. Abel has already filled me in on everything—even back when you were still at the academy," Arthur said.

"That's right, Eva. I've told Papa everything. Now, let me explain how Edmund managed to return to the capital and escape the royal Raven units," Abel added.

"Regarding that, Abel, I think it's best if you discuss it privately with Ard and Eva later. Our goal now is to address Princess Eva's presence. As for you, Princess, neither I nor Papa will leak a word of this. As far as we are concerned, you aren't a Princess of the Empire. You are just an ordinary girl named Esmeralda," Alexis said with a smile.

"Thank you, brother-in-law," Eva replied, bowing her head.

"Wow, I like the sound of that. Does that mean there are seven more people who are going to call me brother-in-law?" Alexis asked, glancing at Ard with a teasing smirk.

"Is there something you want to say, brother?" Ard asked with a cynical smile.

"Just that I already know who you and Princess Eva really are. Abel told us months ago, and the prophecy was true. But what I didn't expect was that you'd turn out to be such a player," Alexis replied.

"Are you trying to pick a fight with me?" Ard asked, annoyed.

"I just missed my stupid, reckless little brother—the one whose messes we always have to clean up," Alexis answered, grinning.

"Huh... am I really that bad?" Ard asked.

"Yep, and you're looking at the proof right now," Alexis and Abel answered in unison.

"Enough. Like Alexis said, I accept Eva one hundred percent as your fiancée. However, you must speak with King Brutus of the Rellios Kingdom. You have to escort his daughter home and tell him the truth. I'm sure he will understand," Arthur told Ard.

"Understood... Papa," Ard replied.

Suddenly, "Blam!" the study door swung wide open. A beautiful girl, about thirteen years old with red hair and dressed in her nightgown, charged into the room. "Wham!" she slammed into Ard, hugging him tight.

"Whoa, Adeline! What are you doing?" Ard asked.

"Why didn't you tell me you were home, Brother?" Adeline shot back.

"Why aren't you in bed yet, Adeline?" Alexis asked.

"I couldn't sleep! I heard my brother was back, but he wasn't in his room," Adeline answered.

"Sigh... don't be a nuisance, Adeline. We're in a meeting," Abel said.

"Shut up, Abel! Don't ruin this," Adeline snapped.

"You... what did you just say?" Abel asked, annoyed.

Then, Adeline turned her gaze to Eva. She looked back at Ard with a face full of questions.

"Who is she?" Adeline asked, pointing at Eva.

"She's Esmeralda... um... she's my fiancée, hahaha," Ard stammered.

"What? Isn't Alicia your fiancée?" Adeline asked, shocked.

"Well... yeah, something like that," Ard replied.

"Your brother has eight fiancées," Arthur chimed in.

Adeline whipped her head toward her father, then back to Eva. Finally, she looked at Ard again, her eyes welling up with tears.

"But Brother, you promised to marry me!" Adeline cried.

"What?!" Arthur, Alexis, Abel, and even Eva gasped in shock.

"When did I ever say that?" Ard asked.

"Whenever I said I wanted to be your Queen in the future, you always said 'sure' and patted my head!" Adeline protested.

"Oh... that," Ard muttered. "I thought she was just joking because she was a kid and my sister... turns out she was serious," Ard thought to himself.

"Besides, Brother," Adeline said. She stood next to Eva and placed both hands over her own chest. "Compared to her, I'm bigger! I'm even bigger than Alicia! So you should just pick me," Adeline added, glancing at Eva's chest.

"Huh... who is she exactly, Ard?" Eva asked, annoyed as she glanced at Adeline's chest, which was indeed more developed despite the girl only being thirteen.

"Um... she's my sister, the youngest and most spoiled princess of Fredonia," Ard said.

"Yep, she's our bratty little sister," Abel added.

"Shut up, Abel!" Adeline screamed.

"Hey Adeline, go to bed. We still have things to discuss," Alexis said.

"I'm staying here. I won't be a bother," Adeline replied, plopping down on Ard's lap.

"That's enough. We'll finish this tomorrow. It's late. Esmeralda, please go get some rest," Arthur said.

"Thank you, Papa," Eva replied.

"Hah... Papa? You're calling my father... Papa?" Adeline snapped at Eva.

"Um... yes. He's my father-in-law," Eva challenged with a smirk.

"Grr... duel me right now!" Adeline shouted, jumping off Ard's lap and pointing at Eva.

"Whoa, Adeline, stop," Ard tried to intervene.

"You might want to rethink that, Adeline. Even if you beat Esmeralda, you still have to get through Alicia, Milia, Beatrice, Rosalind, Pyria, Mirea, and Claudia... I got the names right, didn't I, Ard?" Alexis teased.

"Ugh... yeah, you did," Ard replied, defeated.

Feeling ganged up on, Adeline's face turned bright red. She glared at her brothers, her father, and finally Eva.

"Grrr... I hate you all! I'm going to bed!" Adeline screamed.

She turned and stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook and the painting next to it went crooked. Arthur, Alexis, Abel, and Ard all sighed in unison.

"I never knew you had a sister, Ard," Eva said.

"I just never brought it up," Ard replied.

"Forgive her, Princess Eva. She's just a child and doesn't mean anything by it. It's all the influence of this useless brother of hers," Alexis said, pointing at Ard.

"Hey! What do you mean 'useless'?" Ard shot back.

"Alright, that's enough. We'll talk more in the morning. Abel, you need to tell Ard and Esmeralda what happened with Edmund tomorrow," Arthur said.

"Understood, Papa," Abel replied.

Finally, Ard and Eva left with Alexis and Abel to go to their assigned rooms. After entering his own room, Ard sat on the edge of his bed. Suddenly, he heard soft snoring. He pulled back the covers and his eyes went wide. Adeline was fast asleep in his bed as if it were her own.

"Are you kidding me? Now she's in here," Ard thought to himself.

He moved to the side of the bed next to her and gently stroked her hair.

"I'm home," Ard murmured softly, careful not to wake his little sister.

Meanwhile, in the guest room, Eva stood before the mirror, staring intently at her chest. She cupped her breasts with both hands, lifting them up before letting them go. After that, she actually tried to gauge their size. Since Adeline had been wearing pajamas without any undergarments, her figure had been quite obvious. Eva tried checking herself in the mirror one more time, but no matter how hard she looked or how much she stared, it was clear that Adeline's development was far beyond hers. The girl's size was undeniably superior.

"How is it even possible? How can that little girl be bigger than me? How? For three thousand years, I've always been this size... Why am I letting this get to me? This is the first time anyone has ever compared chest sizes with me, and it's seriously starting to get under my skin," Eva thought to herself, unable to accept what Adeline had just said.

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