"Amarantha, Veronica... Iliantra, you stay as well. Mother-in-law and Your Majesty Nirena, please leave us alone for a few minutes."

Nirena and Sierra exchanged glances, their expressions filled with puzzlement, and their brows raised slightly. However, neither of them asked any unnecessary questions. The women got up, the chairs creaking slightly as they did, and they left the guest room. At the same time, Adam immediately felt a pressure on him, which wasn't magical but rather a spiritual pressure.

"Then... let's start by introducing you properly," Adam sighed and took Amarantha's hand, turning slightly towards Veronica. "This is Amarantha, my essentially first wife. She has a kind and caring nature, although there are times when she behaves like a mischievous girl, but that's also one of my beloved's quirks."

"Um..." Veronica mumbled something in response.

On her face, resistance and reluctance were evident. The woman, it seemed, didn't particularly approve of the fact that Adam had wives. There was also a place for jealousy stemming from her feelings nurtured over millennia. However, Adam tried to resolve this matter peacefully.

"And, with you, Veronica, I'm not very familiar. Perhaps it was memory loss or something else, but I don't remember you as well as you remember me. That's why I'm different," Adam said, looking into her eyes, which were as black as pitch, and now displayed uncertainty and doubt. "If you want to continue... um... our relationship, you need to accept the fact that I'm now Adam, not some Mirethasil. Then, perhaps, we can give each other what we need."

Veronica didn't respond and averted her gaze, hiding her face from Adam's view. He didn't pressure her further and simply sighed, placing his hand over hers, and said, "I'll give you time to think, alright? In the meantime, we'll return to the city of Sedyon, where you can always find me."

His clothes rustled slightly as he rose from the couch. With a slight nod towards Iliantra, he took Amarantha's hand and left the room. The Elder of Wisdom also followed him, appearing somewhat hesitant but managing to find some assurance in something.

A click echoed as the door closed. Veronica remained alone in the room, her solitary and slender figure still as beautiful, but her back now seemed lonely. Silence filled the room, and only occasionally, the sound of Veronica's index finger tapping against the nearby nightstand could be heard. Minutes turned into hours, and time flowed both swiftly and fleetingly. Veronica's thoughts were occupied with memories of Adam, starting from his younger version and ending with the man he had become.

"He's become a real man. In bed and his behavior," Veronica thought, sighing melancholically. "It seems like I've wasted my entire life... hmm."

She smiled, but... something was unsettling about that smile that could make an ordinary person shudder in horror. This smile, filled with obsession, jealousy, and insane love, was both terrifying and beautiful.

"First, I'll deal with the war... it would be best to stop him the right way. We've already taken over more than five thousand square meters of Avalonia's land, and considering the fertility of Avalonia's soil and its vassal countries, this is the best approach for farming. The Chaos Empire is too unattractive, so action is needed," she muttered, rising from her seat. "There will be a lot of work for a while, but all for the greater good, so... hehehe."

With a maniacal chuckle, she opened the door and walked into the corridor. Laughter echoed through all the corridors, and Lucius, who was keeping an eye on Adam's safety, shuddered.

"Terrifying. Horrifying. Mama."

Veronica needs to open up more to her children...

Adam sat down on the green grass. They were ten kilometers away from the city of Sedyon, accompanied by Iliantra and Amarantha. Nirena had suddenly left them, saying that there were guests in her Fairy Kingdom, so she hurriedly departed. These three remained alone.

"What pleasant weather," Adam murmured as the sun's rays gently warmed his face.

"I agree. After all these tense events, this is the only thing that brings joy," Amarantha replied, sitting beside him.

Iliantra was behind them, her face displaying doubt and jealousy when she noticed their intertwined fingers, holding hands like lovers. This sight caused her considerable pain and doubt.

"Our interaction was very brief, so why am I feeling so jealous?" Iliantra pondered, placing her hand on her heart and tasting bitterness in her mouth. "Unpleasant feeling... I thought I was the first one to notice him."

Her feelings were akin to seeing a beautiful piece of jewelry and wanting to buy it, but someone snatched it right from under your nose. That's the unusual feeling she experienced, which was somewhat different from love but closely related to it. Iliantra clenched her fists, and embarrassment appeared on her face.

"Darn it, I'm quite the old lady, but why am I feeling so jealous of a young man? It seems like I'm going crazy," she thought, furrowing her brows. However, despite these thoughts, she sat down next to Adam, taking an empty spot. "I'm just curious to feel the softness of the grass and sense the energy of the earth. Yes, that's it."

In her head, Iliantra came up with convincing excuses... convincing to herself, of course. She nodded to herself, and her long elven ears twitched cutely as if someone had pulled a little spring. It looked very charming.

"Iliantra... or should I call you Teacher?" Adam began the conversation, wearing a friendly smile on his face.

"Uh? Well... as you prefer. I don't mind, b-but... if you want, you can call me Iliantra," she replied nervously, her voice trembling, and her eyes darting around, while her cheeks flushed.

"Heh... then, Teacher," Adam said, choosing a convenient nickname for himself. "We haven't seen each other in a long time... it's been many days, even months, and a year since that moment. Do you... hold a grudge against me?"

"..."

Iliantra didn't answer. She simply pressed her lips together and placed her hands on her knees, falling silent. Adam didn't press her; he just smiled and waited for a response.

Shh... There was a gentle breeze, caressing the tips of Adam's hair with care, making his hair sway from side to side. Amarantha suddenly moved behind Adam and took out an elastic band.

"The wind promises to be strong. I'll tie your hair into a ponytail," she said.

"Yeah, thanks. But are you sure you can manage it this time?" Adam thanked her with a smirk.

"Um... I-I think I can," Amarantha awkwardly replied.

"Hahaha."

Adam laughed merrily, crossing his legs on the ground and sitting comfortably. Amarantha grumbled but, despite that, she tied his hair into a high ponytail with a smile.

"What a beautiful picture," Iliantra thought, looking at them. "They are the perfect couple... supporting each other, caring for each other, and even in difficult situations, they are always there for each other."

Envy welled up within her. She wished she had something like this too. In Iliantra's imagination, there was little that could compare to the pure love that made people change, regardless of the direction of that change. The bitter taste in her mouth grew stronger and stronger, while the weight on her heart felt like a stone.

"Am I angry with him? Partially... I believe he betrayed me and Elfheim," Iliantra thought, recalling his question. "However, I can't blame him for that, and I don't have the right to. As much as I'd like to, Adam was never a member of Elfheim, even if he lived there for some time. My feelings are just foolish."

She closed her eyes, savoring the gentle breeze, as if this moment of tranquility was exceptionally important to her. Doubts crept into her heart, but as the wind blew, they seemed to vanish. It felt as though Nature itself was communicating with her, trying to comfort her. A soft smile graced Iliantra's face as she realized this.

"Adam..." she suddenly began.

"Yes?" replied Adam, whose hair was now tied up into a high ponytail. He looked at her with a questioning gaze and smiled, very friendly and tenderly.

"..." Iliantra hesitated but gathered her courage, murmuring, "I... I will return to Elfheim. And before that, I wanted you to know... I don't blame you, and no one does. It might sound harsh, but you didn't play a significant role in the elf society, I'm sure any grievances toward you are only because of the current state of our country. When it's all over, complaints will come your way, so I want you to be prepared for that."

Adam fell silent. He gazed into her gentle green eyes and found peace and relaxation in them. There was no bitterness in her words; she was simply sharing her thoughts and giving friendly advice. To this, Adam smiled and nodded.

"Thank you for your warning, Iliantra. I won't hold you back, but I hope we'll meet again after the war," he said as he stood up.

"What?" Iliantra exclaimed.

"And then... you'll be more honest with your emotions and desires," he mumbled.

"!!!"

Iliantra blushed deeply when Adam grabbed her waist and pulled her close. His gentle breath tickled her neck, and a playful kiss on her collarbone made her body shiver with euphoria. She pushed him away in shock and turned to run. After five seconds...

"All that remains of her is the pleasant scent of flowers," he muttered.

"And I see you won't give up your habit of flirting with women," Amarantha protested.

"Hahaha... a habit."

***

"What? Demons are ending the war?!" A loud cry rang out.

It was the general leading Avalonia's main army in the war against the demons. He felt uneasy about such news and sensed that there was something more to it. Richard frowned and looked at the demon envoy with clear disdain.

"How can I trust you?" Richard asked with obvious skepticism.

To be continued...

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