novelraw Chapter 101: A Harem Is a Must
Chapter 101: A Harem Is a Must
Yuanxi Palace remained in Westheid’s arms for a long time, only leaving reluctantly when the first rays of twilight began to fall.
After seeing Luyetan off, Westheid heaved a long sigh of relief.
Although holding back had been exhausting, he found he had actually enjoyed the process of sparring with Luyetan.
Whether in chess or in the back-and-forth of a Chaotic Scene, it had been a long time since he had faced such an evenly matched opponent.
However, Westheid knew what was most important to him. He turned and said apologetically to Reiya:
"I’m sorry. It’s not often you have a day off. I not only wasted your time but also made you endure Yuanxi Palace’s cruel sense of humor."
Reiya shook her head.
"Mm... West, you were handling important business. The jokes and teasing... I don’t mind them."
’Does she really not mind?’
Westheid trusted in Reiya’s rationality and wisdom. She was by no means a petty, dramatic girl.
But he was more skeptical of human nature. ’How could anyone be teased like that and not get the least bit angry?’
He simply couldn’t read any thoughts on the White-haired Dragon Lady’s beautiful face.
Westheid asked, "How about you stay and rest here tonight? I doubt the Holy Tree Palace will mind you staying out for the night, will they?"
"Of course. No one can restrict my freedom anymore. West, would you mind if I washed her scent off of you?"
"Hm?"
Before Westheid could figure out what Reiya meant, the Silver-haired Dragon Lady had already stepped forward.
She threw her arms around Westheid and, without another word, crashed her lips against his in a fierce invasion.
"!!"
Westheid was surprised by the White-haired Dragon Lady’s decisiveness, but he responded with equal fervor.
After a long, deep kiss, Reiya finally broke away, leaving them both breathless.
A glistening, viscous thread of saliva stretched between them, thin but unbroken.
"There. That should wash away a bit of that other scent."
The Dragon Lady’s exquisitely beautiful face held an otherworldly quality. Wiping the corner of her mouth, she looked at Westheid with a smile in her magnificent eyes, tilted her head, and said:
"I wanted to kiss you, so I did. You don’t like it, West?"
"...How could I not? I’m more than happy to oblige."
Westheid replied instantly.
Reiya acting so emotionally was an unequivocally good thing. At least it meant she wasn’t bottling everything up for a major explosion later.
The Silver-haired Princess wrapped her arms around her lover’s neck, gazing deeply at Westheid. Her eyes seemed to trace every inch of his handsome, poem-perfect face.
Then, her eyelids lowered, her snow-white lashes trembling slightly.
"I hate her. Not because of Yuanxi Palace’s forwardness with you, nor her cruel sense of humor, but because she actually used money and power to coerce you. West, I saw the reluctance in your eyes..."
’No, that was just me trembling from holding back. If you hadn’t been here, I would have been more than willing to let something happen with Luyetan.’
Westheid thought to himself. But since Reiya had misunderstood, he wasn’t stupid enough to tell her the truth.
Reiya continued to caress her lover’s cheek, her voice soft.
"But there’s one thing Yuanxi Palace said that I agree with. West, you are a priceless treasure... No, to me, you are the radiance of the dawn, the gold of noon, and the bright orange of dusk."
"If you were a great ballad, I would never stop singing your praise. If you were a sacred hymn, I would never stop my prayer."
The young woman’s magnificent Cang Tong eyes were incomparably clear, as if they could reflect one’s very soul.
"I wish to bask in your light forever, never to profane it with a flippant touch."
Westheid’s eyes widened in astonishment. After finishing her speech, Reiya released her arms from his neck.
"Did you just compare me to..."
Westheid’s question died on his lips.
Just then, Yolanda emerged from the mansion.
"Brother, Your Highness, dinner is ready."
"Mm, understood."
Westheid and Reiya entered the mansion side by side. Yolanda had prepared a candlelight dinner. In the dim, warm light, the aroma of fine food mingled with the intimate atmosphere.
The platinum-blonde girl helped the Patriarch to his seat, poured him a glass of fine wine, and then made an excuse to leave.
’She’s a little too good at reading the room.’
Unfortunately, Reiya didn’t seem to enjoy conversation during dinner. Her movements as she ate were exceptionally elegant and gentle, making almost no sound.
As a result, the candlelight dinner was rather quiet.
Westheid didn’t try to start a conversation, as he, too, was lost in thought.
’There’s no mistake. Reiya just compared me... to the sun.’
Ever since the expulsion of the Dragon Race, only the Radiant Holy Tree was called the God of Radiant Sun. Any description or praise for the sun was generally directed at the Divine Ancestor. For a mortal to dare claim such a title would be considered a grave transgression.
Westheid didn’t know what Reiya really meant. Was she simply using the highest form of praise for her lover, or was it possible...
’Has she guessed my ultimate goal? My Ascension to godhood?’
’No, no, no. I haven’t even begun to gather the requirements for godhood. If she could guess my goal of Ascension just like that, I’d have to suspect she was a reincarnator.’
’She’s probably just using god-like praise to express her feelings. Still, that’s some heavy stuff.’
’True Dragons have the power to manipulate gravity, that’s true, but isn’t that only for those at the Hero Tier?’
’Is Reiya’s affection getting a bit... heavy?’
As soon as dinner ended, the White-haired Dragon Lady was the first to speak.
"West, why did you suddenly decide to retake the Qinghui Territory? To the point that you would... incur such a massive debt."
Hearing this, Westheid didn’t answer directly. He pondered for a moment before asking a question of his own.
"Reiya, do you mind me being intimate with Yuanxi Palace?"
Reiya thought for a moment, then placed a hand over her heart.
"I am not some jealous woman who expresses a shallow love through possessiveness—I wanted to say that, but this ache in my heart makes it difficult to lie. I do care. Just a little."
’I knew it!’
Reiya almost never lied. If she said she cared a little, it meant she cared exactly a little. He didn’t have to worry about her saying one thing and meaning another.
However, Westheid wanted to nip any and all potential problems in the bud.
"I’m afraid I’m going to have to disappoint you, then. Because I have no intention of changing. In fact, I’m going to be even more of a philanderer."
Westheid met Reiya’s subtly strange gaze and said, completely undisguised:
"But none of this is what I truly want. If you’re willing to listen, I would like to tell you my secret."
Reiya sat up straight, her expression serious.
"I’m listening."
Seeing her reaction, Westheid took a deep breath and began his story, starting with the fall of the Qinghui Territory.
"In the second year of the Qinghui New Era, the Chaos Tide struck..."
Making a frank harem declaration to Reiya was something Westheid had planned for a long time.
If all he wanted was to become a Powerhouse, then his Withered Glory Sun and Dragon Soul Furnace Talents would have been more than enough.
Westheid was confident that with his foreknowledge, he could ascend beyond the Legend Tier to the Transcendence Tier, becoming a being as powerful as a Demigod.
However, two Tier T0 Talents couldn’t guarantee his Ascension—in fact, it wasn’t nearly enough. Demigod was the absolute limit he could reach.
Westheid was no peerless, world-shaking genius. If he wanted to reach the pinnacle, he would need more help.
More Tier T0 Talents, and even T1 and T2 Talents and Specialties... that was what he needed.
Thus, his greed dictated that he could not be satisfied with a relationship with Reiya alone.
’A harem! I absolutely have to build a harem!’
But he couldn’t let Reiya become too displeased, either. Westheid was still counting on making the Silver-haired Dragon Lady his Apostle when he achieved godhood.
Therefore, how to manipu... no, how to balance his harem became his top priority.
Making a proud, heaven-blessed woman willingly become the wings for his Ascension sounded incredibly difficult.
But Westheid just so happened to be a damn genius!
’One hundred percent! He was one hundred percent confident that he could make Reiya support him without a single complaint!’