We managed to arrive back at the Capital without any other surprises a few days later. Livia more or less gave her room in the Nagare to Yumeria while she stayed with me in the Captain's Quarters. She had been very insistent in affirming our feelings for each other at any given opportunity, to the point that Control had to scold her to restrict our activities to the bedroom. That they did so during dinner was probably out of spite to embarrass us in front of the others.

When I worriedly brought up the possibility of pregnancy, Livia waved off my concern with a laugh. Apparently, contraceptive magic was a mandatory thing for girls at the Academy. She assured me that there wouldn't be any accidents right before she jumped me again.

The girl was insatiable.

The Saint's Necklace was initially placed back in the safe, but Livia complained that Anne kept yelling to give her a turn. Yumeria volunteered to watch over the relic until we got back to the Capital. That definitely won her points with Livia.

Deirdre was obviously happy for us, but she was even happier when she managed to talk me into letting her sit in Black Getter's cockpit for a while.

"You have made me the happiest woman in Holfort!" She yelled, eyes sparkling, before she started moving the levers at random and yelling out Black Getter's attacks. It was pretty adorable, actually. I was glad to make her day. Maybe I should let her have a few runs in the simulator after we get back as a surprise? She'll probably like that.

Clara spent her time fretting over Livia, much to our confusion. Apparently she took Yumeria's words of having a baby too seriously. Livia bore the pampering like a champ, having a soft spot for the girl.

Once we docked at the Capital, Livia gave me one last deep kiss before running off to talk to Angie and Clarice. I told her to give them more time but she was determined to see her two friends as soon as she could. I just hoped that she knew what she was doing. I wasn't sure how they would take the news of Livia and I becoming lovers after they effectively broke up with me.

Clara said her farewells as well and made her way to another part of the Capital. Visiting friends, she said. The girl was smiling as she left, but I knew that what happened in Elven Island was still bothering her. I hoped that she would get better with time.

That left me with Control's Stealth Drone, Yumeria, and Deirdre as the Nagare lifted off to make its way back to the lab. The Saint's Necklace was in my pocket as Control wasn't too keen on keeping the thing in the Nagare where it could have been exposed to more Getter Rays than it probably already has.

"Hey, Deirdre do you know what I need to do to register Yumeria as my demi-human servant?" I asked as the three of us walked back to the Academy. I would have asked Jenna but I was sure that she was still at Daniel's until school started up again.

"You just need to register her at the main offices and they will take care of the rest. You will be the one responsible for all her needs though. That includes food, clothing, and board." She answered after a moment of consideration.

"Doesn't the Academy provide a service for that?" I had heard a couple of girls talk about that once a few months ago before one of our classes.

"They do. There is a separate dorm for demi-humans if you choose to not have them sleep in your room. The school will take care of most of their needs then but you will need to pay a weekly fee." On one hand, that sounded like the best course of action. On the other hand, Yumeria was absolutely not a normal elf so there is also a risk of her getting harassed or something while she was there. I didn't want to know what an elf that was turned into an oni could do to someone if pushed far enough.

"I might need to keep her with me then." I muttered worriedly. Despite her behavior and scarring, Yumeria was still an objectively beautiful woman. Having her stay in my room would raise a lot of eyebrows, probably.

"I doubt that Livia would be worried about you taking advantage of Yumeria if she sleeps in your room, Leon." Deirdre pointed out when she noticed the expression on my face.

I scratched my cheek and coughed at her statement. "I can probably get away with asking for a small bed for her from the staff."

"Probably." She said, rolling her eyes and chuckling. "What are they going to do, say no to the Doom Knight?"

"Thank you for allowing me to accompany you, moreso for letting me experience what it is like inside Black Getter's cockpit. I will not forget this." Deirdre said to me once we arrived at the Academy. She then turned to Yumeria and gave her a hug before walking off in the direction of the girls' dormitories.

"Well, let's go get you registered." I told the elf and we both made our way to the main academy offices. The process of registering Yumeria as my personal demi-human servant was ridiculously easy. I just had to give them my name and rank as well as her name and race. That was it. I was expected to take care of her, but they didn't really go very far in checking if I was even capable of that. Yumeria didn't even need to go through any physical exams or anything either. No wonder so many students had demi-human servants if this was the amount of scrutiny they went through before being allowed in the Academy.

Going back to the boys' dorm and asking for an extra bed was pretty easy as well. They just asked for the size of the bed I needed and said that it would be delivered within the week. That did mean that Yumeria would have to sleep in my bed for a while though. I guess that I could take the couch, just like old times. I also asked where I could get a few sets of maid outfits for her and was referred to a particular tailor in the Capital that specializes in demi-human servant clothes.

"This is us." I said for Yumeria's benefit as I opened the door to my dorm room. It was pretty much how I left it, though it brought back a sting in my chest when I remembered what happened here before with Angie and Clarice.

"You seem ill at ease, Inheritor." Yumeria spoke up, reaching out and gently touching my arm. "You may partake of my body to soothe the pain in your heart if you desire."

I lowered my head and sighed in frustration. We had to wean her off of treating herself like some sort of toy. "Thank you for the offer, but no. I didn't bring you with me for that kind of reason."

"As you wish. Just please don't forget that you may take me at any time you wish." She told me in an almost motherly tone. Thankfully, Control saved me from having to address that particular statement.

I believe that it would be prudent to procure or order supplies that Yumeria may need while we still have ample time to do so.

Well, that was certainly a turnaround from how Control treated her when they first met.

We pretty much spent the rest of the day going around and getting what we needed for Yumeria to make her stay at the Academy as comfortable as possible. She didn't seem bothered by either the weird looks she got because of her horn or the lecherous looks she got because of the rest of her body. After we got her maid outfit ordered, the sun was already setting.

I sure hope that whatever talk Livia was having with Angie and Clarice was going well.

…

"So we were all under a spell this whole time?" Clarice Fia Atlee asked as she shakily lowered the cup of tea in her hand. "One that made us all think that you and Leon weren't in love with each other?"

"Livia, you have to understand how absurd that sounds." Angelica Rapha Redgrave slowly said to the girl who she considered as her best friend. "You don't have to make something like that up just to justify being together with Leon."

"But neither of you could even think about the possibility until I hugged you, right?" Olivia pointed out as she bit into a cupcake. The three girls were having tea and snacks in Angelica's room after Olivia managed to track both of them down. "It was Compelling Voice that did that, even Leon couldn't get rid of it."

"Why would you even do such a thing?" Clarice frowned at how her friend winced at the question.

Olivia looked away in shame, worrying the two other girls. "I thought that I didn't deserve Leon, that he would have been better off with you two instead."

"Why would you think that?! Of course you deserve to love and be loved by Leon! Clarice and I were both in agreement to accept you!" Angelica began with passion before deflating at the reminder of their decision. "When we were both still engaged with him."

"It's not yet official, is it? Ending the engagement?" Olivia worriedly asked before gasping at how defeated her friends looked.

"Why bother? Leon already has you and…another." Angelica bitterly said. Olivia narrowed her eyes at the mention of another woman.

"Who is she?" If anyone asked her, Olivia would insist that she did not growl when she spoke. The two other girls were taken aback by how their friend was suddenly acting.

"How did you break yourself out of your spell?" Clarice asked instead. The three of them just silently had a staring contest until Angelica cleared her throat.

"We all might as well have a sleepover then, if we're going to trade stories." She suggested when she looked at the time. The others agreed and they all ended up back in Angelica's room after having dinner and changing into their sleepwear.

Olivia was floored at the news that Leon managed to actually make the Queen of Holfort fall in love with him. She understood why when they told her about how lonely and neglected Queen Mylene was and how he apparently treated her in such a special way. She wasn't angry at Leon for being there for the poor woman, though she felt rather self conscious considering how gorgeous and wonderful she was. How could she compete with someone like that?

Angelica and Clarice, in turn, were horrified and anguished when Olivia told them about what happened on Elven Island. Their hearts went out to all the elves that had to be put down and to Yumeria who was put through so much. They embraced Olvia when she started crying at how she killed a number of them before she found out that they were victims. They tried to sooth her when she told them how helpless she felt when she couldn't even heal them. They then looked at her like she was crazy when she told them about the ghost inside the Saint's Necklace that tried to have their way with Leon by possessing her body.

"What is even Leon's life anymore?" Olivia asked helplessly as the three of them laid in Angelica's bed, with her in the middle.

"Trust us, we stopped trying to think that things made sense once Marie Fou Lafan spoke to us on his behalf." Angelica said with a mirthless laugh as she curled up to Olivia's left side. Clarice giggled as she snuggled against Olivia's right side. The girls silently just enjoyed each others' warmth in silence for a while.

"So do you think that you can give Leon another chance? You both know that he didn't go out of his way to make the Queen fall in love with him. I know that you three all still love each other." Olivia finally asked the question the other two girls were dreading since they started talking about this subject.

"We know that, but it really hurt that we had to learn it from Queen Mylene instead of him." Clarice admitted as she squeezed closer into her friend.

"Then make him apologize." Olivia said as she stroked Clarice's hair.

"And what about the next time this happens? How many more women will he save? How many more would fall in love with him? Where would he draw the line?" Angelica asked in frustration. Instead of sympathizing with her, Olivia could only tilt her head to the side in confusion.

"Did either of you ask him to draw a line?" She got her answer when the two girls looked away in shame.

"We just…" Clarice trailed off, unable to put her feelings to words.

"We don't want to end up being replaced again." Angelica completed the thought before continuing when Olivia gave her a flat stare. "Yes, we are aware that our actions have defied our very desire."

"Would you be willing to talk to him about all this? Just the four of us. Together." Olivia proposed, pulling both girls into her arms. "You can talk about your desires and your fears. Tell him clearly that you don't want any more competition for his heart."

"Do we even deserve him anymore?" Angelica asked with no small amount of fear.

"I certainly think you do. Besides, I don't think I can match up to the Queen by myself once Leon does take her as his lover for real." Olivia said before turning to Angelica and cupping her face.

"Livia?" Angelica asked as she felt her face heat up at how close their faces were.

"Let me show you a few ways how we can even the odds." Was all she heard before Olivia rolled on top of her friend.

"Oh my~" Clarice gasped in surprise even as she leaned in for a closer view.

Olivia giggled against Angelica's lips as the girl melted into the kiss.

Oh the things she did for her beloved Leon.

…

"What is it? Do you have any idea what time–" Mari Fou Lafan's complaints went silent when she saw who was on the other side of the door. It was already late into the night, but it didn't stop a group of armed and armored knights from loudly knocking at her door.

"Marie Fou Lafan. You are under arrest for your family's involvement with the Offrey house conspiracy. Do not resist." The one who looked like a leader declared. He glanced behind her and put his hand on the sword strapped to his hip, the other knights following his example.

"Kyle, don't." Marie ordered her half-elf servant, who looked like he was about to jump the knights. "Find Julius and Leon in the morning. Tell them what happened."

Marie wasn't scared at all, even when the knights treated her roughly as she was taken out of the girls' dorm in just her sleepwear. She knew that Leon would save her.

It's what he does.