Chapter 148: Struggle
Chapter 148: Struggle
Julian returned back to his room with a satisfied grin playing on his lips as he reflected on the conversation with his mother.
I have planted the seed, the seed of temptation, power, and choice, and now all I have to do is let it grow.
he thought.
The system's voice joined in "Host, you truly are a genius. Who would not want to be the goddess of such a world, especially one like the real world you have created?"
Julian let out a deep sigh, his grin slowly fading as the weight of the conversation settled in.
"It was tougher than I expected, sometimes I could not even form my words… I pushed her too hard, but I had no other choice. This is the only chance I will ever get to plant that seed." He said.
His mind raced with the possibilities and the risks he had taken. Telling your mother to be your woman and to bear your children was not something any sane person would do. The fact that she had not killed him or immediately rejected him told him all he needed to know. She was conflicted and that could work in his favor by continuously growing the seed inside her.
"I will wait," Julian said to himself, his tone colder now. "I will wait until she realizes what this world can offer her... until she sees that being my partner is not just a temptation, but inevitable."
(inevitable: certain to happen; unavoidable)
The system's voice echoed again. "But host, could you not have used another method?"
Julian with a sigh responded. "No, there is no other way. Unlike the Viscountess, I cannot force her. Unlike Julia and Isabel, I cannot seduce her and unlike Emma, I cannot command her."
He stood still for a moment. "She is my mother, and that alone makes it more complicated. If it was that easy then why would it labelled as taboo or as forbidden?"
"She needs to be given a choice, a path where she feels she has control. Only then she will truly choose to follow me, not out of force or manipulation, but because she believes in the vision I am offering her."
Feeling the weight of his recent activities, Julian decided it was time to rest. He let out a long, deep breath and drifted to sleep.
Meanwhile, Regina continued to wander through the world Julian had created. She was far from the duties of being the Duchess, far from the responsibilities and weight of her family. For the first time in what felt like forever, she was free to roam, to think, to feel, and to explore without any restraint.
Eventually she returned to the real world and reappeared in Julian's room.
She saw Julian sleeping peacefully. His face was calm and innocent, completely devoid of the ruthlessness and intensity he had shown earlier.
Regina's heart stirred as she looked at him, seeing a softer side of her son that reminded her of the boy she had once known.
She approached him and gently brushed her hand through his hair, and murmured, "You have put me in quite the situation, haven't you?"
She quietly stood up and took one last look at Julian before leaving his room. She tried collecting her thoughts as she made her way to her own chamber.
As she entered her room, she found Alden waiting for her with a gentle and concerned expression.
Alden looked up as Regina entered and noticed the tension on her face. "Are you all right?" he asked softly, sensing something was amiss.
Regina gave a small smile trying to brush off the overwhelming thoughts that plagued her mind.
"Yes, just… reflecting on everything. Julian has grown so much," she said while avoiding his gaze as memories of the recent conversation with their son raced within her.
Alden nodded and did not press further, though he couldn't shake the feeling that something weighed heavily on her mind. "So, What did he say?" Alden asked.
Regina gave him a reassuring smile and with a slightly trembling voice said, "He has promised to be careful, I lectured him and I am sure he will listen to me.
Alden could not help smile at her word, "Well, that's good to hear. Julian is a strong young man, but he still needs guidance."
Regina forced a smile but her mind was elsewhere, replaying the words Julian had spoken to her in that world.
"Be my woman, rule by my side
."
Regina turned away from Alden, her heart heavy with unspoken conflict. "I will talk to him again, Alden. I just need some time to think," she said softly hoping her voice would hide the turmoil swirling inside her.
Alden the ever trusting, didn't question her further. He gave her space assuming the change in their son, was just too sudden and overwhelming for her, unaware of how deeply the seed Julian had planted had begun to take root in Regina's mind.
******
Julian woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed. His near death experience and his ruthless confrontation with Duke Norish and Marcus was now a distant memory.
I have not fucked in ages.
He chuckled to himself as the thought crossed his mind.
Julian then gazed at his status screen and smirked to himself feeling confident in his current abilities.
"
I am already loaded in my magic field
," he said. "
I do not require any additional skills or abilities. With my spear which is now fused with lightning, cosmic, and death energy, I am unstoppable. All that remains now is to breakthrough to the Grand Mage level.
"
Julian's thoughts then shifted to the concept of "Trinity." He furrowed his brow, wondering what is could mean.
Does it refer to my cosmic, lightning, and death energy
? he wondered.
It seemed plausible as the three energies were each unique and powerful forces.
Maybe it symbolizes the combination of these three energies to form even more powerful force. Perhaps it is more than just a combination of powers. Could there be a deeper significance?
His thoughts raced, trying to understand even a simple hint of what Trinity referred to.