My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 195: A maiden's heart is pure?

Growing up, I've come to realize that the most unexpected things tend to happen when you least expect them.

It's been the overarching theme of my life, from the very beginning to the present moment.

Who I am today wouldn't be possible if my mom hadn't accidentally encountered me that winter night and chosen to adopt me from the orphanage.

My skills and talents, now a significant part of who I am, wouldn't have blossomed if I hadn't faced bullying back in grade school.

It was during those tough times that I found my best friends, a group of people who stood by me and shielded me from the cruelty of the new world I was introduced in.

And now, here I am, in another world, all because of a generic popular novel that I happened to read. I was transmigrated inside that very story without rhyme or reason.

Life, as I've come to understand, is full of surprises, but I can argue that mine has been a tad more eventful and unexpected than others.

After all, what are the odds of someone else experiencing what I'm going through right now?

Yet, despite the plethora of surprises I've encountered, the situation I found myself in at this very moment paled in comparison to the others.

It was still early in the morning when, out of nowhere, the unexpected took a new turn.

"Can I kiss you?"

Huh…?

Was this a confession or a request?

The moment I heard those words coming out of Louise's mouth, time seemed to have stopped, and I just continued to stare at her with a dumbfounded face.

Although looking at her face slowly turning red and starting to panic was cute, my mind was still processing what she just said.

She wants to kiss me?

Why?

Did something happen?

I knew Louise was a bit more open and proactive with her feelings for me since that day, but I didn't expect her to be this bold.

Did I spark something in her with our outing yesterday?

'No, I don't think so….'

I appreciated her openness, but couldn't she have chosen a better place to ask?

"Louise?"

Elena behind me called out to her, and as expected, the shock on the two girls' faces was palpable.

The bright red blush Louise had a while ago faded, and her skin slowly turned pale, with a look of grim dread etched across her face – she looked like someone who wanted to die.

On the contrary, shock and bewilderment were on Elena's face.

If I had a mirror a while ago, I was sure my face and expression were the same as hers right now.

However, this wasn't the ideal time for a confession, and that much was clear.

The atmosphere grew awkward, and a palpable tension settled in. Louise's face, initially flushed with determination, began to shift.

Panic etched across her features, her attempt at a graceful retreat turning into a frantic escape.

"I— I better go! Please forget what I just said!"

Louise's panicked plea echoed, the urgency in her voice betraying the turmoil within.

Before she could make her hurried exit, I acted on impulse, reaching out to grab her hand. The soft sound of cloth against cloth, a barely audible tuck, marked the moment of contact.

"Ah… please let go of me! Please…."

Louise's plea held a mixture of distress and complex emotions, her eyes on the verge of tears. Despite her plea, her inner conflict was visible on her face.

Yet, even if I wanted to release her now, the complexity of the situation would only deepen if left unaddressed.

I doubted Louise would willingly meet with me later; the prospect of embarrassment would likely drive her to avoid us altogether.

The memory of this day, with its awkward confession or request, would linger within her until the end of her days.

What Louise had just done was akin to a mistress attempting to kiss a husband right in front of his wife, and the gravity of the situation was not lost on her.

It was, in her perspective, perhaps the most disastrous moment of her life.

Aware of Louise's existing trauma and complexity in interpersonal relationships, I could sense that she probably thought that this incident could spell the end of her connection with Elena and the others.

"Louise… I'm sure what you said was just a slip of the tongue right?"

She stammered, replying hesitantly, "Y-yes," accompanied by a sorrowful expression.

I couldn't help but wonder why she seemed so distressed, especially when I was trying to offer her an excuse for her behavior.

Even Elena, standing beside me, was scrutinizing Louise closely, sensing the tension in the air.

Despite my attempt to provide an easy way out, Louise's response remained uncertain and laden with a sense of guilt.

Elena, noticing the ambiguity, took charge and called out to Louise with a serious tone and unwavering gaze.

"Louise" Elena addressed her directly. "What you said just now—"

"S-senior, no, I mean, E-Elena, this is just a misunderstanding. My mind was a bit cloudy at the moment, s-so—" Louise stuttered with almost every word.

The atmosphere was charged with tension as Elena, with unwavering directness, asked, "Do you like him?"

"…."

Louise's shocked expression was evident, and as their eyes locked, Elena's gaze softened, revealing a gentleness that took the edge off the straightforward question.

Uncertain of Elena's intentions, I observed the subtle smile playing on her lips, hoping it was an indication that she wouldn't harm Louise.

Louise, however, stood frozen like a deer caught in headlights, her mouth quivering as she struggled to formulate a response.

The awkwardness of the situation intensified with each passing moment; I, holding onto Louise, could feel the discomfort radiating through the air as they exchanged glances and unspoken words.

Sensing the need to diffuse the palpable tension, I suggested, "Let's talk about all this inside, shall we?"

Gently pulling Louise along, the weight of her seemingly lifeless form made it feel as though I had just dragged a corpse into the lion's den

….

As the seconds ticked away on the clock behind us, the intensity in the room was palpable.

Elena and Louise sat facing each other, their silent communication laden with unspoken thoughts.

Louise, head downcast, and Elena, deep in contemplation with her hand resting on her chin, created an atmosphere thick with anticipation.

Meanwhile, I found myself a few meters away, meticulously tidying up the bed. Elena had insisted that I leave, citing the need for a private conversation with Louise.

However, if her intention was to keep me away, she should have ushered me outside.

Did Elena want me close enough to hear but not to see, or was this a deliberate ploy to make me an unwitting witness?

"Louise, do you like Ian?" Elena's inquiry cut through the charged air, the question hanging in the room.

Louise, caught off guard, stammered, "I-I don't know…."

"You know lies are useless in front of me right~"

"You don't have to be so nervous in front of me Louise… just say your truth. We are friends, aren't we?" Elena encouraged; her voice softer now.

Louise, encouraged by Elena's assurance, looked up at her with newfound clarity.

Taking a deep breath, she met Elena's gaze and confessed, "I like him…" The words came out gradually, her voice growing quieter as embarrassment painted her cheeks a deep shade of pink.

Louise braced herself for what she anticipated would be Elena's violent response, her anxiety evident in her apprehensive posture.

To her surprise, there was no explosion of anger or frustration. Instead, Elena gazed at her with an unexpected gentleness, a smile playing on her lips.

"I see… I knew something like this would happen eventually. I didn't think it would happen like this, though," Elena remarked, her tone carrying a mix of understanding and amusement.

"Eh...?" Louise uttered, confusion etched on her face.

"You really have no idea how much of an open book you are, Louise. Even back at Lucian Hall, no, ever since I first met you at Estelle Academy, your gaze always had a hint of a girl in love whenever you looked at Ian," Elena continued, her observations leaving Louise taken aback.

"B-but that was…." Louise tried to interject, but Elena pressed on, undeterred.

"Not to mention, you're quite bad at hiding your feelings. One action from me and Aria back then always enticed some very memorable reactions from you," Elena recalled, a teasing glint in her eyes.

With each revelation from Elena, Louise's face gradually grew even redder, the realization of the situation sinking in. It seemed that even Elena had noticed the subtle signs of Louise's affections for Ian.

I couldn't help but reflect on Elena's perceptiveness.

She had always been the most observant among the girls, aside from Ana. Elena quickly recognized the dynamics and nuances in my relationships with others, evident in how she swiftly detected my suspicious interactions with Aria.

However, amidst the revelations and Louise's embarrassment, I couldn't shake the feeling that Elena seemed rather pleased about the situation.

The enigmatic smile on her face hinted at a deeper understanding or perhaps an anticipation of the changes this admission could bring to their dynamic.

I was half-expecting another outbreak given Elena's previous anger when she discovered my relationship with Aria.

However, to my surprise, Elena's demeanor was entirely different this time.

She looked at Louise with an unexpected gentleness, a smile softening her features.

As I observed this, I couldn't help but wonder if the absence of anger was due to the fact that I wasn't directly involved in this conversation, or if Elena had a particular understanding or acceptance of Louise's feelings.

In this world, polygamy was accepted, and as long as Elena's position as the first wife remained unchanged, there was a likelihood that my relationships with the other girls would eventually be approved.

Despite Elena's inclination to monopolize my attention, she had shown a surprising understanding regarding the complexities of my relationships.

Having broken her heart once with Aria, I was apprehensive when Louise unexpectedly revealed her feelings.

However, Elena's positive response left me both relieved and perplexed.

It seemed that she might be more accepting of any other girl aside from Aria, though the prospect of dating someone like Lilliana still seemed dubious.

"S-senior, I-I mean, Saintess Elena… are you fine with this?" Louise tentatively asked, her voice trembling with anxiety.

Elena, maintaining her calm and composed demeanor, responded, "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I-I mean, I'm technically having romantic feelings for your boyfriend, so I thought you would be mad at me. And I even kept it a secret all this time…" Louise confessed, her nerves palpable in the room.

Elena leaned back, crossing her legs, and regarded Louise with a thoughtful expression.

"Hmm, when you say mad, no, I'm not, but I am still a bit sad that you fell for the man that I love. But even still, I know your feelings for him are true and pure. In fact, I'm quite happy you fell for him. After all, I can't imagine a day where I would let you marry some random dude out there. It would be better if we shared Ian with each other. I trust him to take care of the 'two' of us..... in fact I would be very happy if you accepted a ring from him right now, that's as long as you're fine with being the second wife though" Elena said, her tone surprisingly happy and intuitive.

As I listened to Elena's words, I couldn't help but shake my head in disbelief.

Her demeanor had shifted, and she now resembled a protective mother vouching for her son's qualities.

The twist was that this time, I was her lover, and she was offering my competence to another girl.

It was a peculiar situation, one that left me torn between amusement and disbelief at Elena's unexpected perspective on our relationships.

As Elena's words echoed in the room, the mention of "the two of us" wasn't lost on me.

It felt deliberate, a pointed message aimed at making me overhear her plan. Was she attempting to disrupt Aria's position as my second wife by offering it to Louise?

It seemed like a strategic move, and I couldn't shake the feeling that Elena might have orchestrated this openness to Louise for a specific purpose.

'After all women were always unpredictable, I learned that the hard way through mom…'

"W-what are you saying, senior!" Louise exclaimed, clearly taken aback by Elena's unexpected proposal.

"Like what I said, let's both marry Adrian" Elena replied, her tone unwavering.

A heavy silence hung in the air as both Louise and Elena exchanged glances. The weight of the proposal settled, and after a few seconds, a large exhale escaped Louise's lungs.

It became evident that Louise had grasped the sincerity in Elena's words, realizing that Elena was genuinely okay with the prospect of sharing our lives in this unconventional way.

Louise's eyes then met mine, and in response, I offered her a gentle smile, silently conveying my understanding.

Elena, the orchestrator of this unfolding drama, seemed to revel in the control she had over the situation. The dynamics were shifting, and it was becoming clear that Elena had a plan, one that involved reshaping the relationships among us.

"T-then… is it okay if I take him out on a date right now?" Louise hesitantly asked, seeking confirmation.

"Sure" Elena replied casually, as if giving permission for a simple outing.

Yup they didn't even ask for my opinion on the matter…...

....

"You're here...."

Bowing her head a pair of silvery ashen gray eyes stared at a beautiful blonde haired man.

The man's crimson red eyes then looked at her.

"Lilliana Vulter Tellus.... tell me everything you know about that 'thing'"

Lilliana felt like killing him at that moment.