My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 214: Analise Ventus

Adrian slowly opened his eyes, blinking away the remnants of sleep, and was met with a sight that caught him off guard.

Right on top of him, Isabella lay peacefully asleep, emitting soft, endearing snores that warmed the room.

Her light brown hair spilled gently over his chest, and the rhythmic sounds of her breathing created a comforting melody.

'Did I pass out?' Adrian wondered, realizing that the emotional toll from Isabella's mother's outburst might have affected him more than he thought.

He closed his eyes, taking a moment to check in with himself. A sense of relief washed over him when he found that, despite the emotional rollercoaster, he was physically okay.

Glancing around the room, he noticed the absence of the usual morning light that typically streamed in through his east-facing windows. It dawned on him that it wasn't quite morning yet, and he felt a bit disoriented.

'How long was I out?' Adrian mused, his gaze wandering towards the window. The world outside still wore the hues of predawn, casting a tranquil, almost ethereal glow. The sun, though not yet visible, teased the promise of a new day.

"Looks like Ana hasn't entered and cleaned up my room yet..." Adrian's sigh of relief hung in the air, grateful that Analise hadn't discovered the aftermath of whatever had unfolded in his room.

The mere thought of explaining the situation to the girls, especially Analise, was enough to induce a headache.

Carefully, Adrian shifted, mindful not to disturb Isabella's peaceful slumber. Utilizing his aura, he deftly lifted her without making a sound, allowing him to slip out of bed unnoticed.

As he stood, the remnants of a lingering headache served as a constant reminder that the events of the previous night hadn't exactly concluded in the most favorable way for his long-awaited reunion with his mother.

'Considering Mom has marked Isabella as her Apostle… we'll probably contact each other much more often now'

Despite the complications that lay ahead, he couldn't deny a sense of relief at having managed to quell his mother's emotional turmoil the night before.

His mother held a unique place in his heart, distinct from the love he felt for his romantic partners.

Adrian had always looked up to her, and the sight of her in tears the previous night had wounded him deeply.

As he navigated the delicate balance between his affections for Elena and the others as well as the complexities of his family, he found solace in the fact that, for the moment, his mother had been comforted.

"I really kissed her, and quite intimately at that…" The weight of Adrian's confession hung heavily in the air as he grappled with the reality of what had transpired. The memory of their shared moment, filled with unexpected passion, replayed in his mind, stirring a mixture of emotions within him.

'She even pushed her tongue in….'

"Now that I think about it, wasn't that our first kiss together…?" Despite his attempts to deny and evade his mother's feelings for him, the truth had been laid bare, leaving him with a sense of uncertainty about what the future held.

"Although I've been trying to ignore and avoid her feelings for me, now that it's been laid bare, I don't think Mom would hold back now" Adrian acknowledged, a hint of resignation creeping into his voice. The complexity of their relationship seemed more daunting than ever before, with boundaries blurred and emotions laid bare.

'Even though I was planning to ascend before getting more intimate with her…' Adrian trailed off, the weight of his conflicting desires weighing heavily on his mind.

The path he had envisioned for himself seemed to diverge further from the reality of his situation, leaving him feeling adrift in uncertainty.

"Seriously, how complicated…" Adrian's frustration was palpable as he grappled with the tangled web of emotions and responsibilities that now entangled him.

The once-clear lines between duty and desire had blurred, leaving him feeling lost in a sea of conflicting emotions.

'Although she may not be my real mom, the fact of the matter is that she raised me' Adrian reflected, his thoughts turning to the woman who had shaped his upbringing and molded him into the person he had become.

The realization that their bond ran deeper than blood left him questioning his own moral compass and the implications of their newfound intimacy.

'If I was raised like a god, I wouldn't have any problems forming a relationship with her' Adrian admitted, contemplating the differences between the mortal and supernatural worlds. The nuances of morality seemed to shift in the realm of gods.

Contemplating the intricate situation at hand, Adrian decided that dwelling on it wouldn't lead anywhere productive.

Instead, he resolved to take Isabella away before Analise woke up; it was only a matter of time.

Summoning the cloak of the night, he deftly muffled the sounds of his movements, securely holding onto Isabella, who continued to peacefully sleep, seemingly undisturbed.

Despite the urgency of the situation, Adrian faced a logistical challenge.

He admitted to himself that he didn't know the layout of Isabella's room since he had never been there before.

However, with a touch of determination, he considered tracking it using the distinct divinity of love that emanated from her.

'Although it would take too much time' Adrian mused, recognizing the potential delay this could cause. By the time he returned, Analise would likely be wondering where he had disappeared to.

Using portals in this situation wasn't an appealing option either, given the formidable defenses that surrounded a goddess. Adrian weighed his options, knowing that every decision carried its own set of consequences.

Amidst his contemplation, a surprising interruption occurred.

Something soft and plump pressed against his back, and gentle hands wrapped around his neck.

A delightful scent of fresh flowers wafted into his nose.

Accompanied by a voice that seemed both mature and youthful, Meralda's green hair flowed as she hugged him tightly.

"Master…!" she exclaimed with genuine excitement.

Turning around, Adrian looked at her, finding a beaming smile on her face. "Meralda?"

"I missed you, Master," she confessed, hugging him even more tightly.

Although she may be a spirit, Meralda was a high-ranking one, capable of independent summoning without permission and being close to her master.

As such, she could easily materialize her physical body with ease, and her ample breasts pressed against Adrian's back even more tightly.

Observing Meralda happily hugging him while completely ignoring the sleeping Isabella, an idea popped into Adrian's head.

Despite having numerous questions, he decided to make use of her; after all, she was already here.

"Meralda,"

"Yes?"

"Here." In a swift motion, he gave her the slumbering Isabella, and she seemed surprised by his quick reflexes as he adeptly escaped from her tight grip.

Curious, Meralda asked, "Who is this?"

"You don't have to worry for now. Take her to a place brimming with her energy," Adrian instructed. Meralda appeared confused, her eyes studying him suspiciously.

"It's not what you're thinking, okay? I did not do anything to her," Adrian reassured her.

"I haven't said anything yet…"

"…."

"…."

"Just take her out for now... you have something important to say to me, right?"

Considering Meralda's presence, Adrian surmised that Aria must be close as well.

He anticipated that important matters required his attention.

"You really haven't changed, master…" Meralda commented before departing.

'What does she mean by that?'

Adrian looked around his room, as he was already awake might as well do something productive.

Summoning the holy sword Adrian, practiced the forms his new teacher taught him.

'Never neglect the basics'

….

After a few moments the sun finally started to slowly rise up, and as if in que the door to Adrian's room slowly opened.

As Analise opened the room her eyes widened in surprise.

"Young master, you're already awake? That's quite rare!" she exclaimed.

Adrian, unsure whether to interpret her words as a compliment or an insult, decided to play along with Ana's comments.

"Well, you know, early bird gets the worm, right?"

"Hehe that's true… but you're usually asleep until almost noon so seeing you like this is quite a miracle young master" Analise said with a slight chuckle.

Analise made the sign of the church of light and bowed her head with a slow clap.

"Do you really have to do all that?"

"Of course, this basically a near miracle young master we have to thank the goddess for that!"

'Seriously this maid of mine… although her comments might be out of line, it's also kind of true so I'll forgive her'

Adrian appreciated the smile she wore for him so early in the morning, realizing how much he truly cared for Analise.

Among all the girls he had been with, Analise consistently brought the most care into his life.

Her genuine concern and attentiveness never failed to touch him deeply.

Just looking at her pretty face and those radiant golden eyes of hers, Adrian's heart seemed to thump by the second.

'So... you haven't had any real progress with your maid?'

Suddenly, the words of his mother echoed in Adrian's mind. He chuckled, realizing that there might be some truth to her observation.

The realization felt like a dagger, stabbing deep into his heart. In essence, Analise was supposed to be his first love in this new chapter of his life.

However, as time passed and circumstances shifted, he hadn't dedicated enough time to nurturing their relationship.

Despite maintaining the master-maid dynamic, the undeniable tension between them lingered.

'My feelings for Ana have been quite the complexity in my heart, after all I wasn't quite sure if it was what I actually felt for her, and not just some lingering feelings of the original owner of my body'

But now… Ian knew after absorbing the remnants of Adrian's soul. He loves her.

Adrian genuinely loved Analise, and she reciprocated those feelings as well.

Yet, he couldn't ignore the fact that he had failed to make any significant moves to elevate their relationship beyond the confines of their current roles.

The weight of this realization bore heavily on him.

'To think I've been openly neglecting her for this long… shitty bastard!'

Reflecting on his shortcomings, Adrian admitted to himself that he had been neglectful in progressing their relationship.

It was apparent that Analise was waiting for him to take the initiative, and he couldn't escape the truth that, despite her understanding nature, he had been unfair to her.

Feeling a sense of self-disgust, Adrian acknowledged that he needed to rectify the situation. It was time to stop being complacent and take action to deepen the bond he shared with Analise

Though Analise appeared to be open and supportive of Adrian forming relationships with other girls, he couldn't shake the feeling that she was holding herself back.

Deep down, he sensed that her apparent happiness for his pursuits was rooted in her duty as a maid to prioritize her master's well-being.

This realization weighed heavily on him, as he recognized the injustice of making her silently suffer without considering her perspective.

The thought of her silently enduring his choices gnawed at him, leaving him unable to dismiss the doubt about whether she was genuinely okay with it or just putting on a brave front.

"Well then, if you'll excuse me, I'll just clean your room as quietly as possible, master. Don't worry about me; go ahead and do your thing," Analise commented with a smile.

As she entered the room, carrying a broom and various cleaning materials, Adrian noticed that, despite not wearing her maid uniform and instead donning white robes, Analise remained committed to her role as his personal maid.

Swiftly dusting off the sides of the room, she diligently approached the corners.

Unable to restrain himself, Adrian decided to confront the underlying tension.

Before Analise could proceed, he gently grabbed hold of her, surprising her.

Slam…!

The door shut closed as Adrian used his aura to close the door.

Hugging her from behind, Adrian tightened his grip on her. "Young master??? Is something wrong?" she questioned; her confusion evident in her voice.

Adrian chose not to respond to Analise's inquiries. Instead, he lowered his head, letting it rest between the nape of her neck.

Slowly, he initiated a series of gentle kisses along her neck, eliciting a surprised yet anticipated reaction from Analise.

"Ahn! Young master...?" she stammered, a mixture of surprise and desire evident in her eyes.

Adrian continued his intimate gestures, whispering into Analise's ears, "Ana, we haven't had any time alone together lately, right?"

His voice was a soft murmur as he continued to kiss her neck, prompting subtle moans and squirms from Analise.

Panicking at the proximity of their actions, Analise tried to resist, "What are you doing, young master? The other ladies are right next door. Ah~ Stop, we can't do this."

Adrian paused, his lips hovering just above Analise's, and asked, "Are you really fine with that?"

Sensing her internal conflict, he slowly turned her around, easing into the shift in dynamics. Although the change was subtle, Analise's face betrayed a burst of emotions.

Her cheeks blazed with a bright red hue, her breathing became haggard, and a dazed expression spoke volumes about her restrained desires.

Gradually, Adrian closed the distance between their faces, whispering, "You don't have to hold back anymore, Ana."

With that, he sealed the moment with a passionate kiss.

Analise, though initially surprised, didn't resist the pleasure she was feeling.

The intensity of her emotions, which she had meticulously kept in check, was now unleashed, and the vulnerability of the moment left her surprised but willingly immersed in the newfound connection with Adrian.