My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 226: 'THIRD WIFE'

In a cozy room nestled within the capital city of the holy kingdom, three girls found themselves immersed in a joyous reunion.

Louise, Analise, and Aria, had been separated for what felt like an eternity, though in reality, it had only been three days since Louise and Analise last saw Aria.

However, for the three girls, the time apart had stretched like elastic, making their reunion feel like a long-awaited event.

Estelle Academy, with its bustling corridors and academic rigors, had been the backdrop of their shared experiences.

Yet, it was the bond between these three girls that truly defined their time there.

As they reunited, it became evident that something integral was missing when they were apart.

Each moment spent together felt like pieces of a puzzle clicking into place.

Their reunion wasn't just about catching up; it was about reliving the cherished memories they had created together.

They laughed, they reminisced, and they reveled in each other's company.

Exploring the holy capital of the kingdom became an adventure as they soaked in the sights and sounds, savoring every moment of togetherness.

But amidst the laughter and camaraderie, there lingered a tension that none of them had acknowledged until they returned to their room.

It was Louise who broke the silence with a weighty revelation, her words hanging in the air like a delicate balance disturbed.

"So, you and Adrian went on a date together...?" Aria's voice betrayed a hint of unease, her smile faltering as a subtle change came over her expressive eyes.

"…Y-yes"

"Just the two of you?" Aria's voice was soft, almost hesitant, as if she dreaded the confirmation that she already knew was coming.

"Y-yes..." Louise's response came in a hesitant whisper, her admission hanging in the air like an unspoken truth waiting to be acknowledged.

"For the whole day?" Aria's probing questions continued, each one driving the conversation deeper into uncomfortable territory.

"Yes..." Louise's voice wavered, betraying the uncertainty that gnawed at her from within.

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the weight of unspoken words that lingered in the air like a tangible presence.

Aria's quietness seemed to permeate the room, chilling the very air around them and causing the temperature to plummet.

Louise couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt, knowing that her words had inadvertently disrupted the delicate balance of their friendship.

She had known that discussing her relationship with Adrian would be fraught with complications, but she hadn't anticipated the depth of Aria's reaction.

"…."

"…."

As the awkward silence stretched on, Louise found herself reflecting on the undeniable bond between Aria and Adrian.

Despite their attempts to conceal it, their connection was palpable, evident in the subtle gestures and stolen glances that passed between them.

Elena practically confirmed It for her.

Even Analise sense it if not fully believes it to be the case after all their knowing looks and whispered conversations betrayed their awareness of the unspoken tension that simmered beneath the surface.

Despite being siblings and in a questi9onable relationship, the fact of the matter still remains.

Aria was the second wife in Adrian's harem hierarchy.

Although it's not final, the fact that she's probably the second closest to Adrian was real.

For Louise, navigating the complexities of their relationships was like tiptoeing through a minefield, each step fraught with the potential for disaster.

If she wanted to pursue a relationship with Adrian, she knew that she would need Aria's blessing.

But gaining her approval would be no easy feat, especially given Aria's well-known jealousy and protective nature.

'I only got lucky with Senior Elena…'

If she says no…

The number of complexities her joining them would be astronomical.

Louise couldn't help but wonder if her hopes of joining Adrian's harem were nothing more than a fleeting fantasy, a delicate dream on the verge of shattering into a thousand irreparable pieces.

She even had certain fantasies about taking Aria's second position… no matter what she must never tell her that.

"I see..." After a prolonged silence, Aria's response finally broke the tension that had settled over the room. Her tone was measured, contemplative, as if she were carefully weighing her words before speaking.

Louise watched Aria closely, sensing the turmoil beneath her calm exterior. It was clear that Aria was wrestling with her emotions, her thoughts drifting into the depths of introspection before she finally released a heavy sigh.

"I knew this would happen someday," Aria began, her voice tinged with resignation. "But to think it would be this fast... No, it was weird to think it took this long in the first place. Considering Adrian's not an idiot, he would surely know your feelings from those puppy eyes of yours at first glance."

As Aria continued to mumble to herself, Louise couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion creeping in. Yet, despite her own uncertainty, she sensed a glimmer of hope in Aria's words. It seemed that, somehow, she had received a positive response, though she couldn't be entirely certain.

"U-uhm, Aria?" Louise ventured tentatively, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What?" Aria's response was curt, her attention still seemingly consumed by her own thoughts.

"S-so, are you fine with it?" Louise asked, her voice trembling with apprehension.

"What do you think?" Aria's response was immediate, her words laced with a coldness that sent a shiver down Louise's spine.

Louise felt her heart sink, the weight of Aria's disapproval crushing her hopes before they had a chance to take root. Tears welled up in her eyes as she struggled to find the right words, her mind racing with a million thoughts and fears.

"I-I..." Louise stammered, her voice faltering as she fought to collect her thoughts.

But before she could finish her sentence, Aria burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the room like a soothing balm to Louise's frayed nerves.

"Hahaha~" Aria's laughter was infectious, contagious, and soon Louise found herself joining in, the tension that had gripped the room melting away in the warmth of their shared amusement.

"A-Aria?" Louise managed between giggles, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Sorry," Aria said, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes. "You just looked so cute; I couldn't help but tease you."

As Aria composed herself, a soft smile graced her lips as she looked at Louise with genuine warmth. "Did you really think I wouldn't allow you?"

"I may be one of Adrian's lovers, but I can't control him..." Aria's voice held a hint of resignation as she spoke, her words carrying a weight of acceptance for the limitations of their relationship dynamic.

She reached out, her fingers lightly grazing Louise's cheek as she continued.

"And besides, only Elena, with her already confirmed title as future first wife, has the right to block any form of marriages from Adrian."

Louise listened intently, absorbing Aria's words with a mixture of relief and apprehension. Aria's touch was gentle, a comforting reassurance that belied the seriousness of their conversation.

"And lastly," Aria added with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "Did you really think I would hate you for this? Hehehe, seeing your cute reaction was really fun."

Louise couldn't help but laugh nervously, the tension that had lingered between them dissipating with each shared chuckle. But beneath her laughter, a nagging doubt still lingered, prompting her to voice her concerns.

"But... aren't you at least a tiny bit mad?" Louise's voice was hesitant, her gaze falling to the floor as she struggled to articulate her thoughts.

Even Elena was quite nonchalant about her joining… under normal circumstances wouldn't any sane lover be briming with anger right now?

She couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her, a sense of guilt for intruding upon Aria and Adrian's relationship.

Aria's response was swift, her laughter fading as she regarded Louise with a mixture of fondness and amusement.

"Fufu... you really are cute, you know, Louise."

With a flick of her finger, Aria lightly tapped Louise's forehead, eliciting a surprised yelp from the younger girl.

"Ow...!"

Louise recoiled slightly, rubbing the spot where Aria's finger had made contact.

Despite the playful gesture, there was a warmth in Aria's eyes that reassured Louise of her acceptance, easing the doubts that had plagued her mind.

"Seriously, have a little more confidence in yourself." Aria's tone was scolding, yet there was an underlying warmth in her words as she addressed Louise.

She leaned forward, her eyes meeting Louise's with a mixture of seriousness and understanding.

"To say that I'm not mad would be wrong, but to say that I'm mad would also be wrong. honestly I don't feel anything, I don't even feel a slight sense of jealousy as well. is it because it's because you Louise? or is it just because I expected this sort of thing happening from miles away?"

"Well it doesn't really matter now right...?"

'As long as were all happy I'm fine with sharing Adrian with the others....'

"I don't know about Elena's reaction to all this as well, but judging from what you told me, she's also fine with it, right?"

Louise nodded, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and relief. "Y-yes," she confirmed, grateful for Aria's understanding.

"In the end, what matters is that you made Adrian's heart move." Aria's words were filled with wisdom, her gaze softening as she spoke, quite the contrary to her somewhat inexperienced nature when it comes to love.

She leaned back, a knowing smile playing at the corners of her lips as she continued.

"Did he confess his love to you yet?"

Louise felt her cheeks grow even hotter at the memory, her heart fluttering at the mere thought of Adrian's confession. "Yes..." she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper as she recalled the tender moment they had shared.

The night they confessed their love for each other as well as that deep sweet kiss they made was still unforgettable for her to this day.

Aria's smile widened at Louise's bashful admission, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Then that's all there is to it... As long as Adrian loves you truly, it doesn't really bother me that much. After all, the more, the merrier. And besides, I have a feeling that the nights would be more fun with more girls around~"

Aria's voice took on a teasing tone, her words laced with a hint of mischief as she hinted at the potential for newfound intimacy within their group.

'Considering Adrian's stamina I don't see any problems during our nightly activities'

Louise couldn't help but blush furiously at Aria's implications, her mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions.

Yet, despite her embarrassment, there was a sense of comfort in Aria's acceptance, a reassurance that she had found her place among Adrian's lovers.

Despite the newfound acceptance and lighthearted banter, Louise still found herself blushing furiously at the mention of more intimate matters.

"I-it's too early for that stuff, d-don't you think?" she stammered, her mind reeling with embarrassment as she tried to redirect the conversation away from such personal topics.

Aria, however, seemed unfazed by Louise's discomfort, her teasing only intensifying as she continued to playfully prod.

"Fufu, don't worry, you'll experience what our dear future husband is like in bed soon~" she teased, her words sending a fresh wave of heat to Louise's cheeks.

"Aria!" Louise exclaimed, her embarrassment reaching new heights as she attempted to shut down the conversation before it ventured any further into forbidden territory.

But Aria's laughter was infectious, her amusement evident as she reassured Louise with a playful pat on the shoulder. "Hahaha, calm down... it's bound to happen anyway."

With a sigh of resignation, Louise couldn't help but chuckle nervously, realizing that there was no escaping Aria's teasing banter.

She watched as Aria extended her hand, forming a handshake with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Let's get along, shall we, 'THIRD WIFE?"

'She didn't have to imply my position….'

Louise hesitated for a moment before returning the handshake, her heart swelling with a mix of gratitude and happiness.

"Y-yes," she replied, her voice filled with genuine happiness as she acknowledged her newfound place within Adrian's harem.

Just then, the sound of footsteps interrupted their conversation, and Analise entered the room carrying two tea cups, a warm smile gracing her lips.

"Here's your tea, young lady Aria, lady Louise," she said, presenting the cups to them with a gentle nod.

Gratefully, Louise and Aria accepted the tea, savoring the aroma before taking a sip.

As they enjoyed the comforting warmth of the tea, Analise retreated to the kitchen to prepare a light dinner for them, leaving Louise and Aria alone once again.

In the quiet of the room, surrounded by the warmth of friendship and acceptance, Louise couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over her.

With Aria's playful teasing and Analise's nurturing presence, she knew that she had found a place where she truly belonged, surrounded by those who cared for her deeply.

As Aria and Louise exchanged a knowing glance, their thoughts drifting to Analise's enigmatic role within their group, they couldn't help but feel a twinge of uncertainty.

While Analise portrayed herself as a dutiful maid, there was an unspoken understanding among them that she held a significant place in Adrian's heart, perhaps even being the closest to him, and possibly his first love.

Their contemplation was abruptly interrupted by a series of urgent knocks at the door, causing all three girls to jump in surprise.

The voice that followed sent a ripple of nervousness through the room, as if their unspoken fears had materialized before them.

"Louise, Ana, Aria, are you inside?"

The tension in the room escalated as the girls exchanged uneasy glances.

The sudden appearance of the person they had just been discussing left them feeling exposed.