CHAPTER 150: ATHENA FLAMEHART AND SHIERA (2/3)

With casual steps, she walked down the wooden corridor toward the guest room where Kael was supposedly sleeping.

The door was half-open. She pushed it with her foot and entered without a sound.

There he was, Kael, her brother-in-law, sprawled on a modest wooden cot, a simple blanket beneath him. His chest rose and fell slowly, evenly. If not for the strain on his face and the faint sheen of sweat over his brow, one might mistake him for simply napping.

Athena tilted her head.

"Well, well," she muttered, a low whistle escaping her lips. "Now that’s a fine specimen Mother got for you all."

Shiera, who had quietly followed her in, furrowed her brows. "Sister..."

But her older sister stepped closer anyway, crouching beside the cot with an inspecting gaze, her golden eyes faintly glowing as she activated her ocular powers, capable of reading internal muscle structure.

"Incredible..." Athena whispered. "His skin... how does he keep it so smooth and flawless? It’s smoother than a noblewoman who’s never left her velvet sofa. And underneath... mm, I can see it now. Tough, lean muscle. Compact and dense. Barely a sliver of fat anywhere on this body. And those abdominal muscles..." She couldn’t help but whistle again as her gaze lowered further down his waist. "Oh, my... that’s big even without stiff... I must say, Shiera. You are truly a lucky girl. You get to enjoy this body whenever you want."

Shiera’s cheeks flushed. She hurried forward and stepped between Athena and Kael, her arms spread wide like a shield. "Okay. That’s enough of inappropriately observing my husband."

Athena smirked. "My husband, huh?"

She stood and crossed her arms with a smug expression. "Looks like someone’s getting possessive. I thought Laura was the only girl in our family who got that way with her things. Looks like there’s a second Flamehart with a jealousy streak."

Shiera averted her gaze, her face still tinged red. "I’m not possessive or anything... It’s just... It’s inappropriate, even if you are my sister."

Athena chuckled. "Sure, sure. ’Just inappropriate.’ Let me guess... if I say anything more about how big his shaft is, you’ll draw your sword again?"

Shiera glared. "Don’t joke around."

The two sisters shared a moment of silence before Athena finally softened her tone. She glanced at Kael, who still hadn’t stirred. "But seriously... he’s in worse shape than I thought. On the outside, he looked fine, but inside was a mess. It’s not just mental, Shiera. It only happens when you go past limits for a prolonged time."

Shiera turned her head slightly and looked back at Kael’s unconscious figure. "I know..." She muttered quietly. His breathing was still even, but his pulse was faintly erratic, recovering, but not stable.

Looking at her expression filled with worry and sadness, Athena leaned back against the doorframe, arms folded, an unmistakable smirk tugging at her lips. Her amber eyes sparkled with mischief, changing the topic. "Say, Shiera. I have a question. What would you think if your husband married again?"

Shiera blinked. "What?"

The smirk grew wider on Athena’s face. "I mean, since you all share him anyway, five women under one roof, no one’s stabbed each other, and yet, you all seemed to be respectful of him, well, atleast, except for Sera... I don’t know what goes in that nun’s mind."

Shiera’s brows furrowed, confused and caught off guard.

"Anyway," Athena stepped forward a bit, tossing her golden braid behind her shoulder dramatically. "Since I’ll be stationed in the Imperial Capital soon, and let’s be honest, I haven’t met a man strong enough to keep up with me. I’m already twenty-seven, practically crossing the line of marriageable age. Mother also gave up on him. I’m just wondering I should just take the easy path..."

She gave a theatrical sigh.

"I’ll marry your husband and live with you all. Should I do that?"

Shiera’s expression twisted in disbelief. "You... what?"

"Well, he hasn’t gone insane handling five Flamehart women, so clearly, he’s got divine-level stamina, physically and mentally. And everyone in the court almost seemed to have changed their opinions, too, after hearing the reports that he managed to subdue an Infernal Pegasus. I just wonder if he can bear me too?"

Shiera immediately stepped in front of Kael’s bed again. "No."

Athena blinked, feigning innocence. "Oh? Why not, little sis?"

Shiera opened her mouth, then hesitated. Her thoughts scrambled.

"W-Well... first of all, he married us because of the debt, remember? So it’s not like he chose this mess. He’s... He’s not going to marry another woman... whether it’s you or anyone else."

Athena raised a brow but didn’t interrupt.

"And second... not all of our sisters like you. If you go and live with them in Moonstone Estate, it’s bound to get... messy."

Athena’s eyes twinkled with amusement. "Oho? That sounds more like jealousy talking."

Shiera blushed instantly. "I am not jealous! I’m just being logical."

Athena’s golden eyes studied her younger sister with casual amusement, lips curled into a teasing smirk. "Then, logically speaking, as long as I make him fall in love with me, and then reconcile with Seraphina... there won’t be any problem at all?"

Shiera’s eyes widened. Her shoulders jerked back, stunned by the sudden sharp turn in conversation. "W-What...?"

Her voice cracked slightly as her cheeks turned scarlet. She blinked a few times, as if hoping the words she just heard were some kind of joke or illusion. Athena tilted her head, watching Shiera squirm, clearly enjoying herself.

"T-That... that is..." Shiera stammered.

Her mouth struggled to form coherent words. She raised a hand halfway, then lowered it again, then did both at the same time, hopelessly tangled in her embarrassment.

"Hahaha."

Athena broke into laughter, closing the distance between them. She leaned forward and pinched Shiera’s burning cheeks with both hands, ignoring her weak protests. "You are so damn cute when you’re flustered," Athena said with a chuckle, shaking her head.

Shiera tried to bat her hands away with a frown. "Stop it! That’s not funny!"

Athena finally let go and stepped back, arms folded behind her head, still grinning like a wolf who found a new toy.

"Relax, relax. I’m not going to steal your husband. I’m not even interested in him, although his body is hot."

Shiera exhaled sharply, still unconvinced. Her guard stayed up. "You’re teasing again."

"Yeah," Athena admitted shamelessly, "but I’m also serious about not wanting him. He is the last thing I would want in my life."

Shiera raised a brow. "Hmm?"

Athena shrugged.

"Relationships are chains, sis. They bind you to one person, tie you to their emotions, their burdens, their expectations. For people like us, women of power, lineage, and bloodline, it’s a cage with velvet bars."

She turned and leaned against the nearby table, gaze shifting slightly to Kael’s closed door.

"For me, a man’s just someone to serve me sexually, when the flux comes. But I never go after men who’re already committed."

Athena’s expression sharpened, more serious than before. "Especially not after my own brother-in-law. That’s a line I won’t cross."

Shiera’s brows lifted slightly. For all her teasing, Athena was nothing if not bluntly honest. It was part of what made her so dangerous and so trustworthy.

"Still," Athena said, turning her head to Shiera again with a sly smirk, "you should’ve seen your face earlier. You looked ready to kill me."

Shiera’s cheeks flared again. "Because you were talking nonsense!"

Athena raised a playful eyebrow. "Was it nonsense, or did I hit a nerve?"