Primordial Villain With A Slave Harem - Chapter 1070: Talking Plant

Chapter 1070: Talking Plant

The crystal in Felicity’s necklace pulsed one final time before dimming. The king’s presence was gone.

A heavy silence followed, broken only when Lucille spoke up. “… That was the king? The same Alexios I remember?” Her tone dripped with disbelief. “He was a monster back then. Cruel, uncompromising, the kind of man who’d hang you for breathing wrong. All of us kids were scared to even breathe in his presence, and our parents fared little better. And now he’s…” she gestured vaguely, brow furrowed, “This… easygoing? Reasonable? I don’t even know what to call it.”

Aurora felt a great deal of emotion as well. “Lost for words doesn’t even begin to cover it. The last twenty-four hours have been… insane. I need to rest before my head splits in half.” She rubbed her temples as she began walking away, but then her eyes darkened. ’And… my parents weren’t there,’ she thought inwardly.

They had been alchemists, brilliant but reckless. Curiosity had driven them too far, into secrets they should have never touched. Namely, the secrets of the Elixir of Awakening, the very potion the crown hoarded to grant mage classes to their most loyal and notable vassals and their children. It was used as a reward for loyalty.

Their search led them to the wrong place at the worst possible time: the outpost where Iris had been exiled after torturing her fellow soldiers. That was where they met Geim, Rosie’s parent.

Aurora’s parents had been captured after the kingdom found out where they were sniffing around. At first, they believed Greenvale had taken them; after all, it happened in their duchy. But they were not among Alastiar’s captives.

No, they were elsewhere, held deeper, closer to the throne itself.

Most likely in the king’s own dungeons.

If they were alive at all.

Aurora’s gaze wandered, soon landing on Felicity.

The princess was still clinging to Feng as if her life depended on it, face pressed into the girl’s shoulder. Aurora’s expression softened, but only briefly, before her mind turned cold again.

A hostage exchange was possible. Obvious, even. Two imprisoned alchemists in return for the king’s daughter. Alexios would likely never hesitate to agree.

But Aurora said nothing.

She knew Quinlan. He would do it if she asked him, without hesitation. And that was exactly why she stayed silent.

Felicity being here was more than a bargaining chip. It was a golden opportunity. As long as she remained under Quinlan’s care, Alexios would keep calling. They would be forced to speak, to interact, and perhaps even—Aurora dared to think it—become allies. Such a door would never open again if an exchange happened.

And even if they tried to make the exchange…

Aurora knew it. Trust was the foundation of any exchange, and Quinlan had made it perfectly clear; he didn’t trust the royal family. Not even a little.

Besides, the bounty on his head was still there. Alexios hadn’t removed it, even after knowing Felicity would be under his protection.

It was a bit contradictory considering how he wanted to ensure Felicity was safe… But it only served as proof that Alexios ideally wanted to be on friendly terms, but he didn’t mind getting his hands dirty and forcing things, because he wanted Quinlan’s secrets for himself. Alexios was not a pacifist, nor a benevolent being. He was a true warrior, someone who fought his way to the very top of the food chain from being a level 1 boy.

Such a man would not turn into a saint even if he acted like a retired grandpa most of the time. He just wasn’t interested in most things. But now…

Aurora’s chest tightened. Her lips trembled. A single tear escaped the corner of her eye. She lowered her head, deciding then and there: she would sacrifice her parents’ freedom for Quinlan’s future. For their future. ’Please forgive me… Father, Mother…’

Her somber moment was abruptly shattered when a tiny, bright voice rang out:

“Mommy Aurora!! Why are you sad?!”

Aurora blinked, startled, as a blur of green shot through the air. Rosie, the little dryad, zipped straight at her like a leafy comet. She landed against Aurora’s chest with a soft pomf, after which her big, round eyes instantly snapped up to peer at her with innocent concern. Tiny fingers clutched Aurora’s hand like she was holding onto the most precious thing in the world.

Aurora froze. Rosie had always rushed into Quinlan’s arms first. Always Quinlan’s little shadow, a true daddy’s girl through and through. But now, in this moment, she had chosen her.

And… yes. Aurora was her mommy now.

They had talked about it before. Aurora once tried to tell Rosie to treat her like a big sister because she didn’t want to give up being Quinlan’s plump little princess, his spoiled lover. But the moment Rosie came into their lives, that role was no longer hers. It belonged to the child. And Aurora… had grown out of it. She asked Rosie to see her as a mother instead. An adoptive one, like the others.

“…I’m not sad, little one,” Aurora whispered, quickly wiping her cheek. “Just happy it’s all over. I was… stressed.”

Rosie squinted at her, unconvinced. But after a long second, she decided to let it go. Instead, she wrapped both arms around Aurora’s head in a big leafy hug and planted a kiss on her forehead.

“Cheer up!” she declared with all the conviction a child could muster.

Then, like a bolt of lightning, she shot off, straight into Quinlan’s arms.

“Daddy!” Rosie squealed, clinging to his neck. “You were gone far too long!”

Quinlan gave Aurora’s trembling back a single glance, deciding to speak with her in private. Then, he chuckled, catching the little driad easily. “Whatever could you mean, I wonder… It’s been less than a day.”

Rosie puffed her cheeks, then nodded firmly. “Exactly! Far, far too long!! You even took Auntie Yoruha with you! Rosie was soooooooo bored!”

The courtyard’s previous tension broke under the cuteness. Even Felicity, finally pulling herself out of Feng’s arms, let out a little yelp when she noticed the small green creature snuggling Quinlan’s face.

“Wh–what is that talking plant?!”

Feng giggled, visibly amused based on her eyes’ sparkling. “That’s his daughter.”

Felicity gasped. “His daughter?! But I thought you were his only daughter?!”

Feng shook her head softly. “No. I was just playing the role. Like the angry black-haired woman over there, who’s busy beating and getting beaten by the samurai woman. By the way, she’s not my mother either. We just look similar, so it was easy to sell the story.” Her gaze drifted toward Iris and Ayame’s duel, which was made a lot more colorful with the curse words they let go of.

She frowned. “Rosie is his only daughter. The little princess of this family. So I’m not his child. I’m just… his…” Feng trailed off, at a rare loss for words.

Quinlan pinched both of Rosie’s chubby cheeks, tugging them apart until she squeaked.

“Feng, or Jiai as you know her,” he spoke up suddenly, eyes never leaving his daughter’s pouty face, “is my cherished companion. That’s all that needs to be said.”

Feng blinked, caught off guard. Her lips parted in surprise, but no words came. Then, slowly, like dawn creeping over a horizon, a smile spread across her face. She repeated softly, “His… cherished companion.” The words seemed to wrap around her like a cloak, her eyes shining with something that was very nearly tears.