Chapter 539: Loveable Sister-In-Laws

Maria stood still for a moment, her cheeks still pink from the Lamia’s merciless teasing.

’Oh heavens, everyone keeps commenting about my body, even random Lamias now. Perhaps this is some sign to...lose a little weight.’

She thought to herself, pressing her hands self-consciously against her robes.

’Maybe skip the sweet treats for a few weeks...’

She sighed softly, forcing a small smile as she decided to start exercising.

Aqua, on the other hand, was grinning ear to ear.

She couldn’t bring herself to be offended, not even slightly.

In fact, she found Nala delightful.

There was a certain charm in her shamelessness, a kind of chaotic energy that was just too funny to be angry at. She laughed so much that her sides hurt.

Still, a small part of her was nervous.

She glanced sideways toward Joy, whose expression was unreadable, her cold eyes fixed steadily on Nala.

’Oh no...she called Auntie a prostitute.’

Aqua thought, swallowing nervously.

’If she says one more word, Joy might just smite her where she stands.’

But surprisingly, nothing happened.

Joy didn’t move. Didn’t even scowl. She simply stared at the lamia, her piercing eyes calm and strangely thoughtful.

Of course, there was a reason.

If anyone else had dared call her mother something so vulgar, Joy’s hammer or axe would already be swinging through the air.

But as soon as she’d turned her divine sight upon Nala, she saw something that stilled her fury.

The lamia’s soul glowed with a faint pale blue—gentle, bright, and harmless.

It was almost the same hue as Aqua’s own soul.

That color spoke of someone cheerful and mischievous, someone who spoke before thinking but never with malice.

A heart that was innocent, childlike even—a little reckless, a little timid, but ultimately kind.

So Joy simply sighed inwardly.

’A fool, not a sinner.’ She thought. ’No need to spill blood over a fool.’

She continued to watch Nala, more in exasperation than anger.

But just then, a small voice echoed through the garden.

"Nala! Nala! Where are you?"

All of them turned toward the sound.

From down the garden path came a short, delicate-looking young woman.

Her skin was pale, her black hair hanging like silk down her shoulders, and her bright blue eyes sparkled even as she stumbled awkwardly with every step.

She looked fragile, as though even the evening breeze might tip her over.

And yet, despite her obvious frailty, she was smiling brightly, waving toward them.

The moment Nala saw her, her expression changed completely.

"Vivi! What are you doing?!"

Nala cried, immediately slithering over in a flurry of coils.

"I told you to stay where you were! I said I’d come get you later!"

Vivi giggled softly, stopping in her uneven stride.

"Oh, it’s nothing, Nala." She said cheerfully, trying to catch her breath. "I was sitting for so long, I just wanted to stretch my legs! They were going numb!"

"You could’ve waited!" Nala frowned, hands on her hips. "What if you fell again?"

Vivi just smiled brightly and reached into her small bag.

"But look! It was worth it!"

In her hands was the very same puppet Nala had been performing with earlier—now fully colored, its once-plain surface vibrant with shades of gold, blue, and red.

"I finished coloring it." Vivi said proudly, holding it up. "It’s so pretty now, right? It took a while since it was so intricate, but look at it!"

Nala’s stern expression immediately melted into one of adoration. Her golden eyes softened, and she leaned forward, inspecting the puppet.

"Oh, Vivi..." She said warmly, her voice filled with affection. "It’s beautiful. You really did an amazing job."

Vivi beamed. "You think so?"

"Of course! The children will love it." Nala said, flicking her tail gently in excitement. "Maybe we can even give them away at the Harvest Festival—the ones who behave or need a little cheering up!"

Vivi’s eyes lit up even more.

"That’s a wonderful idea! I’m sure they’ll be so happy!"

Their cheerful exchange was endearing to watch—a contrast to Nala’s brashness a moment earlier.

But then Vivi finally noticed the three women standing by the carriage.

"Hmm?" She tilted her head curiously. "Nala, who are they?"

Nala froze for half a second, then turned back with a forced grin.

"Oh! Right! These mysterious ladies here? I was just about to introduce them."

Before she could continue, she lifted Vivi gently onto her tail, letting her sit comfortably as she slithered over to Aqua, Joy, and Maria again.

"These..." Nala said confidently. "...are Cassius’s companions for the—"

But she didn’t get to finish her sentence.

Because Vivi suddenly gasped, her eyes going wide as she looked at Aqua.

"Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law!" She cried excitedly, waving her arms.

Nala’s smile faltered instantly.

"S-Sister-in-law...?" She repeated faintly, turning her head very, very slowly toward Vivi.

"Yes! Sister-in-law!"

Vivi nodded enthusiastically, pointing straight at Aqua.

"That’s Lady Aqua, the Royal Witch from the capital! The one everyone talks about! The one who’s admired across the continent! And most importantly..." She beamed. "...she’s Young Master Cassius’s big sister!"

For a long, awkward moment, Nala just stared at Vivi, completely still. Her tail stopped moving. Her jaw dropped slightly open.

"Wha...What..." She stammered weakly. "She’s...Cassius’s...what?"

"His sister!" Vivi nodded brightly. "I’ve never met her before, but I’ve heard so many stories! She has the most beautiful blue hair, just like they say!"

Nala’s mind began to unravel. She could practically hear the sound of her brain short-circuiting.

Vivi on the other hand continued happily, oblivious to the lamia’s growing horror.

"And these two must be Sister Maria—the epitome of compassion—and the Saintess of Thorns and Judgment herself!"

Her voice was full of admiration and sincerity.

"Everyone in the household has been talking about them coming! It’s such an honor to meet you all!"

Aqua smiled awkwardly, waving.

"Oh—! Well, um, thank you, that’s—very kind of you."

Maria blushed, looking humbled.

"Oh my, I didn’t realize people still remembered me here..."

Joy just raised an eyebrow, silently acknowledging the title with a faint nod.

Meanwhile, Nala...stood frozen like a statue.

She could only whisper to herself, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Sister-in-law...Sister-in-law...Sister-in-law..."

Each repetition sounded more panicked than the last, her tail starting to twitch erratically.

Finally, she snapped.

"VIVI!" She shouted. "Get on my tail! Get on my tail right now!"

"Huh? Why?" Vivi blinked, confused.

"Because we need to leave!" Nala hissed, her face burning red. "We have to get away from here right this instant!"

"But why?" Vivi asked innocently. "I haven’t even greeted my sister-in-law yet!"

"NO TIME!" Nala blurted out, coiling her tail hastily around Vivi. "We can greet them later! Much, much later! Possibly after I’ve buried myself six feet underground!"

"But Nala—"

"VIVI, NOW!"

Seeing no point in arguing, Vivi sighed in defeat and allowed herself to be lifted onto Nala’s back. As they turned, Vivi looked over her shoulder with an apologetic smile.

"We’ll talk properly later, sister-in-law! And it’s wonderful to finally meet all of you!"

Then, before anyone could respond, Nala slithered off at full speed, her face so red it could rival a sunset, muttering frantically under her breath.

"Sister-in-law—oh gods—what have I done—she’s his sister—I’m dead, I’m actually dead—!"

Meanwhile, the trio stood in stunned silence for a few seconds before Maria finally broke the silence with a soft chuckle and turned toward Aqua.

"That was Lady Diana’s daughter, wasn’t it? Vivi."

"Lady Diana?...Oh! You mean the Holy Doctor?"

Maria nodded gently.

"Yes, her. I know her quite well. I met her daughter only once, years ago. Poor girl was terribly ill back then, bedridden most of her childhood. She couldn’t have many visitors."

Her voice softened as she gazed toward where Vivi had gone.

"But looking at her now...she’s truly grown into a beautiful and gentle young lady."

Then Maria chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"And that lamia girl—Nala—what an interesting character she is. It’s like her mouth runs faster than her thoughts. She says whatever crosses her mind without any restraint. Honestly, it’s rather funny."

"Funny? It’s not just funny! It’s adorable! Both of them are!"

Aqua clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Did you see how Vivi looked when she showed that puppet? And Nala’s face when she realized who we were? Oh, I just want to hug them both so badly!"

She then showed a wry smile and went on to say,

"You know, I was actually worried when I first heard that my brother had...well, ’wives.’ I thought he’d been tricked, married off to some scheming woman trying to use him."

Her tone turned slightly pouty as she crossed her arms.

"I was so angry I wasn’t there to meet them first and give my approval! What kind of sister lets her little brother marry without her permission?"

She sighed dramatically before breaking into a grin.

"But now that I’ve seen these two...I think my brother has wonderful taste! They’re both so adorable, so full of life, and clearly care for him deeply. I can’t wait to meet the rest of his wives now!

"Oh god, I’m just so happy our family is growing. Now I’ve got two more cute sisters-in-law I can tease and play around with!"

Her excitement practically radiated and Maria chuckled softly, shaking her head.

But Joy, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke up in a low voice.

"She had an extremely pure soul."

Both Aqua and Maria turned to her curiously.

"What do you mean?" Aqua asked.

Joy’s eyes were still fixed in the direction Nala and Vivi had gone.

"That girl...Vivi. Her soul was white. The purest I’ve seen in years. No malice, no envy, no deceit. Not even the smallest speck of corruption."

"White...like Skadi’s?" Aqua asked.

Joy nodded.

"Exactly like Skadi’s. I thought only she possessed a soul that clean. But it seems this girl does too."

She paused, her brow furrowing.

"But at the same time, it doesn’t make sense. For someone so pure to be living here, beside the devil of all people."

"You mean my brother." Maria frowned.

"Yes." Joy’s tone hardened slightly. "A man whispered to be evil, unholy, tainted by sin."

"And yet these women...both Nala and Vivi, who have souls so bright they’d blind demons decide to stay close to him."

"I also had my doubts before—that maybe the women living with him were victims. Perhaps brainwashed or enslaved by some enchantment."

Her voice became, low and thoughtful.

"But there’s no trace of magic within them. No chains, no marks, no shadows around their essence. Their loyalty is...genuine."

Aqua smiled knowingly.

"See? You doubt my brother too much." She crossed her arms with a playful huff. "And he’s my brother, after all. He takes after me and my charm, so it’s only natural he’d have people around him who love him for who he is."

Maria nodded in agreement.

"I think Aqua’s right." Her smile faded slightly, her eyes dimming with reflection. "I know what it feels like to be in a forced relationship. To be trapped somewhere you don’t belong, bound by duty instead of love."

Her voice trembled faintly before she steadied herself with a breath.

"But those two...they didn’t look trapped. Not even a little. They were happy. Completely free."

She gave a faint smile.

"Maybe Cassius isn’t as terrible as the rumors say."

But just as she said that—

"AHHHHNNNNN!!!!!"

A sudden, sharp scream echoed from inside the mansion.

A woman’s scream.

The sound tore through the peaceful air and immediately caught the attention of Joy, who felt like she had gone fishing only for the fish to land on her lap before she even cast the rod.