<Come on Shoko, just accept the gift already...yes! Finally! Oh hell yeah, h-scene...and itās animated! So much bounce...>
=What in the 108 hells are you doing?=
<Oh, hey "Logos", Iām just brushing up on my dating knowledge.>
=...what?=
<Well, you know how our lord is about to go on possibly the most awkward dates in his existence? Or was it just a singular date with two people? Either way, awkward.>
=Obviously.=
<Well, I figured it would be a good idea for us to brush up on our dating know-how in order to assist him. So by digging through our recently acquired knowledge, I have discovered that our lord played a lot of these so called "dating sims". Iāve been playing them non-stop in order to better understand the nuances of romance. So far, Iāve completed...six.>
=...it looks like youāre just watching sexually exaggerated animated characters having sex and making forced moaning sounds. Also, six? Surely these so-called dating sims canāt take that long to play through.=
<Logos, this game alone has over a thirteen bad endings, thirteen good ones, six joke ones and a harem ending. And thatās including the spin-offs. The six I did managed to finish by now had enough content in them, visually and written, to fill up at least ten books each.>
=Huh...are any of these quicks?=
<There were like three involving sexy demons and monsters that were relatively quick, well, consisting of what "Earth" called monsters. Surprisingly horny designs overall.>
=Naturally...alright, Iām gonna help you out. Whereās the ones you havenāt finished yet?=
<Hereās a list.>
=...what in the everloving-surely, our lord didnāt play all of these himself, right?=
<Nah, I highlighted those in red.>
=Huh...that...explains some things.=
<Yup. Saw that list, immediately understood why he managed to get along with Lady Jin Fang almost immediately.>
=Speaking of, how is the Lord and Lady doing?=
<Uhhh...>
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When Zhen Liu, Zhen Yue and Zhen Hai returned to the main clan compound, news about his letters soon spread throughout.
First Zhen Yue, then Zhen Hai and now Zhen Liu, the younger generation moves along and grows up so quickly these days.
That said, when Zhen Liuās mother heard about the arrival of these young ladies, Zhen Liu saw a side of her that he never witnessed before: matchmaker mode.
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"Letās see here... royalty and a merchant girl... Iād say wear green, but Roaring Tide suspicion state thatās bad luck to wear on a date...but I forget why..."
"Supposedly it means youāre married to a prostitute, maāam. What about periwinkle, maāam?"
"Oh, maybe Farisia. Shades of purple do convey nobility and class...any opinions on this, Jin Fang?"
"In all honesty, I think a shade of blue brings out his features better."
"Good point...plus the association with wisdom...would it be possible to mix the two together?"
"In what way?"
"Iām thinking accents."
āThis...is this the difference of cultural development of other worlds,ā Zhen Liu thought to himself as he was being subjected to being the dress-up doll for his mother, her new personal maid and his girlfriend. A statement that was quite literal as he was forced to stand on one of those dress-up platforms and made to change outfits and accessories every few seconds.
The fact that his mother and Farisia was helping prepare for this upcoming...whatever it was, made sense to him in the sense to a point...the fact that Jin Fang was helping threw him for a fucking loop and a half.
Back in his previous life, having a fiancee and a girlfriend, hell two-timing in general, was enough of an issue that such situations usually ended in tragedy, self-inflicted harm, irreparable social damage or...dick stabbings.
Repeatedly.
Granted he was never subjected to such situations, but he had enough friends and relatives who did.
Uncle Johnny never could stand to use a urinal anymore after that day...Aunt Irma was pretty happy though.
So the fact that the exact opposite of the aforementioned situation was happening to him was confusing to say the least.
Zhen Liu briefly tried to recall the previous guyās memories on this matter, and got exactly jack shit of an explanation.
Out of the corner of his eye, Zhen Liu saw that his father, Zhen Yan, was about to enter the room, but when he saw the flurry of activity, highlighted by Jin Fang and Daria suddenly comparing shirts on Zhen Liuās front and back, he gave his son a brief look that screamed "ah...Iām sorry son, just roll with it" and proceeded to bail.
It was in that moment, Zhen Liu remembered his mother was apparently the one to initiate first contact with his father.
āHuh...my mother is a strong-willed woman, my cousinās fiancee was a strong-willed woman and my grandmother, at least what Frosttusk conveyed, was apparently strong-willed as well if not, downright determined and scary. Divinities on a bike, I think itās just in my blood at this point.ā
"Alright, itās decided. Weāll go with lavender, hints of gold and touches of sapphire as the accessories," Daria declared with finality as she placed a pair of sapphire cufflinks on Zhen Liuās sleeves.
āHuh...not bad. Granted I look a medieval peacock pimp,ā Zhen Liu thought to himself as he looked over the purple and gold suit that was picked out for him. He did think the cape was a bit excessive though.
"Question: Is the cape completely necessary or-"
"Yes," all three women in the room answered in almost perfect unison.
With that, Zhen Liu proceeded to shove it and just go with it...as his father advised.
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[Ah to be young, dumb and in love. You just love to see it.]
[Courtship...]
[I donāt get this whole ritual of matchmaking thing. Our lord, Lady Alicia and Lady Bellona all share a mutual liking, correct? Why not just skip all the formalities and tie the knot already? Or rather, just get in bed already.]
[Nepherage, my girl, my sister, my friend, the art of romance is a slow and meticulous dance. It takes time for two people to truly fall in love and understand each other in a meaningful way that surpasses even physical boundaries. Some loves are said to be so powerful, they transcend even the concepts of death and reincarnation.]
[...have you been reading those trashy romance novels again?]
[Maybe...doesnāt mean Iām wrong though.]
[No, but it does mean youāre thirsty.]
[Hah!]
[Razor, I swear, your tongue has been getting sharper by the day.]
[Made of blades, knives and swords, baby.]
[Fair enough...]