Subduing Empress Mary

Leah was confused and bewildered.

Seraphina saw Leah standing at the door in a daze. She also stood up and walked to the door only to be stumped by the scene in front of her.

Leah and Seraphina were puzzled and their heads stopped working.

"..."

"I am sorry for my rudeness earlier Leah and Seraphina..."

Ares was standing at the door with two bouquets in her hand as an apology.

Did the sun rose from the west today? When did this bro-con sister start apologizing for her behavior?

But-

If Noah was intruding upon Ares's privacy, he would have known Ares was holding back her urges to rip out Leah and Seraphina's tongues...After all, both of them have kissed Noah in front of her.

But-

Noah didn't intrude upon Ares's privacy or any other women with whom he has contacts. Although he has several countermeasures to protect them yet he never infringed upon their private time. Still, even Noah would not have been able to figure out the reason for the change in her behavior.

"Umm...I hope I am not disturbing my sisters..." Ares spoke in an appealing tone. She had a bright smile and even the bouquets were filled with the most expensive evolved flowers, that were glowing different colors and silky soft to touch.

If anyone saw this scene right now, it would look like, Ares really wanted to apologize and put behind her differences with these two women.

Leah and Seraphine were impressed. This change was too drastic and the fact that Ares was going so far as to call them 'sisters' after the commotion she created in the morning made Leah and Seraphina, drop their previous biased opinion of Ares.

"Well..." Ares was slightly getting anxious...

"...Thank You..." Leah and Seraphina took one bouquet each as Seraphina continued:

"Don't worry Ares...we didn't take anything to her heart..." Leah was about to close the door when she saw the same mischievous expression on Seraphina's face that she saw early in the morning.

"Heh~" Leah had a smirk as her thoughts ran wild.

"Come in...Ares" Seraphina invited Ares with a naughty smile and Ares just breathed out a sigh of relief in response.

Seraphina and Leah saw Ares walking in the room and sitting on the couch as their expression turned slightly concupiscent. One was the hidden ace, the woman who will manipulate, the other was the queen, a shameless lass who will speak her mind and suggest ideas openly.

They both thought at the same time...

'Corruption should begin from the family first'

..............

Noah on the other hand was slightly disappointed. He wanted to eat Ares right there. Her cute and seductive side was just too attractive and alluring. For some reason, he couldn't hold back his urges and wanted to dive into the world of forbidden pleasures.

'Anyways...' He shook his head as he got out of the room and moved towards a room where the real fun begins!

At the same time, inside Noah's shadow...

'The ultimate aim of the mind, in all its efforts, is to become acquainted with the truth.'

'The meaning of life is not simply to exist, to survive, but to move ahead, to go up, to achieve, to conquer'

Naomi was contemplating the true meaning of life. After watching the kiss between the twins, her mind collapsed and a 'seed' was planted in her mind that was void for a few moments when the taboo kiss happened.

She never gave any thoughts to 'mating'. As to her...it was unnecceray. She could have children without a 'mate'. In fact, she didn't have any mate to look for, as Catasms were all females.

And if she has a child with any other species...the child wouldn't be a Catasm anymore. It would be just like any hybrid born like many beastmen.

After all, Catasm was the origin of all the Cat species among beastmen. A female Catasm must have mated with a human or other species and thus beastmen got a new species related to cats as well.

Naomi was proud and she was not an individual who would think about mating with lowly creatures and have lowly offsprings...but now...now that she knew...women don't get pregnant by Noah's divine rod until he wishes to have a child...

'Should I try that divine rod as well?'

'Just what is it that every woman is lining up for it one by one...even his twin sister...?'

.............

Step~

Step~

A sly old fox walked among the corridors of the Imperial Palace.

He soon reached the door of the second biggest courtyard of the Palace.

Several female Imperial guards were disguised as maids and were on full alert.

They saw Noah approaching and sent a message...soon the doors of the room opened and Noah stepped in with a wily smile...

Empress Mary...

...was sitting on the couch sipping on her tea gracefully.

If anyone else entered this room then they might have witnessed the disheveled hair and river of tears on her Mary's face...but as a smart individual...she knew why Noah was here and she also knew she didn't need to fake her true emotions.

Mary wanted to approach Noah first...but Noah came to her door before she could make her move. Mary knew Noah was smart. He hid his abilities from the entire Empire and only showed the shadows his powers when his loved ones were targeted.

Although, Noah could be used if they try to get a hold of his weakness which includes 6 people he mentioned earlier.

But-

Then...all of their plans will be foiled.

They couldn't afford to make Noah an enemy and Mary was regretting it very much. She wanted to put Noah under her thumb by using Ares, Seraphina, Gina, or Eve however, it was important to not get on Noah or Valentina's bad sides now that the preparations were almost done. After all, any last-minute, variables can spoil the game.

Noah sat in front of Mary with a guileful smile. Mary poured some tea to Noah herself, as she gestured for the maids to leave the room.

If it was any other man, they would have suggested Mary otherwise, even though their status was low. Except for Luke and Noah, other men were not allowed in courtyards of the Emperor's wife and concubines.

Noah took a sip of the tea Mary gave him without any hesitation.

"What do you want Noah?" Mary asked in a flat tone.

Noah smirked but didn't reply and only sipped on his tea.

He kept sipping on his tea...as the neutral expression of Mary started breaking slowly. She understood Noah like the back of her hand...

She was not the one negotiating...she doesn't have any hold over him...

But-

Noah has everything that she wants. Mary could rule with his help...and the person who has the upper hand was Noah here not Mary. Mary understood Noah's intentions as she took a deep breath to not lash out at Noah.

"Noah...Is there something I could help you with...?" She softly spoke in contrast to her usual monotonous voice.

But-

Noah didn't reply...he wanted more...

Mary gritted her teeth and her S-rank aura slightly released however Noah didn't flinch and also released his SSS-rank aura.

Mary felt a heavy pressure descending upon her shoulders. She had difficulty in breathing and soon she had to retract her aura and Noah also followed suit in response.

"I-I am sorry for everything...Noah. Please forgive me for the past..." Mary's tone was wobbly. Her expressions remained neutral but anyone could deduce that it was very hard for Mary to bow her head like this in front of Noah.

"If there is anything I could help you-"

But-

Noah interrupted her as he said:

"I have money, I have power...and about authority...you must have already realized that I have no interest in throne"

"With my talents...Luke was never my match."

"I could have easily become the crown prince if not for the undercurrents."

"With my personality of someone who has introduced one of the basic amenities, good 'clothing' to all the people whether rich or poor equally at affordable prices...People would choose me over anyone else."

"I don't need your help with anything...Your Majesty"

"The question is..."

"...What do 'you' want... Your Majesty?" Noah exhibited a crafty smile.

Women didn't rule in the Delos Empire. It was an ancient rule that nobody questioned and everybody followed it blindly. Even when Silia was promised land to rule by Abbott in exchange for trapping Noah, it only meant, a puppet ruler would be set up in that kingdom but the final authority will remain with Silia.

Empress Mary could not rule over Delos Empire...unless she has a puppet. Or someone who doesn't care about the throne like Noah. On the surface it would look like Noah was sitting on the throne but the real power will remain with her. Luke was already dead and her only other option to turn the tables was to add Noah to the plan.

"So what do you want...Your Majesty?"