Akashic Records of the Bastard Child Engaged to a Goddess

Lucretia and Lumiere Arc.

(POV: Lumiere)

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Simone ushered us into the fancy company building.

Naturally, Silica was amazed with everything she saw. I only needed to look at her widely open eyes and her mouth that was agape with excitement to tell that she was bedazzled by everything around her.

Ha! If she thought this was anything big, just wait until she came to the Great Forest's Silva Citadel, and then she'd know her Daddy's a hundred times cooler than Lucretia's expensive building.

I didn't really like bragging, but if it was to impress my daughter, then count me in. The discussion hadn't come up yet, and it was still way too far into the future to start thinking about it now, but I really should plan ahead on the distribution of my properties to my children.

So far, I only had one, but with the way things were going in my love life, I was certain I'd have more than ten kids. Because of that, I needed to decide whether or not I was going to make the inheritance focus more on the male side or use the same setting as the Sword and Spear Kingdom.

I'd prefer if I used their system so my daughter's don't end up having the same rotten personality as Vanessa (1st daughter, 1st child).

Sigh... That'd be a hassle

Just then, Simone turned back to me with a quizzical expression, "May I ask who's the little angel accompanying you?"

"Little angel?"

I blinked in surprise before remembering that Silica was beside me. Parental compliment was something I was gonna have to get used to.

"Oh, that's my daughter, Silica," I replied, offering a warm smile.

There wasn't any need to hide it from Simone because there was every possibility that Silica would take it the wrong way, while the core reason was because Simone was chill... She didn't look or act like the type that would get worked up over anything and start to ask questions unnecessarily.

If Lucilia was in Simone's position, I'd likely not tell her because she would start asking sensitive questions in public. She was always eager to know more and more than anything else, she was a well-known overachiever.

It was the main reason I took a break from developing the Delia Viscounty. If I didn't, she'd have worked me to the bone, jeez...

Still, Simone didn't give the reaction I was expecting or rather she didn't act like her usual self.

She paused and her eyes widening a fraction before she turned to me, her voice hushed, "Wait a moment."

Complying with her request, I stopped, and Silica cast a puzzled look up at me, "Daddy, what's going on?"

I ruffled her hair and whispered quietly, "It's okay, kiddo. Don't worry."

"S..." Simone hooked, it was as though there was a pill in her throat that she just couldn't swallow. "Say it again...?" she requested.

Turning to Simone, I explained, "Well, um, Silica is my daughter."

"Since when?" Simone asked as a surge of astonishment crept into her voice. "And where?! How?!"

I chuckled, recognizing the slight disbelief in her tone, "It's a long story."

Sure, I didn't expect her to react this way, but it was still fun to watch nonetheless.

Without warning, Simone abruptly grabbed my right hand, inspecting it closely, her gaze locking onto the ring adorning my finger. She looked up at me, then back at the ring, her eyes darting between the two before she ventured to ask, "Are you already married or it's just official?"

Amused by her inquisitiveness, I chuckled softly, "I haven't tied the knot yet, but it should be happening soon. I don't plan to make a big fuss of it."

If I didn't know any better I'd think Simone had a thing for me with the way she was acting... But I was definitely sure that wasn't the case. Nevertheless, her lack of composure was a little bit concerning, she was almost always so calm and well-mannered that it was strange to see her acting like well - Lucretia.

After she gently placed my hand down, Simone cleared her throat, adjusting her attire, "I apologize for my lack of composure. Your news caught me a little off guard."

I reassured her, "I told you because I was quite certain you wouldn't make a big deal out of it. I'm surprised you're a little shook. I always thought nothing shook you unless it was deeply concerned with Lucretia."

Simone nodded, regaining her composure, "You're right. I guess I really... I really was taken by surprise. L... Let's proceed. Lady Lucretia is waiting."

You know this feeling when you start overthinking and then all of a sudden everything starts to click in a little too well? Yeah, the same thing happened to me but mine was the equivalent of a nuclear bomb.

It hit me so hard that I didn't realized how painfully I'd missed it all this while.

Simone would only lose her cool if she was in a situation where Lucretia would be at a disadvantage or she would be put in an uncomfortable state.

That made absolute sense!

It was the only answer as to why Simone was so stuck-up on knowing the real story behind the ring on my finger and how Silica was born. It was also the reason why she wanted to know if I'd already made things official with Senesica - a woman she'd never met before. One thing I was definitely sure about was that Simone wouldn't care enough about my life unless Lucretia wanted her to.

Which means... Lucretia still has a thing for me!

I stopped abruptly, realizing that Silica was by my side, so I knelt down next to her and whispered conspiratorially in her ear.

"Pssst! Silica, let's have some fun alright...? So you and Daddy are gonna have some fun playing hide and seek in this really, really, really big company. Doesn't that sound super fun?"

Silica's eyes sparked with excitement.

Yep, I already had her utter and complete attention which wasn't so hard if you knew the trick behind it. Silica was a simple girl with simple needs like playing hide and seek with me.

"So what you're gonna do is that you're gonna be super stealthy and go find a good hiding spot for yourself, alright?!"

I whispered a little louder in her ears.

Excitedly, Silica exclaimed, "Daddy's the best!" before rushing off, darting past Simone and bounding up the stairs with her tiny legs.

Hearing her say all that immediately made me feel bad and the first thing I did was to place my hands together to gesture prayers, and then I said to myself, "Please forgive me Senesica for being just a slightly bad father and also forgive me my loving Goddess Serena for deceiving a little girl..."

If I was gonna pray to Senesica for forgiveness, I might as well do the same thing with Serena.

I doubt Isadora would scold me for deceiving a little child, but I was sure she'd use it as a bargaining chip to have more sex with me; not that I'm complaining.

Turning back to the bewildered Simone, she raised an eyebrow and questioned me about the unexpected turn of events. "Uhm, where's she going... You're uh, you're daughter..."

Jeez, it was so hard for Simone to even say that Silica was my daughter. Was she that devoted to Lucretia?

I straightened up, crossing my arms and suggested, "Can we talk in private?"

Simone stuttered, "W... Why?"

With a steely gaze, I replied, "I just need to clear a few things up if you don't mind."

Simone gulped, finally agreeing and pointed to a small lounge on the ground floor of the imposing company building. "W... We could talk over there if you'd like?"

"Of course I would..."

To be honest, I couldn't tell how the look on my face was, but if I were to describe or "glaze" it in one way, then I'd call it menacing.

Navigating through the maze, we reached the lounge and settled down. I made myself comfortable, crossing my legs and propping my chin on my palm, fixing my gaze on Simone, unrelenting.

Sweating nervously, Simone cleared her throat. "Would you, well, like to have a drink?"

Sharply, I declined, "No," and countered, "Would you like something?"

"Uh, no, I make it a point not to take food or drinks of any kind during work hours so I don't have to leave Miss Lucretia's side at an important time."

"So that's a no?" I asked her.

Rather than responding in her usual composed manner, she nodded slowly as a drop of sweat flew from her forehead.

Her body was stiff and her eyes felt like they wanted to leave mine and not leave mine at the same time. Simone may have been composed but she wasn't an adamantine egg. She was simply your average, delicate egg.

I then quipped, "So, I'm allowed to indulge but not you, right?"

Simone mustered a weak smile while wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead, and replied, "Yes, it's part of my standard procedure."

I leaned in and questioned, "Does your standard procedure also involve feeding me lies?"

Simone gasped heavily as her eyes widened in the funniest way possible.

For a moment, I almost broke character.

I comported myself and then dramatically asked, "I know Lucretia has a thing for me..."

A loud laughter escaped Simone's mouth. She laughed in the most over-exaggerated manner possible, almost like she was trying a little too hard to sound casual. She continued to laugh and laugh as she slapped her hand against her fleshy thighs.

"HAHAHAHAHA!! HA! HA! HA!"

She kept the laughter up for almost a minute and as everyone in the company looked at her with straight eyes, I just kept staring at her with a dead serious gaze.

When she finally stopped and then wiped off some of the tears from her eyes, she exhaled a sight of relief.

"So, answer my question, Simone..."

"Eh?" Simone was shocked. "You... Didn't fall... For that?"

"Not in the slightest. What am I, three?" I sarcastically asked her.

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