THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

David woke gently, slipping from the bed without disturbing Seraphina or Amilia, who remained fast asleep. His heart swelled with emotion as he quietly approached Katrina, Shay, and Vivian. Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around all three, drawing them into a warm embrace.

Taken by surprise, the three women hesitated briefly before reciprocating, returning his embrace with the same affection. In that moment, no words were needed—they each understood David in their own way, and this unspoken bond was deepening.

Katrina, ever perceptive, remembered David as the needy child who had always craved attention. For her, he was someone to be nurtured, someone who, despite his growth, still needed the warmth of human connection.

Shay and Vivian, on the other hand, saw a different side of David. They admired his strength, his reliability, and the quiet leadership he exuded in every situation. To them, David was not just a master but a partner, someone they could trust in the most uncertain of times.

As the soft minutes ticked by, the warmth between them intensified. Amilia, who had begun to stir from her slumber, opened her eyes to find David embracing the three maids with such intensity that it seemed as though the world might end. She blinked, sitting up and watching the scene unfold, mildly amused and slightly impatient. Beside her, Seraphina also awoke, her gaze falling on David and the trio. A serene smile crept onto her lips, pleased to see David calming down after the recent chaotic events.

Seraphina knew David better than anyone. She could see the mixture of relief and gratitude in his actions, and she didn't mind him being so affectionate with the others. If anything, it reassured her of his caring nature—that he wasn't just their leader but someone who cherished them all deeply. She leaned back slightly, content that David had returned to his usual calm self after all the stress he'd been under.

But Amilia's patience, it seemed, had a limit. The sight of David and the maids holding each other for what felt like an eternity was beginning to gnaw at her. Her eyebrow twitched with irritation. How much longer were they going to stand there like that? She was an executioner, after all—not someone used to waiting on people while they indulged in sentimental moments.

"Ahem..." Amilia cleared her throat loudly, her voice slicing through the comfortable silence.

David quickly snapped out of the moment, releasing his hold on the women and turning to face Amilia, who was now sitting upright, her face flushed with a mixture of frustration and mild embarrassment. She didn't seem amused by the long embrace. Meanwhile, Seraphina stifled a chuckle, sensing the subtle tension in the room.

"Oh, you're awake," David said, attempting to smooth over the situation, though clearly sensing the shift in Amilia's mood. He read the room quickly, offering a sheepish smile as Amilia fixed him with a sharp, expectant stare.

"Yes," Amilia replied, her tone dry, as she crossed her arms, tapping her fingers impatiently against her sleeve.

David, quick on his feet, stepped closer to Amilia, gently holding the sides of her arms. "Thank you, Amilia. You have no idea how much I appreciate everything you've done," he said, his voice sincere, filled with warmth and gratitude.

Amilia's lips curled into a mischievous grin. Her eyes sparkled with playful intent as she stood from the bed, placing one hand under David's chin and the other on his chest. "If you're that grateful," she purred seductively, her voice low and demanding, "why not visit me in my room later and answer a few... questions I have?"

Her presence was overwhelming, her aura commanding, but David remained unfazed. He gently took her hand from his chest, his expression unreadable, and smiled—cool and calm. "That sounds like quite the challenge," he replied evenly, "but I'll do my best to answer anything you need to know."

Amilia blinked, surprised by his composure. She had expected him to blush or fumble with his words, but he was calm, collected—unshaken by her advances. 'When did he grow so confident?' she thought, both impressed and unexpectedly attracted to this new side of him. Still, she maintained her air of control, hiding her thoughts behind a playful smirk.

"Excellent," she exclaimed, her tone smooth. "However, I didn't do all that much. Those three," she gestured to Katrina, Shay, and Vivian, who were watching from nearby, "proved my analysis completely wrong. Even as they were awakening, their vessels and talents were growing stronger. By the time I finished my work, I found myself waking up next to you."

Her words shocked Seraphina, who had been silently observing from the side. She had no idea the awakening process could yield such unexpected results. David, on the other hand, felt a sense of clarity wash over him. He recalled that the system had mentioned their talents would rise in ranks, but hearing Amilia confirm it left him feeling both relieved and impressed.

Amilia's smirk grew wider. "Since we have an agreement, I'll be expecting you," she concluded with a wink, turning on her heel and leaving the infirmary without another word. Her figure disappeared through the doorway, leaving a lingering air of mystery behind.

The room was quiet again, with only David and the three women remaining. He let out a soft sigh, the weight of the moment settling on his shoulders. He had been putting off this conversation, but now, there was no avoiding it.

"David," Katrina called softly, breaking the silence.

He turned to face her, his heart heavy with the knowledge that this conversation was inevitable. He knew they all had questions—questions he had been delaying. His mind raced, but he forced himself to stay calm, exhaling deeply as he prepared to answer whatever they needed to ask. With a determined gaze, he stepped forward, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

****

David glanced at the three women standing around him, their expressions a mix of curiosity, warmth, and a faint confusion. He gestured toward the nearby beds. "Why don't you all sit down for a moment?" he said, his voice calm but with a tinge of seriousness. Without hesitation, Katrina, Shay, and Vivian complied, each finding a spot on the beds, their eyes never leaving him.

"How are you feeling?" David asked, leaning against the edge of a table, his arms crossed.

Vivian, the first to speak, smiled brightly. "I feel fine, more than okay, actually," she admitted, her voice full of energy. "It's like there's something inside me... something new."

Shay, ever the quiet one, nodded in agreement but added, "My senses... they've grown sharper. Everything feels more intense—sounds, smells, even the air on my skin. It's going to take some time to adjust." Her eyes darted around, as if the world itself was louder and brighter than before.

David acknowledged their words with a gentle nod, relieved that they were adjusting to their newfound abilities. But it was Katrina who pierced the moment with a sharp question.

"And what exactly did you do to us?" Katrina's tone was direct, her gaze unwavering. There was a certain fire in her eyes, a determination to understand. Seraphina, who had been silently watching, leaned in slightly, clearly interested in David's response as well.

David took a deep breath, his mind already forming the words. This was a moment of truth. "I... shared my essence with each of you," he said, carefully choosing his words, his voice steady but heavy with the weight of the revelation.

A wave of confusion swept over the room. Seraphina furrowed her brow, her eyes narrowing in thought. "How?" she asked, her voice soft but filled with curiosity. She had never heard of essence sharing.

David took a few seconds to gather his thoughts, then revealed the truth. "Through... intimacy," he began, his tone measured. "By making love to each of you, I was able to pass a part of my essence to you."

The room fell silent. The weight of his words hung in the air like a heavy fog. Katrina, Shay, and Vivian sat wide-eyed, their jaws slack in disbelief. Even Seraphina, always composed, looked visibly shocked.

"That's... impossible," Seraphina blurted out, her voice uncharacteristically shaky. She stood up from the bed, pacing slightly as she struggled to comprehend the magnitude of what David had just said. "You can't just awaken someone through mating. It doesn't work like that."

David remained calm in the face of their disbelief. "I know it sounds impossible," he said, his voice steady as he met Seraphina's eyes. "But it's true. By having sex with me, a normal human can awaken—even with the weakest talent. It's something I didn't fully understand at first either."

A second wave of shock hit the room. Shay leaned forward, her hands gripping the sheets beneath her as if to steady herself. Vivian covered her mouth, eyes wide with disbelief. Katrina simply stared at David, her mind racing to process what he had just revealed.

Seraphina, always the voice of reason, shook her head slowly, trying to make sense of it. "David... do you have any idea what you're saying? This defies everything we know about awakening, about essence, about how talents are inherited or gained."

David nodded, understanding her disbelief. "I know," he replied softly. "But it's the truth. I don't know why it works this way, and I don't know how long it's been like this. But it happened."

Katrina was the first to break the silence, her voice a whisper, "So... we've all awakened because of you?"

David gave a slow nod. "Yes. And your talents... they'll grow. You'll become stronger."

Vivian was the next to speak, her voice barely above a whisper. "And... what does that mean for us now? What are we supposed to do?"

David looked at each of them, his gaze firm but gentle. "It means that you're no longer ordinary. You have a choice now—to embrace this new power, or... to walk away. But whatever you choose, I'll be with you every step of the way."

His words hung in the air, heavy with the promise of something greater, something beyond what any of them had ever imagined. And though the shock still lingered in their hearts, a flicker of excitement began to grow in the room—an excitement for the unknown future that awaited them all.

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