Chapter 166: Revelations (2/2)

Camelia shook her head, ”There is nothing really complicated. Back then, we fought Ibuki and only won with difficulty. After winning, we were supposed to kill her, but when she told us that she joined the wings because she was forced to, Mars took pity on her and spared her.”

”...What?”

Showing a bitter smile, she continued, ”Of course all of us were against it. But the problem was that it wasn't the first time an enemy of ours became an ally. The same happened with Iris, Cloe's mother, and Pandora, who back then was the crown princess of Envilya. So we had no way to make him change his opinion. He really believed we could trust her.”

”I guess we became too complacent? At first, we all had our guard against her. But day after day, week after weeks. The more time went past, the more we also began to trust her.

”Sigh. Anyway, the initial ritual to seal Echidna wasn't supposed to use your parent's life, but rather the Holy sword. The sword had to be placed in a very specific place and guarded to avoid it being moved. The ones who had to guard it were Lilith, Pandora, and Ibuki.

”Everything was going well, even though the fight had many casualties and we were all wounded or near death, we were on the verge of winning. I had even taken into account the possibility of Ibuki betraying us. But with both Pandora and Lilith, it should have been enough. After all, Ibuki was just a Duke rank.

”The problem here was that...She wasn't a Duke.”

Sol closed his eyes, ”A King.”

”Indeed, a powerful one at that. She pulled out the sword. Pandora and Lilith stood no chance. If Blaze did not rush to stop Ibuki, they would have been killed. Blaze did her best and took back the sword but it was already too late. The ritual was disrupted and everything was going to be annihilated.”

”So my father sacrificed himself.”

”That's so and blaze followed him after entrusting you to me and giving her core and horns to Theresa.”

Sol could imagine the scene. At the same time, he caught a hint.

”They have been after the sword since then.”

”Most likely so. Of course, back then, we did not know that it was her main goal.”

”I see...I have always thought that he sacrificed himself and my mother for the sake of peace or the world.”

”Perhaps it was so. I do not know what his last thoughts were.”

Grief was hidden in Camelia's voice.

Though she had no romantic feeling for Mars, he had always been a good friend. What's more, her relationship with Blaze was close to that of siblings.

To this day, she had many regrets.

She could have done much more.

If she had tried to control Ibuki with her power she would have found early on that she wasn't just a Duke.

If she had insisted to not let Ibuki close to the sword, the ritual would not have been perturbed.

If she hadn't listened to Mars's opinion and simply acted on her own as she wished, the present situation would have been so much different.

That's why,

”I know I am derailing from our initial topic. But I want to be clear. I hate traitors and I feel no remorse about the way I used Gerald. Even if I had warned you beforehand, it would have not changed my choices nor subsequent action.”

Sol wanted to discuss more about Wratharis and their plan of action, but it seemed that he had to make things clear for now.

”You are misunderstanding something. The problem isn't what you did. Your actions allowed the removal of several tumors in the kingdom. The problem lay in the fact that you hide it from me.”

Sol leaned in his chair and continued, ”Trust is something that takes years to build but can be destroyed in seconds. By lying to me so many times, you broke a great part of my trust in you.”

”But I would never harm you.”

”Only me, right?”

Camelia's silence was an answer unto itself. Sol could only pinch his eyebrows.

'Why are all my women crazy?'

They all seemed to be fully functional but were a little too obsessed with him.

'Or perhaps I am the crazy one for accepting them?'

Sol laughed at himself. It honestly didn't matter how crazy they were as long as they didn't harm him or each other.

The last thing he wanted to see was bloodshed in the harem.

Perhaps he could help them become closer to each other first?

That would be the first step.

”I have decided. Tonight, I will make a visit to the Travers Mansion with Nuwa. Meanwhile, you and the other girls will reunite and discuss and make friends or something.”

The first step toward friendship was discussion.

If each of them becomes closer to each other, the risks of them hurting each other would decrease greatly.

Anyway, it was just a trial test. If it failed he would find another way. What was the worst that could happen?

'Damn. I had to jinx it.'

(AN: Pandora and Iris were introduced in the special Xmas chapter. The story of the seal was first mentioned in CH 22. The betrayal was first mentioned in CH 7 and 8. Man, time really flies fast. Already been a year since those chapters. Lol, anyway, the first reunion of the harem. Hahaha. So many headstrong personalities. I know many of you wanted to read such a scene. I hope I won't disappoint. Finally, what happened to Mars is basically what I think should happen to most shonen mc like naruto. Even now I am still reeling from how Naruto convinced people like Nagato and Obito to fight and die for him in just 3 or so minutes of discussion. Imagine plotting for 20 years. Killing your Master and causing a world War but suddenly finding your conscience because of the words of some teen.)