Gon's Harem System
Chapter 84: Return to the castle

Chapter 84: Return to the castle

Some hours later, Gon was deemed well enough to return to the castle.

His mother and a few guards came to escort him back.

The moment she saw him, the Duchess rushed forward, her elegant robes billowing behind her.

Despite her usual composed demeanor, there was no mistaking the worry in her eyes.

She reached for him immediately, her hands cool against his flushed skin as she bent down to check his forehead.

Gon stood still, allowing her touch, though a part of him felt guilty for making her worry.

Her brows knitted together as she pressed her palm lightly against his skin, her gaze searching his face for any lingering signs of fever or distress.

Gon offered a small, reassuring smile. "I’m fine, Mother. Really."

She nodded when she found his temperature satisfactory. "Truly, you’re better now," she said, relief evident in her voice.

"Yes, Mother," Gon replied, offering her a small smile. "I told you, I’m fine."

As they began their walk, Gon glanced up at the sky. The sun had dipped lower, casting long shadows across the ground.

"I had a talk with your father, about how he is pushing you too hard," the Duchess said as they walked, her voice calm yet firm.

Gon’s steps faltered slightly. He turned back to look at her, surprise flickering in his eyes. "You did?"

His mother nodded, her gaze fixed ahead. "Yes. I told him that while training and discipline are important, so is your well-being. You’re strong, Gon, but you’re still young. Pushing yourself beyond your limits constantly is not the way to grow, it’s the way to break."

Gon didn’t know what to say at first.

"You deserve to grow like every other new mage, gradually and surely. Being pushed like this will only result in burnout."

Gon looked up at her, taking in the concern in her eyes.

He reached out, slipping his hand into hers, a rare moment of warmth between them. "I promise I won’t get burnt out," he said, his voice steady. "I’m just getting used to my new capabilities... and in no time, I’ll have mastered them."

His mother sighed, squeezing his hand gently. "Gon, you don’t have to rush."

"I know," he admitted. "But I want to be strong. I need to be."

She studied him for a moment, as if searching for the right words.

Finally , she sighed, a quiet sound of resignation. She knew how stubborn her son could be, just like his father.

"Very well," she said at last, her tone softer now. "If that’s what you want, and it’s not your father pushing you."

Gon nodded, his grip on her hand tightening briefly before letting go. "It’s not," he assured her. "This is me. I want this."

She studied him for a long moment, as if searching for any trace of hesitation, any sign that he was simply trying to meet expectations placed upon him.

But all she found was determination, pure, unwavering.

Finally, she exhaled and gave him a small nod. "Then I won’t stand in your way. But I’ll be watching, Gon. If I see you wearing yourself too thin, we’ll have this conversation again."

Gon smiled slightly at that. "Fair enough."

"Alright then," the Duchess said, her voice carrying both acceptance and quiet resolve.

With that, they continued their walk toward the waiting carriage.

The gravel path crunched softly beneath their feet, the steady rhythm of their steps filling the silence between them.

The guards followed at a respectful distance.

The carriage stood just ahead, its dark wood polished to a shine under the soft glow of the evening lanterns.

****

When they arrived back at the castle, Gon wasted no time heading straight to his room.

His body still ached from the fight, and though the healers had taken care of his injuries, exhaustion clung to him like a second skin.

More than anything, he needed a bath, to wash off the grime from the battle and, more importantly, rid himself the slimes, from the journey, from pound town.

He pushed open the heavy wooden doors to his chambers, stepping inside.

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. The events of the day had left him drained, both physically and mentally.

Now, at last, he had a moment to himself.

Gon walked toward the adjoining bathing chamber, peeling off his sweat-stained clothes as he went.

The large tub was already filled with steaming water, likely prepared by the castle attendants as soon as word of his return spread.

He sank into it with a low exhale, letting the warmth seep into his sore muscles.

For the first time since waking up, he allowed himself to close his eyes and simply breathe.

Gon had barely finished washing when the door to the bathing chamber burst open.

Before he could react, two figures rushed inside, their voices overlapping in excitement. "We were worried for you, Master Gon!" they chorused.

"We saw you collapse, and then you were taken away," Ana said, her voice quieter now as she and Elsa followed him out of the bathing chamber.

Gon grabbed a towel and ran it over his hair, water droplets sliding down his back as he made his way to the room.

"Yes, I pushed myself too hard, apparently," he admitted, settling onto the edge of the bed.

The mattress dipped slightly beneath his weight, and for a moment, he just sat there, his body still adjusting to the exhaustion that clung to him.

Their faces crinkled with worry. Ana sat beside him, hands clasped in her lap, while Elsa stood with her arms crossed, her expression firm yet concerned.

"Perhaps you should take things lighter, Lord Gon," Elsa said, her voice unusually gentle. "So you won’t be hurt."

Gon let out a small breath, rubbing a hand through his damp hair. He appreciated their concern, truly, but they didn’t understand.

"I have no choice," he said, his tone quieter but resolute. "If I don’t win this thing, or at least give it my best, I’ll be regarded as a failure by my father." His fingers dug slightly into the bedsheets. "I can’t let that happen."

Elsa and Ana exchanged a look, their worry deepening.