Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 361: Afterwar Intense Morning (End) The Playful Morning

Chapter 361: Afterwar Intense Morning (End) The Playful Morning

Lyan reclined back on the balcony, his chest still heaving slightly from the morning’s indulgence. Josephine and Wilhelmina lay beside him, both breathing heavily and basking in the warm afterglow of their shared intimacy. The morning sun was soft and gentle, casting a golden hue over the vast horizon beyond the balcony. For a moment, Lyan allowed himself to enjoy the rare peace. The chaos of the past few days—the battles, the strategizing, the tension—had finally eased. They had won, and the city of Grafen was secure. He ran his fingers absentmindedly through Josephine’s fiery red hair as Wilhelmina rested her head on his shoulder, her face still flushed from their recent time together.

But the peace didn’t last long.

"Hey! That’s totally unfair!" came a loud voice from the doorway, startling Lyan. Xena stormed out onto the balcony, her expression a mix of outrage and playful indignation. She was still in her nightgown, her long brown hair cascading over her shoulders, giving her an almost wild appearance. Her hands were planted firmly on her hips as she glared at the trio, her lips twisted into a pout. "You guys didn’t wake me up? This is betrayal!"

Lyan couldn’t help but chuckle, his gaze quickly shifting from Xena to Josephine and Wilhelmina, who exchanged amused glances.

"We didn’t want to disturb your beauty sleep, Xena," Wilhelmina teased, though her voice still carried a bit of the exhaustion from their earlier activities.

Josephine, ever the confident one, smirked at Xena. "Besides, you’ve had plenty of Lyan to yourself recently, haven’t you?"

Xena wasn’t having it. She stomped closer, crossing her arms over her chest, and leaned down toward Lyan, her face just inches from his. "That doesn’t mean you can just leave me out like this!"

Before Lyan could respond, the commotion had already stirred the others from their sleep. Alina emerged from the bedroom next, yawning and stretching, her slender figure outlined by the morning light. "What’s all this noise?" she murmured, rubbing her eyes before noticing the scene. When she realized what had happened, her eyes widened. "Oh, you guys started without us?"

Behind her, Raine and Ravia appeared, followed closely by Belle and Surena, each wearing expressions of curiosity and mild jealousy. The two sisters, Raine and Ravia, exchanged knowing looks before Ravia, the more mischievous of the two, grinned. "Well, well, looks like Josephine and Wilhelmina were a little greedy this morning."

"’Lady Wilhelmina’ taking the lead?" Surena added with a sly smile, raising an eyebrow at her former mistress. "You’ve changed, Mina."

Wilhelmina blushed deeply but tried to hold her ground. "It’s not like I planned it! It just... happened."

"Oh, so ’Mina’ is what we’re calling you now?" Emilia chimed in, her tone light but teasing. "I guess no more ’Lady Wilhelmina,’ huh? That’s fine by me. But you still have some explaining to do, Mina."

The banter continued, with the women playfully pestering Wilhelmina about her newfound boldness. Emilia, Surena, and Alice kept up their teasing, calling her ’Mina’ in a casual way that felt much closer than their old formal address. It was clear the dynamic between them had shifted, their former roles as retainers to Wilhelmina now more of a distant memory as they embraced their new camaraderie. Mina, for her part, tried to fend off their teasing but couldn’t stop the shy smile tugging at her lips.

On the other side of the balcony, Josephine wasn’t faring much better. Raine, Ravia, Alina, and Xena surrounded her, their playful accusations flying freely.

"Madam Josephine, you’re usually the sensible one," Raine said, crossing her arms. "But now you’re just as bad as Mina."

"Yeah, Madam," Xena echoed, though her tone carried more amusement than actual complaint. "You should have at least woken us up."

Josephine waved a dismissive hand, clearly unfazed by their teasing. "Oh, please. If you were as tired as you looked last night, you would have slept through a thunderstorm."

Belle, ever the peacemaker, giggled softly from the sidelines. "You can’t argue with that."

Lyan watched the lighthearted bickering unfold with a sense of fond amusement. Each woman had her own distinct personality, but they all shared a bond that had grown deeper over time. They teased and laughed, but there was genuine affection behind their words. He couldn’t help but feel lucky to have them by his side.

Amid the lively banter, Althea, the head maid, quietly stepped out onto the balcony carrying trays laden with breakfast. Unlike the others, Althea had never bothered with undergarments beneath her apron, a fact that Lyan’s sharp eyes couldn’t help but notice. As she leaned over to serve the food, her ample chest brushed against his arm, sending a jolt through him.

"Breakfast is ready, Lord Lyan," Althea said softly, her voice smooth as silk. She straightened up, but instead of retreating, she gave him a sly smile and slipped onto his lap, her apron doing little to hide the curves of her body.

The others noticed almost immediately.

"Althea!" Wilhelmina exclaimed, her face flushing. "You can’t just—"

"Oh, come on, Mina. She’s only serving breakfast," Josephine teased, though there was a hint of playful jealousy in her voice.

"That’s not the point!" Raine chimed in, laughing as she pointed at Althea. "Look at her! She’s totally taking advantage of the situation."

"Hey! I think it’s smart," Alina added with a giggle. "When else is she going to get a chance like this?"

The accusations flew playfully, with the women pointing fingers and laughing at Althea’s boldness, but the head maid simply smiled and stayed put on Lyan’s lap, clearly enjoying the attention.

"Well, I suppose if you all want a turn, we can make this fair," Lyan said with a mischievous grin, giving Althea a playful squeeze. "But let’s not forget we have breakfast to eat."

That sent the entire group into laughter, the tension melting away as they all gathered around the table on the balcony for a much-needed meal. Plates of fresh fruit, bread, and roasted meats were laid out, and as they began to dig in, the teasing continued. The lightheartedness of the morning was a stark contrast to the battles they had fought together, and it reminded Lyan of how much he valued moments like these.

As they ate, the banter never truly stopped. Alice, Surena, and Emilia continued to pester Wilhelmina, recounting stories of her strictness when they served as her retainers and laughing at how far she’d come from those days. Raine and Ravia took turns poking fun at Josephine, calling her "Madam" and accusing her of manipulating the situation in her favor.

All the while, Althea remained on Lyan’s lap, occasionally brushing against him as she reached for something on the table. Her presence didn’t go unnoticed by the others, who would occasionally shoot her teasing glances, but it was all in good fun. The morning was filled with laughter, lighthearted teasing, and the warm sense of camaraderie that had developed between them all.

As the breakfast drew to a close, Lyan pushed his chair back slightly and stood, stretching his arms above his head. The sun had risen higher in the sky, and the warmth of the day was beginning to settle in. The laughter and teasing continued around him, but he could already feel the weight of the responsibilities waiting for him.

He adjusted the black robe draped over his shoulders, the familiar softness bringing him a small sense of comfort. The robe hung loosely, exposing just enough of his chest to draw glances from the women, though he pretended not to notice.

Looking out over the city of Grafen, Lyan allowed himself a brief moment to appreciate how far they had come. The three nobles’ territories had merged under his control after the recent battles, giving him dominion over more land. It wasn’t a vast kingdom—closer to the size of a viscount’s domain—but it was enough. Enough to require attention, to plan for the future.

The girls, despite their playful demeanor, had already taken on various responsibilities without needing any direction from him. Wilhelmina and Josephine handled logistics, Alice and Surena had proven invaluable in strategy, and Alina worked closely with the townspeople to ensure stability. They had all stepped into their roles naturally, and it made Lyan feel proud. This was not just his territory; it was theirs. They were building something together.

He glanced over at the group of women, all still engaged in their conversation, and smiled to himself. It wasn’t common for a noble to have so many wives—well, they weren’t exactly official wives, but they were a family nonetheless. And somehow, despite the many personalities and desires among them, they got along. There was no sabotage, no jealousy that disrupted the peace. It worked.

Turning back toward the horizon, Lyan exhaled softly. "I guess it’s time for me to work as well," he murmured to himself, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.