Back when Rean left to help Roan with the mission, Qia's mother had brought her to talk in Tulia's Room.
"Qia, let me ask you. Do you really like that boy?"
Qia's face went red as she shook her head.
"N-No, it's just a political marriage that will benefit both of us. That's all!"
Ariana sighed as she looked at Qia's expression.
"I'm still your mother, you know? Do you really think you can hide it from me? In fact, I don't think you're doing a good job hiding it from anyone at this point. It's just too obvious."
"This..."
Qia didn't know what to say while Ariana insisted.
"You know that your father and I had a political marriage. In fact, the majority of the Imperial Family was like that. Still, I think I'm one of the lucky ones since your father treats me very well. I have to admit that I've grown fond of him with time. Well, it might also be because of my own family that he is doing it. I would probably never know for sure."
"You are my youngest child. Your elder sister also had a political marriage, and so did your oldest brother. At the moment, you are the only one left. If this marriage somehow fails, your father will eventually find someone for you. That's how it works, and you know that. So, if you have some feelings for him, I want you to confirm it right now."
Sadly, Qia remained silent, giving Ariana no choice but to ask.
"Qia, you said that this marriage would be beneficial for both of you. What was the deal that you two came up with?"
Qia looked at her mother before she explained everything.
"I see... So at first, your Master noticed that Rean probably wouldn't force you to do anything. Later, he agreed that he would give you complete freedom and never touch you except for moments where you need to play the married couple's role. Still, those moments would be nothing more than simple kisses and things like that, right?"
Qia nodded, not trying to hide it.
"Well, that is quite a good deal. It's not like the situation about the fight for the throne will be kept hidden from the masses for long. Rean wants to help his Master protect their sect, so it's fine. It's not like Rean prying into this information would change anything since even the Chrole Empire is already more or less aware of what's happening. Anyway, Rean's intention doesn't matter at the moment, so let's go back to the part that I care about."
"I understand what's happening here. You have always been very prideful. When Rean said that he would give you complete freedom, you accepted that. But when he continued and said that he had absolutely no interest in doing anything with you, you simply couldn't take it."
"There is one thing I don't understand, though. It's not like you and Rean know each other that well. How come you became interested in him that easily?"
Ariana's words made Qia fall into deep thought. Indeed, how did Rean's shadow enter her heart so effortlessly? Qia then began to think about the few interactions they had before. Finally, she felt like she found an answer.
"Maybe... his complete disregard for my status? It's hard to put it into words. He treats me as if I'm just any ordinary girl. The Formations' Guild is neutral territory, and everyone addresses me casually here. However, I can still easily tell that they're measuring their words to not offend me. But Rean... Rean is different. He simply... doesn't care. I wonder why it attracts me so much..."
Well, things like kings, princesses, and empires were almost extinct back on Earth. Besides, although far from perfect, the people on Earth still preached equality between all humans. Rean lived double the amount of time on Earth than he lived in the cultivation world, so he still had these thoughts where no one was better than the other. He knew that it was different in the cultivation world, but he didn't care. That's why his words and actions looked a lot more genuine than anyone else. For someone like Qia, who had been treated like that ever since she was born, Rean's presence really gave her a new feeling she never experienced before. In the end, she just desired more of that.
After hearing Qia's answer, Ariana couldn't help but ask.
"What you want and what you're doing are two starkly different things, don't you think? Shouldn't you be focusing on the part that really matters?"
Qia nodded with a sad expression.
"Sorry, Mom. I will stop it and focus on the deal itself. Master already told me that almost no princes or princesses have the same chance as I do. I should focus on keeping my part of the agreement and stop expecting anything from him. The freedom that I will get is what I should pay attention to."
Ariana looked at Qia as if she was looking at an idiot.
"Are you that dumb? Didn't I just say that you should focus on what really matters?"
Qia was speechless. That's not the answer she expected from her mother.
"This... What do you mean?"
Ariana then looked at Qia's face with a solemn expression.
"Hmph! You said it yourself. Almost no princes or princesses get the chance you got. But I'm not talking about this freedom bullshit. What I mean is that none of them have the opportunity of marrying someone they genuinely care about. Here you are, with your emotions almost bursting out of your chest, and you are still pretending that they don't matter.
Ariana got angrier as she continued.
"This is really irritating. Why wasn't I this lucky in the past? Why wasn't any of your siblings this lucky? Your father's a very strict man who practically can't think about anything other than the Empire. Still, he definitely isn't so bad compared to others like your grandfather, so I wish he had the same encounter as you in the past."
Qia was shocked to see her mother acting like that. She quickly dropped her head as she heard all of that.
"But... but..."
*Pah!*
"Ouch!"
Out of nowhere, Ariana slapped Qia's back using Spiritual Energy to make sure it would hurt.
"Idiot! If you truly keep using this bullshit freedom to get away from your happiness, I will never forgive you. So what if he's three years younger? Who cares about that? If anything, he will be more active in the bed for a long time since he will be younger."
Qia's face burned when she heard that last part.
"Mother!"
Ariana glared at her in response.
"Shut up!"
"Yes..."
Qia couldn't go against her mother at all. Not only did she have more authority, but Ariana's cultivation was much higher as well.
Ariana then put her hands on Qia's shoulder as she said.
"Qia... There is indeed a chance here that you shouldn't lose. So you must give it your all. Do it for me, your father, and your siblings. Don't throw away something that we all wanted but couldn't get. Can you promise me that?"
Qia couldn't help but tear up. Eventually, she made her decision as she nodded her head vigorously.
"Alright! I will definitely play all my cards to not let this chance escape."
Ariana sighed in relief as she smiled.
"Mommy is proud of you."
Suddenly, Ariana's expression changed as she entered a new topic.
"Now, there's another huge problem we need to discuss."
Seeing Ariana's demeanor, Qia immediately understood that it must be something serious.
"Wh-What is it? Did something happen in the fight for the throne?"
Ariana shook her head.
"Worse than that."
Worse? Could it be that the Emperor died?
"We need to find a way to catch Rean's heart!"
Qia almost fell with her face to the ground.
"That's all?!"
Ariana narrowed her eyes.
"What do you mean that's all? My daughter's happiness is on the line. This is a problem even bigger than the Empire going to war. To hell with all that throne fight bullshit!"
Qia was speechless. Wasn't the Imperial Family always above everything? How come it became so insignificant all of a sudden? However, Qia immediately understood why her mother thought like that. Her father was the real member of the Imperial Bloodline, not her mother. Ariana came from another family. Not only that, but Ariana didn't come from any of the subordinate clans either. Instead, she came from a clan of merchants from outside the capital. Naturally, her attachment to the Imperial Family wasn't as big as her father's. Or better yet, she simply didn't care...
Ariana then looked at Qia.
"Do you think I didn't notice? That Rean boy was only pretending everything! The kiss, the flattering words, the entire thing was just a ruse. You love him, but at this moment, it definitely isn't the same on his side. Time to discuss what you should do to catch his heart as well."
Qia's cheeks began to get hot as she heard her mother's words.
"Th-Then... What should I do?"
Ariana began to ponder about the issue.
"He healed your scars, which turned you back into beauty both in and out of clothes. You are definitely a piece of sexy meat that wolves would love to eat. Still, that boy seems to not mind this... how come..."
"Mom... aren't you a little too direct?"
Ariana ignored Qia as she continued to think.
"Hum... It seems like we can only use the same plan as Rean did before."
"Same plan?"
Qia gave a confused look at her mother.
Ariana nodded before looking back at Qia.
"Didn't he say that he might have impregnated you? Let's make it real."
Poor Rean didn't know what was waiting for him.
