Sol coughed in a blend of embarrassment and exasperation at her teasing words,
“Why?”
He couldn't help but ask. Her words had been more than just a bit jarring to his ears.
“I mean, just think about it. Neptune created me through his blood and the blood and genetics of the Nightmare Queen. You did something similar by using my human blood and your blood. In a way, I am your daughter now, right? or is it something along the lines of a sister? A bit confused myself, to be honest.”
Sol groaned in his mind as he realized that his current and future family trees were and would be nearly as messy as a Greek god's tree.
Thinking about it clearly now, Sol was appalled to come to the conclusion that Lilith was now his aunt, daughter, and sister altogether in a twisted way. Meanwhile, Lilin was both his aunt and cousin and now his granddaughter?. On another note, Isis and Nefertiti were his women. which meant that Nent was both his aunt-in-law and also a lover. Their children would call her grandaunt or great grandaunt but she was also his partner which meant that his children with Isis and Nefertiti should call her stepmom.
If he had children with Nent, her children will be Nefertiti and Isis’s stepchildren but at the same time will be their uncles and cousins respectively.
If he added Kiyohime and perhaps Tiamat in the future…
‘This… Huh…’
Looking at Sol's expression as if his brain had just short-circuited, Lilith exploded out in laughter before waving her hand.
"Sorry, sorry. The atmosphere was so tense, I thought that I would make a joke to liven things up. Didn’t think it would sound so true.”
'Lilith and joking?'
Sol was bemused at this weird combination he had never thought would be possible.
"Well, looking at your face, I guess it isn't really like me, huh? Ambrosia has been saying the same thing too, that I am not acting like myself."
She shook her head and then looked at her hands, "What do you guys think acting like myself is exactly? I want to know as I do not know myself, to be honest…"
She mused in her mind, summoning her oldest memories, "The first few years after I was created I was practically a blank slate. Then when I gathered more experience, I became a little brash and clingy. I was quite childish if I say so myself. Hehe. I remember attacking Camelia for quite the weird reasoning and I am still a bit ashamed of my behavior toward her."
She chuckled and clenched her fists, "After your father, Mars, died and I realized I didn't have much time left for myself, I fell into depression for years and time passed away before I even knew it. I wasn't living per se. Thinking about it, I was just a husk keeping myself alive to accomplish my goals."
Light twinkled in her eyes as she tapped Sol's chest with her fist.
"You changed that part of me Sol. You gave me a second chance at life and made me realize how much I have been missing because of how focused I was on my objectives."
She moved away from him and opened her arms wide, "I realized that life is too short to stay brooding and unchanging. Now I want to realize things I was never able to. I want to spend time with my daughter and apologize for all the wrongs I did to her, knowingly and unknowingly. I wish to take care of you as well for I was not a good caretaker nor an adequate guardian. I want to mend my wrongdoings."
A soft smile graced her lips, "But, most of all, I want to be happy. I am tired of crying. Tired of moping and brooding while life flashes away in front of me — Is it really that weird of me to be different then?"
Was it wrong for her to seek happiness?
"So I just want to make one thing clear. I did not change. I am simply looking at the world from a simpler perspective and all of this—
She approached Sol and hugged him tightly in her arms, "—Is thanks to you."
Her arms wrapped around him as her head nuzzled on his chest, "Thank you for giving me a second chance. Thank you for not giving up on me even when I gave up on myself. Thank you…for everything."
———
After a rather emotional moment, Lilith wiped the small tears that had gathered at the corner of her eyes, "Whoops, sorry. I didn't want to make things heavy."
She turned and twirled on her toes, "What do you think of my current attire?"
"It's… I guess it's quite cute?"
Even though she looked younger and no longer had the succubus blood in her, Lilith was still an incredibly beautiful woman with a body that could lead even the staunchest man to follow the path of a depraved sinner.
But currently, as she twirled and smiled so candidly, it was hard to see her as a femme fatale. She gave the impression of a young naive princess who knew nothing of the world.
"Cute heh, well I like it."
She smiled a little. The Aura of giddiness around her began to vanish as seriousness showed on her face for the first time Sol had witnessed her new self…
"Tell me, Sol. It has been some time now but at the same time it hasn't really been that long since that moment. I asked you… Are you ready?"
Sol gave a confident smile in response, "I don't know if I will be a good king, but I am more than ready."
He would become the Emperor of the Mortal world, after all. How could he not be ready to reign over a Kingdom nay, a whole Realm?
"I see…"
A forlorn smile mixed with pride and relief spread on her lips.
The young boy had indeed grown into a full and reliable man.
But she had done little to shape him into the man he was today.
It was a regret she would carry on her back for all her life.
But it was alright.
The past was history. There was nothing she could do to change it.
All she could do— was focus on the present and make sure that she herself would be able to become a better person and a reliable ally for him.
"It might be a little too late for me to play the parent figure. But I want you to know that my sword will always be at your disposal."
This time it was not out of duty. Nor because of a feeling of obsession.
But simply for her own desire to take care of him and Lilin.
She was about to continue speaking a little when she registered a presence close to them.
'Hmm..?'
She tilted her head for a moment before a knowing smile spread on her lips.
"It seems like you have something important to deal with."
Sol had also noticed the presence of his little blue wolf.
Lilith waved her hands and started to walk away but she stopped for an instant.
"Ah… Before I forget. When you have some free time, let's go on a date again. This time I promise I won't bring you to a cemetery!"
She smiled and vanished into a corner of the hallway, leaving a bemused Sol standing still on his feet.
He felt like he had just faced some kind of tornado.
The new Lilith seemed like a complete mystery to him. Hopefully, he would be able to get a better gauge of her in the future. Goddesses knew that he had been helpless till now. He hoped that at least his powers over faith would allow him to get a complete understanding of this mad woman.
———
(AN: Man, only now do I realize how messed up the genealogical tree of our MC is lol.
Also lol for those who say Lilith's change is abrupt. Please reread Camelia's Interlude. It's the fourth Interlude in the story. You will remember how Lilith acted when she was younger. Lilith's personality shifted many times throughout her life as all of us do. Experience shapes who we are. I don't know if people will like her current change. But I wish to see a happy Lilith. She is just enjoying life.
Now it's time to deal with Setsuna. Poor girl needs her time. Soon, there will be a Special chapter about Southern Pride and another about Salem. Gotta see our Cute Nefertiti and the actions witches will take.)
