Chapter 207: Chapter 6: A Place To Belong - Family
Lancelot arrived at the strangely beautiful province after a long carriage ride, enjoying the view with his lovely Maria and Sumika.
There were huge mountains wrapped around them, a beautiful forest, and a lake with a small village overlooking a massive mansion on the hilltop.
'This place is quite cute...'
[Is it? I hope you can summon me there to see, fufu.]
{Lord... me too.}
Nuriel and Morgana responded to his idle thoughts as they were pulled into the driveway of the huge mansion. For some reason, seeing this place made Lancelot feel uplifted, but he had no idea why...
'Maybe it's because this is where Maribeth grew up...' He wondered after learning the truth from Morgana and Guinevere. 'It also makes sense why Sebastian is here...' Lancelot guessed.
As the group climbed out of the stopped carriage, the scent of berries and a wonderful floral fragrance greeted them, along with the brightly coloured flora and forest; Ruvella stood there with Evaine, smiling gently...
"Lancelot!" Evaine rushed forward with tears in her eyes... and jumped into his arms, her arms tightly wrapped around his back, as she remembered the words of Ruvella that made her both conflicted and filled with bliss.
'She carries two different ether patterns... two in her womb... and then her own...'
[Oh!? Is Evaine pregnant?] Morgana sounded excited with a happy voice as she chirped in his mind.
"Evaine... sorry for worrying you." Lancelot caught her warmly, enjoying her sweet scent and soft embrace as Maria pouted unhappily... but after seeing the happy face of Evaine her frown soon became a smile as she felt the feelings of joy and delight from her.
"Nice to meet you, as a fellow wife of Lancelot... Not our teacher." Maria greeted Evaine, who was held in Lancelot's left arm before he leaned over and grasped Maria in his right.
"Fufu, you are both my cute little princesses. Come to me!" Evaine giggled as Maria and Lancelot blushed... the word princess was embarrassing, but neither refused as Sumika stood awkwardly before Ruvella came closer and patted her shoulder.
"Welcome, Miss Sumika... I am Ruvella, Sebastian's wife and caretaker of the Du Lac estate and manor."
Sumika smiled politely... "Nice to meet you; thank you for allowing us to stay." The serious Sumika was lovely and made Lancelot smile, but Ruvella giggled happily.
"Come inside, and Evaine, Sebastian is already preparing rooms... fufu, Lancelot will have a special room, while Maria and Sumika get to share another," Ruvella said with a cheeky grin...
Evaine laughed nervously... "Ruvella... Sebastian is still scary and weird regarding Lancelot's growing needs..."
"True... He is a bit protective, but he has good intentions... He is like our child, after all." Ruvella smiled gently... Lancelot couldn't see any untoward behaviour from Ruvella or Sebastian... so he believed Evaine's words and entered the manor...
Ruvella took Maria and Sumika to their room as Lancelot followed Evaine upstairs... the manor was large and spacious... the walls decorated with armour, shields, spears, and swords... many with names engraved upon them...
"Those are the weapons of your ancestors... The Du Lacs have long served the Empire as knights, guardians and its kings..." Evaine explained proudly.
Lancelot listened carefully and didn't speak or interrupt. Although he had heard from Morgana, hearing it from Evaine seemed to hold more meaning...
Reaching the second floor, the long corridor had various rooms with wooden doors and bright red carpet... but they reached the end as Evaine pushed open a door.
"This was your parent's room in the past before the mansion was destroyed... But Sebastian renovated it recently, and Ruvella recreated everything based on her memories...
"This was your parent's room in the past before the mansion was destroyed... But Sebastian renovated it recently, and Ruvella recreated everything based on her memories... so it should look the same..." Evaine explained with slight hesitation...
Stepping inside, Lancelot felt an overwhelming emotion...
He had a strong desire for belonging as he saw a large bed, beautifully crafted furniture and even a wall filled with bookshelves and a study table with quills and paper... and on the walls... pictures of a couple... that caused ripples in his heart.
On the dressers, there were various items... including a bow that belonged to his mother and a necklace with a silver pendant and ruby stone.
'I never would have thought mother would like archery...' He chuckled, noticing this was a similar bow to the one she held in the pictures... There was also a sword which his father had in all the portraits...
'Is this the Du Lac's family blade?' Lancelot picked it up... feeling a strange connection... but the sword rejected him... Evaine chuckled.
"Only the current family head can wield the Du Lac blade... Your father used it all his life, and your mother inherited it from her parents..." Evaine explained with a nostalgic voice...
Lancelot put the sword down, noticing a large mirror and bathroom attached to the main bedroom. He stood before it... looking into the mirror feeling confused as to why the sword rejected him...
A twinge of depression filled his heart, making it sink like a heavy stone in the ocean... before Kara's voice sounded to him.
—Master, that young girl said that because you haven't claimed your true birthright and declared yourself the clan leader she cannot accept you...
Even if your hands are the most comfortable she has ever felt...
Lancelot frowned... "Birthright? I am just a demon king... not a clan leader..."
—Idiot master... Do you remember Morgana saying that the Du Lac clan is a mixture of human, demonic and divine bloodlines...? And that you can create new offspring with demonic, fairy, angel or succubus traits?
'Yes...' Lancelot remembered...
—Well... When you claim Evaine and Maria properly and declare yourself the lord, it will awaken your full potential... as a human, that is, the bloodline that acts as your anchor will no longer be used as a mere balancer; your swordsmanship will be given the chance to evolve like you used to.
'My swordsmanship can go further...' That thought made Lancelot's heart feel joy; he never wanted to forget his roots and where he started, no matter how strong or high he flew... The sword was his symbol.
Evaine hugged Lancelot from behind... kissing his neck as her golden hair tickled his nose... "Lancelot... Ruvella said I am pregnant... with twins..."
His eyes widened... Kara almost screamed, 'So she really is carrying your children!!'
"Twins?" Lancelot repeated slowly...
Evaine nodded with tears in her eyes. "Yes... twins... My babies... both are girls... but one is a demon...
the other like your mother... Ruvella said she would become a Valkyrie... Are you upset?"
How could a man be upset at a woman carrying children for him... His heart was filled with the same joy that Morganna's child gave him... Only this time, it was Evaine... his first love... the woman he lost.
Turning around, Lancelot kissed Evaine deeply... his mouth ravaging hers as she moaned, his tongue thrust deep into her throat... swirling and dancing as saliva leaked between their lips... before his lust and ferocity, became calm and gentle, pulling her softly onto his lap, bouncing on the huge bed.
'I love this woman... if the world tries to harm you three... I will cut the world!'
Her cheeks went bright pink as her chest rose and fell quickly... her body weak as he picked her up and placed her on the bed gently...
"Thank you Evaine, for giving me such wonderful news."
[I am so happy for you both~ congratulations!!]
Morgana's gentle voice sounded in both their minds as they gently embraced each other; it was the nicest feeling for both Lancelot and Evaine to be accepted by his first wife... then Guinevere, also on her way to the camp, sent a message... causing Evaine's eyes to become watery... she had been accepted by them all... from Rena to Marimo!
They all welcomed her into their family... Lancelot felt proud... before Evaine suddenly blushed deeply, "Lancelot... Ruvella also said there is a ritual for demons... it can bless our children and connect their spirit to you and me... forever...
I know I might be greedy... but I want them to know their mother and father... and be close to you no matter how far they travel..."
Evaine's request caused Lancelot's heart to ache... 'Shit... my wives are too good...'
[Master... Let's bless our children!]
—Master... it will increase their ether generation and give them a stronger resistance to magic!
Kara and Morgana supported Evaine instantly... knowing that for Lancelot, nothing mattered more than his women and children... and the very existence of a family that began to form in his heart was too important to lose.
"Let's do it..." Lancelot kissed Evaine softly... as her tears dripped onto his cheeks...
"Then I will accept your family name; from this moment forward, I will be known as Evaine Du Lac..."
The moment she spoke... it was like the mansion vibrated... A warm and soothing feeling filled the room, and the entire province, as Lancelot could have sworn the paintings of his mother and father, smiled at them...
'Strange...' Lancelot thought...
Evaine smiled happily... "I will contact her later tonight and tell her about the ceremony..."
Lancelot nodded... lying with Evaine as Maria and Sumika eventually came to join them later... Ruvella brought delicious food, which he ate merrily as he would soon endure gruelling training in the depths of his citadel.
When night came closer, Ruvella and Sebastian brought him outside... as the moonlight shone down on him.
"Are you comfortable here, Lord Lancelot?" Sebastian asked with his gentle, raspy voice.
Lancelot nodded... "I am... Sebastian... Ruvella... Thank you for taking care of Evaine... Maria...
Sumika and me. I may seem rude or ignorant, but I am grateful."
Sebastian laughed heartily... patting his shoulders firmly as Ruvella giggled.
"Brat... You are now the lord of this estate and the Du Lac family! We would die for you without a second thought. You are more of a son! So be greedy, be needy and ask for whatever you want!"
A simple gesture, maybe her true feelings...
But that gesture filled Lancelot's lonely heart, which ached for family, love and recognition... Today, he felt close to attaining it all.