NOVEL WEB Chapter 54: The greatest weakness
Lucien looked into the box. Inside were several healing potions, alongside some designed for energy absorption and body enhancement.
The value of the medicines inside this box was immense—an ordinary noble couldn't afford a box filled with such potions even if they sold all their possessions.
"Aren't you going to chase after her?" Lilith's voice echoed again.
Lucien stepped forward, but then shook his head, sighed, and said, "Master, right now, aside from Selvia, I don't want to concern myself with any other woman."
"Of course, I know Irelia has feelings for me, but in my heart, there is only Selvia."
"You…" Lilith also sighed, then said, "You should think it through carefully. That girl is likely very wealthy. If you make her your woman, you'd gain quite a bit of benefit."
"Master!" Lucien suddenly shouted, eyes full of determination. He frowned and said, "If I did that, how would I be any different from a liar?"
"Do you want me to become someone like Lathel? No, I will never become a deceitful and despicable man like him."
"Even if I starve to death, I will never deceive others. I am not him. I have my own path to walk."
"Good!" Lilith said happily, "Seeing you so steadfast puts my mind at ease. I hope… the road ahead doesn't change your will."
Lucien nodded slightly, his eyes falling on the wooden box, feeling somewhat uneasy inside.
"Are you planning to return that box to her?" Lilith asked.
"Yes," Lucien nodded. "I can't accept this. It—"
"Just take it. Even if you return it, she won't accept it—she might even throw it away," Lilith replied.
"Why?" Lucien frowned. "If—"
"Lucien…" Lilith interrupted, "You… really don't understand women. I'm a woman too. I know exactly how she feels right now."
"Just accept it. Returning it would only make her feel worse."
"I…" Lucien didn't know what to say, stammering.
"Just do as I say."
Hearing Lilith speak so firmly, Lucien sighed and nodded, "Fine. I'll accept this. One day, I'll repay her tenfold."
He took a deep breath, then turned and walked into the room.
Far away, perched on a high tree branch, Aris frowned as she observed everything. In her hand was a small, square jade fragment that emitted a faint green glow.
"Master was right. Lucien really has begun a male-female relationship with a beautiful girl at the academy," Aris murmured. "How did he know this would happen? Is Master truly a god?"
A look of utmost admiration and reverence appeared in Aris's eyes as she thought of Lathel. She quickly tucked the jade piece into her pouch and left.
…
In the morning, Lathel woke up. He slowly opened his eyes and looked down, seeing two beauties nestled in his arms like delicate flowers still dewy with morning mist, sleeping peacefully.
Mira and Selvia had their eyes shut, breathing softly, faint red blushes still present on their cheeks from the embarrassment of the night before.
He clearly remembered how shy they had been at first… and how wildly they gave themselves afterward.
These two women, initially timid, hesitant to act, had eventually become bold and fearless.
Lathel gently patted them, then quietly left the bed and stepped outside. In his mind, he commanded the System: "Open Harem Status Panel."
Immediately, an information panel appeared before him.
Harem:
Selvia Aqualis
– Role: Main Heroine
– Status: Married (Legal wife of Lathel)
– EXP rate: 67.5 exp/s
– Talent: Tear of the Tide (Rank S – 20%), previously recorded as sealed
– Gift/Owned Item: Ring of Life (Rank B), grants +50% bonus exp/s
– Loyalty/Affection: 91% – Loyal
Mira
– Role: NPC | Lathel's servant | ???. After joining Lathel's harem, she is listed as NPC | ???
– Level: None
– Talent: Insightful Gaze (Rank C | Level 1) – allows her to see more detailed item info (including hidden effects or basic history), sense basic emotions (joy, sorrow, anger, fear), and estimate threat level (weaker, equal, slightly stronger)
– Beauty Score: 83
– Loyalty/Affection: 91% – Loyal (previously 87%)
– EXP rate: 20 exp/s
Seeing the panel, Lathel nodded in satisfaction, his gaze growing slightly greedy.
"Two… is still too few." He slipped on a robe, sat down on the couch in the living room, and poured himself a cup of tea.
"Master!" At that moment, a woman appeared, kneeling on one knee before him with utmost respect.
It was Aris.
"You truly are like a god…" Aris said, her voice filled with admiration and reverence, as if Lathel really were a divine being. "Lucien indeed has a relationship with a beautiful girl at the Academy. Her name is Irelia. She appears to be quite wealthy, possessing a lot of resources."
As she spoke, Aris offered up the green gem she had used earlier while observing Lucien and Irelia.
Lathel waved his hand. The gem vanished from Aris's hand and reappeared, now floating in mid-air.
Aris flinched in surprise at Lathel's ability, thinking to herself, "Master can manipulate space? Incredible. He truly is on par with a god."
The gem emitted a soft green light, which began to transform into a faint image, hovering in the air.
It was a Miragestone—an artifact capable of recording visual images, like a rudimentary camera.
Though this item held great value, for a Prince like Lathel, owning a Miragestone was an extremely simple matter.
After watching the images displayed by the Miragestone, a knowing smile appeared on Lathel's face, as if he had already foreseen everything.
"Just like the usual tropes in novels," Lathel thought to himself.
He took a sip of tea, his eyes half-closed, wearing an expression of complete serenity, showing not a single trace of worry or fear.
Aris remained kneeling on the ground, silently gazing at Lathel with rapt attention, as if she wanted to carve his image into her memory.
Suddenly, she seemed to recall something and quickly spoke up: "Master! I think there was someone else present, someone who did not reveal themselves."
Lathel stayed silent, saying nothing. Aris continued, "After Irelia left, I saw his lips moving, as if he were speaking to someone. I believe… there was another person inside the room."
"However, I couldn't get close. If I did, he would've noticed me."
Lathel smiled. He already knew who Aris was referring to. In his heart, he thought: "Looks like everything is just as I suspected. There is a soul of a powerful being residing inside him, helping him surpass the limits of talent and aptitude."
"I'm curious… I don't know how powerful that soul is—whether it's male or female. If it's male, then burn it. But if it's female… then things get interesting."
A greedy glint flashed in Lathel's eyes as he took another sip of tea and softly said, "Target Billy."
"Billy?!" Aris looked at Lathel in confusion and quickly said, "Master! Billy is just an ordinary person. Why would we target him?"
"I was foolish. I didn't understand your intentions. Please, Master, teach me more."
Aris spoke respectfully.
Lathel set down his teacup and calmly explained, "Billy may be ordinary, but knowing Lucien's personality—now that he's become an Awakened—he definitely won't abandon Billy."
"On the contrary, he'll bring Billy with him into the area for official students, one way or another."
"Lucien is the heroic type. If we attack him directly, he won't be easily defeated."
"But… what if we attack those around him?"
"Aris, sometimes…" Lathel suddenly stood up, walked over to Aris, and sat down before her. He reached out, gently lifted her chin so her eyes would meet his.
The moment Aris saw his eyes, she was mesmerized, as if her soul were being drawn into them.
At that moment, with just a single word from Lathel, she would have willingly offered him everything she had—even her lowly life.
"Sometimes, violence isn't the only way to solve a problem."
Lathel spoke while smiling. His warm breath, carrying the scent of his masculine aura, brushed across Aris's face, making her cheeks flush red and her eyes grow misty and dazed.
"For one who lives by emotion and affection… that is… their greatest weakness."