A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing-Chapter 638 - Runa’s romantic future

She thumbed at Erik absentmindedly. "Certainly nothing like this pervert!"

Erik smirked wryly at being included in such a way. He had some choice responses about Leila's own pervertedness, but decided not to distract from their heart-to-heart.

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"He won't neglect you, Runa…" she finished softly, large eyes pointing at Runa. Once again, Erik noticed how strangely invested she was in this. Even if she loved her brother, wasn't she going a little far?

Runa didn't seem surprised, however. She shook her head with a gentle smile. "It's got nothing to do with any of that, Leilei. I'm sure there's a world where I'd be happy to marry Ankhur, but it's not this one."

She grabbed Leila's shoulders and looked at her fondly. "I know you were looking forward to being sisters-in-law, so was I, but we'll just have to make do with being best friends, alright?"

She thumbed at her son playfully, "Besides, thanks to this guy, we'll still be in-laws, just a little more distantly."

Leila's mood didn't improve much, but she still nodded unwillingly, her eyes downcast. "I know…" she muttered miserably, before glancing up at Runa again. "But… you promise we'll remain friends?"

Realization dawned in Erik's mind. 'Is she lonely…?' he wondered to himself. 'I guess it's not a surprise she hasn't found any kinship outside of the palace, for the same reasons as Naeku. Still, could she not make friendships with Ankhur's two wives?'

Unfortunately, that question would go unanswered for a little while longer. It wasn't exactly the right time for him to ask.

"Hehe, of course we will, dumbass," Runa grinned, before roughly pulling Leila's smaller, comparatively frail frame into her muscled body and hugging her.

Leila smiled with relief and let herself be manhandled. "Good! That's good… I've really enjoyed these last few months, Runa…"

From the side, Erik curiously observed their heartfelt moment. Despite Runa's certainty and Leila's relief, he could see that the latter wasn't entirely convinced yet, giving him an idea. Slowly, a meaningful, mischievous smile spread across his lips.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his head. "Oooh, you're thinking something interesting, aren't you?" Elora giggled through their bond. She wasn't currently physically with him, but the feelings she felt from him were clear enough.

Erik, long since used to the fact that Elora was essentially always a part of him, chuckled in response. "Maybe I am… You're truly rubbing off on me, Elora. But I'll tell you about it later."

"Hehe, I do like when we're rubbing off on each other…" she giggled suggestively, causing Erik to roll his eyes

"How are things over there?" he asked after deciding not to engage with his wife's teasing.

Easily switching back to a normal voice, Elora did the telepathic equivalent of shrugging calmly. "About as you'd expect. Lots of nerves and excitement. They look beautiful, and they've all prepared in their own way."

Her tone went back to mischievous almost as fluidly as a river. "You really are a lucky man, my love… Make sure not to disappoint them, alright?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Erik answered with surprising seriousness.

With that, Elora's voice fell silent again. At the same time, Runa and Leila separated again, as Erik's mental conversation lasted no longer than a second or two.

With Leila having mostly returned to normal, she now raised an eyebrow and grinned teasingly. "So… if it's not my brother's harem, do you have any plans for your romantic future…? Please don't tell me you're going to abstain!"

Instantly, Runa's grin widened, her eyes twinkling with what could only be described as lust and desire. "Of course not! In fact, I—" she glanced at Erik, but interrupted herself with a scoff when she saw him beginning to slink away.

"Come back here!" she growled with narrowed eyes, arms crossed in front of her chest. "It's your fault it ended up like this, so the least you can do is listen to the consequences!"

Erik, who was already halfway to sneaking out the door, trembled, but still halted unwillingly. Sighing wryly, he looked at the door with a longing gaze before hesitantly turning around. "I just… like maintaining a hands-off approach when it comes to your sex life, Mom… And what's it got to do with me, anyway?!"

"Everything!" Runa answered, chuckling strangely. "You inspired me!"

Erik blinked. "I did what…?"

Runa approached him, her expression turning into a warm, gentle smile. "It's true…" she sighed and grasped his shoulder solemnly. "You know I loved your father, Erik. With all my heart, in fact. Despite his gentle nature, he had the heart and will of a true warrior, and I loved both sides."

She shook her head, "I's because of my love for him that I inhibited myself, but honestly," slowly, her grin returned, yet she looked at Erik with searching, uncertain eyes, "I've always wanted to know what it'd be like to have a harem of my own…"

Erik's eyes widened. Despite his usually hands-off approach to his mother's love life, he felt a lump in his stomach at the thought of his mother having a harem. It felt… wrong.

But he immediately shook those thoughts loose. Growling inwardly, he forcefully suppressed these feelings and pushed them deep inside. After everything they'd been through, and in the face of her happiness, what right did he have to inhibit his mother's happiness with his hangups?

'I'll learn to live with it,' he muttered to himself, shuddering slightly.

Almost instantly after appearing, the struggle in his eyes dissipated again, and Runa looked visibly relieved. She'd been understandably concerned about his reaction.

"I think you should do what makes you happy, Mom…" he smiled sincerely, showing nothing of his previous struggle. In the end, suppressing his hangup was a small burden to bear, and he'd do it like a man.