As the sun began to rise, Strax approached the new mansion Beatrice had purchased. It was located in a prime spot, not too far from the city center and conveniently close to all necessary shops. He had seen it briefly when he brought Monica, but it had been nearly dark, making it difficult to properly assess the structure. Now, however...
"This must have cost a fortune..." Strax thought as he took in the magnificent construction, with its light stone walls and large windows reflecting the golden sunrise in his eyes.
There was a well-kept garden in front, with colorful flowers and a marble fountain at its center. The solid wooden doors were intricately decorated, exuding luxury.
"I thought the Steinhardts were poor..." Samira commented, sitting close to Strax on Apocalipse. "So did I," he admitted.
"Well, we don't have time to just admire it." Strax said, pulling out a key Monica had given him. He dismounted the horse to open the main gate, which was unattended. "She probably spent all the money on the house and forgot about the staff, right?" Samira suggested. Strax couldn't help but smile, knowing it was likely true.
Despite Monica being by his side, it didn't mean she controlled 100% of Beatrice's interests and decisions.
"Let's go in." Strax said, leading the way after opening the gate. He was genuinely eager to see Beatrice and even more eager to have something to call "home," something he didn't really know the feeling of.
He reached the front door, took a deep breath and... "Let's do this." He said, opening the door and stepping into the main hall, greeted by the soft sound of laughter and conversation from two women ahead. The hall was spacious, not as grand as his family's mansion, but very pleasant, with polished marble floors and a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
The walls were adorned with tapestries and old paintings he had seen in Beatrice's previous home, adding an elegant touch.
"Wow," Samira said, looking around. "I'm here," Strax announced loudly, catching the attention of the two women who had been engrossed in their conversation.
"Darling!" Beatrice's cheerful voice echoed through the space. She ran towards him with a wide smile on her face. She was... very dressed up.
Her loose, slightly curly hair was a light purple, almost silver, her amber-gold eyes gleaming, and she wore an elegant black dress that highlighted all her curves. "She's... ready to pounce on me," he thought with a smile. "Not that it's a bad thing."
Strax simply opened his arms and she threw herself into them, wrapping him in a warm, tight hug. "Missed me?" he asked playfully, and she just smiled and nodded. "Monica told me," he laughed. Monica gave a slight nod, acknowledging her role, and she seemed fine with it. "The house is beautiful," he commented next.
"I knew you'd like it! I loved it when I saw it!" she responded, taking a step back. Strax held her hand and murmured, "I need to introduce you to someone..." Beatrice looked behind him, noticing the woman with orange hair in a white dress looking at them with neutral eyes, like a lion ready to pounce.
"Beatrice, this is Samira," Strax said, turning to his most recent wife. "Samira, this is Beatrice."
The two women stared at each other for a moment, evaluating each other. They had met before, but it had been about guild business and travel, not about sharing a husband. Then, Beatrice smiled and extended her hand in a surprisingly gracious gesture that almost made Strax choke. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Samira. I hope we can get along well."
"T-the pleasure is mine, Beatrice. He's spoken a lot about you," Samira responded, lying. She didn't know how to react, as she had been prepared for a fight. She shook Beatrice's hand. There was a moment of silence, then both women stood still, easing the initial tension. Strax said, "Shall we look around the house, yes?"
"What a situation..." Strax murmured. He had expected anything but self-control. It was fine; Beatrice had already accepted that he would have more wives, but... Was she really okay with this? Even Strax didn't know, since Beatrice was... well, she was a different beast compared to Samira, who was a lion.
"Let's sit down," Beatrice suggested, gesturing to the sofas. "We have a lot to talk about, and I want to show you around the house."
As they settled in, Monica brought a tray with tea and cookies, placing it on the coffee table. "Please, help yourselves," she said, leaving the room afterward to give them some privacy.
Beatrice began to describe the house before taking them on a tour. "This is the main hall, where we can relax and entertain guests. The kitchen is through the door on the right. We have a wonderful garden at the front and back; beyond the back garden, there's an outdoor training area. Upstairs, there are several bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.
There's also a library, which the previous owner abandoned. I found some hidden techniques, so there might be more than I think, but the mansion itself is very cozy."
"It sounds amazing," Strax commented, looking around. "You did a fantastic job, Beatrice." She smiled, pleased. "I wanted it to be perfect for us. Now, let's talk about our plans. Strax, how was the trip, and how did it go with Xenovia? I'm sure you already caused some trouble—the guards at the city gate were going crazy just hearing your name."
Strax sighed, leaning back on the sofa. "It was exhausting, but we're alive." He admitted, recounting everything that happened over the past few days: the problems with the journey, the bear, the assassins, and Xenovia.
"She's a relentless trainer," Beatrice commented, looking a bit worried. Strax reassured her, "I'm getting stronger, that's what matters." He sighed. "It was exhausting, but productive. I learned a lot."
"Well, at least there's that... as for the assassins..." Beatrice murmured. "I'm waiting to hear from an assassin I met. I'll be meeting with their leader soon," Strax said. Beatrice's eyes filled with concern. "Don't worry, princess, I'll go with him," Samira said, being the strongest cultivator present.
"That's not what worries me," Beatrice replied. "Even with advanced cultivation, they're assassins, and they don't rely solely on cultivation but on lethal strikes." Strax nodded. "Currently, I don't think that matters much. As I heard from Xenovia, she canceled the contract with the Vorah, so... she's available for contracts," he said with a grim smile.
"Wait, you want to hire the Shadow Guild?" Samira quickly asked, and Strax just smiled, even more mischievous. "Are you crazy?" Beatrice questioned, this time the wives united against him. "Stop it, you two. Despite my low status, I'm still a Vorah. They would use me just to get information, but what do you think would happen if I offered a mutual agreement?
They'd probably accept because it's profitable."
They spent the next few hours discussing training strategies and possible problems and solutions for the future. Even Monica was part of the conversation because she truly understood the world, and Strax knew she could help. After all, she hid her cultivation from everyone except his eyes.
Beatrice suggested doing group training to improve coordination and combat skills when Strax wasn't training with Xenovia. Samira, in turn, spoke about the importance of strengthening individual skills and finding a balance between physical training and rest.
"I think it's a good idea, even though I can't be with you all the time," said Strax. "We can start with small group training sessions in the morning and then each person can focus on their specific skills in the afternoon. This way, we can all improve and still have time to rest and recharge." Beatrice agreed. "That sounds like a plan. Besides, we need to ensure the house is secure.
Monica and I are working on that, hiring some people, but it would be good to do a complete review of the defenses, especially since we are being targeted by your jealous brothers."
"That's right," commented Samira. "We can start tomorrow. Meanwhile, let's enjoy tonight and relax a bit. We all deserve a rest."
With the plan set, they decided to explore more of the house. Beatrice guided them through the corridors, showing the bedrooms, the library, and finally the garden in the back. It was a spacious area with fruit trees, various flowers, and a well-equipped training area.
"It's perfect," commented Strax, looking around. "We can train outdoors and enjoy nature."
Samira smiled, picking an apple from one of the trees. "And we even have fresh fruit. Really, Beatrice, you thought of everything."
Beatrice laughed. "I wanted it to be a complete home for us. A place where we can feel safe and happy."
After the tour, they returned to the living room and settled again on the sofas. Monica returned, bringing more tea and a freshly baked cake. "I hope you like it," she said, serving the slices.
"Thank you, Monica," said Beatrice, taking a slice. "You've been a great help."
Monica smiled shyly. "It's a pleasure to serve. I'm glad you're all enjoying the house."
Thus, the day came to an end.