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Seriously, though.

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That's where I post updates. Like.

For real.

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Anyway, about this chapter...

Do you like kids?

Part 1

"R-Ran! P-Please stop running! We have to go out now! A-Ah, yes, yes~ I'll get to your dress in a minute, Anna... Ahhh! No, Bunny! That's your sister's! D-Dooon't-- Ah, erm... j-just hide it under the bed, I-I'll buy her a new one..."

It was another normal day for me.

Three days have passed since I got Aya some friends.

We're living well and beautifully together.

"O-Okay, Aya... let go of mommy's dress now... ah, no! Don't pull on that, it'll come off--..."

My dress fluttered and fell on the ground around both my legs.

I let Aya down as I bent over to pull my dress back up.

...I have a bad feeling about this.

I prayed to what ever gods existed on this plane as I grasped the fabric of my clothing.

Unfortunately, the gods despise me, as the door suddenly opened and--

"...!"(Nide)

"Who told you you could come in, stuuuuupid Nideeeee!" I slammed the door shut as I felt my face heating up.

I just know he does that on purpose! I swear I'll definitely kill him one day!

Ah... why won't father just pick me up already?!

I want to go home...

I miss my bed.

I miss Mira.

I miss Saldonius, too.

I even miss Handsome!

Will father get angry if I bring home Lyra with me?

Heck, will he get mad if I bring home six new children with me?!

He probably won't if I tell him I'll handle their living expenses... probably... I think... probably...

I wore the dress once more with a downcast expression.

I don't think it's good that I'm not as mad whenever Kidnapper sees me in... my indecent state... am I getting used to it?!

I sighed, depressed.

"...M-Mother... are you okay...?" (Anna)

"Mommy...? Why are you sad?" (Bunny)

"...Maama..."(Reina)

"Ma'...?"(Patrice)

The girls called out to me as I sat on the bed.

Aya wordlessly sat on my lap, leaning her head on my chest.

Are they... comforting me? Even Ran was peeking from the bathroom door, looking worriedly at me.

I beckoned at them to come closer.

Aya was already sitting on my lap while the other girls walked towards me.

Even Ran did, although a bit reluctant.

When they were close enough, I embraced all of them together.

"I feel better now~ Thank you."

Well... now then.

I smiled at them as I retracted my arms and I let out a breath.

"Ready to head out, then? Look at you all, so beautifully dressed! Mother knows all the young gentlemen are just charmed by you, hmm?"

I praised the six of them with a giggle.

They didn't seem to understand my words, though...

I've decided! Once I go home with them, I will educate them myself!

"Oooh! A meowcat! Aaahh! Ran, don't chase iiit!"(Anna)

"Grr...!"(Ran)

"Nooo~ Come back! B-Bunny! Help me stop her!"

Anna ran off to follow Ran who was chasing the cat out.

"...Why?"(Bunny)

Even though Bunny questioned, she followed Anna out anyway.

Ah...

"Aya, let Reina sit here for a bit."(Alice)

"W-What? But this is Aya's chair..."(Aya)

"No, it is mommy's lap... come on, now. Share with your sister."(Alice)

"...Okay..."(Aya)

Aya slowly left my lap.

"Aya will go help Anna and Bunny."(Aya)

Aya tottered out of the room with small steps. Patrice followed Aya with a worried look on her face.

It's good that Patrice is so responsible.

After Aya left the room, I beckoned at Reina to come closer.

"...? Me?"(Reina)

Reina came over, looking puzzled.

"Yes, come on over. Mommy will help dry your hair."(Alice)

It seems that Reina was the last to come out of the bath.

By the way, she can hide her tail and wings, but not her horns.

She hides them because her sisters don't have them.

I told her Ran also has a tail, but she only complained, saying: "Maamaa... that's not the same!"

Ufufu~ Such a child.

Reina then looked downwards and I could almost feel her being sad.

...Is this what they call the mommy senses? Because they're tingling.

"Maamaa... I... dislike my appearance..." Reina trembled as she spoke.

"Why is that?" I asked in a manner as if I was wondering.

"The people... everyone hates me... my yellow eyes, they're... for demons...these wings, no, I... don't like..."

She sounded more and more depressed as she continued.

I reprimanded her by tapping on her head lightly. "Stop that."

"M-Maamaa...?" Tears pooled in Reina's eyes as she looked up at me.

It wasn't painful, but the shock of being scolded by me must've been a blow to her.

"Your tail, your wings and your eyes do not define you, my child."

I then looked her directly in the eyes as I momentarily stopped wiping her hair.

"Your actions and how you treat others are what define you. So treat others with their due respect, yes?

Never forget what I have just taught you, hmm, Reina?" As my little lesson ended, Reina seriously nodded her head.

"Yes, maamaa!" She showed me a refreshing smile full of youthful innocence.

I rubbed her tail lovingly while drying her hair.

"U-Uhm... maa... it feels good~" Reina closed her eyes as she enjoyed the feeling of being caressed.

Yes, yes~ Children need love~

"Mommy likes Reina's wings. They are beautiful!" They're actually pretty cool... I want wings too!

Both her tail and wings are rather scaly.

It seems that succubi here are reptillian, unlike the ones stated in my world, Earth's legends.

Well. I don't care what she is, I will take care of her and that's that.

Such was my life in this city.

It was peaceful.

It was fun.

I didn't think that today would be the longest day of my life.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"...Lady Alice."

Out of nowhere, Nide's friend entered my room.

It was the oldest of the knights that I met during my encounter with the wolves.

Woah! I could've been changing, y'know?

You can't just barge in here.

"Yes, what is it?" I asked with furrowed brows.

Of course, I was a bit troubled.

Er... what was his name again...?

"...Please let go of the child, lady-- no, Alice."

For some reason, he had a look of apprehension.

...Uh-oh.

I placed Reina on the ground on her feet.

"Go to your sisters now, dear. Mama will be with you soon."

Reina nodded innocently before heading out of the door.

Soon, six other knights entered my room in full armor.

...Did something happen?

"We don't know how you fled across the kingdom so quickly... but you almost escaped, seeing as how we found you in Luna's Mound."

He spoke in a quick and accusatory way.

"Wait wait wait! What's going on here?" I questioned with a tilted head, still seated on the bed.

It was then that the cow female knight, Niana, was it?

Interrupted.

"Don't play dumb now, girl! We know what you--"

"Enough!" The oldest knight interjected.

He glared at Niana reprimandingly before turning his eyes back to me.

His atmosphere was solemn and it looked like he was saying something he did not wish to say.

"Alice Icelance. For the murder of the first prince, Artaxia Kira Bravia, you are hereby under arrest for the crime of treason!

Knights! On my command!"

It was then that I understood.

I was framed.

Part 2

I had come along quietly.

The knights seemed absolutely stunned that I did not show even an ounce of resistance as one of them warily cuffed me with... rocks.

Amazing. A cuff made of rocks?

Is it made of magic?

Flimsy.

"Hey, I can break this with a flick of my wrist, what's up with that?"

When I told them my honest thoughts, Niana added four more layers to the rock with a stern gaze.

...What the heck? That doesn't change anything... this kind of security is...

I furrowed my brows with a tilted head.

As I was lead around the square, I heard a crowd whispering.

This time around, I decided to ignore them.

All of those rumors are probably baseless anyway.

Lyra and the children were taken into custody as well, though they weren't in cuffs like I was.

I wonder where Nide is? He's not with them.

Darn. Maybe it's because I delayed that report thing for almost two weeks since I got here.

I sunk into a contemplative silence as we walked towards the 'Police Station'

But Lion Taxi's dead, huh? I hope at least Monk is alright...

When we had arrived at the 'Police Station', the children were left in the care of some knights.

Because they were 'co-conspirators', they would also be locked in cells.

Oh I hope they won't fight in those cells.

Oh my. When this blows over and I'm proven innocent, I'll have Nide treat me and my daughters to some melo-melos...

Unfortunately... Things did not progress as I expected.

And I regret not killing that person right then.

Part 3

Everything went well.

I explained the truth and even demonstrated my healing magic.

Of course, it didn't work and with that, a couple of knights have disappeared.

Eh, they'll be back.

When I was interrogated they cast some sort of lie detector magic and I told them my full story.

At first, they were being hard to deal with, only asking questions that were rather convenient, but I stated.

"If you don't let me speak my piece, you will regret your decisions."

They saw it as a threat and let me say my part of the story.

So I showered them with the truth.

Some still harbored doubts, stating that I used magic to remove the effects of the lie detector, but I didn't care.

I won.

At least, the feeling of being a winner stayed with me until I went to fetch my children.

They were still in prison, the poor young'uns...

I decided to treat them to some sweets to help them forget this little incident.

I was led to a dark cell.

Eww... A little musty, isn't it?

Ah, but this place is for criminals...

I had a leisurely attitude until I saw them.

They were on the ground.

Sobbing quietly.

That's weird, don't children cry loudly?

That's right. They were beaten severely.

If they made any noise, they were beaten even more.

So they learned to be quiet.

"Hehe... this demon said that you got arrested because you kept her, so I did her a favor, yeah? Eheheh...

They're really fitting for you, feh! They will be criminals! Just like their mother! These non-rovietals!"

One disgusting creature came up to me with an annoying smile on his face, but I didn't even hear him.

"You fool! She has been proven innocent!" One knight came forward and punched the disgusting pig of a man.

"Who did this... Who let this happen...?" I unconsciously murmur.

The interrogation took hours, so it's definitely nightfall by now.

Patrice, Ran and Bunny had already fainted.

Or perhaps Anna, Aya and Reina had just woken up?

"Maa...maa..." Reina mumbled blankly.

She slowly crawled towards me, blood gushing out of her back.

My breathing was already heavy.

My eyes were opened wide and my lips were just quivering.

I didn't even see anything else but them.

My mind went blank as I came to a realization--

Her wings had been ripped off.

"People are like glass.

The moment they are more likely to hurt you is when they are broken and shattered."