***Hyperion Empire***

***Satele City***

"Milady, you asked me to notify you whenever we received word of Lady Soltains giving birth." An older man with white hair and a neat white mustache mentioned, looking directly at the black haired woman working behind her desk. The woman appeared to be in her mid twenties and was wearing glasses as she continued to write.

Taking a minute to finish her train of thought, the woman's bright yellow eyes eventually looked up at the man. "Finally! She's been really holding out on me by keeping that child inside her for so long. So what is it? Boy or girl?"

"It appears to a boy milady."

"That's great! Little Arthur here can have a playmate just around his age." Glancing down the infant sleeping under her desk and the little snake curled on top of his belly. She continued, "Did the letter mention the child's name?"

"I am afraid not. Apparently she gave birth last night and House Soltain has only sent missives to the Imperial Family and ourselves so far."

"We'll just have to go see them ourselves then. Can you please notify my husband we'll leave to visit my sister and her family tomorrow?

"The Lord is in his laboratory again. He has told the servants he is not to be disturbed."

"Oh he's coming. I'll drag him out of that overcrowded hellhole myself then."

"I think that would be the safest option."

"Very well. You are dismissed Charles."

The butler bowed and quietly closed the door behind him.

Lady Joan Satele looked back down at her paperwork. Ever since the Treaty of Imir between the Hyperion and Aarus Empires the population has focused themselves on internal stabilization. Infrastructure and agriculture throughout the nine provinces to the capital has become priority.

With the newfound peace, the Hyperion Empire has also experienced a baby boom from the lowest of peasants all the way to rumors saying the Queen Consort herself is pregnant.

With the growing population, the demand for basic crops has also been on the rise. As the second largest agricultural province in the Empire, Satele has been forced to adapt to rising demands and expand current farmland. As Head of House Satele, Joan has been placed at the forefront of agricultural expansion and after giving birth to her own son Arthur, has been knee-deep in paperwork.

"Why did Sophia have to run off and get married? She would still be Head and all I'd have to do is care for Arthur."

After lamenting in her own misery, the infant resting under her desk began to stir and started crying. Joan picked up the crying child and pulled him closer to her chest. Seemingly ignoring how the snake on his belly suddenly grew a couple inches and wrapped itself around her neck.

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Having a nice nap there Katris?

I do quite enjoy the presence of your offspring. He has been much quieter than expected.

Joan nodded in agreement with her partner. Her son has been rather easy to take care of even with her husband down doing his experiments. She turned and spoke to the infant as if expecting him to respond, "Oh is someone finally hungry? I was under the impression you would be sleeping all day today. You've acted quite the sloth." The baby just continued to cry until she unbuttoned her blouse and began feeding him.

"Maybe you just wanted to give me a break from this damned paperwork? If that's the case you much more helpful compared to your father."

Silence reigned in the room and Joan found a chance to close her eyes. She thought about just how busy life has become and her son's future as the heir to the House.

Moments later, there was a knock on the door. Joan grabbed a cloth and threw it over her exposed chest and child.

"Come in."

In walked the butler Charles, carrying a tray of food and a stack of papers.

"Apologies milady, but some farmers from the east are requesting protection as they expand their lands closer to the forest."

*Sigh* "Very well, just put the papers on top of that stack and hand me the tray." Charles did as instructed and bowed. He turned to leave but was stopped by Joan.

"Charles could you please relay a message to my sister so they can prepare for our visit?  Although I know she loves surprises that husband of hers tends to get easily overwhelmed."

"Right away, milady."

"Thank you."

Charles bowed again and left, closing the door behind him with a click.

-----------------------------

Joan finally got a chance to leave her study and moved to the southern part of the castle. Baby sleeping in her arms and golden serpent-like partner around her neck, she moved at a steady pace. Passing servants and some of the branch family members, she politely greeted everyone in a soft tone as to not wake her son.

She eventually arrived to a metal door with runes inscribed throughout the surface. Joan proceeded to place her hand on the door and channel some of her mana through it. The runes on the door lit in a bright green color and she pulled the door open to a dark staircase leading below the castle.

"What did I say about getting some proper lighting for this hellhole? I think I'll get some servants to install lights in here while we're at my sisters."

Looking down into the dark, Joan's eyes suddenly started emitting a low yellow glow and both could be seen with slit snake-like pupils.

The 'Mind's Eye' is the bloodline ability of the Satele Clan. Granting the user an amplification to mental manipulation magic and increase in overall perception. With the increased perception, also comes the ability to see in the dark.

And that's all Joan needed it for.

She walked down the stairs eventually arriving to a large room filled runes and enchanting tables. Cages were also placed at the end of the room holding people who seemed to be asleep. These men and women were once all criminals wanted in the Satele Province for the most heinous of crimes. Now they served as the Lords test subjects for his experiments towards enchanting and further knowledge of the family's bloodline ability.

Joan then turned to the only part of the room with lights on. There, she spotted a giant, black and green, spiky basilisk wrapped around one of her husbands presumed test subjects. In front of the basilisk stood a brown haired man, wearing dark clothing under a red long coat.

"William what did I tell you about getting more lights down here? It's quite tedious to have to use my eyes just to walk down some stairs."

The man turned to face his wife and his brown eyes just stared at her for a bit, seemingly examining her.

"Hello to you honey. Even in the darkness you beauty brightens up the whole room."

Joan snorted. "Compliments won't be helping you today. Sophia gave birth to a son, and we'll be leaving tomorrow morning to visit. So you and Odur there best finish up your tests. Also, while we're gone I'll be sending servants down here to install more mana lights to brighten this place up. Make sure to clean up your mess before we leave."

"Of course my dear, Odur and I are almost finished with this chap and we'll be up for dinner." William then took a moment to look around his lab, it really was a mess. Broken enchanting tools lay all over the floor and there were bloodstains too. He suddenly realized that he must of been experimenting with this man's mind for a while now.

William then looked at his partner still holding the unconscious man.

Odur how long have I been working on this man?

I'm pretty sure I've been holding on to the welp for two nights now. I'm surprised I haven't crushed him at this point.

William cringed at that. He's been down here for two days? Joan was sure to hurt him for that. He then looked back her retreating form. She didn't seem very angry, in fact she barely even payed attention to him. William came to the conclusion that his son was doing a mighty fine job keeping the heat off him so he could continue his research.

Good work must always be rewarded.