Sophia walked gracefully through the garden with her dress brushing against the soft grass as Lia followed close behind.

The younger girl looked around with wide eyes, curious about every corner. She peeked shyly at the blossoms swaying in the wind, as if afraid to touch them yet unable to look away.

The garden was alive with myriad colors.

Roses of deep crimson, lilies as white as snow, and tulips of bright yellow filled the beds in neat rows.

Climbing vines wound around tall wooden arches, their blooms releasing a faint, sweet fragrance that lingered in the air. Butterflies drifted lazily from flower to flower, and the sound of birds singing mixed with the gentle rustle of the breeze.

It was a place that radiated peace, yet carried a hidden energy like a private paradise.

"How is it?" Sophia asked, slowing her steps so Lia could catch up.

Lia's eyes shone as she took it all in. "It's quite beautiful," she admitted with a small smile. "But it seems like a lot of hard work."

"It is," Sophia replied, her lips curving into a soft grin. "But Ethan makes sure it's well maintained. Having a big garden beside your home freshens your mood. No matter how stressful the day, the sight of this place clears your mind."

Lia nodded eagerly, agreeing with every word. Her hands brushed lightly over the petals of a tulip, her expression glowing with quiet admiration.

Sophia reached out and plucked a flower. She twirled it in her fingers, then turned suddenly toward Lia. "What do you think about Ethan?"

The question froze Lia in place. Her whole body stiffened, and her cheeks instantly warmed.

"About the Lord?" she stammered, unable to look Sophia in the eye.

"Don't be so stiff." Sophia's voice softened, her smile easing the tension. "I'm just asking in general. How do you see him?" She leaned closer, tucking the flower gently into Lia's hair.

Stepping back, she admired the sight as if placing a crown on her.

Lia lowered her eyes and thought carefully.

Ethan's face rose in her mind..handsome, sharp features with eyes as blue as the clear sky. She remembered the strength in his tall frame, the way his presence seemed to command attention without effort.

She could still see the image of him standing firm against Baron Fenwick, his movements strong, swift, and full of confidence. Just remembering it made her chest tighten, her lips part slightly as if she were caught in a dream.

Sophia noticed the glow in Lia's eyes, the way her lips curved unconsciously. A mischievous grin tugged at her own mouth.

"What are you thinking so deeply?" Sophia teased, her voice a gentle purr.

Lia's eyes widened, and she snapped out of her thoughts. Her face turned crimson, heat spreading across her cheeks.

"No, it's nothing! I just admire him, that's all. There's nothing else. Even if I admire, he is already married. I swear I wouldn't dare have… nefarious thoughts." Her voice shook as she bowed her head quickly, almost panicking.

Sophia caught her chin with slender fingers, lifting her face gently. Her eyes lingered, sharp yet playful, and her tone dropped into a whisper. "Truth is… I want you to have nefarious thoughts about him."

Lia froze, her heart racing. A shiver ran down her spine. She looked at Sophia's smile with disbelief, wondering if this was some kind of cruel trap. Tears almost welled in her eyes as she stammered, "Th-that… I really…"

Sophia drew her close before she broke. Her hand rested on Lia's shoulder, and her voice was smooth and steady. "Don't misunderstand me. I don't mind him sharing. In fact, I want him to have a big harem."

Lia's lips parted in shock. She blinked hard, her eyes round with disbelief. "Ma'am… you're joking, right?"

But Sophia only smiled. She turned, her fingers brushing over the stem of a lone flower that bloomed with a blush-pink hue. She plucked it slowly and lifted it up.

"You see this flower? So beautiful and striking. Bees will always gather around it. That's how Ethan is. Once he rises higher, and he will, many women will eye him. With his talents, he could even marry a princess. If I tried to bind him down, it would be selfish… even sinful."

Her gaze lifted to the sky, her voice filled with both longing and strength. "When I first met Ethan, I thought it was impossible for a man like him to exist and still be single. I even thought he was bound to be a playboy. I sent women to test him, to see if he would falter… but he never crossed the line. He is drawn to beauty, yes, but he knows restraint. That kind of loyalty is rare… and yet, sometimes I think it is a waste."

Sophia sighed, her eyes heavy with emotion. "I love him. I might hold him with love, but women of power will try to snatch him. If I fight against that, it could tear him apart. I don't want that."

"A woman with power might try snatching him with brute force..Who knows the future..Unlike here,some Empire even support Female Candidate and one Empire even had a female Emperor."

"Who knows if any of them fell for Ethan and used everything to get him if he refused because of me."

"So for that I should start early."

She glanced back at Lia, her smile soft yet dangerous. "A man like him deserves women of power, queens like those in history who had hundreds at their feet. Through them, he can climb even higher. But through it all, I want to make sure he remembers something."

Lia tilted her head slightly, her voice timid. "Remember what?"

Sophia threw the flower into the air, watching it twirl in the breeze before falling. Her smile deepened, filled with bold certainty.

"Remember that I was his first and that before anyone else, I was the one who held his heart and had his first kiss."

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