[System Notification]
[Queen's Veil has evolved due to an efficiency boost.]
[New Effect Unlocked: Dream Imprint – Your influence now extends into both sleeping dreams and aspirational dreams—the goals and desires people strive for. This allows for subconscious persuasion, subtly guiding thoughts and shaping motivations.]
"Dreams, huh?" Ethan's lips curled into a smirk.
If there was one thing he had learned, it was that reality didn't always dictate a person's actions—dreams did.
Hopes, ambitions, and desires were what truly drove people forward.
And now, he had the power to reach into that unseen realm, shaping thoughts and nudging choices without them even realizing it.
But when he thought about where he got this superpower from, his body shuddered.
"I really need to understand my stepmom and even my stepsisters... they're not normal either." Ethan sighed.
Then he shook his head and focused. There was no point in dwelling on it. He had already accepted his situation, and he had no intention of changing his course.
If anything, having Lilith as a mother was a good thing. She had a sharp mind and ruthless cunning, traits he could learn from.
Besides, it wasn't as if she was a villain or something. Sure, she had her moments, but underneath all the teasing and manipulation, she genuinely cared for him.
And that was more than he could say about most people.
With his purchases done, Ethan opened the door and entered the training room.
Stretching, he rolled his shoulders and prepared as he walked toward the control panel, a grin tugging at his lips. "Let's see how far I can push this..."
Meanwhile, Seraphina was sitting alone in her room, her eyes closed, her body still.
It had been hours since her conversation with her mother and sisters, and she was still reeling from the revelation.
Her mother's seal had reacted.
It was unthinkable, and yet, it had happened.
Seraphina wasn't sure how to feel about it.
She was happy, of course.
If her mother's seal could react, then there was a chance her own seal could too.
However, a part of her was hesitant.
She had always seen him as a younger brother she had to protect and dote on, and now, the idea of being with him like that was just... bizarre.
And yes, she knew she was being a hypocrite. She was a succubus, after all, and succubi were known for these kinds of things. But still, the thought felt strange.
Yet at some point, without realizing when, he had become the only male she was willing to live with. And it was only after seeing her mother take the first step that she realized what she felt wasn't just sibling affection—it was something more.
"What am I doing...?" she muttered softly, opening her eyes.
"It's not fair..."
A frown crossed her face as her hand clenched tightly.
She was jealous.
Of her own mother.
"Why can't I just have him...?"
The words escaped her mouth before she realized it, and the moment they did, the weight of their truth settled in.
For the longest time, Seraphina had thought she could simply suppress her feelings and act normally. But the truth was, she couldn't.
Not anymore.
"It's not fair..." she repeated.
"We're so close... and yet, he's slipping away."
And she knew that her mother was right.
Ethan was special.
He wasn't the ordinary man she had assumed he was, and now that his bloodline was awakening, her desire for him was only going to grow.
The more she thought about it, the more her conviction grew.
"We have to move quickly," Seraphina murmured. "Or we'll lose our chance."
A fire ignited in her heart.
As she thought about this, memories of Ethan's life flashed through her mind.
From his awkward interactions with her as a child to his growing independence and even his recent achievements—she saw them all.
"All the years I've spent protecting him, raising him... and now, it's all coming undone."
Her heart ached, and tears pricked the corners of her eyes.
She wanted him.
"I can't let him go..."
That was the thought that dominated her mind.
It didn't matter if he wasn't a succubus. It didn't matter if her seal hadn't reacted yet.
She wanted him, and she wasn't going to hold back anymore.
"No more hesitation," she said firmly, wiping away her tears.
"If Mom can do it, so can I."
The determination was clear in her eyes.
"He'll be mine."
"And I can't waste any time. I'll start tonight."
Determination and resolve flared within her, and her expression turned serious.
She was not going to fail.
"I won't."
'But let's wait until he fights that La-Lucas something before I make my move... that way, I'll have a good reason for it.' Seraphina thought, a smile playing on her lips as she imagined his possible reaction.
With a goal in mind and her course set, Seraphina's resolve hardened.
She had a lot of planning to do.
And she had no doubt that her sisters were thinking the same thing.
Although she didn't know their exact plans, she was sure that the next few months would be some of the most interesting months of her long life.
But she wasn't worried.
Because no matter what, she was going to succeed.
Nothing was going to stand in her way.
Not anymore.
With her resolve steeled and her mind made up, Seraphina's gaze turned cold and sharp, like a predator preparing to pounce.
And with that, she began to scheme and plot.
After all, the game had just begun.