Primordial Villain with a Slave Harem

Chapter 777: Mothersʼ Bonding [Bonus Chapter ]

The stronghold still had a faint, lingering smell of fresh wood and earth. The main mansion stood proudly at the center, newly finished, with hardly a scuff or mark to show for the few weeks it had been lived in. It wasnʼt luxurious by any stretch — the furniture was simple, the decorations sparse — but there was an unmistakable warmth to it. A home still waiting to be filled by its owners, whoʼd been rather busy in recent days.

Sylvaris moved gracefully, her gorgeous silver hair tied in a simple ribbon, and her voice calm as she guided Natalie through the halls.

”Weʼve only just moved in, so thereʼs still a lot left unfinished. Feels a bit... too clean, if you ask me.”

”Itʼs beautiful nonetheless,” Natalie replied with sincerity, running a hand along the smooth railing of the staircase. ”Sturdy. Lived-in or not, it feels safe.”

Sylvaris gave a light nod. ”Safety is definitely the one thing Quinlan and our girls prioritized over everything else when it comes to their home. Come, would you care to join me for tea? My quarters are just upstairs.”

Inside Sylvarisʼ private quarters, the atmosphere was different. It was still simple, but hints of her personality peeked through: a modest bookshelf filled with worn volumes, a half-finished embroidery project resting on a chair. She moved with the ease of someone comfortable in her space, retrieving a small wooden box filled with loose leaves.

Natalie perched on the edge of a chair, watching with bright eyes as Sylvaris methodically prepared the brew. ”How come you make it yourself? I counted four eager maids just on our way over here.”

”I find it calming,” Sylvaris said with a smile, pouring hot water over the leaves with a practiced hand. A soft, herbal scent filled the room, delicate but complex at the same time.

Natalie sniffed the air with her nose twitching repeatedly. ”Mint... chamomile... and something sharper… Is it sage?”

Sylvaris let out a warm laugh. ”Close. Itʼs lemon balm, not sage. But you have one amazing nose, Natalie.”

”Thank you, but my senses are nothing special for my kind. Itʼs my daughter who has eerily good nostrils.”

”Blossom, yes?” Sylvaris asked with her serene smile not wavering for one moment. ”That girl is indeed quite the character. My daughter cherishes her dearly.”

”Iʼm so glad my beloved girl found such an incredible home for herself… I was fearing the worst.”

”So am I, so am I…” Sylvaris whispered in agreement.

They settled down across from one another, with the steam of their freshly brewed teas rising between them. For a moment, there was only quiet sipping, the kind that felt companionable instead of awkward. Finally, Sylvaris set her cup down gently and spoke, her tone careful.

”I hope you donʼt mind me asking, but... Iʼve been wondering. Why did you choose to live alone in the woods? Especially with your daughters so young.”

Natalieʼs smile softened into something bittersweet. ”I love my people, but dogkin society can be... rigid. Overly rigid. Tradition demands loyalty to the leaders. Eternal loyalty, unquestioning. It wasnʼt the life I wanted for my girls. I wanted them to grow up free. To think for themselves, explore their options before settling down where they were the happiest. Doing that is almost impossible in dogkin lands.”

Sylvarisʼ eyes shone with understanding. She gave a small nod. ”Freedom is a rare treasure. Especially for young women.”

Natalie looked down into her cup, a quiet happiness flickering across her face. ”Can I ask you something as well, Sylvaris?”

”Thereʼs no need to put up airs around me. Please, speak your mind.”

The brunette dogkin mother nodded with a gentle smile as she looked up into the eyes of the most beautiful elf—or woman, for that matter—sheʼd ever seen. ”Iʼm curious about Quinlan. Can you tell me a bit about the man whoʼd managed to make my daughter so utterly smitten? Honestly, I was a bit worried that unique brain of hers would find love an alien concept.”

Sylvaris gave a rare chuckle in response to the woman. ”Just like your daughter is unique, so is he. So is my daughter, for that matter… Itʼs as if they were made for each other. I hope you wonʼt take offense when I say that any woman you might find in that manʼs harem has a very high chance of having a rather unconventional existence.”

”Oh no, not at all. I know better than anyone how ʼdifferentʼ Blossom is from normal girls.”

”Iʼm glad to hear. As for your question, hmm…” Sylvaris began musing inwardly, trying to decide how to best answer. After a few sips of her tea, she found the words she was looking for. ”Quinlan is the finest kind of madman, the sort who makes you feel glad for his craziness instead of worried. After you spend some time with him, youʼll notice how heʼs unlike any man youʼve known.”

This earned a raised eyebrow from the dogkin woman. But before she could ask for clarification, Sylvaris continued.

”For one thing, heʼs incredibly possessive of his ladies. Theyʼre not even allowed to shake another manʼs hand… And yet, beneath all that possessiveness, thereʼs a giant layer of tenderness. As the mother of one of his lovers, I can rest easy, knowing that not only will he cherish my child like sheʼs the rarest gem in the world, but also heʼd rather die than let anyone hurt Sera. So, in my eyes, heʼs the perfect man to give my daughterʼs hand to.”

Natalie opened her mouth to say something in response just when a mighty crash shook the walls, followed by a loud, indignant shriek.

Both women startled, Sylvaris immediately moving to the window. Natalie followed, peering out into the open courtyard below.

There, like a scene straight out of a brawl in a tavern, Ayame and Iris were wrestling. Their fists were flying, sending a flurry of blows at each other while occasionally yanking on each otherʼs long, dark hairs with wild abandon. ŖΆŊɵBЕṣ

One second, Ayame had Iris in a headlock, only for Iris to twist free and slug her squarely in the shoulder. The two tumbled across the grass while growling at each other like wild dogs.