Someone's coming," Herta murmured, gently patting the head resting on her lap.
Signaling Lumina to get up quickly before they were seen, she added, "Let's avoid any unnecessary trouble."
Though Herta wasn't afraid of being discovered, she preferred to avoid unnecessary complications. The fewer people who knew about her plans, the easier it would be to execute them...
"Hmm? Oh."
"Right."
Hearing this, Lumina slowly sat up from Herta's lap, her movements still a bit sluggish.
"Ugh~"
First, she rubbed her eyes, then stretched her arms skyward in a long, lazy stretch. Looking around lazily, she asked Herta, "How long have I been lying here? It feels like I've slept all day."
Lumina covered her mouth with her hand and yawned.
"You've been lying here for one System hour," Herta replied, her voice tinged with concern. "Were you very tired earlier?"
Herta had expected Lumina to get up after a short rest, but she had ended up lying there for an entire System hour...
If not for Lumina's identity as an Emanator and the persistent warmth radiating from her thigh, Herta would have suspected something was wrong.
This prevented Herta from taking advantage of the situation to do anything...
"Huh?"
"A whole System Hour?"
Upon hearing the exact duration, Lumina was taken aback, seemingly surprised she had been lying down for a full System Hour.
In her perception, it had only been a short while.
But after a moment's thought, Lumina realized the reason.
"No, I'm not tired," Lumina replied, shaking her head to reassure Herta. Her gaze gradually shifted downward, landing on Herta's thigh. With a bright smile, she said, "It's just that your thigh is so comfortable, Madam Herta, that I accidentally lost track of time."
"Though the comfort of your thigh is only part of it. The main reason is your own beauty, Madam Herta."
Lumina knew that merely praising Herta's thigh wouldn't please her. So, after praising its comfort, she added a flattering remark about Herta herself.
"Hmph, such stale flattery."
Herta scoffed, signaling that Lumina's attempts at buttering her up were outdated.
Despite her words, the slight lift of her eyebrows and the subtle curve of her lips betrayed her amusement.
It seemed Madam Herta had a soft spot for flattery.
Or perhaps, she particularly enjoyed Lumina's flattery.
Knock, knock, knock.
A moment later, a knock echoed through the room.
Screwllum and a gray-haired girl entered the space.
"Miss Lumina, Madam Herta, it is truly an honor to meet you again on this dream-laden world of Penacony," Screwllum greeted them with his usual gentlemanly grace, addressing Lumina and Herta with a natural formality.
"Hello," Stelle waved casually, opting for straightforward simplicity rather than Screwllum's circuitous phrasing.
"Hello," Lumina rose, smiling warmly and nodding. "Welcome aboard the Radiant Feldspar."
Screwllum nodded briefly, then turned and strode toward the Divergent Universe interface without another word.
Screwllum could sense that Stelle and Lumina had something to discuss privately. His presence would only make Stelle feel restrained... or would it?
Though, given Stelle's personality, the concept of restraint seemed utterly foreign to her.
Nevertheless, Screwllum, ever the gentleman, excused himself, leaving the three ladies to their own devices.
"Sister Lumina!" Stelle's eyes lit up as she gazed at Lumina, who remained as holy and flawless as ever. She hurried over, arms slightly outstretched, as if yearning for a warm embrace.
Lumina naturally wouldn't reject the affectionate advance of a beautiful girl. She opened her arms, ready to grant Stelle's wish and pull her into a tender hug.
"Hey, hey, hey! What do you think you're doing?"
"Don't forget there are other people here! Show some restraint!"
But Lumina and Stelle's little plans were thwarted. Herta, standing nearby, expressionless, stepped in front of Lumina.
It was unclear whether she was blocking Lumina from hugging Stelle, or blocking Stelle from embracing Lumina.
Or perhaps both.
"Oh, Herta, you're here too," Stelle said, scratching her head after Herta blocked her path.
"What do you mean, 'I'm here too'?" Herta retorted. "I asked you to come. How could I not be here?"
Herta sized Stelle up and down, crossed her arms, and let out a cold hmph that betrayed her displeasure.
"You're right," Stelle nodded, resuming her usual aloof demeanor.
Yet inwardly, an unsettling feeling stirred within her.
Does Herta seem... hostile? Wary of me?
Stelle wasn't like March 7th; though she might be a goofball, she wasn't stupid. She could sense Herta's blatant hostility.
But why? As Genius Society #83 and Emanator of Erudition, why would Herta target her?
Does she have a crush on me?
Too bad for her. Besides Trash Can and Sister Lumina, I'm not interested in anyone.
Herta: ?!
"Go ahead and test the Divergent Universe," Herta instructed. "Screwllum will teach you how to operate it."
Unaware of Stelle's inner thoughts and seeing no cracks in her composed exterior, Herta's internal alarm bells began to ring.
She pointed toward Screwllum and the Divergent Universe, urging Stelle to hurry and begin testing.
"Alright," Stelle said, glancing at Lumina and receiving a nod in response. She then headed toward Screwllum and the Divergent Universe.
"Phew..."
With Stelle out of the way, Herta couldn't help but sigh in relief.
Though Stelle was just a small Stellaron Spirit, Herta herself didn't care.
But when it came to Lumina's safety, even the slightest possibility of danger was unacceptable. Herta wouldn't allow her to be exposed to it.
Moreover, Herta's earlier observation of Stelle had confirmed her suspicions.
Their feelings—or at least Stelle's feelings for Lumina—were definitely not as simple as they seemed.
It wasn't just a platonic friendship or a straightforward mother-daughter relationship.
Hmm... it's definitely Stelle's feelings for Lumina that are complicated. But Lumina herself... she probably still firmly believes in their mother-daughter bond.
The pure and alluring Little Lumina—I shall protect her!
An inexplicable sense of duty suddenly welled up in Herta's heart, akin to a knight guarding a princess.
"..."
Lumina, her chin resting in her hand, tilted her head slightly as she observed Herta's odd demeanor. Her exquisitely beautiful face carried a hint of confusion, and she asked with a hint of suspicion in her voice:
"Little Herta, your attitude toward Stelle is a bit strange, don't you think? It's almost as if you're harboring some resentment toward her."
"Is there some misunderstanding between you two?"
Lumina desperately wanted to prevent any rift from forming between the beautiful girls beside her, fearing it would escalate into arguments, mutual resentment, and ultimately lead them to become strangers.
Especially Herta and Stelle—they absolutely couldn't have problems.
If they started disliking each other and became strangers, what would happen to the Players in the real world? How would the Simulated Universe even function without them?
Therefore, whatever misunderstanding had arisen between them, Lumina had to resolve it.
"Resentment? Misunderstanding?" Herta blinked, momentarily puzzled by Lumina's words.
After a moment, realization dawned in her eyes. Her expression darkened slightly, and she said flatly, "I don't resent her, and there's no misunderstanding between us. Don't let your imagination run wild."
"Really?"
Lumina's skepticism was evident. She could practically smell the unspoken tension between them. You're telling me there's no misunderstanding? Do you think I'm an idiot?
The words I don't believe you were written plainly on her face.
"Why would I lie to you?" Herta rolled her eyes, her face radiating exasperation.
There was indeed no misunderstanding between her and Stelle. After all, the events were factual, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
This Stelle... she definitely harbors ill intentions toward Lumina! Madam Herta thought vehemently.
Then, with a completely serious expression, she fixed her gaze on Lumina and patted her shoulder, declaring with the solemnity of a knight swearing an oath to a princess:
"Don't worry, Little Lumina! I'll definitely protect you!"
Herta's tone was so earnest and sincere that it couldn't help but stir a pang of emotion.
Coincidentally, Lumina wasn't within Herta's protective range.
Lumina had no idea what was happening or why Herta had suddenly gone berserk like this.
Protect me? Do I need her protection?
Even ignoring a thousand facts, isn't it usually me protecting her?
Lumina couldn't fathom what, given her own strength and status, she would ever need Herta's protection for.
Shaking her head, Lumina, as both Herta's sister and mother figure, felt obligated to respond to this declaration.
"Ahem."
Clearing her throat, Lumina's expression gradually turned serious.
Pat, pat.
Mimicking Herta's earlier gesture, she patted Herta's shoulder.
"Little Herta, I acknowledge your filial piety."
"But rest assured, I haven't reached the point where I need someone's constant protection."
"So, don't worry about me. March toward the dreams in your heart!"
Herta: ...
Looks like this idiot has no idea how serious the situation is.
Herta muttered to herself, exasperated.
Though...
Herta stole a sideways glance at Lumina.
If I actually marched toward the dreams in my heart, you'd just get upset again.