Lady Abne, without hesitation, uncovers a secret that should have been known only to Yuriel and her parents, targeting her hidden vulnerability.
"L...?"
Yuriel, too stunned and taken aback by the unexpected revelation, tilts her head as if she heard wrong.
"Yuriel... in truth, you and Harold do not share the same blood, do you? It wouldn't be possible for you to have such a dissimilar nature otherwise."
Yuriel, who doesn't know the true identity of the being in front of her, only having just met, but it seemed she sensed something... that this deity-like figure could see through to her truth.
"That nature you speak of... is it something only you can read, something special?"
Despite being overwhelmed by a newfound sense of confusion, Yuriel tries to maintain her composure on the surface.
"You could say that... After all, in this world, I am what they call a deity."
Lady Abne confidently nods in response to Yuriel's question.
"People each have their own distinctive inner nature... but there's usually some resemblance with their parents... just like children inherit their parents' personalities or appearances. So, siblings linked by blood typically have similar vibes."
Lady Abne elaborates on this to lend credibility to her upcoming explanation.
"But you and Harold are too different..."
She then sharply scrutinizes Yuriel like a detective interrogating a suspect.
"Eek..."
Yuriel, intimidated by the piercing gaze that might still be seeing into her truth, lets out a faint whimper.
"No matter how much I look, you and Harold have entirely different natures, which means you're not related by blood... Yet, Harold calls you his sister... Could it be..."
At that moment, cold sweat begins to stream down Yuriel's forehead, a manifestation of her extreme tension.
"Harold probably doesn't know... that you are not truly siblings by blood."
Lady Abne's acute deduction makes even Yuriel's shoulders tremble. Frustrated yet unable to deny the truth, Yuriel grinds her teeth and only exchanges glances with Lady Abne, seemingly unable to offer any rebuttal.
"You don't need to look so troubled, Yuriel. I'm not trying to upset you. I just have a proposal to make," Lady Abne says, trying to calm Yuriel down with a gentle look, indicating she's not an adversary.
"A proposal...?" Yuriel shows interest but is visibly anxious about what it might entail.
Sensing Yuriel's intrigued yet uneasy demeanor, Lady Abne smiles faintly and continues.
"Yuriel, you see Harold as more than a brother, don't you?"
Yuriel's face contorts in shock at this second direct hit.
"Judging by your reaction, my guess is correct. You view your brother in a different light but have been concealing the truth due to the uncomfortable situation... am I right?" Lady Abne observes as Yuriel's tails begin to quiver uneasily, signaling that her feelings have been accurately read.
"Therefore, I have a suggestion for you. I will help you bond with your brother, and in return, if you succeed, you will help me."
Yuriel's eyes widen in disbelief, feeling a mix of disgust and an undeniable temptation at the offer.
"What do you mean...?!"
"You may not realize it yet, but there are many women who truly desire Harold right now. If you don't secure your place in his heart soon, you'll find less and less room to leave your mark."
Yuriel is overwhelmed by this shocking revelation, covering her mouth, feeling betrayed and disappointed by her brother, yet unable to hate him.
"Other women for my brother..."
"The number keeps increasing, and who knows how much more it will grow. But one thing is certain: the sooner you act, the more affection you will receive from him."
Lady Abne tries to lure Yuriel into her proposal, infusing meaning into her suggestion, and drawing Harold's sister into her plans.
"So, I'll first help you connect with Harold, and in return, if you succeed, you'll create an opportunity for me."
Extending her hand towards Yuriel, Lady Abne invites her into a sinister plan, with a confident smile and an air of assurance. Yuriel, staring intently at Lady Abne's hand, begins to ponder, troubled by a nagging doubt that prevents her from readily accepting the offer.
"Lady Abne, I have a question," Yuriel speaks up, her voice clear and firm, unlike her previously anxious demeanor.
"Yes? What is it?" Lady Abne asks, naturally curious about Yuriel's concern.
"If this plan really succeeds... will you be alright with it? Even if your turn comes, to willingly hand over a loved one to someone else... it seems like an impossible thought if you truly love someone," Yuriel questions with a clear and steady voice.
Lady Abne nods slightly, showing some agreement with Yuriel's words, but she had her own convictions.
"Of course, I have my own desires to win Harold's heart all for myself... But now there's so much at stake, I have no choice, do I? The thought of sharing Harold with another woman is dreadful to me too..."
Her response seems to contradict her plan, but Lady Abne remains assertive.
"But what can we do? It's natural for a desirable male to attract multiple females, and it's always been that way... It might be something we have to accept..."
Hearing this, Yuriel is once again internally shocked. This line of thinking is so different from the world she knows.
The world here, set in a medieval-like era, would naturally have similar technologies and cultures, including the practice of polygamy.
At that moment, Yuriel felt a cultural shock, like a foreigner experiencing a vastly different culture, perplexed by the goddess's casual acceptance of such norms.
"I won't force you, but the choice is yours. If you refuse, I'll still find a way to win him, and I'll eventually succeed."
At that moment, Yuriel decisively takes Lady Abne's hand, looking solemnly into her eyes.
"Alright, I've made my decision. Then, as promised, you'll give me something that will be of help."
Lady Abne smiles satisfied, rummaging through her belongings on the bed to find something for Yuriel. "Why is this taking so long...?" I wondered from a distance. I couldn't see clearly, but it looked like Lady Abne was handing over something to Yuriel, and their conversation continued for quite some time. Perhaps this matter was more serious and enigmatic than I realized. Even Eleona and Mir had said they didn't know... So, it wouldn't be strange if no solution could be found.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting, Harold. I have something to tell you about your sister," Lady Abne finally says, her expression bright as if bearing good news.
"Lady Abne, have you discovered the reason behind my sister's condition?" I ask, my voice unintentionally filled with excitement. Lady Abne smiles and responds.
"Yes, unfortunately, I don’t know the solution, but at least I've discovered the cause."
I felt a tinge of disappointment that Yuriel's condition couldn't be resolved, but at least knowing the cause was a start.
"Brother!" Yuriel approached me excitedly, her tails wagging uncontrollably, a clear sign of her happiness.
"Hehe, brother!" There was an unusual increase in her affection. What had they discussed that made her so elated?
"I’ve found out why your sister transformed like this," Lady Abne informed me. I focused, trying to temper my excitement to listen carefully.
"Your sister is possessed by divine power. Right now, she has the magic of a fox deity within her."
Possessed? By a fox deity?
"Are you sure? My sister, who was originally human, has become like this because of a fox deity's influence?"
"Yes, that’s right. When your sister came to this world, she somehow became imbued with the magic of a fox deity."
"But why did this happen all of a sudden? We have never encountered a fox deity before, and it wouldn't have known about us either..."
A logical question. I had never heard of a fox deity in the game world. Why would it suddenly appear and bestow its magic on Yuriel?
"The fox deity died centuries ago. Its physical body perished, and its wandering magic, having lost its master, vanished somewhere. After hundreds of years, it seems that magic found a suitable vessel to reside in, and it appears to be your sister."
So, the deity's body died, and its magic scattered, searching for a new host, and it chose Yuriel? "Not even gods are immortal... Although it's rare, they can die due to various complex reasons, and their souls or powers begin to wander. Occasionally, these powers find a new host." This reminded me of the Night of Destruction... Mir had once been possessed by the soul of Lucilia. Considering that, the situation with Yuriel wasn’t too far-fetched.
I felt a sense of unease, as if caught up in yet another troublesome affair. Hopefully, it was just needless worry.
"Thank you so much. This information is more than enough for now." I expressed my gratitude to her, bowing my head. Knowing the cause of the problem was the first step towards finding a solution to return Yuriel to her original state.
"Hehe, let's go, brother!" Yuriel cheerfully grabbed my arm, pulling me towards the exit, her tail wagging happily. What exactly had she and Lady Abne talked about? It made me curious.
"What did you talk about with Lady Abne?" As we stepped into the corridor and Lady Abne was out of sight, I couldn’t help but ask Yuriel.
"Uhmm~ Secret~" She playfully refused to answer, leading me outside with a mischievous smile. How had a conversation turned her from wary to trusting and cheerful?
I was left in the dark.
"Hmm..." Alone in her grand chamber, Lady Abne murmured to herself, "This is going to be interesting."
"No one can hear her musing. "Even though she already saw her brother with romantic interest, now that she's under the influence of the fox deity, there's no turning back."
She chuckled at the unfolding situation, filled with anticipation for the events to come. The fox deity had been an acquaintance of hers during its lifetime, a seeker of love and an embodiment of desire. As a nine-tailed fox, her purpose was to follow her heart and relentlessly pursue the man she loved. Driven by her desires, the fox deity loved one man intensely, seducing him relentlessly while ceaselessly absorbing his energy. She indulged in her sexual desires during endless estrus, offering her victims an overwhelming pleasure so intense it seemed to melt their brains.
Despite the belief that gods shouldn't mingle with mortals, the fox deity kept her chosen partner hidden, considering him her mate. The identity of this man, loved by the deity, remains unknown to this day, but surely his life wasn’t an easy one. Perhaps, Harold now finds himself in a similar predicament.
"Yuriel, inheriting her essence, will soon succumb to the fox deity’s instincts."
"Overwhelmed by the urge to possess the one she loves, she'll burn with desire, becoming proactive in her seduction. I hope the potion I gave her proves helpful." Abne looked into the distance, her eyes filled with anticipation.
This was one promise that Abne had shared with Yuriel.
"It’ll be my turn after her, won’t it? This time, I will definitely unite with him." Abne seemed joyful, as if foreseeing a future event.
"I wish she'd quickly embrace her instincts." She casually uttered what could be construed as a destructive wish for someone else.