Chapter 91 - 25
Morning light filtered through the high stained-glass windows of the medical research wing as Arthur stood up from the bed, adjusting his dark uniform jacket with immaculate precision. Beside him, Elena stretched lazily, looking more relaxed and vibrant than she had in years. Without hesitation, Arthur filled out an official administrative leave slip, signed it using his high-clearance clearance token, and escorted his sister out of the faculty building.
Stepping into the central quadrangle, Arthur summoned a sleek, black-and-gold executive carriage emblazoned with the crest of the Central Aegis Bank—a vehicle reserved exclusively for the silent monarch and his innermost council.
News of his grand departure spread like wildfire across the academy within minutes. In Lecture Hall 101, noble heiresses dropped their quills in utter shock as rumor passed through the rows: The mysterious commoner freshman was escorted away in the Central Bank’s private imperial carriage alongside Dr. Elena Vance.
Sitting in the back row, Katherine clutched her notebook to her massive, cardigan-draped chest, her deep violet eyes wide with frantic, anxious thoughts. Did he get taken away by the director? Is he a high-tier secret noble? Will he ever come back to sit next to me? Down in the front rows, Lord Julian and his aristocratic clique gnashed their teeth, their faces twisting in bitter, helpless envy as they realized Arthur possessed influence far beyond their petty provincial families.
The executive carriage swept through the gates of the Apex Sovereign Estate, pulling up to the grand marble steps of the central headquarters.
When Arthur stepped out into the main pavilion with Elena by his side, the atmosphere inside the grand hall was suffocatingly tense. The entire executive council—all twelve main candidates, led by Lyra, Vespera, Ignis, Valerie, and Celeste— stood assembled in a rigid semicircle. Their faces were a terrifying storm of dark jealousy, restless anger, and sharp, possessive suspicion.
"Arthur," Lyra stepped forward, her violet eyes burning with a fiery, uncharacteristic fury as her voluptuous frame trembled within her tailored silk dress. "Care to explain why you abandoned your room, skipped your lectures, and spent the entire night locked in a private laboratory with this woman?"
"My operatives were ten seconds away from leveling the medical wing," Valerie added coldly, her hand resting heavily on her sword hilt, her eyes glaring daggers at Elena.
Vespera purred with a dangerous, razor-sharp edge, twirling a dark feather pen. "Yes, my lord. Do tell us what kind of ’medical research’ required twelve uninterrupted hours..."
Arthur remained completely unbothered by the terrifying pressure radiating from the twelve world-class women. He smoothly stepped up to the head of the marble hall, taking Elena gently by the arm and bringing her directly to his right side—the seat of absolute honor.
"Lower your weapons and drop the hostile aura," Arthur commanded, his deep voice ringing through the vaulted chamber with absolute, sovereign dominance. "This is Elena Vance. In my past life on Earth, she was my elder sister."
The heavy silence that fell over the grand hall was instantaneous and deafening.
Celeste dropped her clipboard, her jaw hanging open. Valerie’s hand slid off her sword hilt as if burned. Lyra froze mid-stride, her fiery jealousy instantly evaporating, replaced by an overwhelming, panic-inducing realization.
"My... my sister?" Lyra squeaked, her face turning from furious red to a ghostly, flustered pale in less than a second.
"She is my blood, my family, and the singular anchor of my past," Arthur continued coldly, his dark eyes sweeping across the frozen executives. "From this moment forward, Elena holds absolute veto power over executive decisions second only to my own. Her authority within this estate, the central bank, and the parliamentary seats is absolute. Treat her accordingly."
The minds of all twelve women instantly went into an insane, frantic hyper-drive.
A collective, silent realization exploded across the executive council: She isn’t a romantic rival... she is the ultimate Sister-in-Law! The absolute gatekeeper to Arthur’s heart!
In a fraction of a second, the storm of murderous jealousy transformed into a desperate, chaotic race to win Elena’s favor.
If I get her approval, Lyra thought frantically, her heart hammering against her ribs as she smoothed her silk gown and offered Elena the sweetest, most polite smile she had ever crafted in her life, Arthur will marry me first! She’s the one who will decide who gets to bear his first-born heirs!
A sister-in-law who values intelligence and class, Vespera calculated rapidly, stepping forward with an exquisite crystal tray of rare, imported tea, her dangerous purr melting into a humble, deeply respectful tone. "Sister Elena... please, allow me to pour you our private reserve estate brew. You must be exhausted after such a long journey!"
"Sister Elena!" Ignis boomed, stepping forward and bowing her massive, deeply voluptuous frame with exaggerated, humble reverence, her dragon tail swishing nervously behind her. "I am Baroness Ignis! I command the sovereign guard! If anyone in this realm ever displeases you, I will personally throw them into a volcanic crater!"
"Sister Elena, I have already prepared a complete, top-tier medical research facility with unlimited funding for your personal use!" Celeste stammered eagerly, her face burning bright crimson as she bowed rapidly, her spectacles almost sliding off her nose.
Elena stood beside Arthur, looking at the twelve legendary, world-ruling women who were now practically groveling at her feet, competing frantically to offer her tea, estate titles, and sweet compliments. She looked over at Arthur, catching his subtle, amused smirk, and let out a soft, delighted laugh.
Arthur took Elena on a complete tour of his central empire, introducing her to the automated foundries, the central bank vaults holding mountains of paper reserves, the private sky-drake transport fleets, and the grand parliamentary chambers where his proxy laws governed the realm. Elena walked through the massive, breathtaking operations in awe, her heart brimming with immense pride for how far her younger brother had come.
As night fell over the Apex Estate, Elena sat in the master lounge, surrounded by all twelve executive women, who were attentively serving her fine wines, rare fruits, and eager, desperate inquiries about Arthur’s childhood preferences.
Elena leaned back on the plush velvet sofa, taking a slow sip of sweet wine, her eyes sparkling with affectionate amusement as she watched the twelve powerful, breathtaking women eagerly awaiting her every word. Arthur stood by the grand glass balcony, looking out over the glowing, modern skyline of Aegis City, completely content as his past and his present blended into a perfect, unstoppable empire.