CHAPTER 287: CHAPTER 287- EFFICIENT

The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled light on the camp. The smell of coffee and sizzling rations filled the air. Dori sat with her plate, poking at her food, her mind a million miles away.

’It had to be a dream, right? There’s no way I actually... kissed him. And he... he kissed me back. But it felt so real. I can still feel it.’ Her fingers unconsciously drifted to her lips, a ghost of a sensation making her heart flutter.

Hesitantly, she glanced across the fire. At that exact moment, Julian looked up from his own breakfast. Their eyes met. And then it happened—a small, subtle, but undeniable smile touched his lips, meant only for her. It was gone in a second, but it was enough.

’It wasn’t a dream! But then I... I fainted! How embarrassing! I need to talk to Clarissa or Emma. They’ll know what to do. They must be used to this, getting kissed by Julian all the time... Ahhh!’

So lost was she in her internal panic that she didn’t notice Zoe’s intense, unblinking stare fixed on the piece of meat on her fork. Zoe’s head tilted, her beast-like eyes wide and hopeful.

"....You don’t want?" Zoe asked, her voice a soft monotone.

Dori jumped, startled out of her reverie. "Huh? Oh! No, it’s not that! Here, you can have it." Flustered, she scooped up the meat and gently offered it to Zoe. Zoe leaned forward and neatly took the food from the fork, a quiet, contented "Hnn" escaping her as she chewed.

Veronica, observing the entire exchange from over the rim of her coffee cup, narrowed her eyes. "Suspicious," she murmured. She then turned her sharp gaze to Julian, who was calmly drinking his coffee. "What did you do last night, Julian? Besides your... ’training’."

Julian didn’t even flinch. "I trained. And I kept Dori company when she couldn’t sleep. That’s all."

Veronica let out a knowing "Hmph."

"I knew it."

Clarissa, sitting beside Veronica, offered a warm, gentle smile towards Dori. "It seems Dori has made some progress. I’m happy for her."

Emma, catching on immediately, bounced in her seat. "Oh! Congratulations, Dori! Welcome to the club!"

Aya, from where she was checking the mobile base’s tires, gave a shy but genuine thumbs-up. "Congratulations, Dori."

Dori’s face burned so hot she was surprised steam wasn’t rising from her head. She wanted to sink into the ground.

From her reclined position against a wheel, Fey let out a lazy drawl without opening her eyes. "Well, well. So it’s official. So... when’s my turn?"

The question hung in the air, causing a beat of stunned silence before Emma burst out laughing.

Veronica’s eye twitched. "How many more women are going to join this... this ever-expanding harem?" she grumbled, her voice a mix of genuine irritation and theatrical exasperation. "It was manageable with six! We could have a schedule! A six-day rotation was feasible! But now with Dori, and her," she gestured vaguely at the still-recumbent Fey, "and let’s not forget Miss Beatrix’s promise—our individual time is totally getting cut!"

Celestia took a sip of her tea and said. "The number is irrelevant. What matters is that the interpersonal relationships remain healthy and that tactical efficiency is not compromised."

"Healthy? Efficient?" Veronica shot back. "My ’efficiency’ is being compromised by the lack of quality time!"

Beatrix, who had been trying to read her book in peace, stiffened. "Do not drag me into your juvenile squabbles. My agreement with Julian was purely professional."

"Oh, was it?" Veronica countered, a triumphant smirk on her face. "I distinctly overheard you promise him your ’body and soul’ once you were free of that mark. Don’t try to deny it."

A rare, vivid blush spread across Beatrix’s cheeks. She snapped her book shut. "That was in the context of my skills and my service, you impossible girl! Do not twist my words into something dirty! My relationship with Julian is, and will always be, that of teacher and student!"

Her protest was met with a chorus of disbelieving looks and poorly concealed smiles.

Julian, who had been listening with an air of detached amusement, decided to intervene. His voice, calm and steady, cut through the chatter.

"Calm down," he stated, his gaze sweeping over them. "My attention isn’t a limited resource. I won’t neglect any of you. That’s a promise."

Celestia nodded in agreement. "Plus, let’s be real, a bigger community is good for everyone. In a world with so few people left, it’s kinda our job especially for women who can to make sure we have a strong next generation."

Veronica’s blush returned with a vengeance. "Let’s not get that far ahead! And I’m not ready for children!" she exclaimed, flustered.

"My statement was merely a logical suggestion, not a personal directive," Celestia clarified calmly.

"Really?" Emma chimed in, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "That’s not what you say in bed, Veronica! Every other night you’re whispering to Julian about—MMPH!"

Veronica had lunged across the log to clamp a hand over Emma’s mouth, her face burning crimson. "That’s different! That’s... private! And taken out of context!"

Emma pried her hand off, giggling. "Hmmm? Where’s the difference? Sounds like the same goal to me!"

’Children...! Bed...! Oh my god...!’ Dori’s mind short-circuited, her face buried in her hands as she listened to the increasingly heated and personal debate.

From her bedroll, Fey let out a low, impressed whistle. "Whoa. So the proud one is that brutal in the sack? Note to myself, the walls are thinner than I thought."

"Fey!" Veronica shrieked, utterly mortified, now having to defend herself on two fronts.

Clarissa quickly stepped in, her voice a gentle but firm peacemaker. "Alright, that’s quite enough of that topic for one morning. Let’s focus on packing up, everyone."

Julian simply shook his head, a faint, long-suffering sigh escaping him as he finished his coffee. "Hopefully there will be no problems on the road today"