When Jason took Riyala as his second lover, Jason didn’t yet know anything about Richard having multiple wives, so the fact that Richard already knew that Jason would have multiple women because of Jason’s Avaran Gene was just hilarious! It was as if Jason’s father knew Jason better than Jason knew himself! But Jason frowned as he saw the message about choosing the right women and how Richard’s first wife was causing issues in the family, and Jason could only wonder what happened to make someone like his father sound so exhausted.
’I can already tell it’s something serious if it’s making him warn me like this.’
Jason let out a calm sigh as he scanned through that part again, and he decided to ignore it for now. Jason still hadn’t met Richard’s first wife or any of her children, so Jason decided he would make a choice on what to do about them after meeting them!
The part of the letter that spoke about the Court of Apostles stood out to Jason in a strange way. Jason knew that he was now part of some strange Court of Dead Apostles, but he figured that this was something different from that. So Jason had to meet with the Angel Rak’hael to figure out what was going on? Jason frowned in irritation as his mind went back to the Council meeting that he had attended a long time ago. Rak’hael had been one of the most vocal critics of both him and Riyala, and back then, Jason thought that she just didn’t like them because they were going against the council’s orders. But the actual reason for her animosity was because she didn’t like Avarans?
’So she’s just racist?’
Jason wondered if this was the case, and Jason had no idea how his father wanted him to convince Rak’hael of anything. Jason had nothing but bad memories of her! But Jason would try to figure it out since this was an important mission. After Jason goes to Earth and makes sure his family is alright, Jason would try to make a meeting with Rak’hael.
Jason didn’t even want to go into the whole ’left her at the altar’ nonsense that his father wrote about. Why the hell was his father even leaving women at altars in the first place? Jason sighed tiredly, and he decided to ignore that for now, even though Jason knew it might come back to bite him in the ass eventually! Jason finally closed down the system tabs, and he let out a calm sigh as he stared out over the peaceful garden.
’I really wish there was a way to write back to him.’
Jason knew that Richard had made this a one-way message system to prevent Jason from sending any messages back to him since Richard didn’t want anyone to figure out where he was, but Jason really wanted to tell Richard a lot of things. Jason wanted to tell him about Gina and how the two of them were getting married soon. He wanted to tell him about their child that was coming, and he wanted to let him know that Mira and the girls were doing fine back on Earth. There were so many things that Jason wanted to tell his father, but Jason didn’t know if he would ever get to. In fact, Jason didn’t even know if his father was still alive right now. This message was written about three years ago and sent across the Primordial Expanse, so a lot of things would’ve changed from then till now.
’No, he’s alive. I can feel it in my heart. I know he’s alive.’
Jason huffed calmly, and he shook his head to get rid of those stupid thoughts. There was no way his father would die just like that.
"What has you thinking so deeply, hmmm~?"
A hand suddenly snaked its way around Jason’s shoulders from behind, and Jason glanced back to see Hesabeth leaning against him with a sly smile on her face. Hesabeth pressed her chest into Jason’s back and put her chin on his shoulder playfully as she urged him to speak to her, and Jason shrugged his shoulder and turned away from her while saying that it was nothing important. Hesabeth let out a small sigh, and she tightened her hold on Jason while asking.
"Why won’t you give me a chance, Jason? I’m trying really hard to make you understand me. I already know you have multiple partners, so don’t act like this is some impossible situation. I’ve never wanted to be with any man the way I want to be with you. So when you deny me like this without even giving me a chance... It hurts."
Jason sighed calmly as a peaceful breeze fluttered across the garden, and he was silent for a few long seconds before he finally spoke.
"You’re asking me for something that I can’t give you, Hesabeth. Not like this. You’re an amazing woman. You’re prideful, egotistical, and your tongue is sharper than a knife, but I can also tell that you’re caring, loving, and you are willing to put your life on the line for those you care about. Anyone would be happy to accept your love. But I love Gina, Hesabeth. And I care about hurting her more than I care about hurting you. So until I know I won’t hurt her, I can’t return your feelings."
Hesabeth’s hands tightened around Jason’s shoulders once he said this, and Jason felt Hesabeth’s body shake! It was obvious that Hesabeth was not used to being refused so bluntly like this. As a queen, Hesabeth was already used to getting anything she wanted, but the fact that she was also the favourite child of the Primordial Expanse meant that Hesabeth had never known hardship all her life. But right now, Hesabeth was practically throwing herself at Jason, and the fact that Jason cared more about hurting someone who wasn’t even here more than Jason cared about Hesabeth, who was right in front of him, showed that Jason could never love anyone more than he loved Gina. Hesabeth already knew that something like this might happen. Jason and Gina were becoming something of a legend amongst many of the worlds that they had been to since they were seen as the perfect pair of lovers, and there had even been a few travelling bards who wrote love songs about them. But it was still difficult for Hesabeth to accept that Jason might never love her as much as he loved Gina!
Jason waited patiently for Hesabeth to get herself back, and he eventually heard her sigh calmly as her shaking stopped. Hesabeth released Jason’s neck, and Jason watched as she moved to sit down on the blanket opposite him once again. Hesabeth had a calm look on her face that prevented Jason from knowing what she was thinking or feeling, and she just reached over and grabbed a cake before handing it to Jason with a smile.
"Here, take this. It’s a special Fea Berry flavoured cake from Minori, so I’m sure you’ll love it."
Jason hummed in slight surprise as Hesbeath suddenly changed the subject. Jason knew it wasn’t healthy to bottle up your feelings, but Jason wasn’t going to try to change Hesbeath’s mind. Jason already promised Hesbeath that he would be there for her if she ever needed him, so if Hesbeath ever wanted to talk to Jason, then Jason would gladly be there for her. Jason took the red cake, and he took a bite from it before nodding. That was really good. But Hesabeth suddenly smiled mischievously and spoke.
"There’s also a love potion in there that makes you fall in love with the first person you see."
"Huh?"
Jason gave Hesabeth a look of absolute disbelief, and a beat of silence passed through the garden before Hesabeth suddenly put her hand up to her mouth and burst out in laughter!
"Pfft! Puahahahahahah! You should see your face! You look so silly! Hahahaha!"
Hesabeth fell back and rolled around in hysterics as she tried and failed to stop herself from laughing uncontrollably, and Jason scoffed in disbelief as he finally ate the rest of the cake! Jason already knew that there was no potion inside the cake since he would’ve sensed the magic before eating, but what Hesabeth said was so shocking that he couldn’t help but react like that! Jason watched as Hesabeth continued to laugh uncontrollably, and the scene was so amusing that Jason couldn’t help but chuckle as well, and before long, the two of them were laughing together as they enjoyed the moment.