By the morning the next day Noah finally heard the familiar notification sound and an announcement that a new skill named 'Firewall' has been created. Why it was called so when it had nothing to do with fire at all, no one had a clue. But everyone agreed that sometimes Ugy's logic simply baffled and all they could do is just get used to it.

From Tessa's explanation, this was not the ultimate creation and would have to be updated with time, but as a quick patch against sudden intrusions from the Dryad family it would work as intended.

Once they were done with that, Noah and the girls went back to the mansion to start preparing for the ball that they would have to attend in the evening. 

Without the three dryad maids, there was no one to serve them breakfast, so they had to cook themselves. For the first time in a long time all three of them enjoyed the company of each other in the same room without any anger or hatred between them. Only happy smiles and jokes filled the kitchen while they  were busy with their cooking.

Noah sat at the corner of the kitchen table silently enjoying this family gathering, feeling content from simply being part of it. However after some time he noticed overly sexy movements and quick peeks in his direction from all three of them.

When one of them needed to take something from an upper shelf she would stand in the stretched out pose showing off all her curves needlessly longer than she had to. When one of the girls bent to take something from a lower shelf she would make sure her curvy butt would point in his direction, standing back up only after she would confirm with a look that he was staring at her delicious body. Soon they even touched and slid their hands on each other's bodies with constant demure looks in his direction.

By the time the food was ready the perpetual hard on in Noah's pants made this situation unbearable and when the sisters went to prepare the dinner table, he banged their mother on the kitchen table. Which also escalated to him fucking both sister while bending them over small dining room's table just to be fair and divide his love equally between all three of them.

Yet even that was not enough to disperse the sexual tension and the whole time they ate with their smiles brightening their faces, Noah was throghly fondled and rubbed with their sexy feet and hands under the table. By the time he was sated with food he hungered for their bodies so much he was ravenous taking all three of them on that very table one more time. After that their play extended into the bathroom where the four of them thoroughly washed each other over and over again. Only after they spent a few hours in the bathroom did they finally feel cleansed enough to start preparing for the ball.

*****

Sitting in the huge black carriage that was pulled by a horde of giant spiders, Noah and girls sat silently while holding at the handles on the carriage walls afraid to bite their tongues if they opened their mouths. Only after the bumpy ride, swinging from side to side and urging spiders to move slower, did they finally remember that with all the restoration works inside the mansion's barrier, no one thought of checking the condition of the road leading to their territory. 

All the provisions that usually reached their house were ordered through Tessa's friend Cassandra and sent from Cassandra's mansions with the help of giant spiders that did not have the need of any roads, traveling through the woods better than they would run on the road. 

After they finally reached the crossroad and came to a well maintained domain road they finally took up speed and could relax. At that time Noah and Tessa looked at each other and laughed heartily.

"God, I forgot about the road. Girls and I always traveled to Cassandra's mansion through the woods for the last few decades. So I did not even think about whether it is still possible to travel by carriage."

"We'll take care of it first thing after returning." Said Noah with a smile. "Bri and I have studied a few alchemic recipes that would be quite profitable if we start producing them with the use of slimes. As you and girls already have alchemist licenses we can start producing these potions as soon as the batch of ingredients reaches us. Soon the money would be flowing to your pockets with a constant flow." Said Noah.

"Our pockets, dear." Said Tessa looking him in the eyes.

"Yes." Said Noah looking around and seeing all three of them looking back at him with gentle loving eyes. "Our. I misspoke."

After that Noah's thoughts traveled to his family. The McDaniel family. If it even had the right to be called 'family'. He never was a part of it, as Noah now understood. First because he was the son of a second wife, that first wife never acknowledged off and refused to see as an equal family member because her status was far lower than Count McDaniel had the right to marry with. Yet he still did marry her, because unlike the first wife he truly loved Noah's mother.

After her death, even though Noah never was openly bullied he was never loved as well. His step-mother more like tolerated him than considered him a family member. However, even that changed with time. With every year that Noah failed to awaken his system the attitude toward him was changing as well. Still no one had the guts to outright disregard or disrespect him in the face while his father, who doted on him greatly, was alive. 

However his father could not be there for him at all times, so at some point he heard all the disgusting rumors and words people said of him behind his back. With the reminder of his family, although not joining those discussions, never bothered to step up to defend him as well. Noah was content that his step-sisters at least never hated him and even treated him well, when cousins, uncles and all other branch family members showed him outright hostility when his father was not around. But from the looks of it even those good feelings were a lie, considering that his elder sister's fiance was the one that tried to dispose of him.

While the three girls chatted, joking between each other for some time, they noticed that Noah had been silent and started to sink into a foul mood, so their chatter quickly stopped.

"Is something bothering you dear?" Asked Tessa, awakening Noah from his thoughts.

He turned from the window that he had been silently staring through while they traveled and looked around seeing the three worried gazes.

"I was thinking about what to do with my family. I've been hiding for a few months after the assassination attempt, but now that I participate in the ball, they will hear of my well being quite soon."

"They will try to finish the job." Said Tessa silently.

"Most likely." Sighed Noah. "I am a lot stronger now. But not strong enough to protect myself from some of the top notch assassins."

"You are safe within the mansion." Said Priscilla.

"Yes, but I can't hide there forever. Once I announce my well being, I will be expected to return and take over the title of the count to reign over my family domain." Answered Noah.

Tessa placed her hand under her chin, tapping her cheek with a finger in thought.

"The best defense is a good offense." She said watching Noah thoughtfully.

"What do you mean? My step-mother is over level 50. She can effortlessly wipe out the floor with me. Besides, half of my skills can't be shown around the people as I would most likely be sentenced to death as a devil contractor or something."

"She may be strong but not as strong as me or girls." Said Tessa raising her eyebrow.

"If you fight her it will bring problems to you. Even if you are a Duchess you are a noble without domain and a monster at that. Will it be tolerated?" Asked Noah.

"We don't need to fight your step-mother and family directly. What I mean is that any one of us accompanying you would be enough to protect you. So while they would be unable to harm you, we will be able to plot against them. Your skills are…as my daughter here named it, are of the sneaky type." Said Tessa smiling at Brianna. "Why don't we use the sneaky tactics then." Said Tessa and a huge evil smile spread over her lips.

*User, I would like to acknowledge that I like this woman a lot.* Said his system's voice in Noah's head.

Noah sighed with a smile

"Well, for that I would have to survive through this ball for the start." He said. "As I understand, it will be full of man eating monsters and I am part of the ration for half of them, right?"

"Oh, you don't have to worry. The venue would be full of observers. Such events attract the attention of the Royal family a lot. After all, Bri and Cil's coming of age ball means there are two new highest class monsters that can start new Guardian monster houses in some areas and strengthen the kingdom. No one would have the guts to try to harm a human in front of so many observers sneaking around. We may be nobles with statuses, but we are still monsters in a human country. If we attack humans, no matter noble or commoner, we will be judged a lot more severely than a human would be. If a monster loses a country's good will, they are no different from normal monsters and will soon be hunted down." Said Tessa.

"Besides, we will be in Aunt Cass's house. They would have to be very stupid to harm a guest under a Nosferatu house's guest code." Said Priscilla.

"What's that?" Asked Noah.

"The guest of their house is under protection of their house. It is an ancient rule that is like law of nature for Vampires. Meaning if anyone, even if it is a member of Cassandras own household harms or even disrespects a guest, they are dead meat." Explained Tessa

"And we will always be beside you as well. We will make sure that one of us will be keeping an eye on you at all times." Said Brianna, reassuring him.

"I see. Thank you girls. Well, let's have a fun party." Said Noah with a smile, under which he hid his worry. 

Why do I have a baaad feeling about this ball? Though Noah with a plastered smile on his face.

*Might be because they just raised a few flags.* Said system.