Gathering Wives with a System Chapter 440: Time With Selene

Isaac positioned himself behind Selene, easing his fingers gradually into her tense shoulders as she sifted through the pile of documents spread across the desk.

Over the last few days, Selene had taken scant rest. Managing crop sales, haggling deals, organizing supply paths, and making endless tweaks to propel their scheme ahead had exhausted her. The furious tempo never eased up.

Dark rings shadowed her eyes.

She leafed through yet another paper and released a fatigued sigh. Tilting her head a bit sideways, she cracked her neck then sank back into the seat. Isaac's ongoing massage started to melt the tightness in her shoulders somewhat.

A faint grin curved Isaac’s mouth.

At first, she wouldn’t let him anywhere near her. Whenever he approached, she’d tense rigidly or pull back, cheeks flushing with shame. Yet after days of his persistent urging that she desperately needed to unwind, she had given in.

Massages were now part of their daily ritual.

Selene sighed once more and at last shut the paper she’d been scanning.

She massaged her forehead and shielded her face with a palm before murmuring.

"How’s progress on your side, Isaac?"

"With the potential allied kingdoms or Sword Empress?" he inquired.

"Both."

Isaac halted briefly, pondering the state of affairs.

"Regarding the other allied kingdoms, I’m gradually pulling them into our fold. Avery’s intel has been invaluable, though hurdles remain plentiful. They can’t dispatch their entire forces—the sheer distance hinders that, plus their own battles demand attention. Top elites are the most they might spare."

His fingers kept working her shoulders as he elaborated,

"Even so, it’ll demand weeks at least before any show up here."

Selene absorbed his words in silence.

"As for Sword Empress... Well, since I’m still breathing, things must be progressing decently."

Selene twisted her head gradually to peer at him.

"Probably? What’s that supposed to mean?" she pressed.

Isaac merely shrugged.

Selene fixed him with a gaze for an instant, then pursed her lips in a mild pout upon sensing his evasion. She’d intended to guide the talk toward the earlier grilling in Sword Empress’s encampment. That truth spell had posed a huge gamble for him.

Yet Isaac had spotted the incoming query and deftly avoided it.

"Fine," she huffed, arms folding loosely in mild petulance. "Keep your secrets. I’m the only one spilling everything to you."

Isaac let out a soft chuckle.

In recent weeks, their bond had deepened far beyond his expectations. Selene always projected poise and professionalism around others, but alone together, she’d flash unexpectedly adorable faces. Her pouting still caught him off guard.

"So," Isaac ventured after a beat, "what’s the status on your front?"

Selene breathed out deeply and reclined into the chair once more.

"Sales are solid. Better than solid, really."

Her finger drummed the papers gently.

"Your crops outperform everything. That’s the issue."

Isaac arched a brow.

"Sounds like a enviable dilemma."

"It’d be perfect for regular trade. But now, I’m burning extra effort concealing your identity from purchasers. Discovery means chaos—some will seek to corner the market, others to pilfer it. No bandwidth for such messes."

She halted, kneading her temples anew.

"The real killer remains time."

Isaac heard her out wordlessly.

"Pressuring zones with troops loyal to Sword Empress’s kin proves tougher than anticipated. Trade itself flows smoothly. I could even toss loss-making offers their way if pushed," she noted.

Her face twisted faintly.

"Though it pains my soul."

Isaac burst into laughter.

Selene shot a glance over her shoulder.

"You find that funny?"

"Worrying over profits in a Trial where nothing’s real? That’s some next-level commitm—er, zeal."

Selene scoffed. "Greed’s got nothing to do with it. Principles drive me."

"Principles?" Isaac echoed.

"Exactly. No real merchant relishes a lousy bargain."

"Right. Purely that."

Before more words escaped, Selene stretched back and nipped his hand.

"Ouch."

"I’m no greedy sort," she declared stoutly.

Isaac chuckled anew, soothing the pinched area.

"Naturally not."

Selene shook her head and refocused on the documents.

"Regardless," she picked up after a pause, "sales thrive, but pace lags behind my wishes. Redirecting supply lines, convincing traders, spreading whispers judiciously—all drags. Doubt we’ll spark desertions from Sword Empress’s ranks soon enough."

"No need to fret excessively. Best effort suffices," he assured.

Silence enveloped them briefly. The hushed chamber and Isaac’s rhythmic kneading gradually dissolved tension from Selene’s shoulders.

A minute later, she whispered.

"You’re oddly skilled at this."

"Massages?"

"Yeah."

Isaac chuckled.

"Plenty of practice."

Selene angled her head faintly.

"With whom?"

Isaac grinned silently.

Selene squinted suspiciously.

"...On second thought, maybe I don’t wanna know."

Isaac laughed heartily.

...

Isaac blinked rapidly.

His skull weighed heavy.

Blur clouded his sight momentarily, clearing to reveal pure white everywhere.

The heavens gleamed white.

The earth stretched white.

No horizon marked the edge, no limits in sight.

Isaac lifted a hand to rub his temple.

A persistent throb pulsed within his cranium.

"Ah, yes," he whispered softly.

The interrogation.

Fragments of recall trickled back.

The probing questions.

The hypnotic trance.

The truth enchantment.

A bitter smirk crept across his features.

’I truly spilled it all.’

Though baring those secrets aligned with his scheme from the outset, Isaac recognized he’d never have voiced them so freely while fully aware.

The hypnosis stripped his typical filters.

Yet the outcome matched his desires precisely.

Isaac breathed out steadily, scanning the boundless void anew.

’Curious how Alice’s questioning fared.’

He scratched his jaw.

’If she probes my pass... I’ll swerve that talk entirely.’

The cause was straightforward.

Should Alice discover Sword Empress detected their nightly antics, Celia and the rest would learn soon after.

And Isaac foresaw the uproar ahead.

He sighed softly.

Thoughts of Celia, Emily, and Catherine stirred a subtle longing.

Weeks had ticked by in this Trial.

Enough to kindle homesickness.

’How much real-world time elapsed?" Isaac pondered.

The Trial realm never specified time flow versus reality.

Possible dilation.

Or exact match.

Both scenarios unnerved mildly.

Luckily, their security didn’t plague him.

Emily alone fortified the city immensely.

Her monster revival power ensured that post-ghost taming from the Great Dungeon, an undead elite force would guard them eternally.