Better, with time to understand

"So, you found a lamp, which sucked your imaginary friend out of your head into the lamp, where she became a sex genie, and you decided to start a harem but decided to keep it secret?" Dorothea summarized, trying to wrap her mind around the concept. She was having trouble believing it, but the green haired floating girl's sudden appearance (and subsequent groping) were things she absolutely didn't have anything that could refute what she'd been told.

Byleth nodded, Manuela and Sothis following suit. The latter making a big show of bouncing her chest in her directions. "And I was the first pick." Manuela commented, before looking at Sothis. "I know you're 'first', dear, but that was by default. I'm the one you two actually recruited first, right?" Sothis nodded. "That's true."

Meanwhile, Dorothea considered the invitation before her. She had been hoping to find someone who would look over just her, but there were a lot of things here that she hadn't imagined possible before now. "All right..." Dorothea nods. "I can see why you'd want to keep it secret - plenty of nobles cause problems with their mistresses... If I'm honest, I thought this was just going to be a study session that would lead to more, but if this is viable... yeahI'lljoin." She stumbles over the rest of her words as she acknowledges this.

Manuela gives a fist pump. "I knew you'd be a good fit!" The teacher struts over and hugs her junior tightly, Sothis going 'woop woop woop' of celebration overhead. Dorothea returns the hug before turning to Byleth, who was staring at her with a slight smirk - a rare peak behind his perpetual stoicism. "Out of curiosity... what if I had said no?"

"I'd have just wished you'd forget all about this and let you carry on." Byleth said with a gentle nod as he stood up. "I have no interest in forcing anyone to join against their will." Dorothea nodded with a grateful smile. The possibility had crossed her mind that he could have before, and was grateful he could take a 'no'. So many nobles out there who wouldn't... "So, Professor, what do we do now?"