"After all, we’re all going to be family soon. It would be wonderful if we could all work together to support Her Majesty. She deserves the best from all of us, don’t you think?"
With a cheerful wave and a graceful bow, he continued down the corridor, humming that sa soft tune.
---
The five consorts stood in silence, watching him disappear around the corner.
Finally, Adrian spoke. "Did he just..."
"Outmaneuver us while acting like an innocent puppy?" Lucian finished. "Yes."
Raphael was frowning. "He never said a single hostile thing. Not one insult, not one direct criticism."
"He didn’t have to," Damien said quietly. "Every word was calculated. Every innocent question was a blade."
Kieran was staring at the spot where Larus had vanished. "The bastard made us look like fools without ever breaking his smile."
"Because he wasn’t attacking us," Adrian realized. "He was just... being himself. Enthusiastic about his relationship with the Empress. Happy about the ti they spend together. Grateful for her attention."
"And in doing so," Damien finished, "he highlighted everything we’re not doing."
They all fell silent again.
"He’s dangerous," Lucian said finally. "Not because he’s cruel or manipulative. Because he’s genuinely ’good’ at this."
"At what?" Kieran asked.
"Being a partner," Lucian said simply. "He works with her. Supports her. Actually enjoys spending ti with her. And he makes it look effortless."
"One week," Raphael said softly, looking troubled. "We have one week."
"To do what?" Adrian asked, though he already knew the answer.
"To decide if we’re going to step up," Damien said, "or step aside."
Because watching Larus walk away—cheerful, confident, genuinely happy—they all realized the sa thing.
If they didn’t change sothing fundantal about how they approached this marriage, they were going to lose.
Not to Larus’s sches or manipulations.
But to his simple, genuine desire to be a good partner.
And that was sohow so much worse.
# Behind the Pillar
---
On the side of the corridor, hidden behind a massive marble pillar, Heena was crouching down, watching the entire confrontation with bright, eager eyes.
She looked like a child watching her favorite drama unfold—completely absorbed, barely breathing, her eyes tracking every movent and expression.
The System floated beside her, staring at his host in utter confusion.
"Host," the System whispered, "why are you hiding here? And why do you look so... excited?"
"Shh!" Heena hissed, not taking her eyes off the scene. "Don’t disturb ."
The System looked at her expression—practically vibrating with interest, a small smile playing at her lips—and felt even more confused.
"Wait," the System said slowly. "Host... they’re fighting over ’you’. Right?"
"Yeah," Heena said, her smile widening. "That’s exactly why it’s interesting."
The System blinked. "But... Host, in the previous world—World 47, where you were the thirteenth concubine—didn’t you say that people who fight over soone else are fools and idiots? You also said that anyone who has many spouses is—"
Heena shot him a look while still watching the consorts. "Of course fighting for soone ’else’s’ favor is useless and pathetic. But they’re fighting over ’’."
The System stared at her. "But... isn’t that the sa thing?"
Heena looked at him like he was the biggest fool in existence.
"System, are you getting crazy?" she said, still keeping her voice low but with clear exasperation. "Those six n are fighting for ’’, not for soone else. How is that the sa thing at all?"
"But you just said—" the System tried.
"Listen carefully," Heena interrupted, turning back to watch Larus walking away from the consorts. "Have you ’ever’ seen six god-like beautiful, handso n fighting over one woman?"
The System hesitated. "Well... no, but—"
"And of course, they’re fighting for ’’," Heena continued, looking extrely pleased with herself. "Their taste is really good. Shows they have excellent judgnt."
She waved her hand dismissively at the System.
"Now let watch this in peace without you disturbing . This is quality entertainnt."
The System floated there, processing this absolute contradiction in logic.
"So... it’s stupid when other people have multiple spouses fighting over them, but it’s impressive when it’s you?" the System asked carefully.
"Exactly!" Heena said, as if this made perfect sense. "You’re finally getting it."
"That’s... that’s complete hypocrisy, Host."
"It’s called having standards," Heena corrected, her eyes following the five consorts who were still standing in stunned silence. "When it’s , it’s justified. When it’s other people, it’s pathetic. Simple."
The System had no response to that.
Heena leaned forward slightly, watching as the consorts began to talk among themselves, clearly shaken by their encounter with Larus.
"Oh, this is good," she murmured. "Look at their faces. Kieran looks like he wants to punch sothing. Adrian’s ego is clearly bruised. Even Lucian looks bothered, and he never shows emotion."
"Host, shouldn’t you be going to your date with Prince Larus?" the System reminded her.
"In a minute," Heena said, waving him off. "I want to see what they do next. This is the best drama I’ve seen in ages."
She grinned, looking thoroughly entertained.
"Six handso n, all fighting over , all getting their pride wounded by each other. Do you know how rare this is? In most worlds, I have to deal with boring political marriages or lone wolf protagonists. But here? Here I have a full collection of premium-grade n all competing for my attention."
"You sound like you’re collecting trading cards," the System said weakly.
"Premium limited-edition trading cards," Heena corrected. "All high-quality. All powerful. All gorgeous. And all currently losing their minds over ."
She looked absolutely delighted.
"This is the best world I’ve been to in ’decades’. Sure, the political situation is a ss and there’s a protagonist with a system I need to deal with, but the eye candy makes it all worthwhile."
The System felt like his understanding of his host had just shattered completely.
"But Host... you said you don’t fall in love with NPCs. You said emotional attachnt is dangerous. You said—"
"I’m not in ’love’ with them," Heena interrupted, rolling her eyes. "I’m just appreciating the aesthetic value and entertainnt they provide. There’s a difference."
"Is there?" the System asked doubtfully.
"Of course," Heena said. "Loving them would an I care about their feelings and want them to be happy. What I’m doing is enjoying the show they’re putting on. Completely different."
She paused, then added thoughtfully, "Though I do actually like Larus. He’s useful ’and’ pretty. That’s a rare combination."
"So you ’do’ have feelings—"
"I have ’appreciation’," Heena corrected firmly. "Like appreciating a well-made sword or a beautiful painting. Larus is a high-quality asset with excellent aesthetic value."
The System gave up trying to understand his host’s logic.
Down in the corridor, the five consorts were starting to disperse, clearly heading off to think about their situation.
Heena watched them go with satisfaction, then finally stood up and brushed off her dress.
"Alright, show’s over for now," she said cheerfully. "Ti to go have dinner with my fiancé."
# The Garden Date
---
Heena waited a few monts before heading to the garden, deliberately delaying her arrival. She absolutely did not want Larus—or anyone else—to discover that she’d been watching that absolutely ’juicy’ confrontation in the corridor.
When she finally entered the garden, she found Larus tending to so flowers, a gentle smile on his face as he carefully examined the blooms.
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