The celebration continued around us for another hour before I managed to guide my five fiancées away from the crowd of dignitaries and well-wishers. The conversation with Eva and Clara had solidified my resolve—they deserved to know the complete truth about who I really was, regardless of how difficult that conversation might be.
"Arthur," Rachel said with gentle concern as we settled into one of the palace's private sitting rooms, "you've seemed distant since you returned from... wherever Alyssara took you. What happened?"
I looked around at their faces—Rachel's sapphire eyes reflecting worry, Cecilia's crimson gaze sharp with analytical attention, Rose's blue eyes carrying professional precision that couldn't hide deeper concern, Seraphina's ice-blue stare radiating calm support, and Reika's dark eyes offering quiet understanding. These five women had chosen to bind their lives to mine, had stood beside me through impossible battles, had earned the right to complete honesty.
