Morning sunlight bled through the ornate velvet curtains of the Alister estate, diffused by magic runes etched into the windowpanes. The room smelled of tea, fresh parchment, and one man's rising dread.
Rei groaned as he peeled his face from the silk pillow. The previous night's chaos replayed like a fever dream — multiple women crawling into bed beside him, a goddess critiquing his life choices mid-bath, and the persistent whisper of the System chirping inside his skull.
He hadn't even had breakfast yet.
[System Notification: Good morning, Host! You are late for your mission briefing!]
[New Daily Quest Unlocked: "Visit All Your Fiancées"]
[Objective: Meet with each of your five active yandere fiancées today.]
[Failure Condition: If any one of them feels neglected, "Loneliness Despair Mode" will trigger. This may include crying fits, sudden teleportation, or spontaneous combustion. Possibly yours.]
Rei's mouth moved soundlessly.
Then—
"…Fiancées?!"
He bolted upright. "What do you mean fiancées?! I didn't accept anything— I only hugged the maid because you electrocuted me!"
[System Clarification: Host has activated multiple romantic flags.]
[System Definition of 'Romantic Flag': Any act including (but not limited to): prolonged eye contact, hand-holding, accidental licking (see Chapter 5), unintended declarations of destiny, or shared trauma.]
[Current Flag Holders: Princess Seraphina, Lady Lilia, Drakana of the Flamefang, Maid Rosette, and ??? (hidden).]
Rei collapsed backward onto the bed.
"A speed-dating gauntlet," he muttered. "I'm going to die of emotional whiplash."
[System Tip: Use charisma, sincerity, and bribes.]
A knock came at the door.
"Lord Rei," came the prim voice of a butler through the door. "Your schedule is unusually… popular this morning. Shall I clear the west wing for your 'walk of devotion'?"
Rei swallowed. "Uh. Y-yeah. That'd be great."
[Quest Start: "Visit All Your Fiancées" — Timer Begins: 12 hours.]
[Bonus Objective: Do not cry.]
Location: Garden Terrace — Encounter 1
Princess Seraphina was already seated at the ornate iron garden table, sipping tea like she was waiting for a dueling opponent rather than a visit.
She wore a pristine white military dress with golden embroidery, the cape billowing slightly in the enchanted wind. Her eyes lit up the moment she spotted Rei walking nervously down the path, escorted by two nervous footmen carrying apology bouquets.
"You're late, my betrothed," she said smoothly, standing with queenly grace. "But I shall permit it. I heard you were trapped in mortal peril—clogged in the dumbwaiter like an unfortunate dessert."
Rei winced. "Good morning to you too, Seraphina."
"Princess Seraphina," she corrected, though her cheeks pinkened slightly. "I had the royal pastry chef craft a cinnamon bun shaped like your face. The resemblance was uncanny. I devoured it."
"Uh. Thanks?"
She leaned closer, her rapier — polished and dangerously ceremonial — tapping against her hip. "Don't forget, Rei. You swore yourself to me at age five."
"I also swore I'd become a dinosaur," he said. "I was five."
"And yet I waited," Seraphina said, her eyes gleaming. "I changed my entire kingdom's army name to 'Rei's Bridal Guard.' Surely that deserves one dance."
"A dance?! It's not even noon!"
Seraphina clapped once.
Musicians stepped from behind hedges, violins at the ready.
"Begin!" she declared.
Rei barely had time to scream.
Location: Medical Wing — Encounter 2
After limping away from Seraphina's "battle-dance," Rei staggered into the estate's east wing, where Lady Lilia — his older sister — awaited him in the medical garden.
She was seated on a white bench beneath a cherry blossom tree, wearing her healer's robes embroidered with the sigil of House Alister. Her expression softened the moment she saw him.
"Rei~," she cooed, patting her lap. "Come rest here."
"Nope," Rei said instantly.
Lilia giggled. "Still shy after all these years?"
She reached out and smoothed his tousled hair as he froze.
"Do you remember how I used to sing to you during thunderstorms?" she asked gently.
He nodded slowly.
"And how I made you promise you'd marry me if I never let you cry again?"
He nodded slower.
"Well," she whispered, cupping his face, "you haven't cried once since waking up. I think that's fate."
"Or trauma."
"Fate," she insisted.
Rei gulped.
"Tea?" she offered.
"…sure."
She poured it — and added a drop of something violet.
"What's that?" he asked.
She smiled innocently. "A mild sedative. I can't have you running off again."
Rei stood up mid-sip.
"Thanks, gotta go!"
Lilia pouted as he sprinted away. "So soon? I hadn't even finished the wedding draft…"
Location: Training Grounds — Encounter 3
Sweat, smoke, and dragon musk filled the estate's training courtyard.
Drakana, the half-dragon childhood friend turned full-bodied warrior queen, was obliterating training dummies with her bare fists. Each blow sent splinters flying and flames bursting into the sky.
She turned the moment Rei entered.
"You came," she said, voice low and gravel-rich.
"I didn't have a choice."
She grinned. "You honor our pact."
She walked up to him, flexing her clawed fingers. Her long crimson hair was tied back into a warrior braid. Her armor left little to the imagination — just enough to imply she could kill and cuddle in equal measure.
"Last time," she said, "you ran."
"You tried to renew our blood pact with your tongue!"
"And?"
Rei held up a cookie. "I brought snacks instead. Less invasive."
She blinked. "Chocolate chip?"
"Double."
She took it reverently. "You know me too well."
Rei tried to walk past her.
She blocked him.
"Next time," she said, licking her lips, "we do the ritual. Full contact."
"I fear what that means."
She winked. "You'll taste it soon."
Rei screamed and ran.
Location: Butler's Quarters — Encounter 4
Maid Rosette was waiting in the shadows of the main hall, dressed in her usual black-and-white uniform, completely expressionless.
"Lord Rei," she said.
"Rosette," he breathed. "Please be the normal one. Please."
She tilted her head. "I replaced your shampoo with a chemical tracker. I can now follow your scent up to 20 kilometers."
"…of course you can."
"I've also trained 47 pigeons to carry coded messages between our future homes."
"Pigeons?"
She handed him a folded cloth. "This is a map of our escape routes should your other fiancées rebel. I've already greased the dumbwaiter shaft."
He blinked.
"You knew I tried to escape?"
"I planted a microphone in your toothbrush."
"…thank you?"
Rosette curtsied. "You are my Master. I would dismember nations for you."
"I'll keep that in mind."
She vanished into the shadows.
Rei made a mental note to never brush his teeth again.
Location: ??? — Encounter 5
Rei collapsed onto a bench beside the estate's koi pond, panting.
"Four down," he wheezed. "One hidden left. Can't be worse."
The wind shifted.
A fragrance filled the air — lavender, moonlight, and a hint of something ancient.
A shadow appeared beside him — a woman in black silk, her eyes masked, her aura chillingly regal.
"Rei," she said in a voice like velvet daggers.
"Who—?"
She leaned close. "You called me once. In a dream. When your heart was broken."
"I've never—!"
"I answered."
She pressed a cold ring into his palm. "Your final fiancée. Bound by the Pact of Nightfall."
[System Alert: ??? has triggered a Shadow Engagement.]
[Warning: Too late to run.]
She vanished in mist.
Rei fainted.
He awoke in bed hours later, sweating, disoriented, a cold ring still clutched in his palm.
[System Completion: Mission Successful!]
[Bonus Achieved: Didn't cry (externally).]
[Reward: +1 Affection from all fiancées. Consequence: +1 Possessiveness from all fiancées.]
[Upcoming Quest Preview: "Group Date Diplomacy"]
Rei screamed into his pillow.
To be continued…