This feels weird releasing this on International Women's Day but meh...
The silence dragged on as Hinesia looked everywhere except my eyes. Her father, meanwhile, poured himself another cup of that black, earthy tea he liked so much. That's when my thoughts started spinning.
Polyamory wasn't new in Altera Earth. It had always been there, sitting in the foundation of culture like some unspoken truth the world refused to bury.
Back in 1603, the global governments agreed on something most historians still called The Continuation of Unity Decree. I remembered it from the game.
Apparently, in ancient times, the African tribes already lived through the idea. Polyamory was normal to them. Families weren't built on the exclusivity of partners but on shared trust, balance, and collective strength. Then the Asian dynasties joined in, noting that during their golden ages, powerful men and women had harems of their own, though the historical records were conveniently rewritten later. And when the Fluxwave Phenomenon struck the planet, everything changed again.
The Fluxwave altered biology, culture, and even thought. Five individuals became God-touched Fluxers, and three of them were women. That alone shattered centuries of misogyny overnight.
When the dust settled, the global council realized that the ancient "one partner for life" concept pushed by the Western continents had no real place in the post-Flux age. Empires still existed. Concubines and mistresses were still there but now, it was no longer one-sided or toxic. Equality became the baseline. Power was mutual. So, in 1603, polyamory became not a privilege or scandal, but lawful and respected tradition. Even the laws stated it clearly:
"Partnerships are not of number, but of unity."
Yeah, I remembered that line vividly because I laughed for ten minutes straight the first time I saw it. And the irony is that I have already seen it in the game.
In Masquerade of Dreams: Shattered, an event called the Polyamory Continuation dropped after the Third Dominia Quest. It was controversial, ridiculous and beautiful all at once. It revealed that multiple nations openly embraced polyamory in lore. That meant that at the end of the game, players could actually choose for their heroine to have a reverse harem ending with multiple male leads, each bonded by shared affection instead of competition.
The fanbase exploded. People argued about morality, canon and the sanctity of the original routes. And the funniest part? Phasnovterich wasn't included in that event because, story-wise, he wasn't dead yet. He was supposed to die first for the main heroine's route to unlock the continuation.
Now here I was, living it. Polyamory wasn't fiction. Which meant… if Seirath was serious, then technically, this entire insane engagement proposal was legal. He heir said, "yeah, sure, marry my daughter, maybe three others while you're at it."
I groaned and rubbed the bridge of my nose. Seriously, I don't remember feeling this disoriented before.
"You do realize this is insane, right, Master?"
"Insane? No."
"I'm doomed."
"Doomed? You're being offered one of the purest Elements in existence and a connection to one of the oldest Radiance Houses. That sounds like fortune to me."
"Yeah, fortune that comes with headaches, House politics, and potential assassination attempts."
I slumped in the chair. My thoughts drifted to my grandfather. The old fossil was still alive. Unfortunately.
He had two wives and they were still both around, somehow managing to live under one roof without tearing the mansion apart. My mother used to joke that they had a silent agreement. Whoever killed him first would inherit his estate.
"Of course. It runs in the family."
Seirath tilted his head. "Something wrong?"
"Just… realizing my fate's already been sealed generations ago."
"Trust me on this one, Phaser."
"Trust you? You just told me to get engaged, Master."
He ignored the sarcasm and continued, "My first wife, Hinesia's mother... she died giving birth to her and Asmarion."
That made me pause. I didn't know that.
"After she passed, I remarried. My second wife gave me Radellei, Nefira, Phyri, and Vilythe. My children are my legacy, not my introductions."
Hinesia just nodded. This wasn't mentioned in the storyline. Seriously, how the hell did I not notice this? I've never seen Hinesia having close relations with her stepmother. Even though she's not the same Hinesia, it still doesn't change the fact that she doesn't want to be interested in her.
"You really think this will help me? The engagement, the Void Element… all of it?"
"I do. You want strength, don't you? This is one path to it."
"Yeah. But it's not the one I expected."
Hinesia finally spoke.
"You don't have to overthink it, Phaser. It's not a cage. It's… just something my father thinks will help."
"Help," I repeated flatly.
She smiled faintly. "You say that like it's a curse."
"Maybe it is. You abuse me every single day."
Still, a part of me knew I couldn't argue anymore. Hinesia wasn't the type to let herself be controlled. She was wild and independent. Even if this went through, she'd find her own path. Maybe she'd even get tired of me and end up with someone else entirely. She wasn't one for chains or promises and I respected that. And if she doesn't leave, let's just say that I have to endure this until the day I die.
I looked at both of them, exhaled through my nose, and finally gave my answer.
"Fine."
Seirath blinked once. "Fine?"
"Yeah. Let's do it. If it's what you want, and if it's what she wants, then fine. I'll take your Void Element."
The man smiled as if he'd known my answer all along.
"Good. Then we begin tomorrow. Come to the pyramid with Hinesia."
I nodded faintly, feeling like I'd just signed a contract with the devil. Somewhere deep down, I already knew what this meant. Power always came with a price.
°°°°°°
I leaned against the open balcony rail hours after Seirath left.
"Engaged..."
I kept repeating the word like it would eventually start making sense. But no, it just got weirder every time. I'm engaged to Hinesia Rameses. Yeah, that was definitely not on my to-do list today.
I could still hear Seirath's voice echoing like an old record stuck on loop.
"You want strength, don't you? This is one path to it."
Sure, easy for him to say. He wasn't the one getting his life rearranged like furniture in a new apartment. Hinesia on the other hand, just stood there back then, not even blinking when her father said it. It was like it was completely normal to volunteer yourself into someone's engagement.
"What the hell is my life even turning into…"
"You're thinking too loud again."
I didn't need to turn around. She leaned on the doorframe with that same lazy poise of hers.
"You always do that when something's bothering you."
"Yeah? Maybe I'm just processing the fact that my life got hijacked."
"Hijacked? That is a dramatic way to put it."
"It was dramatic. I got handed a whole Element and a fiancée in the same ten minutes. You'd be panicking too."
She tilted her head, pretending to think.
"Hmm… no. I'd take it as a sign of good fortune."
"Yeah, because you're the one who suggested it."
That shut her up for about three seconds. Then she smirked.
"Guilty."
I turned to look at her. Seriously?
"You actually suggested it?"
"Of course I did. Do you think my father came up with that idea by himself? Please. He barely knows what socks match his pants."
"You—why?"
Instead of answering, she took another step forward, closing the distance between us until I could smell that faint hint of lilies she always wore.
And then, before I could react, she pulled me closer, her hand curling behind my neck, and kissed me. It wasn't some cinematic, dramatic kiss either. It was quick but it hit me like a spark to dry leaves.
When she pulled back, her eyes were half-lidded, serious in a way that didn't match her usual teasing self. She rested her forehead against my chest and whispered.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For stealing your freedom."
That made me freeze.
"But I'm selfish. I was the one who told Father about this idea in the first place."
"Of course you were."
"I'm serious, Phaser. You remind me of something I thought I lost. Someone… who doesn't treat me like I'm just a Rameses."
I sighed, pulling back slightly.
"You are a Rameses, Hinesia."
She looked up at me and for the another time that night, her eyes didn't hold that usual teasing glint.
"No, I'm not. I'm an Outer. I'm not the real Hinesia. I'm not the real Rameses either."
That hit deeper than I expected. There was a kind of pain under her words I hadn't noticed before, like she'd been carrying that truth alone for a long time. I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to find the right words.
Ugh this is hard...
"Look… I've never been in a relationship before. I don't even know what I'm doing here. And I've got a lot to focus on."
"I know, but I'm not going to act like one of those anime girls who take ten years to confess. I don't care if it's soon. I want you, Phaser. I'm not letting you go. And honestly, I highly doubt you're going to marry someone else, so I'm already happy."
I stared at her for a few seconds before the corner of my mouth twitched.
"You're serious."
"Completely."
"You're insane."
"Probably. But you like that, don't you?"
"Stop doing this to me..."
"Admit it. You're excited that you've got a strong, dominant woman by your side."
That made me laugh harder. "I mean, I shouldn't complain. It's every man's dream to marry a muscle mommy."
Her face went blank for a moment before she punched my arm. It was not hard, but definitely enough to sting.
"I am not a muscle mommy!"
"Oh please, you look all graceful and soft, but when you flex, you're one vein away from scaring half the academy."
She puffed her cheeks. "You're exaggerating."
"I'm not. Seriously, I'm not."
She exhaled dramatically, shaking her head. "Fine. Maybe a little. But I'm still sexy, right?"
"Yeah."
I said without thinking. Then I realized what I'd just said out loud.
"I mean—"
She smiled smugly. "Thought so."
"Look, can we just… stay how we were for now? Let me adjust to all this okay?"
"Sure. I can do that. Goodnight, Phaser."
"Night, Hinesia."
I started walking toward my room, trying to ignore how warm my face suddenly felt. But as I reached the door, I froze mid-step. Because it hit me all at once.
Why the hell was Hinesia so hot?
"I'm so doomed..."