It didn't take long to find Qalis, thanks to the bond of marriage Eldrigan shared with her. She was relaxing on top of a rooftop of a building. She didn't turn back when she sensed them behind her.
"So you finally realized it, didn't you? The palace is too dangerous to go in and now you want to follow my plan. Seriously, all you do is have sex and spend time as a romantic couple and you don't even know what happens outside your surroundings."
Peroncerea rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
"Okay, you win. We should have been more knowledgeable about our surroundings. What's the plan?"
"There's no plan."
"What?"
"I annihilated all the Krepsunas a long time ago. In fact, on the first ten days since we came here, I already killed all of them. I'm not surprised you don't know that since you've been in bed—"
"What do you mean you killed them all? How?"
Qalis groaned, stood up and faced the two of them with a disgusted expression. Eldrigan was as shocked as Peron.
"Seriously, do you know what my Divinity is or do you only know I'm a descendant of an Outer God? Matter of fact, do you even know how the fuck you're able to understand the language these humans are speaking? Or did you just assume they all spoke Spheran?"
"..."
"Wow. Seems that you barely know anything about me. Eldrigan, we're childhood friends for fuck's sake!"
Peroncerea wanted to say something but she was at a loss for words. Qalis saw that and groaned.
"You know what? Let's just drop this. It makes you two seem like a stupid couple even though you both rule hell. Anyway, I eradicated all the Krepsunas and only the generals remain. All we have to do is withstand the last of their attack that is going to hit the city a few hours from now. Once we do that, we'll be able to finish our part."
Qalis folded her arms and stared at both of them like she was deciding whether to keep talking or just throw herself off the roof out of frustration. Then she chose violence.
"Oh no, we are not dropping this that easily. You two are going to hear me out because I have been holding this in for weeks."
Peroncerea opened her mouth, probably to defend herself, but Qalis pointed at her immediately.
"No. Don't even start."
That shut Peron up. Qalis paced across the rooftop, dragging her hands through her face in visible irritation.
"Do you even know how insane this looks from my side? I spend day after day scouting enemy movement, locating hidden nests, erasing entire Krepsuna cells, gathering information, literally keeping this city from collapsing and what are you two doing?"
She answered herself.
"Having a seventy-day honeymoon. I'm seriously exhausted. Day one, I realized the people here don't even speak Spheran and cast a passive translation spell over you two because apparently someone has to think. Day twelve, I found a hidden brood under the eastern wards. Day sixteen, I killed a Sunderer Rank infiltrator before it reached the palace. I even annihilated all of them and you didn't even notice. Do you understand how offensive that is?"
Eldrigan actually looked guilty now which only encouraged her.
"And don't even get me started t a relationship. You."
Peron frowned.
"What?"
"You act all composed and untouchable, but you're territorial."
Peroncerea looked offended.
"I am not."
Qalis scoffed.
"You absolutely are. The way you keep him all to yourself—"
"I don't keep him—"
"Oh really? Should I list examples?"
That made Peron go quiet. Qalis smirked.
"Thought so."
Then she turned on Eldrigan.
"And you. You are unbelievably dense. You rejected me thirty seven times. The first time I tried kissing you, you said you were 'not mentally prepared.' The second time, I literally tried seducing you and you asked if I was feeling ill. For the thirtieth time, I climbed into your bed and you gave me a blanket."
Now even Peron looked horrified. Qalis threw both hands into the air.
"A blanket! What kind of man gives a woman a blanket in that situation?"
"I thought you were cold."
Qalis looked ready to explode.
"Exactly! That is exactly the problem! You don't understand women! You only understand succubus signals because she practically attacks you!"
Peron looked offended.
"I do not attack him."
Qalis gave her a flat stare.
"You pinned him to a wall two days after marrying him. And do you know what's worse? I'm not angry because you love each other. I'm angry because you two act like I'm some extra piece attached to your marriage instead of being part of it. I waited for you for years. Do you know how humiliating it feels to watch my betrothed have another woman while I get strategic debriefings? Do you know what I get? Reports. Mission updates. Head pats. Ha. Head pats!"
Peroncerea almost snorted. Qalis pointed at her.
"This isn't funny. Eldrigan, do you know how insane it is that the succubus wife has more of you than I do? She is literally built for seduction. I should not be losing and yet despite all that…"
She pointed at the horizon.
"I still cleared an entire war front for you because I love you idiots!"
That shut both of them down completely. Qalis looked at their faces and groaned.
"Look at that. I argued so well I stunned two rulers of Hell. Since apparently I'm the only functioning mind in this marriage, what exactly are you two going to do to fix this?"
None of them spoke. She looked genuinely offended by their silence.
"You two grew up around poly relationships. You've seen them. You know they exist. You've literally ruled in places where this is normal and somehow you both suck at handling your own!"
Peroncerea looked personally attacked. Eldrigan rubbed the back of his neck and looked away.
"I don't know."
Qalis stared then slowly dragged a hand down her face.
"You don't know."
He looked almost embarrassed.
"No."
"Fine. I already know how to handle this."
Black substance began dripping from Qalis' palm. It spilled to the rooftop stones, bubbling with strange density. Eldrigan stepped back.
"What are you doing?"
"Calling relationship support."
The black mass ros before a figure stepped out of it. Peroncerea's eyes widened. Eldrigan nearly cursed.
Veneri was here, though not quite. This one's eyes were emerald. It was the Time Pentarch. He dusted his sleeves off and looked at Qalis.
"You done with the Krepsunas?"
Qalis nodded.
"Mostly."
He saw the couple and have our a very disappointed sigh. Qalis nodded when he looked back at her.
"They just realized the plan."
Veneri closed his eyes briefly.
"Of course they did. Are you sure you don't want to join my relationship instead?"
"What?! Don't take my woman!"
Veneri blinked. He looked genuinely puzzled.
"Since when was she your woman? Ever since you fell for Peroncerea in the First Epoch Cycle, you barely paid attention to her."
"How do you know that?"
Veneri looked at him like the question insulted his intelligence.
"Because we've been killing Krepsunas together with her since we met."
Now Eldrigan looked even more betrayed.
"You what?"
Qalis shrugged.
"It came up."
"It came up?"
"It really wasn't difficult. She's a good fighter. Qalis helped me a lot too."
Qalis proudly smirked.
"We handled most of the problem before you two noticed there was one."
"You've been… working together this whole time?"
"Yes. Unlike some people. And since when do you care who she talks to?"
"What does that mean?"
"You didn't care before. Why now?"
That shut him up again.
"If you wanted a poly relationship, you should've thought about what that means before doing it. This is not something you jump into because two women happen to love you. It takes management. You've been together for decades now in hell time but so what? In my case, it would be like falling for Ely and forgetting Adela exists. I would never do that. For now, stop ruining your marriage and focus."
He pointed toward the palace.
"We have an audience."
"How?"
Veneri looked very pleased with himself when Qalis asked him that.
"I talked to the princess."
"The one in the market?"
"Yes. Leon and Throenia saved her weeks ago. She arranged it for me. She was smitten by my face. I used my Boon and charmed a princess."
"..."
"Now then, let's go see the Reniatsus, shall we?"