Rustle...
The heavy silk covers slid slowly from my shoulders.
I forced my eyes open, attempting to process the dim morning light filtering into the Imperial Suite. I tried to push myself up from the lavish bed. My entire body screamed in refusal, as if I carried the entire gravity of Planet Uranus on my back.
*The nights in the Uranus Palace are so long... too long!*
I grumbled in my head, gripping my aching waist.
*How does the Emperor possess such inexhaustible stamina? I really wish Veronica would use her Axiom of Order to regulate his sleep schedule just a bit. I barely slept two hours! I feel like I survived a grueling night-long battle without even holding a sword!*
*Meow...*
While I groaned and tried to massage my back, a light weight hopped onto the bed.
It was Nixia, taking the form of a cute, tiny emerald cat. She approached me with quiet steps and rubbed her small head against my cheek. She seemed to console me for my physical exhaustion.
I stroked her soft emerald fur and sighed deeply.
"At least you get enough sleep, Nixia..."
*Clack... clack...*
After barely gathering my strength, I headed to the kitchen.
Baking and preparing breakfast is my favorite routine. It gives me the sensation of being a normal wife in this palace full of madmen.
But... the kitchen was not empty.
I froze in place, blinking rapidly. Celine was sleeping peacefully on one of the marble kitchen tables. She hugged a massive pumpkin like a plush pillow.
*By the Emperor, will you ever stop with these bizarre sleeping habits, Celine?* I thought, forcing a smile as an imaginary drop of sweat slid down my forehead.
*Baaam!*
The kitchen door burst open. Roxy stomped in, dripping with sweat from her brutal morning training. She approached me, staring at the soft dough I was preparing. Her eyes flashed with savage excitement.
"Oria! You gotta throw some massive, fresh beast meat into those cakes! Protein is the foundation for building muscle and tearing enemies apart!"
I offered a strained smile and replied politely.
"I think strawberry cakes will be lighter on the stomach this morning, Roxy... Thanks for the suggestion."
Ignoring Roxy's blatant disappointment, I began brewing an energy recovery herbal tea for myself.
*Fshooo...*
A familiar perfume drifted through the air. A silky voice echoed behind me.
"Ara ara... brewing energy recovery tea this early in the morning, Oria?"
Layla smiled with her usual passive-aggressive malice, tilting her head.
"It seems your 'nightly' duties demand a massive calorie burn... That is fine. Eat well so you can endure our Lord's offensive."
*Gaaah!* I screamed internally.
My face burned red all the way to my ears. I nearly dropped the tea tray amid Layla's muffled giggling.
At noon, we moved to the palace's glass garden.
I hosted a small tea party for my sister-wives to serve the sweets I had baked. The atmosphere was warm and cheerful. As I poured the tea, I realized just how quickly I had integrated with them over this short month.
I no longer felt like a stranger.
*Flash! Flash!*
Isabella snapped photos of the desserts and me from multiple angles using a small drone.
"Yes, this angle highlights your softness! These photos will perfectly elevate the Royal Family's Visual Identity across the galaxy! We will project the image of a flawless family!"
Next to her, Camille ate cake with a silver fork. She spoke with dreamy eyes.
"The taste of this cake... it is so inspiring. Its sweetness melts the mind completely. It makes me forget my desire for art today."
As we chatted, Celine—who had finally woken up—tasted the vegan cake I prepared exclusively for her.
Her green eyes widened at the intense flavor. Overwhelmed with joy, she lost control over her Life Flow.
*Pwaah!*
Suddenly, tiny colorful flowers sprouted from her green hair like a spring crown!
"Ah... excuse me..." Celine whispered softly.
Then, she let out a cute, tiny sneeze.
"Achoo~!"
*Poof!*
With her sneeze, a small mushroom instantly popped up on top of Isabella's head!
"What is this fungus doing on my perfectly styled hair?!!" Isabella shrieked in panic.
Roxy erupted into explosive laughter, wiping tears from her eyes. Comedic chaos consumed the garden. Celine blushed furiously, apologizing as she tried to pluck the mushroom.
Amid this mess, Nixia slinked in. The cat leaped gracefully and settled directly into my lap. She demanded a piece of cake with a soft meow.
The wives fell dead silent—especially Roxy and Isabella. They stared at me in shock.
Since joining the palace after the Xyroth incident, Nixia had remained fiercely arrogant, refusing to let anyone touch her. Now, she purred happily under my touch.
I smiled, feeling a small surge of pride. I had won the heart of the "pet" and the daughter of my home, Planet Orion.
After the tea party ended, I walked with Kaori down the long corridor overlooking the distant blue sphere of Planet Earth.
I expressed my honest feelings to her.
"I thought a harem would be a place of blood and backstabbing. Instead, I found a loud family connected in a bizarre way. I am truly happy, Kaori."
Kaori stared calmly into the void of space. Her hands remained hidden inside her kimono sleeves as she spoke with her archaic, disciplined tone.
"A sword holds no hatred for the sheath that shares the same master, Oria. You have proven you are no hindrance. You are a fine addition to the balance of this palace."
I smiled at her warm words. But she suddenly turned to me, her voice dropping into a severe, dead-serious tone.
"That being said, I advise you to temper your physical endurance... The Emperor possesses an unbelievable penetrating force. If you are not prepared to receive his relentless, non-stop strikes, you will shatter and lose consciousness on the battlefield."
*Bwaaaaash!*
Steam erupted from my head instantly.
I took the advice with its double "sexual" meaning, recalling my intense suffering from the previous night!
I froze in place, completely unable to reply or look her in the eye from sheer embarrassment. Kaori stood there, tilting her head in confusion. With her pure heart and sword-obsessed mind, she meant it strictly as a martial philosophy!
Evening arrived. Dusk blanketed the palace in majestic shadows.
I stood before the massive wooden door of the Emperor's office, holding a tray with his favorite coffee. I glanced at the digital calendar hanging in the hall.
Exactly one full month had passed since our wedding.
*Alright, Oria... stay strong.*
I took a deep breath and lightly slapped my cheeks to encourage myself.
Then, I stopped abruptly.
I closed my eyes. A light dizziness washed over my head.
My mood swings were unbearably erratic today. Worse still, a frantic, intense wave of jealousy suddenly consumed me. It was completely unjustified, triggered just by the thought of the Emperor smiling at another woman in this palace.
My emotions were extremely sensitive. I felt like crying over the most trivial reason!
I gripped the edge of the tray, trying to absorb these turbulent feelings. Then, I noticed something strange.
*Pulse... pulse...*
Very faint glows. Small, luminous blue spots, resembling starlight, began to gently appear and disappear beneath the exposed skin of my arm.
*By the cosmos... what are these spots?* I blinked rapidly, inspecting my arm. *Did I catch some space infection? Or is this just extreme exhaustion from lack of sleep?*
I shook my head, pushing the negative thoughts away.
I decided to ignore it for now. I painted a bright, warm smile on my lips. I pushed the heavy wooden door open to greet my husband.
I remained completely oblivious. Those glowing blue spots and those overflowing, sensitive emotions were not an illness or fatigue.
They were the undeniable signs of something coming.
Something arriving far faster than expected.