After the intense meeting with the king and queen—and Rei's sharp-edged challenge—I thought I'd seen enough surprises for one day.
I was wrong.
Rin, Mi, and Rei—each graceful, composed, and strong in their own right—escorted me to a private chamber deep within the castle. Ornate chairs formed a half-circle around a glowing crystal table. There were no guards. No servants.
This meeting was meant to be secret.
Only the Yuma family knew the truth: I had come from another world.
Rin glanced at a time crystal embedded in the wall, its inner sands shifting with faint light.
"They should be arriving any minute."
"The final two fiancées?" I asked.
She nodded. "Yes. They're our half-sisters—different mothers, same blood. But they're family. Entirely."
"And there's no conflict between you?"
Rin smiled faintly, eyes steady.
"None. Our mother raised us equally—even those who weren't hers. We don't compete. We protect."
Rei folded her arms, her voice carrying quiet strength.
"This isn't some royal soap opera. We were sisters before we were princesses. That hasn't changed."
Minutes passed.
Then, the chamber doors opened with a gentle creak.
The first to enter was a tall woman with golden-blonde hair cascading freely down her back. Her emerald eyes sparkled with playful mischief. Her outfit was informal—carefree colors, loose silk, and a confidence that felt like sunshine.
"Yuuuu~ so this is the famous outsider fiancé?" she teased, grinning wide.
Before I could react, she threw her arms around my neck.
"I'm Meria Yuma! Twenty-six. Your fourth bride-to-be! Don't worry—I'm the fun one."
Her energy was contagious, a warm wind sweeping through the tension. She smelled faintly of wildflowers and freedom.
"You don't need to look so stiff, future hubby~ Geez, are you always this serious?"
"Only when strangers hug me unexpectedly," I replied dryly.
Rin sighed, though her lips curved in amusement.
"Meria, behave."
"Fiiiine~" she laughed, releasing me and spinning once. "Different mother, sure—but we grew up as real sisters. I even gave up the title of Crown Princess. Rin deserved it more."
"You gave it up?" I asked.
"Yep!" she said, dropping into a chair beside me. "Too much responsibility. I'm not the throne type."
No resentment. Just honesty—light and effortless.
Then another presence entered the room.
Soft. Almost soundless.
A girl stepped inside—delicate, quiet, ethereal. Her long, icy-blue hair shimmered under the crystal glow. Her eyes—gentle and deep—carried entire seasons within them. Every movement she made was measured, calm, like snow drifting on wind.
"Riem?" Rin called softly.
The girl nodded, voice trembling.
"Y-Yes… I'm sorry I'm late…"
"It's alright," I said. "You don't need to apologize."
She bowed politely, fingers clutching the hem of her pale dress.
"I'm Riem Yuma… twenty-one. I've been looking forward to meeting you, Yuu-sama."
Rin placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"She's the youngest. Her mother was a wolf beastfolk. She passed away during childbirth."
I nodded slowly.
Riem's aura was unlike any other—calm, fragile, but alive with an inner strength.
"That explains it," I murmured. "Her presence—soft, yet powerful."
Riem flushed slightly, gaze falling to the floor.
"I-I'll do my best… even if I'm not as strong as the others."
"Kindness is a form of strength too," I said. "Don't underestimate it."
Her lips trembled with a shy smile.
Now all five sisters stood before me—each unique, radiant, and bound by the same bloodline that tied them to destiny.
Rin, Mi, Rei, Meria, and Riem.
Five women.
Five paths intertwined with mine.
And for the first time, I truly understood the weight of the promise I had made.
---
Training & Growth
The days that followed were relentless.
Every dawn began with Rei—my third fiancée, my swordmaster. The courtyard was silent except for the clash of steel and the echo of my own breath.
Her strikes were sharp. Merciless.
"You'll never survive a real battle with footwork like that," Rei barked.
"Then show me how to stand."
She did. Again. And again. Until my legs trembled. Until my arms went numb.
She didn't hold back. I didn't want her to.
Each cut, each fall, each bruise—it was all fuel.
Pain meant progress.
When training ended, my nights belonged to study.
Magic theory. Political structure. Ritual mechanics. Rin brought scrolls and documents from the archives. Mi and Riem stayed beside me, reading under candlelight until the wax melted into dawn.
On one of those nights, I found something.
A journal—written by the previous hero. His words were full of courage… and fear.
He was chosen. But not prepared.
I closed the book slowly.
I wouldn't repeat his mistakes.
---
A Moonlit Promise
One evening, after another brutal day of training, Rin appeared at my door.
"Yuu," she said softly. "Come with me."
We walked through the royal gardens in silence. The moon hung high and silver, scattering light across the flowers. Floating lanterns swayed in the breeze. The scent of lavender and rain filled the air.
She stopped beneath a cherry blossom tree. The petals drifted like whispers between us.
"You've changed," she said quietly. "You're stronger… but gentler too."
"I missed you," I confessed. "After everything—seeing you again, holding you again—it made me realize something."
"What?"
"That love isn't weakness. It's resolve."
Rin smiled, eyes shimmering.
"Then show me."
I stepped closer. Our lips met under the soft light of the moon. The world fell away—until only the sound of her heartbeat and the scent of blossoms remained.
When we parted, I held her close.
"I don't know what lies ahead," I murmured, "but I'll make all five of you happy. I'll protect you—with my life."
She rested her head against my chest.
"And we'll protect you too."
Above us, the stars shimmered like silent witnesses.
And for the first time in this strange world, I felt something new.
Not just belonging.
But purpose.
---