Recap of Chapter 5:
Losty fought through the Shadow Duchess's Trial of Shadows, defeating waves of assassins with skill, charm, and fearless taunts. His survival impressed the Duchess, earning her laughter and a rare crack in her mask of control. With her affection rising, the system declared the quest complete: three Sugar Mommies acquired. As Losty left the House of Ashes, the system's panel lit up with a new revelation—the unlocking of the Sugar Palace, the mysterious realm promised since the beginning.
The night split open with light.
Losty had barely taken three steps from the Black Veil District when the system's voice thundered through his mind:
[Quest Complete.]
[Initiating Transfer…]
[Destination: The Sugar Palace.]
The world blurred. The alleys, the cobblestones, the scent of smoke—gone. In their place rose a sky of endless velvet, shimmering with golden constellations shaped like women's silhouettes.
Beneath him spread a palace unlike any on earth. Towers of crystal coiled like glass serpents, bridges arched from silver to jade, and a thousand doors gleamed across marble walls. Each door pulsed with a faint glow, waiting.
Losty landed softly on the grand steps, a grin tugging his lips.
"So this is it," he whispered. "The real prize."
The system's panel shimmered before him:
[Welcome to the Sugar Palace.]
A private realm bound to the Host.
Each Sugar Mommy claimed manifests a Chamber of Desire.
The Palace grows as your power grows.
Rivalries, pleasures, and secrets converge here.
[Warning: Mommies may compete within the Palace.]
The massive golden doors swung open on their own. Losty stepped inside.
The throne room dazzled with opulence. A velvet carpet stretched to a crystalline throne, its arms carved with entwined roses and serpents. Around the throne rose balconies, each door marked with a symbol—
a velvet rose (Selena),
a diamond fang (Vivienne),
a storm's flame (Cassandra),
and a black veil (the Duchess).
The doors shimmered, waiting.
But Losty wasn't waiting long.
The first to arrive was Madam Selena. She appeared in a swirl of crimson silk, her lips curling in delight. "So the palace is real after all…" She sauntered closer, eyes on Losty. "And you are its king."
Before he could reply, a new light bloomed. Lady Vivienne stepped from her portal, eyes sharp, suit gleaming. She scanned the room, then smirked. "Figures. Even here, you build an empire."
Moments later, a storm seemed to tear the hall open. Cassandra tumbled in with a wild laugh, boots striking the marble. "Ha! This place is mine already."
Finally, the air grew cold as shadows thickened. The Duchess emerged, silent, her mask gleaming in the candlelight. She said nothing, but her presence alone froze the air.
Four women. Four flames of power and desire.
All staring at him.
Losty dropped into the throne, lounging like he'd owned it forever. "Ladies," he said, voice dripping with confidence, "welcome to my palace."
The system chimed.
[New Quest: Sugar Wars Begins.]
Objective: Balance power among your Sugar Mommies.
Warning: Rivalries may erupt at any time.
Reward: Unlock Sugar Harem Expansion.
Selena's voice was velvet and smoke. "He belongs to me. I was the first."
Vivienne's smirk sharpened. "No, he belongs to the one who can use him best."
Cassandra laughed, tossing her dagger into the air. "He belongs to whoever he survives with."
The Duchess finally spoke, her whisper slicing the air. "He belongs to no one. Unless he proves himself worthy."
The palace trembled as their words clashed, energy rippling through the halls.
And Losty, seated on his crystalline throne, only grinned wider.
Because this was exactly what he wanted.
To Be Continued…