Valeria's hand was warm in mine, and she was walking like it was escort duty, not a jealousy claim.
Her posture was rigid. Her chin was lifted. Her braid was tight. Her cheeks were red.
Everything about her screamed, I am not enjoying this, except for the way her fingers kept tightening like she was afraid I'd slip out of her grip.
We did one full circle around the pavilion.
Then she didn't let go.
Yuki's bell dinged again like a warning.
"Claim time limit exceeded," Yuki announced.
Valeria snapped, instantly, "It's not exceeded. I'm finishing the walk."
Yuki tilted her clipboard. "You already finished the walk."
Valeria's eyes narrowed. "I'm doing another lap. For security."
Freya cupped her hands around her mouth. "Security lap! That's romantic!"
Sofia smirked. "Possessive lap."
Charlotte's smile sharpened politely. "Interesting tactic."
The queen sipped her tea, calm, amused.
Vesper stood behind me like a guilty shadow, trying to become a piece of furniture.
Elise watched Valeria like she was a suspicious animal that might bite.
Valeria glared at all of them. "Stop staring."
Nobody stopped.
I leaned in slightly, voice low, just for Valeria.
"Do you want to let go," I asked.
Valeria snapped, "No."
Then she froze.
Because she'd answered too fast.
Her face went even redder.
"I mean," she hissed, "it's not safe."
I looked around at the pavilion, the crowd, the permits, the snack booth shaped like lips, and Yuki's bell.
"Yeah," I said. "Very unsafe."
Valeria's grip tightened.
"Exactly," she said, satisfied.
We started the second lap.
It was ridiculous.
It was also… weirdly sweet.
Valeria walked half a step ahead, like she was leading me through danger. Every few seconds her eyes flicked to the people watching, then back to the path, then to my mouth, then immediately away like she'd been caught stealing.
I decided to be evil.
"You're doing great," I murmured.
Valeria stiffened. "I know."
"You're such a good bodyguard," I added.
Valeria's cheeks heated. "Obviously."
"And your hand-holding technique is elite," I said softly.
Valeria almost tripped.
She recovered instantly, furious. "Shut up."
I smiled. "Make me."
Valeria's whole face went red like a banner catching fire.
"Idiot," she hissed, but her voice came out rough.
She pulled me a tiny bit closer, as if to prove she wasn't affected, and then immediately regretted it.
Her eyes widened.
Mine met hers.
For a second, the noise of the pavilion faded.
Valeria swallowed.
"Don't," she whispered, like a warning.
"Don't what," I asked, quiet.
Valeria's eyes flicked to my mouth again.
"Don't look like that," she snapped, too late.
I tilted my head. "Like what."
Valeria's pride tried to stand up straight and failed.
"Like you're," she stammered, then clamped her mouth shut.
I leaned closer, still not touching, leaving her room to refuse.
"Like I'm what," I whispered.
Valeria's ears went red.
"Like you're going to kiss me," she hissed.
I blinked slowly. "Are you asking."
Valeria's eyes widened in horror.
"No," she snapped instantly. "Absolutely not."
I waited.
Valeria's grip tightened again.
"…Not here," she muttered, as if the words jumped out without permission.
I grinned, because I was the worst.
"You keep saying that," I murmured.
Valeria glared. "Stop remembering things."
Behind us, Freya whispered loudly, "She said not here, not no!"
Kaori squeaked and hid behind her basket again.
Sofia's smirk widened. "She's done."
Charlotte watched with a calm, predatory interest. "She's attaching."
The queen's gaze sharpened slightly, still composed.
Elise sighed like she'd been cursed.
Yuki rang her bell.
Ding.
"Dame Valeria," Yuki called, "release the hero. Rotation continues."
Valeria's jaw clenched.
She didn't release.
Yuki's pen hovered. "Do I need to cite the clause."
Valeria snapped, "Fine."
She released my hand so fast it felt like being dropped.
Then she immediately grabbed my wrist again, not holding, just gripping the tether chain itself, like she needed something to hold onto that wasn't my skin.
Elise's eyes narrowed. "Hands."
Valeria froze, then yanked her hand back like she'd been burned.
"I wasn't touching him," she snapped.
Elise stared. "You were touching the chain."
Valeria turned even redder. "That's not him."
Elise's expression didn't change. "That's still intimate in a weird way."
Valeria looked like she might explode.
I tried to save her with humor.
"Thank you for protecting me," I said.
Valeria's expression softened for half a second.
Then she snapped, "Don't thank me."
I blinked. "Why."
Valeria looked away, cheeks burning, and muttered, almost too quiet to hear.
"Because it makes me feel…"
She stopped.
Then she hissed, "Annoyed."
Nobody believed her.
Yuki waved her clipboard. "Next claim. Sofia."
Sofia stepped forward like she'd been waiting for this moment her whole life.
"Ren," Sofia said, smooth and calm, "may I have a micro-date. Two minutes. Walk. No kiss required."
Valeria's head snapped toward Sofia like a sword being drawn.
"No kiss required," Valeria repeated, suspicious.
Sofia didn't even look at Valeria. "Correct."
I nodded. "Yes."
Sofia took my hand with a confidence that was almost lazy, like she assumed I'd be there. We walked a small circle, and Sofia leaned in slightly, voice low.
"You're handling them well," she murmured.
"Am I," I whispered.
Sofia's smirk softened. "You refused the kiss trial. Good. That matters."
My chest loosened. "Yeah."
Sofia's thumb brushed my knuckles once, casual.
"Do you want the tournament to end," she asked softly.
I exhaled. "I want it to stop being public."
Sofia nodded like she understood perfectly.
"Then keep choosing boundaries," she murmured. "Let them fight for the right to ask. Not the right to take."
My Consent Candle glowed a little brighter like it approved.
Sofia leaned back and smirked again, like she'd just planted something.
"Also," she added, quieter, "Valeria is going to punch someone."
I snorted.
Sofia's eyes flicked to Valeria and back. "Possessive. Cute."
Valeria heard that somehow and snapped, "I'm not possessive."
Sofia smiled sweetly. "Sure."
Yuki dinged the bell. "Time. Claim resolved."
Sofia released my hand like it was a gift she didn't need to cling to.
"Next," Yuki announced. "Charlotte."
Charlotte stepped forward with her calm smile and her dangerous politeness.
"Ren," she said gently, "may I have a micro-date. I'd like to sit. No touching unless you offer."
Valeria narrowed her eyes. "That's manipulative."
Charlotte smiled politely. "It's respectful."
I nodded. "Yes."
Charlotte sat with me on the bench and simply existed in a way that made everything feel less like a circus. She didn't grab my hand. She didn't lean in. She just offered me a small pastry like it was normal.
"Eat," she said softly. "You look like you've been emotionally sprinting."
I ate because apparently I couldn't refuse food in this city.
Charlotte's eyes warmed slightly.
Then she spoke quietly, like a secret.
"You can end this," she said. "Not the harem. The spectacle. You can choose private affection. You can choose fewer eyes."
I swallowed. "How."
Charlotte's smile sharpened a fraction.
"By selecting your winner," she said, voice still gentle, "and then setting rules for everyone else. Boundaries. Schedules. Private rooms. No crowds."
Freya yelled from behind, "SCHEDULED KISSING."
Rika screamed, "YES."
Elise groaned.
Charlotte continued, unbothered. "You're not powerless. You're just overwhelmed."
My chest tightened stupidly.
Charlotte watched my face and then added, soft and precise, "If I win, I will protect your privacy like it's my own."
Valeria muttered, "I can do that too."
Charlotte's eyes slid to Valeria with polite amusement. "Can you."
Valeria snapped, "Yes."
Charlotte smiled. "Then learn paperwork."
Valeria looked like she'd been stabbed.
Yuki dinged the bell. "Time. Claim resolved."
Charlotte stood gracefully.
Yuki turned toward the canopy.
"Royal claim," Yuki announced.
The queen rose, calm as a moon.
"Ren," the queen said, "may I have a micro-date. A short walk. And I would like to apologize for the chaos my presence adds."
Valeria snapped, "You're not sorry."
The queen's gaze flicked to Valeria. "Correct."
Valeria's face went red.
I nodded. "Yes. Walk."
The queen took my hand gently and walked beside me like we were in a quieter world.
"You did well," she said softly.
I exhaled. "I'm trying."
"I know," she said. "And I meant what I said. I won't take you. I'll ask."
It felt too sincere for a place like Lustra.
So my stupid mouth tried to lighten it.
"Is this where you declare me a diplomatic asset," I whispered.
The queen's lips curved. "No."
Then she added, very softly, "This is where I admit I want you as a person."
My cheeks warmed.
Behind us, the crowd made a low sound, like they could feel sincerity even if they didn't understand it.
Valeria muttered, "Unfair."
The queen glanced back at Valeria calmly. "Yes."
Valeria hissed. "Stop agreeing with everyone."
Yuki dinged the bell. "Time. Claim resolved."
The queen released my hand with a softness that felt like restraint.
Then Yuki's eyes flicked to Vesper.
"And now," Yuki announced brightly, "wildcard claim resolution."
Vesper froze like she'd been caught in a trap again.
"I didn't file," Vesper said quickly.
Mira lifted a scroll. "I filed for you. You are being glared at."
Vesper looked at Mira. "You're terrifying."
Mira nodded. "Thank you."
Vesper looked at me like a drowning person.
"Ren," Vesper said, trying to smile, "may I have a micro-date so they stop sharpening their jealousy at me."
Valeria snapped, "We're not sharpening anything."
Sofia smirked. "Yes we are."
Charlotte smiled politely. "We are."
The queen sipped her tea. "We are."
Kaori whispered, "I'm not."
Freya grinned. "I am."
Rika bounced. "I am a weapon."
Elise muttered, "This city is sick."
I sighed and nodded. "Yes. One micro-date. Walk. No kiss."
Vesper looked relieved.
We walked a small circle, and Vesper kept her hands visible like her life depended on it.
"I hate this," she whispered.
"I live here," I whispered back.
Vesper glanced at me. "Did the dungeon really call it exceptional."
I sighed. "Yes."
Vesper groaned. "Why did it have to be exceptional. Why couldn't it be average. I could survive average."
I laughed softly.
Vesper's grin returned for a second.
Then she leaned in slightly, voice lower.
"I meant what I said down there," she whispered. "You're not a prize to me."
My chest tightened again.
The dungeon had trapped us, but that part didn't feel like a trap.
Vesper cleared her throat and immediately ruined it with a joke, because she was Vesper.
"Also," she added, "your mouth is kind of unfair."
I choked. "Vesper."
She held up both hands. "I'm sorry. The dungeon corrupted me."
I laughed again, and Vesper looked pleased like she'd won a tiny battle.
Yuki dinged the bell. "Time. Claim resolved."
Vesper released me and stepped back fast, like she could feel the tension behind us.
The moment we returned, the harem closed in like a polite pack of wolves.
Not violent.
Just focused.
Freya leaned in first, grin too bright. "So. Emergency escape kisses. Exceptional rating. Wildcard status. Vesper, you're cute."
Vesper blinked. "That's a threat."
Sofia smirked. "It is."
Charlotte smiled politely. "Welcome."
The queen tilted her head. "Congratulations."
Valeria snapped, immediately, "It means nothing."
Everyone turned.
Valeria's cheeks were red again.
"I mean," Valeria hissed, "it doesn't mean he has to choose her."
I tilted my head. "Are you filing another claim."
Valeria froze, then exploded. "NO."
Rika screamed, "SHE'S FILING IN HER HEART."
Kaori squeaked.
Elise stepped forward, voice sharp and tired.
"Enough," Elise said. "The hero's boundaries stand. No kiss trials today. Rotation completed. Anyone who tries to push will be removed."
Yuki nodded, scribbling. "Boundary enforcement. Approved."
Freya pouted. "I hate rules."
Sofia smirked. "I love rules. I love breaking them too."
Charlotte smiled politely. "I love rules that protect him."
The queen nodded. "Agreed."
Valeria muttered, "Of course."
Vesper whispered to me, "They're going to eat each other."
I whispered back, "They already are."
Yuki raised her bell again.
Ding.
"Announcement," Yuki said brightly. "Tomorrow night is the Request Ceremony. Finalists will make their request. The hero will choose whether to accept. The city will attempt to behave."
The crowd cheered anyway.
Valeria turned away like she didn't care, but she didn't leave.
She stood there, arms crossed, staring at the ground like it had offended her.
I stepped closer and lowered my voice, just for her.
"You okay," I asked.
Valeria muttered, "Fine."
"You're blushing," I whispered.
Valeria hissed, "No."
I smiled gently. "Yes."
Valeria's jaw clenched.
Then, like she hated herself for it, she whispered, barely audible,
"…Don't let them pressure you tomorrow."
My chest warmed.
"I won't," I whispered.
Valeria's cheeks went red again.
"Tch," she snapped, turning away. "Good."
And as the pavilion filled with cheers and paperwork and jealous stares and snack sellers, I realized tomorrow wasn't just a ceremony.
It was going to be a war of asking.
And I was going to have to choose which request I could live with.