I return to my room after meeting with the head assistant.

  It all comes back.

  The memories.

  The headache.

  I killed that man… and then brought him back.

  How did I even know that would work?

  As the head assistant spoke, the memories resurfaced, but they felt distant—like I was watching someone else’s actions through fogged glass.

  Am I making excuses?

  Trying to distance myself from what I did?

  Am I a monster?

  Do my wives know?

  If I tell them… will they hate me?

  My thoughts blur together. My consciousness feels fragile, like I’m barely holding onto it.

  Oh.

  I walked past my door.

  I turn back and knock twice.

  The door opens.

  I can’t hear anything—only fading voices.

  I wake up.

  My head is pounding.

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  I’m in bed. My arms feel heavy.

  They’re both there—one on each side—sleeping in my arms.

  It feels… safe.

  Warm.

  My consciousness slips again.

  I wake a second time, clearer.

  They’re sitting on the couch now, watching me with quiet concern.

  I sit up. Stand. Walk over to them.

  They say nothing.

  “How much do you know about that night?” I ask.

  Their answer is soft. Almost a whisper.

  “Everything.”

  I cover my face and look down.

  “Do you hate me now?”

  “…Am I a monster?”

  “No—” Felmina starts.

  “You saved me,” she continues. “You defended me.”

  Roka speaks next, her voice gentle.

  I look up.

  I feel a little lighter.

  I turn to Felmina.

  “When you held me that night… when I found out you claimed me… I was really happy.”

  “Me too.”

  They move closer, one on either side, holding me.

  They’re warm.

  We stay like that for a while.

  “You want to know what the worst part was?” I say quietly.

  They look up, but don’t interrupt.

  “I almost lost you both.”

  Felmina places a hand on my chest.

  Her voice is careful. “Was I in danger too?”

  Roka looks confused.

  “Didn’t he only try to activate my seal?”

  I look at her.

  “Once he had you to blackmail your father… what would’ve stopped him from claiming Felmina as well?”

  They both go pale.

  The realization hits.

  I pull them into a tight embrace.

  After a moment, they relax—resting their heads on my shoulders.

  “We were lucky this time,” I say.

  I kiss them both on the forehead.

  “I’ll make sure this never happens again. But promise me something—if anything feels off, if anything strange happens, tell me immediately. This time, I’ll handle it personally before it goes this far.”

  They gently press a hand to my chest so they can look at me.

  “We promise.”

  “Good.”

  I pull them close again.

  “I’ll protect you. No matter what.”

  They relax fully.

  A faint knock sounds at the door.

  Roka gets up, speaks briefly, then returns.

  Felmina stands, her expression resolved.

  “We’re leaving for the honeymoon tonight,” she says. “Roka, stay and pack for all of us. I’ll handle the rest.”

  Roka leads me back to bed and tucks me in.

  I wake in a carriage.

  I feel… better.

  They’re both beside me.

  “Morning, you two.”

  “Dearest husband.”

  I hug them both.

  “Thank you… for earlier.”

  “Mmm.”

  We arrive at the cruise liner.

  The staff carries our things aboard.

  I’d expected a spa. Hot springs, maybe.

  This…

  This is something else entirely.