Chapter 42: A Disgraced Hero’s Grand Entrance [Part 1]

Chapter 42. A Disgraced Hero’s Grand Entrance [Part 1]

Morning arrived wrapped in golden sunlight.

A beautiful morning, I had to admit.

The sky was clear, the breeze was gentle, and the estate grounds looked almost peaceful beneath the early light.

I was standing in front of a flying carriage, checking its reinforcement formations for the third time.

Technically, the fourth.

If we counted last night’s inspection.

Which I didn’t.

That was a separate inspection.

Entirely different.

I crouched beside the crystal carriage and ran my fingers along the formation engraved beneath its frame. A faint current of Voidwind flowed through the channels, responding to my touch.

Stable.

The suspension array was stable.

The air-pressure barrier was stable.

The harnesses connecting the carriage to the Cloudcrest Rocs were secure.

Everything was working exactly as intended.

So why was I checking it again?

Simple.

My wives were going to be inside.

And that changed everything.

I’d never been particularly concerned about experimenting on myself. If an experiment failed catastrophically, the worst possible outcome was that I died.

Unfortunate, certainly.

Terrible for my research notes.

But an acceptable occupational hazard.

Now, however?

Ariel, Nia, and Liora would be sitting inside this thing several hundred meters above the ground.

Suddenly, acceptable occupational hazards could go f*ck themselves.

I could’ve ridden inside with them.

But I preferred flying alongside the carriage, where I could observe its performance and reinforce the formations immediately if anything went wrong.

I pressed two fingers against the final rune.

Still stable.

Good.

I moved toward the next one.

"You already checked that twice last night."

Seris.

I recognized her voice without looking up. "I just want to make sure."

"You said that last night, too."

"And I was correct last night." I straightened, brushing my hands together. "Besides, the first proper flight is when we discover whether the—"

I turned.

And forgot the rest of my sentence.

Oh, well...

Seris stood a few steps away, sunlight spilling over her shoulders.

My phoenix princess was beautiful on an ordinary day.

That was already an established fact.

Today, however, she’d apparently decided that ordinary beauty was an insult to her bloodline.

Her gown was an elegant shade of deep crimson, fitted neatly through the waist before falling in graceful layers. Fine golden embroidery traced the fabric without overwhelming it.

Her hair had been arranged to reveal the delicate ornament I’d made for her, its enchanted stones glimmering like tiny embers.

A necklace rested against her collarbone.

A bracelet encircled her wrist.

All gifts from me.

Nothing excessive.

Nothing that competed with her natural elegance.

Just enough to make every piece look as though it had been created specifically for her.

Which, well... It had.

Seris noticed my silence.

Her cheeks reddened. "Stop looking at me like that."

I blinked. "Like what?"

"Rey."

"You’re beautiful." The words came out before I could think about them.

Seris froze.

Then her blush deepened. "You..." She looked away, pressing her lips together. "That should be my line for you."

I glanced down at myself. "I’m beautiful?"

I mean, sure.

Rey Valen was handsome.

That much was undeniable.

My reflection that morning had shown a face free of the dark circles that had once made me look like a researcher approaching his fourth consecutive sleepless night.

A considerable improvement.

Unfortunately, there was still the rest of me.

The sharp gaze.

The cold expression.

The general atmosphere of a man who’d already decided everyone in the room was disappointing.

I’d dressed properly for the banquet, but expensive clothing could only do so much when your natural expression suggested you were contemplating someone’s funeral.

"No," a gentle voice said behind me. "You’re handsome today."

I turned.

Ariel.

Oh, for god’s sake.

Was this some coordinated attack?

Her gown flowed around her like pale sea foam, its delicate fabric catching the morning light. Her hair fell in soft waves, adorned with a subtle crystal ornament that complemented the pendant at her throat.

She smiled.

And there went another portion of my remaining intelligence.

"You look wonderful," she added.

Before I could recover, Liora approached from behind her. "It’s true. You’re more handsome than ever."

My Crystal Elf Princess wore an elegant gown that shimmered faintly with every step. The bracelet I’d given her rested against her wrist, paired with carefully chosen jewelry that made her look every bit the princess she was.

She stopped beside me. Then patted my shoulder. "Keep up the good work, my beloved husband."

I stared. That sounded suspiciously like encouragement from a supervisor.

"Our finances are doing better than ever," she continued pleasantly.

I smiled. "Glad to hear it."

Liora smiled back.

Then something changed in her eyes.

A tiny glint.

Pity?

Why was there pity?

"By the way," she added, "Nia purchased another shipment of high-quality jewelry settings."

My smile disappeared.

"How many?"

"A considerable number."

"Define considerable."

"She was very pleased with the price."

Liora patted my shoulder again. Twice. Then shook her head slowly. Like a physician delivering a tragic diagnosis.

I stared at her. "Liora."

She gave me an apologetic smile. "She’s already arranged the next production schedule."

...

I had been married to these women for such a short time, yet somehow I’d already acquired a second career.

A profitable one.

But still.

Before I could complain, a cheerful voice rang across the courtyard.

"Good morning!"

Nia appeared.

My fox princess had gone all out.

Her gown was stunning, tailored to complement her hair, fox ears, and magnificent tail. Enchanted ornaments sparkled among her hair, while a striking necklace drew the eye toward the elegant neckline of her dress.

Bracelets.

Earrings.

Rings.

Every piece was one of mine.

And unlike Seris, who’d chosen restraint, Nia had apparently decided restraint was for people who didn’t understand commerce.

She looked incredible.

She also looked like an entire luxury jewelry exhibition had developed legs and learned how to flirt.

Seris stared. "Isn’t that a little too much?"

"Nope!" Nia grinned. Then spread her arms. "Think about it! The king’s banquet will be filled with nobles." Her tail swished. "So many nobles!"

I could practically hear the coins falling into her imaginary cash register.

"This is free advertising for our enchanted jewelry!"

I opened my mouth.

Closed it.

Considered an argument.

Found none.

Damn it.

She was right.

A royal banquet gathered wealthy nobles, influential families, and people who desperately wanted something their rivals didn’t own.

Nia was about to walk into the largest potential customer gathering in the kingdom wearing our entire premium collection.

This fox wasn’t merely a princess.

She was a marketing genius.

A terrifying one.