Chapter 23
[System]
Harem Story Selected!
You awaken to the sound of soft footsteps echoing through the grand halls of the Imperial Palace. Sunlight filters through the silk curtains, casting a golden glow across your lavish chambers. The scent of jasmine and rose lingers in the air, mingling with the distant melodies of a harp being played somewhere in the gardens.
As the Crown Prince, your life is one of luxury—but also one of responsibility. The Emperor has decreed that it is time for you to select a future consort, and the palace is now filled with noblewomen from across the kingdom, all vying for your favor.
This morning, three figures stand before you:
Lady Asena – A fiery warrior princess from the northern steppes, her piercing emerald eyes challenge you with every glance. She is here not just for love, but for power.
Lady Liora – A delicate and mysterious beauty from the far east, known for her intelligence and grace. She speaks in riddles, hiding a keen mind behind a soft smile.
Lady Celeste – A childhood friend, now grown into a radiant noblewoman. Her heart has always belonged to you, but does yours belong to her?
The three women bow before you, awaiting your first words. The game of romance, ambition, and intrigue has begun.
What do you do next?
[User]
I slit lady celeste throat on the moment.
[System]
The room falls into a stunned silence.
The sharp glint of your blade flashes in the morning light, and before anyone can react, Lady Celeste's eyes widen in shock. A single, gasping breath escapes her lips as crimson spills from her throat, staining the luxurious carpet beneath her feet. She collapses forward, her trembling hands clutching at the wound, but it's too late. Her once-radiant expression is now frozen in horror.
A scream pierces the air—Lady Liora stumbles back, eyes wide with disbelief, while Lady Asena merely tenses, her hand instinctively moving toward the hilt of her own blade. The palace guards rush in, weapons drawn, their expressions flickering between duty and fear.
Blood drips from your blade.
The scent of jasmine is overpowered by iron.
The silence is unbearable.
A single question lingers in the air, unspoken yet deafening:
"Why?"
What do you do next?
[User]
don't worry my subjects. She was a spy. look at her chest. the symbol of domdimdomdomdamadamdam.
[System]
Gasps ripple through the chamber. The palace guards hesitate, glancing at each other uncertainly. Lady Liora covers her mouth, eyes flicking between you and Celeste's lifeless body, while Lady Asena narrows her gaze, stepping forward cautiously.
One of the guards kneels beside the fallen noblewoman, his trembling hands hesitating before pulling back the fabric of her silk robe. A hush falls over the room as the unmistakable symbol of Domdimdomdomdamadamdam is revealed—a dark insignia inked upon her skin, half-hidden beneath the layers of fine clothing.
Murmurs of shock and betrayal spread through the onlookers. A spy. An agent of your enemies, lurking within your own palace, hiding in plain sight.
A grizzled captain of the guard, his face weathered by years of service, turns to you and kneels.
"Your Highness… you have saved the kingdom from treachery. Forgive us for doubting you."
Lady Liora sways slightly, as if the ground beneath her has become unstable. "But… Celeste was your friend. How long have you known?" Her voice is quiet, laced with something unreadable.
Lady Asena, ever the warrior, scoffs and crosses her arms. "Sentimentality is weakness. If she was a traitor, she deserved to die." She watches you carefully now, respect flickering in her eyes.
The chamber is still tense, the weight of your actions settling upon the room. The Emperor himself will hear of this. The noble houses will whisper about the day you executed a childhood friend with your own hand.
What do you do next?