Miku stood in the royal courtroom, arms crossed, staring down the glowing celestial beside her. She didn’t know what annoyed her more: the fact that Seiji was still glowing like a discount holiday decoration or that Kaito, her self-proclaimed protector, wouldn’t stop grinning like a golden retriever who’d found a new bone.

“Mortal politics are so boring,” Seiji muttered, his glowing belly pulsing faintly. “Why am I even here? I should be reclining on a cloud, not subjected to this nonsense.”

“Because,” Miku hissed, jabbing him in the side, “you’re glowing like you swallowed a radioactive lightbulb, and the king thinks we’re up to something shady!”

“Oh, please.” Seiji waved a hand dismissively. “If anyone should be worried, it’s me. I’m glowing because you got me magically pregnant.”

“You pointed a sword at me!” Miku shot back.

“And you panicked and activated that ridiculous card!”

“Uh, Lady Miku?” Kaito interjected, tilting his shiny helmet to the side. “If he’s pregnant... doesn’t that mean you’re, uh...” He trailed off, his eyes widening. “...The other parent?”

“No!” Miku practically screamed, throwing her arms in the air. “Do I look like someone ready to be a parent?!”

“Certainly not,” Seiji said, giving her a once-over. “You can’t even control your hair.”

“WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY HAIR?!” Miku screeched, clutching at her shoulder-length locks.

“It’s doing this...” He made a vague swirling motion with his hand.

“I’ll shave it off right now, I swear!”

“Can we focus?” Kaito chimed in, stepping between them like a mediator in a poorly planned therapy session. “The king’s staring at us.”

Sure enough, King Haruto sat on his oversized throne, rubbing his temples like he deeply regretted not calling in sick.

“You there—woman,” the king barked, pointing at Miku.

“Excuse me?!” Miku snapped, indignant.

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

“Are you the one responsible for this celestial glowing in my kingdom?”

“I—what? No! Not... exactly!”

“Yes, she is,” Seiji said at the same time, pointing an accusatory finger at her.

“Traitor!” Miku gasped.

“I speak only the truth,” Seiji said, leaning back lazily and crossing his legs like a drama queen auditioning for a soap opera.

The king raised an eyebrow. “Explain.”

Miku fumbled. “I... uh... So, you see, I was minding my own business—”

“She trespassed into my realm!” Seiji cut in, his golden eyes blazing.

“Oh, like you were some innocent victim!” Miku shot back.

“I was until you waved that stupid card around!”

“I didn’t wave it! I—”

“Enough!” the king thundered, slamming his fist down on the armrest of his throne. “Are you two married or just incredibly annoying?”

“Neither!” Miku and Seiji yelled in unison.

“Unfortunately,” Seiji added, earning another elbow jab from Miku.

“Lady Miku isn’t annoying!” Kaito declared, stepping forward with a heroic gleam in his eye. “She’s kind, brave, and full of potential!”

Miku stared at him. “Are you... narrating my character arc?”

“Maybe,” Kaito said with a sheepish grin.

The king sighed deeply, clearly reconsidering his life choices. “So let me get this straight. You,” he pointed at Seiji, “are a celestial.”

“Correct,” Seiji said, preening.

“And you’re pregnant.”

“Also correct.”

The king turned to Miku. “And you’re somehow involved?”

“She’s the reason I’m in this mess!” Seiji said dramatically, clutching his glowing stomach like a maiden in a tragic love story.

“I’m sorry, but who’s glowing right now?!” Miku retorted.

“Exactly my point! This glow is an eternal reminder of your incompetence!”

“Do you even hear yourself?”

“Loud and clear.”

Kaito looked between them, his face a mix of confusion and wonder. “This is... oddly captivating.”

“Shut up, Kaito!” Miku and Seiji yelled in unison.

“Enough!” the king boomed again, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I don’t care how this happened. Just promise me that your... glowing situation won’t destroy my kingdom.”

“No promises,” Seiji said flatly.

Miku elbowed him again. “We promise! We’ll keep it contained. Right, Seiji?”

“Fine,” he grumbled, rubbing his side where her elbow had struck. “But only because I can’t deal with more mortals today.”

The king waved them off. “Get out of my sight before I change my mind.”

As they exited the courtroom, Miku turned to Seiji with a scowl. “Do you have to make everything so dramatic?”

“I’m a celestial,” Seiji said smugly. “Drama is in my nature.”

Kaito grinned at her. “Don’t worry, Lady Miku! I’ll help you keep him in check!”

“Oh, great,” Miku muttered. “Now I have two problems to deal with.”

“Don’t forget,” Seiji added, gesturing to his stomach, “there’s a third problem on the way.”

Miku groaned, dragging her hands down her face. “Why me?”

“Because fate clearly has a twisted sense of humor,” Seiji replied with a smirk.

Kaito laughed, clapping her on the back. “Cheer up, Lady Miku! This is the start of a grand adventure!”

“If by ‘adventure’ you mean my slow descent into madness, then yeah, sure,” she deadpanned.

“Great enthusiasm!” Kaito beamed.

Seiji rolled his eyes. “Mortals.”

“And glowsticks,” Miku muttered under her breath.

“I heard that!”