Jiran awoke to the sounds of birds cawing.

There are birds in the capital? Oh, that’s right. I’m in the palace now. Maybe they have an atrium.

A pleasant aroma tickled his senses. He took a brief moment to luxuriate in the softness that surrounded him on all sides. Carefully, he sat up in bed. A bed that he quickly remembered was not his own.

Leaning back against the headboard, he examined the beautiful blue-haired girl wrapped tightly around his left leg. She snored softly, each exhale caused the cute pink whiskers that extended from her nose to vibrate. He took a deep breath, inhaling the pleasant, feminine scent that permeated the room.

With only a miniscule tinge of guilt, he reached out and rubbed his fingers on the incredibly soft, mouse-shaped ears that extended from the top of her head. She shifted in her sleep and a line of drool leaked from her small smile onto his pajama pants.

Is this really my life now? How did I get all the way here from that tiny, nameless village?

I suppose it all started with my first tiering. It’s funny how I never doubted the memories. I never once thought I was crazy or delusional. It was just too real, losing my mana mid-tiering, the pain, Mother.

Thankfully Micah and Niya were on my side. They both saved me. I might never have caught Samris’s attention if not for my choice to talk to Micah that day. I miss that old library of his. Those were good times. Training too, some of my best memories are chasing after him through the forest.

Then Lenton joined us and we set out on one adventure after another. Through the deserts, battling the graymin, pushing back the undead, and defending the south from the spawnings.

Now I’m finally at the Cruex Academy. It’s only my third day and so much has happened.

Well, that's enough nostalgia. It's time to get to work!

I've got a date with Sophia this morning and judging by her example yesterday, being late would turn out… badly for me.

With small, precise applications of his aura, Jiran was able to extract himself from the bed without waking Mayalyn. She now tightly clutched the pillow he had used throughout the night, her face buried in its downy softness.

Jiran lit the empty brazier at the top of the spiral staircase with a mote of fire from his fingertip. He watched in mild surprise as the tiny flame traveled along a trail of flammable material through a series of transparent pipes that protruded from the walls. Braziers all along the now-glowing pipes were lit as well.

Within moments, the entire staircase and lower floor were washed in a pale orange light.

That's a cool light switch.

In the incredibly well-stocked kitchen, Jiran found everything he needed to make some morning tea. He found the fruitiest smelling one and set it aside for Mayalyn and then pulled out two cups. A moment later, he felt a presence at the edge of his aura, and with a smile, he pulled out a third cup.

He quickly set some water to boil then headed to the front door and opened it just as Olive was reaching out to knock.

“Good morning, Olive,” Jiran greeted her with a wide smile.

Why am I so happy to see her? This girl is usually nothing but a blubbering troublemaker.

Taking in her appearance only reinforced his opinion. The unparalleled blonde beauty looked like a zombie. Her back was hunched and her chin, which she usually held high and proud, drooped in exhaustion. The dark bags under her eyes looked as though she had gotten in a bar fight, drank a fifth of whiskey, then decided to do it all again the next night for good measure.

She stared at his mouth for several seconds before snapping upright into her usual tall and strong stature. Jiran did his best not to stare as her feminine charms responded to the sudden change in posture.

“Why don’t you come inside? I’ve just started some tea.”

“Thank you, and good morning, Jiran. Tea would be wonderful.”

“Bitter or sweet?”

“Whatever you’re having. I don’t usually drink tea this late at night, so I’m not sure what would be good.”

“Night? Olive, it’s the morning. Don’t tell me you stayed up all night… again.”

Olive let out a deep, weary sigh as her shoulders once more slumped with exhaustion.

“I guess I did. I always lose track of time in the lab. By the time I’m so hungry I can’t see straight, sometimes days will have passed.”

“That's a bit unhealthy. But your successes can’t be denied. I’m really looking forward to seeing what you’ve come up with, and showing you my own creations.”

“That’s why I’m here! I saw your lights turn on so I thought maybe you were awake. I have everything prepared for that material you talked about. I’ve got seventeen prototypes that just need stable mana channels and another forty-three that are waiting for beast cores of the right tier and aspect.

“Do you want to go look right now? I can show you—”

Olive’s voice cut off as a third figure joined them in the mansion’s foyer. Mayalyn descended the stairs in a pink nightgown that showed off her smooth, tanned skin.

Olive’s mouth opened and closed several times as she took in the ears, whiskers, and tail of the beastgirl. Jiran tensed, prepared to intercede if Olive found the inhuman girl as disturbing as any normal imperial would.

Mayalyn stopped in her tracks as she became fully awake. Her larger than normal eyes went even wider as she took in the princess standing before her.

“Good… morning?” Mayalyn spoke uncertainly in a cute, squeaky voice.

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“Father lied. You’re so pretty!” Olive gushed as she rushed to close the distance between herself and Mayalyn.

Olive grasped both of her hands and looked her directly in the eyes before she moved her head left and right, examining every inch of Mayalyn’s face with wonder.

“Your nose is so tiny and cute! Your ears are huge, I love them, they look so soft! Can I touch your tail?”

Mayalyn spun to keep facing the princess as she tried to circle behind the overwhelmed girl.

“Please no touch tail, sensitive,” Mayalyn was breathless, unable to fully cope with the princess’s attack so early in the morning.

Jiran, with a smile so wide it hurt, stepped between the two. He faced Olive and gently coughed to get her attention.

“Olive, why don’t we all sit down and have some tea. Mayalyn just woke up.”

“Oh, yes. I understand. I’m terribly sorry, Mayalyn.”

Olive whispered to Jiran in a voice she must have thought was quiet enough for Mayalyn not to hear.

“What happens in the morning? Does her skin molt? I heard some animals do that. Oh, does she clean herself like a cat? I’m so curious!”

When she said she understood, I don’t think she did at all.

Jiran returned Olive’s look of excitement with a face devoid of emotion. He seriously contemplated karate-chopping her on the head, but a feeling of dread spiked through him before he could move. A tingling in the air and a tightness all around his body made him acutely aware that Dominus was watching.

Okay, don’t chop the princess, no matter how ridiculous she’s being. Noted.

Jiran let out a deep sigh before shaking his head and turning toward the kitchen.

Mayalyn can take care of herself. If she doesn't want the princess spinning around her like a hula-hoop, she’ll say something.

In the kitchen, he prepared the three cups of tea and then met the girls in the dining room. They sat at a small table against the wall, choosing not to use the expansive dinner table that crowded a majority of the room.

Olive was watching Mayalyn intently, no doubt waiting impatiently for whatever her strange brain thought was about to happen. Meanwhile, Mayalyn was returning her look of curiosity with one of uncertainty and doubt.

Jiran set the tea before them and took a seat.

“Mayalyn, this is Princess Oliviala. I’ve told you about her before.

“Oliviala, this is my friend, Mayalyn. We met two weeks ago after she was forcefully teleported into the empire from her home somewhere out at sea.”

Jiran was surprised to see Mayalyn’s response to the introduction. Her tail rose straight in the air behind her as she hissed at Olive. Her eyes flickered to Jiran and he heard her mumble.

“Oliviala, aki lu?”

Before he could respond, Olive turned to him, her wide eyes and raised eyebrows communicating her confusion perfectly.

“Aki lu? What does that mean?”

“She’s asking if I like you. Or if I’m in a relationship with you, something along those lines. I’m still struggling to understand her language.”

“Oh,” Olive’s mouth remained open in an O shape after the sound escaped.

Jiran saw the gears turning behind her eyes and sent out a silent prayer that his morning wasn't about to explode into another misunderstanding-fueled catastrophe.

After she collected her thoughts, Olive turned to Jiran. Her face held all the royal poise and command that was due her station.

“Jiran, please step outside for a few minutes while we converse. I hope I don’t need to mention that I expect you to keep your aura to yourself while we have a little chat.”

Now it was Jiran’s turn for his eyes to widen and his eyebrows to rise.

Now what is happening? Why do I have such a terrible feeling about this?

His head swiveled back and forth between the two girls. One wore the unreadable mask of a royal, while the other had such a diverse myriad of emotions in her expression that he couldn't read what she was thinking.

It should be fine. Dominus said she would be safe here. I can trust him. Besides, it's not like I’ve done anything wrong. I shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

The nagging feeling that something terrible was about to happen remained as Jiran went upstairs and got dressed for the day. He put on his school uniform and sipped his tea by the open window, enjoying the relaxing sounds of the palace birds.

Twenty minutes later, Olive called for him. He went back downstairs to find both girls on the same side of the table facing him. Olive’s eyes flickered to a chair that faced them both in an invitation to sit.

What the hell is going on here? Why do they all of a sudden look like best friends about to eat a tasty meal together? What did they talk about?

Olive gave him no time to understand the dire situation he was in before she began the interview.

“Jiran, Mayalyn and I have come to an understanding of the current situation. Before we proceed, in whichever order you desire, please tell us each how you feel about us,” Her tone was polite, but the daggers hidden within her gaze sent a shiver down his spine.

How I feel? Proceed with what? Understand what current situation?

Olive’s narrowing eyes and Mayalyn’s growing scowl let Jiran know that he was rapidly running out of time.

I know exactly how I think of Mayalyn. I’ll start with her and split my concentration to consider Olive while I talk.

“Mayalyn, you’re smart. Maybe the smartest person I know. I really respect your intelligence,” Her deep blush and suddenly-shy demeanor gave Jiran confidence that he was on the right track with what they were expecting of him.

“You’re creative, determined, and fierce. The way you fight, trusting me completely to support you, makes me want to stand by your side all the more. I enjoy spending my days with you. I never get bored of having you around. When you’re not there, I feel the lack of your presence like a physical weight.”

Not wanting to be distracted from his train of thought, Jiran purposefully avoided trying to interpret Mayalyn’s reactions to his words. He turned to Olive, his eyes bored directly into her bright blues.

“Olive, you’re passionate, driven, and strong. It’s obvious how much effort you put into everything you do. The inventions you’ve created intrigue me. Meanwhile, you’re already at tier five, which is nearly impossible at our age.

“I feel like I could never overestimate you. No matter what insane things I could think up, things you should not be able to do, somehow I know you will find a way to do them.

“The way you misunderstand everything is endearing. Maybe in the moment it’s annoying, but when I think back at the crazy things that always happen around you, those memories make me laugh and smile.”

The two blushing girls looked at each other and nodded simultaneously. Once more the alarm bells in Jiran’s skull began to ring.

“Thank you, Jiran. That makes everything clear and simple.”

It does?

“I am hereby revoking our courtship.”

What?

“I refuse to continue with a courtship that was entered under false pretenses.”

Jiran felt a looming specter of death appear behind him. The two girls showed no sign they noticed the reaper's scythe that curved around his neck, pressing against his jugular. Sweat ran down his temples and back as a deep, familiar voice entered his ears. Its sweet whisper was so soft and light, he could have been imagining it.

“Careful, Jiran. Remember what I said about hurting my daughter.”

Olive continued to speak, unaware of Jiran’s near-death experience.

“If you wish to re-enact your courtship with me, you must also court Mayalyn. You will accept us together, or not at all!”

Jiran looked between the two expectant faces while the specter of death's howling laughter rang in his ears.