The next morning dawned soft and golden over the imperial mansion, sunlight spilling through the tall arched windows like warm honey. Jared Grimhart woke first, as he always did. His body ached in the most pleasant way—back sore from hours of exertion, thighs burning, every muscle protesting the week-long marathon of passion that had consumed them all. He lay still for a long moment, savoring the weight and warmth of the four women tangled around him on the massive circular bed.
Andrea's azure hair spilled across his chest like a silken waterfall, one of her full breasts pressed softly against his side. Shadiya's dark curls tickled his shoulder, her rich brown skin glowing in the early light, one leg thrown possessively over his. Alynna's blonde braids lay tangled with Xaya's grey hair, the elf's slender-yet-curvy body curled against his other side like living starlight. Xaya's sleek grey tail was still wrapped loosely around his thigh, her voluptuous form draped half over him, heavy breasts rising and falling with slow, contented breaths.
They were exhausted. Beautiful and His.
Jared felt the familiar heat stir low in his belly at the sight of them—naked, marked with faint love bites and the flush of last night's endless pleasure. His cock twitched against Andrea's thigh. For nearly a week he had given in completely, losing himself in their bodies night and day, addicted to the way they moaned his name, the way they clenched around him, the way they begged for more. He had fucked them senseless in every room, on every surface, in every combination his mind could conjure.
But this morning was different.
He made a quiet decision in the stillness. Today he would not reach for them. Today he would care for them instead of consuming them. They were his wives now—not just vessels for pleasure, but partners he wanted to cherish. He wanted to show them the man beneath the hunger.
Carefully, silently, Jared slipped out from the tangle of warm limbs and soft skin. Andrea murmured something sleepy but did not wake. Shadiya shifted, her leg sliding off him with a small sigh. Alynna's starlit eyes fluttered once then closed again. Xaya's tail uncoiled reluctantly as he eased away. He stood beside the bed for a moment, looking down at them—his heart swelling with something deeper than lust, something that felt dangerously close to love already.
He pulled on a simple pair of black trousers and a loose linen shirt, then padded barefoot from the room without a sound, closing the heavy oak door behind him with the softest click.
The mansion was quiet. He had sent every servant and steward away the morning after their first night together. The noise they had made—moans, cries, the constant wet slap of skin, the way the girls had screamed his name—had left him strangely embarrassed. He wanted absolute privacy for his wives. No prying eyes. No gossip reaching the palace. Only the ten Imperial Aegis knights remained, scattered like silent shadows around the grounds.
Jared went straight to the kitchen.
The space was large and well-stocked, sunlight streaming through wide windows onto marble counters and hanging copper pots. He moved with the same quiet efficiency he had learned in the Uncrowned Lands—cooking over campfires with whatever was available after battles. He started with eggs poached gently in cream, seasoned with fresh herbs from the garden. Thick slices of smoked bef were roasted with garlic and rosemary until the edges crisped perfectly. He kneaded and baked fresh bread himself, the dough rising under his scarred hands as he worked. Bowls of honeyed fruits—berries, sliced peaches, and figs—were arranged beautifully. Strong black tea was steeped with mountain spices and a touch of honey.
The smell that filled the kitchen was warm, hearty, and comforting. It reminded him of mornings in the marches when he had cooked for his men after a hard night. Simple. Honest. A small way to say "I care."
He plated everything on silver trays with care, then carried two heavy trays outside to the garden.
The Aegis knights were on duty, golden armor dulled with black cloaks for discretion. Amon the Red Knight stood near the garden wall, wolf-helm tucked under one armored arm, crimson eyes scanning the perimeter out of habit.
"Breakfast," Jared said simply, setting the trays down on a wide stone table beneath an ancient oak.
One knight bowed. "We are not hungry, Your Highness. Thank you."
Amon chuckled low. "The prince cooked with his own hands. Eat."
Jared crossed his arms, grey eyes firm. "I made it for you. Eat. That's an order."
They obeyed, even Amon, who muttered something about "spoiled princes" under his breath but still took a plate. Jared watched them eat with quiet satisfaction, noting the way the hardened knights relaxed slightly as they tasted the food. For a few minutes the only sounds were the clink of forks and the distant chirp of birds. It felt… normal. Almost peaceful.
When they finished, Jared gathered the empty trays and returned inside.
He went back upstairs and woke his wives one by one with gentle kisses.
Andrea stirred first. He brushed his lips across her forehead, then her cheek, then her mouth. Her blue eyes fluttered open, soft and sleepy. "Morning…" she murmured, smiling as she reached for him.
He caught her hand and kissed her knuckles instead. "I made breakfast. Come down when you're ready."
Shadiya woke with a soft moan when his lips found the sensitive spot beneath her ear. Her dark eyes opened, warm and still heavy with exhaustion. "You're too good to us already," she whispered, but she let him help her sit up without pulling him back into bed.
Alynna's starlit eyes opened with a shy, content smile as he kissed her eyelids, then her lips. She stretched like a cat, her slender body arching beautifully. "You smell like home," she said softly.
Xaya was last. She stretched luxuriously, grey tail flicking, and tried to pull him down for a deeper kiss, but he only gave her a gentle one on the forehead. "Breakfast is waiting," he said with a small smile. "No more of last night's… activities today."
She pouted playfully but nodded, grey eyes sparkling with understanding.
They came downstairs together a short while later, wrapped in soft silk robes, hair messy and faces still flushed with exhaustion. In the sunlit dining room they sat around the long table, eyes widening at the spread.
"This is… truly divine," Andrea whispered after her first bite of the poached eggs, blue eyes closing in pleasure.
Shadiya moaned around a mouthful of bread and beef. "You cooked this? Yourself?"
Alynna smiled softly, nibbling on fruit. "It tastes like love."
Xaya ate with refined enthusiasm, grey tail curling happily. "My husband is full of surprises."
They ate slowly, talking quietly. The girls were exhausted—bodies still sore from the week of passion—but there was something warm and domestic in the air. Laughter mixed with the clink of silverware. No pressure. No urgency. Just five people sharing a meal after days of raw intensity. Jared felt a quiet pride swell in his chest as he watched them enjoy what he had made.
The morning continued peacefully with no other disturbances. They lounged by the pool later in the afternoon, the water sparkling under the sun. The girls teased him gently about his sudden restraint, but there was no demand for more. They were content simply being near him—talking, laughing, floating in the cool water, enjoying the rare calm before whatever came next.
Then an Aegis knight approached across the lawn, armor glinting.
"Your Highness. An urgent message from the palace."
Jared took the sealed parchment. He broke the imperial wax and read the elegant but urgent handwriting.
"Frost Blight has escalated beyond containment. More monsters pour from the dungeon with every passing hour. The Great Wall is compromised in three places. The situation grows critical. Return at once. We make haste for the frozen lands."
Ezra Grimhart
Jared's jaw tightened. The peace shattered in an instant.
He looked up. His wives watched him with understanding eyes. Andrea's face paled slightly—her homeland, the Glass Sea, lay directly in the path of the spreading blight. She stepped forward and took his hand, squeezing gently.
"Be safe, husband," she whispered, voice steady despite the fear in her blue eyes. "Come back to us."
Shadiya pressed a small enchanted amulet into his palm. "This will keep you warm when the ice tries to claim you."
Alynna brushed his cheek with starlit fingers. "We will be waiting."
Xaya hugged him fiercely, grey tail curling around his leg once before letting go. "Kill them all for us," she said with a fierce, refined smile.
Jared changed quickly into simple traveling clothes: plain black pants, a sturdy linen shirt, and worn leather boots. No finery. No cloak. Just the man who had once conquered the Uncrowned Lands with nothing but a sword.
He met Amon and five Aegis knights at the stables. Horses were already saddled and waiting.
The remaining five Aegis knights stayed behind to guard the mansion and protect the new princesses of House Grimhart.
Jared swung into the saddle. He looked back once at the mansion where his wives stood watching from the balcony, hands raised in farewell.
Then he dug his heels in.
The small party thundered down the road toward Stag City and the frozen war that waited beyond the Wall.