The air in the room shifted. What had once felt warm and intimate now carried a subtle tension—like the calm before a storm.
Yurei's expression hardened slightly, her usual composed demeanor gaining a sharper edge.
"The Lovers Chain…"
She spoke the name slowly, as if weighing each word.
"…is a blessing that most within the army consider a failure."
Her fingers curled slightly against the bed sheets.
"A disgrace to the Skyfall name."
The name lingered in the air—heavy with history.
A legacy built by the First Matriarch.
A bloodline that demanded strength.
And yet…
"I was labeled unworthy."
Hiro's brows furrowed.Yurei didn't look at him. Instead, her gaze drifted toward the window, where faint sunlight pressed against the curtains.
"As you already know," she continued, "my blessing allows me to enslave someone… using affection as the chain."
Hiro swallowed.
The word enslave still sounded strange—too heavy.
"But what you don't fully understand is the cost."
She turned back to him. Her crimson eyes were steady.
"I must constantly maintain and deepen that affection. If the bond weakens…"
Her voice lowered.
"…it destabilizes."
Hiro leaned forward slightly. "And if it destabilizes?"
Yurei met his gaze directly.
"I die."
Silence.
The words didn't just land—they echoed.
"W-what?!" Hiro's voice cracked. "Die?! That's—"
"It's a risk I accepted."
Her tone was calm.
Too calm.
"I knew the consequences when I activated my blessing at full capacity."
Hiro clenched his fists.
"That's insane…"
Yurei shook her head slightly.
"No. It's necessary." Her eyes sharpened again.
"I intend to become the next Matriarch,so I won't be dieing anytime soon." The weight of those words pressed down heavily.
"And to do that… I must fight my sisters."
Hiro's breath caught.
"But if I die you will lose control," Yurei interrupted, " And would go berserk."
Her voice was quieter now.
"Which means the army would have no choice… but to eliminate you."
Hiro's eyes widened.
"Wait—why me?! I could just—get another Mistress, right?!"
Yurei shook her head.
"No." Her answer was immediate.
"My blessing binds us permanently." Her words were absolute.
"If I die, you cannot form another contract."
"And If you die… I cannot bind another slave."
Hiro froze. It wasn't just a contract. It was a shared fate.
"A double-edged sword…" Yurei whispered.
Her voice carried something faint.
Regret?
"Most men in the army refused me because of that." Her gaze lowered slightly.
"They didn't want to risk going berserk… or dying because of me."
A quiet pause followed.
"I should have told you earlier," she admitted softly. "But I…"
Her voice faltered.
For the first time—Yurei hesitated.
"It's okay."
Hiro's voice cut through gently. She looked up. His hand was on her cheek.
Warm.
Steady.
"When we formed this bond," he continued, "you told me it was permanent."
He smiled faintly.
"So if permanent includes death… I'm fine with that."
Yurei's eyes widened slightly.
"…Why?"
Hiro's expression softened.
"Because I'm still alive… thanks to you."
The memory flashed briefly—
Darkness.
A monstrous spider.
And then—
Her.
Yurei's grip tightened slightly on the sheets.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
A small, genuine smile formed on her lips.
"But there's more," she added.
"You'll need to help me win the—"
"The Succession War," Hiro finished.
Yurei blinked.
"…How did you know?"
"Marian told me," he said. "On the way back."
Yurei sighed softly.
"That girl really talks too much…"
Since the Collapse and the formation of the URG , leadership is no longer chosen by democratic processes,things such as voting died during the Collapse.
Now only the strongest and most powerful become leaders to ensure survival. So if a princess wanted to become Matriarch she had to dominate her rivals
Princesses are the strongest and best soldiers in the entire Army and as her beast slave,I will do my best Hiro thought
"I will do my best Yurei" Hiro said with determination.
"Am glad to hear that" Yurei smiled looking at the enthusiasm on his face.
"Yes As you know the affection we have for each other affects the boost we get," She continued.
"So from now on you shall sleep in my room"
Sleep in your r— Hiro thoughts glitched for a few moments.
"Wait what!!!!" Hiro shouted.
"We need to increase our affection if we ever hope of defeating my sisters" Yurei said.
"The other 12 princesses"
"Correct"
"Then we shall do our best Yurei"
"You can call me Yur when it's just the two of us but outside it's either Ma'am or Captain," Yurei said to Hiro as her face got closer to his.
Hiro immediately blushed
"Ok Yu..r,... I think I will just stick to Yurei"
Letting out a soft laugh,Yurei covered her mouth.
"If that's what you want" Yurei said unable to hide her amusement.
"Since that's now out of the way let's increase our affection " Yurei said as she began to remove the top of her pajamas
"Wait !!! Yurei what are you doing" Hiro shouted.
"In the Capital,I extensively researched on how to increase affection between two individuals of the opposite sex and this was the most recommended way" Yurei now topless as the her upper body was now completely exposed.