After finishing the shabu-shabu in the Chamber of Celestial Splendor, Yuri parted ways with Celine and the others as they went off to prepare for tomorrow, then headed to his room.
Led by Margaret and Chloe, he made his way down the corridor with Lieselotte and Ophelia.
Within the harem palace, the section used to receive guests was known as the "Middle Palace," and it included the entrance hall, the Chamber of White Dew, which served as a reception room, the Chamber of Dawnlight, which served as an office, and the Chamber of Celestial Splendor.
Yuri's private chambers, along with the "Inner Palace," where his consorts spent their time, lay at the very back of the harem palace and could be entered only by a select few.
On the corridor connecting the Middle Palace and the Inner Palace, one had to pass through a room known as the "corridor room."
With its wooden floorboards and rows of sliding doors, the space stirred something strangely nostalgic in Yuri.
It feels like a Japanese room that's been remodeled to look Western... I guess tatami doesn't exist in this world?
The quiet creak of wood traveled up through his feet, and the bustle from only moments earlier slipped clean away.
A crisp stillness filled the air around him, and the refreshing sensation—almost like standing within the grounds of a shrine—only deepened the moment he stepped out of the corridor room.
After passing through it, they eventually came to a stop before a single sliding door.
It seemed they had arrived at Yuri's chambers.
Margaret placed a hand on the door and quietly drew it open.
Beyond it, opening without a sound, spread a sight far beyond anything Yuri had expected.
A grand room arranged with luxurious furnishings.
Exquisite textiles covered the floor, and soft light poured down from above.
Lengths of fabric embroidered with delicate patterns hung upon the walls,
making it feel like a space reserved for only the most privileged.
Yuri caught his breath.
"...This is incredible."
Everything before his eyes was adorned with refined furnishings and beautiful decorations, and beyond the windows he could see a lovely little garden.
Flowers of every color bloomed there in abundance,
their quiet beauty seeming to spread through the entire room.
Unable to suppress his admiration, Yuri stood there for a while, rooted to the spot.
"It's like an actual noble's room..."
He was, technically, a noble himself,
but it had been a long time since he had set foot in a place like this.
The room beyond those sliding doors still did not feel as though it truly belonged to him.
And yet, for all that, the stillness and peace filling the place sank gently into his heart and soothed him.
"You are the master of this harem now, Lord Yuri.
Something like this is only fitting."
Lieselotte said it with a smile at his side.
As expected of a former princess. She's not the least bit overwhelmed by a room this lavish.
Yuri looked at her with quiet admiration.
"For an ordinary noble, I imagine this would be nothing out of the ordinary..."
Ophelia continued in her usual cool voice,
but Yuri did not miss the way her eyes wavered with sadness for the briefest instant.
So Ophelia knows about my past too...
In high society, it was already well known that ever since he had received the Merchant Gift at the Rite of the Stars,
his family had treated him little better than a servant.
Ophelia must have known that as well.
Sensing the sorrow in her gaze, Yuri gave a small, wry smile.
"Haha, yeah. I spent all those years in a servant's room, after all."
He meant it lightly,
but Lieselotte lowered her head apologetically at his words.
"Lord Yuri, I am truly sorry for the inconvenience you suffered in the townhouse..."
Her voice was full of genuine regret.
Yuri hurriedly shook his head.
"No, no, it wasn't like that.
Back then, I was grateful just to have a roof over my head.
When I was exiled, I'd already resigned myself to sleeping outdoors."
He gave a joking little shrug as he laughed,
as though the fear he had felt then had been nothing worth mentioning.
Sensing that their conversation had come to a pause, Margaret prompted them to enter.
"My lord, allow me to give you a brief explanation of these rooms."
With that, she began her tour.
"The door at the far left connects to your bedchamber, my lord.
The sliding doors directly ahead lead to the Chamber of Dream Blossoms, where you may share your bed with the ladies."
Margaret quietly slid the doors open and revealed the Chamber of Dream Blossoms.
Whoa. Is this some kind of luxury love hotel!?
A massive circular bed dominated the room before him,
and the entire chamber was bathed in a soft crimson glow.
Neither too bright nor too dim,
the light gave the room a heated atmosphere, as though inviting in a sweet and passionate night.
"The sliding doors on the left side of the Chamber of Dream Blossoms lead to the Chamber of Flower Mirrors, where the ladies may prepare themselves.
The doors on the right lead to the Chamber of Hidden Blossoms, where they may rest.
And directly opposite the front doors is the Flower Dew Bath, which may be used by both you and the ladies."
A faint floral fragrance drifted from the Chamber of Dream Blossoms,
a scent that calmed the heart even as it stirred a sweet, almost dangerous sense of anticipation.
"I also have a message from Lady Celine.
She asks that you not spend the night alone.
You are to call for either one of your personal maids or one of the harem maids without fail."
At Margaret's words, heat rushed to Yuri's face.
Does that mean... I'm supposed to call someone in every single night? I don't think my body could take that...
Thinking that, he found himself glancing toward Lieselotte and Ophelia.
Both of them turned scarlet and quickly averted their eyes.
The instant their gazes met, the two of them gave a tiny start, and Yuri panicked inwardly.
Oh no. Did I just make them remember something awkward...?
"Um... in that case, do I just tell you, Margaret?"
Though still slightly bewildered, he let out a short breath and managed a faint smile.
"Yes. Simply tell me the name of the lady you wish to summon."
Margaret bowed quietly,
then slowly closed the sliding doors leading to the Chamber of Dream Blossoms.
Just then, Lily's reserved voice reached him from behind.
"My lord, I have prepared some tea.
Would you mind coming over to the table?"
"Oh—you brought tea? Thanks."
Looking visibly relieved, Yuri smiled and thanked her as he headed over.
The aroma of the freshly brewed tea spread softly through the room,
and steam rose in quiet curls from the cups.
Lieselotte and Ophelia also took their seats in silence.
After carefully setting the cups in place, Lily stepped back to stand by the wall with Margaret.
There was not a wasted motion in either of them, yet their quiet movements held a natural grace.
Chloe had seated herself at an assistant's desk,
quill in hand and eyes lowered to the paper before her.
It looked as though she was ready to record their conversation at any moment.
Fiona, apparently, was helping in the kitchen with the cleanup after the meal.
The fact that she was not here, despite usually being with them, left Yuri feeling just a little lonely.
The scent of tea filled his chambers, and a calm atmosphere settled over everything.
Within that stillness, Yuri lifted his cup
and slowly took a sip.
At that moment, the words Margaret had spoken—about not spending the night alone—rose once more in Yuri's mind.
His gaze drifted naturally to Lily.
To share a bed with Lily...
There was something about Lily's modest little smile—
the way her pink hair swayed softly and caught the light—
that gave her an air of quiet purity touched with hidden allure.
A restless stirring spread through Yuri's chest.
If she were beside him... if those gentle hands touched him...
The thought brought with it a vivid image:
Lily, blushing shyly, leaning softly against his shoulder,
her slender fingertips brushing against his skin.
Her petite body settling into his arms with surprising suppleness...
that sweet face flushed with warmth, her breath faintly caressing his skin—
the scene unfolded in his mind all on its own.
And if he stroked her hair... and those lips touched his...
The sensation of his fingers slipping through Lily's soft hair,
of his hand resting against her cheek, felt strangely real.
Her breath left heat upon his skin.
Her trembling lips drew slowly closer—
and in that instant, her eyes glistened softly,
sweet temptation hidden in her smile.
What would her lips feel like...?
Imagining her small body yielding itself to him,
parting sweet little breaths as though asking for him,
made Yuri's heart race.
The instant their eyes locked,
the heat of her breath touched his lips,
and his body moved to draw her nearer.
No, no... I can't be thinking about something like that!
Yanked back to reality, Yuri hurriedly shook his head and banished the fantasy.
To calm the heat that had begun to build inside him,
he took a long, slow breath and, with slightly trembling fingers, took another sip of tea.
The next figure to catch his eye was Chloe.
Seated at her assistant's desk, her expression was sharp with concentration,
and behind it gleamed those beautiful, piercing violet eyes.
For a moment, Yuri pictured Chloe seated with one leg crossed over the other,
lightly nudging up her glasses with her right hand,
a pointer held in her left.
As her long legs shifted,
a flash of pale skin showed at her thigh,
and that tiny glimpse only heightened her sensuality.
"Yuri, where exactly do you think you're looking? We're in the middle of class."
After deliberately crossing her legs again as though to flaunt them,
she let her wine-red hair sway behind her,
rose smoothly to her feet,
and sat down in Yuri's lap without the slightest hesitation.
The instant her soft body touched his,
his heart gave a violent leap.
Gracefully, Chloe lifted a hand
and undid a single button at the front of her blouse.
In the dim, gentle light,
smooth white skin revealed itself before him,
and the sight spread out right there before his eyes.
"You naughty boy... were you curious about this too?"
Chloe let her cool fingertips trail slowly over Yuri's chest,
creeping upward bit by bit as though to take command of everything.
The sharp gaze behind her glasses held his heart fast,
like a predator refusing to let its prey escape.
Then Chloe's index finger slipped beneath his chin and tilted it upward.
Each time her lips drew a little closer,
her sweet breath brushed lightly against his skin,
and those violet eyes filled his entire vision.
Cool and collected, yet burning with heat,
they seemed as though they would swallow him whole.
No, wait... I really shouldn't be thinking about this... And what do you mean, "Yuri"?
Alarmed by how quickly the fantasy in his mind was escalating, Yuri wrenched himself back to reality.
Then, as if trying to calm his disordered heart,
he slowly took another sip of tea.
And the last figure to rise in his mind was Fiona.