Mack died.
Or at least he thought he did.
One moment he was walking home from work, the next he was pulled into a whirlpool of light, a cosmic vortex that felt like someone rewriting reality with their bare hands.
When he opened his eyes, he wasn't on Earth anymore.
He stood inside a colossal throne hall of white marble and silver flames. Thousands of armored knights knelt. Priests chanted. The air shimmered with divine symbols.
At the very end of the hall sat the Queen.
No the Empress.
A woman so beautiful she looked carved out of moonlight, wearing imperial armor and a flowing cape of stardust. Her eyes glowed with ancient, dangerous power.
And she was staring directly at him.
The High Priest raised a crystal tablet and announced:
The Ritual of Fate is complete. The prophecy has chosen him.
Mack of the Outer World you are the destined consort of Her Celestial Majesty."
Mack froze.
Husband? Consort? Him?
Before he could speak, the Empress stepped down from her throne. The ground trembled with each footstep; she carried the presence of a goddess.
She stopped in front of him, close enough that he could feel her divine heat.
Her voice was smooth, commanding, and oddly warm.
"You were summoned to be my partner… and the protector of my empire."
Mack blinked.
"I think you got the wrong guy."
Her lips curved into the faintest smile.
No.
You are the only man the prophecy accepted.
And the moment you arrived… a system awakened inside you."
A blue screen flashed before Mack's eyes.
HUSBAND KING SYSTEM ACTIVATED
Title Unlocked: Empress' Chosen Consort
Unique Skill Gained: Authority of Dominion
Grants the ability to influence fate, law, and loyalty of those under the Queen's banner.
Mack's heart pounded.
A system Powers A prophecy
And a Queen who looked at him like he was both a weapon and a treasure?
The Empress gently touched his chest with a glowing finger, marking him with a royal sigil that burned like fire and light.
"From today forward," she said softly but firmly,
"you are mine, Mack."
The entire hall erupted into cheers and divine bells.
But above all the noise, Mack could hear one thing clearly:
His new life had only just begun.