The next morning, Sohag awoke to silence.
A blessed, peaceful silence.
No demon princess clinging to his arm.
No shadow assassin staring at him from the corner of the ceiling.
No saintess praying over him while crying softly.
Just… calm.
He blinked, staring at the soft golden canopy above his bed.
"…Strange."
He sat up.
Still silence.
Still peace.
Still—
The door exploded open.
"LITTLE BROTHER!!"
"WE HEARD EVERYTHING!"
Sohag flinched, pulling the blanket to his chin like a startled rabbit as two whirlwinds of beauty stormed inside.
Both were tall, elegant, breathtaking.
But complete opposites.
---
Princess Freya Ignis
His second-eldest sister.
Fiery red hair, burning eyes, and a temper that could melt castles.
Warrior. General. Untamed storm.
---
Princess Aria Glacielle
His third-eldest sister.
Silver-blue hair, calm glacier eyes, and an aura colder than moonlit snow.
Mage. Scholar. Walking winter.
---
They were twins — born minutes apart, yet each embodying extreme opposites of elemental essence.
Both stopped in front of Sohag's bed.
Both leaned in too close.
Both were clearly seething.
Freya jabbed a finger at him.
"So you met your real father and didn't tell us?!"
Aria's voice was ice.
"And you have already gathered four potential wives."
Sohag hid behind the blanket.
"…I didn't gather anyone."
Freya scoffed.
"You didn't have to! They gathered YOU!"
Aria nodded.
"As expected of the universe's most unfair man."
Sohag looked away, shy.
"…I didn't ask for this."
Freya sighed dramatically, dropping onto the bed beside him.
"Well, doesn't matter. Father— I mean, the Emperor — called an emergency meeting. Word got out that a cosmic being appeared above the palace."
Aria sat on his other side.
"You need to come."
Sohag blinked.
"…Why?"
Aria stared at him flatly.
"Because you caused it."
"…Oh."
Freya ruffled his hair.
"Also! There's something else."
Sohag tilted his head.
Freya smirked.
"You know how the Primordial God said you'd gather twelve fated companions?"
Aria's cheeks tinted slightly.
"We… suspect something."
Sohag looked between them, confused.
"What suspicion?"
Aria looked away elegantly.
Freya cleared her throat.
Then, with synchronized precision—
Both spoke at the same time:
"We might be two of the twelve."
Sohag froze.
Freya burst into a grin.
"Dad said ever since you were born, we felt… weird."
Aria nodded, expression unreadable.
"Your presence always calmed our mana. Stabilized our emotions. Drew us in."
Freya elbowed Aria.
"Just say it."
Aria exhaled.
"…We have always been too attached to you."
Freya added,
"WAY too attached."
Sohag blinked several times, brain lagging.
"…Sister…s also…?"
Freya leaned close, cupping his face.
"Yes. We love you."
Aria looked away, cheeks pink.
"I do not 'love' easily… but for you, it happened without effort."
Sohag nearly passed out.
But before Freya could continue flirting, someone knocked on the already half-broken door.
A knight bowed.
"Your Highness… your presence is required in the throne room."
Freya stood.
"Alright, little brother. Let's go shock the entire empire."
Aria lifted Sohag gently from the bed — he squeaked like a startled kitten.
"…Too close."
She smiled faintly.
"I know."
They carried him out of the room.
But when they reached the hallway—
A dark purple magical portal opened suddenly.
Freya drew her sword.
Aria cast a barrier.
Sohag blinked.
"…Another one?"
A voice echoed from the portal.
Soft. Velvet-like.
With a hint of celestial echo.
"Forgive my intrusion. I have traveled far."
The portal split open, and a stunning woman with long obsidian hair and violet-gold eyes stepped out. Her clothes shimmered with star patterns, and her presence radiated divine but unclaimed authority.
Freya frowned.
"Who the hell are you?"
Aria narrowed her eyes.
"…She's not human."
The woman knelt gracefully.
"I am Lyriana Astrae, daughter of the Celestial Goddess of Stars."
Sohag blinked.
"…Why are you here?"
Lyriana lifted her gaze — filled with soft, shimmering emotion.
"Because last night, the stars themselves whispered your name."
Freya groaned.
"No. Not another one."
Aria sighed.
"…This is getting excessive."
Lyriana smiled.
But her next words froze everyone in place.
"I am here… because the constellations foretold that I would be your wife."
Freya:
"OH COME ON—!"
Aria:
"…I should've expected this."
Sohag:
"…I want to go home."
Freya:
"You ARE home!"
Sohag:
"…Somewhere quieter."
But Lyriana stepped forward gently.
"Please don't be afraid. I only wish to pledge myself when you are ready."
Freya and Aria exchanged a look.
Aria whispered,
"She's too soft. Dangerous."
Freya whispered back,
"She's the type who wins WITHOUT trying."
Sohag stared helplessly at the ceiling.
"…Why is this happening to me."
Lyriana bowed once more.
"I will join you in the throne room. Today marks the beginning of a cosmic shift."
Freya sighed.
"Great. More problems."
Aria nodded.
"Let us go."
The group headed toward the throne room—
unaware that three more fated women were already on their way.
The Twelve were gathering.
And Sohag… remained the only one confused about why.
---