Harem System In A fantasy World

Lucius gestured toward the empty chairs. "Sit. We have waited long enough, and there is much to discuss. But first, join us for a short meal."

Everyone took their seats. Elion sat between Celeste and Aria, while Mira, Tessa, and Isla settled nearby.

Zenith took the same seat she had been seated in before the rest of them came.

Servants entered quietly and began placing dishes across the table. Most of the food appeared ordinary, though several cups contained a thick crimson liquid that clearly was not wine.

Elion glanced at one. "Is that blood?"

"Yes and no. Blood wine, but it is made from actual blood." Celeste answered.

"Human?"

"Monster."

Elion nodded. "Good."

Oberon looked at him strangely. "Would it matter?"

"It would be awkward eating dinner while everyone around me drank from people."

Dorian lifted his cup. "You become accustomed to it; blood-wine is a delicacy, and it’s not pure beast blood as you assume."

"Regardless, I would rather not."

Elion didn’t bother asking which monsters exactly they sourced the blood to make this so-called delicacy.

And so, a short feast of sorts followed, and while Elion tried to ignore the looks he kept receiving from Oberon and Morgana, he was starting to get a bit annoyed.

Perhaps they thought they were being subtle, but he could feel every look and every boring gaze they threw at him.

Perhaps they were trying to discern what was so extraordinary about him that could make him not only so talented, but also charismatic, making so many women flock to his side.

Especially their stoic princess and the beautiful woman called Zenith.

Regardless, everyone ate in relative silence, apart from the wondrous compliments from almost everyone voicing their thoughts on how good the food was.

Despite the unsettling outward appearance of the generous spread, the meal was quite scrumptious.

Once the table had been cleared, Celeste cleared her throat and took the liberty of leading the proceedings.

"There are several matters we need to discuss," she began calmly. "The first concerns Elion, myself, and our child."

Lucius leaned back in his chair, his expression becoming serious.

Oberon and Morgana also turned their full attention toward her, while Dorian rested one arm against the table and watched quietly.

Celeste placed one pale hand over her stomach. "Elion is the father of my child, and I have chosen him as my partner."

Oberon frowned immediately. "Princess, no one here is disputing the identity of the child’s father."

"That is not what I said."

The Grand Elder fell silent.

Celeste’s crimson eyes moved across every vampire seated at the table. "I said I chose him." The emphasis she placed on the word made her intentions clear.

This was not a request for their permission, nor was it a proposal that could be negotiated. She was informing them of a decision she had already made.

Lucius looked toward Elion. "And what exactly does this choice mean to you?"

Elion raised a brow. "It means what she said."

"That is not an answer."

"It seemed straightforward to me."

Lucius’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Elion sighed. "I intend to remain with Celeste, protect her, and take responsibility for our child."

"Take responsibility?" Oberon repeated. "Those are convenient words."

Elion turned toward him. "What part of them confused you?"

"The part where you speak of commitment while arriving with five other women." The room became quiet.

Elion studied Oberon for a moment before answering. "My relationships with them do not lessen what I feel for Celeste."

"That is easy for you to claim."

"And what would you prefer?" Elion asked. "That I hide them somewhere and pretend Celeste is the only woman in my life until I leave?"

Oberon pursed his lips.

Elion was right about that part. His choosing to be so transparent with them, despite having the option to be pretentious, told them all they needed to know about him as a person.

"I brought them because they are important to me. I did not come here to deceive anyone, especially Celeste’s family."

Morgana tilted her head. "You expect us to view bringing your other women before the parents of the woman you impregnated as a sign of respect?"

"I expect you to view honesty as honesty."

"That is a very convenient interpretation."

"It is still true."

Lucius watched Elion silently.

The boy had not become defensive. He had not attempted to flatter them or offer false promises.

There was an irritating bluntness to him, but Lucius could not deny that hiding the women would have been far more insulting.

Celeste spoke again before the discussion could turn into an argument. "I am aware of his relationships."

Oberon looked toward her. "And you accept them?"

"I would prefer to have him entirely to myself," Celeste admitted. "But I knew what kind of relationship Elion had with the others before I made my choice."

Her gaze returned to the elders.

"And he did not impregnate me because he was careless. He did what I asked. This was my choice."

The bold declaration that the pregnancy had been her idea caused Oberon, Morgana, and Dorian’s heads to snap toward her in shock.

’She did this on purpose!?’

Celeste continued, paying no attention to the disbelief written across their faces.

"I will not pretend that jealousy does not exist, but I would rather share the man I chose than belong entirely to a man chosen for me."

Silence followed.

After putting everything she had said into perspective, it took them only a moment to understand why she had chosen to become pregnant.

She had done it so they would be forced to accept her choice of a mate.

Morgana and Oberon’s expressions soured.

She had made them appear like the true villains of the story, as though they had been forcing the young princess toward a future she had been vehemently against.

And, as things stood, that was true.

They had placed a burden upon her shoulders that none of them would have wanted to carry themselves.

But was that not what it meant to be royalty?

Was she truly so opposed to their decision that she believed she had no other choice but to resort to such drastic means?

Oberon sighed.

"I believe I speak for all of us when I say that we understand your thoughts when you made this decision. But was it truly necessary to do something so... drastic?"

Celeste remained silent.

"I am certain we could have worked something out if you had presented your own suitor," Oberon continued. "And once we discovered that the man you chose was someone so... capable, we would likely have agreed to a concession."

As he said the last part, Oberon glanced toward Zenith, and he meant every word.

Had he known Elion possessed such a powerful ally, he would never have dared to oppose whatever choice the princess made.

Zenith alone could wipe out the entire Kletis family, the very house they had once considered joining through marriage to their future monarch.

If only he knew that Elion had acquired Zenith’s loyalty only recently, perhaps he would have reconsidered those thoughts.

Celeste shook her head.

"I was not aware of Zenith’s presence at the time. And as you said, you would have probably agreed."

She emphasized the word deliberately.

"I was simply making my choice more definite for my own reassurance. I wanted to make certain that I ended up with the man I love."

Elion and Celeste exchanged an affectionate glance, small smiles passing between them.

Lilith’s expression softened almost imperceptibly. She understood more than anyone else at the table what Celeste meant.

Royal marriages were rarely built upon affection.

Lucius and Lilith had been fortunate to have grown up together, and their relationship had eventually become genuine, but that did not erase the pressure and politics that had surrounded their union.

She could only imagine what Celeste would have gone through, having a man from a greedy human noble household for a husband her entire life.

It would not be surprising if her marriage became nothing short of a living hell. Despite the fact that she could sympathize, it was not her that needed reassurance.

She was thinking of this as a mother, but as a queen, Dorian’s obvious concern was warranted, and as expected, the vampire in question was not satisfied.

"Regardless of that, the future monarch of the Vampire Clan cannot simply become one woman among many."

His reasoning was simple.

Since the outcome was already inevitable, he wanted to secure at least something in the clan’s favor.

It would be disrespectful for a Progenitor of their clan to hold the same status as every other woman surrounding Elion.

They would soon be forced to announce Princess Celeste’s betrothal to him. She was already carrying his child, and in truth, they were behind schedule.

Because of that, Oberon was determined to ensure the future prince consort established a proper hierarchy among his women beforehand.

Perhaps Zenith was worthy of being placed upon the same pedestal as Celeste and granted the formal status of a wife.

But it would be irresponsible for Elion to make every woman in his harem an official wife.

Putting aside the obvious conflicts that could arise from the absence of a proper hierarchy, the young man seemed like the type who would continue gathering more beautiful women around himself.

If no one advised him soon, that carelessness would eventually return to haunt him through succession disputes, political divisions, and conflicts between the families of his children.

Even if he was painted as the villain, Oberon was determined to be the one to offer that advice. After all, they could be considered family from this point forward.

However, his carelessly spoken words had clearly angered the princess.

Celeste’s crimson eyes sharpened dangerously. "I am not simply one woman among many." She gave him perhaps the sharpest glare he had ever seen on her blank face.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!