Harem System In A fantasy World

Celeste’s voice remained calm, but every vampire at the table felt the warning carried beneath it.

The air grew heavier, and a faint crimson light flashed through her eyes. The blood flowing through Oberon’s veins seemed to slow beneath the natural pressure of her superior bloodline.

Oberon felt his blood run cold, and it suddenly seemed as though his body was no longer his own to control.

"I did not mean to imply that you were insignificant, Princess," he said shakily.

"Then choose your words more carefully."

Celeste released a slow breath and sat straighter in her chair, withdrawing the pressure she had unintentionally released upon him.

"My position within the Vampire Clan has nothing to do with the other women Elion has chosen. I do not need them to be placed beneath me before I can recognize my own importance."

Oberon lowered his head briefly, suppressing the lingering discomfort caused by Celeste’s bloodline.

"That is because you are looking at this from a personal perspective."

"And you are looking at my personal life entirely from a political one."

"You are the future monarch," Oberon replied. "Your personal life will inevitably become political."

"I am aware."

"Then you must understand my concern. If every woman surrounding the future prince consort possesses the same official standing, what happens when they begin bearing children?"

Several of the women present unconsciously glanced toward Elion.

He remained silent for the moment, curious to see where Oberon intended to take the argument.

"What happens when those children grow older?" Oberon continued. "What if each mother believes her child deserves greater authority, resources, or inheritance? What happens when their families begin competing for your husband’s favor?"

His gaze briefly moved toward Mira and Aria.

"I do not know much about every one of you, but some of your backgrounds are already clear. One is the daughter of a wealthy merchant with widespread connections. Another is the daughter of an influential eastern lord, while Madam Zenith possesses enough power to threaten entire kingdoms."

Elion raised a brow. It seemed Dorian was not the only one who had been gathering information.

Clearly, Oberon had performed enough research in advance to understand the status of those surrounding Elion.

And he had already concluded that none of them possessed enough standing to be placed on equal footing with Celeste.

Zenith smiled pleasantly.

Oberon swiftly decided not to look at her for too long, lest he accidentally offend her.

"Even if none of you desire conflict now," he continued, "the families and factions that gather around your future children may create it in your place."

The table became quiet. No one could deny that his concern possessed some merit.

Mira rested one hand beneath her chin. "That is not truly an issue of marital hierarchy," she said. "It is an issue of succession."

Oberon turned toward her. "The two are often connected."

"Often," Mira agreed. "But they do not need to be."

She continued calmly.

"Celeste is the recognized heir of the Vampire Clan. Her authority comes from her bloodline and position, not merely from being Elion’s wife. Any child she bears could inherit her claim to the clan, but that would not automatically give the child authority over Elion’s other children or their mothers."

Oberon frowned. "And who would inherit Elion’s own holdings?"

"That depends on what he possesses by then." Every gaze turned toward Elion, who was leaning back in his chair.

"At the moment, that would be nothing of note," he said. "I do not own anything worth mentioning. As I am now, I am just a poor beggar."

He shrugged.

The statement would have sounded demeaning coming from someone else, but the way Elion said it gave it an entirely different meaning.

There was no chance he truly possessed nothing, so it sounded more as though he simply did not care about material wealth.

Which was true.

Elion had never considered himself a particularly materialistic person. He rarely found himself desiring the things most people did.

But if great power could be counted among material possessions, then perhaps he would rank first: And maybe beautiful women as well.

Mira cleared her throat.

"The point remains that no one knows what Elion’s position will be in the future. Creating a rigid succession structure now would be premature."

"It would be better to establish expectations early," Oberon argued.

"Expectations created entirely by the Vampire Clan?" Isla asked sharply.

She had remained silent until now, but having grown up within a political environment herself, raised by a father who possessed a considerably large harem, she understood much of what Oberon was attempting to insinuate.

Oberon looked toward her. "You object?"

"I object to the idea that you can decide where the rest of us stand simply because Celeste belongs to your clan."

Oberon sighed. "This is precisely the disorder I am attempting to prevent."

"There is no disorder," Celeste replied. "Only a disagreement you created by demanding authority over a relationship that does not belong to you."

"I am advising my future family."

"You are attempting to arrange it according to your own preferences."

Lucius finally raised one hand. "That is enough." The quiet tension gathering around the table eased slightly.

Lucius looked toward Oberon. "Your concerns are reasonable, but you are moving too quickly."

Oberon’s expression remained dissatisfied. "Your Majesty—"

"Celeste has only just returned from her ascension. Elion has only just awakened. This is hardly the appropriate moment to establish the inheritance rights of children who do not yet exist."

His gaze briefly moved toward Celeste’s stomach. "With one exception."

Lilith gave him a flat look. "That could have been phrased better."

Lucius cleared his throat.

Elion finally decided to speak. "Oberon is not entirely wrong." Celeste turned toward him. None of the other women had expected that response either.

Elion rested his arms against the table.

"If my family continues growing, then inheritance and succession could become complicated."

Mira nodded faintly.

"But that does not mean I will rank the women I care about according to what is convenient for someone else."

Oberon’s brief satisfaction vanished. "Then how do you intend to avoid the problems I described?"

"By dealing with them when they become relevant."

"That is hardly a plan."

"It is more of a plan than assigning everyone a number and hoping they remain obedient."

Elion’s gaze moved to her position beside the table.

"Celeste has her position as the future monarch of this clan. That position belongs to her regardless of her relationship with me."

He reached over and took her hand.

"If I become her prince consort, then that is a position connected to the Vampire Clan. It does not give the clan the right to decide how I treat Mira, Aria, Zenith, Isla, Tessa, or anyone else who becomes part of my family."

Tessa’s face reddened.

"I am not—" Elion glanced at her, and the look he gave her left no room for objection. She immediately looked away.

He smiled faintly before continuing.

"If one of my children eventually inherits authority here, that will happen because of Celeste’s bloodline and the clan’s laws. If another inherits something belonging to Mira’s family, Aria’s family, or anyone else, then that will be handled separately."

"And if several children desire the same inheritance?" Morgana asked.

"Then I will raise them well enough that they do not murder each other over it."

Dorian barked out a laugh.

Oberon looked unimpressed. "That is an optimistic answer."

"It is still better than assuming they will become enemies before they are even born."

Lucius studied Elion carefully. "And within your household?"

"What about it?"

"Will Celeste be recognized as your wife?"

Elion glanced toward her. "She already is, as far as I am concerned. Would you be willing to accept anything less?" He asked. "I don’t think so..."

Aria immediately leaned forward. "And what am I?"

Elion’s lip twitched.

It was odd that she was already seeking reassurance about her position in this so-called family, regardless of the current situation.

’Read the room, Aria!’

"That is a conversation for another time," Elion said carefully, keeping his internal thoughts to himself.

Aria narrowed her eyes. "A very near time, I hope."

"Of course."

Oberon rubbed his forehead. "This is exactly what I was referring to."

Zenith finally spoke. "I do not care what title you give me."

Everyone looked toward her, but she merely got up with a smile, walked to stand behind Elion’s chair, and wrapped one arm around Elion’s shoulder, seemingly unaware of the odd looks she was receiving.

"Hubby is mine. That is enough."

Aria scoffed. "He is not only yours."

"I know." Zenith’s smile widened. "That is why I said mine instead of mine alone."

Lilith watched the women for several moments before turning toward Oberon. "I believe you are confusing public standing with personal affection."

Oberon looked toward her, giving her a questioning look.

Lilith folded her hands gracefully upon the table.

"Celeste will become the monarch of the Vampire Clan. Elion, as soon as their relationship is formally recognized, will become her prince consort. Those titles define their responsibilities to the clan."

Her gaze moved toward the other women. "They do not require us to decide who Elion loves more or who sleeps closest to him."

Lucius looked toward his wife. "You could have omitted the final example."

"It made the distinction clear."

Dorian nodded solemnly. "Very clear."

Lilith continued.

"If Elion’s other women receive titles elsewhere, that will be their concern. Within Dreadmoor Hollow, Celeste’s authority will remain unquestioned because she is our future monarch, not because she has forced the other women to bow before her."

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