Chapter 5: ① Lord Karou Stands in the Harem

The moment Yuuri passed through the inner gate of the harem—his world was silently repainted.

Wrapped in the streaming light, what appeared before him was a landscape like a “divine realm” severed from the laws of the mortal world.

A single imperial path paved with pure white marble stretched quietly into the depths. Only one person was permitted to walk upon it—the master of the harem, Lord Karou.

Stones lined up neatly on both sides of the path, their outer edges covered with white jade gravel. The gravel that would make faint sounds if stepped upon spread like a symbol of taut silence, freezing even the surrounding air.

The ladies-in-waiting stood quietly in two rows atop the white jade gravel, wordlessly awaiting their master’s arrival.

(—What is this? Are you serious…?)

(From now on… I’ll walk this path.)

(As “Lord Karou.”)

Every time he inhaled, something deep in his chest tightened. It was just a single straight path, yet with each step forward, his five senses seemed to gradually recede—even the outline of his body became somehow ambiguous.

His footsteps echoed each time they struck the marble. But they immediately dissolved into the silence and vanished. The silence was so profound he couldn’t even be certain he was making any sound at all.

And then—he saw it ahead.

Five shadows. Standing dignified upon the paving stones, avoiding the imperial path. Each one knew their place, as if they were the leads in a stage production.

But among them—

(…………No way.)

Two presences were clearly in a “different league.”

(Those two are standing side by side…?)

(No, that’s definitely the “do not mix” type of situation…!)

Alarms blared in his brain. He forgot not just how to walk, but how to move his limbs at all.

—Cecily von Sanctia. The “Golden Lily” supporting the Queen’s faction.

(……She’s too beautiful.)

Each time her pure white dress swayed in the wind, the golden thread roses returned the light one by one. As if confirming her own beauty without flattering anyone.

Her silver-thread hair was perfectly arranged. Her waist was pleasingly toned. The bare skin flowing from her collarbone to her chest emerged as if transparent in the sunlight—and her gently lifted bosom naturally drew his gaze. He knew he shouldn’t stare. Even knowing that, he couldn’t look away.

Her presence was so vivid that even the sparkle of the white jade gravel seemed to fade.

(Really… it’s like she “stepped out of a painting.”)

(Whoa!! She’s looking this way!!)

Her gaze moved slightly. Amid the tense surrounding air—only Cecily maintained her even breathing and smiled quietly.

The smile was quite small and disappeared after just a few seconds. He couldn’t even tell if it was truly directed at him. But in that expression—he sensed a will that seemed to be testing something.

(……Did she just smile? At me?)

Just that made his heart go wild. The flush in his face was severe. His breathing became ragged. The sound of his heartbeat felt like it was blocking his ears from the inside.

(……I was just gazed at, that’s all……)

Deep in his chest, a gentle warmth spread.

—At that moment.

“To be able to stare at Cecily-sama so intently, she must have reeeeally caught your eye…?”

The air froze instantly.

His heartbeat jumped. Every nerve in his body stiffened with a jolt. The voice was smiling, yet the presence crawling up his back was terribly cold.

(……This voice, don’t tell me—)

It was Celine. He was done for.

Elegant. Yet cold. Venomous. His spine froze. He couldn’t look away. Even the ladies-in-waiting present could be heard drawing in their breath at the trailing edge of those words.

(Um, Celia-sama… how’s your mood……)

“Good grief… you really have no restraint at all, do you?”

(……Eh? Lieselotte-san, did you just say “you”……)

“……It’s not like I’m jealous or anything. Please hurry up and walk. There’s a traffic jam behind you.”

(More than behind me, my reasoning is the most jammed up…!?)

Unable even to take a deep breath, he turned his gaze forward. But what awaited him there was yet another blow.

An existence whose mere name made the harem’s atmosphere tighten another notch.

—Leticia von Orpheus. The central figure of the Noble faction, the “Ruby Rose Princess.”