Lerwin had exactly three seconds to process what the hell was happening.
Three seconds while the man in the doorway, tall, silver armor, royal crest emblazoned across his chest, stood flanked by a dozen guards. Three seconds while his wives went from content breakfast mode to something far more dangerous.
The guard captain stepped forward, and Lerwin noticed the sealed scroll in his hand. A red wax dragon seal which meant it was probably an official business.
"Lerwin Cromwell ," the man said, his voice carrying the neutrality of someone who delivered bad news professionally. "I am Captain Darian of the Royal Guard. You are summoned to appear before the Royal Council. Immediately."
The word summoned sounded like a threat when he said it, making Lerwin frown his brows.
Lerwin blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"
"A formal summons from the Council," Darian repeated, extending the scroll. "Regarding allegations brought against House Cromwell. You are to appear within the hour."
[New Quest: Navigate Royal Politics]
[Objective: Attend the Council hearing without making things worse]
[Reward: Maintain your status, +20 EXP, Political insight]
[Failure: Loss of standing, potential exile, very angry wives]
Oh good. Politics. His favorite thing that he knew absolutely nothing about.
"Allegations?" Seraphine's voice was silk over steel. She hadn't moved from her seat, but somehow her presence expanded. "Such a coincidence and how convenient that it happens just three days before the Awakening Ceremony."
Darian's expression didn't change. "I'm simply delivering the summons, Lady Seraphine. The details will be presented at the hearing."
"Details you clearly already know," Celeste observed coolly, setting down her tea cup with deliberate precision. "Otherwise you wouldn't have brought twelve guards for a simple summons."
"This is just a standard protocol for, "
"For what?" Liora's smile was sharp. "For a Dragon King Candidate? Or for someone you expect to resist?"
The moment Celeste said that the air aura in the room changed. Not literally, well, except for the frost spreading from Celeste's chair, but the atmosphere went from tense to dangerous in a heartbeat.
Lerwin could feel his wives arranging themselves without moving. Seraphine to his left, shadows pooling subtly at her feet. Celeste to his right, ice crystallizing in delicate patterns on the table. Liora directly across, her jewelry beginning to glow faintly. Valeria behind him, wings rustling in a way that suggested she could launch into combat at a moment's notice.
And Yuki,
Yuki was still seated, but her dark eyes had gone distant. While her fingers traced patterns on the tablecloth that might have been random but probably weren't.
"Captain Darian," Lerwin said carefully, because someone had to de-escalate this before his dining hall became a battlefield, "what exactly am I being accused of?"
Darian hesitated. Just for a fraction of a second, but Lerwin caught it.
"The Council will explain, "
"He asked you a question," Valeria cut in, her voice carrying the weight of command. "Answer it."
The captain's jaw tightened. "Three nights ago, a trade caravan bound for the northern territories was attacked. Twenty merchants were killed and the attackers used methods... consistent with Dragon-fire techniques. Witnesses reported seeing someone matching your description at a tavern near the attack site."
Lerwin's mind went blank. "That's impossible."
Where was he three nights ago? He had no idea. He'd woken up in this body this morning with exactly zero memories of what the original Lerwin had been doing.
[ERROR: Previous timeline data unavailable]
[Host arrived in this body approximately 4 hours ago]
[You have no alibi because you weren't here]
Great. Just great.
"He was here," Seraphine said smoothly, without missing a beat. "All night. With me."
"And me," Celeste added, her tone suggesting anyone who disagreed was an idiot.
"We had a family dinner," Liora supplied helpfully. "All five of us, I'm sure, if you check with the servants."
Yuki finally spoke with her usual soft voice. "He never left the estate. Otherwise I would have noticed."
The way she said it in a flat, certain, slightly unsettling tone, made it sound less like an alibi and more like a statement of surveillance.
Darian looked between them, clearly thinking whether to challenge five supernatural women who looked ready to end bloodlines.
Wisely, he chose not to.
"The Council will want to hear this directly," he said instead. "Which is why Lord Cromwell must appear. Your... testimonies will be noted."
"Oh, we're coming too," Liora said brightly. "Obviously."
"That's not, "
"Not negotiable," Seraphine finished. "Our husband doesn't go anywhere without protection. Clearly, someone is targeting him. We'd be negligent wives if we let him walk into a potential trap alone."
She made it sound so reasonable and logical that the royal guard couldn't counter it.
Darian sighed heavily, like a man who'd had this argument before and lost. "Fine. But you will follow Council protocol. No magical interference, no threatening Council members, and absolutely no, "
"We will behave," Celeste said, in a tonpe that suggested she absolutely would not behave but would be subtle about it.
[Quest Updated: Survive the Council Hearing with your wives as backup]
[Warning: Your wives may cause more problems than they solve]
[Counter-warning: Your wives may also be the only reason you survive this]
Lerwin stood slowly, very aware that his shoulder still ached from where he had slept wrong, apparently this body wasn't used to silk sheets either. "Right. Council hearing. Accusations of murder. Before I've even finished breakfast."
"Welcome to nobility, darling," Seraphine murmured, taking his arm possessively. "It's always something."
"Should I change?" He looked down at his silk pajamas, which seemed inappropriate for a formal hearing.
"Definitely," Valeria said, already moving toward the door. "Something that makes you look innocent but powerful. It would be a difficult balance, but it's necessary."
"I'll help," Yuki offered, appearing at his other side. "I know exactly what you should wear."
The way she said it made him slightly nervous, but he wasn't in a position to argue.
Twenty minutes later, he was dressed in formal robes, deep blue with silver threading, dragon motifs embroidered along the sleeves. Exactly the kind of thing that screamed "I'm important enough to frame for political reasons."
His wives had changed too, each into something that matched their personalities. Seraphine in black and crimson, looking like she'd walked out of a gothic painting. Celeste in pure white that made her silver hair almost glow. Liora in gold that matched her jewelry. Valeria in midnight blue that complemented her wings. Yuki in soft pink that made her look innocent and harmless, which Lerwin was starting to suspect she absolutely wasn't.
They looked like a delegation. A very beautiful, very dangerous delegation.
Darian and his guards escorted them through the palace, because apparently Lerwin lived in a palace, which was another thing to process later, toward the Council chambers. Servants and nobles alike scattered out of their path, whispering behind their hands.
"They're staring," Lerwin muttered.
"Of course they are," Liora said. "You're the Dragon King Candidate, everyone betting will fail. And you've got five wives when most nobles can barely manage one."
"Plus you're about to be accused of mass murder," Celeste added helpfully. "Which is very dramatic and entertaining for the court gossip."
"Should I be worried?"
"Probably," Yuki said. "But that's what we're here for."
The Council chamber doors loomed ahead, massive oak reinforced with steel, carved with scenes of dragons in battle.
[CHECKPOINT: Royal Council Hearing]
[Recommendation: Let your wives handle the politics. You focus on not saying anything stupid.]
[Secondary Recommendation: Pay attention to who accuses you. They're likely connected to whoever is framing you.]
Lerwin took a deep breath.
His wives arranged themselves around him, Seraphine and Celeste flanking, Liora and Valeria slightly behind, Yuki bringing up the rear but close enough to intervene.
The doors opened.
And Lerwin walked into his first political nightmare, supported by five women who were either going to save him or make everything spectacularly worse.
Possibly both.