Sitting alone in her office, Principal Leilah let out a soft, tired sigh.

Her gloved fingers traced along the edge of her teacup as the steam gently rose into the air, curling like mist around her face.

A small, almost reluctant smile curved her lips—one that carried both fatigue and quiet relief.

These past few months had been anything but kind.

Her days blurred into nights, and her nights into restless dawns filled with endless meetings, veiled threats, urgent letters, and political balancing acts that made even dungeon management feel like a vacation.

The pressures didn’t simply trickle in—they crashed like waves, relentless and merciless.

Though many of the academy’s deeper, internal problems had been dealt with quietly—kept out of public view and resolved without the academy’s direct fingerprints—the underlying reality was far from comforting.

Everything still felt volatile, like a glass sculpture sitting on the edge of a trembling table.

A ticking time bomb.

And that sense of ever-looming danger wasn’t something she could afford to casually ignore.

Not when every decision weighed not just on the academy’s reputation, but on the lives and fates of its most promising students.

She knew the truth well enough—students getting hurt or even vanishing wasn’t uncommon.

This was the Academy after all.

A crucible that prepared the elite not in theory, but through trials—dungeon dives, live-combat evaluations, monster hunting, and the cold reality of battlefield immersion.

Risk was part of the curriculum.

And loss… was an unfortunate but accepted consequence.

But there were exceptions.

There were names that couldn’t be written off as a casualty of growth.

Like the twin prodigies who vanished last year—bright stars snuffed out with no trace. The investigation alone nearly brought the board to its knees.

And now?

Now, it was a future Archmage—a young woman who had already been whispered about in the circles of high sorcery, seen as a potential pillar of the next generation.

And alongside her, a young knight whose bloodline and connections reached deep into the heart of power itself.

Nobles, royalty, high-ranking officials… people whose voices echoed across empires were watching.

Their absence wasn’t just a tragedy. It was political dynamite.

Leilah closed her eyes for a brief moment, exhaling slowly.

She had bent over backward to keep the academy’s name clean.

Dozens of favors pulled, countless apologies made, truths buried, rumors redirected.

She had taken on more than her fair share of sleepless nights trying to maintain the illusion of control.

And now…

Now, it seemed, that ordeal was finally nearing its end.

Because he had returned.

“Principal…”

A soft voice broke the silence, accompanied by the subtle shuffle of papers.

Leilah turned her head slightly, offering only a small hum in response.

“Hm?”

Standing by the doorway was a young woman in neatly pressed formal wear, her silver-rimmed glasses slightly slipping down her nose as she balanced a thick stack of documents in her arms.

Her expression, calm but professional, didn’t hide the underlying fatigue of long hours and constant deadlines.

“This is the detailed report on the Grand Festival,” she began. “It also includes the approximate budget losses and profits we calculated over the past week.”

“I see,” Leilah responded, already sounding disinterested. “Just leave it there. I’ll review it later.”

The young woman nodded obediently.

Without another word, she approached the principal’s desk and placed the heavy documents neatly in a corner beside the untouched mountain of other reports.

As she did, she stole a glance at her grandmother.

Amelia had grown used to seeing Principal Leilah buried under work, her face often stern, her gaze cold, her tone short.

But today—something was different.

That small smile.

Barely noticeable, but there.

“…Did something good happen, Principal?”

Leilah looked at her granddaughter, lips still curved in that faint, knowing smile.

“Well…” she began, her voice slower, tinged with thought, “…I’m hoping for something good to happen.”

“Hm?” Amelia tilted her head slightly, her curiosity piqued.

But the principal only shook her head softly, dismissing the thought as if it were a fleeting breeze. “It’s nothing. Just prepare everything ahead of time. And… cancel all my travel schedules for tomorrow.”

Amelia blinked. “All of them?”

“Yes. I’ll also be giving you a number of letters soon. Deliver them as top-priority correspondence. I want you to begin contacting each Tower Master’s delegates—use the red-seal protocol. And if possible… attempt to establish direct contact with the Emperor. Or the Grand Duke of the Empire, whichever responds first.”

There was a moment of stunned silence as Amelia processed those words.

The Tower Masters.

The Emperor.

The Grand Duke.

These weren’t people you casually reached out to.

These were figures who sat on the summit of political and magical power.

Even just attempting to reach their inner circles required preparation, clearance, and the weight of purpose behind every word.

For a moment, Amelia’s usually calm demeanor cracked—her lips parted in a flicker of uncertainty. “Principal… this level of correspondence… is it related to—?”

Her voice trailed off, hesitant.

Leilah simply gave her a look. It wasn’t stern—it was resolute.

That was enough.

Amelia felt her chest tighten—not in fear, but in anticipation.

If the Principal was preparing letters like these, and smiling that calmly… then perhaps—

The nightmare might truly be nearing its end.

“…As you wish, Principal,”

….

Morning.

Inside my dorm room.

I had hoped—no, prayed—that my reunion with the girls would be relaxing, simple, and maybe even emotionally cathartic.

A warm exchange of words, some light teasing, maybe a shared meal together…

Instead, I found myself trapped in a blissful prison.

What am I supposed to do about this…?

I let out a soft, helpless sigh, my gaze slowly sweeping across the chaotic heaven I’d somehow fallen into.

From my left to my right… and even on top of me.

I was surrounded—no, buried—by a pile of beautiful girls.

Seo was sound asleep beside me, her breath light and steady near my left ear.

Strands of her silky black hair spilled across her cheeks, framing her face in a way that made her look even more delicate, even more innocent than usual.

Her small hand rested on my arm, as if to anchor herself to my presence.

I couldn’t help but smile.

She always had a quiet, unknowable charm—but in moments like this, she was simply… adorable.

On my right, Rose had completely pressed herself against me, her body molded against my side like a warm blanket.

The rise and fall of her breathing moved in sync with mine, and I could feel the soft contours of her form through the thin fabric between us.

Her head rested just below my shoulder, her long golden hair spilling across the sheets.

She had clung onto me with such certainty last night, like she was afraid I’d vanish again.

I didn’t blame her.

To be honest, I always figured this sort of thing might happen eventually—sharing a bed, waking up together like this—but I hadn’t expected it to happen this quickly.

And not with all three of them at once.

Lastly… there was Snow.

Sleeping peacefully on top of me.

Her slender arms were tightly wrapped around my torso, her cheek gently pressed against my chest like it was her most prized pillow.

She clung to me as if letting go would make everything crumble.

Her silver-white hair tickled my collarbone, and her expression—serene, almost childlike—held none of the frosty coldness she usually showed others.

Only warmth.

Snow had always been a bit possessive—subtly at first, more openly later on—but this?

This was something new.

Sure, we’d slept together before on occasion, curled up beside each other during long nights of conversation.

But usually never this close… but maybe this intimate?

Anyways…

I could barely move.

My arms were pinned, and even my chest rose and fell cautiously so as not to wake the precious, clinging snowcat on top of me.

And yet…

As uncomfortable as it was being completely sandwiched between them all—limbs tangled, body numb in places I didn’t want to admit—I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy every second of it.

That stupid cat…

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose as the memory of Cheshire’s whimsical grin from yesterday flashed through my mind.

If—no, when—I find him, I swear I’ll strangle him with his own tail.

“Impregnate them all properly,” he said.

That damn furball dropped that line like it was a casual farewell, then poofed out of existence with his usual smug flair before I could even react.

Haah…

No point thinking about it now. What’s done is done.

Though… I’m honestly relieved the girls understood my explanation last night.

Or at the very least, they accepted enough of it to avoid murdering me on the spot.

That’s a win, right?

But acceptance isn’t the same as full forgiveness.

Especially for Snow.

She was my first lover.

The one who fell for me in her own quiet and cold way, and the first one who made me open up to things I’ve been holding back all this time, the one I shared so many unspoken moments with.

I knew from the beginning that having a harem—would be messy, painful, and complicated. Feelings weren’t numbers you could divide evenly.

And yet, here I was.

I guess this is just part of the chaos I’ll have to get used to.

I glanced around, carefully shifting my gaze past the three girls still wrapped around me.

Seo, Rose, and Snow… all still sound asleep, thankfully.

But one person was missing.

Alice.

After she shared her piece last night, she chose to quietly return to her proper dorm room, saying she didn’t want to interrupt the other girls’ moment with me.

I appreciated that—truly.

Her maturity and understanding helped diffuse a situation that could have exploded into a full-blown war.

…Though, I don’t think even she expected things to end with me becoming a human body pillow sandwiched between three girls until morning.

Maybe it was the emotional fatigue.

Maybe they just needed reassurance.

Or maybe they simply wanted to be near me without saying anything more.

Either way, I was grateful they’d settled for just sleeping beside me.

For now.

Still…

If Seo wasn’t here, I had a strong suspicion something might’ve happened between me, Rose, and Snow.

The air last night had been… heavy.

Tense. Warm. Charged.

But honestly, something like that… shouldn’t happen like this.

Not when everyone’s still fragile. Not when I’m still figuring out how to carry their feelings properly.

Anyway…

For now, I should probably escape this situation as soon as possible.

I’ve done my best holding back since yesterday.

Really, I’ve been a model of self-control.

But….

-PLUMP!!!

“…Fuck.”

I froze.

The soft, pillowy press of Seo’s chest nestled gently against my left arm.

Rose’s entire body was practically glued to my right, and Snow, still firmly attached on top of me, had shifted slightly in her sleep, tightening her arms around my chest.

Her soft breaths matching mine…

It was too much.

My teenage brain was already on fire, and now it was seconds away from a system overload.

There’s only so much hormonal pressure one person can take before they crack—and I was nearing that limit with terrifying speed.

And to make matters worse?

Yeah.

The morning wood had officially arrived.

No, not just arrived. It had declared war on my sanity.

And I really, needed to pee as well.

“Mmh…”

A soft, muffled sound stirred the stillness of the room. I felt a slight movement against my chest.

Snow.

Her eyelids fluttered open slowly, lazily, like she was trying to cling to the last remnants of her dream.

Her pale lashes blinked a few times before her deep blue eyes finally focused on me.

Her face—still inches from mine—tilted slightly as she let out a faint sigh, her warm breath brushing my collarbone.

“Riley…” she murmured, voice husky with sleep. “Good morning…”

Her lips curved gently into a hazy, sleepy smile.

I smiled back—awkwardly, nervously, maybe even a little flustered.

“Y-Yeah… good morning, Snow.”

She blinked again, her smile widening just slightly as her fingers curled lightly against my chest. “You’re really here now…”

“Yeah,” I nodded softly, doing my best to stay calm while being pinned under three girls. “I promised, didn’t I? I’m not going to be away anymore.”

“Yes… you did,” she replied, her voice a whisper, like a secret between just the two of us.

For a moment, she looked content, but then her gaze slowly drifted.

I followed her eyes as they subtly moved from me, to her right, where Rose’s gentle breathing could be heard, then over to the left, where Seo was curled up close, her hand resting near mine.

“They’re here as well…” Snow murmured. There was no anger in her tone. Just a quiet acceptance. “I understand it’s part of the process… but…”

She paused, her voice growing softer.

“It’s a little disappointing that I can’t have you all to myself anymore. Like how it used to be…”

“…”

I didn’t know what to say to that. What could I say? She wasn’t wrong.

She must’ve seen the guilt on my face because she smiled again—reassuring, but tired.

“Don’t look like that. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing,” she whispered. “Just… a bit disappointing, that’s all.”

Then, she leaned closer.

“Just make sure to take care of us. Love us equally and as fairly as possible.”

I felt her fingers brush against the side of my neck as she leaned in until her lips nearly touched my ear.

Her voice dropped into a sultry, teasing whisper.

“And maybe… treat us a bit specially too. A little differently from each other. A little privilege, of sorts, for me….”

Her breath was warm. Sweet. Dangerous.

“For me… I like long kisses~” she whispered, the corners of her lips brushing my skin. “So, kiss me… much longer than the others, okay~?”

I shivered.

“Snow… are you half asleep right now?”

“Nope,” she replied instantly, her voice cheeky and soft. “I’m fully awake… hehe~”

That was clearly a lie.

Before I could protest further, she nuzzled closer to my neck and sniffed gently, her voice melting into something softer, almost nostalgic.

“Riley… you still smell so good. Just like the flower fields back at the palace… gentle… fresh…” She paused, her hand gliding subtly across my side. “And your body…”

She pressed her forehead against my chest.

“It’s very hard…”

“…Snow,” I muttered, swallowing the rising panic in my throat. “You’re not helping my situation here…”

“Helping you with what exactly…? Hehe~”

But all she did was giggle, curling up a little closer, her arms tightening around me possessively like she had no intention of letting go anytime soon.

I couldn’t help but wonder—why was she acting like this?

Snow was usually more composed, especially in the mornings.

Sleepy, maybe, but never this… hazy.

This soft.

This unguarded.

Her words, her touches—everything felt too relaxed, too dreamy, like her mind was drifting in a fog she didn’t fully realize she was in.

I gently shifted my head, brushing a few stray strands of white hair from her face as I looked her over carefully.

Her breathing was steady.

Her body didn’t show signs of fatigue or illness.

But as I focused more intently, my eyes narrowed.

There was something off.

Her mana.

It wasn’t flaring out of control, but it wasn’t stable either.

It shimmered faintly around her in a loose haze, like a cloud of mist on a cold morning.

Normally, her mana was sharp and clean, disciplined like the swords she wielded… but now it drifted freely, lazily, like it was half-asleep along with her.

Did she take a mana supplement pill or something?

That would explain the haziness.

Some of the stronger stress-reducing variants could dull both magic and mental sharpness for a short period of time.

Considering how many late nights she’s likely pulled recently—training, patrolling, or just… overthinking everything—I wouldn’t be surprised.

Still, it felt strange seeing her like this.

Before I could ask, she moved.

Slowly, deliberately, she pushed herself up—still seated on top of me—and sat upright, straddling my hips.

Her hair cascaded around her like a waterfall of white silk as she tilted her head and looked down at me with those dreamy, deep blue eyes.

She smiled gently, sweetly, yet something playful shimmered behind her gaze.

And then I felt it.

My body tensed slightly as I twitched under her.

My morning ‘issue’—something I had been desperately trying to ignore—pressed right against something warm… and soft… and unmistakably plump.

“Oh~?”

She noticed, of course.

I saw it in the way her smile changed.

That sweet, innocent look melted away in an instant, replaced by a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and her lips curled into a knowing smile—sly and seductive, like a fox that had cornered its prey.

“Riley,” she purred, her voice silky as she leaned in slightly, her hands resting gently against my chest.

“How about we… secretly make some heirs now~?”

“What…?”

“Secretly, of course~” she giggled, brushing a hand against her lips in mock modesty. “Do me… badly. No—” she leaned closer, her nose practically touching mine as her smile deepened, “even more roughly than you did Alice~”

I nearly choked on my own breath. “Snow—Now’s really not the time for that…. Rose and Seo are literally—”

“But…” she interrupted me, her voice low and sultry, “that’s what makes it even more exciting, no…?”

Her lips hovered by my ear as she whispered, “Just be quiet… and leave everything to me~”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep