The Collapse of the Harem, Twelve Years Later - Chapter 3

“Good morning, Emily. I love you today as well.”

“Harla, I love you too. Good morning, fufu… I adore you.”

The morning sunlight filtered gently through the leaves.
My elven husband whispered words of love to me,
just as he had every morning for the past eleven and a half years…

“But this time, I’m going to win our match.”

“Fufu, but this year, I’ve only lost once so far, you know?”

In the Forest of Elves and Humans, we held our archery duels—
a sacred tradition in the only part of the elven kingdom where humans were permitted.
It was a game, a form of training, a friendly competition, and above all, a symbol of love—
a pastime enjoyed by elves who loved humans and humans who loved elves.

“In team matches, we’re about equal, though.”

“You won’t be saying that once our children grow up.”

“They’re only nine and six. As half-elves, they still have a long way to go.”

As we spoke, I heard footsteps approaching.

“Good morning, Father! Good morning, Mother!”

“Morning!”

“Ah, good morning, Lalar, Elno.”

“Good morning. Let’s give thanks to the spirits of the forest today as well.”

I hugged my daughter and son in turn.
Lalar took after her father, while little Elno was said to resemble me.
When they grow older, I wonder—which team will they join? The humans or the elves?

“Mother, we have an elven guest.”

“Oh? That’s unusual. They rarely come from the main elven settlement.”

**”But they came from the human kingdom!””

“They even brought me a human souvenir!”

…From the north?

The Forest of Elves and Humans was a special place,
where only elves who had bonded with humans could reside.
Ordinary people were almost never allowed inside.

(Why would someone come in person instead of just sending a letter?)

Sensing my unease, Harla gently placed a hand on my back.

“I’ll go. Elves should deal with elves, and humans with humans.”

“Wait. If they came from the north, then they’re likely human. I should go.”

“Father and Mother are as close as ever!”

“Why not just go together?”

Following my son’s suggestion, I walked to the entrance,
where an elven woman stood, the royal crest pinned to her chest.
I listened to what she had to say,
standing side by side with my husband, our arms wrapped around each other’s waists.

(What could this be about…? Surely, nothing will disturb our happiness now, right?)

Then she spoke the words that shattered everything.

“Your former fiancé, Hero Laslo, is alive.”

“…What?!”

“He was transported to the demon realm and fought alone for twelve years. Just recently, he returned to the royal palace.”

A flood of memories, long buried deep inside me, came rushing back—
memories of Laslo.

“…Is he safe?”

“Yes. Though exhausted, he is in good health and has sustained no severe injuries.”

“Are you sure? It’s really him?!”

“There is no doubt.”

Tears welled in my eyes as Harla pulled me into his embrace.

“…Why now? He left you alone for all these years.”

“It wasn’t him who left… it was me.”

“Emily…?”

“I… I have to see him. I have to see Laslo first!!”

I ran to the storeroom to retrieve the human clothes
I had thought I would never wear again.

“Emily, think carefully. This can’t be real—he can’t be alive.”

“I have to see for myself. And if he truly is… then I—then I…!”

“Then I’m coming with you.”

“No! If you come, nothing will change. No, I have to go alone.”

Lalar and Elno peeked up at me with worried eyes.

“Mother, where are you going?”

“I’m returning to the human capital. It’s far, far north from here.”

“When will you be back?”

“I’ll send a letter. I’m sorry, but you must be strong. Stay strong.”

“Emily, if you leave, I can never return to the elven kingdom.”

“This forest is just as much an elven land as any other, isn’t it?”

I changed into the clothes I had arrived in all those years ago.
Then, at the entrance, I joined the elven messenger from the royal capital.

“I want to arrive as soon as possible.”

“We have swift horses. If we leave now—”

“Emily, wait! Let’s settle this with an archery match. If I win—”

“It’s meaningless.”

Harla had one way to defeat me in archery,
and I knew exactly what it was.
That was precisely why I refused to compete.

(If it were Yolan, she would have challenged him instead…)

I knelt down to meet my children’s eyes.

“Listen to me, Lalar, Elno. You must be strong. You must live strongly!
Harla, thank you. I will never forget the kindness you showed me, the way you saved my heart.
But… but… I have a man I love, with all my being, for all my life!”

I climbed into the carriage.

“Emily, don’t go!”

“I’m sorry! I’ll send a letter of apology later. Let’s go!”

“Understood! We’ll ride fast!”

“Mother!!”

“Moooom!!”

Tears streamed down my face, unstoppable.

(Why couldn’t I wait?)

They once called me an archer who surpassed even elves,
and yet… I fell into an elven life within just six months.

(Meanwhile, Laslo fought all this time…!!)

I knew the others would gather too.
We had all agreed never to contact each other,
but now, as former comrades—former fiancées—
we would finally meet again, smiling as we once had…

“Wait for me, Laslo. I will definitely hold you in my arms again…!!”

△▼△

“Your Majesty, who is this sultry woman?”

“Your third wife. She’s twenty-seven—someone closer to your age was necessary.”

“I am Natalie. Please, use me as you wish.”

“Use?! That sounds… dangerous.”

“Natalie was a former assassin, an expert in espionage and elimination.
Now that her identity has been exposed, we considered burning her face,
exiling her to a far-off land, or in the worst case… eliminating her entirely.
So, take her off my hands.”

Wait, why did this feel like she was being dumped on me?

“Natalie, are you really okay with this?”

“I have no choice… but I am happy.”

“She specializes in throwing knives and poisoned needles.
If you don’t want her, I’ll have her executed.”

…Yeah, I couldn’t refuse this one.

(A ranged fighter, huh? I suppose Emily is happy in her own life… right?)

“So, Laslo, there’s one more left.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. A fourth wife, as well?”

“It seems you already know her.”

“Huh?”

“You’ll be quite surprised when you see who it is.”

…Who could it be?!