Chapter 176 - 174

Chapter 176: Chapter 174

No matter how hard I struggled, they refused to let me go.

"Let me go!" I protested, trying to pry Soren’s arm away from my waist. "I need space!"

"Space?" Kayden asked, tilting his head. "Do you want me to buy the whole of space for you?"

I stopped struggling. "...What?"

"I’m sure I can find someone willing to sell it."

"You can’t buy space!"

"Then I’ll build you a private one."

I stared at him, completely speechless.

’Why does he sound like he’s actually considering it?’

I shook my head as I turned towards Soren instead. "Fine! I need some time!"

"Time?" Soren asked, still holding me firmly. "Do you want a new watch?"

I slowly turned my head toward him. "Why would I need a watch?"

"If you need more time, I can get you one."

"That is not what I meant!"

Vesphyr, who was nuzzling my hand, nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps she needs distance."

"Yes!" I pointed at him. "Exactly! Distance!"

"How much?" he asked.

I hesitated. "...What?"

"How much distance do you need? A few meters? A few kilometers? I can arrange a private estate."

I stared at him.

"Why does everyone keep trying to solve my problems with money and property?!"

Soren brushed a strand of hair away from my face. "Because you haven’t told us what you actually want."

"I want you to let me go!"

The three of them fell silent and I thought they had finally understood what I meant, only for Soren to ruin it.

"For how long?"

"PERMANENTLY!" I finally screamed in annoyance.

"That’s a little excessive," Soren murmured.

Vesphyr tightened his hold on my hand. "We haven’t even had our honeymoon yet."

"STOP BRINGING UP THE HONEYMOON!"

I flopped backward onto the bed, utterly defeated.

I asked for space, time, and freedom. Instead, they offered me an entire planet, a watch, and a private estate.

’How am I supposed to escape these three materialistic men?’

I took a deep breath, calmed myself, and finally opened my eyes.

"Okay, fine! You all win. Now let me go."

The three of them immediately went still.

Soren loosened his hold slightly. "You won’t escape?"

"No."

"Are you sure?" Vesphyr asked.

"Yes."

"Promise?"

I narrowed my eyes.

"If you don’t let me go, I won’t talk to any of you. Ever."

Their expressions changed so quickly that I almost felt bad.

’Looking at me like that won’t change anything.’

Soren was the first to release me.

Vesphyr followed, though his fingers lingered around mine for an extra second before he reluctantly let go.

Kayden moved away from my legs and sat upright.

I slowly scooted toward the edge of the bed, putting as much distance between us as possible and smiled. "See? That wasn’t so difficult."

Soren stared at me with a wounded expression. "You would really stop talking to us?"

"Yes."

"For how long?"

I gave him a flat look. "Did you not hear the word ever?"

Vesphyr lowered his ears including his tails that drooped behind him.

I immediately looked away.

’Don’t feel guilty. Don’t feel guilty. They’re grown men. They can survive one emotional threat.’

"Look, having three of you as my mates is wonderful..."

The moment I said that, all three of them perked up.

"...But I want to enjoy myself first after settling everything down."

"Why can’t we just enjoy you ourselves?" Vesphyr murmured.

I frowned.

’If they enjoy me, how am I supposed to move discreetly? I still need to find out who killed my parents.’

I shook my head firmly.

"I don’t need the three of you to enjoy myself. So just continue with your daily lives."

"I said we can enjoy you," Vesphyr repeated.

"And I said no."

Soren turned toward him and shook his head. "She’s a little naive when it comes to matters like that so stop seducing her."

Kayden smirked. "Wow. I didn’t know you had zero seduction skills. How embarrassing."

Vesphyr’s face flushed red. "At least I’m trying!"

"Perhaps try using words she actually understands," Soren replied.

"I’m doing my best!"

"Your best sounds like a criminal confession," Kayden added to the fire.

Vesphyr looked ready to throw something at him, but then he turned back to me, clearly trying to steer the conversation away from his failed attempt at seduction.

"So you’re suggesting we simply continue with our lives?"

"Yeah."

Kayden leaned forward slightly. "Isn’t that a bit selfish of you, don’t you think?"

I tilted my head. "What’s wrong with what I said?"

The three men were speechless.

I looked between them. "What?"

Soren sighed. "You’re telling us to return to our daily lives as if nothing has changed."

"Something has changed," I replied. "I just found out I have three mates."

Vesphyr pressed a hand against his chest. "You make it sound like finding a priceless treasure and being told to leave it unattended in the middle of a marketplace."

I raised my hands in defeat. "I’m just saying I have other things to do!"

"What things?" Kayden asked.

I hesitated.

’Find out who murdered my parents. Investigate my family’s transmigration curse. Figure out why my energy stone hates me. Avoid getting married to three overly affectionate men.’

I smiled awkwardly. "Personal projects."

Soren narrowed his eyes. "What kind of projects?"

"Very personal ones."

Vesphyr leaned closer, clearly not satisfied with my answer. "Can we at least see what you’re working on?"

"No."

"What if we promise not to interfere?"

"That makes me trust you even less."

I quickly thought of a compromise.

"How about this? I promise to spend time with all three of you once a week."

I smiled hopefully.

"See? That’s fair, right?"

"Why can’t it be every day?" Soren asked immediately.

"I still have class!"

"You can skip class."

"No!"

Vesphyr raised his hand. "What about every other day?"

"No."

"Three times a week?"

"No."

"Twice?"

"I said once!"

Kayden, who had been quietly listening, nodded. "Once a week is acceptable."

I sighed in relief. "Thank you."

"Provided it’s a full day."

Before I could refuse, both Soren and Vesphyr’s OmniSyncs suddenly rang.

They glanced at their devices at the same time before their expressions immediately changed.

Soren answered first. "Understood."

Vesphyr answered his own call a moment later. "We’re on our way."

The moment the calls ended, they looked at me and said at the same time, "We’re needed at the Imperial Palace."

’Finally.’

I clasped my hands together and gave them my sweetest smile. "You two should go, then. Duty comes first, after all."

Soren narrowed his eyes. "Why does it sound like you’re happy to send us off?"

I immediately shook my head. "No! Of course not!"

"Really?" Vesphyr asked, clearly unconvinced.

I quickly pointed toward the door. "You should go before they start calling for you two again!"

They stared at me for a moment before sighing in defeat.

"Fine," Soren muttered as he stepped closer, and before I could react, he leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on my forehead. "Behave."

"Wh—"

Before I could finish, Vesphyr moved in from the other side and kissed my cheek.

"We’ll return as soon as we’re finished."

"Huh?"

Vesphyr meanwhile kissed me on the cheeks. "We’ll return as soon as we’re finished."

They were so quick that by the time my brain caught up with what had just happened, both of them were already walking out the door.