I. The Night of Regret and The Morning of Action
The group arrived at the Capital, securing a large private house near the central market. Exhausted, the wives—who hadn't had a proper drink or normal meal since the journey began—immediately began consuming high-alcohol beverages and rich food, completely abandoning the VOPP for a night of indulgence.
Vael watched as Astra argued with Lyra over the best way to open a wine bottle, Seraphina dramatically wept over a sad song, and Serana quietly analyzed the house's defensive structure while drinking a clear spirit. Anaya, meanwhile, had fallen asleep immediately.
Good, Vael thought, They needed this. Tonight, I am a writer, not a prisoner.
Vael, knowing this was his only chance before the wives woke up and resumed the VOPP, quickly slipped out at dawn.
II. The Search for Normalcy
Vael decided against the public square. Too many people. What if I charm a Rival General's wife?
He needed a simple, unattached, female target—someone who looked harmless.
He walked past quiet restaurants and noticed a small, slightly rundown tavern. Inside, sitting alone at the bar, was a young woman. She was unusually beautiful, dressed in simple, traveler's clothes that hid her figure, yet she carried herself with a quiet, regal confidence.
Perfect, Vael thought. A sad, solitary, beautiful girl. Easy pickings for a dramatic poem.
Vael nervously sat next to her.
"Hello," Vael began awkwardly. "I... I just arrived in the Capital. It's... huge. Do you... live here?"
The girl glanced at him, her beautiful eyes narrowing, and then she turned back to her drink. "I am visiting."
Vael felt a wave of crushing self-doubt. Oh God, I forgot how to talk to normal women! On Earth, I just sat at my keyboard!
He tried again. "That's nice. Say, um... are you... married?"
The girl suddenly laughed—a short, sharp burst of genuine amusement. The burly bartender glared at Vael.
"What is this, a survey?" the girl retorted with a smirk. "No, I am not married. Why do you ask, stranger?"
Vael, encouraged that she wasn't married, decided to go for the kill. He leaned in conspiratorially. "Do you... enjoy poetry?"
The girl's eyes lit up. "Poetry? I do. I haven't heard any decent verse in years. I write a little myself."
"I can recite some," Vael whispered, puffing out his chest. "But... not here. I need a place with inspiration. The Divine Aura, you see, it requires good staging."
The girl looked skeptical but amused. "Divine Aura? Sounds dramatic. Alright, Poet. Impress me. If it's good, I'll listen."
(Behind a corner table, two exceptionally large men dressed in commoner's garb exchanged nervous glances and subtly started to follow them.)
III. The Awful, Effective Poem (The Blitz Begins)
Vael led the girl to a quiet, scenic spot overlooking a courtyard fountain. He took a deep breath, channeled his dramatic energy, and unleashed his Divinely-Compelling, yet objectively terrible, poetry:
"My Queen, my Fate, your eyes of midnight hue,
They hold the answer to my quest, it's true!
I searched the world, on mountains steep and tall,
To find the perfect place your heart to call.
Forget the thrones, the high-walled keeps of stone,
Make this poor poet's pulsing chest your throne!
Just grant me space, my Palace Queen, to serve,
I know my words are weak, but not my nerve!"
[Divine Power Effect: Charm Level 1 - The Palace Queen is Captivated!]
The girl's eyes immediately glazed over. Her subtle amusement vanished, replaced by fierce, unyielding devotion.
"My Lord! My Poet King!" she whispered, dropping to one knee. "You saw past my simple clothes! You are right! I will not return to the Palace! I will follow you! Your 'poor pulsing chest' is the only throne I require!"
Yes! It worked! Number Six! Vael mentally cheered.
But before Vael could process his success, the two massive men following them sprang from the shadows.
"Princess! Get behind us!" one of the guards roared.
Vael's brain stuttered. Princess?!
The two guards immediately looked at Vael, their faces white with rage. "You! Poet! You have just charmed the Second Princess of the Royal House!"
Vael stared at the Princess (Wife #6) kneeling at his feet, then at the two towering bodyguards. God Aethel! I asked for simple, non-warrior women! NOT ROYALTY! I'm going to cause an international incident!
(The Blitz Harem Strategy had just backfired spectacularly. Vael had just acquired his first Royal Wife.)