Drake quickly dressed and ran out of the room.
He didn't know where Shihoru had gone, but—
He stopped.
His Supernatural Senses immediately focused on the sounds around him.
Sob...
Sob...
'There.'
He heard her crying.
From the room across the house.
Drake immediately ran toward it and pushed the door open.
Shihoru looked at him.
Her tear-filled eyes widened.
"Go away!"
She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.
Drake could have easily dodged it.
He didn't.
Thump.
The pillow struck him directly in the face.
He simply let it fall to the floor.
Then he closed the door behind him and slowly walked toward her.
"No!"
Shihoru screamed again, her tears refusing to stop.
Drake sat down beside her.
Slap!
Shihoru's hand struck his cheek.
Drake didn't move.
He simply looked at her, his cheek already turning red.
"Shihoru... please... listen to me—"
Slap!
She slapped him again.
"No! No!"
Her voice trembled.
"You... you—"
Drake cut her off by pulling her into a hug.
Shihoru's eyes widened.
"Let me go!"
She struggled against his arms, trying to pull herself free.
But then—
What Drake said next left her completely paralyzed.
"I love you."
Shihoru froze.
"Eh?"
"I love you, Shihoru."
Drake's voice was quiet.
"With all of my heart."
Shihoru stared at him through her tears.
"No... this doesn't change anything!"
She finally managed to pull herself out of his embrace and looked directly into his eyes.
"You still... you still..."
She couldn't even finish the sentence.
Drake reached out and gently took her hands.
"Shihoru... I know this doesn't resolve anything."
He lowered his gaze.
"But I was drunk... Sassa was drunk, and she... she just took me to that room..."
He swallowed.
"And... it happened."
Shihoru's fingers tightened around his.
Drake could feel it.
"She was sad," he continued. "And she didn't know what she was doing. Neither did I."
He looked back into her eyes.
"But this isn't an excuse, Shihoru."
There was a brief silence.
"And..."
Drake hesitated.
He had to be honest.
If he counted everything that had happened since their first kiss, this wasn't the first time he had cheated on her.
"This isn't the first time something like this happened."
Shihoru's eyes widened.
Even more tears began streaming down her cheeks.
"What...?"
Her voice trembled.
"You... did this... before...?"
She stared at him in disbelief.
Everything they had shared...
Everything she had believed about their relationship...
Was it all a lie?
Drake's chest tightened at the expression on her face.
"It's my fault for not asking you before if you were okay with this."
Shihoru's expression suddenly changed.
"For not asking if I was okay—"
Her voice rose in anger.
But Drake interrupted her.
"Sorry, Shihoru, but I'm polygamous!"
"Eh?"
Shihoru blinked.
"P-Polygamous?"
"Yeah."
Drake took a breath.
"I... want to have more than one wife."
"More than one wife?!"
Her anger returned immediately.
"You—!"
She raised her hand to slap him again.
This time, Drake caught her wrist.
He gently pulled her toward him, placing an arm around her waist as he looked directly into her eyes from only inches away.
"I know you're angry..."
His voice softened.
"But I thought you knew."
"You thought I...?"
Shihoru's voice was about to rise again when—
Something suddenly clicked.
She remembered the first time she had met Drake.
He had asked both her and Yume to become his wives.
Back then, she'd thought he was joking.
Or perhaps simply being shameless.
But now...
"Ah..."
The realization escaped her lips.
Drake looked at her sadly.
"Sorry..."
He pulled her into another hug.
"Sorry if I'm being selfish, Shihoru..."
His arms tightened around her.
"But... I don't want to lose you."
He held her even closer.
"You were... my first kiss."
Shihoru's body went rigid.
Her cheeks slowly turned red.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then—
"A-Alright..."
Drake immediately released her and looked at her.
"What?"
Shihoru avoided his gaze.
She looked embarrassed.
And uncertain.
But there was something else in her expression, too.
"You can... marry other girls..."
She swallowed nervously.
"But I want to... to be your..."
Her face became even redder.
"Your first wife."
Drake stared at her.
Then, without hesitation, he kissed her.
"Of course, Shihoru."
He pulled her into his arms again.
"I love you!"
Shihoru's face remained buried against his chest.
"I... love you too..."
Then—
[Ding!]
[Host has convinced three of his lovers that he can have multiple wives!]
[You've unlocked the Title Section and the title "Polygamous Pervert (FFF)!"]
[Ding!]
[Detected synergy with the traits Titanic Endowment and Sweet Lips!]
[Beginning fusion...]
[Ding!]
[The title "Polygamous Pervert" has evolved into "Harem King (FF)!"]
[Harem King]
[Rank: FF]
[Your women will be more likely to let you have other women around.
Your body seems to have been made to satisfy all of them. The higher the rank of the title, the higher your skills to satisfy your women.]
Drake stared at the System window that had appeared directly in front of him.
Then—
He suddenly felt a strange surge of power... somewhere rather specific.
His eyes shifted toward Shihoru.
A mischievous smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Why don't we... make our marriage official?"
"You want to have a wedding—"
Shihoru barely managed to finish her sentence before Drake pushed her down onto the bed.
He removed his shirt.
"No."
He smiled.
"I meant in another way."
To be continued...