A Peacock Husband of Five Princesses by day, a Noble Assassin by Night

The soft glow of morning filtered through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the silken sheets.

Kael stirred, the lingering warmth of slumber still clinging to him, when a familiar weight pressed against his chest. His eyes fluttered open to see Amanda lying on top of him, her piercing gaze locked onto his as she sat up with her legs on either side of his abdomen.

A cheerful, active smile tugged at her lips. "Good morning, husband." She pressed his chest.

Kael groaned, running a hand down his face. "Morning? It doesn’t feel like I even got to sleep."

Amanda chuckled, her fingers grazing his jaw as she leaned in. "I told you," she murmured, her breath warm against his lips. "I’ve been holding back for far too long. And now…" Her voice dipped, her hands tracing down his chest. "Now, I don’t want to hold back anymore."

Kael swallowed, his muscles tensing beneath her as she shifted. "Amanda—"

She silenced him with a kiss, slow and lingering, filled with an unspoken hunger that reignited the fire from the night before.

Meanwhile, Cain stood in the hallway, arms crossed, glancing toward the closed door of Kael’s chamber. His sharp ears, trained from years of combat, picked up nothing—not a single sound. His brow furrowed.

"Strange," he muttered.

The spectral beast sitting guard outside the door flicked its tail, letting out a lazy yawn. "Noise-cancellation spell," it said with a hint of amusement.

Cain exhaled, a knowing smirk creeping onto his face. "So, she hasn’t left his room since last night, huh?"

The beast merely tilted its head in response.

Cain chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, all is well if it ends well."

Just then, the door creaked open. Kael stepped out, his shirt haphazardly thrown over his shoulders, his expression carrying a deep air of exhaustion. Amanda remained inside, likely freshening up.

Cain’s grin widened. "So… breakfast?" He clapped Kael on the shoulder. "You must be starving. Or should I say, drained?"

Kael groaned, rubbing his temples. "I’m fine, Cain."

"Oh, I don’t doubt that." Cain laughed, enjoying his rare chance to tease Kael. "But I’ll go ahead and order something extra rich in energy. You know, just in case."

Ignoring him, Kael straightened his sleeves and swiftly changed the subject. "We’re leaving for the capital soon. Make the necessary preparations."

Cain smirked but nodded. "Aye, Captain."

The sea stretched endlessly before them as the ship cut through the waves. The salty breeze carried the scent of adventure, but Kael found his focus elsewhere—on the woman beside him.

Amanda barely left his side, her arm entwined with his as they stood at the ship’s railing. She was no longer distant, no longer hesitant in her affections. In the presence of the crew, nobles, and commoners alike, she openly clung to him, her fingers occasionally tracing circles on his palm, her lips pressing against his lips or his neck when no one was looking.

At first, Kael was taken aback. The Amanda he met weeks ago would never display such open affection. But now?

Now, she seemed… free. He felt as if he had awaken the beast in her.

She laughed more. She indulged in the fresh seafood dishes with an appetite he hadn’t seen before. She leaned into him when the sea breeze turned cold, whispering stories from her youth, memories she had never shared before.

And at night…

Kael chuckled to himself as he adjusted his collar. At night, Amanda was even more relentless.

He could guess why she was acting this way. In his view, she was probably trying to make up for lost time.

Her late husband had spent more time on battlefields than in her arms, and before she knew it, he was gone. She had lived with regrets, with wishes unfulfilled. And now, she was probably determined not to let history repeat itself. Not to mention the fact that soon, they would go on their ways. She would return to the palace to resume her duties as the Prime Minister of the Queendom, and he would return to Moonstone Manor. So, after this trip, they would likely meet once a week.

And so, he didn’t question it. He didn’t hesitate. He simply let her have these moments, and in turn, he cherished them just as deeply.

The reason was simple. She acknowledged him as her husband.

And he… he was beginning to realize that he developed feelings for her, too.

**

A few days passed away in the blink of an eye.

It was just as every other day as the past few days when their ship was sailing in the endless stretch of the ocean with little to no disturbances.

Amanda and Kael were standing at the deck, watching the sparring session between Cain and Serestia, casually conversing about various things.

"Captain…" A soldier stopped their spar with a shout. "It’s the imperial fleet."

Everyone leaned to the railing and stared in the direction where a set of warships were coming toward them.

Their crimson sails, adorned with the golden emblem of the Queendom, sliced through the waves like majestic beasts of war. Kael stood at the bow of the ship, arms crossed, watching as the navy closed in.

"The Queen sure doesn’t waste time," Cain muttered beside him, his eyes fixed on the approaching ships.

"She’s sending a message," Amanda replied. "After the abduction incident, she wants to show that no one lays a finger on her daughter without consequences."

Kael, standing nearby, sighed. "Ikaris will be punished for failing to protect you. It’s only natural."

Amanda nodded in agreement. It was the way of the Queendom—power and authority ruled above all else.

While Kael wasn’t particularly concerned about Ikaris, the fact that there was only a set of seven ships indicated that those ships weren’t going past them and launching an attack on Ikaris or something. He bet that they were here to escort them.

However, he still didn’t know why but he felt as if trouble was arriving.

And then, he saw her.

Among the royal escorts, a familiar figure stood at the helm of the leading ship, her silver hair dancing with the breeze, her violet eyes glimmering with mischief. The moment their eyes met, her lips turned into a triumphant smirk.

Kael groaned. "Of course… it’s Laura."

Amanda followed his gaze, and her entire expression darkened.

"You’ve got to be kidding me," she muttered.

Cain, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, took a strategic step back. "Oh boy… I’m staying out of this one."

From the moment Laura stepped onto the ship, Kael’s life turned into a never-ending battle—not of swords, but of wills.

If Amanda was regal, sharp-witted, and exuded the aura of someone with authority, then Laura was a tempest—unpredictable, playful, and relentless in her pursuits.

The two women, who had already spent years subtly competing over everything from intellect to charm, now had a new battlefield—Kael himself.

It started with chess.

"You made a blunder. Your Bastion is gone," Amanda announced, staring at Laura with the grace of a seasoned stateswoman.

Laura narrowed her eyes and moved her horse-shaped chess piece, forking the king and the strongest piece on the board. "Check. there goes your General, sister."

Amanda’s brows twitched. She studied the board for a long moment, then scowled. "...It’s a draw. No point in playing further."

Laura clicked her tongue. "Tch. Again."

They played for hours. And each match ended in a draw.

Then came the cooking.

Kael, foolishly, had allowed himself to be the judge.

Amanda presented a beautifully plated dish—seared fish with delicate spices. Laura countered with a more rustic approach—a thick seafood stew.

Both smelled divine.

Both tasted like utter nightmares.

Kael took a single bite of Amanda’s fish and nearly choked on the overwhelming bitterness. He forced himself to swallow and turned to Laura’s stew, only to be assaulted by a flavor so fiery it numbed his tongue instantly.

Cain, sitting at the sidelines, quietly took a sip of wine and pretended not to exist. While he was happy that the princess came out of the shell, his secret envy of Kael did bring a bit of happiness, seeing him struggle between his two wives.

Kael clenched his fists, comically crying inside as a graceful figure with a ladle in her hands appeared in his head. "I miss you, Melissa."

The rivalry continued in ways neither of them excelled at—embroidery, weaving, and even poetry. But no matter what they attempted, neither would accept defeat.

The Nights Were Another Battle Entirely.