The next morning began peacefully.
Again.
Which immediately worried everyone.
Because two peaceful days in a row…
Usually meant reality was preparing something stupid.
Kael sat within the Imperial Garden.
Ancient trees stretched toward the heavens.
The World Trees hummed softly with creation itself.
A quiet breeze carried the scent of blooming celestial flowers.
For once.
Silence existed.
Kael closed his eyes.
Enjoying it.
Then.
A voice echoed behind him.
"Found him."
Kael froze.
Another voice followed.
"There he is."
Then another.
"And he thought he could hide."
Kael slowly opened one eye.
"…No."
Standing behind him…
Were all of them.
Every single one.At the front stood Ignisia.
Arms crossed.
Eyes glowing like restrained supernovas.
Beside her stood Lilith.
Smiling dangerously.
Behind them…
An impossible gathering.
Eldara Verdelia
Ashvattha Aeon
Virelya Marigold
Luxryth Solaris
Zeraphiel Ashenback
Anemone Akra
Kaelithra Veylscara
Nyx
Umbryssia
Seraphina
Aetheria
Cosmyra
Eternya
Yunara
Kitsune Reina
Shiori Amateru
Ayakari
Tsukiyora
Elowen
Abyssia
Genesisra
Oblivira
Infinitra
Nullara
Ignivar
Valthera
Elysia
Lycanthra
Korynthia
The Eldritch Chaos Sovereign
Umbryssia Void Black Dragon Empress
Sanguinara Dracoryx
The Primordial Outer Goddess Morrigan
Marigold Noctyra Valis
Akra
Nxy
Thirty-six divine wives.
Standing together.
Watching him.
Kael immediately understood.
"…I'm in danger."
Ignisia smiled.
Which somehow looked threatening.
"Correct."
Kael slowly stood.
"What happened?"
Lilith stepped forward.
"You forgot."
Kael frowned.
"…Forgot what?"
Every woman stared.
The sky darkened slightly.
The World Trees stopped moving.
Reality itself became uncomfortable.
Then all thirty-six voices answered together.
"OUR DATE DAY."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Kael blinked.
"…Ah."
Nyx narrowed her eyes.
"Ah?"
Kael immediately began calculating escape routes.
There were none.
Even worse.
A portal opened nearby.
Wukong walked through carrying fruit.
He looked at the scene.
Saw Kael.
Saw thirty-six angry wives.
Wukong slowly turned around.
"Nope."
Kael pointed.
"Wukong."
Wukong stopped.
"You saw nothing."
"I need assistance."
Wukong looked genuinely offended.
"You want me to fight that?"
He pointed at the wives.
Kael nodded.
Wukong stared.
"My brother in existence."
"No."
Ignisia cracked her knuckles.
Lilith smiled wider.
Abyssia casually opened a black hole.
Infinitra distorted time.
Nullara erased nearby sound.
Kitsune Reina's tails swayed with dangerous amusement.
Tsukiyora slowly drew her moon-blade.
Even Morrigan looked disappointed.
Which somehow felt worse.
Kael sighed.
"I can explain."
Seraphina raised an eyebrow.
"You forgot thirty-six anniversaries."
"I was watching a baker yesterday."
Silence.
Wukong burst into laughter.
Actual tears formed in his eyes.
"You ignored cosmic goddesses…"
"…for bread."
Kael looked defensive.
"He seemed happy."
Wukong fell to the ground laughing.
Ignisia pointed at Kael.
"That."
"That is exactly why we love him."
Lilith nodded.
"But he is still being punished."
Kael frowned.
"What punishment?"
Every wife smiled.
That terrified him more than war.
Eternya stepped forward.
"You will spend today…"
Cosmyra smiled.
"With all of us."
Kael relaxed.
"That doesn't sound bad."
Nxy grinned.
"We planned activities."
Kael's instincts screamed.
"What kind of activities?"
Yunara opened a massive scroll.
She began reading.
"Couple meditation."
"Celestial ballroom dancing."
"Dragon flight racing."
"Tea ceremony."
"Universal stargazing."
"Void swimming."
"Dimension hopping sightseeing."
"Cosmic marriage reenactment number seventeen."
Kael stared blankly.
"…Seventeen?"
Wukong was laughing so hard he couldn't breathe.
Kael turned.
"Help me."
Wukong stood up.
Still laughing.
"Absolutely not."
Then he grinned.
"Good luck, Emperor."
And vanished through a portal.
Traitor.
The wives surrounded Kael.
No escape remained.
Far below.
Citizens looked upward.
One knight pointed toward the palace.
"Why is the Emperor screaming?"
A merchant nearby shrugged.
"Family day."
The baker from yesterday nodded wisely.
"Understandable."
Above them.
The Architect of Existence.
The Creator of Infinite Narratives.
The Origin of Everything.
The Being Beyond Endless Frameworks.
The Watcher of All Cosmologies.
Was losing a battle.
Not against gods.
Not against monsters.
Not against reality-ending horrors.
But against thirty-six wives.
And for the first time in several thousand years.
Kael Veyris truly understood fear.
Far away.
Wukong sat on a mountain eating fruit.
Listening to the distant screaming.
He smiled.
"Best day ever."