Harem Stealer

Volume Three

-3.2-

Chapter 146 – A Family, A Throne

"So let me get this straight," Selene said, rubbing her temple.

"This world is basically a playground for divine beings who want to take control for their own gain. And the battles are fought through chosen champions. You, my dear son, were approached by both dragons and demons..."

Her voice dropped lower.

"...and you rejected both. Decided to fight alone. Without the backing of a god."

She stared at him.

"And not only that... you somehow made a deal with a demoness and convinced the World Will itself to bless you—meaning, as long as this world isn’t completely destroyed, you can’t die?"

Silence.

Then Selene collapsed back into her chair with a long, heavy sigh—utterly drained.

Noah’s lips twitched. "It’s not that bad, Mother. Why are you making it sound like I’m doomed?"

He offered a small smile, trying to calm her, but Selene’s eyes snapped toward him in a sharp glare.

"My dear son," she said slowly. "You mean to tell me that divine beings—creatures who could kill me in a blink—are now against you... because you want to protect this world? Alone?"

That was the issue.

It wasn’t that Noah was reckless or making enemies.

It was that she couldn’t protect him.

Not anymore.

And that hurt.

Since meeting Elira, Selene had learned the brutal truth. She once believed she was powerful—that as an SS-rank, she could do as she pleased.

But after Elira, after Shadeva...

She understood.

SS-rank meant nothing.

Outside this world, there were beings who could erase her existence without blinking.

And those beings were now looking at her son.

’I won’t allow that,’ she thought.

Her eyes sharpened. Her aura dropped, cold and heavy.

Noah, watching her, felt warmth swell in his chest.

He knew exactly what she was thinking.

And it only made him love her more.

He walked over, leaned down, and pulled her into a gentle hug.

Instantly, her tension melted.

Elira looked at the scene with quiet envy.

Shadeva remained still—indifferent, as always. Or so it seemed.

"You don’t have to worry, Mother," Noah whispered.

"You must know by now... your son isn’t weak."

"I can handle this."

He pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes.

"And don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ll become strong, too. I’ll make sure of it."

Then, his gaze turned to all three women.

"But also... you misunderstood one thing."

"I’m not fighting them alone."

He smiled. Calm. Confident. Radiant.

"I’m arrogant... not a fool."

"I have all of you here. I am not alone."

His words were simple.

But the warmth in them, the absolute conviction, shook even Shadeva.

"So we’ll get through this. Together."

"Because from now on... we’re a family."

That word—family—carried more weight than anything else.

That’s why Noah didn’t hide things from them. Not even the deal with Echidna. No more secrets between him and his wives.

Except the system. That was... special.

But everything else?

He would share.

Because he was determined to make this work. This wasn’t just about power anymore. This was about building something real. Permanent.

And hearing that, seeing the honesty in his eyes—the women couldn’t help but smile.

Joy. Pride. Love.

Then Noah tilted his head.

"Which brings me to my next question—how did the meeting go?"

He’d given them space. Time to get used to each other and build rapport.

"It went really well," Elira said.

"Yes, everything was smooth," Selene added.

They conveniently left out Anya’s... peculiarities.

Noah would find out soon enough anyway.

"Good," he said with a small grin. "Another meeting’s coming soon."

"And this time, I’ll be there."

"But first—"

He snapped his fingers.

Instantly, Isac and Albert appeared before him. Their eyes shut. Unconscious.

"I’ve made them sleep for now," Noah explained casually. "Contact Emily. And call Sophie."

"It’s time to finish this."

...

Royal Castle.

Rome sat at his study desk, a dark cloud hanging over him. His face was pale, his hands trembling.

Days had passed. No word from his sons.

He had even contacted Elira to have some information but—

No reply from Elira.

Nothing came back.

"Where... where are you?" he muttered.

Something felt wrong. Very wrong.

It was like a net—slowly tightening around his neck. Suffocating him.

Even now, in his chambers, he felt it.

Watched.

As if he wasn’t alone.

CLACK—!

The door creaked open, snapping him out of his spiral.

Emily walked in a graceful and steady way.

"My Emperor," she said, voice smooth. "I bring good news."

Rome jumped to his feet, eyes wide. Hope bloomed like a dying flower catching light.

"W-What news?! Where are they?! Are they okay?!"

Emily looked at him.

And for a moment, she felt something close to disgust.

’Is this what an emperor looks like?’

He was pathetic.

A ruler should not tremble like this. Should not beg. Should not fall apart at the first sign of loss.

If he felt trapped—why was he just watching it happen?

Rome wasn’t fit for the throne.

But then again, what could you expect from a man who killed his own brother for a woman?

Still, Emily buried her thoughts.

She had a role to play.

"I have news about Isac and Albert," she said smoothly.

Rome rushed to her side. "Where?! Are they safe?!"

"They’re fine. I’ll show you."

She began setting up a video projection device. Calm. Methodical.

Rome sat down beside her, too frantic to question anything.

Then she paused, just before activating it.

"Are you ready for this?" she asked, flashing him a smile.

It was... odd. A little too pleased.

But Rome didn’t even think twice.

"Yes. I’m ready."

He answered like the fool he was.

Emily smiled, then turned the device on.

The screen flickered once... then stabilized.

And what appeared made Rome and Emily both freeze.

But for very different reasons.

Isac and Albert knelt on the ground—heads bowed, hair darker than night, their forms eerily silent.

And sitting before them... was Noah.

Calm. Regal. Ethereal.

So beautiful it almost didn’t feel real.

He looked straight at them.

"Hello. How are you all doing?"

Rome nearly had a heart attack.

And Emily?

’Holy Mother...’

Her legs nearly gave out.

The sight of Noah was enough to send a shiver down her spine.

A degenerate reaction?

Absolutely.

But could you blame her?

Noah had that effect now.

Chapter 147 – Truth

Emily hadn’t expected this.

She hadn’t seen Noah since the day she’d stepped into Weaverheart territory—since she’d been blackmailed, dragged into a game she couldn’t control.

And now here he was.

His hair now silver. His eyes now deeper and more matured.

’His hair and eyes...’ she thought absently.

But she shook the thought away.

’Not the time to be distracted, Emily!’ she screamed inwardly.

CLICK—!

Her fingers snapped.

In the next instant, chains erupted—fire, lightning, shadow, earth—wrapping around Rome, binding him where he stood.

Not just one spell. This was a coordinated ambush. A premeditated strike by more than just her.

Rome’s eyes widened in disbelief. He turned to Emily.

And saw the mask was gone.

The woman who once stood by his side with a gentle smile now looked at him with open disgust—like he was filth.

Something worthless.

He trembled.

"E-Emily...?" His voice wavered, fragile. As if hoping—begging—this wasn’t what it seemed.

But Emily’s eyes were cold.

"Don’t ever speak my name again," she said with a voice like winter steel.

Rome froze. The chains digging into his flesh barely registered.

All he could think was:

Why?

"Why...?" he whispered. "What did I do?"

His voice cracked as he clung to some fragile thread of logic.

"Didn’t I treat you right?"

A pause.

"Didn’t I give you everything you ever asked for?"

His voice rose, rage beginning to creep in.

"Didn’t I—didn’t I forgive you for cheating on me?!"

And then—he snapped.

"DID I NOT FUCKING KILL MY OWN BROTHER FOR YOU?!"

"AND NOW—NOW YOU BETRAY ME?! ME?! EMILY?! ANSWER ME!"

The chains rattled violently as he struggled, bloodshot eyes blazing.

CLACK. CLACK.

He fought to break free.

To do something. Anything.

But Emily... remained expressionless.

"I don’t give a damn," she said quietly, her voice cold and final.

"I don’t care what you gave me. I don’t care if you treated me like a queen."

Then her voice changed.

Deeper and sharper.

The voice of long-held fury—a storm nurtured in silence for years.

"And why are you acting like I owe you something?"

Her words cut like a knife.

"Why are you acting like I asked for this? Like I told you to give me everything? Like I told you to kill Caesar?"

Julius Caesar Castria.

Rome’s brother. The one he murdered.

"Why?" Emily demanded. "Why are you rewriting the past?"

Rome growled, "It was him or you."

"I chose you. I killed him for you. Because I loved you more than anything."

Emily... laughed.

Not a laugh of joy.

But a hollow and docking laugh.

"You’re embarrassing, Rome."

"You didn’t kill him for me."

"You killed him because you were afraid."

"Because you were jealous."

"Because you’ve always had that pathetic inferiority complex."

She took a step forward.

"You killed him because he was better than you."

"You were only Crown Prince because of your mother. Because she was the official wife. And because Julius was a concubine’s son."

"You didn’t earn anything. You were handed this palace—this crown."

She gestured at the opulence around them with disgust.

"You hated him because he was more talented. More beloved. Stronger. Smarter."

"And when the chance came, you took it. You killed him in cold blood without remorse."

Her voice dropped.

"So don’t you dare talk about love. You don’t even love yourself. How could you love anyone else?"

Emily’s voice became venomous.

"You are a filthy coward."

Rome flinched, her words slicing straight into the core of everything he’d tried to hide.

His mask shattered.

"I-I’m not—"

"Enough."

Noah’s voice silenced the room.

Rome’s mouth snapped shut.

"I understand now the truth behind all this. But I don’t have time for this pathetic performance."

Noah’s eyes drifted off-screen. Just beyond the projection, Sophie stood, silent.

She wasn’t meant to see this.

Hair alive with crackling lightning. A crimson thunderbolt tattoo glowed on her forehead like a brand of power.

Noah hadn’t expected this much evolution from her.

But she’d exceeded everything.

He was proud. In awe, even.

That’s why—

Noah turned back to the screen.

Rome and Emily. Isac and Albert kneeling in the background.

Time to finish this.

"You don’t need me to explain it," Noah said calmly. "You have eyes. You saw your sons."

"They’ve gone to the demon continent and made a pact with a demon. Not any demon, it was a demon lord."

"All to win the throne."

He let the silence hang.

"Do you know what will happen if this gets out?"

Rome’s lips trembled.

He had seen the truth—seen the unnatural darkness in Isac and Albert’s eyes.

He knew.

He’d heard of others—humans who sold their souls for power.

Slaves to demons.

But to see his own sons fall to that?

’Did I fail them?’

’Did I fail... as a father?’

Even now, all he could feel was the weight of uselessness.

’Did I ever do anything right?’

His voice was hollow when he asked, "What... what do you want?"

Noah’s expression didn’t change.

"I’m not here to force anything, Rome."

"I’m not asking you to hand Sophie the throne."

"I want just one thing."

His eyes glowed—white, runic, divine.

"A battle."

"Your two sons versus Sophie."

"Both of them at the same time, if they want. I don’t care."

"If she wins... she takes the throne."

"Not because you gave it to her."

"Not because I gave it to her."

Noah’s voice lowered.

"But because she earned it."

That was his goal since the beginning.

He would not insult Sophie’s journey by gifting her power.

She had worked for it. Bled for it. Suffered for it.

And she would claim it with her own hands.

Noah turned his head toward her.

And there he find Sophie looking at him with her eyes wide, lightning in her veins and love in her soul.