I'm the Villain, But the Heroines Keep Choosing Me-Chapter 94: I don’t Control It

The name hung in the air between them.

"He’s both?" Damien acted surprised. "I knew he had divine blessing, but I thought he was primarily a battle mage."

"He’s both," Elara confirmed. "The first person in over a century who can channel divine magic at High Priest level while also being an C-class battle mage and growing rapidly. He has been blessed to become the most powerful warrior in the Empire. The ultimate hero."

"He seems he’s quite capable," Damien finished quietly.

"He is chosen," Elara corrected. "But yes. If Aldric has been training since we last saw him, if he’s been developing both types of magic simultaneously..." She trailed off, the implications clear.

"He’d be dangerous," Seria concluded. "Possibly more dangerous than the Imperial Guards we’re watching."

They fell silent, each contemplating that reality. Seria and Elara didn’t think much of it, only slightly uncomfortable with the fact that Aldric was not fond of Damien.

Damien knew better than to be slightly uncomfortable.

Finally, he pushed away from the railing. "Then it’s a good thing he is on our side then."

"Yes," Seria said quietly. "I only hope he doesn’t see his disagreement with you as anything more than that..."

"One crisis at a time," Damien said, though her concern echoed his own private worries. "Right now, let’s focus on the empire-wide demon conspiracy. We’ll deal with the possibly-enemy hero later."

They continued their exploration, moving through the Cultural District where street performers entertained crowds, past the Noble Quarter with its ridiculous mansions and perfectly manicured gardens, and finally to the River District where water from the surrounding mountains flowed through elaborate canal systems.

"It’s beautiful," Elara said, watching the sunset paint the water in shades of orange and gold. "And overwhelming. Our entire kingdom could fit in one quarter of this city."

"Makes you realize how small we’ve been operating," Seria agreed. "The problems we solved back home – they mattered, but they were local. This..." She gestured to the sprawling metropolis. "This is a different scale entirely."

"Same principles, though," Damien said. "Whether you’re protecting one person or one million, the fundamentals don’t change. You identify the threat, develop a strategy, and execute with the resources available."

"Listen to you, sounding like a proper military commander," Seria teased.

"I learned from the best."

They found a small restaurant in the River District – nothing fancy, just good food and reasonable prices by Imperial Capital standards. Over dinner, they discussed the day, the Emperor’s offer, the sheer scope of what they’d agreed to.

"I still can’t believe he just handed us imperial authority," Elara said, working through a plate of roasted vegetables and river fish. "That kind of power in the wrong hands could be catastrophic."

"He’s gambling that we’re the right hands," Damien replied. "And he’s probably having us followed by Imperial intelligence to ensure we don’t abuse it."

Seria nearly choked on her wine. "You think we’re under surveillance?"

"Absolutely. The Emperor didn’t survive this long by trusting people at their word. He’ll verify everything we do, probably has agents watching us right now." Damien took a casual sip of his own drink. "Which is fine. We’re not planning anything nefarious. Let them watch us be competent and trustworthy. It’ll only strengthen our position."

"You’re terrifyingly good at political thinking," Elara observed.

"It’s been very important that I am, and sometimes the corruption helps with that," He said it matter-of-factly, but both women immediately shifted their attention to him.

"Are you feeling it now?" Seria asked. "The detachment?"

"Not really. It’s manageable. Having you both here helps." He reached under the table to take their hands – Elara’s on his left, Seria’s on his right. "You both push back the worst of it."

They finished dinner as the last light faded from the sky, then made their way back to their residence through streets now lit by magical lanterns that cast everything in soft, warm light.

---

The residence was quiet when they returned. The staff had prepared evening refreshments and turned down the beds, then discreetly disappeared to give them privacy.

"I could get used to this level of service," Seria admitted, collapsing onto one of the comfortable sofas in the main sitting room. "Having people who just... handle things without needing instruction."

"Don’t," Elara warned, settling beside her. "That’s how nobles lose touch with reality. Start thinking servants are invisible furniture rather than people."

"Fair point." Seria shifted to make room. "Though I maintain that having someone else prepare my bath is a luxury worth appreciating."

Damien moved to the window, looking out over the city lights. Somewhere out there, demon forces were planning their next move. Somewhere out there, the person – or thing – orchestrating the empire-wide attacks was watching and waiting.

Tomorrow, they’d start the actual investigation. Begin pulling threads, following leads, trying to unravel a conspiracy that spanned the known world.

"Come sit," Elara called. "You’re overthinking again."

"I don’t overthink."

"You absolutely overthink," Seria agreed. "It’s one of your more annoying qualities. Come here before we have to drag you." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

He turned from the window and moved to join them, settling into the space they’d left between them on the sofa. Immediately, both women pressed closer.

"Better," Elara declared. "The dark was starting to spike. I could feel it."

"I’m fine," he protested.

"You spent the day under incredible stress," Seria countered. "You’re managing, but that’s not the same as fine. Let us help."

So he did. Let himself relax into their presence, let the anchor bonds do their work, let the warmth of genuine connection push back the cold efficiency of corruption.

They sat in comfortable silence for a long moment, just existing together.

Then Seria spoke, her voice thoughtful. "Investigating the entire Empire. Where do we even start with something like that?"

"The demon attacks themselves," Damien said, his mind engaging despite the relaxation. "We look for patterns we haven’t identified yet. Common factors across all seven kingdoms that might point to a central organizing force."

"We should also investigate potential human collaborators," Elara added. "The demons need information about imperial infrastructure, defensive capabilities, resource locations. Someone has to be feeding them that intelligence."

"Captain Marcus was a collaborator back home," Seria said darkly. "If there’s one traitor in imperial service, there are probably more. We need to identify who has access to the kind of information the demons are using."

"That’s a massive pool of suspects," Damien pointed out. "Military officers, noble house spymasters, merchant guild leaders, Church officials – anyone with empire-wide connections could potentially be involved."

"So we narrow it down," Seria said.

"Look for people who’ve shown up in multiple locations shortly before attacks. Financial irregularities that suggest bribery or blackmail. Communication patterns that don’t match official duties."

"Intelligence work," Elara said with a sigh. "I’m much better at theology and reform than espionage."

"You’re better at reading people than you give yourself credit for," Damien assured her. "Half of espionage is understanding human motivation. You’ve been navigating Church politics for months – that’s basically the same skill set."

They continued planning in comfortable, low-stakes discussion.

Eventually, Elara stood and stretched. "I’m going to change into something that doesn’t make me feel like a holy decoration. These robes are beautiful but deeply impractical."

"I’ll do the same," Seria agreed. "This ceremonial armor is starting to chafe."

They both disappeared into their respective bedrooms, leaving Damien alone with his thoughts.

The day had been... significant. Meeting the Emperor, accepting an empire-sized mission, exploring a city that made their home kingdom look like a provincial village. His mind was still processing it all, cataloging information, identifying patterns, planning next steps.

The 25% made it easier to think tactically, but it also made it harder to feel the appropriate emotional weight of what they’d agreed to. The danger, the responsibility, the sheer impossibility of the task.

Elara emerged first, having traded the elaborate High Priestess robes for a simple silk nightgown that managed to be both modest and appealing. Her golden hair was down now, freed from the formal styling, and she looked more like herself.

Seria followed moments later in sleeping clothes that were characteristically practical – loose trousers and a soft shirt that allowed for movement. But there was something different about her posture, more relaxed than usual.

They both settled back on the sofa, flanking him again.

"Better?" Elara asked, studying his face.

"Getting there," he admitted.

The three of them sat in comfortable silence as the evening deepened into night.

That’s when it happened.

Damien felt it before he fully registered what was causing it – the shift in his body, blood flowing in a very specific direction, responding to proximity and warmth and the sheer domestic intimacy of the moment.

He was getting hard.

Not from active arousal or sexual thought, just from being close to both women. From the casual touches, the warmth between all three of them.

He shifted slightly, trying to adjust discreetly.

Elara noticed immediately. Her eyes flicked down, then back up to his face, and her expression transformed into something between amusement and predatory interest.

She caught Seria’s eye and smiled – the kind of smile that promised trouble.

Seria followed Elara’s gaze, saw what had captured her attention, and her own expression shifted. Not shocked or scandalized – they were well past that. Just... interested.

"Well," Elara said, her voice carrying that playful edge that meant she was about to be insufferable. "That’s certainly a development."

"I – " Damien started, but he had no idea how to finish that sentence.

Seria’s smile was slower but no less dangerous. "Someone’s feeling better."

"It’s not – I wasn’t – " He stopped, realizing that any explanation would just make this worse.

Both women were watching him now with expressions that were identical in their focused attention, despite their different backgrounds and personalities.

While Damien felt...anticipation.

"You know," Elara said conversationally, still looking at him with that dangerous smile, "we did have a very stressful day. And stress relief is important for maintaining proper emotional balance."

"Very important," Seria agreed, her hand moving from his hand to his thigh.

Elara leaned closer, her voice dropping to something intimate. "We should probably do something about that."

"Probably," Seria echoed.