Cherreads

Chapter 21 - Chapter 20 - The Silent Princess!

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[Sainan – Night Sky – The Beginning of the Chaos]

VRUUUUUMMMM!

The night sky, just moments ago a peaceful tapestry of lazily blinking stars, tore open with a blinding flash. A massive spaceship ripped through the atmosphere like a rusty blade — loud, clumsy, and so lacking in subtlety it could make a military radar technician weep in despair.

Zastin, standing watch outside the Yuki household like a galactic guard dog — though with much more flair — lifted his gaze to the heavens. The breeze tugged at his silver cape, making it flutter like a war banner.

— Hmm… this doesn't look like a friendly visit — he muttered in that deep voice of someone who'd seen one too many invasions to be surprised anymore.

SPLAAAAAASH!

The ship crash-landed — no other word for it — in a vacant lot a few blocks away. Dirt and rocks exploded outward, cloaking the night sky in a cloud of orange dust.

[Makeshift Landing Zone – Moments Later]

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

The ground shuddered under the heavy steps as the ship's door groaned open, releasing ominous green mist. Out of the fog emerged Ghi Bree — a purple-skinned alien with bulging eyes and a dozen tentacles whipping the air like restless vipers. He wore a gaudy gold armor and carried a smug grin that made you want to laugh and cry at the same time.

— Hwahwahwah! — Ghi Bree cackled, tentacles snapping. — I've come to conquer! Destroy! Humiliate!

Zastin narrowed his eyes, hand resting calmly on his sword hilt.

— Tch… another desperate suitor — he muttered, straightening up.

Ghi Bree was dead serious. And like every overconfident fool, he loudly laid out his evil master plan:

— I shall kidnap Haruna-chan and Asia-chan! — he declared proudly. — Without them by Rito's side, he will crumble emotionally! Mwahahaha!

Meanwhile, across town at the Yuki house...

[Yuki Household – Living Room]

Rito was yawning, just about to crash onto the couch. Lala lay belly-down in front of the TV, kicking her feet in the air. Mikan was absorbed in a cooking magazine, while Asia dozed off, hugging a pillow.

Suddenly—

BIP! BIP! BIP!

The alien threat detector — which Lala had, of course, left on the table — started shrieking like crazy. Red lights flashed wildly, casting dancing shadows across the walls.

— Huh? — Rito raised an eyebrow, blinking away the sleep.

— Hmm... — Lala perked up, her antennae twitching. — Looks like we've got company!

Rito sighed, already feeling the weight of responsibility settling heavily on his shoulders.

[Landing Site – Explosive Encounter]

Ghi Bree slithered through the neighborhood like a drunken octopus, his tentacles stretching into windows, sniffing out traces of Asia and Haruna like they were easy prey.

And then—

CRASH!

A wall of wind exploded between them, blasting the alien backward like a paper doll caught in a storm.

Standing at the center of the gusts was Rito.

Calm. Collected. Like he'd just stepped out to grab some milk and stumbled upon a minor cosmic nuisance.

— You — said Rito, locking eyes with Ghi Bree's bulging gaze — are not laying a finger on them.

Ghi Bree's eyes widened even more — quite the feat — and he stumbled back.

— W-what?! Who do you think you are?! — he blurted, tentacles ready to strike.

Rito stepped forward, each footfall heavy and deliberate, like distant thunder rolling across the plains.

— I'm the one who's about to end this nonsense — he said, voice solid as a hammer striking steel.

WHOOSH!

Ghi Bree lunged first, his tentacles snapping like arrows toward Rito. Fast. Skilled — at least by normal standards.

But to Rito?

It was like watching a snail attempt parkour.

Without even flinching, Rito casually raised his hand — and with a crisp SNAP! — all of Ghi Bree's tentacles froze mid-air, locked as if time itself had halted.

— I-it's impossible! — the alien screeched, flailing helplessly.

With a lazy flick of his fingers, Rito sent Ghi Bree crashing into the ground — THUD! — like a sack of potatoes.

The alien groaned, his flashy armor crumpled like a crushed soda can.

— P-please, mercy! — he whimpered, his tentacles flopping pitifully.

Rito stood over him, eyes hard.

— You tried to kidnap innocent girls — his voice rumbled like a brewing storm. — I don't forgive that.

Still, he wasn't cruel. The overwhelming power within him — the Presence — granted him not just strength but responsibility.

Instead of crushing Ghi Bree like a bug, Rito conjured a containment portal — a golden circle pulsing beneath the alien, cocooning him in magical stasis.

PLOP!

Captured.

— Lala, send him back to space — Rito said casually, like he was asking to take out the trash.

[Chaos Finale: Ghi Bree's Wives]

But, of course, it couldn't end so easily.

BOOOOM!

Another ship crash-landed — or rather slammed — into the lot. From it spilled dozens of female aliens of every imaginable size, shape, and color.

Ghi Bree's wives.

Yeah. The tentacle guy wasn't just arrogant; he was ridiculously married. To a lot of women.

— GHI BREE-SAMAAAAAA! — they all shrieked in unison, rushing toward him.

Rito took a step back, an exasperated smile tugging at his lips.

— Oh, perfect. Now it's turned into a galactic soap opera — he muttered, crossing his arms.

Lala, already prepping her portable teleporter, beamed brightly.

— Let's send everyone back before another spaceship decides to crash here!

She pointed the device, which lit up in a swirl of brilliant blue.

ZUUUUMMMM!

Ghi Bree, still neatly cocooned, and all his adoring wives were sucked up into the night sky like glittering fireworks.

[Landing Site – Aftermath]

Only dust, the smell of ozone, and blessed silence remained.

Asia and Haruna ran up to Rito, their eyes wide with concern and relief.

— Rito-kun, are you okay?! — Asia asked, gripping his hand.

— You saved us — Haruna said with a soft, grateful smile.

Rito just shrugged, like it was all in a day's work — which, for him, it kind of was now.

— Just another normal afternoon — he joked, winking.

Lala threw herself into his arms, giggling.

— You're the best fiancé in the universe!

From a distance, Zastin gave a respectful nod, sheathing his sword.

The wind stirred again, sweeping away the last traces of battle.

And Rito, standing there in the middle of it all, knew deep down — no matter how many threats came their way…

With Lala, Asia, Haruna, and Mikan at his side, he could face anything.

Even a galaxy full of desperate suitors.

But with any luck…

Maybe, just maybe, tonight, the universe would let him finish dinner in peace.

***

[Deviluke Imperial Palace – Throne Room – A Few Days Later]

The golden doors creaked open with a grand, rumbling sound, echoing across the hall like the roar of a waking giant. Chandeliers bathed the colossal throne in a glow so radiant it almost looked sacred.

Gid Lucione Deviluke — Emperor of the Milky Way, ruler of billions — lounged lazily on his throne like a sleepy lion king, his half-closed eyes gleaming mischievously.

Before him, kneeling respectfully, stood Zastin.

The loyal knight inhaled deeply, the metallic sound of his armor shifting faintly.

— "I bring news about Lala-sama's fiancé," — he announced, his voice deep and echoing between the marble pillars.

Gid raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

— "What about the kid? Already gave up?"

Zastin offered a faint smile and shook his head.

— "On the contrary, Your Majesty. Yuuki Rito... has embraced his role. And more than that," — he paused dramatically — "he's made Lala-sama genuinely happy."

CLIC!

The snap of Gid's fingers echoed through the room. He straightened in his throne, golden eyes sharpening.

— "Talk straight, Zastin. Don't play with me. Is my daughter... truly happy?"

Zastin nodded firmly.

— "I've never seen her so radiant, Your Majesty. Not even during our golden days on Deviluke. With him... she laughs without fear. She smiles from her heart. She's found peace."

A heavy silence fell over the hall. Even the surveillance androids seemed to halt, processing the weight of those words.

Gid stroked his chin, thoughtful.

— "So... the brat really is something special."

— "More than special, Your Majesty," — Zastin added almost reverently. — "Yuuki Rito possesses powers beyond our understanding. He is... unique. Incomparable."

The Emperor burst into booming laughter — BOOOM! — shaking the marble floors beneath him.

— "HA! So the brat's powerful too? Even better!" — Gid slammed his hand down on the armrest, sending ripples across the marble floor. — "I'll devise a challenge he'll never forget!"

From the corner of the room, a soft chuckle interrupted his plotting.

— "Hihihi... You always think of battles first, dear," — said Sephie Michaela Deviluke, Gid's wife, gliding gracefully into the room like a goddess. Her rosy hair floated behind her like a comet of light.

Sephie smiled, her eyes gleaming with playful mischief.

— "What if," — she touched her chin delicately — "instead, I tested his heart?"

Gid frowned suspiciously.

— "Huh? What do you mean?"

Sephie let out a teasing giggle.

— "I want to see if Rito is truly faithful. I bet if he sees me," — she twirled gracefully, her gown sparkling — "he won't be able to resist my charm."

— "Are you crazy?!" — Gid shot up from his throne, the heavy structure groaning under the sudden movement. — "You're trying to steal our daughter's fiancé?!"

Sephie shrugged, laughing as if she had merely suggested a shopping trip.

— "Oh, darling... it's just a test," — she winked. — "Besides, if he's truly worthy, he'll resist even the most beautiful woman in the universe."

Zastin cleared his throat carefully.

— "Your Majesty... Lady Sephie... I highly doubt Yuuki Rito will falter. He is... one of a kind."

Gid grumbled, arms crossed.

— "We'll see..."

Meanwhile, in the far wings of the palace...

[Nana and Momo's Room – Deviluke Palace]

— "Nanaaa! Did you hear?!" — Momo shouted, bouncing excitedly on her bed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

— "Of course I heard," — Nana muttered grumpily, hugging a pillow.

Word of Lala, Rito, and their adventures on Earth had spread fast. Everyone now knew that Lala was absurdly happy with her human fiancé.

— "Hmph," — Nana pouted. — "I still think she's way too good for that guy! I can't accept that my sister — a princess — is involved with some random nobody from Earth!"

Momo, however, laughed as if she had just won a prize.

— "That's exactly why I'm so curious!" — she rested her chin in her hands, her eyes sparkling like mischievous twin stars. — "How did such a... normal human win Lala's heart? I need to see this for myself!"

— "What are you thinking, Momo?" — Nana asked suspiciously.

Momo grinned mischievously.

— "Well, little sis... what if we go to Earth next year? Enroll in a school there? Get to know this 'Rito' up close!"

— "You just want to stir up trouble!" — Nana pointed accusingly.

Momo laughed even harder.

— "Maybe..." — she winked.

The plan was already bubbling inside her like a pot ready to boil over.

[Deviluke Palace – Throne Room – Returning to the Topic]

Gid paced back and forth across the grand hall, his heavy footsteps pounding like war drums.

— "I'll come up with something epic," — he muttered. — "A worthy challenge. Maybe throw him into an interplanetary arena... or make him survive a week in the Forest of Eternal Despair..."

— "Or maybe," — Sephie teased, laughing at her husband's dramatic nature, — "you could just... talk to him first."

Gid turned to her, scandalized, as if she had spoken blasphemy.

— "Talk?! Tch."

Zastin, still kneeling, thought silently to himself: Little do they know, Rito would probably ace any challenge without even standing up.

— "Either way," — Gid finally declared with a predatory smile, — "I'll put this boy to the test."

He raised his clenched fist, as if holding Rito's fate within his palm.

— "And if he survives... well..." — Gid shrugged. — "Maybe I'll grant him my blessing."

Sephie giggled, walking over and looping her arm through Gid's.

— "And maybe," — she whispered slyly — "we'll both end up falling for him too."

Gid roared with laughter once more.

— "HAH! Good luck with that, woman! That boy... he's different."

Zastin simply smiled, bowing his head respectfully.

Different didn't even begin to describe it. Rito wasn't just human.

He was Alpha. Omega. The beginning and the end.

And even if the entire universe didn't realize it yet...

...soon enough, they would.

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