Riley took the sheet of parchment with nervous hands.
"Sir Riley Singer. Sir Helix Hellsgate Margrave has requested that…."
Riley's eyes welled with tears.
Marie and Charlotte looked at Riley in confusion.
She wasn't one to become emotional immediately.
"I tell you how much he loves you in this letter.
As the most selfless of the Earthians, you're never in the spotlight, so you deserve something… special."
Riley burst into tears, and Marie and Charlotte's faces developed blinding smiles.
The two ran up to Riley to hug her.
The young woman laughed and cried at the attention.
"This is…." Riley choked.
"Is surreal. And… that happiest day of my life."
Helix's partners hugged her and held her tight.
Riley took out the ring in the envelope, which was extremely minimalistic.
It was a plain silver band with nothing on it.
Everyone was confused at first, but they knew nothing Helix did was so simple.
Helix reached out his hand to accept it from her.
He took the ring, took a knee, and looked into Riley's eyes.
"Riley. Will you marry me?"
Riley burst out into tears.
Charlotte watched the spectacle with narrowed eyes.
She was waiting for the twist.
Marie was too happy watching Riley and didn't notice.
"If you'll have me, I'd love to!" Riley exclaimed.
The moment the finger touched Riley's finger, it transformed into the most dazzling ring the women had ever seen.
It was an onyx-colored stone with waves of vibrant yellow electricity waving over it in a beautiful design.
It was extremely subtle, and the effect looked like simple sparkles if one didn't look closely.
With the improved eyesight of his partners, they could see it clear as day.
"Riley." Helix called with a gentle voice.
She looked at him with wide eyes.
"I made you this stoneless ring because you're gentle, simple, and appealing on the surface." Helix began with a warm smile.
"But anyone that knows you understands you have the most vibrant, stunning, and electric personality among us."
Riley burst into tears again, and Marie and Charlotte hugged her with tears rolling down their cheeks.
"Those waves of electricity you see are easy for us to see." Helix continued with a mysterious smile.
His partners looked down at the ring with wide eyes.
"However, normal soldiers need a Level 140 agility stat higher to even see it sparkle."
Marie, Charlotte, and Riley turned to Helix with shocked eyes.
He chuckled at their response and continued with a genuine, gentle expression.
"I did that because very few people can see how wonderful you really are," Helix claimed with a charming smile.
Charlotte squealed, triggering Marie to start hopping up and down.
Riley looked at the ring in a stunned state as his partners danced around her.
"It requires around Level 50 Earthian stats to see the electricity wave." Helix continued with a mysterious smile.
His partners turned to him with shock.
"Even Tilo can't see them." He chuckled with a sassy smile.
"That's my way of saying that only [we] understand just how perfect you are."
Marie and Charlotte squealed again and hugged Riley, who was sobbing.
Helix stood up and grabbed Riley's hand.
"The day you became my partner, you asked me what harem girlfriends do." He said with a dazzling smile.
Marie, Charlotte, and Riley looked at him with wide eyes.
"I told you we'd figure it out." Helix said with a mysterious smile.
"As it turns out, they live together, fight together, protect each other, fall in love together—"
Riley's emotions overflowed as she waited for Helix's final words.
"And then get married."
Tears of joy flowed in the room, and the partners hugged each other.
"I'm so… happy." Riley replied with gentle tears.
"I… wanted to be selfish and request we spend our lives together.
Now I'm being told I'm selfless, and you want me too."
Helix chuckled and felt a small pang in his heart.
"I don't… I'm grateful. I'm so happy to spend my life with you."
He reached out his hands, embraced her face, and kissed her.
It was a simple kiss that held powerful meaning despite its simplicity.
"Oh…." Helix commented with a cheeky smile.
"I don't have a normal illusion for you, because your illusion will come the day of the wedding."
Riley's eyes widened in surprise, and the others followed.
Helix smiled and gave them all mysterious expressions.
"While everyone enter the ceremony on different mounts."
The excitement in the room reached a fever pitch.
"Only you'll get to ride [this]."
The room warped, and the backdrop enveloped their faces with gold and white light.
Riley's eyes widened in shock, and tears rolled down her eyes.
"Wheeeeeew!" Charlotte whistled.
"If Hellie didn't go hard when he gave me my gift, even I'd be crying in jealousy."
Marie giggled.
"If Helix didn't create a new species to name after me, I'd be crying too."
The group burst into giggles and laughter.
Riley was stunned, and her heart was pounding.
"I've created a Circle of Illusion that will recreate this image of a [Wico Hawk]." Helix explained with a warm smile.
"So you'll get to ride him."
Riley's eyes welled with excitement.
"Both of you will get to ride stunning, magical creatures as well, but only one can ride this one."
Marie and Charlotte's eyes sparkled when they learned they could ride into the wedding with magical mounts.
"Now, may I?" Helix asked while reaching out his hand to the parchment.
Riley nodded and the others' hearts filled with anticipation.
She handed him the document with shaky hands.
Everyone waited with bated breath.
Marie was initially devastated, but now she was conflicted with excitement for whatever came as the offer.
—
[A/N: Short chapter—on purpose.
Read the title; Riley gets a [special] chapter title.
It's sad, though.
It's special, but in reality, she's getting her [character chapter]—last, as always.
Riley deserved this long ago.
I'm sad to tell you that it's intentional she hasn't and has [always] been intentional.
The reason she's getting her character chapter now is that the mystery behind why Riley's so lovable is being addressed for the first time.
Let's talk about Riley.
I promised she was a special character from the beginning; that had nothing to do with her [personality].
She's special because of a [character trait]—that's why I was so confident.
Riley's character is deceptive; she seems one-dimensional, but somehow, you might feel emotionally attached to her. Why?
Excessively nice characters aren't loveable and memorable.
Riley's not profound or funny and doesn't provide a Yandere factor greater than the others.
Worse, Riley's a sad character that gets [neglected], so why?
I hope you realize by now that Riley is lovable for the most depressing reason possible—
She feels she's not worthy of Helix or equal to Marie and Charlotte.
As a result, she's [genuinely] grateful she's even with them.
It allows them to be happy without conflict.
Riley isn't [selfless].
Her gratitude isn't a front.
It's not an internal justification.
It's true; that's why she's unique.
Riley's not making [sacrifices] for the sake of others in her mind.
When she asks for attention, she genuinely feels [selfish].
That's sad.
However, it's also positive.
That mindset allows her to be [genuinely happy] in their relationship despite always being last.
Helix is grateful to Riley chapter after chapter for that character trait.
It's a reality that having three people is uneven, unfair, and frustrating—one person is always left out.
Then there's conflict.
Therefore, Helix always tries to give her special things when he can because he [needs] her sacrifices to keep Marie and Charlotte happy.
This novel is realistic, and I'd have to examine what a real harem would look like if she had a strong character.
I don't like that dynamic—and neither would you.
So I selfishly created Riley's character to allow for a happy relationship while maintaining [Nightmare]'s realistic equilibrium.
Riley is lovable because she allows their relationship to thrive by accepting her position as last.
She's the glue that allows the emotional relationship to work.
It's a sad reality that a point [may] never come where Riley gets the same equal treatment as the others.
The reason is simple—Marie and Charlotte might treat Riley, but they're forced to sacrifice.
People don't always do that.
It's depressing, but if I removed that trait, you'd forget why Riley's special.
She would just be one-dimensionally kind and willing to spring into action at the drop of a dime.
That's rough, isn't it?
Creating a visually and emotionally magical scene for Riley would be [disrespectful] to her.
Letting her [experience] his love instead of [hearing] it is the most amazing thing he can offer.
She must be put on display and [shown] Helix's love, not told about it.
Do you understand why Riley's scene is so important?
In my eyes, she had the most beautiful, meaningful scene of the three.
Hopefully, this sheds insight on Riley and why you may love her.
Note: If a fourth person comes into the fray, alternating doesn't get awkward, and Riley's character can thrive.
Forced rotation; no one would leave Riley out. That's another reality.
Helix would [have an excuse] and wouldn't let them.]
—
Power stones and grammatical errors = more content. :)
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