Chapter 22 - 23 – “I Tried to Escape the Marriage Deadline and Accidentally Became the Prince of a Magical Kingdom”

1. Escape Plan #47: Run and Regret Later

Seven days.

That’s how long I had to choose one girl to marry, or I’d be locked in "eternal romantic limbo."

Which I’m pretty sure is what my entire harem life already is.

So naturally, I did the only logical thing a man facing impossible romantic pressure would do:

I ran away.

"Where are you even going?!" Airi yelled as I sprinted down the hallway with nothing but a duffel bag full of snacks, a hoodie, and a full-size body pillow of myself (long story).

"Away!" I shouted. "To a place where demon marriage pacts don’t exist!"

"You mean... literally nowhere?!"

Fair.

But still, I dove headfirst into the glowing portal that opened in my closet.

I didn’t know where it led.

I also didn’t know it had been set to "Random Fantasy Kingdom: Chaos Difficulty."

2. Welcome to Elfangard, the Kingdom of Mistaken Identity

I landed in a meadow. Not bad.

Birds chirped. Sparkling rivers. Friendly mushrooms waved. Normal stuff.

Then a trumpet sounded.

"HE HAS ARRIVED!" someone shouted.

Before I could ask who, a dozen knights rode up, jumped off their unicorn-lizard-horse hybrids, and bowed.

"Your Highness," said the tallest one. "At last, the Prince of Prophecy returns!"

"...Sorry, I think you’ve got the wrong—"

"No! We would recognize the sacred hoodie anywhere!"

They hoisted me onto a golden platform before I could finish panicking.

3. Turns Out, I’m a Magical Prince Now

I was taken to a castle.

A really big one.

Like, hallways-have-their-own-hallways big.

I was dressed in royal robes that itched and came with sparkly epaulets.

Then they told me I was the long-lost magical prince prophesied to defeat the Dark Marriage Demon who had cursed their kingdom.

I blinked. "What is it with me and marriage demons lately?!"

"The prophecy says only the One With the Harem Aura can defeat him."

I immediately denied everything.

Then I tripped, and six local princesses tried to catch me at once.

"...Okay maybe they have a point."

4. Back at Home: The Harem Reacts

Meanwhile, back in the normal dimension—

Sayuri: "He ran?" (Sharpening swords)

Lilith: "Coward. I love it. I will chase him down and punish him personally."

Ayaka: "Should we throw another party to lure him back?"

Luna: Already opened a portal using moonlight and emotional damage

Mizuki: Filing an interdimensional legal request for extradition

Airi: "On today’s episode of Harem Hunter: Kazuki Edition, our boy is now royalty! Let’s see how long it takes before he breaks down."

5. Political Marriage Negotiations (aka More Girls)

As the newly declared Prince, I was introduced to my "noble suitors."

Princess Mirelle of the Sapphire Isles: Calm, terrifying with a fan.

Duchess Noelle, heir to a kingdom made of floating islands and sass.

General Kaela, who flexed and broke a table while saying hello.

Lady Elira, a shy mage who accidentally summoned a bouquet and a goat when she blushed.

Each of them offered peace treaties.

Each of those treaties included... marriage clauses.

I screamed internally.

6. And Then the OG Harem Showed Up

Because of course they did.

Right as I was being crowned, the sky ripped open.

From it descended Sayuri, Luna, Mizuki, Ayaka, and Lilith—each one standing on their own flying platforms.

Lilith: "I see you got engaged to five more people. I’m impressed. And furious."

Sayuri: "Pick now or bleed."

Ayaka: "Is this a castle wedding? I’m thinking sparkles, pastels, and knives."

Luna: Raises an eyebrow, already calculating magical trajectories

Mizuki: Holds up contract with a flaming "VOIDED" stamp

Airi followed casually behind them with popcorn.

Airi: "Place your bets! Will Kazuki survive this or pass out again?"

Spoiler: I passed out again.

7. Kazuki’s Dream Sequence (aka Warning from the Demon)

In my unconscious state, the marriage demon reappeared.

He wore a flaming wedding veil now.

"YOU CANNOT ESCAPE, KAZUKI ARATA."

"THE CLOCK TICKS. THE BOUQUET SHALL BE THROWN. THE HONEYMOON... IS ETERNAL."

I woke up screaming into a pile of princesses.

End of Chapter 23

✅ Call to Action:

💍 Who should Kazuki pick:

The original harem? The royal fantasy girls? Or... none of them??

😂 What would YOU do if you were declared a magical prince with a mandatory wife deadline?

🔥 Comment with your team:

#TeamSayuri #TeamLilith #TeamAyaka #TeamLuna #TeamMizuki #TeamNewPrincessChaos

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