*** Before you begin, I wanted to explain something. Writing a proper romance in a harem setting is impossible. You can never give equal focus to everyone. Plus it's difficult to portray each Characters unique personalities.
This one isn't upto my standard, and since I can't write R-18 stuff, there's nothing to distract you guys lol
anyway, I have decided to stop the harem stuff here. Nasuverse girls may or may not be included when I write those arcs. Open ended plotlines, so can go either way.
The main focus is and always will be the story, and writing 20 chapters of just harem interaction isn't on my mind. So I'll just wrap it up and focus on the actual plot xD ****
The shimmer of golden light tore through Avalon's air, and with it came a sudden crash. Grail fell, landing awkwardly in the soft grass of the villa's gazebo. She let out a grunt as the impact knocked the wind out of her, and her limbs splayed across the floor like a fallen warrior — albeit one completely out of place in Avalon's serene gardens.
Moments later, the rustle of movement announced the arrival of the household's first observers. Hera's sharp voice rang out immediately. "What in the world…?"
Hippolyta's laughter followed. "Someone's made quite the entrance."
Grail's eyes flickered open, confused and still processing her surroundings. Her gaze landed on two imposing figures, dressed casually in robes of soft fabric that did nothing to diminish the centuries of authority they exuded. The aura around them made her flinch reflexively. But her new god heritage didn't allow her to submit.
Hera's eyes narrowed as she stepped closer, her gaze sweeping over Grail with a mixture of suspicion and interest. "You there. Identify yourself."
Grail struggled to her feet, brushing herself off. "I'm Grail, daughter of Darkseid—" she began, but then noticed the small strip of parchment fluttering against her forehead. She instinctively reached up, peeling it away. Hera and Hippolyta also craned their necks to read.
The note read:
Keep an eye on her. She's greedy for my body, and… I might have accidentally assaulted her.
Hippolyta snorted, a sound that carried genuine amusement. "Oh… my. That is… exactly like Husband. Didn't he went off to kill her father? "
Hera's expression shifted from suspicion to incredulity. "Absolutely infuriating. Of all the women in the universe, You're the girl he just sent back? Darkseid's daughter! This is weird even by his limits."
Grail straightened her back, meeting their gaze with confidence. "Yes. He sent me back here although I might have forced his hand. I'm not here to cause trouble. I just wish to make a declaration. I want him as my partner. I want to bear a child with him, a strong child. I am ready to accept all that entails."
Hera blinked, her usual composure momentarily shaken. " Are you being serious? So the partt about being greedy for his body was true!"
"I merely wish to have the one I consider worthy of me as my partner." Grail said, her voice unwavering. "I am not weak. I am not here to cause a mess. I just want to know more about him, to have his affection. And I will be by his side."
Hippolyta's eyes glimmered with both amusement and appraisal. "Well, that is… certainly bold. You have no illusions about the women of this household, yes? You knew he has married 3 wives before you showed up?"
Grail lifted her chin. "I know. I do not fear you, nor do I disrespect you. I simply know what I want, and I am willing to fight for it." Then her look changed, "Wait, who's the 3rd one?"
Hera pinched the bridge of her nose, letting out a low sigh. "Bold… reckless… and her mind is like mine when I first fell in love with husband. Definitely Edward's type."
She looked at the voluptuous breasts of Grail, making her squirm a little. " He likes big ones alright."
Hippolyta chuckled. " I look forward to seeing Sister Death's reaction to this one. She will probably teach husband a lesson. I hope she doesn't scare this one."
Hera looked at Hippolyta and sighed, then back at Grail. "Very well. You will stay under our supervision. Consider it… for your safety. But don't misunderstand. If you try to overstep, there will be consequences. If you are truly willing to start over , we will give you that chance."
Grail's eyes narrowed slightly, but her confidence didn't waver. "I understand. I am ready to be judged by you. I have done many bad things, and I accept them. I only wish to prove myself capable of standing beside him."
Hippolyta chuckled softly. "Prove yourself, yes. But don't think we won't interfere if you act too foolishly. We are already tired taking care of the kids being chaotic.
And Edward's chaos is… challenging enough without someone else rushing into it."
"I am aware," Grail replied, meeting both women's gazes steadily. "I did not come here lightly. I know his wives are not idle, and I respect your power, experience, and authority. I am not here to replace you. I am here to claim my place with him, if he will allow it. He is the only one I can turn to now."
Hera tilted her head, observing her carefully. "Interesting. Most people arriving here would be cowering, or trying to curry favor. You… are just horny, even after being thrown into our garden?"
"I do not know what you mean," Grail blushed. Her gaze lowered. "I will not be dismissed, and I will not be ignored. If Edward is willing, I will be his partner, fully and without hesitation. I want his trust, his guidance, and… his child."
Hippolyta smirked, the teasing edge returning to her voice. "Well, someone has ambition. I suppose Edward will be… entertained by this. He has a soft spot for her if he sent her here."
Hera let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Entertained is one way to put it. Infuriated would be another. You have no idea the kinds of nonsense Edward does, the things he says, the chaos he leaves behind. You really want to jump into that?"
"I do," Grail said firmly. "Because it is him. And because I feel attracted to him. "
The two women shared a look, half amusement, half approval. "Very well,"
Hippolyta said. "You may stay. But remember: Avalon has rules, and we enforce them. Step out of line, and you'll regret it."
"I will respect that," Grail replied calmly. "And I will prove my worth."
Hera shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Edward will have a field day when he returns. I will go prepare the popcorn."
Grail's eyes glinted with a mix of determination and mischief. "Let him. He will see soon enough that I am serious. That I am capable. And that I will not be ignored."
Hippolyta laughed softly. "You are certainly… unique. And you dare to make claims about our husband. Bold. Dangerous. Interesting. We will watch, and… perhaps be entertained."
Hera added, " Yes, definitely better to watch a live drama."
Grail nodded once, firmly. "I understand. I am ready."
For a moment, the gazebo was quiet, the tension easing slightly. Grail had landed unexpectedly, with nothing but a ridiculous note and a weirdly straight forward demand.
Hera exhaled, shaking her head, amusement and exasperation warring in her expression. "I suppose we shall see just how long she survives Edward's chaos… and how well she adapts to our interesting family."
Grail's eyes gleamed with determination. "I will survive. And I will be by his side, no matter what."
***
Hours passed, and the villa settled into its usual rhythm. The children returned from their own activities, curiosity piqued immediately by the new presence. Alphonse's eyes were wide as he spotted Grail in the garden. "Who… who's that?"
Cassie leaned forward, eyebrows furrowed. "Yeah, seriously. Who fell from the sky and landed in our gazebo?"
Grail straightened, trying to look composed. "I'm Grail. I was sent back here… by him."
Alphonse frowned. "By him? You mean… Dad?"
Grail nodded. "Yes. He apparently left… a note."
Sophrosyne, ever calm, raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. "A note? You mean like a warning label ?"
Grail held the parchment carefully and turned her head with embarrassment. "Something like that."
Alphonse leaned closer, curiosity winning over caution. "Can we see it?"
Hippolyta quickly stepped between him and Grail. "No. That note is not for children. And certainly not for you," she said pointedly.
Cassie's gaze darted to the note and back to the family. " Is it something sexual? We are old enough to know that stuff. "
Hera pinched the bridge of her nose. "No, you're not! And don't talk like that, I'll have your dad give you another spanking."
Cassie crossed her arms, smirking. "Sounds like a typical day with Dad."
Sophrosyne simply observed, expression neutral. "That explains a lot about why he needs supervision from Mom."
Alphonse's eyes gleamed with mischief. "I think it's hilarious."
Hippolyta's jaw tightened, but a flicker of a smile crossed her face. "You're ridiculous, Al. That's… wrong. And don't laugh at it too hard."
Hera guided her away from there. " Tell us more about yourself."
Grail sighed. " Well, My mother was amazon who escaped Themiscyra after falling for the wrong guy. She thought she could convince my father with her sincerety. She gave birth to me, but Darkseid didn't care much for her.
Eventually, her love turned to hatred , and she raised me to hate him. Darkseid found out and killed her in front of me, saying it would kill my weakness. I was taken, trained like a warrior to kill my whole life. I knew I was weak, so I devoted myself to become stronger, so I could take my revenge.
Everyone saw me as a monster, same as my father. But not him. Despite my excessive trantrums, he didn't kill me or harm me. He was the first man to defeat me so utterly, yet didn't stake his claim over me. I guess that started my obsession with him."
Hera whistled. " You've been through a lot."
Hippolyta sighed. " So that's what happened to Meerena. I am sorry for what happened to you. And I'm glad that you could look beyond revenge."
Grail smiled sadly. "I still wish to kill Darkseid, but I want Edward to care for me more than that. I want to show that despite everything, I really do care for him."
****
The shimmer of golden light returned to Avalon once more, but this time it was not accompanied by crashing bodies or the scent of battle. Instead, it heralded Edward's return, and the villa's air seemed to hold its breath, aware that the storm had passed but its aftermath was about to arrive.
Edward stepped onto the sun deck, the faint glow of exhaustion in his eyes hidden beneath his usual cocky grin. He had just left the chaos of Darkseid's collapse behind him. Avalon, serene and eternal, welcomed him like the calm after a storm.
His gaze swept over the area. The children were scattered across the sun deck and gardens, involved in their usual mixture of mischief and learning.
Alphonse was fussing over some mechanical contraption, smudges of soot and oil marking his hands and sleeves. Cassie leaned against a railing, arms crossed, pretending disinterest but clearly keeping an eye on her brother's antics. Sophrosyne, as ever, sat quietly with his book, his sharp gaze noting everything without disturbing a single leaf.
But Edward's eyes were drawn elsewhere — to the gazebo, where the golden sunlight caught the shimmer of another presence.
Grail stood there, shoulders squared, eyes bright, a smirk curling her lips . The note on her forehead had long been read, discarded, but the memory of it lingered like an echo of Edward's characteristic absurdity.
Hera's voice broke the quiet, laced with both relief and irritation. "Edward. Finally." She stepped forward, her casual attire doing little to diminish the centuries of authority she carried. "You've been gone far too long. I was beginning to think you'd abandoned the concept of family dinner entirely."
Edward smirked, hands casually resting on his hips. "And miss all the fun waiting for me? Never."
His eyes flicked toward Grail, lingering just long enough to tease. "Though… someone seems to have settled in quite comfortably in my absence."
Grail tilted her head, unabashed. "I've been waiting for you. I told your wives the truth. I want to be your partner. I want… to have a strong child with you. I have betrayed my father, you're all I have." Her voice was clear, unyielding, and the audacity in her gaze made even Hera blink.
Hippolyta's arms crossed, amusement and disbelief mingling in her expression. "You really don't waste time, do you?"
"No," Grail replied, stepping forward, unbowed. "I don't. If I want something, I take it. I want Edward, and I will prove I am worthy of him."
Edward's grin widened, almost teasing . "Well, my hot and crazy stalker, you certainly have… spirit. I left you here under my wives' watch, and it seems you've survived their… special brand of supervision."
Hera shook her head, exasperated but smiling despite herself. "Special supervision? That's one way to put it. Edward, you leave the strangest things in our care, and this… this is why we have rules."
Grail's eyes met Hera's. "I understand your concerns. I will follow your rules if they keep me here safely. But I will not hide who I am, and I will not hide what I want."
Edward chuckled, finally stepping closer, tilting his head as he studied her with that mixture of admiration and mischief he reserved for few. "And you think you can stand up to me, after everything you've seen, after everything you've been through?"
"Stand beside you," she corrected firmly. "I will. Because I am not afraid. I never have been. And I will not start now."
Alphonse's head popped up from his half-repaired machine. "Uh… Dad?" His voice held curiosity tinged with caution. "Who's she really? Are you guys actually..."
Edward glanced at his son, eyes twinkling. "That, my nerdy yet gullible son, is Grail. She just arrived while I was gone. And apparently, she's in line to be your new mommy ."
Cassie leaned forward, smirk tugging at her lips. "Ambitious, huh? She looks like trouble. But I'll support her if she becomes my sparring partner."
"She is trouble," Edward said, mock solemnity in his voice. "But… interesting trouble. Definitely not boring."
He turned his gaze back to Grail. "I have to say, I admire your confidence. Most people who land here like that would be shaking in their boots."
"I have never been the type to shake," Grail said, stepping closer to him. "I want you. I am willing to prove it, in every way. I want a child with you. And....maybe even what they have...a family." Her eyes didn't falter.
Hera and Hippolyta exchanged a look, their amusement barely contained. Hera's lips curved in a faint, exasperated smile. "Well… she's certainly… audacious. Edward, did you train her to be this bold?"
Edward shook his head slowly, still smirking. "Nope. She's all her own kind of crazy." He looked back at Grail, voice softening just slightly. "And that makes her all the more interesting."
Cassie leaned forward, hands on her knees. "Dad, seriously…? And you're just… okay with her saying all that?"
Edward gave her a playful glare. "Why not? Confidence is rare. And she clearly has… certain... Assets."
Alphonse frowned, muttering under his breath. "Assets? Dad… really? She's got the whole dark and mature vibe going on like Aunty Death. You just want an excuse."
Edward glared at him. " And what do you know about it Mr. Never got a girlfriend?"
Alphonse winced. " That's a low blow Dad."
Grail's eyes glimmered with determination. " I will claim what I want. We will be together. "
Cassie rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath. "I can't believe this is happening. My dad has 3 wives and a new lover!"
Alphonse, on the other hand, brightened. "This is exciting! Someone new to test our house rules and see how things go! Finally, some action!"
Soph spoke calmly. "Mom said she will be coming home soon to discuss your new 'lover'. She said you should prepare yourself. "
He chuckled nervously. " Um..yes, I'm looking forward to that."
Edward's eyes scanned his children, pride and mischief both present. "That's the spirit. But remember — the first rule of Avalon is never underestimate anyone. And never harm your family. Ever."
Grail's gaze softened slightly, directed at Edward. "I understand. And I will not fail your expectations."
She then stepped closer to hug him, and her previous demanor changed, replaced by a silly smile" hmm, you smell nice. Since you accepted me, we could be considered as partners. " She whispered softly. " I can't wait to have you shower me with affection, dear Edward."
Edward tried to push her back. "The kids are watching! Keep your lewd body away from me! " But his push didn't have much strength.
Grail tightened her grip and smirked, breathing on his ear." You should be happy dear. You are my first man, and you have me all to yourself. I will make sure you are charmed by me so much that you won't be able to keep your hands off me."
Alphonse choked. " Guys! We can literally hear you! We have super hearing although I wish we didn't."
Cassie was also disgusted. "I lost my appetite."
Soph was reading as usual. "I am glad I can erase parts of my memory. "
Edward smirked, finally taking a step back and stretching his arms casually. "Well then… welcome to Avalon, Grail. You've arrived in style, and declared your intentions. That's more than most can do. Now… let's see if you can keep up."
"I thank you all for your acceptance," Grail said firmly bowing to others, then she turned to him. "And I will not falter. I will make you feel the same way as I do."
Edward clapped his hands together lightly, satisfied. "Good. Now… let's see what chaos we can all survive together."
The sun cast its golden light over Avalon, illuminating Grail, his wives, and the children in a serene scene of authority, warmth, and playful mischief.
Edward's grin widened as he observed the unusual family dynamics at play, knowing full well that chaos was only beginning. He felt entirely at home.