Reincarnated Into a Monster Harem Fantasy?

Mira, our feline nanny, appeared seemingly out of nowhere, her sleek panther-like form blending with the shadows. "The masters are waiting for you in the meeting room," she announced, her voice as smooth as always.

I sighed. "Okay, as expected. But do you always have to pop up like that, Mira?"

She merely smiled, a mysterious glint in her slitted eyes. "What do you mean?"

I shook my head, knowing there was no point in pressing her for answers. "Whatever. Thanks for letting us know. We'll be on our way." With that, Victor and I continued down the halls toward the meeting room.

Along the way, we passed various servants and maids, all of whom looked at us with expressions ranging from surprise to sly amusement. Some even whispered things like, "It was expected," or, "Finally." I couldn't believe how invested the entire household seemed to be in my love life.

But none of that mattered as we reached our destination.

"Mother, Father, we're coming in," I announced, opening the double doors to the meeting room.

What I saw inside was somehow both surprising and entirely expected. Mother and Father were lounging together on a couch, snickering like schoolgirls gossiping about a crush.

Gathered around them were their bonded monsters, all huddled in a circle, joining in the merriment. It seemed my parents had finally lost it completely.

"Ahem," I said, trying to get their attention.

They looked up, noticing me and Victor standing in the doorway, and sent a knowing smile our way.

"Alright, girls, it's time for you to go. It seems my daughter has something important to discuss," Mother said, dismissing their bonds.

Victor and I used the opportunity to step forward and take our seats on the couch across from my parents, sitting in silence, bracing ourselves for what was sure to come.

"So, my baby is all grown up now? Dear, I don't think I'm ready for this," Dad said, melodramatically putting a hand to his chest like he was a character in some kind of over-the-top play.

I groaned, already tired of the theatrics. "Oh, shut up, Dad. Stop acting like a fool."

Mother turned her attention to Victor, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Victor, dear, I hope she treated you well. Please tell me she didn't hurt you… much."

"Mother," I protested, my voice edged with irritation, "you know damn well that Victoria is a guy."

Victor took a deep breath, looking as though he had been preparing for this moment for a long time. "Let me reintroduce myself," he began. "I'm Victor Evian. I'm sorry for deceiving you all," he said, bowing his head slightly.

Dad waved a dismissive hand, a wide grin still plastered on his face. "Don't worry, Victor. We've known you were a guy for a while. But tell me, who was on top?" His grin turned mischievous, eyes glinting with mischief.

My face turned crimson. "N-Nobody did anything, Dad! And it's none of your business!" I blurted out, Victor equally red beside me.

Mother sighed, her expression turning serious. "If you can't handle this kind of talk, how do you plan to function in this world? You'll find that in public, these topics are common, and some people even engage in more intimate acts openly. We've sheltered you from that, dear, but it's time you understood."

I sighed, exasperated. "I get it, Mother. But it's different when I'm talking about it with my parents."

Deciding I'd had enough embarrassment for one morning, I cleared my throat and tried to change the subject. "Anyway, on a different note—we're going to the capital to talk with the King and Queen about college."

"Oh? And how long will you be gone?" Dad asked, dropping the teasing demeanor.

"I plan to be back by tomorrow morning. I don't intend to stay overnight," I replied. After all, our castle was only a couple of hours away from the capital.

"Mira," I called, and almost instantly, she appeared behind me, as if she had been lurking in the shadows the whole time.

"Yes, young miss?"

"Could you prepare a carriage for us?"

"Of course. It will be done at once," Mira replied, disappearing just as quickly as she had come.

I turned back to my dad, curiosity getting the better of me. "Dad, what kind of monster is Mira, anyway? She always appears and disappears like that."

Dad smiled. "Mira is a Shadow Panther. Her kin specializes in stealth and agility."

'That makes so much sense,' I thought, nodding.

Mother looked at me, her eyes taking in my casual attire, and sighed. "You two should go get ready for your trip. Lyra, you can't meet the King dressed like that."

I looked down at myself, realizing she had a point. "Oh, right. I'll get changed."

It was mid-morning when I was finally ready to depart. I'd chosen to wear a tailored black suit similar to the one my mother had worn when we met the queen all those years ago. It was paired with a black collared undershirt and draped with a black and silver cloak, completing the sophisticated look.

"You look way too put together," Victor said as he approached me from behind, his voice holding a mix of teasing and awe.

I flashed him a grin. "Hey, I can't look like a buffoon in front of the king."

Victor joined me in the courtyard, both of us ready for the journey. In front of us was a sleek black carriage, drawn by two monstrous-looking steeds with impressive, muscular frames. Mira stood at the front, for once without her usual stealthy entrance.

"The carriage is ready, and I will be accompanying you on this journey," Mira said, her expression as composed as ever.

"Thanks, Mira. We're in your care," I replied.

Victor and I climbed into the carriage cabin, settling ourselves comfortably. Mira took her seat outside, and with a slight snap of the reins, we were off on our way to the capital.

As the scenery rolled by, we sat in comfortable silence for a while, admiring the lush greenery of the great forest that surrounded our lands. Eventually, Victor spoke, breaking the tranquil quiet.

"Lyra," he began, a hint of hesitation in his voice, "why did your mother say 'this world' rather than 'the world' back in the meeting room? I'm sorry, but it's been bothering me since then. Her phrasing was strange, and I can't let it go."

I blinked, then smiled, impressed by his perceptiveness. "You caught that, huh? Well, it's not exactly a secret anymore. I'm not originally from this world. I guess you'd call me a transmigrator."

Victor looked at me for a moment before asking, "Did you meet the goddess?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Yes… How do you know that?"

He chuckled. "Was she sitting at a desk, wearing a suit?"

I stared at him, stunned. "Um, yes. How do you know?"

"Well, because I died and met her too," he said, as if it were the most casual thing in the world. "The difference is, I'm originally from this world. I just… reincarnated."

My eyes widened. What were the chances that the person I loved most in this world was just like me? 'Did the goddess set this up too?' I wondered.

"Wait, how old are you then? Like, combined?" I asked, curiosity overtaking my surprise.

Victor looked thoughtful. "Um, I think I'm 33."

I feigned disappointment, playfully sighing. "Aww, I'm two years younger. Damn it."

He rolled his eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Is that really all you care about?"

I laughed. "Nah, it's whatever. But it does explain why you seemed so mature when we first met."

Victor gave a small nod. "Yeah. I always loved reading, even in my past life. I was sick a lot, so I spent a lot of time alone in my room, reading anything I could get my hands on."

I frowned slightly. "Is that… how you died? Because of the illness?"

He looked away, his gaze distant. "Yeah. I never really got to experience much. I was always cooped up in that small room until… well, until I passed. Believe it or not, I was a girl back then."

I nodded, not wanting to push too much. "I understand. I was lonely in my past life too. But it's okay now—none of that matters anymore."

"Mm-hmm. The past is the past," he agreed softly.

After a moment of silence, Victor gathered the courage to continue. "Oh, and… you're my first," he admitted. "I've never had any lovers or bonded before, you know," he added, still looking out the window.

I chuckled, moving closer to him. "You're really just a cutie, aren't you?" I grabbed his face, leaning in to steal a kiss. "So, that makes us both thirty-year-old virgins, huh

"N-Not now, Lyra," Victor said, pushing me away slightly, though I could see his blush.

"Speaking of not having any bonds... How do we even bond with monsters, anyway? I never really bothered to learn after first reading about it," I asked, curious.

Victor shook his head, sighing. "You really did stop reading after picking up a sword, didn't you?" he said, a teasing glint in his eyes.

He then continued, explaining, "All humanoid races have an inherent ability to bond, and the process is fairly straightforward. First, when you encounter a monster, you have to touch them and will them to transform."

I raised an eyebrow. "Is this where the sex happens?" I teased, wiggling my eyebrows.

Victor rolled his eyes. "Quit thinking with your dick. But yeah. The bonding ritual is often done through either sex or combat. Monsters only approve of those who prove their strength or can satisfy them."

"Right up my alley, then," I said smugly, making him roll his eyes again.

He ignored my comment and continued. "The final step is naming the monster. Once named, they become bound to your soul, and that's what forms the connection. It allows for the transfer of abilities and makes the bond official."

"That sounds awesome. Honestly, it just makes me more excited," I said with a grin. "Are you excited?"

Victor smiled. "Yeah, I've already decided on the first monster I want to bond with," he said.

"Oh? What is it?" I asked eagerly.

"Nope. It's a surprise until we go hunting," he replied, shaking his head.

"Ugh, fine. I know you won't budge. But I can't wait to watch you bond with a beautiful monster," I teased, watching as his cheeks turned pink.

'Hah, I win,' I thought to myself with a smirk.