Haley had just returned from her sister's house when the butler approached her. "My lady," he said, "the Lord has requested your presence, as well as the other wives, for dinner this evening."
This was an unusual occurrence, as Haley had never before been summoned to dine with all of the master's wives in the half-year since her marriage to the sorceress.
"I see," Haley replied. "Have you informed the others of this request?"
"Yes, my lady," the butler answered with a bow. "I have already notified the other wives." He then excused himself, leaving two servants behind to assist Haley with changing her clothes and bathing.
Despite being the youngest and most recently wed, Haley was still the daughter of a baron, while Sophia and Claire were mere commoners. The butler always took care to ensure Haley was not neglected, but Olivia, the marquis' sister and the first to marry into the household, was the one whom Simmons, the butler, was most careful not to offend.
Haley watched Simmons leave, a slight frown on her face. She did not approve of the way the butler treated the other, non-noble wives. However, there was little she could do, as the mistress of the house, Sienna-Rose, rarely paid attention to such matters and seldom intervened on behalf of the household matters.
Not long after her bath, Haley was in the midst of changing into her evening attire when a gentle knock sounded at her door. "Who is it?" she called softly.
"It's me, Sophia," came the familiar soft voice from outside.
"Please, come in," Haley replied, a smile spreading across her face as she anticipated the company of her friend.
The two had shared many joyous moments together, having played and laughed in each other's company long before their marriages. Sophia was the second to marry into the household, arriving merely six months after Olivia had taken her vows. When Sienna-Rose had decided to make Haley her wife, she had sought Sophia's advice, asking if it was acceptable to proceed with the marriage. If Sophia had voiced any objections, Haley would have reconsidered.
"What can we do to reject it?" Sophia had said, her voice light and airy, a playful smile dancing on her lips as she reassured Haley. "And with you, at least I'll have a friend in the house." That genuine smile had stayed etched in Haley's memory—a beacon of warmth amidst the uncertainty of their new lives.
In Haley's eyes, Sophia had always been the cheerful one, a radiant spirit who lit up any room she entered. With her captivating beauty, quick wit, and the ability to endear herself to people, Sophia seemed to embody everything that Haley felt she was not. Quiet and often struggling to express herself, Haley sometimes found it difficult to connect with others, leading to misunderstandings that left her feeling isolated.
"Haley, something happened after you left this morning," Sophia said as she stepped into the room, the servants bowing out at her gentle dismissal.
"What is it?" Haley asked, sitting beside Sophia; her interest piqued.
"Sienna-Rose—our wife—she apologized to me," Sophia revealed, her eyes wide with excitement.
"That's impossible! None of you three have ever mentioned that Sienna-Rose is capable of apologizing," Haley replied, disbelief evident in her tone.
"It's true! And do you know what else?" Sophia leaned in closer, her eagerness palpable.
"What is it?" Haley prompted, her heart racing with anticipation.
"Lady Olivia told me that Sienna-Rose took her to the vineyard!" Sophia exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious. She had always longed to visit the winery, but the butler had consistently forbidden her from doing so.
"Really?" Haley echoed, still grappling with the shock of this unexpected news.
"Yes! And tonight, we'll be having dinner together! It's the first time for me," Sophia said, her eyes sparkling with delight.
"Wow, that has never happened before." Haley asked, her brow furrowing in surprise.
"Never! Not even when I married her or when she wed Lady Claire. This is truly unprecedented!" Sophia replied, her excitement bubbling over. "Anyway, I need to change into something suitable for dinner. I'll meet you in the dining room!"
Not long after, the four women were finally seated in the dining room. Usually, only Olivia and Claire used this dining room, as Sophia and Haley preferred to have their meals in their respective rooms. As they waited for Sienna-Rose to join them, the four exchanged greetings, their voices lilting with familiarity.
Moments later, Sienna-Rose arrived. "Evening, my wives," she said, her tone warm and affectionate as she surveyed the table.
The four women are currently starstruck when seeing Sienna-Rose; the usual sorceress wife they have is not used to being fashionable. However, her clothes tonight are totally fit for her lean body; she's wearing a white fitted jacket with decorative golden buckles, buttons, and other metal accents, and inside the jacket is a patterned, high-collared blouse with intricate gold detailing.
It's not the style Sienna-Rose usually wears, but she wears it because it looks good on her, and Sienna-Rose's body is amazingly perfect. She smiled, seeing the four women staring at her hard. "What, you four get used to me wearing those colorful genie pants?" She chuckles.
"Ah, yes." The four of them replied without hesitation in unison, making her laugh out loud.
Those genie colorful pants were too cute to pass up, which is why when she played the game, she used them many times before. However, what's inside her wardrobe today is totally different, and it was too good to pass up wearing it.
"Anyway, let's eat." She said to start the dinner.
The dinner progressed with a gentle flow of conversation. Sienna-Rose listened intently, her gaze attentive as her wives shared their thoughts and concerns. She allowed them the space to pour out their complaints, offering a compassionate ear as they savored their meal together.
"Is there anything you would like to share, Haley?" Sienna Rose asked, her keen eyes studying Haley's expression.
She was acutely aware that her youngest wife often held back her thoughts, reluctant to voice concerns unless prompted directly. Very different from the bold Haley in the game she used to see.
"Uh…" Haley hesitated, her hands pausing mid-motion, as if she's thinking about how to say it.
"Anything at all, just speak your mind," Sienna-Rose encouraged gently, her voice soothing yet insistent.
"Well, I wish you could be more involved with household matters," Haley began, her voice trembling slightly. "The butler has been treating us differently—especially between me and Lady Olivia, with Lady Claire and Sophia."
Haley took a breath, her heart racing as she continued, "Lady Olivia and I have already approached him about this. We feel it's unjust for the sorceress's wives to be treated in such a manner. But the butler insists he is merely doing what he deems right. It seems that because Lady Olivia and I are of noble blood, we receive preferential treatment while the others do not."
Sienna-Rose tilted her head, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern as she focused her gaze on Simmons, who stood quietly in the corner of the dining room. "And how exactly is the treatment different?" she asked.
"Uh, well, there are no dedicated servants assigned to them, while Lady Olivia and I have at least four each to assist us daily. Sometimes, even the food served to them varies from what we receive. And—"
Before Haley could elaborate, Sienna-Rose interrupted, her voice sharp with authority. "Simmons, is what my wife says true?" The air in the room grew heavy with tension as Sienna Rose's protective instincts flared. She had cherished her four wives inside the game, and then now she heard that the butler treated them badly; such thought of any mistreatment was intolerable.
"My Lord," Simmons stammered, quickly kneeling before her, "I only acted as I thought best, as you said to me to act as I deemed worthy. It's all my mistakes."
"Worthy of being my wife, Simmons, not merely what you consider worthy. Do you treat them lightly? My wives? You dare to treat my wives with such disregard?" The atmosphere shifted abruptly, darkening as Sienna Rose's magic surged. Simmons's eyes began to bleed, a physical manifestation of her fury.
Olivia and Claire, the closest to Sienna-Rose's seat, instinctively rose to their feet, their hands reaching out to steady her. They exchanged anxious glances, aware of the power their wife wielded. "Wait, dear, please stop! He means no harm; it's just a misunderstanding," Claire urged, her voice laced with urgency.
"Yes, as Claire said, it's merely a misunderstanding. Please, stop this," Olivia chimed in, her tone pleading. "Besides, it's not entirely his fault. You've rarely been home."
"Oh…" The tension in Sienna-Rose's body dissipated almost instantly as she recognized the truth in their words. "Right."
With a heavy sigh, Sienna-Rose turned her gaze towards Simmons, her expression softening as she regarded the four women seated before her. "I appreciate your service, Simmons, but remember that my wives deserve the same respect and care as you do to me, maybe even better than what you do to me. Ensure that all of them are treated fairly and equitably going forward." Her voice was firm, yet tinged with a hint of compassion. "I don't want to hear of such differential treatment again. From tomorrow, I expect you to report everything directly to me."
"Yes, my Lord. It shall be done," Simmons replied, relief flooding his voice as he slowly rose, the strain of Sienna-Rose's earlier display of power still evident in his trembling limbs.
"You're dismissed, Simmons," Sienna-Rose said, gesturing with a wave of her hand. She then turned her attention to Olivia and Claire, who still held her arms protectively, yet trembling in fear, witnessing firsthand the power their wife held.
A warm smile graced her features as she reassured them, "I'm not going to harm Simmons or anyone. Let's continue our dinner, my darlings. I'm sorry if I caused you to feel afraid."
Sienna-Rose leaned in, planting a light kiss on both of their foreheads before gesturing to the waiting servants to help Olivia and Claire back to their seats. The tension in the room faded, replaced by an atmosphere of harmony as the four wives got ready to resume their dinner together, their relationship strengthened by Sienna-Rose's show of her devotion to their well-being.
Sophia looked at Haley, her smile radiant and comforting, implying that what she had told before dinner was accurate. Their wife experienced a clear, subtle, but significant transformation after returning from the horrific event in the Crimson Desert, where she had battled against the endless waves of monsters and faced the brink of death.
Sophia's smile spoke volumes, expressing her relief, her hope, and an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the shift in their relationship. Haley could see it reflected in the other wives' expressions as well—a glimmer of optimism that perhaps, with Sienna-Rose's newly acquired dedication, their household might flourish in ways they had never imagined.