Chapter 69: There goes my threesome

(Titus's POV)

"Welcome back," I greeted with a smile as I beheld my two wives. The flood of memories—shared moments, dreams witnessed, and the past tragedies—played vividly in my mind, as if they occurred just yesterday. The pain of their previous loss had eased somewhat, but their reappearance rekindled the ache. Nevertheless, it served as a poignant reminder of our shared objective: to unveil the culprit behind the tragedy and exact justice.

"Tacitus… Hey…" Nero addressed me by my formal name, her voice carrying a warmth that resonated with the nostalgia of our shared history.

"Takeru-sama…" Tamamo, blushing slightly, also invoked my formal name from her timeline.

I nodded, ready to move forward, when Nero interjected, "Tacitus, before we proceed, who is this cunning fox?"

Tamamo, not one to back down, covered her lips with a smirk and quipped, "Miko~! I'd like to ask the same question, considering the infamous tyrant standing before me looks like a child. Heh, child emperor."

"Listen, you two…" I began, but their banter quickly escalated.

"Hey, who are you calling a child emperor, you vixen?!" Nero fumed, visibly irritated.

"Vixen? I beg your pardon, but I was a proper wife. My legend is only tainted because of Daji," Tamamo retorted, her eyes taking on a predatory gleam. "Unlike a certain child emperor whose shameful acts would even shame today's scholars."

"I am a victim of legend manipulation too!" Nero shot back, smirking. "Unlike a... slutty fox who slept with a king just to be added to his lovers, I was proudly married to my beloved Tacitus."

"Hey, that's mean…" I attempted to intervene, but Tamamo swiftly countered with an equally cutting remark.

"Moe! I-I didn't just sleep with anyone today! I fell in love…" Tamamo hesitated, acknowledging her affection for Emperor Toba. "I was also married to my beloved Takeru-sama and fulfilled my duties as his wife. Your marriage life must be horrible, given how much you tested my Takeru-sama and made his life a living hell."

In that moment, their bickering escalated into a barrage of ear-piercing insults.

"O-Okay, I might have gone a bit overboard, but I tried my best to…" Nero clenched her teeth, "And Tacitus accepted me for who I was. At least I gave him love when he earned it. You, on the other hand, engaged with other men when Tacitus was sincere with you and tormented him until the very end, you mythical slut!"

"Who are you calling a slut, little exhibitionist?!" Tamamo's gritted teeth showcased her visible canine edges.

For the next minute, Nero and Tamamo hurled insults at each other, rendering my presence seemingly inconsequential. I stood by, letting them release their pent-up anger. As summoned servants, they had absorbed my memories and the legends typically recounted in history. I had hoped for a heartwarming reunion, but I had grossly underestimated the jealousy between these formidable women.

They were like fire and water, a rivalry etched since Fate/Extra.

"You little fox slut!" Nero spat.

"Baby exhibitionist tyrant!" Tamamo shot back.

Their glaring contest abruptly halted when they noticed a distinct drop in the room's temperature. Their gazes reluctantly shifted to meet my stern look.

"Tacitus… I was just…" Nero began, her voice faltering.

"Takeru-sama… she started first…" Tamamo attempted to explain, but shame silenced their voices as their heads drooped in remorse.

"Both of you, on your knees!" I commanded, and both Nero and Tamamo obediently knelt before me. Folding my arms, I tapped the ground, attempting to rein in my anger. In the ensuing silence, the tension became palpable, and beads of sweat formed on Nero and Tamamo's brows.

Deciding it was time to address them, I began by fixing my gaze on Nero. "Nero, when you shamelessly committed suicide, I endured both physical and mental torment. I couldn't do anything but move forward aimlessly. But at that time, it was Tamamo who healed me. She sacrificed her body and soul to me, even when I played with her feelings. Regarding her love life, she remained committed to Emperor Toba until the end, a loyalty I respect. She didn't waver from one man and continued to love, even when betrayed by humanity. How dare you call her a slut?"

Nero visibly shook, grappling with the realization of her wrongdoing. On the other hand, Tamamo looked at me with admiration and love, charmed to the core. However, her joy was short-lived when I redirected my glare toward her.

"Tamamo-no-Mae, how dare you insult Nero Claudius? Do you have any idea how much I respect her, both as my wife and advisor? Yes, she may have gone overboard with her ruling, overworking me a lot, but thanks to that, I became capable. She taught me the ways of ruling and managing the imperial court, essentially running the entire country single-handedly. What happened between us was unfortunate, but she remained committed to me and looked after me until the end."

Nero, on the verge of a breakdown, smiled upon hearing my true feelings.

"Both of you were the individuals in the Moon Cell who sacrificed yourselves to me when I didn't even have a soul. You did the same for the second time when I was weak and pathetic. For that love, I admire and respect both of you. I consider you my family," I admitted, frustration evident in my tone.

Rubbing my eyes, I glared at them and continued, "I won't forgive anyone who insults my family, even if that person is one of my lovers."

Nero and Tamamo were flooded with new emotions. They now understood my feelings and recognized their mistakes.

"I'm going outside while you two remain in this room. Apologize to each other and reconcile. Either do that or cancel the servant contract and vanish from my sight forever," I declared, turning around to leave. "I may shed a few more tears, but it's better than living with someone who doesn't respect me or my family."

With those words, I stormed out of the room.

---

(3rd Person's POV)

"Hah, I feel pathetic for acting like a child," Nero sighed, breaking the silence that lingered after Titus left the room. She curled her arms around her knees, gazing downward. "I screwed up."

"Same here. I was really looking forward to our cozy reunion, but I acted on instinct," Tamamo added, sighing. However, a smile crept onto her face. "But don't you think, Takeru-sama looked so cool when he scolded us?"

"I don't want to admit it, but yeah, he did. During my time, I thought he looked very passive, lacking self-respect or any selfishness. I went a bit hard on him to make him mentally strong and taught him manners," Nero recalled her memories, blushing. "I am happy that he has grew strong and he still loves me and respects me."

"I know, right? If he had turned out to be some kind of passive man, he wouldn't have chased after us and made us fall for him," Tamamo exclaimed excitedly. "Ah~! He has become a lot more charming now."

Nero smiled and then looked at Tamamo. After a bit of hesitation, she sighed, "Hey, vix—I mean, Tamamo-no-Mae, I am sorry for all those harsh words. I shouldn't have insulted the person who healed my husband from the trauma he suffered from my death."

"Moe~! I was going to apologize first, but as usual, you came first." Tamamo puffed her cheeks but then bowed slightly. "As much as I hated you for being the first to claim him, I can't help but respect you too. After all, it was your sacrifice that started this whole thing. And so, I apologize."

"Hehe, even when you followed my suit, I think we are much alike. We are both infamous, but Tacitus accepted us for who we were, not who our legends described. We fell in love with him even when he didn't even understand the meaning of love in the Moon Cell Grail war."

"Hmm, and what happened with us, even after many ups and downs, was just unfortunate, and neither of us was at fault here," Tamamo said. She then looked at Nero. "Nero-san, if you don't mind, can you tell me your story? I have seen the memories from Takeru-sama's perspective, but I want to hear your side of the story to understand you better, much like Takeru-sama does."

"What the—? You beat me to this. I was going to ask the same!"

"Hehe~! I guess there is still a chance to be first."

"Umu! Then let me tell you the details of the greatest romantic poem in the history of mankind. Clear your thoughts and listen carefully so that you won't miss any details!" Nero stood up and declared.

"I think I have made a terrible mistake by letting her go first," Tamamo muttered, regretting giving this narcissist the first chance.

And so, Tamamo and Nero discussed their tales of how they met Titus and fell for him.

---

(Titus's Perspective)

"Well, there goes my threesome…" I muttered, shaking my head as I gazed toward the vibrant capital in the near distance. I had been eagerly anticipating a heartwarming reunion, but their incessant bickering led to me scolding both of them.

How did it all begin? Let's rewind to the flashback of my first time with Scathach.

(Flashback Begins)

"Harem?" Scathach arched her eyebrows as I shared my dream of assembling a harem in my modern-day timeline, summoning all the women I had wedded to live a fulfilling life together.

"Yeah..." I smiled warmly, idly toying with her nipple.

"Harem, huh… I remember in my time..."

"Oh really? So, spill the details! Tell me their names! If they're still around, maybe I could bring them to you, just their heads though." I teased, rising from the bed.

"C-Calm down, alright..." Scathach sweatdropped, evidently taken aback. Was I truly that intimidating? "Anyway, that's not a great idea."

"Why not? It's still quite normal in these times..."

"Only for kings and lords who view women as tools for expanding their families or personal pleasure. You, on the other hand, cherish your women even after their passing, holding them in high esteem."

"Are you implying I should treat them like toys just to have a harem?" I glared at Scathach.

"See, that's the thing. You're getting riled up, but would you react the same way if someone insulted them?"

"I..." I faltered, lost for words.

Scathach smiled, patting my head gently. "If you truly want a harem, ensure your women know who's in charge and don't let yourself be manipulated. Be firm, even if it means being stern with them. If you can't manage that, binding such a big family will be impossible."

(Flashback Ends)

And there I stood, reflecting. Perhaps I had been a tad too severe on them.

"Maybe I shouldn't have scolded them," I mumbled, covering my head and gritting my teeth, plagued by the fear of them leaving me again.

Regret lingered as I felt two pairs of palms on my shoulders. Lifting my head, I saw Nero and Tamamo, both wearing cheerful smiles.

"You did the right thing, Titus. It was our fault," Tamamo reassured me.

"Umu! But since we've already screwed up so many times, it was easy to get up and make up with each other. So, Tacitus, don't regret anything." Nero added.

"You..." At that moment, tears began streaming from my eyes. "I really missed you two!"

With those words, we all hugged each other. I cried out my frustrations for being weak and unable to protect them. They soothed me as always, assuring me of their continued love.

And thus, our reunion, though tinged with bitterness, was undeniably sweet.

===

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