My Stepmother Is an Ex-Demon Queen-Chapter 22 - 23 – “I Tried to Escape the Marriage Deadline and Accidentally Became the Prince of a Magical Kingdom”

Chapter 22: Chapter 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