Help! My Moms Are Overpowered Tyrants, and I’m Stuck as Their Baby!

The morning sun poured gently through the high, arched windows of the throne room, painting the polished marble floors with pools of liquid gold. Despite the warmth, a chill lingered beneath my skin, a shadowy unease coiling around my heart. I stood quietly beside my parents, my grandparents arrayed elegantly on either side of them like a lethal collection of royal chess pieces, waiting patiently for the meeting to begin.

Mara and Elira stood at attention just behind me, newly appointed official guardians wearing sleek uniforms of black embroidered with silver runes. Mara adjusted her collar subtly, clearly uncomfortable in the formal attire, while Elira's gaze swept the room carefully, eyes keen and watchful.

[At least they look official now,] the system whispered dryly inside my head. [If nothing else, they can intimidate assassins with fashion choices.]

I bit back a laugh, forcing my expression carefully neutral as a heavy, ornate door swung open slowly at the far end of the room. A tall, pale man wearing the deep crimson robes of an official emissary entered silently, footsteps echoing softly against the marble. His dark eyes flickered nervously toward my parents before quickly dropping his gaze respectfully.

He bowed deeply, voice strained with quiet urgency. "Your Majesties, I bring urgent news from the Arcanum."

Verania inclined her head slightly, golden eyes narrowing sharply, her voice cool and commanding. "Speak clearly, emissary. Our patience is thin."

He swallowed audibly, glancing anxiously toward Sylvithra before continuing. "The former headmistress… has vanished."

A tense silence stretched tautly between us, vibrating with subtle danger. My heart beat sharply, anxiety twisting tightly in my chest.

Sylvithra's voice was deceptively soft, but her silver eyes glittered coldly. "Explain yourself."

The emissary shifted nervously, clutching a scroll tightly between shaking fingers. "She disappeared two nights ago, leaving no trace. We have reason to believe she was taken forcibly."

Grand Empress Saelira leaned forward carefully, violet eyes narrowed dangerously. "Taken by whom?"

He shook his head slowly, visibly trembling beneath the weight of our combined gazes. "We do not know, Your Majesty. The wards show signs of tampering but nothing concrete."

Grand Warlord Eryndor scowled fiercely, his voice a deep, rumbling threat. "This is unacceptable. Your school's incompetence nearly cost our granddaughter's life."

The emissary paled further, sweat glistening faintly upon his brow. "I assure you, Your Majesty, we are taking every precaution. We've already increased security significantly."

Verania raised an eyebrow skeptically, voice laced with quiet menace. "Define 'significantly,' emissary."

He swallowed again, nervously meeting her fierce gaze. "We have doubled the guard rotation."

Sylvithra's lips curled faintly in displeasure. "Triple it. Immediately."

"Your Majesty, we—"

"That was not a request," Sylvithra interrupted coolly. "It was a command."

He bowed hastily, voice weak. "Of course, Your Majesty."

Grand Strategist Veylen spoke quietly, expression calm yet piercing. "Who will replace the missing headmistress?"

The emissary hesitated slightly, glancing nervously toward the doorway. "We have a candidate one highly recommended by the Council. She is waiting to meet you."

Sylvithra's eyes narrowed slightly, exchanging wary glances with Verania. "Bring her forward."

The emissary stepped swiftly aside, gesturing toward the open doors. "Lady Nyx."

She entered silently, gliding gracefully across the marble floor with eerie elegance. Her black gown trailed softly behind her, moving like ink across parchment. She was strikingly beautiful, yet there was something subtly unsettling about her too calm, too poised, as if she existed slightly apart from the rest of us.

Her crimson eyes, bright and penetrating, met mine briefly, sending a faint chill down my spine. Her voice, when she spoke, was velvet-soft, deceptively gentle. "Your Majesties. It is an honor."

Sylvithra studied her closely, silver eyes cool and appraising. "You claim you wish to reform the Arcanum, Lady Nyx?"

"I do," Nyx replied gently, gaze steady, a faint, inscrutable smile curving her lips. "I believe the school has grown stagnant. Change is necessary."

Grand Consort Ilythia's voice was calm yet sharply questioning. "What manner of changes, precisely?"

Nyx inclined her head gracefully, expression serene. "Stronger discipline. Stricter security. A more… thorough approach to magical training. The old ways clearly no longer suffice."

Verania's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, voice carefully neutral. "Your eyes are red, Lady Nyx a trait associated with demon blood. Are you of demon heritage?"

Nyx smiled faintly, voice soft yet completely unbothered by the accusation. "I am. My lineage is mixed, Majesty. Demon and human blood combined."

Grand Empress Saelira's lips twitched faintly in amusement. "Interesting choice to lead a school attended predominantly by humans."

"I offer a unique perspective," Nyx replied smoothly, gaze never wavering. "I understand darkness intimately and thus how best to combat it."

[She's smooth,] the system remarked dryly. [I'd watch her carefully.]

I silently agreed, unease tightening sharply in my chest.

Sylvithra exchanged a long, careful glance with Verania, an entire silent conversation unfolding swiftly between them. Finally, Sylvithra nodded slightly, turning her gaze sharply toward Nyx. "You will be closely watched, Lady Nyx. Any sign of betrayal or incompetence will result in swift and severe consequences."

Nyx bowed gracefully, expression completely unfazed. "Understood, Your Majesty."

Verania straightened sharply, voice firm and commanding. "We accept your appointment conditionally. Elyzara will return to the Arcanum only under strict terms: Mara and Elira will accompany her officially as her guardians. Security will be tripled immediately, and your leadership closely monitored."

Nyx inclined her head respectfully, crimson eyes glinting faintly. "I accept your conditions wholeheartedly."

"See that you do," Sylvithra murmured coldly, eyes glittering sharply. "You are dismissed."

Nyx bowed deeply again, then swept silently from the room, robes whispering softly behind her.

Once the doors had closed securely, Sylvithra exhaled quietly, a rare flicker of uncertainty briefly crossing her elegant face. "We're taking a risk."

Grand Strategist Veylen nodded gravely. "Indeed. But perhaps necessary."

Grand Empress Saelira smiled faintly, eyes glittering mischievously. "At least she won't be dull."

Verania sighed softly, gaze turning carefully toward me. "Elyzara, are you comfortable returning under these conditions?"

I hesitated briefly, heart pounding slightly beneath their combined gazes. "I am…cautious. But I trust Mara and Elira."

Mara inclined her head firmly. "We'll keep her safe."

Elira nodded swiftly, voice quietly determined. "No harm will reach Elyzara under our watch."

Grand Warlord Eryndor nodded approvingly. "Then it's settled."

My thoughts churned uneasily as the meeting concluded, my family dispersing quietly, leaving me standing thoughtfully in the vast throne room.

[Still uneasy?] the system murmured gently in my mind.

"Very," I replied silently, frowning slightly. "Do you trust Nyx?"

[Trust is a strong word,] the system replied dryly. [She's hiding something. Something significant. Keep your guard up.]

"I plan to," I murmured quietly, unease coiling tightly in my stomach.