The Ice Queen's Warning
Late evening, after all the hierarchy sorting practice has wrapped up.
"Ah…."
"……."
The practice room door swings open, and the two women's gazes lock. Normally, they'd exchange light, comfortable smiles and greetings, but for some reason, a strange tension hangs in the air between them.
In the empty space where even the producer and other members have clocked out, only Ria and Lily remain—along with the heavy atmosphere thick with mutual awareness.
"Everyone's gone?"
Ria, entering through the door, asks quietly as she slouches into a chair with a languid air. But her eyes on Lily are sharp as knives.
As the leader of girl group Foxy, dubbed the "Ice Queen," she's an idol who's weathered every storm in the entertainment industry. She exudes a poise and aura invisible to amateurs, ingrained deep in her bones.
"Yeah, they finished up a bit ago and headed out."
Lily offers a small smile in response to her leader's question. But there's a slight tremor in her voice. And why wouldn't there be? Her leader unnie had singled her out to stay behind, and Lily felt a guilty pang just from that.
Sigh…
Recently, she'd been giving Han Jimin a hard time ever since learning that both she and Ria had been cast on the marriage variety show From Today, We're Newlyweds. She hadn't said it outright, but her eyes brimmed with resentment.
Simple reason: the producer who claimed to love her was filming a marriage show with another woman. It stung.
The problem? Her sharp-eyed leader unnie had picked up on her sulking.
"Choi Yesol."
"…Sorry, unnie."
At the low, steady voice, Lily immediately bows her head. In moments like this, the best move was to apologize outright.
When Jeong Ria got truly angry, no one in Foxy dared step in. It wasn't for nothing fans called her the Ice Queen.
"Lately, with the producer favoring you because of baseball, your nose has been up in the air, huh?"
"…I'm sorry."
"And not just anyone—staring at the producer who's graciously making our album like that…."
"……."
"Answer me."
"I'm sorry…."
Her voice comes out deflated. For a split second, Lily thinks about pushing back, banking on the producer's affection. But no—she doesn't want to cause him trouble. Fights like this would only tarnish her image in his eyes.
Ria rises slowly from her chair. Then she steps forward abruptly.
"…Kyaa!"
Lily reflexively stumbles back, trips over her own feet, and collapses with a scream. As she looks up to steady herself, Ria looms over her, face expressionless.
"Lily. You been talking to the producer lately?"
"Huh……?"
Something snaps taut in Lily's mind. Lately, her messages had been getting delayed replies. She'd chalked it up to his busy schedule, but….
"Hmph."
Ria snorts shortly, pulls out her phone from her pocket, and dials a contact labeled My Love♥.
Wait—My Love♥?
Wh-what?!
Lily gulps hard, her saliva scraping down her throat. No one in the group even knew Ria was seeing anyone.
[Ria?]
"Yeah, what're you up to?"
[Right now? Ah…. I'm out to dinner—got invited.]
"Oh, got it. Just wanted to hear your voice for a sec."
[Practice done?]
"Yeah, wrapping up now, heading to the dorm."
[Wanna meet up tonight?]
"Can't tonight—the girls are around. I'll swing by the studio tomorrow."
The voice on the other end? Han Jimin—the man she'd longed to hear from countless times.
Ria ends the short call and slowly crouches to meet Lily's eyes. Her entertainment-honed presence is overwhelmingly intimidating here, especially with her tall, lean idol frame commanding the space.
"Call him. Your oppa."
"……."
At Ria's chin flick, Lily pulls out her phone with trembling hands and dials. But unlike before, it just rings endlessly.
"Ah, ahh…."
Tears threaten to spill, but she grits her teeth and holds them back. That night of hot embraces, whispering each other's names—it felt like a dream from one night.
That's when it happens.
"Choi Yesol."
"Y-yes…."
"Hang up. He won't pick up. I told him not to."
"……."
"You giving up?"
"……No."
She hated him for ignoring her calls. Yet she craved that warm gaze and voice calling her name.
"Why? Wouldn't it be better to quit? I've got his side covered."
"Me too! I want to be with him…. Even if you say no…."
After hesitating, Lily steels herself and finishes.
"I'll be by the producer's side, no matter what."
A faint smile curls Ria's lips at the answer. But it's closer to a sneer.
"Well, I get the sentiment. But without our permission, you can't stand by Jimin."
"…What does that mean?"
"Don't get it? Even in this harem-legal society, he's not so idle he'll take just anyone."
"Me too…!"
"What? You fucked?"
"……!"
Ria stands casually. "We make love in the studio every time we meet. Virgin? Jimin was my first too—and before you. You tried deepthroat? Anal? Or did you just moan like ahh ahh whatever he gave? That's your level."
"……."
"Think that's all? We're promised more than that."
"Ah, ahh…."
A dull ache crushes her heart. She hadn't known. No clue they were that deep.
This was unnie's declaration of war: I'm his principal wife, and I won't accept you.
"H-how…? What do I have to do…. To get permission?"
That's why Lily can only grovel. Unnie's fury stemmed from one thing: recent events irking her as principal wife.
Her mind still swirled in chaos, but Lily knew exactly what to do now.
Ria strokes Lily's cheek lightly.
"First off: Jimin likes you quite a bit. That's why I'm not smashing your little thing."
"Ah, y-yes!"
"But cross the line, and I won't know what I'll do. If you wanna power-struggle over who gets more love, go ahead."
"N-no. I'll be more careful from now on."
"Love him all you want. Just no monopolizing."
"…Yes."
"Stick to that, and I'll secure your spot."
Ria finishes with a sly smirk. To Lily, it feels like a thorn hidden in an idol's bright smile—sweet yet sharp.
With that, Ria exits the practice room. Hearing the door click shut, Lily sighs in resignation.
"……."
She feels powerless. But soon accepts it. Women wouldn't just let a perfect man like Han Jimin slip away.
"Had no idea."
She never imagined her leader unnie had already claimed the principal wife spot. Not even fans or members knew.
"Phew…."
Still, the promise of a spot if she didn't cross lines brought slight relief.
"…Wait. Didn't she say 'our' earlier?"
Lily replays it. Yeah—Ria said our, not I.
"Another principal wife?"
Her head spins. Popular guys were such a hassle….
She'd aimed for second after unnie, but someone already had it. Still, with effort—and their shared baseball hobby—she might snag third. More time together than others; good odds.
Lily clenches her fist and stands.
Looks like the Lily situation's squared away. I don't want the girls I like fighting over me.
To prevent that, you need a clear authority figure—and Ria fits perfectly.
Even that Kim Nayun groveled hard.
No more of Lily's piercing glares during practice. Pretty girl's open scowls hurt more than expected. Maybe I haven't fully adapted to this world; a beauty's disdain still stings.
I set the phone down and eye the table.
"……."
Abalone cream pasta. Pomegranate steak. Almond chicken salad. Garlic shrimp fried rice. And green tea.
A feast prepared by Jeong Hye-ryeong and Rozelaine. Every dish packed with stamina-boosting ingredients.
"Food's extra special tonight."
"Gotta put in effort for a special night."
Jeong Hye-ryeong sidles up beside me with a playful grin. Kim Chaeyeon smiles faintly; Rozelaine chuckles softly.
Gathered under pretense of dinner, but everyone's intentions shine through.
"Never thought I'd be dining with such fine company."
As we eat, Rozelaine leans in friendly, elbow on the table.
"……."
Her V-neck bares her cleavage fully—no bra, pink nipples peeking. Nearly chokes me on my steak.
"Wonder if player Han Jimin's stamina holds up. Baseball practice must tire you out, right?"
"Shouldn't he worry about his own stamina?"
Jeong Hye-ryeong snickers at Kim Chaeyeon's words.
"I guarantee his stamina."
Rozelaine chimes in teasingly.
"We've been training together at the field lately."
"Two-seam?"
"You know it?"
"Huge Bears fan for 10 years. Seoul's eternal Bears~"
"Whoa! Meeting a team fan here? Anyway… it was pretty good."
Exclamations erupt as Rozelaine finishes.
"…O? You went there too?"
"Intrigued?"
"Kinda?"
"Wanna try tonight? I'll prep you later."
"Heard it hurts a bit?"
"No no no. A new world opens before you, Rozelaine."
"Team fan says so—let's do it."
As they chat, I feel stripped naked, sexually harassed. Hye-ryeong gropes my chest openly; Rozelaine flaunts from across, eyes seductive. Chaeyeon? Teasing my crotch with her foot since earlier.
Three lionesses openly hunting me.
Vigor and stamina ranks again?
I check my status window. Vigor: C. Stamina: B. Untouched since upgrading.
Stamina's decent, but real vigor boost needed?
B rank: 10,000 IP. A: 30,000 IP.
Kinda pricey….
But eyeing these three temptresses, yeah—one level up minimum. Post-dinner orgy inevitable.
Fine, earn more IP.
Work out harder, done.
Vigor: B Rank
Cost: 10,000 IP
Power surges through me, heating body and mind. Lust surges—I want to grab a woman now.
I spear the last steak bite, chew, swallow.
"Ha-ut…!"
I grope Hye-ryeong's chest outright, eyeing the other two.
"Using Hye-ryeong noona first, so Chaeyeon noona—prep Rozelaine in the bathroom."
"Uh, yeah."
"……YES."
They gulp at my rough voice, head to the bathroom.
"Heut…! Ahhh!"
I grab Hye-ryeong's hand, drag her to the bedroom. Lay her on the bed, thrust my cock in first.
B-rank vigor. Paid good money—gonna test how long I last against these three.