Chapter 159
Valkaros Lantana von Staufen.
The sun reigning over the empire.
He had one recent interest.
'Son-in-law.'
None other than imperial marriage.
As the imperial princesses were approaching adulthood, it was natural to be interested in such a topic.
The two hadn't even been arranged for strategic marriages common in noble society.
Rather, they were late compared to other children.
In this situation, looking for a son-in-law was a proper step from the emperor's position.
Yes. I didn't have any particular objection to this either.
But if there was a problem...
"So, son-in-law."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
Was it that the designated target was me?
A call suddenly came.
I stopped the utensil in my hand.
At the end where my gaze touched, Valkaros was staring at this side to the point of being burdensome.
I smiled awkwardly as I couldn't continue eating.
The emperor spoke as if he had been waiting for our eyes to meet.
"When do you intend to give an answer about the other day?"
"By answer you mean..."
"The talk about imperial marriage. Didn't I ask who you intend to marry?"
Of course I remembered.
Charlotte and Elise.
It was a question including blatant pressure asking which of the two I would marry.
It was also a question repeated to the point of being engraved in my ears for the past few days.
Valkaros held an ominous smile on his lips.
"I'd like to hear an answer as soon as possible."
"......"
"Are you still pondering?"
"Regrettably..."
"There's no need to be sorry. Aren't you going to be a member of the imperial family and son-in-law in the future? You can be more unrestrained than now."
"I'm grateful for your merciful words."
It seemed son-in-law was already a decided matter.
I smiled with complicated emotions.
How did it turn out like this?
Being nagged like this every mealtime, I was at the point of not knowing which direction food was going in.
I wonder if the disaster of stuffing steak in my nose might happen by mistake.
I tidied my posture while putting idle fantasies behind.
"I'll be able to give an answer as soon as possible."
"You should. Otherwise I might overturn House Snakers."
The emperor spitting out casually.
But, the content contained in his words was terrifyingly unmatched.
I felt my guts chilling in real time.
'It's complicated.'
Perhaps it might seem strange.
An emperor said to rule the empire.
Such a person was insisting on this good-for-nothing as a son-in-law.
There should be many better marriage partners than a small house like Snakers...
I had asked a few days ago anyway.
Because I was curious too.
-Isn't our house from the frontier?
-If it's an imperial marriage... there should be many good partners like central nobles or ducal houses.
-I'm curious about the reason you're giving me a chance over such options.
A perfectly normal question.
But the answer that came back was not at all.
-Even if it's low, isn't it a count house?
-That's more than enough.
-Few would deny your house is prestigious as it's been famous for alchemy since the empire's early days.
-Though there's a perception it's a rural village because it adheres to mysticism so much...
-Who would dare object? To a decision I made.
I see.
Valkaros dismissed it with one word.
I gave up asking further.
Judging by how he showed no signs of pondering, it seemed I was quite to his liking.
Thanks to that, I had to suffer with the same topic all week.
Now it was the same.
"Moreover, haven't you been coming with strange marks lately? On your neck."
"This is..."
He was talking about the marking Elise had engraved.
A trace was renewed just a few hours ago.
Thanks to that, there was still a reddish aura remaining on my neck.
Far from fading, the clarity only deepened with each passing day.
I covered it with my palm surreptitiously.
Of course, even such an action only made Valkaros's gaze fiercer.
Valkaros spoke.
"I believe you didn't play around with a one-night partner."
"There's a slight misunderstanding about that part..."
"If you took her virginity, you must take responsibility."
"...I didn't take her virginity or anything at all."
"So you mean you dislike it?"
No.
Until just now he was enticing me as a son-in-law, why is he glaring like he'll kill me now?
I wished he would clearly decide his stance.
So I could go along with it.
'Though it doesn't feel like I'm truly hated...'
At least regarding marriage, he didn't seem to have any intention of backing down.
A troublesome situation in many ways.
I looked at the rose as if asking for help, but they were already as good as in cahoots.
Perhaps they enjoyed the rare scene of me being flustered?
The girl was smiling subtly.
"Well... I want to hear the answer too? Who you intend to choose."
Green eyes curving seductively.
The mischievous curve resembled grass leaves of some spring day.
"You promised, didn't you? That you'd make me happy."
The rose gazed at this side while resting her chin on her hand.
A gaze clinging meaningfully.
That was an action pouring oil on a burning house.
Perhaps she herself was swept up in such flames, her face was quite heated.
What was the reason for attacking this side while being so embarrassed?
"Um."
As the confrontation continued like that.
What intercepted Elise's question was none other than Charlotte in the seat beside.
She was looking up at this side with her characteristically clear eyes.
The next moment.
"Do you have to choose?"
"Your Highness?"
"Can't you just marry both of us?"
"...Pardon?"
A bomb statement dropping on the dining table.
We who had been conversing until just before were completely stunned.
It was confirming if we had heard correctly.
Charlotte tilted her head as the surroundings became quiet.
It was a blank expression as if not understanding the reason.
"What's wrong with everyone?"
Where should this be pointed out from?
As no one could grasp it, a moment of silence continued, when suddenly Charlotte grasped my sleeve.
She alternately gazed at Elise opposite and me beside.
Then she added words.
"It's unfair for Elise to monopolize alone."
"Bi, big sister...?"
"Conversely, it's unfair for me to monopolize alone too. So marrying both solves it."
"I understand what you're saying... no, honestly I don't. No matter what, aren't two imperial princesses too much?"
"Why?"
A direct question.
Rather, Elise who had been answering was left speechless.
Charlotte spoke with a slightly sulky look.
"I don't want to be separated over this."
"......"
"Elise and Yuda... are no different from my whole world. So I won't yield just this once."
The short paragraph contained special meaning.
The older sister who was always devoted to her younger sister.
Such a precious person declared.
That she wouldn't bend her will just this once.
As the younger sister who had watched her older sister's sacrifices, there was no way to shake her head at that voice.
She could only watch the situation with confused eyes.
Charlotte smiled with satisfaction.
"Yuda."
Swish-.
Blue eyes turned to this side.
The girl who had approached me before I knew it.
She suddenly spread her arms and embraced me, then unexpectedly brought our faces close.
Lips that came in an instant touched my cheek then separated.
Chu-.
A short death rattle ringing.
It was a distance where lips would have overlapped if it had gone astray.
A lukewarm, sweet, soft sensation dyed.
It was a situation that occurred so suddenly no one could react.
Everyone around was stiffened by shock.
"I succeeded."
Whether she knew that or not.
The person herself was smiling proudly.
"With this I took your virginity too. So you have to take responsibility for all of us."
"......"
I absolutely couldn't find words to answer.
Does she know the meaning of virginity?
As far as I knew, Charlotte was completely ignorant in parts related to sex.
Whether it resembled the little prince's characteristic innocence, she hadn't shown interest in male-female relationships.
'In short.'
A pure white canvas.
She surely wouldn't even know the process of life being created.
The girl's voice dropped casually without any particular intention.
Of course.
"Hey, Elise."
"U, um...?"
"Wouldn't it be good to have about five children each?"
"Puhuk! Cough, cough...!"
Elise finally choked on her drink.
Her face was so heated, it seemed smoke would come out of her forehead at any moment.
Charlotte tilted her head as if not understanding her sister's reaction.
It was truly chaotic.
"......"
I was lowering my head.
Because of the gaze piercing this side with intense force.
Valkaros smiled along with thick killing intent.
"To think you seduced both of them."
"......"
"Get along well from now on, son-in-law."
"Ha, haha..."
It seemed it wouldn't be easy going forward.
***
Daily life flowing peacefully.
Before we knew it, ten days had passed staying at the imperial palace.
We had finished preparations to return to the academy soon.
"Are you leaving?"
"I intend to return to my original place."
Valkaros spoke as if regretful.
Of course, he didn't particularly hold us back.
Because he knew there was a place to return to for me, and for his daughters.
The father left alone just gave a brief farewell.
The emperor spoke.
"I owe you many debts."
The man's eyes were calm.
As if reminiscing about the past.
"It was a life where I couldn't save anything... Empress, children, empire, in the end even myself."
"Didn't Your Majesty always do your best?"
"Well."
He smiled as if it didn't matter.
Valkaros patted this side's shoulder a few times with a heavy hand.
Some emotion was melted in the weight settling.
What was it?
"I have many things I want to say. Many things I should say too."
But I couldn't ask.
I just listened to the continuing monologue silently.
"But, I'll keep it short. Such complaints wouldn't be interesting anyway."
Thank you.
That one word filled the audience chamber.
Because it was a resonance sufficiently valuable.
Beyond sentences pronounced clearly, only a faint smile was reflected.
This must be the ending once resolved.
"You saved the imperial princesses, saved the emperor, and furthermore saved the empire. I express gratitude for all the mercy you showed."
A shining moment.
"The imperial family will always stand on your side."
Greetings properly contain vitality.
Whether it becomes regards, promises, or gratitude.
Sometimes peace dwells even in thin words.
I could feel such a moment now.
"I entrust the children to you."
An extended hand.
I carried out the handshake without hesitation.
Reflecting an unchangingly firm resolution.
"Gladly."
Only then did he finish the greeting.
Afterwards.
Steps advancing outside the audience chamber.
At that path, the red-haired and platinum blonde girls were waiting.
They too had calm smiles spread on their lips.
I spoke.
"Then shall we return?"
"Yeah. I've been waiting."
"It feels like it's been a long time somehow."
Home where everyone was waiting.
We stepped forward without hesitation.
[EP???. For Elise]
-A lonely nest, a rose withering in winter-
A new story.
A new tomorrow.
And, towards the academy.
***
Meanwhile,
Another evil was being born in the back of the empire.
A nightmare that had held its breath for a long time.
"To think... I didn't expect the academy would block the death dragon."
A mysterious shadow muttered while sitting in the seat of honor.
Surrounded by demonic energy, its face couldn't be seen.
But through the thick presence, and executives lined up nearby, it could be known as the leader heading the group.
Only a dark red banner symbolizing heretics was spread on the table.
The shadow lamented.
"The grandest plan has gone awry."
"We have no face to show."
"What responsibility could you have? It's all due to my lack of virtue."
"How do you intend to fulfill the unaccomplished long-cherished task?"
"Well."
The shadow conversed with its right-hand man.
He seemed lost in thought for a while, then soon displayed a vile smile on his lips.
Demonic energy suddenly extending brushed spines as an ominous thrill.
It was a dangerous being.
"The cathedral, and the academy... The collapse of those two places is essential in achieving [His] revival."
They had recorded a painful defeat before.
Along with the long-cherished task failing, even the death of the puppeteer who was one of the core forces.
But, shadows deepen the clearer the shining light.
The shadow commanded.
"We must prepare for holy war."
"But, Cult Leader. The faculty's security is fierce due to the last attack. It seems difficult to infiltrate without any particular method."
"Isn't there a way for that part?"
"By the way you mean..."
"Those who formed alliances under His name. Let's move the pieces we've been saving."
"O one who calls. What people do you intend to draw to the board?"
"The businessman, and House Beniti would be suitable."
"I'll send letters soon."
Bow-.
The executive bowed his head in respect.
The shadow added one more thing.
"And one more."
"Please speak."
"House Beniti. I heard twins from there are attending the academy."
"That's right. The sister's name is Emilia Beniti, the brother's name is Rusca Beniti."
"I see... Now the young sacrifices will have a use too."
"Which child will you set as the agent for the long-cherished task?"
"The easier one to use would be the younger brother."
"I'll prepare the name Rusca for the elders."
"Good."
A story connecting like a puzzle.
The world was now facing full-scale chaos.