I blinked, alternating my gaze between Jinor and Reika.
Reika wasn't just bowing her head now; she had her face pressed to the floor, her ears flushed red, and her body trembling slightly. On the other hand, Jinor had a calm and serious expression, completely at odds with Reika’s nervousness.
"That's my request," Jinor said.
"You want to marry Reika?" I asked, still trying to wrap my head around what was happening.
"Yes. I think it’s a good match for you," Jinor replied.
Wait... this sudden request? Without any prior warning?
Why?
Seeing the confusion on my face, Jinor calmly asked again.
"Do you not want to?"
"No, it's not that I don’t want to... it’s just..."
I glanced at Reika. Had she already heard everything? Was she ready to marry just because her adoptive father, Jinor, said so? She was still keeping her head down, so it was difficult to read her expression.
"Speak freely, don’t hesitate. Say what’s on your mind," Jinor urged.
I hesitated for a mont, then carefully spoke up.
"Well, you asked to speak freely, so I will. I’m not married yet, but I already have soone I intend to marry."
"Already four potential candidates?" Jinor asked, raising an eyebrow.
"...No, just one," I corrected.
"Then what’s the issue? Why not take Reika as a second wife?"
"..."
I knew that in this world, a man could have multiple wives, so that part wasn’t surprising. But coming from a world where monogamy was the norm, I had built up certain values over the years that made it difficult to accept such a suggestion easily.
Would I hate having multiple wives? Honestly, no, it wasn’t that bad. But how would my wives feel about it? That was a different story.
"...Ah, if you’re uncomfortable with inheriting the title, you don’t have to. If it’s not beneficial for you, I won’t force it," Jinor added.
It seed like Jinor thought I was concerned about the title and the family legacy. He probably assud that the woman I was marrying had a much higher status than the Nighhardt family. The concept of discussing marriage based on political and familial advantages was sothing I hadn’t fully adjusted to, but... well, here I was.
"...Reika."
"Y-Yes...!" she stamred, finally lifting her head slightly.
"What do you think, Reika?"
"I... I, well... I think... Swain is a good person, so..." she murmured, visibly trembling with sweat running down her face. She looked like a mouse that had fallen into water, and it was hard not to feel sorry for her.
"..."
I briefly glanced at Jinor, who was quietly closing his eyes. He didn’t seem to be pressuring her directly, but I couldn't shake the feeling that she was being subtly influenced by his presence, as if she were under so unspoken weight.
"Jinor, could you step out for a mont?"
"? Why?"
"I just want to have a serious conversation with Reika about marriage. Just the two of us."
"..."
Jinor nodded and stood without saying anything, then quietly closed the door behind him as he left.
Once Jinor was gone, I turned to Reika, who was still hunched over.
"Reika."
"Ah... yes?"
"Please, feel free to speak now."
At my slightly softened tone, Reika finally raised her head. Her face was still bright red, and I could see her pinkish eyes trembling slightly.
"Is this the end of the conversation about our marriage?" I asked.
"Ah... well, not exactly, it’s just...?"
"What I an is, have you agreed to marry , Reika?" I asked more directly.
"...Eh...?" Reika tilted her head, confused.
"I’m asking if you’ve agreed to marry , not just because your father said so."
"...Yes...?"
Reika’s voice was small, and she seed uncertain, but she nodded nonetheless. It was clear that, in this world, listening to one's parents was an automatic part of the process.
"Is it natural for daughters to listen to their fathers’ wishes in this world?" I wondered aloud. It hadn’t been that long since the concept of marriage autonomy appeared in the world I ca from, after all.
"I..."
At that mont, Reika nervously stamred.
"Um... do you... not like ?" she asked, lifting her eyes to look at with wide, innocent eyes.
I hadn’t consciously thought about it, but her gaze struck as incredibly cute. It was a side of her that felt completely different from Irene.
"No, it’s not that I don’t like you."
"Ah... I’m glad..."
Her relief caused another silence to fall over us. The stillness was almost suffocating, so I tried to break it by carefully speaking again.
"Well... Reika, I have a question. Just answer honestly, please."
"Yes? Ah... yes, of course!"
"Would you mind being my second wife?"
"Eh? Well... I... suppose so...?"
I couldn’t help but feel unsettled. Was it really so easy for won in this world to accept such an arrangent?
"Ah... I also have a question," Reika said shyly.
"Go ahead."
"Is your first wife... the red-haired knight?"
"...."
Now that she ntioned it... Reika had t Irene, hadn't she? Was Irene my first wife?
I was suddenly overwheld with the thought, and my mind went blank, leaving unable to answer.
But...
"I see..."
Reika nodded as if she had understood sothing, though I hadn’t said a word.
"...I didn’t say anything though?" I asked, confused.
"But... Swain, your expression..."
"My expression?"
"Your face turned red... you were blushing. So, I thought... your first wife, she must be the one, right?"
I blushed?
I wanted to deny it, but I couldn’t bring myself to. I knew my face was burning hot, and I could feel it more than anyone else.
So, Reika was going to be my second wife, huh?
The thought of it made feel an emotion I couldn’t quite describe, like I was floating in the air. I suddenly realized sothing: I must really like Irene.
"Or is there soone else? Another woman?"
"No, no... Reika, please be a little more careful with your word choice. Referring to another woman like that makes sound like a womanizer, doesn't it?"
"Huh? A womanizer...?"
Reika tilted her head, clearly not understanding.
"Isn't it strange for a man to spread his love equally among his wives...?"
"......"
I guess it's fine.
In this situation, there was no need for to stick to my own thoughts. There's an old saying, when in Ro, do as the Romans do.
"Anyway, Reika, are you okay with this?"
"Yes. Even if I'm the second wife, I'm fine with it..."
"No, that's not what I an."
I asked as seriously as I could, without any humor.
"I an, will you marry ?"
"Swen...?"
"Yes. Forget about reasons like 'Jinor asked to' and all that. As a man and a woman."
"Uh... th-that's..."
Reika seed flustered, unable to respond imdiately. She hesitated for a long ti, thinking it over. I nodded in understanding.
"You don’t have to answer right now. Please think about it seriously. How do you feel about ? When you're ready, I'll hear your answer."
"Huh? B-but..."
"Why? Is sothing wrong?"
"I just... I don’t really know what to say..."
Reika, clearly at a loss for words, struggled to respond. Honestly, what worried most was her nature. She always had trouble expressing her own opinions...
Wasn't it likely that this whole marriage thing just happened because Jinor told her to? If she beca my second wife, from my perspective, there was no reason it would be bad. She had the potential to beco an exceptional mage, and a connection with her would only benefit the Lunarian Army, not hurt it.
Besides, if I said she lacked charm as a woman, that wasn't the case either. I had been seeing Airen's... well, the kind of chest that no woman could surpass, so Reika might have slipped my notice, but she had quite the bust herself, and her face was cute and pretty.
However, that didn't an I wanted her opinions to be dismissed like this. Especially not when it ca to a decision as important as choosing a life partner.
It might be an unconventional way of thinking for this world, but marrying soone who didn't want to marry would hurt as much as it would her.
"Uh... I-I'm sorry. I just... can't organize my thoughts properly... Uh..."
"It's alright. There's no need to apologize."
"...Aren't you frustrated?"
"No. Not at all. The fact that you're struggling to speak ans you're soone who weighs their words carefully."
Reika lowered her head again after hearing my words.
"Take your ti and think it over. Let know when you're ready. Really, if you want to marry , that is."
She nodded slowly at my words. I figured it was best to leave it like this for now.
"Well then."
I stood up and spoke.
"Shall we practice your magic today?"
"Huh? Ah... yes, yes!"
Reika stood up and followed closely. The way she scurried behind made her seem a bit like a hamster, and I couldn't help but find her cute.
That evening.
"Airen?"
"What is it?"
I asked as I sipped my tea, relaxing in comfortable clothes.
"If, hypothetically, you were married..."
spits tea
Airen spat out the tea she had been drinking and started coughing uncontrollably.
"Are you okay?"
I handed her a handkerchief as she covered her mouth.
"Sorry, I didn't an to... make you see sothing so embarrassing."
"No, no, it's fine. I didn’t expect you to say sothing so surprising."
"Anyway... what if?"
"What if your husband brought ho a second wife?"
"A second wife?"
"Yes."
Airen thought for a mont before casually looking at and replying.
"Well... if it's a bit hard to adjust after coming to our house, I suppose I’d help her out."
"You'd be okay with a second wife?"
"Huh? Well, sure. It's just like adding another mber to the family, isn't it?"
At that mont, I realized once again that I had co to a completely different world.
"Is that so..."
"But... why are you asking about marriage all of a sudden?"
Airen turned red and looked at , her voice filled with curiosity.
"I was just wondering what you think about it."
"Is that so?"
"Well, that's not the only reason..."
"Then...?"
I smiled at her, noticing her surprise.
"That's a secret."
"......"
Airen lowered her head and sighed softly.
"...Anyway, you're really an unpredictable person. In my life, Swen, I've never t soone whose mind is so difficult to understand."
"Do you dislike it?"
"Well... it's not like that."
She smiled at with those words.
Anyway, if Airen wasn't particularly opposed to having multiple wives, depending on Reika's answer, I’d have to think about what to do next.
With that thought in mind, I spent a relaxed evening with her.
After capturing Raklein Castle, the Aishus Army, who had been holding back, suddenly marched into the territory of the Charam Army. The occupying forces led by Hernandorf quickly conquered Charam’s lands, and Lord Charam was executed, vanishing into history.
With Raklein Castle and four other forts, the Aishus Army was no longer a small nation. At this point, it wouldn't be wrong to call them a mid-sized power.
Soon after, news arrived that Serpina's army had captured Hispil Castle, which had been under Brans Army’s control, located to the northwest of Raklein.
Yes, this marked the mont when the borders between Serpina's and Aishus' territories finally touched.
Not long after the border was drawn...
"A ssenger from Serpina's army?"
"Yes, that's right."
Yuri nodded and fell into thought after hearing the ssenger's words.
"What could this be? I can't think of anything diplomatic to discuss with Serpina’s army."
"Jinor, what do you think?"
"There's no obvious clue. At least you should et with them."
Though it bothered , as Jinor said, eting them would make things clearer. After preparing herself ntally, Yuri spoke to the ssenger in a calm tone.
"Alright, bring them to the audience room."
Reviews
All reviews (0)