"I won't have a harem," Darius laughed. "What will you do now, little liege?"
Aaran massaged his temples. People would kill to marry a princess; he was so lucky to get two of them. But unlike Darius, he couldn't joke about the situation.
Even Mother agreed to the engagent…
But it wasn't like Amara had a choice. The Emperor's request was an order in disguise. If he wanted Aaran as his son-in-law, then no one could stop it from happening.
[The Goddess of Salvation is displeased.]
Why are you displeased?
[The Goddess of Salvation mumbles sothing about owner's rights.]
You don't own .
[The Goddess of Salvation gasps in disbelief.]
Aaran waved the notifications away. He already had too much on his plate to worry about her. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Analeis entered the room. She wasn't dressed in her usual uniform but in a proper, classy one.
Since the Emperor was there, everyone was putting on their best attire. The servants were no exception. But there was sothing else.
"You reek of smoke," Aaran said as Analeis helped him put on the tuxedo.
Analeis flinched at his question before smiling nervously.
Aaran shook his head before pulling out a pack of peppermint candies from the vault. He knew Analeis wouldn't handle the stress well; that's why he had asked Donovan to get him so candy.
The butler would have excused himself under normal circumstances. However, since Aaran was going to be the Emperor's son-in-law, the royal butler had to obey him… to so extent.
"Put it in your mouth and don't chew, just suck on it—"
"I know how to eat candies, Your Highness."
"You sure know a lot for soone who loves to smoke at improper tis."
Analeis remained silent, accepting the candy while putting the rest in her usual storage spot.
"Can I have more—?"
"No. Get your smoking under control."
***
The award ceremony was quick.
The Emperor was a busy man, so he gave Aaran the dal and spoke a few words in his honor before leaving. It was also then that he revealed the engagent.
People crowded around Amara to congratulate her. Thankfully, no one ca rushing toward him like the last ti.
"Such superficial people…" Aaran mumbled, loosening his bowtie.
He looked over his shoulder. The hall was buzzing as usual. That's why he had co outside to catch a breather.
"How many won do you plan on wooing, Your Highness?" Analeis asked.
Aaran raised an eyebrow. It was the first ti she had shown interest in anything other than fighting and smoking. But she wasn't the only one waiting for the answer.
[The Goddess of Salvation awaits your answer.]
"None."
"In that case, you seem to be doing poorly," Analeis chuckled, pulling out another cigarette. "You don't mind, do you?"
Aaran waved his hand. "Go sowhere else. I dislike the sll of tobacco."
"Don't worry, I'll consu lots of candies afterward!" Analeis said, playfully saluting him before hurrying away.
"Co back soon, or else I won't save you from Mother!"
Aaran yelled, but he had a feeling she didn't listen.
With nothing else to do, Aaran looked at the night sky, enjoying the serene peace. The full moon dominated the sky, outshining the stars as usual. It was then that a second moon appeared in his sight.
"May I?" Seraphina asked.
"It'll be my honor," Aaran said, laying down a handkerchief for her to sit.
Seraphina covered her mouth and chuckled before sitting next to him. Like him, she was unaccompanied, but her maid kept an eye on her from the hall's entrance.
Minutes passed without either of them saying a word.
Aaran had passed nineteen lives with Seraphina. He knew everything about her, yet he couldn't say a word to her.
As for Seraphina, she was eting him for the first ti in five years, apart from the incident during the entrance ceremony.
In those years, even though they didn't talk, Aaran had defended the honor of both their families through duels. Seraphina wanted to thank him for that.
But now that she was there, she didn't know how to start a conversation.
"I'll ask Mother to sign it off," Aaran said abruptly.
"Pardon?"
"The annulnt. You wanted to talk about that, right?"
Seraphina's eyes widened for a mont before she laughed. Aaran was confused. In the incarnations where he inadvertently ford a harem, Seraphina always left him.
She was a woman of standards and self-respect who couldn't tolerate infidelity. That's why Aaran assud she wanted to annul their engagent before he got engaged to Princess Eleanor.
But he was wrong.
"Mother-in-law already explained the situation to my parents," Seraphina mumbled, carefully wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. "Since it's the Emperor's wish, my family has agreed to continue our engagent."
[The Goddess of Salvation is searching for her whip.]
"Ah… I see," Aaran replied, ignoring the goddess.
The news ca as a surprise to him. The last he checked, Hero Leon was a hypocrite when it ca to polyamorous relationships. He had over a dozen wives himself, yet he despised the idea of others doing the sa.
That's why it ca as a surprise to Aaran that he agreed to such an arrangent for his daughter. It seed even the hero didn't want to offend the Emperor.
"I… just wanted to thank you and apologize for the troubles I've caused you over the years," Seraphina said with all the sincerity she could muster.
"There's no need for apologies," Aaran said, dismissing her concerns. "I did what any man would."
Aaran was being serious, but Seraphina laughed again. The way he spoke so seriously, calling himself a man, was amusing to her.
"If you can't accept a verbal apology, then…"
She turned his head away and kissed his cheek. Her lips remained pressed against his cheek for a mont before she pulled away.
"That's my apology," she said with a playful smile.
Aaran sat there, shocked, while Seraphina walked back into the hall. He absentmindedly touched his cheek, confused.
She wasn't acting like the Seraphina he knew. It was as if she was her but soone else at the sa ti. Just then, a strange thought entered Aaran's mind.
She… didn't regress like , did she?
But he didn't have ti to think about it as soone was angry at him.
[The Goddess of Salvation is using colorful words against a certain mortal.]
She's my fiancée. Please, respect her.
[The Goddess of Salvation isn't cursing the female.]
…I see.
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