Chapter 208: Am I Becoming a Scumbag?
[Day 5 with Bronya: Started keeping a diary. Weather: sunny. Went to the beach with Bronya. Her swimsuit is so cute... Why didn't I notice before?]
[Day 6 with Bronya: Weather: sunny. Today she did a fashion show for me. Girls' clothing designs have so many variations, and for good reason—they look amazing. Though, it's probably because Bronya herself is so adorable.]
[Day 7 with Bronya: Weather: cloudy. Bronya wanted to sunbathe, so I made it sunny. Observation deck, same place, same stories.]
[Day 8 with Bronya: Weather: cloudy… Sigurd, oh Sigurd, how can you be so easily distracted? Have you forgotten your goal of saving the world? At this rate, your efficiency will be halved! Starting tomorrow, focus on work! Also, Bronya's cooking is surprisingly good, and her hands are surprisingly soft.]
[Day 9 with Bronya: The bathroom.]
[Day 10 with Bronya: Watching a movie.]
[Day 11 with Bronya: She hung a picture of Kiana above the bed…]
[Day 12: Listened to Bronya sing. Her monotone version of Katyusha was unexpectedly good. I wonder how she'd look dancing? With her slender figure and amazing flexibility, it'd probably be quite the sight.]
…
Rip!
Sigurd tore the thick brown leather notebook to shreds and burned it to ashes.
"You wrote so diligently—why tear it up?"
"…It's meaningless."
Sigurd sighed lifelessly, his eyes dull and deadened, as though he'd lost the will to live.
Even though it was unlikely to be leaked, if anyone ever saw this diary, it would completely destroy the image he'd worked so hard to maintain.
All he could say was… Bronya was intoxicating, in every sense of the word.
Bronya leaned against Sigurd's strong chest, absentmindedly drawing circles on his abs, her lips curved into a mischievous smirk that carried a rebellious charm.
"Not happy?"
"No, I'm very happy."
"Bronya is too."
"But we need to set some limits. Tomorrow, I'll head to the Far East. The reconstruction plan for the region has been finalized. Dr. Einstein intends to transform this uninhabited land into the superstructure for the Moonlight Throne's main cannon, as well as convert it into a weapons factory, training ground, and testing site. It's a massive project, and I need to oversee it."
Sigurd spoke as he gently stroked the girl's silky smooth hair, finding himself increasingly unable to let go.
What had once been mere admiration for her cuteness now felt like a profound love etched into his very being with each glance she cast his way.
However, as he'd said, life was full of important matters, and for the sake of a longer and better future, he couldn't indulge in Bronya's softness forever.
Bronya stopped her playful teasing and lifted her head, looking at Sigurd's face for a moment before nodding.
"Understood. Let's go together. Bronya's arsenal upgrades are complete, and I can test them in live combat against some Honkai beasts."
"Good idea."
"And… does this mean we need to start keeping our distance?"
"At least until I've been honest with Kiana, that would be best."
Sigurd's words carried the unmistakable tone of a heartless man.
Worried Bronya might feel hurt, he quickly added, "I'm sorry."
The apology was simple and unembellished. To others, it might sound perfunctory, incapable of satisfying a girl in this situation.
But Bronya responded with a gentle, understanding smile.
"It's okay, I can feel it—Sigurd's care for me."
"…Thank you."
Sigurd found himself at a loss for words beyond that.
He had always emphasized wanting a partner who was easygoing and undemanding—not an empty boast, but truly what he valued.
However, after experiencing Bronya's thoughtfulness, he found himself wishing she would be just a little more selfish, so he could know better how to care for her.
"Still… will it really be okay? About Kiana…"
Bronya's face showed a hint of unease.
Both of them knew Kiana's personality well—bold, passionate, and, most of the time, explosively fiery.
With how much Kiana valued Sigurd, this sudden interference in their relationship would undoubtedly provoke a strong reaction.
It was just hard to predict how extreme it might be.
Sigurd lowered his gaze, looking at her with a slightly amused expression.
"Finally scared now?"
"…Since my wishes have already been fulfilled, I also need to carefully consider the consequences."
"Don't worry. She won't leave me," Sigurd said flatly.
Though his tone was calm, his feelings toward the situation were far from serene.
However, his confidence was based on an undeniable fact: Kiana couldn't possibly leave him, and he wouldn't allow it even if she tried.
Under this premise, any other conflict could be resolved.
First, he accepted Kiana's confession. Then, he developed this relationship with Bronya. Next, he planned to leverage Kiana's dependence on him to make her accept this reality. And of course, there was Sin Mal—who likely wouldn't change her feelings, something even Kiana was fully aware of...
"I've become a scumbag."
Sigurd rubbed his chin and muttered, finally realizing the truth.
"Pfft!"
Bronya could roughly guess what Sigurd was pondering and found his embarrassment particularly amusing.
"And you're laughing? This is all your fault," Sigurd said, tugging at Bronya's cheek, his expression deadpan and slightly intimidating.
After a moment, he let go and said nonchalantly, "Whatever. A scumbag it is."
"Have you come to terms with it, Sigurd?"
"The situation is what it is. I won't make excuses. Besides, I'm quite satisfied."
"Yep, Sigurd truly is a scumbag."
Bronya gave him a sidelong glance, covering her mouth and making a playful face.
Faced with her smug, almost gleeful attitude about causing this mess in the first place, Sigurd seemed powerless to retaliate.
In recent days, Bronya had been getting increasingly bold, disregarding Sigurd's authority entirely. Yet, it seemed like she had no obvious weaknesses, making her hard to control.
It was time to think of a plan.
Sigurd gazed at Bronya with a mysterious intensity, watching until her playful expression gradually faded, and she nervously shrank her neck.
"Sigurd… you're thinking about something bad."
"You know, right? The Homu series was originally created by Welt. After he began his reform initiatives, the IP was handed over to me for continued operations. So, if I want, I could stop all Homu comics, animations, games, and movies from being updated—or even take them down entirely."
"I'm sorry. Bronya was too presumptuous," she said, standing up and smoothing her white dress before bowing her head obediently.
Bronya's love for the Homu series was rooted in precious memories, as it had been one of the few bright spots in her otherwise grim life, offering a glimpse of innocence and imagination she had never truly experienced. Now, under Sigurd's leadership, with top-tier artists and creators involved, the Homu series had reached a phenomenal level as a two-dimensional IP. If it were to stop updating, Bronya knew she'd spend sleepless nights in anguish.
Under Sigurd's enigmatic gaze, beads of sweat began forming on Bronya's forehead.
She nearly forgot, in the midst of his recent indulgence, that her ability to enjoy this privileged status by Sigurd's side stemmed from her obedience, thoughtfulness, and competence.
If one day Bronya took his favor for granted and started acting out—her fate would be no different than Kiana's.
Don't assume that the shift in their relationship meant Sigurd would tolerate anything from her. After all, Kiana had confessed successfully over a month ago, and yet Sigurd never went easy on her when the situation called for it!
Sigurd reached out, lifting Bronya's chin as his fingers gently traced her cheek.
"Don't worry, Bronya. I could never get angry with you. After all, you're just so adorable."
"…"
If Sigurd's voice weren't so eerily sinister, Bronya might have believed him.
Sigh… Living with a king is like living with a tiger, isn't that what they say? But what could she do? She'd already decided he was the one for her. No matter how helpless she felt, she could only accept it silently.
Stealing a glance at Sigurd's deep blue eyes, Bronya's lips curved upward slightly.
Admittedly, it was a little embarrassing to think, but despite her nervousness… She prefers this domineering side of Sigurd more!
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