Chapter 038. I Accept This Marriage (2)

"Heh heh heh."

"..."

Maria looked at Friedrich with a pitiful gaze as he stood up laughing, having regained his senses.

What a pathetic duel. He had simply collapsed meekly, unable to even block his opponent's blind sword strike.

"Good, good."

But for some reason, Friedrich had been laughing non-stop like a madman since earlier.

What on earth was so good about it?

"Hmph, for someone who lost, you seem to be in quite a good mood?"

"Of course. Wouldn't it be stranger if I wasn't?"

Maria could only grumble and stamp her foot at Friedrich's carefree attitude.

Veris, who had laid Friedrich down in the living room of Maria's mansion after they arrived earlier, easily brushed off her offer to at least have a cup of tea before leaving.

Given how late it was, it wasn't incomprehensible, but she couldn't help feeling uneasy about it.

'Right. I'm not the one who was rejected.'

Maria rationalized to herself.

Cecilia and Arwen were by Veris's side anyway. He probably chose to go home out of concern for their fatigue.

...It would be a bit sad if that wasn't the case.

"I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I'll need to leave a bit early to meet him."

"Him? Do you mean Veris? Why?"

Maria naturally blurted out in surprise.

She hadn't thought he was someone without pride, but why would he go see him again after such a miserable defeat in their duel?

"I must inform him of my permission."

"...Permission?"

"Maria. You like him, don't you?"

"Ugh."

"Your big brother will personally help you. That's what I'm saying."

"I-I never asked for anything like that?"

"Think about it rationally. Who is the person most able to help with your feelings?"

Maria fidgeted with her fingers as she said that.

Right now in the academy, there was her friend Lady Delia. And recently she had become close with Cecilia and Arwen too.

'...Wait. Those two are rivals, aren't they?'

To be honest, there was no way Arwen and Cecilia didn't have feelings for Veris in their hearts.

Otherwise, why would they be living under the same roof as him?

"...Fine."

Maria finally responded in an uncharacteristically meek voice.

Thinking about it, she had become strangely timid lately. The reason was obviously because of that person, without even needing to think about it.

It was a night for deep thoughts. That's what Maria decided.

* * *

"Pardon?"

"You heard me correctly. I'm telling you to take my little sister."

Veris had a blank expression at Friedrich's sudden proposal, having reverted back to his initial manner of speech.

Friedrich had unexpectedly come to visit again. That was fine, but why was he suddenly telling him to take his sister?

Turning his head, he saw Maria with her face flushed red and head bowed low. And there were also two girls staring at her with narrowed cat-like eyes, as if they wanted to devour her.

"This is my approval for marriage."

"...?"

"What more is there to say? I'm giving you the opportunity to be betrothed to none other than an Imperial Princess."

"..."

Veris felt dumbfounded.

Wait, who had even asked to be betrothed?

"Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"Yes, speak."

"In case you were unaware, I should inform you that I already have a fiancée."

"Eh?"

The one who let out a stupid sound was Maria. She seemed unable to erase the bewilderment blooming across her face, as if this was the first she was hearing of it.

Maria turned her eyes to look at Arwen and Cecilia. The two of them were still sending warm gazes towards Maria as if they wanted to kill her, apparently already aware of this issue.

"W-What do you mean?"

"...As I said, I have a fiancée arranged by my family."

In fact, it was Beatrice, Gunther's older sister, who was Veris's fiancée. Though it had been so long since he'd seen her face that his memories were hazy.

"I-Is that true? My good man?"

Of course, Friedrich was just as surprised as Maria, wearing the same stupid expression as her.

His face showed that he hadn't expected Veris, who lived with two beautiful young women, to be that kind of man.

"Do you know Gunther von Haruen?"

"Of course. He's my junior, called the sword prodigy of this generation after myself."

"His older sister is my fiancée."

"...!"

Friedrich was shocked.

He was as shocked as when he had heard yesterday that Veris, sitting calmly before his eyes, had cut down a sword demon with a single strike.

'If it's Gunther's sister, that must be Beatrice of the Magic Tower.'

There probably wasn't anyone affiliated with the Imperial Academy who didn't know of her.

Born with exceptional magical talent and showing the qualities of an archmage - that woman was Veris's fiancée?

"How surprising."

Betrothals from the womb were like an inescapable fate for noble children anyway. But the fact that this extraordinary man's fiancée was an extraordinary woman brought quite a pure shock.

"N-No way."

Maria let out a dazed murmur. For some reason, Arwen and Cecilia looked pleased at Maria's reaction.

"I say. Then do you have no intention of being with Maria?"

"...To be perfectly honest, I don't particularly care either way."

"Hm? What do you mean by that?"

"My father, the Count of Verden, once asked me what I thought about a betrothal from the womb that I had no say in."

"..."

"I gave him the same answer then as I do now. I don't particularly care."

His personality was refreshingly blunt, perhaps excessively so. Thinking that, Friedrich turned his gaze to look at the two young women.

An elven swordswoman who had mastered spirit swords, and a Saintess no less.

Did that mean these two women were staying with this man despite knowing this side of him?

"W-Well, what does it matter for a man to be like that! Ha, haha! Ha!"

Usually, a man who marries an Imperial Princess would only take that one princess as his wife. But if there was also an elf and a Saintess besides the princess...

'This wasn't an issue of betrothal, but a battle for the position of primary wife.'

Friedrich took in the situation at a glance.

Struggles between women were common enough as it is. So his little sister would need to be prepared for that.

* * *

"Veris."

"Yes?"

Friedrich and Maria had left, leaving just the three of them at the mansion.

Cecilia approached Veris, who was sprawled on the sofa in the living room.

For some unknown reason, there seemed to be more people targeting Veris lately. Or perhaps it was just that reactions were finally coming for something that was bound to happen.

Because of that, Cecilia couldn't erase the faint unease blooming deep in her heart. Though they were living under the same roof like newlyweds now, it was a peace that could shatter at any moment.

"There's something I'm curious about."

"What is it?"

Cecilia gulped nervously at Veris's calm tone.

Noticing that her demeanor was different than usual, Arwen sat down next to Veris and quietly watched her.

"Um, do you intend to marry your fiancée... Lady Beatrice?"

"Hmm, well."

Unexpectedly, Veris answered right away. But it was a somewhat ambiguous answer.

"Who knows. Beatrice may have changed her mind. We haven't seen each other's faces in over ten years now."

"I see."

"And... it's funny for me to say this, but I'm a man too, and I'm not oblivious."

"Huh?"

"Well... I know how you and Arwen feel about me."

"Howdoyouknowhowefeel?"

Cecilia's face turned bright red and she blurted out alien words at Veris's sudden attack that wasn't really an attack.

It was a reaction befitting the Saintess who had zero immunity to men.

"It's funny for me to say this in front of you two. But if Beatrice wants to marry me, I don't intend to avoid it."

"...What do you mean by that?"

"Well... if you two desire it, I wouldn't dislike... marrying both of you too."

Thump!

At Veris's quiet words, Arwen, who had been listening quietly, stood up from her seat.

Walking towards the kitchen with stiff steps like a poorly oiled wooden doll, she made a clumsy excuse:

"D-Dishes. There are... I'll do them."

It was an obviously abnormal sight. But Cecilia didn't have the presence of mind to worry about her right now.

'M-Ma-Ma-Ma-Marriage. Children.'

There was a time when she had a not-quite-argument with Arwen.

Back then, Cecilia had confidently shouted those words.

"Th-Thank you... I'm tired so I'll... rest in my room now."

"Alright."

Leaving behind that terribly gentle voice, Cecilia headed for her room.

...It seemed she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.

* * *

"Ahhh!"

Arwen buried her face in her pillow and screamed.

Naturally, that cry that anyone in the mansion should have heard was fortunately blocked by the pillow, only echoing inside Arwen's mouth.

In fact, it was something she had always thought about. The dream she had longed for all her life, to be by his side.

But hearing it directly from the person himself certainly had a different impact. Arwen was experiencing that impact firsthand with her whole body.

"Hehehe."

Arwen, who had been screaming, grinned from ear to ear.

If a stranger saw her, they would have pointed fingers calling her a crazy woman, but sadly, the current Arwen was inclined to graciously overlook such things.

And that smile was truly an awkward one. When was the last time she had smiled in front of people?

Of course, there were times when she would occasionally let out a silly laugh when alone with Veris, but those were extremely rare cases.

"Me too..."

Arwen twisted her body on the bed.

She imagined Veris in wedding attire, who often appeared in her dreams.

The feeling of her face naturally turning red. And... two people whispering words of love as they lay their bodies on the bed...

"Hmm hmm."

She felt like humming.

Of course, they didn't know what hardships might block their path.

But Arwen felt her consciousness soaring with happiness at this moment.

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