Chapter 309
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 10 Years Later (10)
「――――――」
The steady rumble of carriage wheels echoed evenly.
Thanks to the well-paved road, there was no jolting at all—supremely comfortable.
「Bakal is in sight…!!」
I cracked my eyes open at the escort knights’ shout from outside.
Scratching my tousled hair, I let out a massive yawn.
“Already here….”
After the grand ceremony, we’d set off on this journey.
I’d slept the whole day away, and somehow we’d arrived.
The empire’s greatest ally, the nation forged in war.
Bakal.
Sweeping back the curtain revealed the familiar hilltop where the carriage had halted.
I knew this place well.
Ten years ago, escorting Christina—I’d come here.
Saved her and the diplomatic corps from werewolves, then parted ways right here.
And we’d even kissed.
“…”
The thought of seeing the white-haired princess again after so long brought a smile to my lips unbidden.
I rubbed my lips with a finger and peered out the window.
Beneath the clear blue sky stretched Bakal’s border city.
Before long, I reached Bakal’s capital at last: Bern.
Bakal had advanced leaps and bounds over the decade.
Exchanges with the empire had traded countless cultures and elevated their architecture dramatically.
The soaring palace dominating the view ahead proved it.
No match for the empire’s celestial halls, but majestic enough to inspire reverence all the same.
We passed ornate stone buildings and broad avenues to reach the palace gates.
A red carpet had been rolled out inside, awaiting my arrival.
――――――.
Majestic horn blasts rang out as Bakal warriors lined up in rigid ranks on either side.
I dismounted before the gates and walked the gauntlet between them.
Yet stepping down from the carriage, my feet felt rooted.
These were giants, each a full head taller than me.
Every one stared down with dead, feral eyes.
Damian, the imperial prime minister dispatched alongside me, felt it too—kept gulping hard.
“Damian, is Bakal’s vibe always this cutthroat?”
“I-I wouldn’t know… First time here.”
We stood shoulder to shoulder, strolling the red carpet at an easy pace.
Through that choking entry rite, Damian whispered his theories.
“Probably ’cause the prince consort marries her then ghosts for half a year at a time.”
“Couldn’t be helped. My role’s guardian of the empire, after all.”
No way the empire’s protector could just up and leave.
My wives had begged me not to go, so what choice did I have?
Instead, Tina visited the empire once each summer and winter; we’d spend about a month together.
The other wives griped plenty about me hogging a full month.
But since I only made it to Bakal every half year, they cut us some slack.
Those excuses wouldn’t fly with her guards, though—these men before me.
Best to rack up some goodwill this visit, somehow.
“Welcome, Your Highness Veil. His Majesty the King and Her Highness Christina await.”
“Thrilled by the reception.”
I flashed an awkward grin at Bakal’s prime minister.
The gray-haired elder led me wordlessly into the palace hall.
―――――.
The ceiling bore a colossal mural glorifying nations Bakal had conquered ages ago.
Beneath it sat rows of Bakal vassals and heroes.
“Your Majesty, Prince Consort Veil Mikhail has arrived!!”
The prime minister’s booming call made King Darhan of Bakal look up.
Freshly turned sixty, he radiated the unyielding might of a warlord king.
「Welcome, son-in-law Veil. Feels like ages since last we met.」
“I greet Your Majesty the Great King.”
I stepped ahead of Damian, bowing low.
Straightening after the formal courtesy, my eyes caught her.
Christina, in a dress molded sensually to every curve, standing right beside the Great King.
She waved at me, beaming.
“Yes—regret not coming more often.”
The Great King’s look? Pure northern warrior.
Sixties with not a white hair in sight: thick brown locks and beard.
Piercing blue eyes gleamed beneath heavy brows.
Chilling as the man who’d tamed this savage realm of peaks.
「Rest easy while you’re here. A week, was it?」
“Yes, but this trip’s my cue to visit far more—stay longer—from now on.”
He looked pleased at my pledge of frequent calls.
But.
“Barely half a year gone, and here already? Other wives giving you hell?”
His eldest, Ulus, iced me out.
The man who’d angled for Lea in a political match—his glare said it all.
And Lea wasn’t enough; he’d snatched his little sister too.
Looked itching for a duel on the spot.
“Haha… No such thing. Life’s settled now; got time to see my wife more.”
Sly as ever, I shot back.
Tina jabbed her brother’s ribs like a scolding.
“Quit making a fool of yourself!”
「Good to hear. Long road here—hope you and Tina make the most of it.」
The Great King, bless him, rolled out the welcome mat smooth.
Even cleared me to her annex for quality time.
“My thanks, Your Majesty…!!”
His lordly grace quieted the vassals’ qualms.
But.
Some faces stayed sour.
I wasn’t empire-born royalty, after all.
Orphanage rumors didn’t help—for alliance’s sake, this marriage struck them as too flippant.
“…”
I kept humble through the stabbing stares.
Just as I aimed to escape the stifling hall.
―――――.
Christina glided down from throne-side.
Arm hooked in mine, she flashed a sultry eye-smile.
“Together?”
Her casual link thawed the vassals’ killer stares on contact.
My dead black eyes held hers a beat…
Then my sly grin returned; I hooked elbows with Tina.
“Yeah, thanks.”
That cozy display did the trick.
Vassals eased up, grudgingly accepting me.
Lighter of heart, Tina and I headed for the annex.
“Huh, new digs…?”
“Yeah. Fresh build.”
Prettiest quarters in the palace, hands down.
Lush indoor garden led to vast living room, veranda with capital views.
Rivaled the Heavenly Emperor’s office vista.
“Thanks back there. Vassals softened up ’cause of you.”
“You ghost too much. Word you were coming? Half the warriors gripped spears for fox-hunting.”
Arms crossed solo, Christina spoke.
Her dress—beige, tissue-thin—hugged that killer hourglass.
Wrapped tight over wide hips.
Arms round her cinched waist, I said:
“Sorry. Roads are prime now. I’ll bounce back and forth plenty.”
“Hmph. Or excuse to ditch the wife squad on the sly?”
The white-haired princess pinched my cheek soft.
Tugged it cheese-long, queenly smirk aloof.
“How to punish this fox… Bolts the den open, swans back brazen now.”
“Ahem… Every other month from here. Hey, Beck’s home now, right?”
Hugging her from behind, I pivoted topics.
Wifey half-heartedly thumbed a corner room.
“Nah. Academy dorms.”
Beck.
Our boy—hers and mine—just hit ten.
Ian, Helena, Liri’s age-mates, but December baby: last birthday.
“Yeah? Why dorm over home commute?”
“Kid’s shy as hell. Figured roommates might loosen him up.”
Shy.
Worlds from my brood.
Ian’s quiet, sure—but boundless energy with the sports crew.
Helena? Bookish hush till she talks: then firecracker.
Liri, Leon? Obvious.
Marie, Mika young, but girl-gang playdates galore.
Rest in nursery startup—no read yet.
Sole ‘shy’ label? Beck’s.
“Likes books that much?”
“Dunno if that’s it. School marks tank. Who’s he take after—.”
Christina side-eyed me.
Fair—if her genes, acing tests a given.
She’d run Bakal’s war brain trust.
“Ahem… Cadet days, my scores held up…? Practical bent, is all….”
Me sheepish; her, one elegant hand up.
Cupped my chin light.
“Play with him tomorrow. Outing or whatever—boost the kid’s spine.”
Princess blues locked mine.
Time honed her gaze, her face—still stunning.
Motherhood? Amped the feminine allure.
“Super quiet on campus too. Hangs solo, kids-wise.”
“Royal blood, though. Don’t they swarm to buddy up?”
My kids? Friend magnets all.
Zero friendless risk…
“Academy’s crawling with royals—not just ours. Full-bluebloods freeze him out.”
My fault.
Empire prince consort or not, Bakal saw orphan commoner.
Grandmaster marquis? Infrequent visits = easy mark.
“Gotcha. I’ll sort him.”
Resolved, I hit the terrace.
Gazed mute on Bern’s sprawl.
Bakal Royal Academy hugged the palace.
Antique behemoth building, tidy dorms roundabout.
Son there—I vowed: long overdue playtime, proper.
“Rest today, hit it tomorrow.”
Deep breath; back to living room.
Couldn’t move.
Christina at terrace-living room divide.
“Rest? What’s that mean, Mikhail.”
Curtain half-drawn—her silhouette glowed through.
Instinct screamed: buck naked underneath.
“Fox slinks home late—time to pay up, yeah?”
One hand curtain-clutch; other yanked me close.
Plunged me into that bountiful, vertigo breast-cleft.
Lewd scent orgy, fevered breaths.
“You kept me waiting.”
Imperial princess stock—or Christina—packed freak strength.
Arms round my neck, eyes half-lidded grace; she kissed.
“Huaa….”
Command-manual hands invaded my shirt.
Ripped it wild off—
Sofa-bound with her, we traded heat.
Porcelain-smooth skin.
Silken-plush thighs clamped my crotch.
Bakal’s first night? Endless.
「―――――」
Next day.
Surfaced at last from Christina’s lush bosom—eyes open.
More relentless loving after.
Past noon, I finally made for the Royal Academy.