Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Betroth with My Daughter (2)
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At that moment—
"Hng..."
Left alone in the room, Irene slowly rose from the bed. She gently stroked the spot where Yujin had been lying.
The faint warmth, slightly cooling now, transmitted through her white, slender fingertips.
"Haa..."
A thrilled sigh escaped her lips unbidden.
"...Yujin."
She closed her eyes and recalled the previous night.
Yujin, his reason half-flown from the alcohol. Approaching him in that state had been the best choice.
After all, it had allowed her to connect with him. The sensation of his massive manhood filling her deepest place—untouched by anyone before—was still vivid.
And the dizzying pleasure she felt as it pistoned in and out of her.
'They say first times are supposed to hurt...'
Was it because her partner was Yujin?
It hadn't hurt at all.
Or maybe she was just inherently lewd... but even that lewdness was permitted only to Yujin, so it didn't matter either way.
Only he could touch her body.
Squeeze—
"Hnght."
Only he could grab her breasts like this,
...and plunge into her deepest depths,
just Yujin alone.
Ever since that incident in her childhood, she had only ever looked at Yujin.
Thud—
She lay back on the bed as a wave of dizziness washed over her. Even as a talented mage, she couldn't escape the aftereffects of her first time.
Sniff sniff—
"Yujin's scent..."
She could smell his body odor from the sheets. Not so much sweat, but more like the fragrance of a potent male.
A scent that made her lower abdomen throb inexplicably.
"Last night, right here with Yujin..."
They had kissed, entwined their bodies, and though he had been lost in mere pleasure rather than true affection, he had whispered words of love to her.
"Hnght..."
She closed her eyes and pictured Yujin.
His face, fully matured unlike the boyish innocence of their childhood. Those sharp, decadent eyes.
His sturdy body packed with muscle.
But it was covered in scars large and small from whatever he had endured in the war.
How much had it hurt?
How grueling had it been?
...How lonely had he felt?
"Haa... I miss you, Yujin."
I miss you.
You made me like this, dared to turn the daughter of a duke into this state, and where did you go, Yujin?
You took my first time, so you have to become my husband, Yujin.
You have to take responsibility, right?
...Of course,
"...Yujin doesn't seem to remember me... but that's okay. I remember."
Their immature childhood days.
She still vividly recalled how he had saved her when she was in danger. They had been complete strangers, yet he had thrown himself in harm's way to rescue her.
Irene still clearly remembered the thin scar that incident had left on his body. Even now, years later when they met again, that scar remained on him.
Does that mean my mark is forever on you now?
"...I want to talk with you."
About the past, and the future.
"...Would two kids, a boy and a girl, be nice...?"
Just imagining it brought a smile to her face.
Yujin looked at the suddenly appeared Princess Lucia.
"...Greetings, Your Highness."
But only for a moment. Realizing it was improper to stare, he quickly dropped to one knee.
"Hehe, nice to meet you, Marquis."
"...It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness."
"The honor is mine, meeting a hero like you in person."
"..."
What was this situation?
Why was the Emperor trying to betroth him to the princess?
"You look full of questions."
The Emperor saw through his thoughts and chuckled.
"Do you want to hear the reason?"
"...I apologize, Your Majesty, but yes."
As the Emperor said, he was now the head of a noble house, so he needed an heir.
Especially now, with all direct and collateral lines of the Banus Marquis Family gone except for himself.
Even if he had toppled the family out of hatred to claim the title, he was still a man of honor and ambition.
Who in the world hated power and fame?
So he had no intention of letting the Banus Marquis line end with him. The hateful past was cleansed, and now he could start a new history with his descendants.
Writing a new history with the blood of a bastard like him.
Wouldn't that be the true revenge against his family, not even a corpse of which remained?
'Anyone who claims they have no such desire is a liar.'
Recommend keeping distance from such serious con artists. Craving power and honor was a fundamental human desire.
People without it were scary—something was broken in them somewhere.
Even zealots had their greed.
'They're all just pretending not to.'
"There's a pleasing reason and a very honest one. Which do you want to hear?"
"Both, Your Majesty."
"Haha! Greedy one."
Still, honest was good, the Emperor muttered.
"First is to honor you, a hero who devoted himself to the Empire and reached the Master realm—one of the rarest on the continent, and the youngest ever."
That was understandable.
As the Emperor said, Masters were few on the continent.
Masters were said to be equivalent to a legion alone—the pinnacle of knighthood, unmatched in might.
"Second... well, you can guess. To bind the Empire's greatest genius ever to us. Preferably on the imperial side."
"...Even without that, I am absolutely loyal to you, Your Majesty."
"Haha, I know. Do you think I doubt your loyalty?"
The Emperor was sincere.
He knew Yujin was loyal. He would probably carry out an order to massacre the northern grand duke and his noble faction without reason, without complaint.
No one knew his inner thoughts, but he would obey orders.
"Still, certainty is best. Blood is thickest, after all. Family ties are sturdier than anything. And it might sound like doting father talk, but my princess is one of the Empire's top beauties. Talented too, so she'd greatly help rebuild your empty Banus Marquis Family."
That was quite appealing to Yujin.
He had heard even on the battlefield rumors of Princess Lucia's exceptional abilities.
But.
"...However, Your Majesty, I am a bastard by birth. Wouldn't that shame Her Highness...?"
"Hah."
The Emperor snorted.
"Who could look down on you for that? Bastard birth? It means nothing. Position is determined by ability. Besides, you have no bloodline left to judge you anyway. No issue at all."
True enough.
The Emperor was the ultimate meritocrat, his shackling family was dead, and nobles gossiping behind his back couldn't say a word to his face.
So then,
"...Does this include Her Highness's opinion?"
"Oh? Concerned for the princess?"
He bowed silently.
'...Have to be.'
He felt Princess Lucia's intense gaze burning into the top of his head.
"I see."
The Emperor nodded.
"Then talk to her directly. I'll lend you the drawing room—discuss comfortably between yourselves."
...Pardon?
.
.
.
.
And so, Lucia and Yujin ended up alone in the drawing room.
Silence hung in the drawing room for a moment. Not quite gauging each other, but feeling things out.
In the end, Princess Lucia moved first.
She went to a table in the corner, brewed some black tea, and set it before Yujin.
"...This is..."
"I sometimes brew and drink tea alone like this. It should taste fine—give it a try."
"...An honor, Your Highness."
"The honor is mine."
Yujin took a sip of the black tea.
...Bitter.
But he couldn't show it.
He praised it as delicious without changing expression.
After all, she was the daughter of his boss (the Emperor). They'd see each other long-term, so better to start well.
"...Anyway, this is our first time meeting up close, Marquis Banus."
"If this is the first time up close... then have you...?"
Seen me from afar?
"Hng, who knows?"
"..."
Princess Lucia gave a meaningful smile.
"We'll find out in time. We have plenty, after all."
"..."
"I see."
Indeed.
The war was over.
"By the way, Marquis."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Can I take that as you accepting the betrothal?"
Pff—!
He nearly spat it out.
She came straight to the point.
Like father, like daughter.
'Similar personalities.'
Not bad. A bit tricky, but rather charming.
But that was that...
A betrothal this sudden?
"..."
Let him think it over.
If he accepted betrothal to Princess Lucia, his future life would be far from bad.
No, quite good.
Her looks alone could compete for the Empire's top beauty title, and as a princess, she could provide the legitimacy he lacked.
Tied to the imperial family, loyalist nobles would line up, power following naturally. The hero-marries-princess tale would elevate his fame further.
...Compatibility and personality remained, but his gut said it'd be fine, so pass.
'Rationally, accepting makes sense.'
But one issue lingered.
Arkabella Duchess—no,
What about Irene?
'Strictly speaking, she and I have no relationship yet.'
Not lovers, just a one-night after drinks yesterday.
But that's the problem. Yujin had taken Irene's virginity. This wasn't modern times. A romance-fantasy between medieval and modern.
By this world's standards, such cases led straight to marriage. A woman's value was tied to purity; the man bore responsibility.
'...Hmm.'
As he pondered, Lucia suddenly leaned in close.
Her red eyes gleamed deeply, as if piercing his thoughts.
"Hmm. You were just thinking about another woman, weren't you?"
How did she know...?
"And that woman is probably... my former fiancée? Or..."
Princess Lucia paused briefly before saying,
"...Irene Arkabella?"
Flinch—
'...!?'
"Oh? Your reaction says it's Irene."
Her voice held a strange certainty.
Sensing denial would be pointless, Yujin decided on honesty.
"...How did Your Highness know...?"
How did this woman know that?
Princess Lucia smiled oddly.
"Hng, you'll find out eventually, but Irene and I are old friends, sort of. We know each other well—what she likes, what she wants, even her type in men..."
"..."
"Anyway, I'm curious why you'd think of her with me here... but I'll let it slide."
"...?"
He couldn't understand her.
Figuring out he thought of Irene was one thing, but thinking of another woman in her presence was rude.
Yet,
"Even if we get engaged and marry, it's fine to see other women. Like Irene, say..."
...?
"...Your Highness?"
"Ah, but don't misunderstand—I'm not saying I'll see other men."
...What was she even saying?