Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Betroth with My Daughter (3)
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Just what on earth had Princess Lucia said?
"I'm serious. Even if I'm your fiancée and we eventually marry and have children, you can still see other women for all I care."
Why was this woman saying "it's fine if you cheat" with such a straight face?
It was a terribly irreverent thought for someone of imperial blood, but could she be the type who enjoyed watching her lover or spouse with another person?
"You're not thinking anything rude, are you? For the record, I'm not that kind of person."
"...Yes."
He truly couldn't understand her.
For starters, Yujin was a man too. Though memories of his past life suddenly resurfaced, blending in some modern sensibilities and making him a bit more liberal, it wasn't enough to suppress his innate desires.
Like any man, he liked beautiful women. The more, the better. Of course, that didn't mean he planned to indiscriminately add women to his life.
...In any case, did he have any intention of insisting on strict monogamy like some prude?
Not in the slightest.
This world permitted polygamy by default in the first place.
In fact, Yujin personally believed that as long as one had the capability, even polyandry should be fine—not that he himself had any desire to be part of it.
'...Of course, I'd never willingly become the "one man" in a polyandrous setup.'
Far from it; the very idea disgusted him. Sharing his woman with other men? Absolutely out of the question.
Not to mention the hygiene issues...
...
...He'd pass on that romance-fantasy polyandry trope.
Yujin simply acknowledged that people who engaged in polyandry existed.
Regardless of his own views, he couldn't fathom Princess Lucia's behavior. If she wanted to collect men herself, that would make sense, but for her to casually accept being just one of many in his life? That was refreshingly novel.
At that moment, Princess Lucia murmured in an incredibly soft voice.
It was so quiet that even Yujin, a Sword Master, could barely make it out.
"...Hee hee, for the sake of my friend, I can make this concession..."
'...Friend? Does she mean Irene... the Duchess?'
Just as he pondered what she meant by "concession for a friend"—
Princess Lucia looked at him with a seductive smile.
"Anyway, all the marquis needs to know is this."
That she harbored very favorable feelings toward him.
That both the imperial family and she were entirely positive and supportive of this engagement.
That even if he took other women, as long as she remained the principal wife, he could have as many as he wanted.
That she would never harm him.
And finally, that from this moment onward, she would look only to him.
"...What do you say?"
"..."
What was this?
What on earth was this woman?
'Everything Princess Lucia said was sincere.'
Yujin was extremely sensitive to people's emotions. Having endured bullying and abuse since childhood, he'd learned to read the room. And ever since reaching the Sword Master realm with his superhuman senses, he'd become something like a human lie detector.
And right now, his senses were screaming.
Every word Princess Lucia had just spoken was utterly genuine.
'...The problem is, I have no idea why Princess Lucia is acting this way.'
This wasn't how one typically proposed a political marriage. Even the terms felt too ambiguous for mere politics.
From Princess Lucia and the imperial family's perspective, their only gain was acquiring absolute martial power in the form of a Sword Master.
Of course, that alone made it far from a losing deal for them. Securing a Sword Master was priceless.
'...However, if I accept the princess and then take other women, that would normally be seen as an insult to the imperial family. For them to accept that means—'
There had to be another reason.
'But setting that aside... no, even considering it, Princess Lucia's proposal is incredibly attractive.'
Honestly, he wanted to snap it up right away.
The conditions were too good.
True, accepting the engagement would tie him to the imperial family... but that also meant becoming part of it, a stepping stone to even greater heights.
'Politically and personally, there's no reason to refuse this engagement.'
"Your Highness. If I may be so bold, is there a particular reason you're going this far? Is this truly your own will?"
Princess Lucia gave an enigmatic smile.
"And if it is?"
"...I'm just curious about the reason."
"Hmm... the reason, you say."
In the end, she gazed at him with crescent-moon eyes.
"You'll learn that in time."
...So she wasn't going to tell him.
"In that case, may I at least consider your proposal positively?"
"Oh? You're not accepting right away? That's unexpected..."
Deep down, he wanted to accept immediately.
But first...
'I still need to sort out the thing with the duchess's daughter—not just drinking with her, but taking her virginity too.'
He couldn't very well say he couldn't get engaged right now because he'd deflowered a duke's daughter in a drunken stupor and needed to take responsibility. So he came up with a suitable excuse.
"If I get engaged to you, Your Highness, and still see other women, won't the other nobles make an issue of it?"
"So you're saying that even if we get engaged, you'll still be seeing other women?"
"..."
Ah.
Did it come out that way?
Hmm.
"Oh, don't look so troubled, Marquis. After all, the imperial family and I proposed this first, and there's no deception involved. I'm just surprised that a Sword Master like you would worry about the nobles' opinions. You don't seem like the type."
...She had a point.
He wasn't one to particularly care about the nobles' opinions. He had no desire to. Why bother pandering when they didn't welcome him anyway?
He merely showed "superficial" respect, since one never knew what the future held.
'Even that's a hassle, though.'
Nobles or not, aside from a precious few with real value, they were all worthless monkeys to him.
"Yet you're hesitating on the engagement, which means there must be something bothering you?"
He shook his head.
"No—"
"Perhaps an issue with a woman?"
Hmm.
Wait, hold on.
A bad premonition crept over him.
"Digging a bit deeper... maybe you took some lady's virginity while drunk?"
He flinched—
But he barely managed to suppress his reflexive jolt.
'...What?'
This princess... what was she?
'...Why does she know so much since earlier?'
It was too accurate to be mere guesswork.
As if she were surveilling him.
'Did the intelligence agency get involved?'
As a Sword Master, he was a person of interest, so it was plausible the central intelligence bureau had been ordered to tail him.
But.
'That doesn't add up—my senses didn't pick up anyone.'
No matter how drunk he was, he couldn't miss the presence of agents shadowing him. Maintaining his sensory awareness was a habit ingrained for survival on the battlefield.
So, had she heard from someone, or known in advance?
'...But how?'
He truly had no idea.
In the meantime, Princess Lucia leaned back slightly and took a sip of her black tea.
'...That's mine.'
The tea she'd drunk from was the cup he'd sipped from.
"Hee hee, I was just teasing. Relax your expression. A stern face like yours can be dangerous to a delicate lady, you know?"
"...My apologies, Your Highness."
Was his face that fierce?
'I'll have to be more mindful from now on.'
In truth, Princess Lucia meant that Yujin's cold features were so handsome they posed a danger to a woman's heart.
That sharp nose, unusually pale skin for a man, and those piercing eyes with faint dark circles narrowed at her—it was decadently alluring beyond words.
'...♡'
He had no way of knowing.
They spent a brief moment lost in their respective thoughts.
Princess Lucia glanced at the clock on the wall and made a regretful face.
"Marquis, I'm sorry, but our time is up."
"...Ah, already this late."
The clock hands now pointed to evening.
Unlike Yujin, who'd just returned to the capital with nothing pressing, Princess Lucia had her imperial schedule to keep. It was time to end the meeting.
"Aren't you sad to part from me, Marquis?"
She said it half-jokingly. This was their first face-to-face meeting up close—why would he miss her?
Especially since he'd already met her one and only friend.
But Yujin gave an unexpected reply.
"I am."
"It's fine. Next ti—wait, you are sad?"
"Yes, Your Highness. How could any man not feel regret at ending a private meeting with such a beautiful woman as yourself?"
"...Oh my."
If she had a fan in hand, she would have snapped it open to cover her mouth.
Her lips were curving up despite herself.
"Ahem. Thank you, Marquis."
Yujin simply bowed his head quietly.
"...Let's meet again soon to talk more."
"Soon meaning...?"
"Probably at the victory banquet."
'...Victory banquet?'
Yujin rolled the word around in his mind several times.
Victory banquet, victory banquet... what banquet—
'Ah.'
"...You're referring to the victory celebration."
"Exactly."
The empire had just triumphed over the eastern alliance.
The atmosphere was already electric, making a victory banquet inevitable.
Politics always followed war.
Princess Lucia fussed lightly with her hair as she spoke.
"We'd originally planned to announce our engagement then, but oh well."
"..."
Should he apologize?
Yujin just bowed his head.
"Well, there's always next time. Oh, by the way, Marquis."
"...Yes, Your Highness."
What would she say now?
Though they'd only just met today, Yujin found himself anticipating whatever startling remark she'd make next whenever she opened her mouth.
"Do you have a partner lined up for the banquet?"
Partner.
"...No."
"Perfect."
Pardon?
Why was that perfect—
"I'll be your partner, Marquis. You wouldn't refuse that too, would you?"
Yujin gazed steadily at Princess Lucia.
Then he nodded readily.
"Of course not, Your Highness."
"Hmm, no refusal this time?"
She was the one who'd told him not to refuse—what did she mean?
...It was just banter.
"While I may have shown slight hesitation regarding our engagement, Your Highness, you are truly a captivating woman. In fact, I should be the one begging. Might I have the honor of being your partner?"
Yujin extended his hand with gentlemanly courtesy.
Princess Lucia eyed it with slightly trembling eyes before taking it with a soft smile.
"Looking forward to it, Marquis."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Princess Lucia exited the reception room first. Glimpsed in passing, her ears were flushed red.
'...Cute.'
No matter what faces she made, she was still a virgin who'd never been with a man.
'But when's the victory banquet again?'
...Wait.
That was definitely...
...in two days, right?
Considering the day was practically over, it was basically tomorrow.
...
'Ah.'