[No title provided]
A thud. A sensation all too familiar... this...
Now an utterly unsurprising sight filled my vision as I opened my eyes. The smell of disinfectant and the vaguely unsettling atmosphere of this place—it had to be the Grand Duke's medical room. Waking up here day after day, I was starting to wonder if this was my respawn point.
"At this rate, I'll wake up here next time even if I'm just sleeping. Scary stuff."
"Oh dear. That would be a problem~ I haven't even seen my youngest grandchild yet~"
...?
I hadn't expected a reply to my quiet mutter, so I turned toward the source of the voice.
"Hi~ You're awake~"
A woman I didn't recognize. Her blue hair was elegantly styled into a braided bun, and she wore a sensual blue dress that clung tightly to her body. It was eye candy for sure, but for some reason, my instincts screamed that I shouldn't stare, so I averted my gaze slightly.
"Uh... who might you be?"
"Hm? Not gonna look more? I figured guys your age would love it."
I do. I love it. But some voice in my head warned that going further would get me killed for real, snapping me back to rationality.
"Heh~ Not bad self-control. So that's why all the girls are hooked on you?"
The woman, spouting cryptic words, rose gracefully from her chair and offered a polite noble's curtsy.
"Greetings, Young Master Mars Noctus. I am Ludmilla Auros, the lady of this Grand Ducal house."
Prazia's mother. I bolted upright from the bed in a fluster. Luckily, the pain from the Grand Duke's blow was gone as if washed away—probably thanks to the Saintess's power.
"Ah, hello. I am—"
"No need~ I know all about you, Young Master. Lie back down~ You're still not well; no need for formalities."
"No, I'm fully recovered—"
"Lie down."
"Yes, ma'am."
Her voice brooked no argument, so I pulled the covers back over me and meekly reclined against the bed. Only then did she sit back down, looking satisfied.
"First off, I apologize for my husband turning you into a patient. I've told him over and over he needs to stop being so reckless when it comes to Prazia..."
She shook her head with a troubled expression as she apologized, her tone suggesting this wasn't the first time. Her genuine exasperation made it crystal clear just how much of a doting dad the Grand Duke was.
"I stepped out briefly to check on the guest preparations, and that happened... When I heard you'd smashed through the wall and passed out, I was shocked~"
"I-is that so..."
"Really... No matter how many times I warn him... I thought sending Prazia to the Amor Academy might make him mature a bit, but... sigh."
She had a lot pent up about her husband and vented nonstop. But it wasn't hatred or dislike—just the gripes of a long-married couple.
"If anything's wrong, just tell me. We'll compensate fully."
"I'm fine. No issues now."
The Saintess had healed me while I was out, and my aura automatically regenerated any weak spots, so these injuries were negligible.
"Glad to hear it, but we still feel bad. So, I have a proposal for you, Young Master."
"A... proposal?"
As someone clueless about the Grand Ducal house, I couldn't tell if whatever she offered would be good or bad for me. I'd rather just take cash compensation.
"Prazia as your fifth wife would be fine~ That way, she'd fit on one hand's ring finger, right?"
"...?"
What? As I floated question marks over my head at her talk of "fifth," fingers, and rings, she realized I didn't get it and gaped in surprise.
"Oh my... You really don't know?"
Before I could ask what, the door burst open and the girls piled in.
"Okay, stop right there. Don't say another word, auntie."
"Pfft—!"
Behind Astraia, who kicked the door open and dropped the number-one mood-killer word for women without hesitation, came Prazia, doubled over laughing at it.
"Auntie—?! Hoo... I see. You look young, but you act like a kid too."
"Hey, auntie. Quit saying weird stuff to Mars and go see your husband already? It's pathetic watching someone your age meddle in your grandkids' business."
"Oh?"
Astraia, looking furious, kept provoking her with back-to-back jabs. Ludmilla smiled outwardly but ground her teeth like a saw on metal.
"Haa... Bold or foolish, I wonder... I should've expected this when I heard the princess got involved... Mars, you okay?"
"Ah, yes. Fine. But why are you so mad, Your Highness?"
"I heard what she said. Prazia herself is staying quiet, so why are you flipping out..."
The other girls approached cautiously to check on me.
"The Saintess healed you, right? Thank you."
"No need... It's the least I could do. That's all I'm good for..."
"Uh, I stabbed the Grand Duke's gut at the end too—nothing bad come of that, right?"
"Don't worry about it."
Ludmilla, pausing her stare-down with Astraia, glanced my way.
"Any injuries he got are his karma. He deserves a gut wound like that. It'll heal quick anyway, so I punished him separately."
"Punishment?"
The Grand Duke punished by his wife? What could it be?
"Made him kneel with hands up."
"Oof."
That it?
"In front of the Northern folk."
"Oof............"
Yup. Brutal.
"And I'm not talking to Dad for a while. Shock therapy for him."
"I... see..."
Pushing aside thoughts of how alike mother and daughter were, I asked Ludmilla if we could proceed with the schedule as planned.
"So, ma'am. Can we academy students continue the itinerary as—?"
Pssshhh—crash!
"Wh-what?!"
"Eek! What—?!"
Suddenly, the window shattered as something the size of a person flew in and flopped onto my bed. In the panic, I snatched a small fruit knife from the bedside table, wrapped it in aura, and aimed at the wriggling lump under the covers.
It squirmed... Should I stab now?
"Pwah! Thought I was dead! Huh? Mars?"
"Eh? Lillia?"
This girl. Wasn't she supposed to be spying for the Heaven God Cult right now? Why the hell was she here?
Before I could voice the question, she started bawling, tears streaming, and rocketed into my arms, hugging tight and sobbing.
Thud!
"Ack—!"
"S-save me, Mars!! I really thought I was gonna die!!"
A chill ran through me—if she'd landed lower, no heirs for me.
"Is this for real—!? Hey, get off him! Cling at the right time!"
Astraia tried prying off Lillia, who was smearing tears and snot on my clothes. Ludmilla watched with a shocked look.
"Hmm... Six might be pushing it... Tsk..."
What? What's risky about six?
* * *
"My apologies. I let her slip away."
Mist, subordinate to the Sub-Cult Leader, knelt deeply in remorse for his failure.
"...Explain. A man of your caliber wouldn't simply lose her."
"Forgive me. I erased my presence completely to eliminate her, but her dodging my ambush was unexpected. And..."
The Sub-Cult Leader nodded silently for him to continue, so Mist did.
"Her momentary burst of charm disrupted my sanity. It was brief, but even with emotions severed, it hit me hard enough to rattle me."
"Oh? Instilling emotion in the emotionless... An awakening of her innate ability in the face of death..."
She had no combat prowess, but her unique power was rare and versatile. When she betrayed them, they'd planned to nip it in the bud, but hearing she'd awakened an unheard-of ability in crisis, the Sub-Cult Leader stroked his chin with interest.
"Intriguing. She stagnated under our protection and rank, but blooms on the brink of death. You've piqued my curiosity."
"Shall I withdraw the kill order?"
"Do so. Her power opens more uses. Tell them to capture her—and the dragon's heir—alive."
"Understood. Your will be done."