Chapter 12 - A Fateful Decision

By the time they finished their meal and stepped outside, the banquet hall had been cleaned so thoroughly that the earlier chaos seemed like a distant memory.

Jill looked around, blinking in disbelief, and muttered to herself.

'Whoa... Just a moment ago, people were flying through the air and blood was splattering everywhere. It was absolute madness.'

Not a single corpse, broken chair, or bloodstain remained in sight.

It was as if nothing had happened at all, save for a few faint, dried copper smudges that bore silent witness to the violence.

A short distance away, the Crimson Baron was barking brief, precise orders to his administrators and soldiers. The groveling, hysterical tone he had used earlier was entirely gone, replaced by a low, authoritative voice.

"Erase all traces of Roderick and his faction."

"Yes, Baron."

"The Lady of Winterfell and her companions never arrived at this castle. Send a carrier pigeon to Viscount Valentine before the day ends... stating they were ambushed by assassins near the Ruby Highway and perished."

"Understood, my Lord."

Jill pouted, whispering under her breath.

'Huh... The old guy is actually pretty competent.'

A moment later, once the cleanup was mostly complete, the Baron approached the group carrying several thick bundles of documents. His expression was remarkably composed, making it hard to believe he had been performing a desperate dogeza just moments prior.

"My Lady, and... everyone else. As requested, I have completed the basic arrangements."

He spread the papers across a long table. They detailed a map of the North, the crests of various territories, and the names and political leanings of the local nobility.

"This is information on the territories you must pass through, My Lady. Some of the nobles have already aligned themselves with Viscount Valentine, while others are still biding their time. However, these individuals... have a high probability of being won over."

The Baron pointed to several names on the list.

"Particularly these three. They have deep, historical ties to the Winterfell Ducal House. Though they are pragmatists who ultimately bow to strength, if My Lady formally inherits the title of Duchess and proclaims it to the entire North, they are highly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠likely to return to your side."

Jill tilted her head. "So, not as many people joined Viscount Valentine as I thought?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Indeed," the Baron replied with a bitter smile. "The nobles of the North have lived by the sword and shield since ancient times. This is a land that prides itself on being the Empire's bulwark against monsters and barbarians. Rather than flashy political maneuvering, they care about one thing above all else: 'Can this person endure and protect this harsh North to the very end?'"

Astrid nodded in agreement.

"It is not that they have all sworn fealty to Viscount Valentine," the Baron continued. "Rather, they are simply waiting to align themselves with whoever proves stronger. In the past, that position was held by the late Duke. Now, it remains vacant."

Jill groaned inwardly.

'In other words... everyone is just waiting to see who's stronger so they can line up behind them.'

The Baron adjusted his posture as he gathered the documents once more.

"That is why you must return to Winterfell, hold your coronation, and formally extract oaths of fealty from the Northern lords. Until then... Viscount Valentine will continue to eye the ducal throne."

Hearing this, Eliana clenched ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her fists tightly.

The faint tremor in her eyes vanished, replaced by a fierce, unmistakable resolve.

"...I understand. I cannot keep running forever."

Jill glanced at Eliana out of the corner of her eye, marveling silently.

'For a sheltered princess, she's got a surprisingly strong spine.'

Then, the Baron bowed his head slightly and added, "And... if I may offer a brief defense of my own actions."

When Jill narrowed her eyes and glared at him, cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and his hands began to tremble.

"I-I never had any intention of siding with Viscount Valentine from the beginning. But Roderick and his men took my family hostage and threatened me... I had no choice..."

"Your family?" Eliana's eyes widened.

The Baron bowed deeply.

"My wife and children. They held them hostage inside this very castle while waiting for your return, My Lady. I could not bring myself to oppose them openly."

Astrid nodded slowly.

"...So, you pretended to side with the Viscount on the surface, but never fully committed."

"Exactly! I had no other choice... and I truly believed My Lady's party would triumph!"

Jill snorted.

"Oh, come on, old man. That's a bit shameless."

Even so, she glanced down at the pile of documents and felt another wave of admiration.

'Still... he really did a fantastic job. He mapped out the Valentine loyalists, the neutrals, the targets for persuasion, and even our route forward. At this rate, he's practically a highly competent chief of staff.'

Astrid and Eliana's gazes toward the Baron shifted slightly as well.

While they couldn't trust him completely, they now viewed him as a highly useful turncoat.

A short while later, after the Baron excused himself, a heavy, serious silence settled over the room. Jill was in the middle of taking a sip of water when she felt Eliana's intense gaze on her. She slowly set her cup down.

"Sister Jill..."

Eliana bit her lower lip, quietly slipped out of her chair, and knelt on the floor before Jill and Penis.

Astrid's eyes widened in shock.

"M-My Lady?!"

"I... have a favor to ask."

Eliana clasped her hands together and bowed deeply, facing Penis directly.

"Lord Penis."

Penis, who had been about to yawn, raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm?"

"I know that up until now... you were merely companions helping me temporarily. But now, I wish to form a formal... contract with you."

Jill's eyes widened.

"A contract?"

Eliana continued, her voice trembling slightly.

"I am still weak, I have many enemies, and there are few people I can truly trust. But... I must return. I cannot abandon the North that my father spent his life protecting. So..."

She took a deep breath and looked up.

"Please, stand by my side. I formally beg of you... to fight with me until the very end."

Penis scratched his chin, remaining silent for a moment.

Jill swallowed hard.

'Ah, if we agree to this now, both of us are going to get dragged into the crossfire between Viscount Valentine and the Northern nobles. We'll be worked to the bone until we're coughing up blood...'

But the pleas weren't over yet.

"I, too, beg of you."

Astrid knelt beside Eliana, staring straight at Penis.

"With my current strength alone, I cannot protect My Lady to the end."

Astrid's voice trembled slightly, dropping to a lower register.

"If there is anything you desire... I will give you whatever is within my power."

She hesitated for a brief second, her face flushing crimson as she added in a softer whisper, "My life... and my body... are yours to command."

Jill nearly choked on her own spit.

'Whoa... she is dead serious.'

A brief silence filled the room. Jill stole a glance at Penis's face.

'...If we say yes here, I'm getting dragged right along with him, aren't I?'

The events of her life since arriving in this world flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern.

Ever since she woke up in this world, she had been stripped naked, clinging to Penis while fighting off assassins. From the carriage to the inn, the forest, and just now in the banquet hall...

She had been an ordinary guy who loved working out and minding his own business. Now, she was a woman, getting ravished by her own reincarnated dick, and fighting knights and soldiers wearing nothing but a cloak over her bare skin. The past few days felt more spectacular and chaotic than the entire twenty-five years of her previous life combined.

'If we keep going like this, these battles will never end. Assassins, armies, knights, mercenaries... all of it, until that perverted Viscount is finally dead.'

She couldn't bring herself to speak.

Just then, Penis lowered the hand supporting his chin and glanced at Jill.

"Hmm. Jill!"

"...What?"

"You decide."

Jill pointed a finger at herself, her face a mask of confusion.

"Me?"

"Yeah, you," Penis said nonchalantly. "Whether we help them or not. I'll follow your choice."

"Wait a minute! Why are you suddenly passing the buck to me?!" Jill practically shrieked. "Aren't you the one who's supposed to make the decisions? You never bothered to ask for my opinion before!"

"A true protagonist always dumps the annoying chores onto someone else."

"What the hell are you talking about, you crazy..."

Jill barely managed to swallow the curse before it escaped her lips.

She felt the heavy weight of Eliana and Astrid's gazes locking onto her simultaneously. Their eyes were sparkling with pure, unadulterated hope. Jill groaned inwardly at the realization that everything now rested on her shoulders.

If they refused to help, she could easily picture Eliana and Astrid meeting a tragic end. The mere thought of it guaranteed she wouldn't be able to sleep a wink tonight.

"...Sigh."

Jill ran a hand through her hair and stood up abruptly. Looking down at the two kneeling women, she spoke.

"Well, I suppose if I'm not around, you two will probably starve to death on the streets."

Eliana and Astrid's eyes widened in unison.

"So..."

Jill stroked her chin, trying to look solemn and deep in thought, before ultimately shrugging her shoulders.

"I'll help you. Since fate brought us together like this, we might as well see it through."

The moment those words left her mouth, Eliana's face lit up with pure joy.

"Sister...!"

Unable to contain herself, she sprang to her feet and lunged at Jill.

"Whoa?!"

Eliana threw her arms around Jill, sobbing tears of relief.

"Thank you so much, Sister...!"

Jill froze, momentarily dazed by the soft, pillowy sensation of Eliana's chest pressing against her. Snapping out of it, she awkwardly patted Eliana's back.

'Ah... this feeling. Is this the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠first time a woman has ever hugged me like this...?'

Eliana let out a tearful laugh and declared, "From now on... I will serve you as my true sister for the rest of my life!"

"Huh...?" Jill blinked, utterly bewildered.

"Please stay with me forever as my sister. Once I reclaim the ducal throne, you and Lord Penis will...!"

Eliana glanced at Penis with tear-glistening eyes, her face flushing a deep crimson as she added softly, "And... um, once I become Duchess..."

"Yes?" Penis prompted.

"Lord Penis... will become the Grand Duke."

"......?"

Jill's brain momentarily short-circuited.

'Grand Duke? Isn't Eliana supposed to be the Duchess?'

Astrid immediately bolted upright, practically jumping in shock. "M-My Lady, what are you saying?! Don't tell me... you intend to take Lord Penis as your husband?!"

"H-Husband?!"

This time, it was Jill who shrieked. "Wait, you're going to marry Penis?! This pervert?!"

Eliana's face turned so red it looked ready to burst. She cupped her burning cheeks with both hands, squirming as her voice trailed off. In her mind, the word 'contract' had already evolved from a political alliance into an engagement, and now, marriage.

"W-Well... a contract with Lord Penis means he will be with me... and if I safely inherit the title of Duchess, for the sake of the family and the North... um, you see..."

Her voice grew smaller and smaller until it was barely a squeak.

Even Penis blinked, seemingly caught off guard for once. "Oh."

He stared at Eliana for a moment, then glanced between Jill and Astrid. Shrugging his shoulders, he spoke with absolute nonchalance.

"Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there."

Jill clutched her head.

'My God... She actually fell for a guy like this!'

Suddenly, the gears in Jill's brain began to spin at a furious pace, sparking with wishful thinking.

'Wait. If Eliana and Penis get married, what happens to me?'

Her eyes darted rapidly from side to side.

'If this pervert marries Eliana... he'll be busy doing it with her, right? Then... what about me?'

A slow, sly grin began to spread across her lips.

'I'll be free! While he's completely distracted by Eliana, I can live my life however I want! Yes! This is it!'

Jill played both sides of the argument in her head and instantly arrived at a brilliant conclusion.

'Excellent! I absolutely, 100% support Eliana and Penis's marriage! For the sake of my own freedom!'

She clenched her fist, her face a picture of solemn determination.

"Eliana! You have my full support! You two look absolutely perfect together!"

Penis smirked as he watched her. He could read her mind like an open book.

Deep within his mind, a dark, insidious plan was already taking shape—a swamp of a trap from which Jill would never be able to escape. But Jill, her brain completely overloaded with delusions of freedom, didn't notice a thing.