Is this a sting operation?
Is this a sting operation?
Shed whispered to Serin beside him in a subtle voice.
"The Lord is a mythical hero, Serin-gong."
"He's a Transcendent, so it's only natural he's called that."
"So, this is no time to just stand by and watch. I support you, Serin-gong. Don't let the position of the Lord's primary wife be snatched away so easily."
"Ah, seriously! What on earth have you been talking about since last time!"
They bickered, though who knows when they became so close.
'Guys, but it's really not like that~!'
Seeing that Kasak, the Sajunsagu, and even Ariun herself were harboring hopes alongside Saklasi, Kalina made a decision.
She decided to create the position of Grand Duke, which is above a King, for Saklasi, and to push for marriage alliances with various figures.
She believed that through polygamy, she could dilute the public's attention on blood-related noble marriages.
'If I just get my daughter seated in the primary wife position first, the order after that doesn't really matter.'
Since the dragon beastkin knew the meaning of the black-haired Soi tribe, it was easy to make them understand.
"As dragon beastkin, you understand that there is an order, right? If it's after that, it wouldn't be bad. My grandson, Saklasi, what do you think?"
Saklasi looked surprised at Kalina's words. He was probably thinking, 'What order? Who is it after?'
"Ruling a country includes taking responsibility. How about starting by keeping them as retainers rather than casting them out completely?"
Kasak quickly took up the words at Kalina's statement.
"It would be an honor just to stay by the side of the Lord who allowed the lineage of 「Dragonia」 to continue and be used by him!"
Ariun also agreed.
"As long as it's not a rejection, anything is fine by me!"
Juchir, who had first stepped forward to follow Saklasi as a retainer, knelt on one knee and shouted, "Please, take Ariun with you,"
and the Sajunsagu, who immediately followed Juchir and knelt on one knee, said nothing, but the desperate look in their eyes as they stared at Saklasi made it a situation he simply couldn't ignore.
In the end, Saklasi suggested starting by having Ariun stay at the Koopong camp for now.
For the mid-level ability users Serin, Manneric, and Shed, the Demon was an easy opponent, but the Devil was a tough one. However, if Ariun, a Holy Water ability user, were there, the reinforcement of combat power would be certain.
Since Ariun was a Holy Water ability user and a princess, she couldn't be left as a mere manager, so she was temporarily appointed as the acting manager. The work was the same anyway. Like Serin and Shed, she was security.
That is how Saklasi ended up bringing Ariun to the Koopong camp now.
Tap-tap-tap-tap!
At the sound of someone running urgently from behind, Saklasi turned around to see the assistant manager, Manneric. He had been on vacation, but it seemed he had rushed over in a single breath upon hearing the news that Saklasi had arrived.
"GR!!AND!!! ST!!AN!!! DUKE!!! I!!! HUMBLY!!! GREET!!! YOU!!!!"
As he made eye contact with Saklasi, Manneric knelt, placed his hands on the ground, bowed his head, and shouted.
"Get up, get up."
It was a situation he had already experienced several times with the many Soi tribe members working as helpers when he brought Ariun. As they tried to pay their respects again following Manneric, Saklasi hurriedly helped them up.
And Manneric, too, had shaking pupils as he looked back and forth between Ariun and Saklasi.
The Soi tribe members also seemed to think it was rude, and though they couldn't say it, their eyes were shaking uncontrollably, and Manneric was the same.
'It's really not like that.'
Ariun was wearing a maid outfit.
This really wasn't an outfit Saklasi wanted her to wear.
Ariun herself had come wearing the maid outfit, saying that the outfit didn't matter for battle.
'No matter how much 「Aojibas」 is a major region for smelting Mandite and Orichalcum, how is there a maid outfit woven with Mano fabric....'
Thinking he should get out of here first, Saklasi departed immediately for the Imperial Palace, which was originally scheduled for the next day.
Since the Imperial Princesses were gathered for the first time in a while, permission was granted to see everyone's faces while he was at it.
At the 「Drevo」 River, where he arrived via 'Mist Transformation', Katerina and the previous Imperial Knights were waiting.
"Don't be surprised."
"Hmm! Grand Duke Stan! We have been waiting. I am Hordona, a senior knight of the Imperial Defender. It is an honor to meet you again!"
It was the elephant beastkin he had seen last time. Perhaps because of his weighty appearance befitting an elephant beastkin, he wasn't surprised even when he saw me with only my head floating.
Although the knight next to him, who looked like a cat beastkin, looked like his eyes were about to pop out when he saw my appearance with only my head floating.
"It's a fun and cute appearance."
Before he knew it, Katerina approached, reached out, and stroked my head floating in the air.
"I apologize for appearing like this, Katerina. Long-distance 'Mist Transformation' cannot carry any objects."
"I like it, Saklasi. To the point where I want to carry it around."
Carry my head around? Wouldn't others be too shocked if they saw that? The way the Princesses think is still hard for me to understand today.
"Th-thank you for understanding, Katerina."
Unfortunately, I couldn't walk the streets of the Imperial Palace wearing ceremonial robes. We returned to the Imperial Palace in a luxury sedan.
"Welcome, Saklasi. Have you eaten?"
"Thank you for the hospitality, Your Majesty the Emperor."
Lunchtime was early, but a banquet was set. Thinking about it now, I felt a bit embarrassed.
Because all sorts of food were piled up only on the seat that was obviously mine again.
On the seats of the Princesses, who hardly needed to eat, only simple soup was placed.
"Sit here."
Seven Princesses, including two I was seeing for the first time, were seated.
I sat right next to the Emperor, who was in the seat of honor. A Princess I was seeing for the first time sat opposite me, and Katerina was next to me again today.
"There are some you're seeing for the first time, right? Let's introduce ourselves while we eat. This is the first, Gelya."
The first, Gelya, also looked to be around Katerina's age. She looked like she was in her mid-20s.
'So being the first didn't mean she looked older. Come to think of it, Marina, who was older than Katerina, looked younger.'
Gelya also had red hair and red eyes, as befitting a High Elf, and she had transparent, clean skin that looked translucent even from about 2 meters away.
Perhaps because she was the first, she had a mature beauty with a benevolent expression, and as expected of a High Elf, she was an incredible beauty.
"I really wanted to see you, Saklasi. I am the first, Gelya. Can we talk often in the future?"
So this is what an elegant voice sounds like.
But as soon as Gelya finished speaking, the Princesses looked at her and then nodded.
What does that mean?
"Gelya-eonni is using a very gentle tone. She must really like you, Saklasi."
Beside me, Katerina picked up food with her fork, supported it with her hand, and brought it to my mouth.
Another Princess I saw for the first time today, besides Gelya, was staring at this with her mouth open.
Come to think of it, this was also incredibly embarrassing.
I couldn't refuse now, so I had no choice but to accept it, swallow it, and answer.
"I wanted to meet you too, Princess Gelya."
Gelya also blinked a few times as if surprised by Katerina feeding me, then continued.
"Hmm, right! You said the first one you met was Katerina, right? So this is what Katerina meant when she said she wanted to dote on you. Can I feed you food next time?"
"Ah, yes! By all means. It's an honor. Haha."
They say High Elves barely eat, so do I look cute because I eat all the food? Is that why they want to feed me?
It might be like the feeling of the Pac-Man frog I used to raise eating well.
"The child sitting at the end there is my fifteenth daughter, Milena. Say hello."
At the Emperor's introduction, the Princess called Milena jumped up and approached me.
"Uhm.... I want to shake your hand!"
Milena came up to my side and reached out her hand.
"It would be rude of me to make you get up during a meal! Please, accept my handshake while seated!"
"Ah, yes."
I, who was about to stand up, awkwardly shook her hand while remaining seated.
Milena didn't have a slender physique; she had a slightly glamorous physique similar to Katerina's.
She, too, was an insanely beautiful person like any other Princess I saw up close. She had a soldier-like vibe from the moment she approached with a disciplined posture, and her straight eyes and sharp nose bridge that matched that were noticeable.
She wrapped her hands around mine and squeezed them tightly.
"I think I know why Mother and my sisters reacted that way! Thank you for accepting my handshake!"
As soon as Milena finished her business, she returned to her seat with a disciplined stride like a soldier again.
I feel like I'm going to break out in a cold sweat from the overflowing affection of all the Princesses I've met. Although, as a water ability user, there's no way I would sweat.
'I'm worried. What if they find out I'm not actually blood-related.'
High Elves seem to have very special family love, perhaps due to their lifespan or the nature of how they are born.
Afterward, while greeting Victoria, Nina, Veronica, and Sonya and continuing the meal, a bombshell statement burst from the Emperor's mouth.
"Saklasi, who would you like as your first marriage partner?"
Do I have to have a political marriage if I become a member of the Imperial family? They said marriage is forbidden for High Elves, so do I have to get married even if I'm a member of the Empire and have become a royal?
Would it be Heifer? Or is there a Princess in 「Raigen」? Or another great power? But first marriage?
And the partner completely exceeded my expectations.
"Is there a child among my daughters who you like? Let me know quietly later. Saklasi. I intend to push for it with the child you want."
?????????
Just like when I first fell into this other world, my head was filled with hooks.
"Pardon?"
Is this a sting operation? Did they find out I'm not blood-related?
