Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Suddenly Becoming a Married Man
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Suddenly, I found myself on the verge of becoming a married man. After much agonizing deliberation, I ultimately decided to tie the knot.
In this kingdom, a lord's personal judgment is generally respected, but for serious felonies, we had to adhere to the kingdom's basic laws. For instance, even if I captured that mad lesbian murderer who raped dozens of women in the trading city and castrated and killed dozens of adventurers who fled by ship, I couldn't just pardon her on a whim.
The kingdom would leave her custody to me while I held her, but if I simply pardoned her outright, they'd have no choice but to intervene. So, I needed a solid excuse to pardon Eve—and fortunately, I had the title of being part of the "hero's party" that defeated the Demon King alongside the Hero.
If someone like me, who helped vanquish the Demon King, asked to pardon one measly mermaid, there was no reason the kingdom would refuse.
Thus, requesting a pardon for Eve was easy, but I needed a good reason. Just asking outright would put the kingdom in a tough spot, so I had to provide a plausible justification. That justification came in two forms: her "conversion to the Great Heavenly God Church" and "marrying me." The first option—converting to the church—had her screaming that she'd rather die, so marriage to me was the only path left.
It would be such a waste to catch a beauty like Eve and just execute her. A woman of her caliber was worth earning the "married man" title for.
No one would dare stop a member of the hero's party from banging a mermaid out of sheer lust. Fortunately, the Great Heavenly God Church's doctrines said nothing about not sleeping with mermaids or restricting marriage to humans only.
Thanks to that, I confidently sent letters to the Great Heavenly God Church's central cathedral and the royal palace. To summarize the contents:
I want to marry Eve, the mermaid hybrid. But she's a criminal due to her brutal crimes. As a reward for defeating the Demon King as part of the hero's party, please pardon Eve and her mermaid mother. Oh, and build us a swimming pool at our estate.
"Why the swimming pool?"
Eve, sitting beside me, asked. After our incredibly enjoyable romp the night before, I'd unshackled her, allowing her to roam the estate freely. The servants, having heard the rumors about Eve, trembled in fear as if a rabid dog were loose in the mansion—but after I repeatedly assured them she was safe, they finally grudgingly got back to work.
Of course, that didn't mean any servants dared approach her or strike up a conversation. People avoided Eve like she carried the plague. She seemed annoyed by it but didn't say anything.
"We can't keep Selu cooped up in the bath forever."
Selu herself was bored out of her mind, and the servants delivering food to the bath looked fed up, so this needed resolving ASAP. Building a pool on our estate budget would draw complaints right away, so requesting it from the kingdom was the smart move.
"True... Hey, but you keep calling my mom..."
"She's our mom now."
"...Fuck, I can't get used to this shit."
Eve scratched her head. She leaned against me all day, watching me handle my paperwork. Thanks to that, Aira—who used to tempt me constantly during office hours—now stood trembling in the corner whenever Eve was around.
A few days passed like that. Surprisingly, the replies came back quickly. And just as swiftly, rumors spread through the Peta territory that I was a mermaid-fucker. People had kept their mouths shut pretty well about my flings with Sieri and Aira, but apparently, no one could resist gossiping about me sleeping with a mermaid.
While letters poured in from all sides, the territory buzzed with bizarre rumors: I'd lived too ascetically and finally lost my mind, or mermaids were so deliciously fuckable that even a lord went mad for them.
Three letters had arrived. One each from the church, the kingdom, and the elven kingdom of Ahildern.
The Great Heavenly God Church's central cathedral wrote:
- The Southern Priest Leader's decision beautifully upholds the Great Heavenly God Church's motto. We acknowledge that love knows no borders or races and respect your choice. However, we regret that it fails to consider the social repercussions and controversies this may cause.
It was a polite way of flipping me off while still approving the marriage.
The royal palace responded:
- The palace accepts Peta Lucius's request and pardons the murderer Eve and her mermaid mother of their crimes. However, should Eve divorce Peta Lucius or commit acts equivalent to her prior offenses, this pardon will be revoked, and Eve and her mermaid mother will be drawn and quartered.
Essentially, a formal approval.
"What's 'drawn and quartered'?"
"Torn apart alive."
"Fuck, what a bullshit..."
And who knew the mermaid-fucker rumors had spread so far? A letter arrived even from Ahildern Erina of the elven kingdom, and its contents were a sight to behold.
- Peta Sirius in the heavens will bless you for choosing something better than bestiality.
You fucking bitch.
The territory was returning to peace. The guildmaster of Esta trading city sent a letter condemning my insane choice, but I ignored it without a second thought. The villagers, recovering from their initial shock, were starting to shrug it off.
Since I wasn't flaunting changes or living extravagantly beyond sleeping with a mermaid, it became just a passing issue. Gossips still chattered about my perverse lusts as Peta Lucius, but nothing more disruptive. Spreading rumors behind my back was fine, but saying it to my face would be an insult.
No one dumb enough to call a mermaid-fucker—who could crush skulls barehanded—to his face.
Thus, life at the mansion seemed peacefully stable. Selu was content with the pool under construction, and Eve grumbled about needing to learn ladylike etiquette as the lord's wife but was otherwise satisfied.
Aira even seemed to be getting used to Eve after some time.
But one person, Sieri, was genuinely anxious with Eve's arrival. Lately, I hadn't called her to my room, and with the mermaid-fucker rumors flying, she felt insecure about her position.
She'd blatantly visit my room on her days off, asking if I wouldn't comfort her today, or butt into my conversations with Eve. That night, I hadn't slept with Eve or Selu. I'd been in the office late sorting documents and was heading back to my room.
I spotted a suspicious shadow pacing in front of my door and silenced my footsteps. Creeping closer through the darkness, I pounced from behind.
"Eek!"
Slim shoulders, a cute voice, and the scent of perfume typical of Great Heavenly God Church nuns brushed my nose. Soft hair grazed my cheek, and in the light spilling from the room's gap, I confirmed the shadow's identity.
"Sieri?"
It was Sieri. She froze, startled, as I grabbed her arms and neck. I had no idea why she was lurking at my door at this hour.
"Sieri. What's wrong?"
Sieri glanced at me in panic, then turned her head away and said,
"I... I heard you're... getting married. To... th-the mermaid lady."
I took her hand and pulled her into the room. Sieri entered cautiously, then timidly hugged herself with both arms.
I closed the door and said to her,
"Sieri. So, did you come to congratulate me?"
"W-Well... since you're getting married now... I thought maybe... you wouldn't need my comfort anymore..."
Sieri's ears turned beet red as she mumbled. I stroked her head and pulled her into a tight embrace. With her face buried in my chest, she asked again.
"Um... if I may be so bold... I don't quite understand why you'd marry... that criminal lady..."
Sieri forced out each word with effort. For her fragile heart, this was probably her limit. I hugged her head tighter and whispered softly,
"Sieri. We all sin, don't we? No one in the world is innocent, and even I, managing this territory, have done plenty that goes against Great Heavenly God Church doctrine."
"Ah... You're not like that, my lord..."
Sieri panicked at my self-deprecation, trying to backpedal. I squeezed her face tighter to silence her.
"Eve is a sinner guilty of crimes. But she's also an unfortunate soul who's known nothing but rejection and abuse. Sieri, does the Great Heavenly God Church always demand harsh punishment for sinners?"
"No... Sinners should be given at least a minimal chance to repent..."
"Exactly. I want Eve to reflect on her sins and integrate with people. But she's committed too many crimes for a simple plea to save her. I needed a reason. So, I appealed to family bonds. Through marriage, making her my wife, I begged for just one chance."
"Aah... So, you married her because..."
Sieri stared at me with wide eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. What kind of tears were they? Remorse for her misguided thoughts, or tears of enlightenment? Either way, it didn't matter to me.
"It doesn't matter what you think, Sieri. Just know that you're still my favorite."
I stroked her cheek as I said that. Sieri nodded, her face flushed. Slowly, I backed her against the wall and kissed her. Her soft lips parted, our tongues entwining. After savoring each other's mouths for a while, I grabbed her pants and said,
"I need comfort, Sieri."
"Yes..."
Sieri breathed heavily as she replied.