Chapter 63
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Wanna Marry Since Your Limbs Are Getting Ripped Off? (3)
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Marriage.
A contract where a man and a woman formally become husband and wife.
Through marriage, the smallest unit of society—the family—is created, and through childbirth, the manpower to lead the future is born.
However.
Marriage wasn't valued solely for these reasons. The most important event in a person's life? That wasn't it either.
Exclusivity.
The crucial point is that you can exclusively possess the one you love.
Human emotional exchange is much like tending to a potted plant. It's bidirectional communication, but equally distributing love is impossible, and everyone handles it differently.
Marriage simplifies all of that.
It sweeps away most human relationships and binds you to sharing love with just one person for life.
"…."
That's why Solana and Hedera couldn't help but react sensitively. Marriage had been mentioned, after all.
The two princesses thought the same thing.
'She's out of her mind.'
They couldn't bring themselves to say it.
They'd hoped against hope, but they never imagined she'd come out so boldly and straightforwardly. It was completely unexpected.
They had to stop her first.
There were plenty of reckless fools in the world, but Ether was a woman who could actually make it happen—which made it all the more troubling. She didn't just dream up absurd ideas; she turned them into reality.
'...Is she going to kidnap him and drag him north?'
With no way to predict what outrageous stunt she might pull, they couldn't relax just because they'd received her letter. Naturally, Hedera and Solana's minds raced.
"May the grace of the Sun God be with you…."
In the end, Solana broke the silence once more.
"Two like-minded souls coming together to form a family—how beautiful a blessing is that? But an unwanted marriage can sow the seeds of disaster. I can't simply cheer you on."
Ether's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Of course, I will do my utmost. The seed of disaster you mentioned… no need to worry. I have complete confidence in my devotion to family."
"No? That's a problem too."
Solana stared Ether straight in the eye.
"The 1st Princess, the empire's greatest force, declaring she'll devote herself solely to family—isn't that saying you'll stand by no matter what crisis befalls the continent?"
"You, your grammar's spot-on in moments like this. Even with all those tricky words."
"…Don't change the subject. Anyway, devoting yourself to family means exactly that, right? Using marriage as an excuse to shirk your duties as the 1st Princess?"
Solana clasped her hands and offered a brief prayer. Then came her benevolent smile again.
"The empire's princesses can give their all because they push forward with faith that each will fulfill her role. It seems the 1st Princess is making a poor choice, so I must dissuade you."
"…."
"Isn't that what sisterly love is? Stopping each other from going astray."
Ether smirked.
"You two are acting especially cute today."
"That's not the only issue."
Hedera jumped in, backing her up.
"Once order springs a leak, it shatters in seconds. As the 1st Princess commanding countless soldiers in the north, you understand that perfectly."
"And?"
"The other princesses won't think much of it at first. But soon enough, they might start considering marriage themselves. By then, our forces will have taken a massive hit."
"Hmm."
Ether quietly rubbed her chin.
"There are only five princesses in the empire. You know that."
"Strictly speaking, six… but no. Five for now. Fine, let's say five."
"Set an example as the princess in the lead."
Silence settled over the reception room.
Hedera and Solana stared at Ether, waiting for her response.
But unexpectedly, Ether laughed again.
"First off, you two have no need to worry."
"…Why?"
A confident expression lit up Ether's face.
"From what I gather, your concern is that I—becoming one man's wife—won't fulfill my duties as the 1st Princess."
The 1st Princess lifted her chin with a touch of arrogance.
"Seems your limited talents are leading to misconceptions. I am a woman who can manage family and the duties of the 1st Princess. You're underestimating me."
"What do you…."
Solana and Hedera's eyebrows twitched.
"1st Princess, your words are out of line."
"Out of line? From me?"
Ether snorted derisively.
"You two ganging up on me while hiding your true feelings isn't out of line at all, but me calling you out is?"
Ether radiated menace even as she smiled.
"Care to answer? Either of you."
"Hmm."
Solana let out a groan.
"And the continent's forces weakening?"
A sneer curled Ether's lips.
"No, far from it. The continent's forces will grow stronger. I'll bear about twenty children and raise them into a battalion."
"…."
Hedera and Solana thought simultaneously.
'She's serious. She really intends to have them.'
'…Does she think childbirth is some kind of hunt?'
It was then that Ether shrugged.
"To begin with, since when have we been close enough to fret over each other? Who marries whom is none of your business. We have zero interest in each other's lives."
Ether's lips twisted.
"If my marriage bothers you, the rest of you can find partners and wed. And yet you know that full well and still deflect…."
The woman lightly smacked the desk with her palm.
"…Aha. You two want the teacher too."
"…."
In a battle of wits like this, logic hardly matters. What did was that Ether had directly raised marriage and pushed it forward.
Hedera cited Magic Tower operations,
Solana cited continental peace.
Since their reasons were fabrications from the start, mounting a full counterattack was tough.
—It's definitely not because of Zekiel.
They couldn't declare it confidently. It was a lie anyway, and voicing it could come back to bite them later.
"I'm not a woman who fusses over morals or propriety. The one lesson from the north: if you want something, hunt it down and claim it."
A virtual declaration of war to seize Zekiel.
"Don't forget—I've never failed a hunt once. Even if the prey is the teacher, in any competition, I will win."
Yet no one could refute her easily.
Hedera and Solana exchanged quiet glances.
'You slipped up.'
'It's because you spoke so frustratingly that it came to this.'
Having started with deception, they had no ground to blame Ether's boldness. Soon, Solana and Hedera both furrowed their brows.
In that case, only one option remained.
…Bail on today's meeting and regroup later.
Hmm… yes, that was it.
"May the grace of the Sun God be with you."
Solana steadied her breath and recited the creed.
"The 1st Princess seems a bit worked up. The sickroom's right nearby, so let's all calm down."
"Biting one moment, then calling it quits when the tide turns~?"
Ether shrugged.
"Baring your fangs like rabid hounds to scare me, now rolling over like lapdogs~?"
"We've never bitten anyone, but if the 1st Princess took offense, I'll apologize. Forgive my rudeness with the vast magnanimity of the northern plains."
*I'll never admit to biting you, but as the ever-so-kind me, I'll take the lead in owning up and apologizing. Be grateful.*
…An illusion? That's how it sounded to Ether.
"Let's at least keep our voices down. The teacher's resting. Bad for the patient."
Hedera swiftly latched on.
"Agreed. Patient safety first."
"I see right through you mongrels' tricks. Disadvantaged, so now the patient's health is your hostage? Adorable."
"…No idea what you're on about. Anyway."
Hedera, mask dangling from her chin, elegantly sipped her tea.
"Until the Inspector wakes and regains his senses, no direct contact from us. We can talk after he's conscious, right?"
"Exactly. His own will matters most. Meeting right after he wakes is risky too. Give it three days at least."
Solana nodded vigorously.
Ether burst into booming laughter.
"What desperation. Fine, have it your way. Just know he's fated to marry me regardless. We'll reconvene three days after the teacher wakes."
Ether rose, ending the reception room debate.
Irreconcilable differences.
Thoughts worlds apart.
Lives lived oh so differently.
Yet.
In this instant, their opinions aligned perfectly—just once.
'I got a proposal letter too, you barbaric mutts.'
'The proposal was mine. Long game, and I win.'
'I got the proposal letter anyway~'
The three women smiled with utter confidence.
The sleeping Zekiel had no clue.
That a typhoon utterly unforeseen by him—or anyone—was barreling straight for him.