Chapter 70
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Wanna Marry Me Before I Rip Your Limbs Off? (8)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Crash!
A plate shattered out of nowhere, the sound echoing loudly.
The two women's gazes snapped toward one man.
"…."
The two women, who had been burning with intensity, could only panic in the end. The one who had hurled the frozen plate to the floor was none other than Zekiel.
And that wasn't all.
What showed on his face was an utterly cold expression.
A long moment later, he muttered as if deeply displeased.
"…Disappointing. Truly disappointing."
His voice was chilling like an icicle, making both women flinch. They were at a complete loss, of course.
Memories from childhood still influenced the present.
─You lied to me about the assignment again….
─I'm disappointed in you.
Memories of being scolded by their teacher as children, of being hated… Both women recalled them vividly.
Only then did they snap to attention and realize their mistake. The conversation they'd been having up until moments ago was something that should never have taken place in front of Zekiel.
Zekiel shook his head with a deep sigh.
"…At this rate, it'd be better to head back to the boonies."
Just one sentence.
"…!"
Just one sentence.
But it was more than enough to make the women's hearts sink.
Hedera's eyes shook as if struck by an earthquake, and Solana immediately began fidgeting anxiously.
All because of one man.
Zekiel. The two women now only watched his reactions.
With my hand covering my face, I thought to myself.
'…What now?'
I prided myself on having handled countless missions of extreme difficulty, but I'd never faced anything like this.
It was shocking enough that the princesses' moods had soured, but two of them openly showing hostility toward each other?
And the reason for their fight was me. No one else—me.
"…."
Fortunately, Solana and Hedera had temporarily dialed back the fierce auras they'd been radiating.
In truth, if I really thought about it, I had every reason to be angry. I'm not a doll; I'm a human. Yet here they were, claiming ownership over me like I was some object right in front of my face?
Yeah, sure.
Even so, the reason I wasn't genuinely furious was….
'Because I'm the cause.'
It was because of the letter I wrote that this had all started, so I felt guilty.
"…."
For now, I kept my mouth shut.
With everyone watching my every move, staying silent actually gave me the advantage. The more I spoke rashly, the more I'd lose that edge.
Of course, even amid all this, I couldn't help feeling a surge of wonder.
'The more I think about it, the stranger it gets.'
A confession between man and woman.
Confessions alone were hugely risky. There was the chance of rejection, and in the worst cases, it could even breed resentment.
Yet I'd gone and written a marriage proposal letter.
Not to some ordinary woman, but to princesses of the imperial family—and I still hadn't been rejected. Hell, the very women in question were now fighting over me.
Being human, of course I wasn't displeased.
It just made my head throb thinking about how to fix this. How on earth was I supposed to soothe two princesses whose feelings were already hurt?
'No, not two princesses—three?'
…I still didn't even know which princess had replied.
Anyway, if two women were fighting over one man, the man had to bear some responsibility. I needed to wrap this up before they started blaming me for it.
"There was no other meaning behind it. We just wanted to hear what the Inspector thought, purely…."
"My head's spinning."
Interrupting Hedera, I pressed my temple.
My recent collapse and my originally frail constitution proved extremely helpful here.
"S-Sorry."
The Second Princess apologized. The Second Princess, no less.
The effect was better than I'd imagined. Both women clamped their mouths shut and began watching me nervously.
I quietly added one more line.
"…With the exchange conference right around the corner, I can't focus at all."
Hedera averted her gaze to the side, and Solana let out a deep sigh. At least I'd prevented the two princesses from clashing head-on.
A long moment later, the princesses each spoke up.
"If you're angry, I'm sorry."
"Inspector, we didn't mean any harm."
I steadied my breathing and nodded.
"I'm not angry. It's just my condition…."
Just hearing that I wasn't angry seemed to bring immense relief. Peace spread across both princesses' faces.
Hedera hurriedly added,
"No. Even if you were angry, it wouldn't be strange at all. We put on quite the disgraceful display right in front of the person involved."
A princess calling her own behavior disgraceful was no small thing. Especially coming from the prideful Second Princess.
I could vaguely sense how much she cared about me deep down.
"Teacher, I'm sorry. A true believer must always maintain composure no matter what…. But someone barging in mid-conversation was a first for me, so I just…."
In contrast, Solana's words carried a bite.
Her apology to me was sincere, but it felt like she was resenting Hedera for interrupting their talk.
Forcing them to reconcile right here and now would be impossible anyway. Better to offer promises than explanations at this point.
I first turned my gaze to Hedera.
"…Magic Tower Lord, I have no intention of betraying the Magic Tower."
I deliberately used her title as Magic Tower Lord, not Second Princess. Proof of my loyalty to the tower.
"That's…."
"Yes. It simply means that, as Inspector, I'll do my utmost in my duties first and foremost."
I nodded and pressed further.
"But the question Your Highness asked wasn't whether I'd choose the Magic Tower Lord as Inspector, was it?"
Hedera's question.
It had been about choosing her as a woman—as a man chooses a woman.
"…."
"No matter how I answer, our relationship will change from what it was. It could affect the Magic Tower, and even the Ascension Ritual."
"But what can I do? I was curious…."
Hedera murmured softly.
Though she still hadn't met my eyes.
"A changed relationship doesn't have to mean progress. What if I don't choose the Magic Tower Lord and quit as Inspector? What then?"
"If you don't choose me…."
Hedera's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she clamped them shut and shook her head.
"…No. That can't happen."
In moments like this, Hedera's childish side from her youth showed through. I nodded quietly.
"And above all, the exchange conference takes priority right now."
This time, my gaze shifted to Solana.
But Solana spoke first, parting her lips.
"I'm fine with anything."
Solana had somehow clasped her hands in prayer, eyes squeezed shut. As if she'd regained her composure.
"It's okay even if Teacher doesn't choose me."
Solana continued calmly.
"As long as Teacher can achieve greater success, it's fine. If that's the choice to focus on your work, I'll accept it. I can wait."
"How do you know when that'll end?"
"When it ends doesn't matter."
Solana finally opened her eyes slowly.
"…Just don't roll around with other women while focusing on work. As long as you keep that promise, I won't mind."
Her desires had always been crystal clear.
"Solana, calm down first."
"Teacher, I'm calmer than ever."
Solana smiled radiantly.
"I told you, didn't I? All women except me are just vixens. So you have to be careful."
But her tone was utterly firm.
There wasn't even the slightest waver left.
"If I ever see Teacher jeopardizing your achievements for some other woman…. I'll have to step in and punish them myself."
"…Punish them?"
"Not you, Teacher—the women. All of them."
…What kind of punishment, I wondered. Definitely not something mild.
With that, Solana stood first.
"Then I'll take my leave. The exchange conference is soon."
Soon, only Hedera and I were left in the dining hall. Had things been smoothed over for now? I gave Hedera a light bow.
"I'll head out too."
I planned to focus on the upcoming exchange conference for the time being.
But.
Hedera's words grabbed my ankle.
"…Don't you have anything to say to me?"
I quietly took a puff of Sunweed.
"Something to say…."
"I do."
Hedera cut straight to the point instead.
"I'm going to the exchange conference too."
"Hm."
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm only going as the Magic Tower Lord. None of the worries you have as Inspector will happen."
Ignoring my response, Hedera continued steadfastly. Almost like a declaration of war.
"Instead."
Hedera's eyes locked straight onto mine.
"Once the exchange conference is over, give me your answer."
A resolve that demanded an answer no matter what.
"That's my condition for holding back and not approaching you as Hedera, but as the Magic Tower Lord, during the conference."
With that proposal left behind, Hedera departed.
Exhale.
I quietly blew out the Sunweed smoke.
…Was this bliss or disaster?
The night before the exchange conference.
The last night I'd spend sleeping in the hospital room.
Just before drifting off, a thought struck me.
'…At least the First Princess isn't here. Thank goodness.'
If I had to pick the most unpredictable among the first, second, and third princesses, it'd be Ether without a doubt. If she'd been at the dining hall too, how much bigger of a mess would it have been?
…The mere thought was terrifying.
Knock knock.
"Inspector! Inspector!"
Someone pounded urgently on the door.
A familiar voice—the First Princess's messenger.
…No way?
Was the First Princess coming? Suppressing my anxiety, I flung open the hospital room door.
Thankfully, it wasn't. The messenger was alone.
"Ah, Inspector!"
The messenger, sweating profusely, asked,
"Have you seen the First Princess by any chance?"
I let out a huge sigh of relief at the question. Right now, the First Princess being missing was good news.
"Unfortunately, no idea."
I thought that ended the conversation.
But.
The messenger's follow-up words were horrifying.
"…That's strange? She said she was going to meet Zekiel."