Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The War Hero Gets Married (4)
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Sudden marriage proclamation.
A situation that even the parties involved couldn't help but be flustered by—and even Winchester Count, the Prime Minister of the Grates Kingdom, hadn't heard a word about it.
"Your Highness. What in the world is going on?"
And so, Winchester Count immediately sought out Grates 18th.
"Marriage, you say? This isn't something to push through so abruptly."
In the king's private quarters, away from the bustling banquet hall.
Even as the feast raged on, Grates 18th—whether from exhaustion or depleted stamina—had changed clothes and lay in bed, barely managing to open his eyes.
"...You've been old friends with Sir Wilhelm for a long time, haven't you?"
The Grates King spoke slowly, his voice laced with a hint of regret.
"Is that why you've come to oppose the marriage?"
"......."
"You know as well as I do—this marriage is the most extreme, yet certain, way to protect the kingdom."
"Extreme measures always come with risks."
"But we couldn't let another kingdom snatch him away."
At the king's words, the prime minister closed his eyes.
If there was a reason the prime minister himself had come here, it wasn't to call the king's decision 'wrong'—but to say it was 'hasty.'
"He's the one who held back the entire Empire. It's not just our Grates Kingdom that benefited from Sir Wilhelm's grace. The Elf Kingdom over there, the Beastman Kingdom, even the fairies—they all received his help against the Empire's monstrosities."
"......."
"The Beastman Kingdom is openly after Sir Wilhelm. Fortunately, he enjoys the company of beauties but is meticulous about not fathering children...."
"Rest assured. There have been plenty claiming to have borne Sir Wilhelm's bastards, but magic has proven every one false."
"The Empire even slanders him, saying he's an impotent eunuch who can't have children."
"That's not true. He... simply practices contraception rigorously. With the power of aura."
"Ha, haha."
The king let out a faint laugh.
"Indeed. A hero should know how to enjoy the pleasures of women."
"Is that why you're giving him the princess?"
"It's not just because she's my daughter—she's the most beautiful woman in the world."
"That..."
"Though more people are comparing her to that young Empire empress lately, Sylvia has been the fairest beauty from the moment she debuted in high society until now. And right in the middle of the banquet where she was to choose her consort..."
The king clenched his fist beneath the bedsheets and ground his teeth.
"The war with the Empire broke out."
"Yes. That was the moment she became a knight."
"Sylvia knew the Empire's true nature long ago. Even back in her academy days, she foresaw they'd start a war and prepared for it alongside you and countless others."
"No one knew back then. Not until the Empire actually launched their war."
"True. Up until she was 25—even when she should've been married with a child old enough to walk—she remained unmarried, devoting herself to knighthood. The whole world called her mad for it."
The king turned his gaze to the side.
There, on the bedside table, sat a magic crystal orb. He placed his hand atop it.
Weeeeng.
Mana shimmered from the crystal, and a hazy image began to materialize through magical power.
Recall Magic.
Within the memory-replaying spell that perfectly recreated someone's past, a single banquet hall unfolded.
A gathering of hundreds of nobles laughing as usual.
[Your Highness!! The Empire has crossed the border! A surprise invasion!!]
But the hall plunged into chaos in an instant. Yet the banquet's star, still in her dress, knelt like a knight.
[Your Highness. I, Sylvia, vow to stake this body and ensure victory against the Empire.]
A memory from 12 years ago.
It was so vivid—even now in his frail old age, the king couldn't forget it. The recall magic's colors were as sharp as reality itself.
"My daughter gave 12 years for this country... no, 20 years since her academy days."
"The first time she sensed the Empire's warlike intent was at 17, encountering Empire folk at the academy."
"Yes. From age 17, she lived not as a woman or princess, but as a knight, thinking only of this kingdom's peace. And now she's... 37."
Tears streamed from the king's eyes.
"If she weren't my daughter—if she weren't the royal blood who devoted herself to this country—she'd have a child entering the academy by now!!"
"......."
"Adulthood may start at 20 these days, but in my time, 37 meant you'd have grandchildren in your arms! And because of the war, she hasn't even married...!"
"So that's why you declared the marriage."
"Yes. It was the only path I could take as king... and as a father."
"...Because of this, we might lose our hero."
"......Is this what they call the folly of old age?"
The king's tears soaked the pillow.
"Is it too much to wish for my daughter to marry the most perfect man and finally know happiness as a woman...?"
"Your Highness."
"Her time stopped at 17 for this kingdom's peace. She endured insults for eight years of celibacy, gave everything to the war with the Empire for 12 years. How can it be wrong to want her to seize happiness now...?"
"At the very least."
The prime minister squeezed his eyes shut but spat out the boiling words within.
"You should have consulted the parties involved first."
"Prime Minister...!"
"And dictating marriage without even hearing their opinions...!"
"That's."
The king squeezed his eyes shut.
"That's...."
The palace gardens.
Amid the blue roses gleaming radiantly under the moonlight, as if celebrating the peace, I strolled slowly with a white-haired, green-eyed beauty in a white dress.
"It's been 12 years since our fates intertwined. Time flies, doesn't it?"
"Yes, it does, Princess."
"Didn't you used to call me 'Captain Sylvia' back then?"
"I never imagined you'd lead soldiers from the front lines and fight personally. What princess in the world does that?"
If you're wondering why I'm escorting Princess Sylvia like this, despite the sudden forced marriage declaration.
"As a comrade-in-arms, I truly respect everything you've done for this country."
This woman is my superior, my fellow soldier, a hero in her own right—and the benefactor who got me to where I am today. She deserves respect.
"If you hadn't saved my life in my first battle when I was conscripted, I wouldn't be here now."
"Someone might misunderstand. Before you distinguished yourself, you were just one of many knight candidates."
Princess Sylvia's voice was stiff.
From that subtle tone and atmosphere, I realized one thing.
"Princess. About the marriage..."
"Apologize first."
Princess Sylvia placed a hand on her chest and bowed her head.
"My father's age has clouded his judgment. He saw the war with the Empire end, but he's at an age where he could pass any day."
"......."
"I'm the only survivor among his three sons and four daughters. You know what happened to the princes and princesses above me."
"All but the traitor were assassinated by Empire agents."
12-year war.
The war didn't start exactly 12 years ago.
The Empire had been preparing for 12 years, sowing discord in Grates Kingdom and beyond—assassinating royals, taking hostages, inciting civil strife, even allying with the Dark Races led by demons.
"There might be illegitimate royals somewhere, but officially, I'm the only one carrying the bloodline."
"For your political position, then?"
"Perhaps. I could've died on the battlefield anytime, so Father dragged his frail body to ensure the bloodline endured."
Princess Sylvia gave a bitter smile and looked up at the sky.
"Even with this body, I must ensure the bloodline continues. Fortunately, despite the frontline abuse, it's still viable—and with magic, bearing children won't be an issue."
"Magic."
"Yes. Empire technology and knowledge, but useful nonetheless."
The princess quietly placed a hand on her lower abdomen.
"At 27, I sealed my fertility. Wove a magical seal to counter bodily imbalance, letting me fight month after month without leave."
"......."
"With peace here, it's time to lift the seal."
"Will you really marry?"
"...I must. But."
Whoosh.
The wind blew, and Princess Sylvia brushed her hair back.
"A knight obeys the king's command—that's knightly duty. His Majesty ordered marriage, so I'll follow. However."
With unwavering green eyes sparkling, she looked up at me.
"...I'm not entirely displeased with that order."
"Princess. That."
"You."
A flush began to rise on the princess's cheeks.
"...Do you hate it?"
"Princess."
"If you do, there's no helping it. Rejected by the world's finest man—I'd have to live alone forever."
"No."
"You. I respect you more than you think. You're a hero—you shouldn't be coerced like this."
The princess looked up at me with a bittersweet yet resolute expression and nodded.
"But His Majesty gave us 100 days."
"Princess."
"...So, won't you at least think it over for those 100 days?"
...
...
...
If it ended here, it'd be a scene straight out of a romance fantasy.
But both the princess and the king overlooked one thing.
I'm a Grand Master.
No matter how well you hide your true feelings, you can't conceal the aura emanating from your mana.
What stood before me was.
'Is this the gaslighting of a 37-year-old?'
A female spider, body cloaked in white, eyes gleaming green.
"Understood. Considering your contributions, Princess, I won't mention it for now. I need time to think too."
The marriage order.
It came from the king's mouth—but whose head did it spring from?
"Princess Knight Sylvia, this is my final concession to your conscience for your contributions to the peace."
The woman before me was a genius strategist who protected the kingdom with her wits alone during the war with the Empire.