「Wow～. Wow～. Wow～」
The big-breasted knight apprentice keeps making a fuss, hands cupped under her flushed cheeks.
The small and flat vice-captain… for some reason stands next to a tree, muttering 『I hate it. I hate it』 while punching it repeatedly.
「Captain. That is amazing.」
「It really is～. I never expected Argusta-sama to be so passionate… or rather, so devoted～. Ahh, I am so jealous～」
The smiling blonde vice-captain shifts her gaze from the overly busty girl to Noie.
「…What is?」
「…….」
「What about Arg-sama?」
Everyone is making a commotion, but Noie does not understand the conversation at all.
Since the too-much and too-little chest duo have charged into their own little world, the blonde vice-captain, Frea, straightens her posture and looks earnestly at her superior.
「Captain. May I explain?」
「Yes.」
「His Majesty the King has officially announced the marriage between Argusta-sama and you.」
「Yes.」
「And at that time, he said this: 『Argusta von Draguknight swears to love his wife Noie for life, and as proof of that, he will vow at the wedding ceremony to “take no wife but her.”』 Do you understand what that means?」
Her beautiful pale face tilts little by little with a soft giggle.
Frea realizes at once. 『No good. She does not understand at all.』
「Argusta-sama is declaring that he will not make anyone else his wife except you, Captain.」
「…Why?」
「…I wonder why indeed?」
Being asked so seriously with that blank face is troubling.
If you think about it calmly… it feels like something that will cause huge problems later.
Normally, House Draguknight has only just been founded by Prince Argusta. There are no hereditary retainers, and above all, the territory is a remote frontier with nothing in it. Thinking about the future, weapons would normally be needed to expand the house.
Those weapons are children.
By marrying off daughters or taking brides, nobles solidify their foundation and increase their influence.
That is how noble houses have grown over time.
「If you think about it calmly… it feels like something that will cause huge problems later, right?」
Lutte’s words, pulling everyone back to reality, make Frea furrow her brow in thought.
「Maybe… we just have the captain work hard and have lots of children?」
「Kiiiiiiii! So that means every night they will be working hard? Working really hard? All night looong～!」
Frea averts her eyes from the pitiful soul whose emotions are running completely wild.
「But if the captain does not have many children, it will be really tough later, right? Frea-san.」
「Or… since the captain earns so much, maybe save that money and use it to expand the family through the children’s generation?」
「…….」
「The only thing I can say for sure is this.」
Frea looks straight into Noie’s eyes with gentle sincerity.
「In the end, the captain is truly loved by Argusta-sama. From the bottom of his heart.」
「I know.」
「「Eh?」」
That shocking statement freezes everyone in the area, even those who had been secretly eavesdropping.
「Arg-sama says it before we sleep. 『I love you. I really love you.』」
「「…….」」
「Time for bloody punishment on that traitor over there～!」
The charging idiot is quickly silenced by Frea’s magic and Lutte’s bow.
-0-
At the court of the Selswin Republic.
「They made quite a bold move. As expected of that troublesome little country Univance.」
「Yes, Your Excellency.」
「And the invitation they sent us grants the very first honored guest seats. Normally, the Empire would share the second honored seats at worst… It seems they are thoroughly fed up with the Empire’s arrogance.」
「That frustration is probably part of why we received the first seats.」
The conversation continues between the middle-aged man seated on a throne-like chair and the elegant woman standing beside him.
One is the head of state of the Selswin Republic. The other is the mage known as his right hand.
「How would you judge this?」
「It is a perfect chance to watch them harass the Empire from the best seats in the house.」
「And for national interest?」
「They are making a request to us, even prepared to suffer some losses. In that case, we should graciously accept and go along with their wishes. Of course, what we sell them in return is our favor.」
「That is how it will go. I do not particularly like dancing in someone else’s palm.」
「Is that not fine? Their country is taking on all of the Empire’s resentment single-handedly. We can simply watch comfortably from above.」
「I suppose you are right.」
The old man reaches out and gently caresses the woman’s backside.
She lets him without changing her expression at all, then opens her mouth once more.
「If possible, from our side we should send Your Excellency’s son. The more well-known one, the better.」
「Oh? And why is that?」
「Yes. I believe the Empire will surely send the emperor’s younger brother.」
「Oh. You mean General Kishara?」
The woman nods quietly. The old man continues chuckling in amusement.
-0-
At the imperial palace of the Broidwan Empire.
「If we let this go, our country’s honor will be utterly destroyed!」
The subordinates several steps below him cower as he rages wildly.
「Those damned Univance twin peaks! A mere tiny country dares to defy us! If they just knew their place and obeyed quietly, everything would be fine!」
In his fury, he slams down a kick that shatters the throne pitifully.
「Someone!」
「Yes, Your Majesty!」
「Pin the blame on some random civil official and have him executed. Make it so the documents from Univance were secretly disposed of by that man alone.」
「Yes, Your Majesty!」
「Bring the envoy we have kept waiting here at once. At this rate, our country will become a laughingstock. No matter what, we must attend that country’s ceremony.」
How infuriating. If only that little country would quietly hand over the dragon slayer instead of constantly resisting.
「Summon Kishara. Tell him to attend the ceremony… and think of a way to bring down Univance’ castle.」
「Yes, Your Majesty!」
「Aah! It is truly infuriating!」
He roars and kicks what remains of the throne.
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