The Hero’s Conclusion (3)

In truth, this was the result of Freugne’s own painstaking efforts.

“You’re curious about proposals?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t think I have anything particularly enlightening to share?”

Like most things of this era, proposals too were utterly dreary affairs.

“Don’t people usually just say it verbally?”

“Is that really the end of it?”

“Ah, requesting a special dance at a ball is also an option… but honestly, that method reeks of antiquity. Do that nowadays and you’ll be asked if you learned romance from old books.”

“Hmm……”

“Wealthy families or nobles tend to send love letters. The families then circulate them to assess if it’s a suitable match, but I can’t really recommend that. There’s hardly any heartfelt emotion involved, is there?”

The advice Freugne sought from Erinne, who had returned to her hometown, was not particularly satisfying.

The commoners living hand-to-mouth did not bother with such processes.

They simply married whoever seemed compatible when they crossed paths. Since it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment, they would hold modest ceremonies if they could afford it, but there was little romance involved.

Those from affluent households fared little better.

Power brokering and financial transactions would often commence behind the scenes right after the engagement, kickstarting married life.

Rewind about a hundred years, and perhaps a classic Rofan-style courtship might have been possible, but in this era of reason and rationality? Preposterous.

Compounded by the turmoil and war, youths either went off to battle or hastily married to secure their family’s future, skipping romance altogether.

With the combatants absent, engagement ceremonies were occasionally held without the parties involved, as no one expected the war to swiftly conclude within a year.

“Me? If someone like that comes along later… maybe I’ll give them a souvenir or gift from the battlefield.”

“You have souvenirs?”

“Like a painting by a Demon artist, or spent cartridges I’ve brought back.”

“Quite… innovative.”

Alright, flowers, a romantic atmosphere, a special gift. Note taken……

Still, with the necessary elements figured out, the next step was deciding on a location.

Renting out the entire parliamentary building seemed a bit excessive. Restaurants or crowded places were out of the question too, as they felt… rather embarrassing.

While Freugne was the queen within her home, the moment she stepped outside regarding such matters, her combat effectiveness plummeted dramatically.

Perhaps it was this very nature that led her to reign from the shadows of the Umbra rather than directly entering politics.

In any case, being able to eliminate all external variables was desirable, was it not?

Thus, her home was chosen as the proposal venue, and the ever-perceptive Sif tactfully mentioned she would be staying out for the night.

After meticulously preparing the house alone, Freugne obediently waited in her room.

Would he like this? No, he would surely not outright dislike it, but what should she say when she saw his expression?

Her contemplation was briefly interrupted.

-Knock knock knock-

“Yes, come in.”

“Alright.”

After some rustling outside, Edan opened the door.

Having quickly surveyed the scene, Freugne asked him:

“…You knew this day would come, didn’t you?”

“And you knew as well?”

“Originally, I didn’t. That’s why life is so interesting, with the future I see constantly changing.”

In her childhood, or rather, back when she was still in the orphanage.

She had never witnessed or anticipated such a future at that time. It was simply the eventual outcome of her struggles to survive.

The fact that the future she foresaw could change at any moment was a double-edged sword akin to the Demon Sovereign’s backdoor – both a vulnerability and an opportunity for unexpected conclusions.

How dull would life be if it only unfolded as foreseen? In that context, Freugne had, as always, refrained from peeking at the outcome of this proposal.

“Uncle.”

“Hm.”

“I’ve waited long enough for this too.”

She had truly waited a long time. Until she became an adult, until the war ended, until everything was over.

Just in case she perished prematurely, lest this promise dissipate into nothingness.

“So, Uncle.”

“……”

“Will you marry me?”

They boldly bypassed the parental consent aspect, as both could be considered orphans in a sense.

Not long ago, Freugne would have needed Edan’s permission, but with all her shackles removed, there were no longer any legal barriers to stop her.

“From what I understand, gifts are also typically prepared on such occasions……”

Freugne continued speaking.

“But it seemed better to present myself, who possesses about half the world’s wealth, as the gift, rather than make some vulgar claim of bestowing half the world itself.”

So saying, she spread her arms.

Edan, having received no prior notice from her, naturally assumed she had made no preparations.

However, instead of embracing her, he rummaged through his pocket and retrieved a small box, just large enough to hold a walnut.

It was an incredibly familiar object. Of course it was, for she too had intended to prepare one before abandoning the idea.

Edan then showed her the ring within.

She had been unable to procure one separately, aware that Edan would return home early and wanting to take her time contemplating the perfect ring design.

One could ask why she did not simply wait a few days to slowly prepare, but such matters were always most motivated when the urge first struck.

“…What’s this? I didn’t expect you to have this.”

“I asked if you knew, not if I was unaware.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

Freugne inquired:

“When did you prepare this?”

“About a week ago. It felt like this day would come soon, so I looked into your preferred style and finger size, then acquired one.”

What Sif had instinctively sensed, Edan was bound to know as well.

Only now did Freugne realize the source of the rustling noise Edan had made at the door. He must have secretly hidden it nearby, anticipating this.

Freugne accepted the ring with a dazed expression. Naturally, the size was a perfect fit for her finger.

“Well then, Freugne. I believe you asked me something earlier?”

“……”

“My answer is… yes.”

“……!”

While the order was quite jumbled and messy, nevertheless.

“I accept.”

Upon hearing that response, she could not remain still.

It was too embarrassing to attempt an innocent girlish act at this point.

It was not as if they had only been intimate once or twice, and at her own instigation nonetheless.

So at some point, Freugne had resolved to take the lead.

She grasped Edan’s hand, guiding him before the bed and giving him a slight push. Caught off guard, he obediently sat down on the edge of the mattress.

Licking her lips slightly, Freugne asked:

“Are you prepared for today as well?”

“?”

“I did mention that I would be the gift.”

So it was only natural for this to unfold.

With the order of the proposal already in shambles, a case of conceiving before marriage was hardly a big deal, was it?

Freugne briefly waited for Edan to hesitantly undress before deciding to assist him instead.

And how well could clothes be removed by another’s hands? Edan ultimately found himself half-undressed and lying on the bed.

Since there were no prying eyes anyway, Freugne promptly disrobed as well, skillfully mounting Edan.

In the end, this was the inevitable conclusion, it seemed. She had expected the mood to simply escalate, but for it to directly occur on the day of the proposal itself.

Edan, who had initially doubted such a prospect, promptly accepted this reality.

Up to this point, while not a frequent occurrence, it was still something they had experienced a few times before.

Having chosen such a momentous day for once, one could call it a special occasion, but it would be stretching the truth to deem it a novel experience.

In other words, it was a tad clichéd.

‘For today, since it’s such a day, I wish we could try something a little different.’

It was a rather embarrassing thought, but.

Freugne harbored a peculiar sexual fantasy she found difficult to share with others.

Not that there were many who did not feel some shame regarding such matters to begin with, but even for Freugne, who frequently engaged in lewd banter having shared most secrets with Edan, this was a fact she had yet to confess.

“No, no. What are you doing?!”

“That’s right. Do you understand now, Freugne? You know I’m still a man, don’t you? So when the two of us are alone like this, isn’t it only natural for this to happen?”

“I’ve never-“

“Be honest, you were expecting this too, weren’t you? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have so readily followed me when I asked you to come along!”

“But you… you weren’t this kind of person. I trusted you, so this shouldn’t be happening……”

Followed by Edan pouncing on her, and her being unable to overcome his brute strength, ultimately resigning herself to-

“Freugne?”

“……”

“Freugne!”

“…Hah.”

“Is something troubling you?”

“…No. I was just thinking about something for a moment.”

Until a few days ago, Freugne would occasionally become lost in such fantasies, only snapping out of her reverie upon Edan’s call, wiping away the slight drool trailing from the corner of her mouth.

Needless to say, such scenarios where she blankly stared into space fantasizing at the dining table never actually transpired.

Moreover, since it was not something she could actively initiate, all she could do was harbor expectations.

But today was different.

Glancing at the momentarily dazed Freugne, Edan contemplated that perhaps he should reverse their roles for once, as she was always the one seizing control in the bedroom.

Although there were no observers, it was still somewhat shameful. For some reason, her hesitant demeanor today made him feel it was his turn.

“Well?”

“…Hiyah.”

“Why so coy? You were enthusiastically rushing in earlier.”

“That, that’s… I might not be in the best condition……”

As he flipped Freugne’s petite body onto her back, she offered no resistance, lying there compliantly while betraying an air of anticipation despite her words.

Edan gently inserted a finger into the same entrance Freugne had tried to engulf his manhood with moments ago.

Once more accompanied by Freugne’s soft cry, a viscous liquid was felt at the tip.

“How strange. Your words and actions are completely misaligned.”

“……”

“You’re clearly expecting this, aren’t you.”

And at those words, as if they were some trigger, Freugne’s breathing grew heavier.