Ch.168168. Pure Love Is Remarkable

This world allowed polygamy.

Of course, if a commoner like me insisted on claiming an imperial princess, a duke’s daughter, and a saint all for himself, it would be quite deserving of criticism. But legally speaking, there would be no issue.

Despite this, emperors, dukes, and even the king—Lilith’s father whom I had yet to meet—who pursued or maintained monogamous relationships were considered extraordinary.

‘It’s probably just a setting created to align with Korean cultural sensibilities in this game.’

Whatever the reason, now that this had become my reality, I couldn’t help but admire their devotion to monogamy.

Because I was destined to be unable to maintain that same devotion.

I recalled our conversation before arriving in the North and entering the duke’s residence.

“So this is the North. It’s definitely colder here. Ludion, come closer to me since it’s cold.”

“Why don’t you stop lying and withdraw the mana you’ve wrapped around yourself first?”

“You caught me? As expected, I can’t fool you, Alkine.”

“…Wait, was I the only one actually feeling cold? Make me warm too.”

“No way. Lilith committed the crime of throwing a tantrum and stealing Ludion’s coat.”

“That’s right. You shouldn’t steal coats by throwing tantrums.”

“I never threw a tantrum! And you both did the exact same thing afterward! Why are you being so strict with just me?”

Seeing the three of them bickering brought me such joy. The option to choose just one of them had long since disappeared.

I didn’t want to ruin this relationship, and honestly, I wasn’t the type of person who could abandon someone or choose just one anyway.

Well, that aside. As I said before, this world allowed polygamy.

Therefore, while this kind of relationship might seem strange to others, it wasn’t actually forbidden. So even though it was a bit uncomfortable, I could accept it.

But… when faced with this situation, I felt like I had done something wrong.

“Lord Ludion. May I ask you to introduce the other two ladies?”

No, I was right—I had done something wrong, having been caught expressing affection for women other than the duke’s daughter right in front of the duchess.

“Lord Ludion?”

“Ah, yes. I’ll introduce them.”

“Yes. Please do.”

Though the duchess was speaking just as she had been moments ago, I somehow felt a chill in her tone.

I endured the coldness and carefully proceeded with the introductions.

But perhaps it was because the subjects of my introduction were both extraordinary in their own right.

“This is Celia Rubetia… yes, the imperial princess of the Rubetia Empire.”

“…What? The imperial princess?”

A look of bewilderment appeared on the duchess’s face.

She was someone unfamiliar with politics. Living a modest life in the safest part of the North.

But even so, she couldn’t possibly be unaware of the empire’s and imperial family’s influence.

While it was understandable that she might not recognize the princess’s face in the North, which had little connection to the empire, she couldn’t remain composed after hearing her name and title.

The title “imperial princess” carried weight.

Enough weight to make the duchess lose the composure she had maintained until now.

“Alkine? Is this true?”

“Yes.”

She seemed to have hoped it was an impersonation worthy of imperial defamation charges, but her daughter directly shattered that hope.

The duchess, with trembling pupils, avoided Celia’s gaze as she continued her questioning.

“T-then, the other person beside her is perhaps…?”

“Ah, this is Lilith. Just a saint.”

“Hey. What do you mean ‘just a saint’?”

“Then what should I say? Amazing saint?”

“You could just remove the ‘just’ part. Don’t replace it with something weird.”

“What’s weird about being amazing?”

Whether it was because the tension had eased with more people around, or because the awkwardness made me blurt out whatever came to mind, nonsense just spilled out.

“A saint…?”

“An amazing saint.”

“An amazing saint…?”

“Um, you don’t have to take what he says so literally…”

Somehow, the duchess got pulled into our joke-passing game for a moment, which was quite bizarre. But anyway.

“So, these two ladies are competing with… no, coexisting? Hmm… accepting? My daughter?”

“Aren’t you underestimating your daughter too much?”

“How powerful could a duke’s title be in a land where no one sets foot, to have both an imperial princess and a saint by his side?”

Extremely powerful, Mother.

It’s just that you never leave the North, but when you do, even most kings would tremble before you.

However, the duchess’s words weren’t entirely wrong.

While the title of Northern Duke was certainly impressive, it did lack the impact compared to the imperial family or a saint elevated by the church.

Wait. But this makes it seem like I’m subjugating them with power.

The situation was strange.

In this scenario, I should be the one desperately bowing and begging for permission, but instead, she was the one flustered and at a loss.

This wasn’t right. Of course, I could just let it slide since things were going well, but this wasn’t how it should be.

I hurriedly stood up from my seat and tried to confess my wrongdoing.

“Mother. I’m a terrible person!”

“Huh? Umm… No, it’s fine… it’s fine. Please take good care of my daughter.”

I failed.

“Hmm. I’m not sure if I should say this in front of the imperial princess and the saint, but I don’t really have the right to criticize you.”

“No. You’re her mother. You have every right.”

“Is that so? Still, it’s fine.”

“Are you really okay with this…? I understand that you’re against polygamy. Aren’t you worried that I might neglect your daughter…?”

“I may dislike it, but it’s not a crime, is it? And…”

The duchess paused for a moment to choose her words, then raised her index finger.

Despite her gentle and passive demeanor, despite it being a gesture that should have emphasized her cuteness…

Somehow, that single raised finger felt so solemn. For a moment, I had the illusion that everything around us had fallen completely silent.

In that silence, the duchess continued.

“At least, I think someone who speaks like you do will be fine. Please take good care of my daughter.”

It would be strange to deny her after she said so much.

“Yes. I’ll do my best.”

No more, no less—just my best. I decided to conclude this conversation with the promise that I would try as much as I could.

In the end, it did become a situation where I overwhelmed with power rather than my own strength… but honestly, even if it felt a bit unsettling, it was for the best.

To be frank, I still couldn’t think of any other solution anyway.

Just when it seemed like everything was over… suddenly the door burst open again, and this time the duke entered.

“So my wife has decided to accept it too.”

“Oh dear, honey. I’ve told you countless times not to barge into a lady’s room.”

“I do as I please.”

“Really, now.”

They seem to have a good relationship.

But the duke hadn’t come to show off their harmony, so he didn’t continue the conversation and approached me instead.

“Ludion.”

“Yes.”

“If my daughter is happy, I have no intention of interfering with your relationship. However.”

The duke glanced briefly at Alkine, then looked at me and the two people standing beside me.

And then he asked the most obvious question.

“Even after Alkine graduates, the three of you will still be academy students. Have you thought about what to do for Alkine’s sake?”

“That’s…”

After graduation. He was talking about Alkine’s future.

Of course, it wasn’t something I was unaware of. Given our age difference and the fact that she was my senior at the academy, I knew this would happen.

But I simply knew it. I hadn’t actually decided what to do when that situation actually arrived.

I thought we could discuss it a few months before preparing for the graduation ceremony, and it wouldn’t be too late then.

Perhaps reading my foolish and unprepared thoughts, Celia, who had been clinging to me with no intention of letting go, whispered in my ear.

“Ludion. You haven’t thought about it, have you?”

“…No, I haven’t.”

“I knew it. That’s so like you.”

Her tone was extremely teasing, but since it was actually my fault, I couldn’t refute it.

Celia looked at me, unable to say anything, giggled for a moment, then spoke to the duke in front of me instead of me.

“We’ve decided to get engaged on her graduation day.”

…What?

“…What?”

My reaction was the same as Alkine’s.

When someone speaks with certainty about something that hasn’t been agreed upon, the parties involved can’t help but be surprised.

However, perhaps due to Celia’s casual attitude about such a significant matter, the duke and duchess didn’t seem to notice our reaction.

“Engagement. Certainly not a bad approach.”

“But dear, I’ve heard that engagements are often broken these days. I don’t distrust them, but still.”

“Indeed. I’ve occasionally seen related cases. It might be a somewhat one-dimensional approach in today’s age.”

“The imperial family will officially recognize it, so don’t worry.”

Celia interjected with a comment to the still-worried duke and duchess, and it was truly the decisive blow.

“The imperial family will recognize Alkine’s engagement…?”

“That’s… truly wonderful, but… I wonder if it might burden the imperial family…”

“I’ll take care of that, so please don’t worry too much.”

Dizzied by Celia’s aggressive development, they seemed unable to continue their train of thought and simply accepted it with words of gratitude.

Things were progressing rapidly while Alkine and I remained silent.

But… despite saying all this, Celia showed no sign of detaching herself from me, clearly flaunting her closeness to me.

“If you’re going to say such things, could you at least move away a bit? It’s making me uncomfortable.”

“What’s the problem? I’ll be the first to get engaged anyway.”

…Is she just using this as a scheme to get engaged quickly herself? Using Alkine as a means?

Even so, promising an engagement officially recognized by the imperial family.

I can’t tell if she’s trying to check Alkine or not. It’s confusing.

“This is truly a blessing… Yes, I’d like to send a gift to the imperial family. Could you deliver it for me?”

But at the very least, I could understand that a world where no one gets hurt had been created.