Ch.189Chapter 189

The news of Wendigo and Skadi’s marriage spread throughout Manheimr under Geron’s direction.

The nobles, who had been enjoying peaceful days, were shocked by this unexpected announcement.

Someone who was neither human nor beastkin suddenly getting married?

“Ho ho, if I had known this would happen, I should have sent my daughters to the capital. Who would have thought His Majesty would take a consort.”

“His Majesty is no ordinary person. I believe only the Great Witch could capture his heart.”

“Tsk, this is what happens with those who rose quickly through war. The easiest way to establish dignity is to surround oneself with beauty. Do you really think we’d send our daughters to compete with Lady Skadi?”

“We’ve observed both of them closely. Still… it wouldn’t be bad to secure even a concubine position, for both our family and daughter.”

Many nobles were disappointed to hear that Wendigo, whom they had assumed would remain single for life, was getting married.

However, nobles wouldn’t be nobles if they gave up so easily. The queen’s position might be taken, but weren’t concubine positions still vacant?

“I’ll buy you any jewelry or silk clothes you want. In return, you must attend the wedding looking your most beautiful!”

“Father, but it’s the Great Witch’s wedding…”

“Ho ho, heroes are naturally lustful, and my daughters are so innocent. His Majesty is the hero of heroes, so having five or six concubines would be natural… Hey! Don’t look at your father like that!”

“Dad, you’re trash.”

“You scum, telling your daughter to become a concubine.”

Clearly, those determined to not only make an impression but also register a marriage at someone else’s wedding were indeed crazy.

However, the nobles of Manheimr were facing unprecedented changes in this era.

The university project was beginning to show results, loyal officials were being dispatched as administrators throughout the region, and goods from dwarves and elves were spreading.

With some exaggeration, if a new race appeared from the sky tomorrow, two out of three would believe it if someone said, “His Majesty has pioneered another trade route!”

Not riding this endless upward trend would be unworthy of a northern warrior.

Why fear something easier than swinging an axe with your life on the line in battle? Didn’t they play axe-throwing with friends as children?

Just once, just one connection by blood to the king would be enough.

The fact that the king had no concept of lifespan meant he would never abdicate.

If His Majesty would take in a daughter from their family, how long would that prosperity last?

“Well, being His Majesty’s concubine wouldn’t be bad. When I visited the capital before, I saw him from afar and he seemed kind and handsome.”

“Mmm~ I want to bury my face in that thick fur and sniff it.”

“You’re crazy.”

The surprising thing was that the noble ladies accepted their fathers’ requests. Honestly, how many women in the world would pass up the opportunity to become the king’s woman?

The ladies began special training with their fathers’ support.

They followed every regimen said to be good for maintaining their figure and began crash courses in etiquette and scholarship with scholars they had never met before.

“Since His Majesty is marrying the Great Witch, this is a blessing for Manheimr and surely the most beautiful love in this world. Speaking of beauty, my eldest daughter…”

“Again, drifting to talk about your daughter. If you have nothing special to mention, let’s move on.”

…And this news was conveyed to Wendigo in the form of wedding invitation responses.

Wendigo shook his head as he complained to Geron, who was reading the letters aloud.

As soon as they officially announced the marriage, everyone started praising their own children as if they had been waiting for this moment…

Geron nodded as if he had expected this and gestured to the attendants. The attendants promptly removed most of the letters.

“…Don’t tell me all those removed letters contained such content?”

“Yes. While parents naturally want to send their daughters to the best household, frankly, I found it disconcerting.”

It wasn’t just imagination that Geron’s voice sounded more irritable than usual.

Wendigo silently offered his condolences to the nobles who had written letters without properly understanding Geron. While Geron wasn’t one to hold grudges, they would certainly face some harassment.

‘Honestly, I have no intention of stopping him either.’

In a world where chieftains to emperors normally kept at least two concubines, there was no reason he had to follow suit.

Where in the world could there be a woman better than Skadi?

Her appearance needed no explanation, and her ability to handle mysteries was unmatched in Manheimr. In terms of connection, their bond was deep enough to have started together.

If Skadi hadn’t wanted it, he would likely have remained single for life.

“I’ll continue reading the remaining letters.”

“Since you’ll be responding to them, can’t we just skip this?”

“They sent them with sincerity, so Your Majesty should at least hear the contents.”

“……”

Wasn’t that saying the letters just removed weren’t even worth listening to?

Wendigo looked at Geron with bewilderment, then waved his hand with a short sigh, signaling him to continue.

Geron read the letters, omitting unnecessary content as much as possible.

Considering the sincerity, he should have read them in full, but it couldn’t be helped. Reading all the letters filled with various flowery phrases and praises would have consumed half a day in an instant.

After reading the last letter, Geron handed all the letters to the attendants.

“If they sent letters for their daughters, that’s fine, but there might be improper motives. Separate the nobles who sent letters into two categories based on what we just reviewed and record it.”

The attendants nodded as if this was expected and withdrew.

Once the attendants had left, Geron asked Wendigo with an expression more composed than usual.

“By any chance, Your Majesty doesn’t intend to take concubines, do you?”

“…It seems like you want to tell me not to take any.”

“That’s a misunderstanding. How could I impose on Your Majesty?”

People don’t always need words to compel others. A pressure that could make even a tiger flinch was felt through Geron’s gaze.

If he said he would take concubines, he would surely face days of nagging.

Wendigo was thankful that he wasn’t particularly lustful.

“If I hadn’t married Skadi, I would have lived my entire life alone, so why would I need concubines?”

“Many take concubines to seek stability and dignity, but personally, I don’t think it’s a good choice.”

Wendigo nodded.

If he took a noble lady as a concubine, conflict between the queen and concubine would be inevitable.

Though there was a difference in status between a concubine and queen, ultimately, how much of the king’s favor they received determined their power. Naturally, the women’s families would form factions and engage in power struggles to taste the sweet honey of power.

Sometimes factional fights prevented noble unity and helped strengthen royal authority, but…

In most cases, internal royal household conflicts became a shortcut to national ruin. With bad luck, the country would begin to falter within ten years.

…But why was he being reminded of this?

“I never even considered concubines, so you may withdraw.”

“Understood. However, if you ever think of taking a concubine, please consult with Lady Skadi first—”

“I said I understand. There won’t be any need for permission in the first place, so stop tormenting me and go.”

When Geron continued to emphasize the point, Wendigo responded with disgust. Was it his imagination that Geron’s expression seemed to contain a hint of amusement?

“Are you enjoying this?”

“Haha, how could that be? Since Your Majesty is uncomfortable, I shall withdraw now.”

Geron bowed with a faint smile. Wendigo watched him leave with a disgruntled gaze.

He was definitely enjoying it.

* * *

Wendigo and Skadi’s marriage wasn’t known only to the nobles. It wasn’t a secret to begin with, so this was natural.

At the university, apart from many young men who were devastated by the news of Skadi’s marriage, most people celebrated their union as if it were their own affair.

Men who gathered for dice games or drinking after finishing their daily tasks discussed this topic that wouldn’t go away no matter how much they talked about it.

“The king is indeed a male, I mean, a man after all. Yes, someone of his caliber should take someone as beautiful as the Great Witch as his wife.”

“Honestly, I thought he would remain single… Well, even he couldn’t escape loneliness. Still, it’s impressive that someone who could have dozens of beauties as wives if he wanted is satisfied with just the Great Witch.”

“Tsk tsk, you don’t know because you’re new, but the connection between His Majesty and the Great Witch is no ordinary bond. I guarantee that he wouldn’t take anyone but Lady Skadi as his wife.”

“Forest Guardian, sir, what do you mean by that?”

When the Forest Guardian who had joined the dice game tapped the bone helmet at his waist and shrugged, all attention immediately focused on him.

Most Forest Guardians living in the capital were loyal followers who had been with Wendigo from the beginning.

Having been with him before the king’s grace was known throughout the north, they often knew stories that ordinary people didn’t.

“You joined later, so you wouldn’t know, but His Majesty was able to become a wise ruler largely thanks to Lady Skadi.”

“Don’t speak so vaguely, tell us properly.”

“With an empty mouth?”

Having set up enough bait, the Forest Guardian chuckled and shook his bone helmet. He was asking for money to tell the story.

Naturally, voices of astonishment erupted from around him. What kind of Forest Guardian would sell stories for money?

However, while it was astonishing, it was also undeniably intriguing.

“How much do you want for the story?”

“Just pay what you think is fair. I’m only asking because it feels wrong to just tell it for free.”

“I have more beer than money, would beer be acceptable?”

“Are you joking? Whether it’s money or beer, I’d be grateful enough to bow.”

The Forest Guardian rose from the gambling table, and when the tavern owner handed him beer, he downed it in one go and bowed to express his gratitude.

People burst into laughter at his informal attitude and put whatever they could immediately give into the bone helmet.

Wealthy merchants put in silver coins, while most people put in whatever edible items they had in their pockets.

“Let’s see… What’s this? I ask for payment for a story and you just put in a bunch of food? This is too much. Is this how Forest Guardians are treated?”

As the Forest Guardian tapped his helmet, laughter erupted among the people.

“You said to pay what we thought was fair, so we’re just following your instructions, sir!”

“Well said, well said… Innkeeper, please make some food with what’s in here. And serve some drinks with the money inside.”

The Forest Guardian, already seeming a bit drunk, handed the bone helmet to the tavern owner with a giggle. The tavern owner received it with a smirk.

“Isn’t the Forest Guardian being too careless with the treasure bestowed by His Majesty?”

“Well, His Majesty doesn’t punish people for treating others well, so it’s fine.”

“Well… The merchants put in so few silver coins that there won’t be much to go around. I’ll bring out a barrel of beer for the story, so wait.”

At the innkeeper’s gesture, his sturdy son brought out a large barrel of beer.

When the lid was opened, the sound of sloshing and the smell of beer filled the tavern, and the innkeeper tossed wooden cups to his customers.

“Those who want to drink, help yourselves. But don’t drink it all before I make some side dishes.”

“Oh, as expected of someone who fleeces students, you’re quite generous!”

“But what about the merchants? You make good money thanks to His Majesty, so be a bit generous at times like this!”

“Ugh…”

As the tavern suddenly turned into a feast hall, people rode the momentum and pressured the merchants.

The merchants grumbled, discussed among themselves, then filled leather pouches with silver coins and tossed them to the innkeeper’s son.

“Tell your damned father that if he doesn’t deliver value for this money, we’ll raise hell! If he doesn’t want to see that, tell him to serve us the most delicious dishes in this house!”

“Ha! With this much money, we’d profit even if you did raise hell! Wait a bit. I’ll tell my father and go buy more meat.”

The innkeeper’s son headed outside amid cheers. The atmosphere had become so lively that no story was needed.

The Forest Guardian emptied his beer cup in one go and began to speak.

“Well~ Now that the mood is right, let’s start the story!”

“It better be worth about 50 silver coins!”

“Merchants always try to calculate everything in silver. My story is worth 100 silver coins, so how about paying more?”

Once again, laughter erupted from all around, and the Forest Guardian rubbed his palms together to set the mood before beginning his story.

Despite the Forest Guardian’s talent as a storyteller, the story itself wasn’t particularly special.

It was a somewhat mundane tale of a great djin who wanted to learn about humans and a witch who grew up amid contempt but retained the goodness of humanity.

But the story didn’t need to be special to be good.

If everyone could share in the joy of this moment, that alone made the story special.

People immersed themselves in the Forest Guardian’s tale, grateful to Wendigo and Skadi who had brought about this golden age.

* * *

…However, conflict has never disappeared from the world.

It’s as if when peace comes to one side, discord is designed to arise on the other.

One day, ominous rumors began to circulate at Manheimr’s borders.

Civil war sparked by the imperial emperor’s tyranny, massacres committed by heroes, the emperor’s downfall, and the emperor’s death…

There were many serious issues, but the people of Manheimr didn’t pay much attention. Unlike the Empire, Manheimr was peaceful.

However, the rumors that were expected to end with the emperor’s death brought new rumors knocking at Manheimr’s door.

“The dead emperor… what?”

“T-the dead emperor has returned with an army of the dead!”

Officials were bewildered by the claims of self-proclaimed refugees who had fled from the southern Empire. How could the dead return to life?

The officials suspected these refugees might have collectively eaten poisonous mushrooms. However, determining the truth of rumors wasn’t their responsibility.

The officials submitted reports based on what they had heard from the refugees.

Reports of the appearance of an army of the dead—reports that made no sense at all.