Ch.210Polygamy (15)

Zernya returned from her family home with a sullen face and immediately whined about wanting to come to my house.

“Why?”

“I want to spend some intimate time with you.”

Rustila’s irritation was a predictable response.

“I made plans with him first.”

“Then why don’t you come along?”

“Huh…?”

An unusual, subtle tension flowed between them.

Why are they suddenly acting like this?

My question was answered as soon as we arrived at the Rheinland mansion.

The moment the dock closed, Zernya threw herself into my arms. Leaning on me as if a fortress was crumbling, she trembled and stammered.

“I, I, now, wh-what, sh-should I d-do…”

Her breathing was uneven. As if she had witnessed something otherworldly.

No way.

Had she seen the Adelbein family’s First Treasury?

Even if things were moving quickly, that seemed too fast. I had expected the treasury would only be shown after the marriage was finalized…

No, this was actually good. It was evidence that Jerome was in a hurry because of me.

Rustila and I listened to Zernya’s story for a while. I already knew the contents, but Rustila seemed quite shocked.

“So, you weren’t caught?”

“S-somehow. My heart, my heart, I, I can’t, can’t breathe…”

Zernya panted, squeezing out weak words and tears like oil—expressions she would never show in public. I took the pitifully sobbing Zernya to the bed and laid her down.

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

I sat her on my lap and comforted her like a baby. I even made her cocoa to drink. Rustila looked at the gasping Zernya with sympathy.

“Eidel, I have something to tell you.”

“Go ahead.”

“…I think I’d be okay with you taking Zernya as your wife.”

I asked in surprise.

“Did you start disliking me?”

“No! That’s not it!”

Rustila answered awkwardly.

“I just think… her, and me, and you… becoming one family might not be so bad…”

“You don’t mean…”

Rustila shyly nodded.

“I’m okay with polygamy.”

I was surprised for a different reason.

What wind had blown to make Rustila, who had despised Zernya to death, suddenly permit polygamy?

“I’m not sure if I should say this, but your eldest brother…”

“You mean Brian? I know. He’s different on the inside than he appears.”

“…Zernya noticed that first and advised me. She said your brother seems to be trying to steal the family head position, so I should keep a close eye on him in case something happens to you.”

I see. So that’s why Rustila had been by my side all week without doing anything else.

Well, Zernya would certainly be able to figure out Brian’s true character with ease.

“And I realized something else. No matter how well I can fight, if you have problems related to otherworldly beings, or if you get seriously injured, there’s nothing I can do. So, you need Zernya…”

Indeed, a healing constellation would be necessary in such situations.

Now the puzzle pieces are starting to fit together.

“Thank you, Zenya.”

I kissed Zernya’s forehead. Fortunately, her breathing was gradually calming down.

After she had sufficiently calmed down, Zernya carefully opened her mouth.

“I might be okay with it too.”

“You too?”

Zernya pointed at Rustila with a pouting lip.

“…D-don’t misunderstand. It’s not for you, but for Eidel. Since Eidel needs you, I have no choice but to allow it.”

“The same goes for me.”

A spark of tension flashed between them. However, its intensity was significantly softer than before. I instinctively understood that they were both being considerate of me.

That fact made me quite pleased.

“Thank you, Rusti.”

“Eidel…”

I embraced Rustila as well and gave her the same kiss. I had become composed enough to do this without hesitation now.

“Thank you both for making this difficult decision. I love you. I’ll make sure you both live happily without any lack for the rest of your lives.”

The two women squirmed in my arms.

It was an expression of agreement.

***

I quickly held an engagement ceremony with Rustila. Compared to Zernya’s, it was extremely modest.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more for you.”

“It’s okay. They say engagements should be simple and weddings grand, right?”

Convincing Rustila’s parents from the Kersil family was relatively easy.

They had approved of my marriage to Rustila from the beginning.

They seemed to have completely moved past their obsession after she received an Omega-grade rating as an examiner. I was able to meet Rustila’s parents and her exclusive androids after a long time.

“Miss, Young Master. Congratulations on your engagement.”

Veronica, a fifth-generation android with an atmosphere similar to Sonia’s.

Had I seen her during my Academia days? It was nice to meet her after so long.

This was becoming a problem.

After Sonia and Erica, this one looks like a graphics card too. Even her name ends with “ca.”

No, this isn’t right. Thinking about graphics cards on such a good day.

I shook off these idle thoughts and finished the meeting.

“Won’t she only receive half of her husband’s love? How pitiful for my daughter!”

“Dear, Rustila said she’s fine with it! Stop being negative on this happy day!”

Yes, this kind of boisterous atmosphere is actually comfortable and nice. Honestly, the previous engagement ceremony was too grand and formal, making it burdensome.

The engagement ceremony itself proceeds exactly the same as Zernya’s.

The groom walks down the red carpet and meets the bride waiting at the front. After removing the veil covering her face, they receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit Order and exchange engagement rings.

“The groom shall place the token of love on the bride’s finger.”

The gem set in the ring was a deep blue diamond. It was crafted to match Rustila’s eye color exactly.

We each wore it on the ring finger of our right hand.

Since the polygamy system is quite developed in this era, there’s essentially no difference in meaning between rings worn on the right or left hand. This was fortunate, at least.

Rustila, checking the ring adorning her hand, smiled as brightly as a blooming cherry blossom.

“Mom, Dad! I’m getting married now!”

“Sob sob!”

“Rustila! My daughter!”

“Don’t worry because I’m marrying a handsome, smart, kind, and wonderful man! I’ll give you lots of grandchildren!”

Oh my, how embarrassing.

“Next, the bride and groom shall each place a vow kiss on the left and right cheek of their… kiss?”

The priest who was explaining the procedure stretched his voice with a bewildered expression.

I couldn’t ask why he suddenly acted that way.

Because my mouth was completely sealed.

“Those crazy fools! Follow the procedure! The procedure!”

Zernya, attending as a guest, jumped up and shouted.

“What kind of deep kiss…! Hey, that’s enough, y-you crazy…! Huh? Aaaaargh—!!”

***

As soon as the engagement ceremony ended, the entire Federation was turned upside down.

From major media companies that controlled the galaxy to newspapers in remote regions, everyone rushed to put my news on their front pages.

[Complete History of Rheinland Family’s Young Master’s Women: Essentially Five Prospective Wives]

[Eidel von Rheinland Engages with Mistress, Essentially Declaring Polygamy… When Asked About Intention, “They’re Both My Women”]

[Rheinland’s Adultery Scandal, Is Adelbein Not Responsible?]

[(19+) Rheinland-Kersil Deep Kiss Mad Movie]

Look at these journalists’ headline-writing skills.

I skimmed through the comments. Envy, demands for me to pay more taxes, concerns about whether the women weren’t pitiful in a polygamous relationship, questions about whether the engagement was coordinated with the Adelbein family. Public opinion was boiling with all kinds of reactions.

I don’t usually follow the news closely. But today, I was eagerly waiting for one particular article.

[The Adelbein Council of Elders has stated that this was an unexpected event and will hold the Rheinland family accountable.]

Finally, it’s out.

I quickly scanned the article and smiled.

In less than half a day, Adelbein had expressed their discomfort and threatened to hold us accountable.

In other words, they were asking for a fight.

[As it has been revealed that the engagement proceeded without the consent of the Adelbein family, a new interpretation is emerging. Namely, that the young master of Rheinland is using the polygamy system to maintain his position as family head.]

The media was gradually starting to push a narrative against me.

This was the typical public opinion manipulation by the Adelbein family.

The problem was the next stage.

Public opinion campaigns are always accompanied by malicious comments, and in severe cases, public authorities might get involved, which often leads to someone committing suicide due to stress.

They probably plan to secretly kill me or Rustila while testing the waters. It was a method commonly used by people in the underworld.

The die has been cast.

There was no turning back now.

“I’m submitting this here.”

My wives and I had just filed a complaint at the Southern Galaxy Prosecutor’s Office. We had provided all the extensive evidence at once. The prosecutor in charge made a distressed face.

“…Is all of this really true?”

“Yes, it’s true.”

“Whew…”

The prosecutor let out a sigh. Judging by the strong smell of alcohol, he must have been quite drunk yesterday.

“With this much material, you could have submitted it by mail. It will take time just for the basic review.”

“You’re right. I should have done that.”

In truth, though I couldn’t say it out loud, the reason for submitting in person was to avoid the spies that the Adelbein family had planted in the prosecution and police.

The Adelbein family’s authority extends even to law enforcement. Not a few prosecutors were backing them. Filing a complaint remotely carried too much risk.

Even doing it in person was risky. If Ireh, the returnee, hadn’t created a table of informants to warn us, I would have been uneasy until the end.

Another reassuring point was that the Southern Prosecutor’s Office was in the Heresset family’s jurisdiction.

The Heresset is a family famous for its prosecutors and inspectors, and once a crime is committed, they tear into it even if it involves one of the top ten families.

They investigate the government, the Federation, industry peers—they just investigate everything.

Of course, they sometimes receive criticism for excessive investigations. The previous case with Director Hueritia was a prime example.

Yet they still pounce like grave robbers at the slightest hint. Their faction’s motto is “Better to make ten innocent people suffer than to let one serious criminal escape.”

With such definitive materials submitted, Adelbein has no way out. They probably couldn’t even imagine that their family head would betray them.

All that remained was to watch the Adelbein family fall apart.

Zernya sighed.

“Did I do the right thing?”

“Of course.”

I stroked Zernya’s hair, reassuring her once more. Having burned her bridges, Zernya had nowhere to return to. As promised, I would take her in and give her a new family name.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

I handed over one more external hard drive.

“Please investigate our family as well.”

“…Excuse me?”

The prosecutor’s expression turned dumbfounded.