Ch.243243. ····I have committed a mortal sin.

“Speak.”

Emperor Malius glared at me from across the reception room.

The situation was like this:

After confirming that Princess Sirin hadn’t returned to her chambers by morning, Butler Oliver had gone to Butler Welsran.

However.

Butler Welsran, in his confusion, refused to open the door to Princess Etherian’s chambers.

Why?

Although he knew they were drinking together, the fact that Princess Sirin hadn’t returned by morning meant Princess Etherian might have done something unthinkable without even realizing it.

So then.

What was going through Butler Oliver’s mind?

With Butler Welsran keeping his lips tightly sealed, he became convinced something had happened and urgently sought out Emperor Malius.

Fortunately, Emperor Malius had somewhat recovered his strength through holy power, and upon hearing the news, he immediately headed to Princess Etherian’s chambers.

There, he encountered Butler Welsran trying to open the door to check the situation.

Well, what happened next was, as you know, witnessing me, Princess Etherian, and Princess Sirin lying together in one bed.

“Y-Your Imperial Majesty, there’s a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding…?”

“…It was originally a drinking gathering arranged for Princess Etherian and Princess Sirin to reconcile.”

“These days, do men and women reconcile by sharing a bed?”

“W-we drank too much and our memories…”

“Mem.o.ries?”

Despite not having fully recovered his strength, a dark aura emanated from him.

Well, if I were Emperor Malius, I’d also think what I’m saying sounds like an excuse.

But what else could I do?

It was true that we blacked out after drinking.

If something had happened, I wouldn’t even feel wronged.

Fortunately, we were all still fully clothed.

I gathered my wits and spoke calmly.

“I apologize. We drank a lot, and I must have fallen asleep without realizing it because I was so tired.”

“…For someone who just fell asleep, you were quite comfortable with Princess Etherian and Princess Sirin on either side of you.”

The atmosphere suggested I might actually face execution.

I pleaded my innocence with teary eyes.

“I truly feel wronged. I worked hard for Your Majesty’s health, and even did my best to mend the relationship between Princess Etherian and Princess Sirin.”

“…And?”

“The drinking gathering went very well. Since the two seemed to have returned to their former relationship, I also drank a lot to match their mood.”

“…And?”

Was “And?” always this terrifying?

My back was already soaked with cold sweat, and even though I was sitting, my legs were already trembling uncontrollably.

“…I have committed a grave sin.”

Emperor Malius leaned back on the sofa and pressed his temple gently.

“I know how hard you’ve worked for my health. And on top of that, you even managed the greatest challenge I faced as a father—reconciling my two daughters…”

Emperor Malius, trailing off, removed his back from the sofa and slammed his palm forcefully on the table.

“But why choose both Etherian and Sirin when you could have chosen just one of them?!”

“…Pardon?”

“Hah… I had considered you as a potential son-in-law, but how could you choose both of them…”

If I were to say that I hadn’t chosen anyone, I’d be dragged to the square for immediate execution.

Watching Emperor Malius carefully, I cautiously opened my mouth.

“Only Butler Welsran and Butler Oliver know about this.”

“So? You want to pretend it never happened?”

“N-no, I’m just saying there’s no need to worry about rumors spreading in the imperial palace for now.”

As I continued the conversation as calmly and articulately as possible, Emperor Malius leaned back on the sofa, seemingly struck by another headache.

“Between Etherian and Sirin, who do you prefer?”

Another question with no escape.

But even if you enter a tiger’s den, you can survive if you keep your wits about you, right?

I let out a short sigh, resigned to my fate.

“…Both of them.”

“W-what did you say?!”

“Though my intentions weren’t impure, we did share a bed. How could I possibly choose just one?”

I presented a brazen face to Emperor Malius.

Until now, the absurd situation of two princesses marrying one man probably never existed.

I had changed my strategy.

“…That’s true.”

Emperor Malius furrowed his brow, seemingly troubled.

To divert the topic even momentarily, I continued speaking without pause.

“By the way, is healing with holy power truly possible?”

“I’m not entirely sure myself, but it’s a fact that my body has improved.”

“Given the circumstances, it might be good to establish an agreement with the temple so that Saint Claudia can regularly visit the imperial palace. Although you’re improving now, your condition might worsen again at any time.”

“An agreement?”

“Yes, I’ve heard that the holy knights wield immense power in the temple.”

“The holy knights wield immense power…”

“It seems that even if Saint Claudia wants to come to the imperial palace, she can’t if the holy knights oppose it. That’s why I brought her here in a manner resembling abduction.”

Momentarily forgetting the incident involving his daughters, Emperor Malius smiled faintly.

“How did you come up with the idea to abduct Saint Claudia? The pursuit by the holy knights must have been quite dangerous?”

“Would I spare my life for Your Imperial Majesty? I am ready to sacrifice myself anytime as long as Your Imperial Majesty remains healthy.”

I did my best to flatter him even in this situation.

His Imperial Majesty seemed slightly moved by my sincerity.

Clearly, he was, but…

“By the way, you said before that you had no intention of marrying, but now it seems we need to proceed with a marriage between you and either Etherian or Sirin?”

A silent pressure squeezed my chest.

To be honest, if they weren’t princesses, I would have been more than willing to marry either Princess Etherian or Princess Sirin.

First, Princess Etherian’s appearance and figure were breathtaking, and despite her cold image, she was surprisingly shy and had adorable aspects.

Second, Princess Sirin had a mature beauty and figure. She was lively and, despite her status as a princess, possessed charm.

What madman would refuse such women?

However.

As I mentioned earlier, Etherian and Sirin were “princesses.”

Regardless of whom I married, it was obvious that the life I desired would be disrupted.

Hah…

By the time I woke up, too much time had passed to use the hourglass, so I had hoped until the end that I was Balthasar using the transformation leather…

But I was just out of my mind.

The transformation leather resembling Emperor Malius was already in my possession.

Now, there’s no hope of retreat.

Therefore, I needed to express my honest feelings without offending Emperor Malius.

“Your Imperial Majesty, as I mentioned before, I still have much to do in Lake Territory.”

“Can’t you do that even after proceeding with the marriage?”

“And I have no desire to live in the imperial palace. If either Princess Etherian or Princess Sirin is willing to renounce her claim to the throne and live with me in a quiet place, I am willing to proceed with the marriage at any time.”

This was the maximum expression I could make at present.

I hadn’t done anything with the princesses, but it was a clear fact that I had spent a night in their chambers.

In this world’s context, especially in a place with strict imperial rules, I couldn’t think of a way to escape.

Especially since Emperor Malius had already marked me as a potential son-in-law.

Therefore.

If there was no way to escape, I quietly conveyed my intention not to give up on a quiet life even if I proceeded with the marriage.

Of course, if Emperor Malius refused, there would be no other option.

“Hmm… So the one who loses the succession battle for the queen’s position gets you?”

“…Pardon? Ah… well, I suppose so.”

Yes.

The one who loses the succession battle gets me.

It felt slightly offensive, but there was no alternative.

Still, it would be hundreds of times better than proceeding with a marriage to the one who ascends to the queen’s position.

“Then, who do you hope doesn’t become queen?”

“I have no choice. All of this would be the princesses’ decision.”

I felt like I had come to remove one lump only to gain another.

However, Princess Etherian and Princess Sirin were undeniably the finest women in the Eastern Continent.

Since I would eventually marry someone anyway, I thought it might not be bad to settle down early.

Cold rationalism.

Even amidst the confusion, it was the driving force that moved me.

Emperor Malius nodded as if agreeing.

“Yes, I think you’re right. Even so, marrying both of them—”

At that moment, Princess Etherian and Princess Sirin burst through the door amidst the commotion outside the reception room.

Behind them, Butler Welsran and Butler Oliver wore troubled expressions.

Clank-!

Emperor Malius clicked his tongue and spoke.

“I told you two to wait quietly, didn’t I?”

In response, Princess Etherian and Princess Sirin simultaneously raised their voices.

“Your Imperial Majesty, I will marry Selden Alphonse.”

“Father! I want to marry Lord Selden Alphonse!”