Ch.303Chapter 303 – The Repairman Meets His Father-in-Law and Mother-in-Law

As I was about to leave after speaking with His Imperial Majesty, I encountered Karen and my soon-to-be sisters-in-law in the palace corridor…

“So what should we call you now? Brother-in-law? Or is that getting too ahead of ourselves?”

“Maybe ‘future brother-in-law’ would be more appropriate? We just received permission to marry, so ‘future brother-in-law’ seems right for now.”

“Hmm, I’m not sure. I’ll just call you ‘Marquis.'”

“This might be a bit too complicated for our youngest. Hehe.”

I could feel my energy being drained in real-time.

The three women who would soon be my sisters-in-law had surrounded me and were chattering among themselves, with me at the center. Was this the pain introverts feel when caught between extroverts?

‘Ugh, this is really draining me.’

Who would have thought that enduring the endless chatter hell of three sisters-in-law would be harder than having a private audience with the Emperor?

I really am an introvert, not an extrovert! I just want to go home! I want to go home and bury myself in my bed!

“Girls? Your big sister needs to talk with your future brother-in-law. Would you mind giving us some space?”

“Mmm, okay, sis.”

“…Understood.”

“Come back soon.”

Wow, the eldest sister’s commanding presence was truly different.

I watched as the three who had been draining my energy nodded to Karen’s request and withdrew without protest.

As the three princesses walked away chatting among themselves, Karen approached me.

“I’m sorry. They’re not bad girls, they’ve just been very interested in you for a while.”

Karen took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from my forehead.

The gentle touch on my forehead suggested she was expressing her apology in her own way.

“It’s fine, they didn’t mean any harm. Wouldn’t anyone be curious about someone who’s going to become a new family member?”

“Pfft, that’s true. Shall we go to the garden for a bit? We can talk there without interruptions.”

I accepted Karen’s suggestion, and we headed to the garden behind the imperial palace.

The garden behind the palace was very quiet. Only the occasional bird calls and the sound of grass swaying in the breeze filled the space.

Karen and I had been here before, but what was different now was that we were walking hand in hand.

“You just met with Father?”

As soon as we sat down in the glass building situated in one corner of the garden, Karen asked me a question.

“Yes. I was on my way back from meeting with His Imperial Majesty.”

“I see. What did Father say?”

Karen seemed curious about the conversation I had with the Emperor.

“His Imperial Majesty—that is, your father—has given permission for our marriage.”

“Oh my…”

Karen brought her hands to her mouth in joy when I mentioned that I had received approval for our marriage.

“So we’ll have an engagement ceremony soon?”

“Yes. Your father and mother said they would take care of all the preparations, so we just need to show up.”

“That’s just like them. Actually, they told me before that if I brought someone I wanted to marry, they would provide everything from a house to wedding gifts. Hehehe.”

I think I understand why His Imperial Majesty and Her Imperial Highness said that. Being the eldest sister and still unmarried, her younger siblings would be hesitant to bring up marriage out of consideration for her.

That’s why the Emperor and Empress—my future father-in-law and mother-in-law—must have said they would provide everything if she just brought someone she wanted to marry.

“But where will we live after we’re married? Surely not in the imperial palace?”

“No, not there. Since Brother Takitar is the Crown Prince, the rule is that married members of the imperial family live outside the palace unless the Crown Prince is confined or removed from his position.”

Hmm, so does that mean I have to live in the capital? That might be a bit inconvenient since I haven’t graduated from the academy yet.

“Come to think of it, you’re still attending the academy, aren’t you?”

“That’s right. I’m in my third year now.”

Huh. I just realized it’s been almost two years since I came to this world?

Reincarnating into this world with nothing, and in two years becoming an Imperial Marquis with three fiancées + α.

Anyone who heard this would tell me to stop lying.

“I heard from the Prime Minister that you could graduate without doing anything else…”

“Personally, I think that might be an abuse of power…”

“Abuse of power? Absolutely not! Someone of your caliber deserves such treatment!”

Karen lit up with indignation at my words and firmly refuted them.

Hmm, she’s taking my side, right?

“You’re not considering early graduation?”

“I do need to graduate, but I plan to complete the full years required. I don’t want to graduate early and cause controversy about special treatment. If such controversy arose, it would bring shame to the imperial family.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. It’s a benefit and system given to those who have proven their exceptional abilities. If anyone has complaints, they should work hard to become someone worthy of such treatment. Don’t you agree?”

Is it because she’s royalty? Seeing how she thinks people should be treated according to their abilities, Karen is definitely a person of this world.

Karen and I continued our conversation, discussing various topics including stories of what I had accomplished since coming to this world.

Then, hearing footsteps, I turned my head to see His Imperial Majesty and a middle-aged woman with silver hair standing there.

“Hmm, so you were here after all.”

“So this is the man you spoke of.”

“Your Imperial Majesty?”

“Father? Mother?”

As Karen and I hurriedly stood up to pay our respects, His Imperial Majesty raised his hand, gesturing that it wasn’t necessary.

“It’s fine. Just sit and continue your conversation.”

“By the way, seeing you two together makes me feel relieved. You seem so comfortable with each other despite not having known each other for long…”

The middle-aged woman with silver hair—Karen’s mother, the Emperor’s wife, and my future mother-in-law—wiped away tears of emotion from the corners of her eyes.

Is this really such a moving occasion?

“So you are Marquis Patos Severio. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Karen’s mother.”

“Ah, yes, Your Imperial Highness. I am Marquis Patos Severio. Though unworthy, I have been blessed with a connection to Princess Karen.”

I took the hand offered by the Empress and briefly kissed the back of it as a sign of respect.

“Hehe. What an upright and kind-hearted person. Please take good care of Karen. She may appear strong on the outside, but she’s quite tender-hearted.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”

“When we’re alone, you don’t need to be so formal with ‘Your Imperial Highness.’ You can comfortably call me ‘Mother-in-law.'”

“That’s right. When it’s just us, call us ‘Father-in-law’ and ‘Mother-in-law.’ Titles are only useful in official settings. Why use them when we’re family? I permit you to address us comfortably in private.”

“Yes, yes. Father-in-law and Mother-in-law.”

When I addressed the Emperor and Empress as Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, they both smiled with satisfaction and left after wishing us well.

“Looking at them, they seem like such an affectionate couple.”

“Yes. They say Father and Mother have never had a marital argument. They told me that because they love each other, they see only the good in each other rather than the flaws.”

Karen then took my hand and turned her gaze from the direction the couple had left to look at me.

“Could we become a couple like them?”

“It won’t be easy. But with love, couldn’t we overcome anything?”

“Pfft, that’s so like you. You’re right. I think so too. Isn’t it because of love that Father and Mother spend such affectionate time together?”

I agreed with Karen’s words. It was a moment that gave me much to think about.

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

Decatro IV and his wife, Karen’s birth mother Agnes Lucien Gelebrio Aurelios, strolled through the garden.

“Agnes. What did you think of our future son-in-law?”

“He seems like a good man. I heard he has other women interested in him? He seems like the type of man who would.”

Agnes shared her honest impression of the man named Patos whom she had just met.

“In a way, it’s fortunate. Marquis Severio’s abilities are coveted even by other countries. I think it’s truly fortunate that he chose our country.”

“From what I could see with my abilities, Marquis Severio is not someone who would make Karen sad. Perhaps it’s truly fortunate that the perfect groom for Karen has appeared.”

“It should be so. That’s why I acknowledged him as our son-in-law.”

“When he marries Karen, you plan to grant him the title of Grand Duke, don’t you?”

Decatro IV nodded. For the husband of an imperial princess, at least the rank of Grand Duke would be appropriate.

“It will be a good wedding gift for Marquis Severio when he marries Karen.”

“Hehe. Now, shall we start finding good grooms for our other little troublemakers?”

“Let’s do that. I hope those two will be happy.”

Emperor Decatro IV and Empress Agnes smiled as they watched the two people engaged in pleasant conversation in the glass building in the garden.

As if blessing them, the sky above was truly clear and peaceful.