Ch.329329. What? You can’t stand the sight of your two daughters competing over the same man?

“Ugh! The alcohol is bitter.”

“M-Master, what’s wrong?”

At a tavern in the Lumestia territory.

After drinking several shots in succession, I put my glass down on the table and spoke.

“I’m getting married.”

“Are you thinking about marriage so suddenly because you’re upset about something?”

“No.”

Jawil Wilson whispers quietly, glancing at the people in the tavern.

“Then why are you acting like this? Isn’t it already decided that you’ll marry the Imperial Princess?”

“Aren’t you going to ask who I’m marrying?”

“It must be one of the two princesses.”

“Wrong.”

“….Pardon?”

It was truly a mind-boggling situation.

When Emperor Mallius said, “The imperial princess who will marry Selden Alphonse should sit beside him,” both the Etherian Princess and the Sirin Princess came and sat next to me side by side.

I blinked several times in disbelief, and he said:

-It’s unprecedented, but there’s no rule that says two princesses can’t marry you.

It was a moment that left me wide-eyed in shock.

Of course, I argued several times that this was absurd, forgetting for a moment that I was addressing the Emperor.

However, the answer I received was even more ridiculous.

-Didn’t you say you didn’t care which princess you married?

I said I didn’t care which one of the two, not that I would marry both of them.

What’s worse, the expressions on the faces of both the Etherian Princess and the Sirin Princess suggested they had already made up their minds.

Sigh….

What?

He can’t bear to see his two daughters competing over one man?

Then he should have decided clearly when the marriage topic first came up.

And besides.

Emperor Mallius only has two children: the Etherian Princess and the Sirin Princess.

Who’s going to inherit the imperial throne?

I was too shocked to even ask such a simple question and ended up just begging him to reconsider before leaving.

No wonder I’m craving alcohol so badly now.

I wiped the alcohol from the corner of my mouth with the back of my hand and spoke.

“I’m in a situation where I have to marry both princesses….”

“…What? What on earth does that…?”

“I don’t want to explain it again with my own mouth, so figure it out yourself.”

Jawil Wilson leans back and his face twitches.

“…Is that even possible in reality?”

“I don’t know. If the Emperor says he’ll take responsibility, what can I say?”

“If you marry both princesses, there will be a lot of talk from various quarters.”

“Of course I mentioned that. I told him people within the imperial court would surely whisper about this issue, and strange rumors would spread.”

“S-so, what did the Emperor say?”

“He said rumors are temporary and just words from people’s mouths, so don’t worry about them. Eventually, they’ll fade from people’s memories as time passes.”

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Jawil Wilson downed his glass in one gulp and raised his voice.

“This isn’t just some simple rumor, it’s about the imperial family!”

“He said criticism and suspicion are natural, and the imperial family has always stood firm amidst such rumors, so they’ll overcome this time as well.”

“…Why is the Emperor making that judgment? The ones who have to endure are the princesses and you, Master!”

“…Would you like to go and talk to the Emperor on my behalf?”

Jawil Wilson makes a flustered expression before clearing his throat.

“Ahem! Have you spoken with the princesses?”

“No, the Emperor didn’t even give me time to talk with them.”

“…Pardon?”

“When I said I wanted to have a conversation, he replied, ‘You’re eloquent, so you’ll try to persuade the princesses, but would I allow that?'”

“…The Emperor seems to understand you better than expected.”

“It’s a hopeless situation. I think he’ll make a public announcement soon.”

“Then will you be moving into the imperial palace, Master?”

Surely, since I said I would live outside the imperial palace, he won’t break that promise.

What on earth is Emperor Mallius thinking?

I shook my head from side to side with a sigh.

“No, I’ll have to live outside the imperial palace.”

“…And who will inherit the succession rights? Emperor Mallius only has two children: the Etherian Princess and the Sirin Princess.”

“That’s why… I was too shocked earlier to ask about that important matter.”

Jawil Wilson swallows hard before continuing.

“Perhaps the Emperor overlooked it? Who knows? If you bring up the succession rights, he might have an ‘oh!’ moment.”

“He’s definitely not someone who would miss such a fundamental thing. He must have thought of some method before making this decision.”

“Is there even a method for this?”

“Who knows? The Emperor is quite the sly fox.”

Jawil Wilson sighs deeply and then suddenly tilts his head.

“But isn’t this good for you, Master?”

“How so?”

“You’re getting both the Etherian Princess and the Sirin Princess at the same time, aren’t you?”

“What’s good about getting them both at the same time?”

“Every night… ahem! Anyway, isn’t it every man’s fantasy?”

If I hadn’t wanted to drink more, I would have made him train until he raised dust storms in Lumestia territory…

But today, even I am overwhelmed, so I decided to let it go.

“It might have been if they were ordinary women.”

“…I suppose so. Then when will the wedding take place?”

“Probably after the Western Continent affairs are settled. I think the announcement will be made soon.”

“W-why is the Emperor in such a hurry?”

“He’s probably trying to create a justification for participating in the Western Continent war.”

“Then… the entire Eastern Continent will be mobilized.”

I leaned back in my chair and let out a deep sigh.

“That’s not the important issue right now; my marriage is!”

“Since the Emperor won’t take back his words anyway, it might be easier for you to just give up.”

“…Patherix will faint when he hears this news.”

“Perhaps everyone will react the same way?”

“Sigh… I suppose so.”

Jawil Wilson grips his glass and swallows hard.

“…The Alphonse territory will be in an uproar.”

“Not just the Alphonse territory, but the entire Eastern Continent will be in an uproar.”

“By the way, I don’t understand the princesses. They’ve agreed to share one man for the rest of their lives?”

“Yeah, both of them seemed fine with it.”

Just then, Jawil Wilson slams his palm on the table as if he’s had a realization.

“M-Master! There is a way!”

I looked at the flustered Jawil Wilson with indifference.

“Fine. You’re probably going to spout nonsense, but I’ll listen anyway, like a drowning man clutching at straws.”

“First, there’s a way to delay the announcement for now.”

“What is it?”

“You’ll be participating in the Western Continent war, right?”

“Yes?”

Suddenly hesitant about what he wants to say, Jawil Wilson cautiously glances around.

“…But please promise not to get angry when you hear my suggestion.”

“Yeah, if I had the energy to get angry, you’d be dead already.”

“…Pardon?”

“Anyway, go ahead. I won’t get angry.”

Jawil Wilson still looks cautious as he speaks.

“Honestly, when you go to war, your life isn’t guaranteed, right? If you were to fall in battle, the princesses would suddenly lose their betrothed. So why not ask the Emperor to delay the announcement?”

“I thought about that too, but the Emperor is making this announcement to create justification for participating in the Western Continent war.”

“Master, think about it slowly. Why does he need justification?”

“Because if the Eastern and Western Continents unite without proper justification, the Southern and Northern Continents will become wary.”

“Then can’t he create the justification after the war ends? If he announces your marriage to the princesses later, the other continents would understand anyway.”

Hearing this, it wasn’t without merit.

Considering the situation the princesses would face if I were to die in battle, couldn’t the announcement be delayed a bit?

During that time, I could somehow meet with the Etherian Princess and the Sirin Princess to find a suitable compromise.

I clapped my hands and exclaimed in admiration.

“Wow… Jawil Wilson, you’ve really grown up!”

“…Pardon? I’ve always been taller than you—”

“I never thought such a brilliant idea would come from your head. I think I might be able to persuade the Emperor.”

“R-really?”

“I’ll try to speak with the Emperor tomorrow.”

Just then, men burst into the tavern.

From their attire, they were clearly residents of the territory, but their expressions were as urgent as if war had broken out.

-T-the Etherian Princess and the Sirin Princess are both marrying the same man!

-The man marrying the two princesses is Selden Alphonse, the hero who stopped the monster wave in Lake territory!

-The Emperor just announced it! The rumor has already spread throughout the imperial court!!