Ch.331331. Should I Just Come Clean and Confess?

“Young master, why did you suddenly call me to a tavern in the middle of the night again?”

Back at the tavern in Lumestia territory.

I raised my glass and nodded slightly.

“Let’s have a drink first.”

“Did things not go well with His Imperial Majesty?”

“It’s already over.”

“…Pardon?”

“What more is there to say when it’s already been publicly announced?”

“Didn’t you say you would use the nobles’ chatter to find a solution?”

I took a swig of alcohol and let out a deep sigh.

“…I couldn’t even properly bring it up.”

“W-why not?”

“When the nobles wouldn’t say anything, what was I supposed to say?”

“…Pardon?”

“They’re all just desperately trying to save their own necks. If I’d known it would be like this, I shouldn’t have kept His Imperial Majesty alive.”

Jawil Wilson hastily looked around before leaning in to whisper.

“You must watch what you say! This is Lumestia territory!”

“I’m just frustrated.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to try talking with the Imperial Princesses instead?”

“Hah…”

“Is His Imperial Majesty still preventing you from meeting them?”

I tilted my head back and pressed my temples firmly.

“I already spoke with them.”

“H-how did it go?”

“It would have been easier to talk with His Imperial Majesty, if you can believe it.”

“But wasn’t it supposed to be more comfortable talking with the Imperial Princesses?”

Hah…

When Imperial Princess Sairine and Imperial Princess Etherian simultaneously beckoned to me from the bed, I was so flustered that I practically fled.

No matter how much I might want to lose ‘Selden Alphonse’s’ virginity, how could I possibly handle two women at once?

Maybe if I’d had experience before, but for my first time?

“It seems the Imperial Princesses are quite determined.”

“…Then it’s already over?”

“Yes, it’s over. But that’s not what’s important.”

“What else could be important in this situation?”

“If I just sit quietly, I feel like I’ll get nosebleeds every night.”

“N-nosebleeds?”

By the way.

I managed to escape by saying I had urgent business, but how am I going to explain myself to Imperial Princess Etherian and Imperial Princess Sairine tomorrow?

Should I just be honest?

If I tell them I’m uncomfortable with being intimate with two people at once from the start, would they understand?

I stared blankly at Jawil Wilson as he tilted his head in confusion.

“Jawil Wilson.”

“I’m at your service.”

“No, never mind.”

“…Do you know who the most despicable person in the world is?”

“Someone who starts to speak but then stops?”

“If you already know, why do you do it?”

Feeling my throat burn again, I gulped down more alcohol and furrowed my brow.

“Would you rather marry Clara and Vivian Cataria simultaneously?”

“…Pardon?”

“You said before it was every man’s fantasy. Not a bad choice, is it?”

“H-how could that possibly be up to me?”

“I could try to arrange it for you.”

“I appreciate the thought, but I’ll decline. Unlike you, who doesn’t care who you marry, I prefer Clara over Vivian Cataria.”

I leaned back in my chair and continued.

“I thought I was confident when it came to women, but I feel like I’ve hit an unexpected obstacle.”

“Could you please speak in a way I can understand?”

“Never mind. Just send a letter to Lake territory early tomorrow morning.”

“What should I write?”

“Tell them to leave only the minimum personnel needed to guard the mansion and come to the Western Continent’s Imperial Palace.”

“Wasn’t the Imperial Knight Order supposed to join us?”

I wiped the alcohol from my lips with the back of my hand and twitched my eyebrows.

“I think it’s better to be certain. And if we’re going to clean things up, we should make it so they can’t even breathe.”

“I… understand. And…”

Jawil Wilson trailed off before carefully continuing.

“Since it’s come to this, you should live happily. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage.”

“…Thank you.”

“I’ll still be able to see you after you’re married, right?”

“Of course. Without you, who would I vent my marital stress to?”

“…Pardon?”

“Anyway, I’m saying we’ll stay together.”

Seeming embarrassed, Jawil Wilson took a drink and continued.

“Haven’t I become stronger because of you? I’ll live my life in gratitude.”

Looking at the suddenly serious Jawil Wilson, I felt embarrassment rising from deep within my chest, but I tried to hide it and let out a small chuckle.

“Once this Western Continent war is over, you should marry Clara too.”

“…I’ll properly confess to Clara at least once.”

“Oh? Where did this sudden courage come from?”

“Thinking about fighting in the Western Continent war, it suddenly occurred to me.”

“What did?”

“The thought that one never knows when they might die.”

“…You won’t die, so don’t worry.”

At that, Jawil Wilson straightened his back and raised the corners of his mouth.

“Of course, with you by my side, I’m not worried about dying. But life is unpredictable, so I thought I should always be honest.”

Today, Jawil Wilson’s words seem particularly eloquent.

That’s right.

I should honestly tell them that I’m uncomfortable with being intimate with two people at once for my first time.

There’s no need to run away; I just need to express my feelings.

As the pleasant warmth of alcohol began to rise again, I raised my glass energetically and spoke loudly.

“Right! Let’s worry about tomorrow’s problems tomorrow!”

*

“Where did you suddenly disappear to yesterday?”

I held the fragrant teacup placed on the imperial terrace table and looked at Imperial Princess Sairine.

“…How could I stay when both of you were on the bed?”

“There’s no need to be shy. I’ve already talked it over with my sister.”

I shook my head from side to side, trying to clear the awkward moment from last night from my mind.

“…But you didn’t discuss anything with me.”

“Oh? I thought Selden Alphonse would like it… was I wrong?”

I cleared my throat with a reddened face at Imperial Princess Sairine’s words.

“No matter what, for my first time…”

“Oh my, were you planning to go to bed with my sister before me…? That makes me a bit upset.”

I blinked in surprise at the unexpected question.

“…Pardon?”

“Between my sister and me, who were you planning to be intimate with first?”

“T-that’s…”

“I suggested it directly to my sister because I was worried you’d be troubled if given the choice again. And she agreed.”

This was truly something I hadn’t anticipated.

Then again, with a simultaneous marriage, the question of who would share the bed first could indeed become an issue.

I was beginning to be somewhat persuaded by Imperial Princess Sairine’s sophistry.

“Come to think of it, what you say makes sense, Imperial Princess Sairine.”

As I nodded, Imperial Princess Sairine let out a short sigh.

“We both took such courage, how could you run away?”

“I-I didn’t run away, I just left because I was momentarily flustered.”

“That’s the same thing. And you’ve already heard what His Imperial Majesty said, right?”

“…Pardon?”

“We need to have children quickly, and if you’re like this from the start, what are we going to do!”

It feels like I’m being scolded.

I knew Imperial Princess Sairine had a lively personality, but this is beyond lively—it’s downright forward!

I thought being honest would quickly resolve the situation, but last night’s boldness had long since disappeared.

“…I think it’s proper to wait until after the wedding ceremony for intimacy.”

Imperial Princess Sairine rubbed her forehead and shook her head.

“Selden Alphonse is more shy than I thought.”

“And Imperial Princess Sairine is less shy than I thought.”

“Why should we be shy when we’re already a couple?”

“We haven’t had the wedding ceremony yet, so we’re not a couple yet.”

“Then we should prioritize setting a wedding date with His Imperial Majesty.”

She’s assertive.

Surprisingly so.

I swallowed hard and spoke calmly.

“Let’s calm down first. Didn’t His Imperial Majesty tell you that I need to go to war?”

“I heard. While you’re at war, my sister and I can prepare for the wedding, can’t we?”

“W-well, that’s true.”

“Rather than just waiting and having all sorts of unpleasant thoughts, it would be better to prepare for the wedding.”

Her argument was flawless and impossible to refute.

Was Imperial Princess Sairine always this articulate?

I drooped my shoulders and nodded.

“You make a good point.”

“And why aren’t you speaking informally to me?”

“…Pardon?”

“I heard you spoke informally to my sister last night. I’m going to marry you too, so you’re not discriminating against me already, are you?”

“N-no, that’s not it. I was just about to start speaking informally.”

“Do it right now.”

“Ah… okay, I will.”

Imperial Princess Sairine nodded with satisfaction.

Then, immediately after, she clicked her tongue with a disappointed expression.

“It’s a shame, I was planning to start tonight.”