Ch.83I Am the First Wife! (1)

# The Last Meal at the Villa Before Returning to the Royal Capital

At the final meal in the villa before returning to the Royal Capital, delicious food was spread across the table, but Lael was barely moving her spoon.

Why is she like this…?

Is she feeling sick…?

She never eats much normally, but today seems particularly severe.

And she looks unusually dejected too.

“Lael, is something wrong?”

When I carefully asked, Lael finally put down her spoon and let out a deep sigh.

Is something bothering her?

I don’t know the details, but it’s only been two days since her first experience.

It wouldn’t be strange if she was having some physical issues.

But in that state, she’ll have a hard time in the carriage later…

While these worries continued, Lael opened her mouth.

“Actually, I have something on my mind…”

“What is it?”

When I asked, Lael nodded and continued.

“When I entered the Academy, I made a promise with my father…”

“What promise?”

“To find a marriage partner.”

At the mention of marriage, everyone stopped what they were doing.

Even the clinking sound of utensils against plates disappeared, leaving only silence.

Marriage, huh…

That’s no small matter.

Though she rolled in the mud and adventured with us, she’s still a duke’s daughter.

It would be difficult for her to marry solely for love.

Even little children who’ve just learned to read know that nobles use their children for political purposes.

If Lael doesn’t find a marriage partner before graduating from the Academy, she might end up marrying some bald old man for political connections.

But if that happens…

She would inevitably be separated from me.

Despite her loving me and me loving her.

I absolutely hate that idea.

“S-so, I’ve been thinking about a solution…?”

At those words, everyone’s attention focused on Lael.

“What if Crow and I get married first… and then accept others… Of course, I’d be the first wife. I don’t intend to brag about it. I think everyone should be equal. And Crow will love everyone equally too.”

While everyone pondered her sincere words, I expressed my doubt.

“But would the Duke of Gideon welcome me as his son-in-law? A mere Academy professor with unclear origins?”

At my words, everyone who had been thinking seemed to agree.

Comments like “If it’s a ducal family…” or “At least an earl would be…” were heard.

It’s not that I dislike Lael’s idea. I’m just considering the possibility of failure.

Thinking about how she must have agonized over this conclusion by herself made my heart ache.

It would have been better if we had worried about it together.

We’re in love, so we’re practically one heart and mind.

“B-but! Being an Academy professor should be enough, right?! Not just nobles, even royalty strive to enter the Academy! And my father values ability over status!”

Hearing that he doesn’t care about social status is welcome news. Honestly, even as an Academy professor, I’m still a commoner by status.

But the problem is that the Duke of Gideon was an S-Rank adventurer.

Such a person values ability?

Wouldn’t I have better odds if he cared about status instead?

Such ominous thoughts flooded my mind, but “giving up” wasn’t among them.

If you give up without even trying, it’s not a low probability—it’s impossible.

Besides, the person I love is desperately speaking like this.

Giving up is out of the question.

“Alright, let’s try. Does anyone have any better ideas?”

* * * * *

Three days have already passed since returning from Lael’s villa.

In the workshop, which was no different from usual, I tapped my fingers on the table.

I have plenty of time during the break. But with my mind not working, it’s just wasted time.

Feeling frustrated, I let out a sigh, and Riano, sitting across from me, gently held my hand.

“You must be feeling stifled. Go get some fresh air.”

“Sorry for worrying you…”

I felt truly sorry and grateful at the same time.

Even though I was racking my brains over another woman, she accepted everything without complaint.

At my words, she shook her head and said:

“It’s okay. You wouldn’t be happy if even one of us was missing. I just want you to be happy.”

I got up, gave her a light kiss, and slipped out through the back door of the workshop.

As she said, getting some fresh air might clear my head.

Then I could think again with a clear mind.

As I was absentmindedly looking up at the blue sky, a sudden voice came from beside me.

“Professor Crow?”

Turning my head toward the familiar voice I’d heard several times before, I saw the receptionist from the Adventurer’s Guild looking at me.

What’s this about…?

I haven’t been to the Adventurer’s Guild recently, so I couldn’t think of any reason for her to come looking for me.

No, more than that, it’s extremely rare for a receptionist to come in person…

The receptionist, who had already approached me, said:

“Could you come with me to the guild? It’s about a rank adjustment for you and the Black Crow party.”

Rank adjustment…?

Is it because of the Great Red Bears we caught last time?

It makes sense, considering we took down two S-Rank monsters with just a three-person party and one professor, not even a large-scale party.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll get ready and come out right away.”

“Yes, I’ll wait for you.”

Leaving her behind, I went into the workshop, grabbed my coat, and came back out.

I had nothing else to do besides racking my brain anyway, and I’ve been too indifferent about myself and the girls until now.

I should at least know how the situation is developing.

The Adventurer’s Guild I arrived at with the receptionist was no different from usual.

From adventurers drinking in broad daylight to fresh rookie adventurers looking for quests, it was quite bustling.

I used to be like that too.

“I’ll take you to where the Guild Master is.”

Saying that, the receptionist strode up to the second floor and knocked on a large wooden door.

“I’ve brought Professor Crow.”

“Come in.”

As the receptionist opened the door at the voice from inside, I made eye contact with the guests already there.

Lael, Elin, and Derin. The Black Crow party had also visited the Adventurer’s Guild for a rank adjustment.

I gave them a slight nod before finding a suitable place to sit.

“Now that Professor Crow is here, everyone is present…”

The speaker was the Guild Master.

He was a middle-aged man with an imposing physique, exuding an extraordinary aura even without holding a weapon.

Standing before us, he looked at a paper filled with dense writing and began to speak.

“Subjugation of two Great Red Bears, subjugation of one Waisling… You’ve taken down a total of three S-Rank monsters.”

Waisling…?

That’s a name I’m hearing for the first time.

But I could roughly guess from the context.

It must be that wall-building lizard we encountered that day.

“To get straight to the point, the A-Rank party Black Crow is promoted to S-Rank. Professor Crow, you are promoted to S-Rank as an individual adventurer.”

Huh…?

I couldn’t believe my ears.

Honestly, I expected to receive an A-Rank adventurer status at most.

Even though I was with the party, I did help take down S-Rank monsters.

Of course, it was natural for the Black Crow party to be promoted to S-Rank.

But me, individually as an S-Rank…?

While these questions continued, the Guild Master added an explanation.

“Being promoted from B-Rank to S-Rank is truly unprecedented, but we’ve determined that you have the skills to match. Other Guild Masters shared the same opinion.”

“Y-yes…”

Honestly, I’m so surprised that I don’t know how to react.

But one thing is certain—Lael is beaming with a bright smile right now.

She must be happy.

With the titles of S-Rank adventurer and Academy professor combined, even the Duke of Gideon, her father, would have to acknowledge me.

Thinking about that, I couldn’t help but smile with joy.

…But does that mean I’m getting married?

I heard a few more explanations from the Guild Master afterward, but honestly, they didn’t register.

I was just feeling too good.

It felt like I could fly into the sky, like a blockage had been cleared from my chest, like a tightly bound thread had suddenly unraveled.

As we left the Adventurer’s Guild, Lael rushed into my arms.

“Crow… *sob*… I’m so relieved…”

With her face buried in my chest, Lael’s shoulders trembled as she began to cry, and I gently patted her back.

How much must she have suffered?

She was the only one who might have been separated from me.

Of course, there’s still plenty of time until graduation from the Academy, but considering the pain Lael would have endured until then, this was truly a fortunate turn of events.

She probably would have withered away day by day.

So, now that things have turned out this way, should we just go ahead with it…?