Chapter 122: Absolutely Inevitable Flag
Volume 3: The Duchy’s Princess’ Wedding
「By the way, General Mainz, is your army really called the Legitimate Germania Imperial Army?」
「Well, that was just something I said off the top of my head. I don’t see any harm in calling it that, though.」
This old man…… he’s truly insufferable. I couldn’t help but smile wryly. Perhaps giving them a grandiose name makes it easier to rally the remnants rather than just calling them ordinary stragglers. Ambitious individuals hunger for authority above all else.
General Mainz chuckled, his white beard swaying like a kindly grandfather’s.
「Killing Gemon won’t gain us a single coin. So, why not keep the traitor on our side? He’ll be killed if he returns to Dyson anyway so he has nowhere else to go.」
「That’s true. Given the defiance in his eyes, I tried to incite him to betrayal. He might be promptly executed, but at least he’ll buy us some time.」
Gemon, once a mercenary, has risen to become a key general. Perhaps he’ll surprise us with his resourcefulness.
If Dyson were to appear directly, Gemon would undoubtedly meet a swift end. On the other hand, aside from Dyson, the Fist Slave Imperial Army lacks any other generals with significant influence.
If Dyson were to make a move on the capital, it would be vulnerable to rebellion while he’s away. Those who gain power must also worry about losing it—a weakness enemies might exploit. It’s an opportunity to strike.
As Mainz and I discuss the finer details of our contingency plans, Eleonora approaches us.
「So, should we take custody of His Majesty the Emperor and the Imperial Princess here?」
「Is that why you’ve come, Eleonora?」
She explains that the carriage is nearby and can take them to the city of Lanct.
Deciding what to do with the Germania royals is a delicate matter indeed.
Regardless, since the plan was to get them to safety, going to the city of Lanct should suffice.
「Actually, I came to fetch you.」
「Eh? Me?」
「Yes, I said I don’t mind, but my father insists we have a proper wedding.」
「Wait, Eleonora. What are you talking about?」
I have a really bad feeling about this.
「Yeah, it’s our wedding. You and mine. The preparations in Lanct are in full swing.」
「Ehto…」
What is this?
Did I seriously mess something up?
Wait, let me think. Hmm, I didn’t do anything wrong.
I don’t recall any promises of marriage with Eleonora. I should have deftly avoided that minefield.
「Wait, are you planning not to marry me?」
「No, before we get into that, I have no idea what’s going on.」
「Oh, I see. So you’re one of those people. Fathering a child, yet you won’t marry.」
「Huh, a child?」
For a moment, my mental landscape crumbles. ‘Child’ means exactly what I think it does, right?
When did this happen? Eleonora is patting her belly, but this is just too much.
Even in my harem, there haven’t been any children yet.
Suddenly having a child outside the harem—what kind of shuraba* is this?
TN: Scene of carnage, battlefield, or something similar
「Hey, Oracle! Investigate immediately!」
Perhaps Eleonora has only gone mad, but just in case. At times like this, leave it to the sex experts.
I can’t handle this situation alone anymore. Actually, I don’t even understand what’s going on.
「No need to investigate… This girl is still a virgin.」
Oracle-chan, being an Ancient Succubus, can tell by scent whether anything has happened.
Alright, if Oracle’s assessment is green, we’re in the clear.
「Haa, what are you saying all of a sudden, little demoness! You’re Takeru’s wife too, right? You’re just saying that because you don’t want me as your rival.」
「No, no, Eleonora, hold on. At the very least, we haven’t had any children.」
「But… if we did it, we could have children.」
「We haven’t, and we won’t!」
Everything is wrong here—the assumptions and the conclusions.
I don’t even know where to begin with this.
「Listen, Takeru, I’ve warned you about this troublesome fire girl. Be careful how you handle her….」
「How did it come to this? Anyway, there must be some misunderstanding. Eleonora, calm down and explain everything from the beginning.」
As I listen to Eleonora’s story, I quickly realize where the mistake occurred.
That day we spent a night at Lanct Castle, Eleonora had been tickled in my room and fainted. Later, she woke up alone in my bed.
At that moment, she noticed her underwear had changed, leading her to misunderstand that something had happened between us.
On that day, Eleonora’s screams and strange noises echoed loudly from my room, causing many people in Lanct Castle to assume that something had occurred between us.
If such rumors spread within the castle, it was only a matter of time before they reached the city.
Both Eleonora, the princess knight and the only daughter of the lord, and I, the hero of Silesie, were incredibly famous.
The rumor mill in the city began to buzz: We must get married and there’s no other choice for us but to get married. The preparations for our marriage started in earnest, mobilizing the entire metropolis of Lanct.
Amidst the uncertainty caused by the Germania Empire’s defeat in the war and the various situations with the independent feudal lords, the people of Lanct were already feeling anxious about the future.
If the hero of Silesie and the war maiden of Lanct were to marry, the future of Lanct Duchy would be secure. It was an unexpected stroke of luck.
In the midst of the joyous festival atmosphere, Eleonora’s growing confidence that something happened between her and me, the hero, had escalated. She had even deluded herself into believing that she carried my nonexistent child in her womb.
「What the hell! You mean Takeru didn’t fuck me and I don’t have the hero’s child in my womb?」
「That’s right. It was all a misunderstanding. Nothing happened, and there’s no child.」
Upon hearing this, Eleonora sank to her knees, tears streaming from her azure eyes.
I thought to myself, don’t cry silently.
「I, have to die.」
「Whoa!」
She drew her sword and attempted to decapitate herself.
This Princess Knight was known to follow through on their words—no joking around. I hurriedly intervened to stop her.
「Don’t stop me! I can’t live anymore! After all, the city of Lanct is already bustling with wedding preparations. It’s the first celebration in a long time so everyone’s making it bigger and bigger. We can’t suddenly claim there’s nothing going on…..」
「Wait, calm down Eleonora! There’s nothing to die for」
Well, if you think about it, it wasn’t enough to die for but it was enough to cry for.
The people of Lanct, that metropolis, are preparing for a wedding with the whole city on the line so it’s hard to say that nothing happened.
It would be a great embarrassment.
「Mou, Takeru has no choice but to marry her.」
「Eh?」
Oracle-chan looked at Eleonora, who was about to slit her throat and kill herself, and me, who was struggling to stop her, sighed in disgust, and made a proposal.
「Well, yes. That would be a good solution. Marry me or I’ll kill you!」
「Why would it come to that?!」
Eleonora, still brandishing her sword, now turned her sword toward me.
I had a feeling things would end up like this!
「Understood. My only options for survival are either to kill Takeru or marry him!」
「Alright, then let’s get married!」
「Eh… really?」
「Just put the sword away for now. It’s dangerous!」
Upon hearing this, Eleonora distanced herself from me and sheathed her sword.
Finally, she seemed to calm down.
「But remember, if you lie, I’ll kill you!」
「Take your hand off the hilt of your sword. And seriously, Eleonora, you always take things to the extreme. If you want to marry me, there’s a proper order, you know.」
「What, you want to embrace me? Just do it if you want.」
「That’s not what I meant!」
Honestly, this girl… Is she an idiot?
Well, it’s pointless to point that out to Eleonora now.
「What do you want? I won’t understand unless you tell me.」
「First, why do you want to marry me? Do you like me?」
As embarrassing as it was to ask, with Eleonora, I needed to confirm. She blushed furiously at my question and waved her hand dismissively.
Wait a minute. Did she just deny it outright? It’s so amusing.
「A-are you an idiot! I hate you to the bones!」 Eleonora retorted.
「The only idiot here is you. Why would you marry someone you dislike? You’re not a tsundere, are you? Or what should I call your type? Seriously.」
Tsundere behavior usually involves having feelings but being too embarrassed to express them openly. But Eleonora’s case seems different; if we were to compare, she’d be on the side that rejects any affection.
Eleonora doesn’t bend; she follows a straight path, unwavering.
From start to finish, she remains on that unyielding trajectory.
Her axis was skewed from the beginning, and she won’t accept any corrections.
「Because there’s no other choice! You’re the one who embraced me.」
「No, I didn’t embrace you.」
「And I’ve been treated like damaged goods.」
「Well, on that point, I guess I’m somewhat at fault too.」
But considering we were enemies during the war, perhaps it couldn’t be helped.
Maybe the concept of ‘inevitable’ encompasses situations like this.
「But aren’t you the one who likes me? That’s why you want to get married.」
「Ah, so in your mind, I’m already set on marrying you?」
Eleonora, you’re terrifying.
She’s still as stubborn as ever, and our conversations never seem to align.
「But it is already inevitable. I’m already…」
「Don’t cry. I understand. It’s not about liking or disliking, it’s just inevitable. Yes, yes, marriage seems to be the only option.」
It’s hard to express in words, but Eleonora’s use of ‘inevitable’ resonates with me. It’s as if we’ve become too entangled. Perhaps it’s akin to developing feelings.
Though I don’t know if I have developed romantic feelings for her.
No matter how beautiful or wealthy a woman might be, or how perfectly sculpted her abs are, if she suddenly proposes marriage, I’d definitely decline. Most men would probably do.
There are countless reasons to refuse, and Eleonora is undeniably stunning—a daughter of one of the wealthiest dukes in the world.
That’s precisely why there are plenty of other potential partners out there. So why me? That’s what I’d say, rejecting the proposal outright.
But this story isn’t about any ordinary situation—it’s about Princess Knight Eleonora.
Normal men can’t handle her, they ignite upon contact. Literally and figuratively burn.
It’s not a matter of dealing with a troublesome woman because usually, even a slight interaction leads to misfortune. Those who get too close end up obliterated.
In that sense, Eleonora is a woman perfectly suited for knighthood. She perpetually leaves a trail of violence and death wherever she goes, and it seems there’s no other calling for her.
From a distance, the ‘War Maiden of Lanct’ appears glamorous and enchanting, but up close, one’s life is in danger. It’s no wonder men keep their distance.
I heard from Wake that the Thieves’ Guild considers Princess Knight Eleonora an omen of misfortune. She’s on their blacklist as someone to avoid at all costs.
Understandably, thieves who underestimate her end up dead. It’s not entirely superstition.
Matching Eleonora, a noble princess, requires an exceptionally strong man—one who can withstand her. But such men are scarce, and they have their pick of women. Dealing with a troublesome princess knight like Eleonora is out of the question.
Even the womanizing Thief King Wake and the Golden Lion Emperor Freed avoided her. That says a lot.
「If you understand,then take responsibility.」
「Fine. Let’s get married.」
I’ve come to believe that there’s likely no one else in this world who could marry Princess Knight Eleonora. Somehow, we’ve become deeply entangled. Eleonora must feel the same, which is why she’s pressing the issue.
Beyond likes and dislikes, this situation is simply inevitable.
Looking back, I realize that the flag with Princess Knight Eleonora was raised from our very first encounter.
It’s not that I believe in inescapable fate, but rather that I’ve drawn the short straw.
「Instead of saying ‘fine’, ask me to marry you, you idiot!」
「Okay, then, will you marry me?」
「Well, if it can’t be helped, I’ll marry you just this once.」
「No, there won’t be a next time for marriage…」
Well, in terms of marriage, is there a ‘this time’ or ‘next time’? After all, I already have six wives.
Suddenly, I find myself with one more wife. What am I going to do? I got myself into quite a predicament.
Aligning our lives together is becoming quite complicated.
I’m starting to worry about the future. I’ve decided that this will be the last time I marry anyone.
Yes, when I think about it, Eleonora is right.
Let’s consider this a special case. She’s the exception.
「Alright, since we’re having a wedding at our castle, Takeru, make sure you behave.」
「Eleonora, let me make this clear now, you won’t be entering the harem of Silesie.」
Eleonora shrugged as if to say, ‘What’s the big deal?’.
「It’s fine. I have no desire to be part of such a place.」
「Exactly. You’re not that type, and you have the duty to protect the Lanct Duchy.」
I’m relieved she declined. If Eleonora were included, the entire harem would likely go up in flames. Handling a princess knight is like taming a wild creature—you need to be extremely cautious.
The courage to marry a princess knight belongs to only one man in this harsh real fantasy—me.
It’s an adventure befitting a hero.
「As long as we have a child together, I don’t care. Just marry me and hold me in your arms.」
「You’re quite something, you know that? You’ve surpassed all expectations. I truly admire you…」
She skipped all the formalities and went straight to asking me to embrace her. Of course, I won’t!
The woman brandishing a sword and demanding marriage is undoubtedly Eleonora. She’s the world’s sole princess knight.
From the moment she set her sights on me, my options narrowed down to either marrying Eleonora, killing her, or being killed.
It’s utterly beyond my control.
Princess Knight Eleonora is indeed a terrifying existence.
By the time I realized it, it was already too late.