Chapter 286: For Security Reasons 2
Firmly held by Berenice and Clementine on either side, I found myself being dragged back toward the inner palace. Seriously, what kind of knight escorts don’t listen to their commander-in-chief?
「Wait, I already know what you’re planning.」
「Oh really!」 「Seems King-sama has caught on.」
「Let me guess—you’re going to use your ‘wish’ privilege to make some kind of demand, like marrying me, right?」
「Bzzzt, wrong.」
「Nope, King-sama, that’s not it.」
「Areh… it’s not?」
Well, now I feel a little embarrassed. I assumed it would be like all the other times they’ve hinted about something like that. Was I being overly self-conscious?
Looking at it rationally, these two are not only highly capable but stunning. I’d heard they were popular with our knights.
「Too bad for you, King-sama. With or without a wish, I’m marrying you!」 「As a woman, however. I’d prefer you propose to me yourself.」 Both of their cheeks turned pink. So, in the end, they are planning to propose marriage, huh?
And they’re already talking as if it’s settled. What about my say in all this?
「Aren’t you both quite popular with the other male knights?」
I’d assumed their admirers would handle the marriage part for me.
「Oh, please. There’s no comparison between them and you, King-sama.」 「I’m from a noble family, too. Realistically, the only match would be King-sama.」
Right… Clementine’s family is nobility, so there’s a lot more to consider here.
If I marry these two, I’ll have to figure out how to handle their roles and responsibilities. But the fact I’m already thinking about this probably means I’ve made my decision.
After everything we’ve been through together, I guess I just can’t picture them not being by my side.
「Fine. I’ll take you both in, so can you let go of me now?」
Containing this situation is priority number one. Since Berenice and Clementine have already gotten this far, I’ll take responsibility for them. But no more additions after this!
「Clementine, King-sama finally confessed to me! What do you say?」 「It’s the honor of a lifetime!」
Instead of letting go, they hugged me even tighter. Now I really can’t move.
「Hey! I told you to let go!」
「Come on, King-sama, let’s just head to bed.」 「No Berenice, we have a mission. But just a kiss…」
Berenice pressed a kiss to my lips, and even the normally composed Clementine stole a peck on my cheek.
Held tight on both sides, I tried to move away, but no matter which way I shifted, I kept bumping into… things.
「Enough, you two! Where exactly are you taking me?」
「The bath.」 「The royal bath.」
「The bath? Why are we talking about security in the baths? This whole thing is suspicious!」
「It’s all for security. After all, it’s the royal baths!」「Come on, when we get there, the commanders will fill you in.」
「Listen to me for once!」
This is getting ridiculous. I’m betting there’s a line of female guards in there, and they’ll make me pick two to ‘reinforce security’ or something.
I know exactly how this goes! Let me go!
「Eep!」 「Ahh!」
Despite the risk of bumping into forbidden areas, I put all my strength into breaking free from their embrace.
「Good job, Berenice and Clementine.」
Just as I managed to almost slip free from their hold, another figure blocked my path: Louise.
「Louise? You too?」
「Yes, Takeru. Come along to the baths. Jill and Marina have some things to discuss with you. And it’s a serious matter.」
If it were just Berenice and Clementine, I’d be convinced they were playing another prank. But Louise? She wouldn’t join in on something like that if it wasn’t genuine. Begrudgingly, I followed them to the royal bath.
「Welcome, King General.」 「…We’ve been awaiting you.」
「What’s with that outfit?」
Jill and Marina stood by the bath, both clad in matching red bikini armor. It looked like something straight out of an old American fantasy RPG: a stereotypical warrior-woman outfit.
Jill’s tan, muscular build contrasted with Marina’s pale, petite frame, and the barely-there armor only emphasized this. It looked absurdly impractical. I couldn’t imagine what purpose this armor was supposed to serve.
「Well, it couldn’t be helped. This is a special armor that’s been passed down for ages in the Kingdom of Silesie…to wear in only the most critical situations!」 「…Exactly.」
Jill said, blushing slightly and looking away.
Marina nodded, her face pink as she hid behind her hands.
Right. I’m willing to bet Founding King Renz created that outfit for some sort of…humiliating purpose. I don’t even need to ask.
「Fine, I won’t comment on your outfits. But where’s the naked knight order hidden?」
「What on earth are you talking about, King General?」 「…There’s no such thing here.」
What the hell…..
No naked knight order?
I’d been so sure.
Maybe I really was overthinking things. Despite the ridiculous outfits, both Jill and Marina were dead serious. Could this actually be an honest discussion?
Just in case, I checked around the baths, but there wasn’t a hidden group of naked knights waiting.
「Hmm. But why the bath for a security discussion?」
「The bath is a place of utmost vulnerability. It’s only natural for the Royal Guard to have concerns about securing it.」
「Fair enough.」
It made sense when she put it like that.
「So, here’s our first proposal: let’s bathe together.」
「Why would we—」
Before I could protest, Jill and Marina began taking off the bikini armor. If they were going to take it off anyway, why wear it in the first place…?
I turned to look for Louise and saw her on her way out.
「Areh? Louise, aren’t you joining us?」
「Nope. Today’s for Jill and Marina. Let’s give them some space, you two!」
She replied briskly, ushering a reluctant Berenice and Clementine out with her.
「Come on, what are you waiting for? The hot water’s ready.」
Jill said, her long black hair finally falling free from its usual tight bind as she stepped into the bath.
Following their lead, I stepped in as well. It had been ages since I last bathed with these two.
For a while, we sat in silence. Just a regular soak. Relaxing, sure, but…
「…So, about that discussion?」
「Apologies for the deception. The ‘security reasons’ were a bit of a ruse.」
「I knew it.」
「Though it’s only partly untrue. Since the scout division was permitted four new members in the harem, Louise-sama spoke with the council, and they agreed that four members from the Royal Guard could join as well.」
Another harem council meeting, huh?
It seemed like this organization would never stop expanding.
I’d never once been to one of these meetings myself, and I didn’t even know where they took place. One day, I needed to solve the mystery of their secret gatherings.
「So, naturally, the first two slots from the Royal Guard went to Berenice and Clementine as your personal guards, but we managed to secure the last two for Marina and myself.」
「That’s… pretty bold of you.」
「My subordinates were furious about it… but we had no choice!」
「You’re both attractive and formidable—there must be plenty of interest in you two.」
Marina, a beautiful and graceful woman, had always carried herself with an elegance that surely turned heads. As for Jill, I couldn’t count the number of times I’d thought she was someone I’d be lucky to have. With their looks and strength, surely they’d have partners.
「Popular? You’re way off. We’re practically invisible to men! No one gives us the time of day!」
Marina nodded vigorously, her chestnut hair bouncing with the movement. They apparently had occasional gatherings with male knights—something like mixers—but the men were intimidated by their high status and never dared approach them.
「What about nobles or bureaucrats, then?」
「Absolutely not! I have some pride, you know. I’m a knight at heart, and I thought I could live for the sword alone. Marriage? I’d given up on it ages ago!」
Marina nodded along again, her head moving so energetically I wondered if it didn’t hurt.
「So then… what changed?」
「I was fine with dedicating myself to the sword. But seeing how happy Louise-sama is… well, it got me thinking.」
「Ah, I see.」
So Louise was the inspiration. Jill, Marina, and Louise had fought together since the old days, back when they were all just squires. I guess it was only natural that a friend’s happiness might spark such thoughts.
「We’ve waited so long, and by now, it’s painfully obvious we’re well past our prime. I’m not asking you to marry us, but could you grant us just one night? It’s embarrassing to admit, but when even our subordinates find partners and start families, we’re left here… without any such experiences.」
Marina nodded even more vigorously, her head practically about to come loose.
「If it’s just for one night, I’m not interested.」
「Gah! I knew it was a long shot… This approach is hopeless—」
「But if we’re going to do this, then let’s do it right. I’ll marry you both.」
「Are… are you serious? Not a single word of that was a lie, was it?!」
「No, I’m completely serious. I mean… are you both certain about me?」
「We wouldn’t be here if we weren’t! Anyone else might fail us, but we’ve known you for so long that we feel secure.」
「Honestly, I’ve always admired you both.」
「I can’t tell you how much that means to hear. And though I… hesitate to admit it, even to myself, there were nights when I imagined… imagined being in your arms. Yes, I am a woman too, you know!」
「…Same for me.」
Marina said clearly, her soft voice making the words even more impactful.
「All right, then. As a man, I’ll take responsibility for both of you. And if we’re doing this, then it’s time to drop this ‘King General’ and ‘King-sama’ business.」
「Shall I call you Takeru-sama then? No… just Takeru?」
「Yes, that’s fine, Jill.」
「This is… so embarrassing! What is this feeling?! Ahhh!」
Jill’s face turned a vivid shade of red.
Yeah, I couldn’t blame her—this was pretty embarrassing.
Though Marina was also here, I’d known Jill for over three years. Lost in thought, I suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap around me from behind.
Bare skin pressed against me—it was Marina!
「Whoa!」
「Marina, don’t you think that’s a little improper?」
「She’s right; let’s save things like that for the bed, okay?」
「…Understood.」
But Marina didn’t budge, clinging even tighter. What did she just say?
「Alright, fine! If she’s doing it, then so will I!」
「Hold on, Jill, let’s calm down a bit!」
「I already resolved to be with you. I finally realized my lack of courage was what held me back. And now, hearing from your own lips that you’d make me your wife, I must muster up my bravery too…」
Just as I sensed things were about to spiral, the bath door swung open with a bang.
「It’s official then—congratulations on your engagement!」
Berenice, Clementine, and Louise all stepped in. Apparently, they’d been eavesdropping from the changing room.
「Uh… Berenice, maybe we shouldn’t be here right now. We’re kind of… intruding on the commander and the captain.」
Clementine whispered, glancing nervously at the glaring Jill and Marina.
Honestly, this interruption saved me.
「Oh, it’s no problem at all! After all, we became King-sama’s wives first!」
Unfazed, Berenice plunged into the tub and threw her arms around me.
「Berenice, show some restraint. That’s no way to behave around King-sama!」
She was right. For starters, a quick rinse would be nice before jumping into the bath, Berenice. Jill’s stern tone didn’t faze her, though.
「Rank doesn’t matter anymore—this is a competition of womanly charm! Commander, Captain, if you’re so jealous, you’ll have to rely on that charm too, though I doubt the more mature ladies can keep up!」
「What did you say?! Marina, as proud knights of the guard, let’s show this little girls how it’s done!」
And so, I found myself soaking in the bath surrounded by five fierce knight wives. At this rate, I’d need another dose of Oracle’s energy tonic to keep up.
Yeah, no, I wasn’t saved at all.