Slime Reincarnation

"IMPOSSIBLE!!"

At Cassina, Cassina Arel Barbaroi’s, straightforward proposal, Yabe froze in place, and two voices cried out at the exact same moment.

One was the Duke of Lycaorost, who had remained expressionless and unreactive this entire time. The other was Irina, standing behind Yabe.

"(Irina chan! You can’t speak up in front of the king!)" "(Speaking without permission could get you charged with disrespect to the crown!)"

Luciana and Fileontina whispered warnings to Irina.

"(Grrrgh...)"

Irina growled under her breath. Come on, I’ve never actually met someone who says "grrrgh" out loud before. I always figured that was up there with dramatic gasps of shock as a line you see in novels but nobody actually says in real life. ...Though knowing Irina, she might eventually say that too.

"Princess Cassina! What is the meaning of marrying such a lowborn commoner! Especially when my own son has already proposed marriage to you!"

The Duke of Lycaorost shouted, eyebrows raised in fury.

"I believe I already gave my answer declining marriage to the Duke of Lycaorost’s son."

Princess Cassina answered, bowing gracefully.

"Then why, might I ask, would you decline my son’s proposal only to indulge in such reckless folly as marrying a lowborn commoner?"

The Duke of Lycaorost stamped his foot, unable to hide his irritation.

"Since I see no value whatsoever in marrying the duke’s son, that should be self evident, shouldn’t it? Whatever else I may be, I am still the second princess of the Kingdom of Barbaroi. If it serves the kingdom’s interest, I would gladly devote myself even to a commoner."

Princess Cassina spoke on, eloquent and composed. Glancing over, I could swear the queen was watching with a warm, faintly amused expression, something like "this girl really can talk."

Back when I’d met her in the tower, she’d been saying things like "take me with you!" Meaning, she clearly hadn’t been thinking about the kingdom’s interests at all back then. And now, here, in front of every baron and above in the realm, she was declaring with full confidence that she’d marry me for the sake of the kingdom.

"..."

Just how badly does this princess want to marry into my life? I honestly didn’t mind at all, but something about it made me feel guilty toward Irina and the others too, whether that’s just how men are wired or a sign of how deep my feelings run, I couldn’t say, being about as inexperienced in romance as they come.

"(When did Yabe seduce the princess!? He’s already moved on to a new woman!)" "(No, I don’t think it was seduction exactly... knowing Yabe, it’s probably tied to some rescue he did?)" "(Fuoo! Mashter’sh amazing! Even the princess ish completely shmitten with Mashter!)"

Luciana was trying to calm Irina down as she seethed with anger. Rina, meanwhile, was practically vibrating with excitement.

"(This must be... what my fortune telling meant about needing to make my move on Lord Yabe right now! Never did I imagine it was because the princess would step forward to claim the position of first wife! If I’d waited until after this audience to approach Lord Yabe, her sheer presence might have made it impossible to even get close!)"

Fileontina, looking utterly satisfied at having puzzled it all out, pumped her fist with a triumphant grin. Sarina, meanwhile, had gone completely frozen.

"What do you mean, no value whatsoever! Princess Cassina! There are limits to insolence!"

The Duke of Lycaorost flared up in outrage.

"It’s simply the truth."

Princess Cassina shot him an icy glare.

"A woman with her body burned and scarred beyond looking at twice, so utterly deficient as a woman, and my son is offering to take her as his bride regardless! You ought to be grateful for such generosity!"

Even the king’s expression darkened at the Duke of Lycaorost’s shockingly rude remark, but Yabe’s temper flared before the king could respond.

"Quite the way with words. Scarred beyond looking at twice, deficient as a woman? That’s proof you’ve never actually looked at her at all. If you had taken the time to know her, no such vile words would ever have left your mouth."

I said this directly to the Duke of Lycaorost, though as one of the highest ranking nobles in the realm, my words didn’t seem to faze him in the slightest.

"Silence, you lowborn wretch! Someone of your base standing has no right to interrupt one of my noble blood! Besides, the princess herself has clearly lost her senses in proposing to you! The proper course would be to grovel and refuse! Are you too much of a fool to understand even that?"

The Duke of Lycaorost’s face turned red enough to burst a vein, consumed by fury.

"Lost her senses, calling your own kingdom’s princess... if anyone’s lost their senses here, it’s you. Cassina is a wonderful woman, capable of understanding and caring for the people around her. To be asked by a woman like that to take her as my wife is an honor beyond measure."

I said this, deliberately curling my lips into a smirk as I looked at the Duke of Lycaorost.

"Grrrgh..."

Come on, seriously! Another one! Someone who actually says "grrrgh" out loud, right here too!

"Wait just a moment."

The voice belonged to the queen, standing beside King Warenheid.

"Duke of Lycaorost. I must question whether those words befit the highest ranking noble of the Kingdom of Barbaroi. If you are a duke, perhaps you ought to set your own conduct in order first. At the very least, given the way you’ve just spoken, there is no possibility of ever giving my precious Cassina in marriage to the Lycaorost ducal house."

The queen glared at the Duke of Lycaorost with a piercing gaze.

"’Hero who saved the kingdom,’ Sir Yabe. Chancellor Reberg has already raised the matter of granting you the title of baron. First, you will accept this title. Only then shall we proceed with your engagement to Cassina. However, in taking Cassina as your bride, you will be expected to work toward eventual promotion to the rank of earl."

My eyes went wide. Not only was I apparently already committed to marrying Cassina, but I’d just been told to work my way up to earl on top of it. And in this setting, there was no way I could refuse. Doing so would be as good as rejecting Cassina’s proposal outright and humiliating her in front of everyone.

Oh no, this is bad, this is really bad! First time in a while I’ve felt this cornered! Had this been the plan all along? All I could do was pray Irina and the others weren’t seething with rage behind me.

"Hah! Do as you please! A broken, monstrous woman like her suits a lowborn man just fine!"

I couldn’t believe he’d say something that vile in front of her own father the king and mother the queen. The Duke of Lycaorost, honestly.

"Sir Yabe, then you will accept the title, is that correct?"

King Warenheid rose and addressed me directly, confirming my intent regarding the title.

"I humbly accept. Though I am unworthy, I intend to do everything in my power to contribute to the kingdom’s peace, however little that may be."

I dropped to one knee once more, hand over my chest, and answered.

"The matter of the title has been accepted."

Chancellor Reberg declared.

"In the name of King Warenheid Arel Barbaroi, I hereby recognize the engagement of Baron Yabe and Second Princess Cassina!"

By King Warenheid’s own direct declaration, I was granted the title of baron of the Kingdom of Barbaroi, and became engaged to marry the second princess, Cassina. Engaged, for now, anyway.

"Lord Yabe, from the day we first met, there has not been a single day I have not thought of you."

Cassina spoke this, and behind her, I noticed Rösen, the princess’s personal maid, had appeared at some point.

"Now, I intend to offer you everything I am. Will you accept me?"

Cassina looked at me, smiling warmly.

"Yes."

Swept up by Cassina’s sheer force of will, I found myself answering yes.

Cassina removed her silver mask right there and handed it back to Rösen, waiting behind her.

"WHAAAAAT!!!!!"

The audience hall erupted into screams. With the half mask that had covered the left side of her face removed, there stood Cassina, smiling, her face utterly unmarked, without a single scar. She removed her gloves as well, handing them to Rösen. Her left hand, too, showed not even a blemish, let alone a scar.

"Lord Yabe... I have waited for this day with all my heart..."

Tears streaming down her face, she buried her face in my chest, crying.

I wrapped my arms around Cassina’s back and held her close.

From right behind me, I thought I heard something like a scream, a sharp "Kiiii!" But I decided to convince myself I’d simply imagined it.