When the demon king is defeated, the kingdom tries to get rid of the hero who defeated him, or kill the hero who won the war. This is a common occurrence throughout history.
I never knew this would happen in this medieval fantasy world, let alone that I would be the target.
“This is fucked up.”
I lived as a soldier for 12 years and led the war to its end.
Yet, the reward I am given is marriage to a 37-year-old spinster princess?
This must be what they mean when people are too shocked to speak.
-You crazy bastard, Grates XVIII! I stopped you from being a lapdog to the Empire, and you tell me to get married in front of everyone?
The words surged up to my throat, but I couldn’t finish speaking.
“Ha, haha…”
The end-of-war celebration banquet.
For 12 years, so much blood was shed and so many died.
To get straight to the point, if I move rashly now, war could break out again.
There are too many things to mention in terms of the process or various logical connections, but the Empire is capable of such easily.
The moment I tell King Grates XVIII, “You insane bastard?”, the peace negotiations will become kindling, and the war will resume.
Then, marriage won’t be the issue; war will start again.
So, I’ll endure it for now.
I have to endure.
“Your Majesty. Marriage?”
I endure, but first, I ask the king as politely as possible.
“I am taken aback by how sudden this is.”
“It would be sudden. We didn’t discuss it beforehand.”
“Yes.”
Which means.
If there had been any prior discussion about the wedding, I could have avoided it by discussing it with my subordinates or using illness as an excuse to not attend the banquet.
“A king’s word is as valuable as gold; it cannot be taken back.”
But this act of yours, no matter how I think about it, was orchestrated at the banquet in front of everyone with the assumption that ‘I would never refuse a royal decree,’ wasn’t it?
“Furthermore, since I have issued a royal decree, you must carry out that order according to chivalry.”
Why?
Is this a sophisticated scheme to politically pressure me?
“If you were to tell me to have a sparring match with one of the Sword Masters to commemorate the end of the war, I would do it immediately, but…”
Is this like using the fact that it’s not easy to curse or slap someone during a live YouTube broadcast in modern times to corner me?
“Why marriage?”
If there was such malice, I could at least understand it logically.
“It is because you are a hero.”
The problem is this Grates XVIII.
He is not a king who has the brains to engage in such political maneuvering.
“I pondered and pondered what the most special benefit I could give to you, the hero who saved the kingdom. In the end, there is no reward as certain as this.”
“That is…”
“Marriage with my daughter.”
This is the medieval fantasy world, the Kingdom of Grates.
Even someone with their head in the clouds can wear a crown simply by being of royal blood in this world.
“For you, a commoner, to marry a princess of royal blood. What greater honor is there than this! Hahaha!”
That’s right.
This king genuinely believes that ‘marriage with his daughter,’ which he is bestowing upon me, is the most certain reward for the hero who saved the world!
Sincerely.
“By any chance, you…”
Sincerely, because he is a father who cares for his daughter.
“You don’t dislike marrying my daughter, do you?”
“…….”
“It wasn’t intentional, but look at the dress my daughter is wearing. Does it not remind you of a certain design?”
“Indeed.”
He genuinely cares for me with no malice, but that purity leads to actions that push me into the worst abyss.
“It’s a bond of 12 years, isn’t it? Haha.”
“…….”
“Oops. Look at me. We can’t stand here talking forever.”
Grates XVIII rose from his throne and raised his wine glass.
“Let us enjoy the banquet with music! For the Kingdom Alliance that survived the 12-year war with the Empire, and for its peace envoy, Count Hans Wilhelm!!”
Clap, clap, clap.
Does the king know.
That the nobles’ response to “For him!” was far less enthusiastic than it should have been.
“…For him.”
* * *
After the king announced the marriage and left the stage.
“Sir Wilhelm. Congratulations?”
“Haha. Count Winchester. I don’t know if I should be congratulated.”
I met the numerous nobles who approached me and clinked my champagne glass.
The first person to propose a toast among them was this silver-haired, blue-eyed, noble-like man, Count Jason Winchester.
As the Chancellor of this country, he did his best in logistics and diplomacy to allow me to focus on the war with the Empire on the front lines.
He is a trustworthy person not only in this country but throughout the continent, and although our battlefields were different, we were comrades who did our best in our respective positions.
“Count Winchester, what do you think? About His Majesty giving me the position of royal son-in-law?”
“The King seems to believe the fairytale that a hero who defeated the demon king married a princess and lived happily ever after.”
“Count…!”
As expected, being so capable, he seemed to have immediately grasped how nonsensical the king’s actions were.
“However, if such a fairytale story brings peace to all the people on the continent in the war with the Empire, I will gladly go along with it.”
“…Chancellor.”
“Whether it’s to become a baby to bring peace to this country, I’m someone who would even suck on a pacifier. You know that, right?”
So, you know it all, and you’re still going to say that?
“The result of my contributions to the country…”
“I don’t like fairytales, but I’ll tell you this as a politician.”
Count Winchester whispered so quietly that only I could hear.
“If Sir Wilhelm marries, the kingdom will enjoy peace for 100 years.”
“No.”
“But if you don’t marry… the continent will fall into tremendous chaos. As a government official of the kingdom, this marriage is the most certain means to stabilize the kingdom politically…”
Count Winchester gave me a short wink.
“For my friend, Hans, I will respect Hans’s choice.”
“…If you’re a friend, shouldn’t you help somehow when the King is trying to force you to marry a 37-year-old spinster?”
“My friend James knows Hans’s tastes and sincerely pities him, but ultimately, I am someone who must live as Count Winchester and the Chancellor of the Grates Kingdom. Sir Wilhelm.”
Count Winchester patted me on the shoulder and whispered very quietly so only I could hear.
“…I’ll gather virgins to your taste at my estate, so I can arrange a place for you to catch your breath once a month.”
“That’s the only breathing room you can offer, isn’t it? In exchange for me getting married.”
“You don’t know how happy a married man feels to have one day of freedom a month.”
“Can I return that comment to Lady Winchester… No, if you’re going to live like that, why are you getting married in the first place?”
I can’t understand.
Even if Count Winchester is married and has a happy marriage, that must be a special case for Count Winchester.
“Is there any reason to get married, sacrificing your freedom and constantly worrying about someone’s opinion?”
“We can talk about it anytime if we’re having a private drink, but unfortunately, there are countless people looking for you right now.”
Count Winchester glanced at the numerous nobles behind him and finished his drink.
“As a comrade and friend, I’ll listen to your complaints.”
“But you’re not going to solve them.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be sorry.”
I also drank my glass in one gulp.
“I don’t know what will happen later, but don’t apologize unnecessarily.”
* * *
Countless nobles came and, one after another, offered greetings with things like “Congratulations,” “It’s an honor,” and “For the hero.”
During their congratulations, I slipped onto the terrace for a moment, took in the outside air, and caught my breath.
While some were genuinely congratulating me, as is typical of aristocratic social circles, their congratulations were accompanied by various hidden agendas.
A general sense of relief, asking me to become a symbol of continental peace through marriage.
A military sense of relief, asking me to become a member of the Grates Royal Family and forever be the kingdom’s shield.
A relief for the male members of the unmarried nobility, as any possibility of noble young ladies harboring affections for the 27-year-old war hero would end.
A relief for the various fathers who worried that I might irresponsibly flirt with and toy with the hearts and minds of their noble daughters.
And for the entire kingdom, a relief from the debt felt towards Princess Knight Sylvia, who chose war with the Empire over marriage at the age of 25 and devoted her life to the country until she turned 37.
That’s right.
They say that by marrying Princess Knight Sylvia, 99.99% of the kingdom can find relief.
If there are those who cannot find relief, perhaps it is the many beauties who will no longer be able to carelessly share a bed with me, a mere consort, and thus be unable to enjoy my master-level techniques, because I will become a royal son-in-law through marriage.
“Hah…”
Princess Knight Sylvia.
Objectively, she is indeed a beauty.
Everyone calls her an ‘ummaried woman’, but as far as I know, she is literally an ‘old virgin’ in the true sense of the word, a woman who couldn’t get married.
It’s true that she is a hero who willingly sacrificed her life for the war with the Empire.
The position of the king’s consort is also attractive.
However.
“She’s not 10 years older than me.”
If she were 17, I might have bowed at the spot.
If she were 27, I might have thought about it for a while, but I would have calculated and weighed things to think in the most advantageous direction.
But.
“Being forced to marry, and a woman 10 years my senior.”
…….
“Should I run away?”
“Run away from what?”
The terrace door opened.
“Sir Wilhelm.”
The person in question, dressed in a dress, entered the terrace where I was.
“Princess Sylvia.”
“Can we talk for a moment?”
