“Your Majesty, isn’t it about time to start thinking about a marriage partner?”
“Get lost. I’ll prepare for it myself.”
“I’ve narrowed down some candidates here. You don’t have to seriously consider them, just take a look—”
“If you don’t want to get hit, get out immediately.”
“………”
Everyone was talking about marriage, one way or another.
It had only been a year since the coming-of-age ceremony, and now a war on behalf of humanity’s fate was underway—what on earth did they want with marriage?
Aria frowned as she stepped on the discarded list of potential husbands lying on the floor.
“I already have my eye on someone. There’s no need to rush.”
The marriage partner had already been decided.
Aria believed that without a doubt.
However, the pace of the approach from that side was slower than slow.
It wasn’t just cautious—but it made her wonder if he was actually an eunuch.
All those doubts were just cleared up.
“Schlus Hainkel. I never imagined you would be a subhuman enthusiast. They call it ‘fur,’ or ‘furry’ or something like that in the world. Anyway, I wish you had informed me a bit sooner…”
“What?”
She should have noticed earlier.
She should have realized that there were rumors about Schlus Hainkel being an eunuch.
Now, all the questions were finally resolved.
It was clear that Schlus Hainkel could not get excited with humans.
He was undeniably an abnormal sexual deviant, with only fantasies about subhumans.
Aria reached that conclusion.
“Well, of course, I think people’s preferences are diverse. While I may not understand it, I can respect it.”
“It seems you are badly mistaken. I’m not a subhuman enthusiast or anything.”
“Are you really saying that, while not forming relationships with humans and only forming them with subhumans? You have no persuasive power at all.”
“You just don’t know, but of course… that… we do form connections with humans.”
“Huh?”
Aria’s mouth slowly dropped open.
That couldn’t be true.
She had been keeping a close eye on Schlus Hainkel’s activities; there hadn’t been a single line in the reports about him having a sex life.
It was unbelievable.
Schlus was clearly lying.
She had no clue what benefit he could possibly gain from such lies, but it was definitely a lie.
If she just looked into his eyes, she would see the truth.
Staring intently into Schlus’s eyes, Aria—
“Aria?”
“………”
Realizing she was now leaning over the desk, face-to-face with Schlus, he had the look of someone completely bewildered.
It was as if he was saying he had simply spoken something normal, while she was overreacting.
“Ah, no. When?”
“When what?”
“When exactly? I’ve never seen you do anything!”
“That’s because I don’t have a preference for performing such acts in front of others. I’m not some exhibitionist.”
“But no matter how you put it…”
Staring at Schlus, who was looking at her strangely, Aria felt a cognitive dissonance.
This lofty and dignified Schlus Hainkel was actually stripping down and doing—those things—behind closed doors?
It was unimaginable.
Just trying to picture it made her face feel like it was about to burst from embarrassment.
How could he be so shameless?
Or how did he even come to perform such acts in the first place?
Was it because the women asked for it?
Using such vulgar language?
“You’re lying! You’re an eunuch! That’s for sure!”
Aria gave up on understanding.
Up until now, it had been a relationship between a monarch and a courtier, so nothing should have been a problem.
But surely that relationship had ended long ago.
If Schlus Hainkel were not an eunuch, he would have been captivated by this beautiful form that had received all sorts of praise since childhood.
However, Schlus had never made any advances on her whatsoever.
Therefore, Schlus had to be an eunuch.
Only now did the situation become crystal clear.
“Think whatever you like. Honestly, it would be better for you to consider me a subhuman enthusiast. If you have no other business, may I leave?”
“Just wait a moment…”
Schlus, who was about to leave without a hint of regret, suddenly felt a sensation that paused him.
Aria had collapsed over the desk, reaching out to grab his sleeve.
Due to the angle, her cleavage was visible between the bodice of her dress, causing Schlus to cough awkwardly and avert his gaze.
“Must you really say such things so bluntly?”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“You’re distasteful… Fine. I’ll put it into words. Why are you specifically disinterested in me? If, like you said, you’re having relationships with various women, then why haven’t you even glanced at me? Have I done something wrong? Or are you conspiring against me?”
“………”
Half of it was correct.
It was a fact that Schlus had been preparing a scenario to incite the nobles to overthrow the emperor at any moment.
Of course, that was a last resort for when Aria lost her mind.
To save that final resort, he had intentionally refrained from creating the strongest bond of marriage with Aria.
“Feel free to think as you wish.”
“Distasteful… Don’t even think about going to paradise when you die.”
“I’m not looking forward to going to paradise.”
His words were clear and firm.
Aria gritted her teeth as she stood up and approached Schlus.
Now she could see there was no one more despicable than him.
To toy with the affections of no one less than the emperor himself.
“I formally propose. Majin, Schlus Hainkel, how about marrying me?”
“I refuse.”
“The conditions can be adjusted as you like. We can also consider co-rule—”
“It’s not about the conditions. I don’t marry someone I don’t love.”
“………”
He doesn’t love.
Then what were those sweet nothings he had whispered before?
When he said he loved her, were those just simple flattery?
As Aria gazed into Schlus’s empty eyes, she felt something snap within her.
“Love… Is love the problem here…? What’s so great about love…?”
“It’s important.”
“That’s not true. There are many couples living without love.”
“Is that truly happiness? I prioritize my own happiness above all else.”
“Perhaps it’s not out of the question. A marriage without love can blossom into love later on.”
“I already have more than enough people I love, so I see no need to start a marriage without love.”
“………”
What Schlus was conveying was clear.
But the message was so base and repugnant that Aria trembled.
“You don’t love me. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Yes.”
“Then make me fall in love with you… Is that what you’re saying?”
“That’s one way to interpret it.”
“Right now… are you telling me to beg for love like a whore…?”
“That’s not an incorrect interpretation.”
“………”
That bastard!
His head had swollen far too much.
How could he try to stand above the emperor of a nation?
Perhaps the former emperor’s eyes had indeed been correct.
The problem was, however, that the empire needed Schlus Hainkel.
That was all there was to it.
Aria herself needed Schlus Hainkel as well.
She had always thought that if she were to marry someday, it would only be Schlus Hainkel, as if it were a given.
Marriage was merely an extension of politics.
A contract born out of necessity and mutual benefit.
Nothing more, nothing less.
However, Aria was now being asked to deny that belief.
Schlus boldly demanded that she pull out the feelings she had buried deep within her heart.
“I refuse… Get lost. No, please leave. I don’t want to see your face anymore.”
With such an impudent but polite request, Schlus bowed slightly and turned to leave.
Without any hesitation at all.
Schlus walked out of the room confidently, with not a moment of pause, and shut the door behind him.
Left alone in the room, Aria felt her legs go weak and she collapsed to the ground.
“How… how could you do this to me…? How could you treat me so harshly…?”
The words she had wanted to say while looking into Schlus’s eyes finally spilled out.
She felt resentment.
To create agony and make her wait, only to betray her like this.
To have her beg for affection, and plead to become one of the many women of this nation.
How could anyone treat an emperor like this?
“My grandfather was right. He shouldn’t be allowed so much freedom. After the war ends, I must take action.”
Right now, Schlus was far too powerful.
He was a monster without even a hint of how to contain him.
At the moment, due to the war with the Majin, Schlus was desperately needed, but once the war ended, he would become a potential threat, nothing more, nothing less.
What would he do when that time came, already acting so recklessly?
Would he not bring in as many beautiful maidens as he could and lead a debauched lifestyle?
There was no way she could allow such a thing to happen.
Just imagining it made her furious, dizzy, and her chest felt hot.
“Were you said to have an infinite lifespan…? There’s no help for it then. I must rip off your limbs and tear apart your internal circuits and mana core, making you a crippled body locked away. You won’t be able to take even a sip of water or a bite of food without me. You’ll be forced to look only at me for the rest of your life…”
It wasn’t her fault.
This was all Schlus’s doing.
Aria smiled, imagining that glorious future.
