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Vol. 10 Chapter 14 - Duke Banfield
🕑 Added 2022-06-06 08:29:07 +0000 UTCOn the day of the wedding...
When it comes to aristocratic weddings, they're mostly conducted to showcase others rather than to create personal memories.
It's essentially a ceremony to show people that the Banfield Family will be taking over the title of Duke from the Claudia Family.
Rosetta and I are waiting for our turn in our wedding dress and suit.
We've limited the guests to aristocrats of the same faction that fought on our side during the war and those directed related to the Banfield Family.
Originally, I was planning on inviting more people, but now that I can't afford to play around, I need to be considerate of who I build close ties with.
I no longer have the leeway to entertain those that are aiming for my wealth.
Having said that, including my previous life, this is my second time marrying.
“You look rather nervous, Rosetta.”
“Darling, why don't you come sit over here?”
“I'm more comfortable like this.”
I was thinking of teasing Rosetta who seems nervous, but for some reason she's looking out for me.
In fact, that applies to everyone around me.
Even Marie has left Rosetta's side and come over to me.
“Lord Liam, you just have to behave as you normally do.”
“This is how I normally behave.”
“I-Is that so? Lord Liam seemed restless, so we were getting worried.”
--I was just planning on teasing Rosetta a bit. Why am I getting nervous?
I think back to my previous life.
I remember paying attention to my ex-wife, praising her for how beautiful she looked. Now that I think about it, it was all in vain.
That's why I won't be saying anything of the sort to Rosetta.
“Darling.”
“What is it?”
“Darling looks dashing in that suit.”
“This? Well, I had Thomas prepare it using a huge sum of money. It's just a one-time thing, but he's even prepared a spare. Excessive, isn't it?”
My suit is emitting a pale, natural glow, and since it's made of mithril that has supposedly received divine blessing, it can apparently behave like a lucky charm or something.
--Personally, I wanted something more gold and shiny, but Amagi said, “--Please match Lady Rosetta's dress,” so that was that.
Rosetta compliments my appearance.
“It's not excessive at all. It fits Darling perfectly. I'm starting to worry that I can't match up to you.”
--What's this? Could she be looking out for me?
Rosetta looks somewhat down, so I decide to say something for the time being.
“T-that's not true. We should match pretty well. Right, Marie!?”
“Eh? Oh, yes.”
Marie appears somewhat disgruntled.
'Why are you bringing me into this!?' Her expression seems to say.
--How dare she look at me like that.
Just as I'm about to knock some sense into her, the door swings open, and in comes Amagi.
“Lord Liam, it's time.”
“Okay.”
Since I'll be entering the wedding hall first, I exit the waiting room and leave Rosetta behind.
◇
Rosetta giggled after Liam left.
“Is something the matter?” Marie asked, curious.
“I didn't expect Darling to be so nervous. I just found it funny how watching him calmed me down,” Rosetta explained, thinking back to how Liam was behaving.
Marie nodded in agreement. She had been surprised by his behavior as well.
“Lord Liam's the type to be calm and collected even on the battlefield. Seeing this side of him is a privilege reserved only for Lady Rosetta.”
“That's not true. In fact--”
◇
After leaving the waiting room, I'm walking down the corridor with Amagi following me close behind.
It's a daily occurence, but something feels different today.
“I'll be a Duke after this marriage. Amagi, I've achieved so much in a hundred years. --It's thanks to you.”
Of course, I had the help of the Guide as well, but Amagi has always been there to support me, so it's a given that I thank her for that.
Amagi replies with a blank expression.
“I merely provided support for Master.”
“But it's thanks to that that I was able to climb so high. I couldn't have done it without you.”
When I was handed a desolate territory, I really didn't know what to do with it, but thanks to Aamgi, I was able to manage the territory without much problem.
I had to face many difficulties along the way, and I'm just glad I wasn't alone.
“I'll continue to count on you from now on, so make sure you stay by my side.”
Amagi's important to me, and that will never change.
Hearing my words, I detect a slight fluctuation in Amagi's voice, so trivial in fact, that anyone other than me wouldn't have detected it.
She sounds somewhat sad.
“Master no longer needs my support to run the territory. After all, Master is now better than I am when it comes to handling affairs related to the territory.”
“Well, I've been a lord for a long time now.”
I've already been a lord for around a hundred years, so one could say that I'm pretty experienced.
“Others can replace me in the work that I do. Master should rely more on Lady Rosetta in the future. ”
“Others can replace you in your work, sure, but no one can replace you. So stay by my side. I've said this before as well, haven't I?”
I turn back and catch sight of Amagi who looks a little happy, a small smile on her face.
“I will serve Master for as long as I am able to.”
It's the same answer as before.
What bothers me is the phrase “as long as I am able to”.
Is she insinuating that I'll change my mind in the future?
“You think I'll behave coldly to you?”
“There aren't any absolutes in this world, so one cannot guarantee anything that has yet to happen.”
Her response befits an AI's. It's been so long since she's behaved like this, and I laugh as a result.
“You're right, but don't worry. We'll always be together.”
“--Yes.”
◇
The Guide was overlooking the Banfield Family's home planet, looking as if he had swallowed a bitter pill.
“Don't think this is over, Liam!”
He was watching Liam's wedding with Rosetta from outer space.
“Despite what he claims, that bastard's feeling quite happy about this. What happened to your distrust of women!?”
Though Liam was complaining about various things, by looking into his heart, the Guide knew that he was feeling rather pleased with everything that was happening.
The Guide wanted Liam to continue being distrustful toward women, so this wasn't good news to him.
Hence, he decided to mess things up a bit.
“Let's throw all the negative emotions I've collected on the battlfield at him! It'll only serve as a minor disturbance, but I refuse to let everything end peacefully!”
The Guide had recovered a bit after absorbing the negative emotions that arose from the proxy war, but now that Liam had taken a step beyond the human realm, his revenge would only amount to mischief, not to mention he'd lose most of the power he regained.
Having said that, the Guide couldn't bear to watch Liam happy.
Holding himself back and conserving his power would've been the wiser choice, but he let anger get the better of him.
“Liam, I'll embarass you in front of the crowd!”
A black mist emerged from the Guide's body and was about to fall on top of the Banfield Family's wedding venue where Liam and Rosetta were about to kiss.
“As if I'll let things end like this! --Hmm?”
However, the mithril suit and dress that the two were wearing responded to the Guide's curse and shone more brilliantly than before.
Said to be capable of repelling all evil, the true silver protected their wearers from the Guide's attack and even returned the curse in full.
The mist was thus shaken off by the mithril, and as it shone brilliantly under the blessing of those living in the territory and many others, Liam's power rose even futher.
The next thing he knew, a silver sword that emitted holy powers appeared before the Guide, its tip pointed right at his head.
It was heading straight at him at the speed of light and before he could even curse, the silver sword was right before his eyes.
It pierced his head, destroying his body completely.
“GYAAAAAA!! MY BODY!!”
With his body destroyed, the Guide, now back in his hat-only form, bolted.
“I'll remember this, Liam!!”
In the end, things would've been better for him if he hadn't interfered at all.
◇
The wedding's over now, and my main vassals including Klaus have gathered around me in praise.
It must be tough being an employee.
Not only have they been forced to attend the wedding, they have to praise me like this as well.
“Lord Liam, I'd like to offer a sincere congratulations from all the vassals present.”
Klaus seems to be representing them, but I've heard enough of this already.
Including letters and mails, the congratulatory messages I received number in the hundreds of millions.
“It's just a wedding, big deal.”
Annoyed, I loosen the collar around my neck and plop myself on a chair, deciding this is a good chance to discuss with them about what to do moving forward.
“More importantly, we can't have as many flashy ceremonies from now on.”
I'll be investing as much as I can into the development of my territory, so I plan on keeping ceremonies to the bare minimum.
Tia takes a step forward.
“Regarding that, I have a suggestion, Lord Liam. If Lord Liam plans to be frugal, why not lower our salaries as well? We don't wish to see Lord Liam bear the burden alone.”
“Ang?”
My mood turns for the worse.
Noticing this change, Marie steps forward to replace Tia.
“Our knights are treated considerably better compared to knights of other families. However, since that is putting pressure on our finances, we though it'd be better to--”
So they're willing to get a pay cut since I'm trying to be frugal?
How touching!
--or so you'd think, but I have no faith in people.
“Did you hit your head somewhere? If I do that, there'd be an outflow of talents to other families. Why would I risk that?”
“But--”
“I expect people to work as much as they're paid. No more, no less.”
I don't believe in human nature.
What's important is the will, not the money? Bullshit.
That would be an ideal situation for the employer, but all the skilled employees will leave to find better working conditions, and as a result, only the incapable will be left.
Screw loyalty.
With Tia and Marie feeling disheartened, Klaus carefully talks to me.
“Let's put this matter aside. Lord Liam, shouldn't you head back?”
“Why?”
“Lady Rosetta must be waiting for you, so it's time Lord Liam returns.”
I correct my posture after hearing this from Klaus.
“B-but I mean, you guys have much more to tell me, right? I'm here to listen.”
Kukuri bows deeply.
“It's the newlywed's first night, an important occasion for the family. By all means, please spend more time with Lady Rosetta, and Lord Liam may rest assured, for we will protect you.”
“So you plan on peeking!?”
Hearing me shout at Kukuri, Tia suggests something insane.
“Lord Liam, are you perhaps worried? If so, this Christina is willing to be Lord Liam's practice partner.”
Marie joins in after Tia.
“Scram, minced woman! Lord Liam, please use this Marie for practice. My body is pure and has no strange illnesses.”
“And what do you mean by that!”
Seeing them start a fight, I direct a cold glare at them.
“Shut it, you two.”
The two fall silent, and Klaus councils me on the subject matter.
“Lord Liam, I'm sure Lady Rosetta is anxious about this as well.”
“But I'm not.”
“In that case, please help soothe Lady Rosetta's anxiety.”
“A-alright.--I guess it's time for me to go then.”
The four give me encouraging words as I get up from my chair.
“Lord Liam, please do you best. Christina here will be praying for your success tonight!”
“Oh, how wonderful tonight will be. Lord Liam and Lady Rosetta will be consummating their marriage! Marie here is so happy she's about to cry.”
“Please rest assured. I will have Kunai lead some female members of our clan to fortify the room's defense.”
“This is an important event for the household.”
--Are these guys here to make fun of me?
“Shut. Your. Mouths.”
◇
I enter our bedroom where I find Rosetta waiting tensely for me.
“Darling! U-um, how's this?”
“O-ou.”
Rosetta's wearing a sensual dress and posing sexily on a large bed.
Where did she learn this from?
Anyway, she doesn't seem comfortable with this either.
I climb to bed and sit down in front of Rosetta, for some reason in a seiza.
Rosetta does the same, mirroring me.
--What exactly is going on here?
Whatever, I should explain to Rosetta about several things.
“Rosetta.”
“Y-yes!”
“I'm sorry, but due to various circumstances, we'll have to lead simple lives for a while.”
“Okay!---Wait, huh?”
“You might not be happy with this, but it's already decided. If you were dreaming of living a luxurious life after our marriage, I'm sorry to say that that won't be happening.”
In order to fight against the Empire, I'll be putting my all in developing my territory.
I won't be going easy like before.
For our future, I'll be going all out this time.
Rosetta nods after thinking for a while.
“Y-yeah, we shouldn't be too extravagant.”
“Glad you understand.”
It's good that Rosetta's accepting this well, but time continues to pass as we face each other.
“Um, Darling? Was that something we had to talk about now?”
“No, not at all.”
Now that I think about it, it's isn't the right time or place to talk about this.
Rosetta laughs.
“W-what's so funny!”
“I didn't think Darling would be nervous as well.”
“I'm not!”
“Oh, is that so? Then is Darling used to this?”
“Of course! I've already--with various---women--various......”
“Darling?”
--A hundred years have passed since I reincarnated into this world, but Amagi's the only woman I've been with.
The reality hits me like a truck.
“What have I doing for the past 100 years?”
I was supposed to be an evil lord that have women waiting on me, but by the time I realized, all the women around me were unfortuante people.
To think Rosetta would be my second woman.
“It wasn't supposed to be like this...”
“Don't cry, Darling! Here, I'll comfort you!”
Rosetta hugs me as the realization dawns on me that one of my goals had never been achieved.
In the future, I'll behave more like an evil lord.
But for now, I have Rosetta to deal with.
“Right! Rosetta, I'll be holding you!”
“--Yes.”
With her cheeks dyed red, she smiles.
--Seeing this, I couldn't help but think she's a litte cute.
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Brian (´；ω；｀): “CONGRATULATIONS, LORD LIAAAAAAM!!”
Dirty Wakagi-chan ( ゜∀゜): “LOL, the (self proclaimed) evil lord is being praised for losing his virginity. Congratulations, Mr. Virgin.”
Brian (´；ω；｀): “.....”
Brian (´；ω；｀)ｒ鹵~＜≪巛;゜Д゜)ノ: “NGYAAAA!!”
