We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The Path I Should Choose
“Old Man Sleigsta, did you just say something?”
Mistral looked at Old Man Sleigsta, his face contorted with a grimace. A vein was throbbing on his forehead.
I was filled with the desire to run away right then and there!
“Hmm. You couldn’t hear me? A little…”
“Ahhh!”
But running away wouldn’t change anything, and I didn’t have the confidence that I could get away in the first place.
So.
I let go of the Twin Princesses’ hands and used a spatial jump to get next to Mistral. Then, before Old Man Sleigsta could spew any more insults, I covered her ears with both my hands!
Just in the nick of time.
With her ears covered, I yelled next to Mistral’s face. Mistral definitely couldn’t hear anything!
I’ll believe that…
This time, Mistral turned her cold gaze towards me.
“Elnea, tell me honestly. Which do you choose, me or those twins?”
Ugh!
Here it comes, a love triangle!
If I make the wrong choice here, I’ll lose everything.
“Elnea-kun, the bigger prize is more advantageous than what you don’t have.”
“Two is better than one.”
Seizing the moment, the Twin Princesses rushed to my side and clung to me. Mistral watched them with a cold gaze, urging me to answer.
By the way, by now, both the Twin Princesses and I had completely dried snot on our faces. When I touched my body, I strangely found it to be quick-drying. But I didn’t have the luxury to think about such useless things.
With her ears still covered by me, Mistral shot me daggers with her eyes. And me, the Twin Princesses were pushing their bodies, or rather, their chests, against me, trying to tempt me. Old Man Sleigsta watched this sight quietly.
It was unfair that Old Man Sleigsta, who I thought was the cause of all this, was just standing by and watching! I vowed to get revenge next time as I pondered how to resolve this current love triangle.
Why are the Twin Princesses even interested in me in the first place?
Well, I can use Dragon Arts.
Last year, when I first met them at the detached palace, the Twin Princesses already knew quite a bit about me. I think they heard it from their brother, the Prince. I don’t know that Prince, so they must have seen me somewhere.
But would that alone make them so interested in me? The Twin Princesses are, after all, royalty. Would such noble people be this interested just because I can use Dragon Arts like them?
I suspect the Twin Princesses have some ulterior motive. Because it’s unnatural enough to make one think so.
Do the Twin Princesses have ulterior motives or not? They probably do. But for some reason, I don’t feel any malice from them. I don’t feel any dark conspiracies or twisted, wicked presences at all.
I think Mistral and the others would probably agree. If they had shown even the slightest trace of such a presence when we first met, or even up until now, Mistral would have dealt with them mercilessly.
They have ulterior motives, but they’re not evil.
…It’s a mystery.
And setting aside any ulterior motives, when I simply looked at the Twin Princesses.
Honestly, I think these two are incredibly beautiful. Their silver hair is exquisite, and their sharp features are balanced with grace, creating a perfect face. Their chests are more than satisfactory. Yet, their waists are cinched, and their hips have a delightful curve. As expected of princesses. They seem so far removed from the beauty of ordinary citizens. And not just one, but two of them possess such beauty.
If I could marry either of them, I’d be incredibly proud.
Their charm is such that I can even overlook their somewhat free-spirited or wild nature.
Besides, they do have kind and considerate sides.
Despite their reluctance, they’ve been diligently taking care of Prince Friel since spring. Not only that, but they’ve also cooperated with dragon hunting and entered the dangerous Dragon Peak together.
The Twin Princesses possess the side of highly skilled adventurers. This means they must have known how dangerous Dragon Peak is and how terrifying dragons are. Yet, they accompanied and cooperated with Prince Friel, who was trying his best.
Perhaps the King also considered the Twin Princesses’ attentiveness, kindness, and strength when he told them to look after Prince Friel.
“Elnea-kun, don’t abandon us.”
“Elnea-kun, you’re all we have.”
The Twin Princesses looked at me with pleading eyes.
Even though Mistral, Ruiseine, and Laira are already here, my heart wavers. I won’t make excuses like “because I’m a man” or “because I’m a womanizer.” That’s how charming the Twin Princesses are.
I gently removed my hands from Mistral’s ears.
Then, with firm words, I conveyed my message to the three of them.
“I…”
I looked at the three of them.
“will absolutely not betray Mistral. No matter how tempting the seduction, if I were told to choose one, I would choose Mistral without hesitation.”
The Twin Princesses gasped, receiving my sincere gaze.
“I am honestly very happy that Princess Yufilia and Princess Nina hold feelings for me. But, in the end, it’s Mistral. Therefore, I cannot betray her. I’m sorry.”
I tightly gripped Mistral’s hand. She trembled slightly.
That’s strange. Even though she told me to choose one, was she feeling anxious?
Ah, no. It must be my fault for making her feel anxious.
When I smiled at Mistral, she responded with a faint smile.
“So, I’m truly sorry, but I cannot accept your affections!”
Still gripping Mistral’s hand tightly, I declared.
The Twin Princesses exchanged glances.
One of them smiled sadly. The other beamed with a wide smile.
For the first time, I saw them each express a different emotion.
And then.
“It’s sad to be rejected so clearly.”
“But that’s precisely why you’re wonderful.”
“In the end, it has to be Elnea-kun.”
“It absolutely has to be Elnea-kun.”
“Eh?!”
After expressing their individual emotions, the Twin Princesses, now with identical, beaming smiles, turned back to me, and Mistral and I both exclaimed in unison.
“We dislike fickle men.”
“We don’t mind polygamy, but we dislike promiscuity.”
“But Elnea-kun is different.”
“He truly loves his wife.”
“He doesn’t succumb to temptation.”
“He’s not just with anyone.”
“That’s precisely why you’re wonderful.”
“That’s precisely why you’re so endearing.”
“W-What are you ladies talking about!?”
Mistral cried out in bewilderment.
It’s understandable. Even though I refused them clearly, they weren’t listening at all. Not only that, but the Twin Princesses were pressing their chests against me even more than before.
“We were late to the game.”
“Mist-chan and Luiseine-chan are already our confirmed wife candidates. We don’t mind being below them.”
“Even below Pricilla-chan.”
“It’s no problem even if we’re below Nimia-chan.”
“So, please make us your wives too.”
“Whaaat!?”
What wonderfully optimistic spirits they have!
This is truly the spirit of indomitability.
We, both I and Mistral, flinched as the Twin Princesses pushed closer, insisting that they wanted to be included in the circle of wives, even if it meant being at the very end.
“Elnea, do something about this.”
“Do something…?”
Mistral’s plea left me looking at Old Man Sleigsta with a bewildered expression.
Help me! I don’t know what to do in a situation like this.
“You should just smile.”
Grr, it was stupid of me to ask Old Man Sleigsta.
I had resigned myself to the fact that Old Man Sleigsta, who had been silently watching the unfolding events, wouldn’t intervene now. But unexpectedly, he spoke up.
“Elnea, are you not happy that these two will become your wives? Speak your honest feelings.”
At Old Man Sleigsta’s deep voice, the movements of all four of us stopped.
“Honestly… if I’m asked whether I’m happy or not, I’d say I’m happy. However, I choose Mistral.”
The hand I was holding trembled slightly.
“Hmm. Then Mistral. Do you dislike these two becoming your wives?”
Mistral looked at the Twin Princesses when asked by Old Man Sleigsta.
“I envy them,” Mistral said.
“It’s a bit embarrassing to say myself, but Ruiseine and Laira, and I are all serious people. So, when I see the free-spiritedness of these two, I find myself envying it, as we were just talking about. And I wonder if Elnea wouldn’t feel stifled with three serious wives. So, I truly envy your ability to act so cheerfully. But I don’t think we can do that.”
Mistral closed her eyes.
“If these two were to join Elnea’s wife circle, I’m sure it would be a lively and fun household. They would bring a vibrancy to our home that we lack.”
I tried to imagine it too. It’s true, with the Twin Princesses around, every day would probably be lively and fun. But it seems like problems would arise frequently as well.
Mistral opened her eyes and gazed intently at the Twin Princesses once more.
“However, it would be troublesome if the harmony were disturbed. There’s only one Elnea. So, no jumping ahead. No monopolizing. Can these two, with their free will and whims, abide by this rule?”
“We can.”
“We swear it.”
The Twin Princesses answered immediately.
“…If those words are true, I think I can accept it.”
With that, Mistral looked at Old Man Sleigsta.
“Hmm.”
Mistral and Old Man Sleigsta stared at each other for a moment.
“I understand your concerns. However, with these twins, there should be no problem. I guarantee it.”
“On what grounds?”
“I read their hearts completely. That should be enough.”
At Old Man Sleigsta’s words, Mistral gave a wry smile with a troubled expression.
“I don’t know what you read, but can I trust it?”
“It matters not.”
I wonder what Old Man Sleigsta read in the Twin Princesses. But since Old Man Sleigsta vouches for them, they must be trustworthy.
“The twins’ power will be useful from now on. More than anything, it will be for your benefit.”
Mistral had mentioned that the Twin Princesses’ Dragon Arts were so powerful that even the Dragon Race warriors marveled at them.
I believe that the Twin Princesses’ strength will be of great help in the upcoming commotion at Dragon Peak.
And in the future, as we build our family, just as Mistral said, their cheerfulness might liven things up.
Of course, I’ll also strive to build a happy home.
“We thank the Dragon for your consideration.”
“We thank the Dragon for your kindness.”
The Twin Princesses moved away from me and bowed extremely politely to Old Man Sleigsta.
“Honestly, it can’t be helped,” Mistral said with a wry smile. I also gave a hollow laugh, but she squeezed the hand I was holding with all her might.
“Ow ow ow!”
“You, from now on, must exercise self-restraint.”
“Y-Yes. I’ll be careful!”
Thus, the Twin Princesses were, for the time being, accepted by Mistral, the representative of my wives.
Although there likely will be more trouble ahead, it seems the love triangle on the Moss Garden has been resolved for now.
With an unexpected development, my number of wives has increased, but I mustn’t get carried away. Even though it was decided with Old Man Sleigsta’s help, I still have the responsibility to explain this to Ruiseine and Laira.
Before I knew it, the Moss Garden had already grown dim.
“Shall we go home?”
At Mistral’s words, her voice sounding tired, the Twin Princesses and I obediently followed.
