Side: Ludia
The day after Yamato greeted our family, we paid a visit to the Dragon King’s Castle in the early afternoon.
When we returned to the Amister Embassy, a messenger told us to ascend to the castle earlier than scheduled. It seems that the Dragon King himself wishes to accompany us when we meet the Holy Dragon Mother. Since it’s best to get things done quickly, we readily agreed.
Perhaps because of this, we were granted an audience with His Majesty the Dragon King immediately after arriving at the castle.
“Thank you for coming all this way. I am the Dragon King, Folias Dragul Valentia.”
“It has been a while, Your Majesty. Please accept my belated congratulations on your enthronement.”
“Thank you, Princess Manalease. Princess Yuriana, it has been since your coronation. Congratulations on your marriage and engagement.”
“Thank you, Emperor Folias.”
Sir Yuri attended His Majesty the Dragon King’s coronation ceremony and had also visited Valentia frequently before that. He was even considered as a candidate for His Majesty’s consort. However, neither Sir Yuri nor Emperor Folias had any interest in such a match, so it never progressed beyond that consideration.
“Not only the two of you, but also Miss Primrose of Baliente and the daughter of the Valiant General Dianos of Amister are accompanying you. I am also pleased to hear that the twin daughters of Freyas, the Vice-Captain of my Dragon Knights, will be marrying him.”
Among the Valentia Royal Family, besides His Majesty Emperor Folias who ascended as the Dragon King, there are two older brothers and no sisters. Therefore, unlike Amister, it is not possible for a member of the Royal Family to marry someone like Yamato, an Ancient Human. It seems that my sister and I are filling that role. While it is unusual for sisters to marry the same person, it is not unheard of. Usually, the primary reason is falling in love with the same person, but sometimes political considerations also play a role, making it beneficial for both to marry the same man. In this case, it is similar, with the twin daughters of the Vice-Captain of the Dragon Knights marrying him, which is considered to hold more political significance than marrying the daughter of a lesser noble.
The Valentia Royal Family follows the tradition of youngest child succession. However, the Valentia Royal Family has historically shown little interest in the throne, leading to a succession struggle in the opposite sense of what happens elsewhere. This prevents any bloody or gruesome conflicts. Nevertheless, it remains a cause of concern for the vassals. Since they openly state their lack of interest in the throne, it is unclear who should be supported. Even if one were to support a particular candidate, it would be futile, as the candidates themselves would advise His Majesty to avoid the throne. Despite this, they rule diligently and their siblings assist them, resulting in a remarkably stable internal political landscape.
“Marriage is a matter of personal will. While my marriage and Yuri’s engagement are officially considered rewards for him, we would have married him even without them. Therefore, as long as both parties consent, we support Lydia and Ludia standing by our side.”
Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt of Narlstadt is glaring at Yamato with a displeased expression. Believe me, my sister and I dislike him too.
“Please wait, Your Majesty. Even if the other party is an Ancient Human, it is a great loss for a nation to allow both daughters of Lord Freyas, the strongest Dragon Knight and Dragon Lord of Valentia, to marry him. Furthermore, I have already proposed marriage to them. How can one interfere in such matters, even with an Ancient Human, as it is against all human decency?”
Ugh, he’s lost his patience. Even as a Duke, interrupting during an official audience is the height of rudeness. Besides, Father always told us he had no intention of forcing us into political marriages. He rejected that engagement the moment he heard about it, so why is he saying something so selfish now?
“Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt, you say this, but what is the truth of the matter, Freyas?”
“That offer was refused a long time ago. You speak of it as a loss for the nation, but two Princesses of Amister, one head of a Marquis family, and even a former Duchess’s daughter of Baliente have married Lord Yamato. When marrying him, surely the benefits far outweigh any loss.”
“Furthermore, the daughter of the Valiant General Dianos and a young woman from the city where he bases his operations are also married to him. Even if Lord Freyas’s daughters were to marry him, he would not leave Amister. However, in times of emergency, it would be easier to borrow the strength of the Ancient Humans. After all, a Dragon Lord is a noble of equivalent rank to a Count.”
His Majesty the Dragon King addressed Father, and then the Dragonewt Chancellor, Sir Isaac Wassermann, added his support. Although we have no such intentions, the fact that two princesses of Amister and a noble are married or engaged, Prim has been granted asylum and is now affiliated with Amister, and Meena and Flam are reasons for Yamato to base himself in Feel, means that from a political standpoint, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that ordinary noble daughters are not a match for him. Moreover, Yamato is an O-rank Order of Amister, so it can be asserted that he will not move from Amister. He is also an M-rank Hunter, so he is agile. If requests for aid or cooperation are made through the Hunter’s Guild, he will likely act. However, it is generally assumed that without wives from Valentia, he would not easily move.
“In that case, instead of Lydia and Ludia, how about my sister? While her charm may not compare to Princess Manalease or Princess Yuriana, the benefits to the nation would be more than sufficient.”
So that’s how it is. Besides, rumors say that your sister is extravagant and a womanizer. Sending such a fool would result in nothing but loss, not profit. I absolutely refuse such a proposition.
“Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt, were you listening? Lydia and Ludia both wish to marry him, and Lord Yamato has accepted them. This means that no matter what outsiders say, the marriage between the three of them cannot be stopped. Furthermore, if it were to be stopped, it would even lead to a deterioration of relations with Amister.”
“That… is…”
“Also, this is something Princess Manalease should convey.”
Emperor Folias refutes him and asks Mana to explain. Mana is also angry, but Yamato is even more so. If this continues, he seems prepared to resort to force.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt, you speak of marrying your sister to him, but do you really think such a disrespectful act will be permitted?”
“I find that unacceptable. My sister has succession rights to the throne! Yet, the one engaged to that Ancient Human is the daughter of a Marquis, and the one married to him is the daughter of a traitor from Baliente and a commoner’s daughter. Even with Princesses of the Amister Royal Family married to him, it is undeniably an unsightly affair, is it not?”
This is really bad. Yamato’s magic has been leaking out since earlier, and it has intensified with that remark.
“Bringing in a woman who is extravagant and a notorious womanizer would be worse than just unsightly. Did you think I wouldn’t know? That your sister has a string of scandalous affairs even here in Dragunia?”
“That is a matter of differing opinions. My sister is simply entrusting herself to specific men in order to become a single mother. When a suitable partner appears, however, such things will cease. Moreover, as a relative of a ducal family of Valentia is marrying him, it will bring him great benefit. That applies to you as well, Princess Manalease.”
Narslstatt smiles lewdly. He’s trying to bribe Mana, but it’s useless. It’s not uncommon for women to seek out men to have children with while aiming to become single mothers, but it’s unheard of to have numerous lovers. A single mother asks men to father her children; it’s impossible to go from one man to another. But the Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt’s sister is doing the impossible, so there’s no way I can believe that.
“Let me be clear. If you do not acknowledge the engagement between him, Lydia, and Ludia, and furthermore, if you continue to push your sister upon him, I will reconsider our relationship with Valentia from the ground up. While relations with Valentia will likely worsen and become tense, I would choose that over having your sister enter Amister.”
“Wh-what!?”
Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt is struck dumb by such an absolute rejection. The other nobles are also surprised, but the Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt’s sister is famously a disreputable woman, so the gazes of condemnation are mostly directed at Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt.
“Th-that is to say, you are implying that you would not shy away from war with our country and directly contend with our Dragon Knights, who are supported by Dragonewts? Are you saying that?”
It’s true that the Dragon Knights are supported by Dragonewts, and because of that, Valentia has not been threatened by external enemies. However, no matter how strong a fully transformed Dragonewt is, I don’t think they can match Yamato or Prim. Most importantly, the way he said that suggests he views Dragonewts as familiars or summoned beasts. My mother and older sister are Dragonewts, so it makes me very uncomfortable.
“Let me say this first, Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt. Should such a situation arise, the Dragonewts will not lend any assistance whatsoever.”
“W-why!?”
“Naturally. You are the one who created the situation by treating Dragonewts as familiars. The fault lies with us. Furthermore, Dragon Knights who are married to or have contracts with Dragonewts cannot go to battle due to their contracts. Therefore, should a conflict erupt between Valentia and Amister, our country will be unilaterally trampled.”
Many Dragon Knights have contracts with Wyverns, and Amister is the same. More importantly, if Yamato and Prim were to ride Jade and Fluorite, the Dragon Knights alone would suffer catastrophic damage. The news that Dragon Knights married to Dragonewts cannot fight is surprising, but many people are married to Dragonewts, and they seem to have contracts, so in such a situation, the combat power of the Dragon Knights would undoubtedly be reduced by more than half.
“In such a state, we cannot contend with Amister, and more importantly, there is Lord Yamato, an Ancient Human. No matter how elite the Dragon Knights are, our casualties will be immense. Therefore, Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt, I formally apologize here and now and ask for the recognition of Lydia and Ludia’s engagement.”
Chancellor Isaac follows up with his own words. According to publicly available information, Yamato can defeat Catastrophe Species with Prim’s assistance, so making an enemy of him is the height of folly.
“…I acknowledge the engagement. But as for an apology?”
“You looked down upon Miss Mina and Miss Flam, his wives, as commoners and even called them shabby. Are you not obligated to apologize, as these remarks insult them as well as Lord Yamato?”
It’s only natural. However, an apology here and now would be a mere lip service without sincerity, and I don’t think Yamato’s anger will subside with just that.
“With all due respect, Your Majesty, please permit him to speak his mind directly.”
Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt hesitates, but Mana speaks up first. She is asking for permission for Yamato to speak frankly, but I’m sure it won’t end there.
“That is acceptable, but…”
Emperor Folias is also intimidated by the magic emanating from Yamato. He is quite angry, so it is understandable.
“Thank you. Yamato.”
“Ah. I thank you for granting me permission to speak frankly. I believe my words will be crude and offensive, but I ask for your understanding.”
With that, Yamato flips back the mantle of his Arc Order’s Coat and faces Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt. Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt, affected by Yamato’s magic, is gaping with a pale face. But this is the result he brought upon himself, and it was on the verge of causing immense damage to Valentia, so he should just endure it.
“Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt, I understand your intentions. So, I will say this: I would rather marry a female demi-human than marry your sister. Furthermore, if anything happens to the Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt’s Nizhegu territory, I will not offer any assistance. Not even for requests from the Hunter’s Guild.”
It’s calmer than I expected, but his words are harsh. Saying he’d rather marry a female demi-human is something that would normally earn him a beheading. Ah, but I remember hearing that Amazons, Sirens, and Valkyries are all female demi-humans and are incredibly beautiful. Also, refusing to assist the Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt’s Nizhegu territory even for requests from the Hunter’s Guild is a significant blow to the territory. After all, the Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt’s Nizhegu territory has a labyrinth, and there’s always the possibility of a labyrinth flood. Moreover, the Solpreza Mountain Range is nearby, and monsters can attack from there, so more high-rank hunters are always welcome. However, the fact that Yamato, an Ancient Human, has declared he will offer no assistance will certainly spread throughout the Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt’s Nizhegu territory. Hunters may leave the territory, and residents, not to mention nobles, may even revolt.
“And if you even think of retaliation, don’t think it will end with just double the payback.”
“Hiss!”
Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt, completely overwhelmed by Yamato’s intensified magic, lost control of himself in front of His Majesty the Dragon King. This is likely the end of it.
“To commit such a faux pas in the presence of His Majesty, how undignified for the head of a ducal family.”
“Indeed. Regardless of the reason, this is the Audience Chamber. While I have never witnessed such a situation before, it is impossible that there will be no repercussions.”
Amidst the muffled laughter of the nobles, Father and the Chancellor commenton Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt’s demeanor. Father dislikes Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt, and the Chancellor and nobles also have something against Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt, who monopolizes materials from the labyrinth. Perhaps seeing him publicly humiliated like this will offer some satisfaction.
“At this point, the Duke is beyond reason. His punishment will be announced later. However, having made such a spectacle of himself, he is hereby ordered to withdraw. Escort him out.”
“Yes!”
Duke NVARCHAR Narslstatt is escorted out of the Audience Chamber by the Royal Dragon Knights. He appears to have lost all spirit, affected by Yamato’s magic, but he brought this upon himself by provoking an Ancient Human and nearly causing great damage to Valentia, so this is only fitting.
