“If it’s about refining Orihalcon, Isabella of our country can do it.”
Marius, having received such a notification from Hordia, was troubled.
Was it truly safe to accept Asteria’s proposal as mere goodwill?
During dinner, with his wives gathered, he decided to ask for their opinions.
“I’m against it.”
Barra said definitively after swallowing a piece of fish.
“Even if I could trust Isabella herself, the one behind it is that Queen. We can’t let our guard down, who knows what she’s planning.”
This was an opinion Marius could agree with.
Next, Lovisa spoke.
“I’m in favor. If Zofi, Al, and El monitor her, we can prevent whatever Isabella plans, right? Besides, it could be a good opportunity to learn how to refine Orihalcon.”
She then drank some rosewater and continued.
“However, King Asteria would have already factored that in. If there’s something else, it’s likely that he’s already anticipating being monitored.”
This also seemed to have some merit.
Marius then asked for El’s opinion.
“Hmm. It might be a surprisingly pure act of goodwill. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the continent is in crisis if they can’t make it. Or, perhaps the very act of Isabella coming here is the target.”
“What do you mean by that?”
El shrugged and said,
“To expand the harem.”
“That’s not it… probably.”
Lovisa glanced at Marius.
“That’s not it, most likely.”
Barra looked meaningfully at her husband.
“Surely not.”
Zofi looked at her master with a look of disbelief.
“No, no, I have no intention of increasing it further!”
Marius tried to defend himself.
“We believe you.”
Lovisa said gently.
“But what other people think is another matter…”
Barra continued, sounding somewhat apologetic.
(Do I just look like a womanizer?)
He had married two princesses to minimize any friction.
He had also turned demons and succubi into familiars, and succeeded in suppressing a faction of Auraniess.
While claiming it was for the sake of the world and its people might be an exaggeration, and it would be a lie to say he had no ulterior motives, he still felt it was unfair to be seen as merely a lecherous man.
However, seeing similar expressions on Emma and Aina’s faces, he realized they weren’t just making things up.
After some time had passed, Marius composed himself and asked Auraniess.
“Just to be sure, what about you, Auraniess?”
“What do you mean, ‘just to be sure’?”
Auraniess pouted genuinely for a moment, then offered his opinion without much thought.
“If they attempt anything improper, I’ll kill them. How’s that?”
“That’s too simplistic.”
Marius immediately rejected the idea.
“In truth, aren’t you overthinking it?”
Sophia, who had been silently listening, spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention.
However, Sophia said nothing further, and Auraniess spoke on her behalf.
“Even with us here, what room is there for them to plan anything? We’ll crush them.”
“…If you’re on our side, that’s reassuring. Yes, let’s assume that’s the case.”
The blustering Auraniess was indeed reassuring.
If he acted considering the damage to those around him, he would be his strongest ally.
However, if he didn’t, he could become the worst ally.
“Alright, I’ve decided.”
Marius made up his mind.
“Let’s search for Orihalcon first.”
“Eh?”
All of them exclaimed at Lord Marius.
Barra and Lovisa felt that their husband’s back looked unnaturally thin and grimy, so they consulted with each other and decided to give him a change of pace.
“So, a date?”
“Yes.”
Barra smiled, linking her arm with her husband’s.
Marius usually wore a robe and hood, so he was surprisingly not recognized by the commoners by simply dressing like them.
His wife beside him was already famous for her looks alone, so Marius had altered her appearance with illusion magic.
There were a few who might see through it, but since they all knew about their clandestine date, it wouldn’t be a problem.
He was scheduled for an afternoon date with Lovisa, and Zofi and the others were probably being put through rigorous training by Auraniess right now.
“N-no way, that’s so unfair!”
Zofi had a deathly pale face, but Auraniess didn’t kill those who took his interest.
And unlike Marius, he probably wouldn’t need to go all out.
He believed it would be fine, having asked the relatively sensible Sophia to stop him if he went too far.
(…Probably.)
Marius pretended not to notice Al and El, who looked as if they were about to die alongside Zofi, and Sophia and Iris, who sympathized with the three.
Marius and Barra were on a date in a town within their territory.
It was just a town, with no special products, no scenic spots, and no restaurants serving delicious food.
“Darling, please look at the faces of the townspeople.”
Barra whispered sweet nothings into his ear.
To any observer, they would appear to be a loving newlywed couple.
Marius was around twenty, and his wife was in her late teens, but this was a common pairing in this world.
Indeed, no one was paying any attention to them.
That was precisely why Marius could faithfully follow his wife’s words.
The expressions of the people walking through the town varied, but he felt a sense of vitality.
“Because of you, even after the Demon Lord revived, a million-strong demon army ravaged the land, and our country was destroyed, the people aren’t looking grim.”
Barra squeezed her husband’s hand and said with fervor.
“You are our hope. You are irreplaceable. While you are not a skillful person who can do everything perfectly, please don’t belittle yourself so much.”
“U-uh-huh.”
This remark had a powerful effect on the simple-minded Marius.
The two walked arm in arm through the town, browsing various stalls.
Then, at noon, they rejoined Lovisa.
As expected, a man and two women in combination began to attract occasional curious glances.
Barra used a minor illusion magic that made them less noticeable to others.
In terms of such subtlety and skill, Barra was far superior to Marius.
Although Marius had practiced, the gap remained.
The three entered a shop and ordered food, but their preferences were clearly divided.
Marius preferred a balance of meat, vegetables, and fruits; Lovisa mainly ate vegetables; and Barra’s diet centered around beef and fish dishes.
“If you only eat that many vegetables, you’ll become gaunt!”
“If you only eat that much greasy food, your meat will become frightful!”
They smiled and lightly teased each other.
If it got worse, Marius’s “Enough of this!” would be triggered, so their teasing was kept to a level that wouldn’t provoke him.
Marius, unable to completely prevent it, felt it was better to let them “blow off steam” in front of him.
The people who noticed their table began to whisper, “A love triangle?” “What a man.”
Marius noticed, but his wives didn’t.
Their eating styles were also contrasting; Lovisa ate elegantly in small bites, while Barra ate with a hearty gusto unbecoming of her appearance and status.
“Why don’t you show your true self in front of your husband?”
“Don’t you think it’s scandalous to turn into a beast in front of your husband?”
Barra retorted sarcastically, and Lovisa returned the jab.
To the onlookers, it must have seemed like a storm of unseen swords clashing.
However, Marius knew that this was close to playful banter.
Because he knew, he continued to nonchalantly devour his meat, savor his tea, and relish his fruit.
It seemed his mental fortitude had grown over time.
Whether it was “right” as a person was another matter.
Seeing Marius like this, the surrounding people whispered again.
“He’s calm even in a love triangle.”
“He has the nerve of Sex King Marius!”
Marius reflexively felt the urge to demand, “What did you just say?”
He barely managed to suppress the urge by drinking water and ended up choking.
Barra and Lovisa noticed this and exchanged glances.
For them, it was nothing new.
While the world called him “The Unrivaled Great Hero” with respect, men apparently referred to him as “Sex King” with a mix of admiration and envy.
Hearing this, all of Marius cried.
Whether he wanted to say it was a false accusation or he couldn’t refute it, only he knew.
In the afternoon, Lovisa took Marius, who seemed even more dejected than in the morning, to a small hill.
There was nothing there except nameless grass and plants.
“I know you are a distinguished man.”
Marius, comforted by his wife, couldn’t help but express his weakness.
“That’s right. I’m a distinguished stud, or perhaps an enemy of women.”
Not all of it was sincere; there was also an element of wanting to rely on his wife.
Sensing this, Lovisa embraced her husband without looking displeased.
“Isn’t that fine? For someone like you, it’s also a duty to carry on the next generation.”
“That’s right. I had convinced myself of that too.”
Marius mumbled, and Lovisa gently pressed her cheek against his.
“That aspect of you is what I find most wonderful.”
She whispered in a sweet voice.
Despite being accustomed to it, Marius couldn’t help but blush at the destructive power of her words.
“Oh, is that so?”
Lovisa captured her husband’s hand, which was scratching his cheek, and nodded while gazing into his eyes.
“Yes. Because you can withstand two kinds of potent poisons: the poison of overwhelming power, and the poison of being a person in power. This is something not many can do.”
Lovisa explained that history was filled with corrupt rulers and powerful individuals who plotted to usurp power.
“Of course, there are also admirable individuals who are not like that. But the reality is that they are praised as ‘admirable’.”
“I’m not that admirable.”
He said he simply disliked trouble and lay down.
Lovisa silently accepted Marius’s head on her lap.
“No. I believe you have admirable self-control. We royals receive training in such matters, but I believe it’s ultimately to ensure we don’t succumb to the poison of power.”
Lovisa’s upbringing taught her “Royals must serve the nation,” and she had never questioned it.
If royals stopped serving the nation and only pursued their selfish desires, the people would suffer, and the nation would eventually come to an end.
“It can also be interpreted as self-preservation to avoid that.”
Marius denied his wife’s words, uttered with a sarcastic and mocking tone.
“At least I don’t believe that’s the case with you, Lovisa.”
“And I believe at least you are admirable. Isn’t that good enough?”
Marius could not refute her, so he fell silent and enjoyed the comfort of her lap.
Lovisa was delighted by her husband’s attitude.
It was a wife’s privilege to be shown his weaknesses and to be doted upon.
She was also happy that her husband had a human “weakness” that made her feel needed.
Men often tried to appear composed, but she believed it was acceptable to show their weaker side to their wives.
