Chapter 27 – Two Wives

The power-holders strive to expand their power and influence. Connections, military might, and wealth – these are undoubtedly necessary.

And since ancient times, there has been a bond that is easily understood by all. That is marriage.

“The Zeltreich dynasty… and the new empire that will be born, shall be with the people of the grasslands. To demonstrate this, I wish to take as my wife one from among the eight tribes.”

“Oh…!”

“Then, the one with the most skilled archery from our tribe…”

“No, administrative support will also be necessary. Perhaps a kind-hearted daughter from the Kyamura tribe…”

Oh…more hands are raised than I expected. Well, this should not result in a ranking of the tribes. They all seem to genuinely wish to be of service to me.

“I am grateful for everyone’s sentiments. …However, I am considering taking Rina from the Muga tribe as my wife.”

“Hoou…”

“Indeed, as a member of the Muga tribe, Rina would be well-suited to diplomatic negotiations as the queen.”

“And I’ve also heard that Vilgard-sama lived with the Muga tribe in his youth.”

The discussion progresses smoothly, without any arguments. I turn my gaze to Roban.

“Then…to symbolise the bond between the people of the grasslands and Vilgard-sama, I ask you to take my daughter Rina to be your wife.”

“Very well. Rina, from now on, I ask that you support me as my wife. Is that alright with you?”

“Eh…? Eeeeeeh!?”

Rina’s eyes go wide with surprise and her mouth gapes open.

“Ah… no, of course it is not compulsory. If you are unwilling, you may decline.”

Rina is coming of age, so it would be unfortunate if she had feelings for another man already…

I was pondering this but Rina shook her head vigorously.

“N-no! That is… is it really alright for someone like me…?”

“Yes. In fact, I am the one asking you. I know the life ahead of you will be arduous, but… I need your help. Become my wife.”

“…! Yes! I will, happily!”

I’m relieved…In truth, I’ve been curious about Rina since our reunion. I’m glad she has accepted me as her husband.

And with this, the bond with the people of the grasslands has grown even stronger. The wife I chose first clearly conveys how highly I value them all.

There is one more matter I must attend to, though. Honestly, this one makes me more nervous.

The marriage with the people of the grasslands was desirable for Rina and could have been replaced by another woman. So Lina had the right to refuse.

But what I’m about to discuss has no room for refusal. That is why I feel anxious. Steeling my resolve, I now turn my gaze to Mayo.

“Princess Tsukimikado Mayo, the last princess of the Amatsuki Imperial lineage. I also wish for you to become my wife.”

“What!?”

The one who cried out was Shizuku, who was standing next to Mayo. Mayo, on the other hand, seemed to accept it calmly.

Shizuku directed a somewhat stern gaze at me.

“Vyril! What exactly are you planning…!”

“Don’t you understand? My objective is to reunify the Empire and to reclaim the Amatsuki Empire. For that, marriage to Princess Mayo of the Amatsuki Imperial line is absolutely necessary.”

I intentionally brought up Mayo after discussing Rina to show which one has higher priority for me. The people of the grasslands and I are about to become bound by fate and they are sensitive to such considerations.

However, that does not mean I am taking Mayo lightly. I will surely accomplish the restoration of the Amatsuki Empire as well. Mayo seemed to understand my intentions.

“So the fact that a surviving imperial princess is taking up arms with my backing is what you need, is it not?”

“Yes, that is correct. There are still warriors and people in the capital who do not welcome the Empire’s rule. To them, if I were to rise up and liberate the imperial domain, it would simply appear as a change in the ruling class of the Empire. That won’t do.”

But if Mayo is the wife of the man trying to free the imperial domain, they will be delighted that the imperial family has not abandoned them and has come to reclaim the nation with their own power.

If the man is an imperial prince, their social status will be evenly matched and it will be easier to forge an alliance.

And in Mayo’s case, it is also a matter of being the first to act. If it becomes known that there are surviving imperial princesses, both the imperial side and the lord’s alliance will strongly seek to secure her.

If I can take her as my wife first, it will greatly change the situation. This marriage alone can exert pressure on the Empire and also allow me to gain the support of the imperial subjects. This can be considered a marriage that prioritises position over love.

But I myself am also seriously considering making Mayo happy as my wife. Beyond the fact that she was my former lord’s family, I find her simply attractive as a woman. She is so beautiful…!

Furthermore, when I was escaping from the capital, it was she who looked after me, a mere warrior. Honestly, I am truly glad that it is Mayo I am proposing to.

“But if the imperial princess is to marry, there must be benefits for Mayo-sama as well or it would be meaningless. So here, in front of my mentor and the people of the grasslands, I will make a solemn oath.”

“Oh my, do go on and tell us.”

“First, I will surely reclaim the Amatsuki Empire for your sake. Second, the Amatsuki Empire shall be treated as an independent nation, not an imperial domain. Third, our child shall be made the next emperor and the Empire and the imperial domain shall develop a lifelong relationship as equal friendly nations.”

I don’t vocalise this here, but a fourth promise – if I ever break this oath, I will offer this head of mine to my mentor.

My mentor nods solemnly after hearing my oath sworn with my life.

“…..Fufu. I have been passionately courted by a prince. And I also have a promise to my brother….Vilgard Zeltreich, I, Tsukimikado Mayo, shall become your wife and join the Zeltreich household.”

Yes…! My very first proposal has been successful for both of them…! Well, it is a political marriage, but…!

Nevertheless, it is my duty to make these two wives of mine happy. More marriage partners will likely accumulate in the future as I continue to emphasise the bonds between households. But having a solid footing here is crucial.

In addition to rallying the imperial nobility, I must also actively spread the news of my marriage to Mayo, as well as the fact that I have taken up arms, through the Muga tribe.

“Goodness, our lord has acquired two wives! Truly remarkable!”

“Tonight shall be a feast!”

I see, there were still some finer details I wanted to confirm, but the atmosphere has shifted away from that now. Oh well, no matter. There is still time for that later.

“I cannot call myself emperor until I enter the imperial capital of Zeltreich, but I aim to be a ruler that none shall be ashamed of… And with that said! From here on, it’s time for an open celebration, also commemorating our victory!”

“Ooooooh!”

And so, in this place where tens of thousands of nomadic people have gathered, a grand feast begins, also serving as a celebration for our marriages.

The newly wedded Rina and Mayo have changed into beautiful attire and are sitting by my side.

“I apologise, you two. We couldn’t even have a proper wedding ceremony..”

“Eh? But in the grasslands, this feast-like celebration is the wedding ceremony.”

“Is that so?”

It seems the nomadic people’s wedding ceremonies take the form of such feasts, unlike the ritual visits to a sacred site that are common in the imperial domain.

“Fufu. Let’s hold the formal ceremony after we have reclaimed the land of the imperial domain. I look forward to that day, my dear.”

“Ah… Yes, when you call me dear, it makes me quite nervous…”

“Araa. But we are husband and wife now, so there’s no need for such formality. After all, the Empire and the imperial domain are to be equals, are they not? Our manner of speech should reflect that equality first.”

“…You’re right, that makes sense.”

“Ah, Vyril! This is delicious! Here, say aaaaah!”

Rina forcefully puts a piece of meat into my mouth.

“Then let me pour you a drink. Here you are, dear. Please.”

Mayo pours sake for me and I slowly let it slide down my throat. Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I’ve had a drink…

As I pour sake into their cups as well, I decide to bring up something I’ve been wondering about.

“Mayo, how long has it been since you came to this grassland?”

“Hmm, it’s been around a year, I believe. It took about 3 months to travel from the capital to this place… Time has really flown, hasn’t it?”

“Eh…? A, a year…!?”

In other words, I must have spent a considerable amount of time in that dark, gloomy cave… It’s surprising I didn’t go completely mad!

No, perhaps I have already lost my sanity to some degree. I am aware that my mental state has been changing.

Even now, if I focus, I can quickly create a state of tranquillity in my mind – a sort of calm. In this state, I can perceive things that are normally invisible to me.

…Though these may just be hallucinations born of madness.

However, in combat, I can wield my sword without any emotional turmoil whatsoever. I can clearly see where to strike, with what force, and at what angle to make a clean cut.

“Come to think of it, Vyril. Why did it take you so long to return to the grasslands?”

“I’m curious about that as well.”

“…Well. Once we’ve settled down, I’ll tell you about it somewhere.”

They’re right, I didn’t explain the details of that situation earlier. That connects to how I came to learn of the ancient contract.

As time passes, the feast gradually quietens down. Those who are still drinking continue to do so, while some have already begun falling asleep on the grassland. Such freedom…

But drinking and socialising on this vast expanse of land, with the night sky filled with countless stars – this sense of fulfilment is something that can only be experienced in the grasslands.

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

Roban approaches me. Even though he seems to have drunk quite a bit, his complexion hasn’t changed at all… I can see Karan rolling on the ground in the distance, though.

“Yes. I am truly grateful for this grand feast you have hosted.”

“Not at all. This is to celebrate the wedding of our lord, after all. And my daughter has become the wife.”

Roban emphasises the last part as he gestures towards the yurt on a small hill nearby.

“This is the first night for the newlywed lord and his wives. I’ve instructed that no one is to approach, save for the minimum guard. Now, I imagine you must be weary. Please, go and spend some time there in peace.”

“…………..!!”

Ah-aah, I see…So they are giving us this first night together to focus on…consummating the marriage! Well, it’s true that in a political marriage, producing children is paramount. And truthfully, after such a long time, I do have a strong desire to embrace my alluring wives.

As both the king and a man, I must be resolute in this…!

“Th-then… I-I suppose we should…g-go now, you t-two…”

“U-um, yes…”

“Very well…”

I stumbled over my words terribly there…