After-Story Chapter 26: The Eighth Consort (Part 3)

“…So, that’s how it turned out.”

One night, Juno came to the castle balcony and told us about the disbandment of her party. Of course, I already knew the rough details thanks to the carrier Kui that had arrived earlier. That was precisely why we were able to prepare this tea party. Joining me today were Liscia and Aisha. After listening to the story, Liscia took a sip of tea and spoke.

“I see. It is a happy occasion, but it is also lonely.”

“It is a parting from those you have worked with for so long, after all. It is only natural to feel that way,” Aisha agreed.

Juno nodded with a wry smile. “Yeah. To me, they’re like family, or siblings. While it’s something to celebrate, it’s definitely lonely, and I can’t imagine teaming up with anyone else.”

“Family… Speaking of which, Juno, what about your parents?” Liscia asked.

Juno shook her head. “They both passed away already. That’s why I was able to take up the carefree trade of an adventurer.”

Juno leaned back in her chair, looking up at the night sky with a troubled expression.

“I don’t intend to continue adventuring with anyone other than them, but it’s not like I have a family home to return to or a family business to inherit. Unlike Febral, I can’t think of anything I want to study or start anew. I’m just wondering what to do.”

She sounded like a student lost in their career path. Well, the situation was quite similar.

“We owe you and your party for your help during the war with the Great Tiger Empire. I can put in a good word for you for various jobs. If you want, I can even prepare a position for you at the Royal Castle,” I proposed.

Juno made a sour face. “Hmm… Working at the Royal Castle seems stiff and I’d hate it. Besides, if we’re talking about jobs for retired adventurers, there’s the Adventurers Guild. They’re always recruiting people who know the field for reception and paperwork duties. So, I’m fine regarding a job.”

“Hmm? Then what exactly are you confused about?”

“Ah, well, that’s…” Juno looked away awkwardly and scratched her cheek. She seemed to be searching for words. “It’s just… seeing Julia and Dis talking so happily about married life, it kind of got to me… I started thinking about marriage, having a family, making children, that sort of thing. But, to get married, you need a partner, and if I had to say which member of the opposite sex I trust the most…”

Juno sent a meaningful glance my way.

“Eh, me?”

“…It would be the Master of Musashi Boy-kun.”

“That one?!”

Well, certainly, having adventured together through Musashi Boy-kun, I know Juno places her trust in the costumed adventurer Musashi Boy-kun, whom I control. For some reason, even though Musashi Boy-kun can’t speak and communicates via flip-boards, Juno seems to understand my (the main body’s) intentions even without me expressing them.

“…Is Juno the type who directs romantic love toward dolls?”

I recall that being called the Pygmalion Complex. People with such predilections do exist.

Juno frantically shook her head. “No, no! I feel a kinship with the humanity I sense from Musashi Boy-kun’s Master… how should I put it? It feels like Souma is always inside him? So even talking to Souma like this, it feels like I’m talking to Musashi Boy-kun’s Master.”

“O-Oh?”

Is it like referring to the voice actor of an anime character or the actor playing the pre-transformation hero as “the person inside”? Recognizing the person portraying the character rather than the character itself. In our terms, it’s like equating Ivan Juniro with Silvan, or Kagetora with Ge… no, those are completely different people. Yup.

“Munch, munch… Does that mean Juno’s beloved is His Majesty?”

Aisha had been more focused on the tea snacks than the conversation with Juno, but it seems she was listening after all.

Then, “Why don’t you just become a consort? We’ve known you for a long time, Juno, so we’d welcome you,” Liscia chimed in with something outrageous.

“No, why are you so enthusiastic about this?”

“Well, maybe it’s because of the peace, but the topic of Souma’s eighth consort keeps coming up in vulgar newspapers like Palsupo. It’s decreased recently, but we can’t guarantee that women who take it seriously—or their parents—won’t try to get close to Souma. I feel it would be less trouble to fill that slot with a woman we know and trust.”

“That’s your reason!?”

“There’s also the promise of ‘spending one day a week with each consort,’ and if we can tie up Souma’s time, we can easily dismiss any rumors of hidden children.”

“Well, I certainly wouldn’t have time for that!?”

I mean, even now, Tomoe-chan organizes my schedule considering the health of each consort, so there’s absolutely no way I have time to spend with women other than my wives (excluding work). Well, the citizens have no way of knowing those circumstances, so they probably fantasize as they please.

Watching our exchange, Juno smiled wryly. “Well, I wouldn’t mind marrying Souma. I’m sure he’d let me do what I like even after marriage. But, as I said before, living in the Royal Castle just doesn’t suit my nature. Becoming a consort is way out of my character.”

Wait, she’s fine with the marriage itself? The women around here are surprisingly dry about that. In a world where marriage is seen more as a union between houses than individuals, even among commoners, the ability to continue living one’s life as before seems to be attractive from a female perspective.

As I was thinking this, Liscia, who was coolly sipping tea, said nonchalantly, “Then it’s simple. You don’t have to become a consort; just register the marriage.”

Juno and I both tilted our heads.

“Huh? Is that allowed?”

“Eh, is that an option?”

Liscia responded to our doubts with a calm face. “It sounds bad to say, but a consort doesn’t really have work to do in peacetime. We are asked to produce heirs, but… we already have Cian and Kazuha, so we aren’t being pestered about it. Other than that, it’s just acting as a representative of the country alongside the King during ceremonies and rituals. Historically, they might have held salons or engaged in factional disputes, but we consorts all get along.”

“I-I see…” Juno said with a stunned expression.

Liscia said it casually, but the reason factional disputes don’t occur is that each consort has their own field of expertise and prefers to focus on that rather than political strife. Also, First Primary Queen Liscia properly manages the consorts (and me, of course), and everyone respects her.

No, really. I am no match for Liscia, yes (why did I start talking like Poncho?).

Liscia smiled at Juno. “My assistance with state affairs and Aisha’s role as Souma’s guard are things we do because we like to, not because they are obligations. Lady Juna, Roroa, Naden, Maria, Yuriga—everyone is doing what they like. So, Juno, just because you become Souma’s wife doesn’t mean you’ll be required to act ‘consort-like.’ I think living in town would be no problem.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. …Though, since Souma’s bloodline is apparently valuable, if a child is born, we will have to assign guards to watch over them from the shadows.”

Saying that, Liscia stared intently at me. Somehow, receiving that gaze made me feel incredibly awkward. I felt like she was implying things like:

‘The bloodline of the Old Humans is important, you see. More so than the Elfrieden royal bloodline.’ ‘We want to secure as many heirs as possible who can handle super-science.’ ‘Various countries are already asking to adopt Souma’s children because they want his bloodline.’ ‘The more children, the better, right? Isn’t that a perk for you, Souma?’

…As I shrank back feeling small, Juno blinked her eyes.

“Is it really okay? To not become a consort and live in town?”

“Yes. But are you okay with that, Juno? Of course, we won’t let you struggle financially, but if you lived in the Royal Castle, you’d have stewards to take care of you and could live without any inconvenience.”

“No, no, that’s just not my style! I don’t like being fussed over more than necessary, and I really want to live freely in town. But if you say that’s allowed, then I’d like to positively consider marrying Souma.”

“Yes. We don’t mind.”

Juno and Liscia smiled at each other. Aisha was also nodding with satisfaction. …It seems no one is asking for my opinion. With every new consort, the women band together, and now I have almost no say. Well, even so, Liscia and the others care for and support me as I shoulder the country, so it’s not painful.

Juno is a comfortable colleague, a comrade-in-arms… well, I don’t dislike her, so I have no objection to marrying her… but, still…

Liscia: Are you the type who wants a lavish wedding, Juno?
Juno: No, I don’t really want anything flashy… but maybe a small one where I invite my friends. Aisha: That sounds nice. I would definitely like to attend.
Liscia: True. In that case, shall we rent out a countryside church? But we can make the dress, interior, and food very high quality.
Juno: Can we do that?
Liscia: We have plenty of connections. We could even get Soji to be the priest.
Juno: Eh, isn’t he the top of the Lunarian Orthodox Church now…?
Aisha: Considering we need to place guards, if the venue is too small, it will be hard to secure. Liscia: Then let’s just build a new one. With Souma’s pocket money.

“…” (Slurp)

Placed outside the mosquito net while the three women chatted happily, I sipped my tea feeling a little lonely.

After several discussions following that, it was decided that Juno would marry me. However, she was not announced as a consort; the marriage itself was disclosed only to very close individuals, and a gag order was placed on those who knew the truth.

After the marriage, Juno continues to live in town, working at the reception of the Adventurers Guild. In Juno’s house, I have stationed Musashi Boy-kun, implanted with my consciousness, to handle all the housework in place of her, as she works. And as for me, the main body, I visit her once a week. Not a visiting wife, but a commuting husband? I feel somewhat like a Heian aristocrat (though my ride is a Black Dragon, not an ox carriage).