After-Story Chapter 28: The Eighth Consort (Part 5)

“So? So? How did you two get together?”

As soon as I revealed my identity, Julia, brimming with curiosity, immediately pressed Juno for details.

“What do you mean ‘get together’? You guys were all there when we first met. The exploration under the Royal Capital.”

“That was Musashi Boy-kun, wasn’t it? When did you find out his real identity?”

“Um… wait, when was it?”

When Juno looked at me, I searched my memory too.

“We had quite a few near-misses. Like I said earlier, I was inside Musashi Boy-kun at the party held at the Royal Castle, and she must have seen my real face at the refugee camp. And then… Ah, we met with Kou and the others when we fought the zombie ogre in the Republic.”

“Ahh! That was you too, Souma?!”

“Why are you surprised, Juno~?” Julia said, exasperated. Looking back, we really do have a lot of connections.

“I revealed my identity after returning from the Republic, so… roughly a year before the coronation?”

“About that, right? I was killing time in the capital when I saw Musashi Boy’s Master in town. I followed him out of curiosity, and he went right into the Royal Castle.”

“Haa?! You went inside the Royal Castle?!” Dis’s eyes widened.

It’s natural to be surprised. In terms of my previous world, it’s like breaking into the Prime Minister’s official residence. In my previous world, you’d just get arrested unless you had a weapon, but with the values of this world, you couldn’t complain even if you were cut down on sight. It’s a crime, plain and simple.

Juno frantically shook her head. “I didn’t go in because I wanted to! By the time I realized the Master had connections to the Royal Castle, I was already surrounded by Souma’s scary guards. And when I tried to escape them, I was semi-forcibly guided to Souma.”

“If we left her alone, she could have been cut down as a suspicious person. So we took her into custody. Since then, under the guise of late-night tea parties, I’ve often had her come to the castle to chat.”

When I said this with a sigh, Julia gave a meaningful smile and said, “Heeeh~?”

“Juno, you’re so bold~. Having secret trysts with the King night after night~.”

“Don’t make it sound so scandalous! The Queens were present at most of those tea parties!”

“So it’s officially recognized by the legal wives? That level of preparation is almost off-putting~.”

“Why?!”

Juno’s face turned bright red at Julia’s teasing. If I interjected poorly, it might backfire, so I had no choice but to watch with a wry smile.

Then Dis groaned, as if convinced. “I see. Now I understand why Juno was the only one finding quests where the state was the client, like promoting the ‘Ghost Festival’ or recruiting adventurers for the advance dispatch to the New World. Musashi Boy’s… no, His Majesty was the one requesting them.”

“Yeah. After my identity was revealed, I asked Juno to bring those requests. Also, you can call me Souma or Musashi Boy’s Master, whichever you prefer.”

“Is that so? Then, Souma. Do you intend to welcome Juno into the castle as a consort? Honestly, I don’t think castle life suits Juno…”

Julia, Febral, and Augus all nodded at Dis’s words. Juno got angry again, saying, “What’s that supposed to mean!”, but they were probably worried as comrades. Worried not so much about her getting caught up in power struggles… but rather that Juno wouldn’t be able to live as Juno.

They all understood that Juno’s innocent nature was her charm. So they were worried that Juno might feel suffocated living in the Royal Castle. I understood their feelings well, so I nodded.

“That part is fine. Following Juno’s wishes, we’ll register the marriage but won’t make her a consort. I’ll be the one visiting Juno, who will live in the castle town. I won’t let her struggle financially, and I respect Juno’s will to work at the Adventurers Guild.”

“Ah, you have thought it through properly.”

“By the way, this policy is fully supported by Liscia and the other wives. In fact, Juno and the wives decided everything, and there was barely any room for my opinion.”

“Wait, why is Souma, the husband-to-be, being left out?”

“…Dis.” I placed my hand on Dis’s shoulder. I probably looked incredibly benevolent. “As a married senior, I have advice for you, who are about to get married.”

“W-What is it?”

“If the wives’ community bands together, the husband has no chance of winning.”

“Eh…”

“Being a good wife and wise mother seems to be a national trait. Their love for their children and husband is deep, and basically, they support their husbands. But at the same time, the solidarity among wives is strong. If you rest on your laurels because of the love directed at you and neglect your wife, you’ll be blamed by other wives. Sooner or later, you won’t be able to stand tall as a man.”

Dis gasped at my words, which were filled with real experience. “I-Is that… so?”

“Yeah. Suppose I neglect Juno. I’d be criticized by Liscia and the others, and the children would look at me with contempt. Also, since everyone is active in their respective fields, just being ignored could cause the domestic administration to collapse.”

“Isn’t that a national crisis?! You’re called the Lustful King, but is that the reality?!”

“Well, our case is quite unique, but every household I know is similar. Like the guy called the Red Ogre who can’t stand up to his childhood friend, or the Black Tiger Mask who married into the family of a widow… Wait, in his case, is it his first marriage, not remarriage? Anyway.”

“Then… maybe Julia too?”

Dis looked fearfully at Julia, his intended bride. Julia just smiled sweetly. She’s a gentle beauty and looks kind… but somehow, that smile reminds me of Juna.

“…I think she has the potential.”

“Seriously?”

“But their love is certainly deep. Accept it, respect it, and understand that you’re being manipulated in the palm of their hands. If you let yourself be rolled around, you can build a happy family. I guarantee this too.”

“O-Oh. Is that… how it is?”

When I patted his back, Dis nodded, looking somewhat tense. The wives of the Kingdom will cherish you as long as you cherish them. As long as he doesn’t forget that, he’ll be fine. The unmarried group, Febral and Augus, seemed slightly put off, though.

I cleared my throat to change the atmosphere. “Anyway, even if it was through a costume, we adventured together. If not just Juno, but you guys, Dis, have anything you want to ask, let me know. I can’t do anything too overt, but I can probably help with job placement or putting in a good word.”

“Ah, in that case, there is one thing I would like to ask…” Febral raised his hand timidly.

“Hm? What is it?”

“Lord Ichiha, the authority on monsterology, is your subordinate… Your Highness Souma’s subordinate, correct?”

“Ichiha? He’s my sister-in-law’s husband, so he’s also a relative… What about him?”

“Please! I would love to meet him! And if possible, become his apprentice!”

“O-Oh…”

He approached with such intensity that it was my turn to be taken aback. Come to think of it, I heard from Juno that Febral was deeply impressed by the monster encyclopedia compiled by Ichiha and Hakuya and worshiped Ichiha like a god. It seemed that passion had not cooled down.

“A-Alright. I’ll set up a meeting with Ichiha later.”

“Thank you very much!”

As I was overwhelmed by Febral’s enthusiasm, Julia quietly approached Juno, who was watching with exasperation, and whispered in her ear.

(Fufufu. You managed to snag a good husband, didn’t you?) (Julia?! …W-Well, yeah.) (Be happy, Juno.) (Y-Yeah. Thanks, Julia.)

Later, Juno told me about this conversation, and I felt a little embarrassed.

And time returns to the present. As I walked with Juno, who has long been my wife, carrying the laundry basket, I recalled those days. It seems Febral, who was hesitant about marriage back then, is finally settling down too, and I realize how fast time flows.

“By the way, Souma. Do you remember?”

I snapped back to reality as Juno spoke to me. “Hm? Remember what?”

“The day I first learned your true identity. What I said to you on the castle balcony.”

On the balcony? Which one was that? As I racked my brain, Juno giggled and said,

“Come on, I told you this: ‘If you ever get sick of castle life, just say so. I’ll take you out on an adventure anytime.’“

“Ah. You did say that.”

“Don’t you think this life we have now is keeping that promise? I’m providing a place of rest for you, tired from the Royal Castle. Well, whether it’s an adventure or not is debatable.”

Juno said this somewhat shyly. It was somehow cute, so I held the laundry basket under one arm and wrapped my free arm around Juno’s shoulder, pulling her close.

“…That’s true. But in that case, I said something too. ‘If you ever want to settle down, let me know.’ ‘If it’s a job, I can help you find one.’“

“Fufu. Well, since I have a family, I guess I’ve settled down. You helped me find a job too… And, I got something precious.”

Just as Juno said that and opened the back door,

“Ah, Toto-shan!”

A boy about three years old with green hair came running from inside the house. I put down the laundry basket and picked him up.

“I’m home, Luca.”

This child’s name is Luca Minazuki. He is the child born between Juno and me. He’s a boy who inherited my amber eyes and Juno’s green hair and mischievousness. He was kicking his arms and legs energetically even now.

Luca tilted his head. “Home? Toto-shan was home, all the time.”

“Ah… was I?”

It seems Luca thinks that I am inside Musashi Boy-kun, who stays at home all the time doing housework, and that I occasionally take off the costume and come out… or something like that. Although when he was even smaller, he thought Musashi Boy-kun was ‘Toto-shan,’ so when I showed up once a week, he would cry his eyes out, thinking a stranger was in the house.

After Juno and I desperately taught him that both were ‘Toto-shan,’ he seems to have settled on his current understanding. We can explain the details when he gets older.

“Alright, Luca. What do you want for lunch? I’ll make anything.”

“Churu-churu!”

“Udon, huh? Okay, let’s make udon.”

Luca seems to like udon, so whenever I ask for a request, he usually answers udon, so I had the ingredients ready.

As I rocked Luca up and down to amuse him, Juno called out, “Souma.”

Wondering what it was, I turned around,

…Mmph.

Our lips met. Luca clapped his hands, saying, “Kissing~.” Being watched so blatantly was slightly embarrassing. When Juno pulled away, her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she grinned.

“Don’t just pay attention to Luca; pay attention to me too. Husband.”

Hearing the word ‘husband’ spun with a different meaning than in the past, my cheeks couldn’t help but relax into a smile.