Chapter 111 The Princess’s Engagement
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The next day, after exploring the Elven Forest and obtaining the rare [Rainbow Moss].
As I passed through the school gates, I sensed the students were more calm than usual. Everywhere in the corridors, young ladies gathered in groups, speaking quietly among themselves–yet with an clear air of excitement.
”Somehow, it’s noisier than usual,” I muttered.
Amid that busy atmosphere, I entered my classroom, and my classmates–and marriage partners–Cecilia and Lizel hurried over to me at once.
”Xenos-sama! Have you already heard the rumors?”
”I hear Princess Elenor’s engagement has been officially decided!”
At those words, something in the depths of my chest–
I felt as if a cold thorn had pricked me, piercing deep.
I’d known this future would come inevitably.
But when faced with reality, my heart ached far more than I’d expected.
The Royal Academy of Magic, Arcanum–where the children of the kingdom’s high-class families gathered. Here, they studied difficult magic, did hands-on training, and made the connections needed for their future social standing.
The final period of student life–
The same as what, in my past life, one might call “university.”
Upon graduation, everyone would step out into the world as full adults.
And Elenor, as an upperclassman, would soon be graduating as well.
And immediately after graduation, she would be married off via political marriage to some noble house–
”…So. Who’s the other party?”
I already knew the answer, but I asked the two of them anyway.
”It seems to be Bartholomeus Crowley-sama, who’s also on the Student Council!”
”Now that I think of it, that fits. After all, he’s from the Duke Crowley Family.”
The Duke Crowley Family was a famous noble house that had the Dwarf Tribe under its control–one of the most important in the kingdom. Their large production capabilities allowed them to mass-produce good-quality weapons at low price. The great wealth they’d gained, and their powerful army strength…
As a marriage partner for Elenor–
It was extremely reasonable, to say the least.
With the conflict between the Peace Faction and our own Pro-War Faction growing stronger every day. Princess Liliana, who had been kidnapped the other day, remained missing. The Holy Knights of the royal family had raided several buildings in their search for her, reportedly finding stockpiles of supplies that suggested preparations for an armed uprising.
Given this dark atmosphere, it was only natural for the royal family to seek stronger bonds with the Duke Crowley Family.
And yet, as for me–
My feelings were truly complicated.
Elenor would probably blush and deny it with all her strength, but there was no doubt that she was essentially my lover by now.
And the woman I’d claimed as mine was being sent to another man’s side.
I quietly swallowed the faint ache and loneliness in my heart–into the depths of my soul, where no one would notice.
But I wasn’t the only one carrying such empty loneliness.
In this big academy, there was at least one other–
Someone deeply sad by the news of Elenor’s sudden engagement.
After school, I searched for that man, Elliot, wandering through the still-cold academy grounds. The sunlight had begun to show spring, but the wind that blew still carried winter’s remaining touch.
As I walked through the courtyard, I ran into one of Prince Liam’s attendants–the large, green-haired man named Aldrick Stonewall.
”Oh, if it isn’t Grimlock.”
Unusually, he didn’t challenge me to a fight today. He sat alone on a bench, leaning back against it, staring blankly at the sky. Something sad shadowed his face.
It wasn’t that this guy had feelings for Elenor either–
But he seemed to have his own thoughts about her graduation and engagement.
For all that he was an utter muscle-brain–
He apparently had normal human feelings.
Perfect timing.
I’d ask him.
”Yeah, Aldrick. Good timing. –Do you know where your partner, the ‘shitty glasses,’ is?”
”Huh? Oh, Elliot? I think he already headed to the Student Council Room.”
I see.
So he was already on his way there.
”Got business with him or something?”
”Yeah. I thought I’d cheer him up a little. –The girl he’s got feelings for, his beloved Princess Elenor, is set to marry another man. He’s probably sad alone right about now.”
When I honestly explained my purpose–
”…Huh? Wait, what!? That guy… had feelings for Lady Elenor!?”
”Yeah. What, you didn’t notice?”
Aldrick looked genuinely, exaggeratedly shocked.
”Wha–damn it! That bastard’s so secretive! You’re supposed to tell your friends stuff like that!”
”Well, he’s gloomy and shy. He couldn’t exactly open up about his problems. –So I figured, in times like this, it’s better to make him get his mind off things.”
I ended up heading to the Student Council Room together with Aldrick.
I knocked before opening the door, and there were Elenor, the aforementioned Elliot, and her fiancé, Bartholomeus, all gathered together. And besides them, the other Student Council members were in the room as well.
Strange, I thought–but perhaps I only ever visited during off-hours; with this many people, this was probably just a normal day.
”What now, Grimlock! What business could you possibly have! You worthless trash dare to darken this sacred Student Council Room so casually, time and… wait, Aldrick! Why are you with a guy like this!?”
Elliot shrieked in his usually loud voice.
I completely ignored his protests and spoke to Elenor.
”Princess Elenor. For today, I’ll be borrowing this ‘shitty glasses’ from you.”
Without waiting for permission, I wrapped my arm around Elliot’s thin neck, forcibly locking him in what might as well have been a wrestling hold.
”…Elliot? Well, I don’t mind, but… what do you need him for?”
Elenor looked puzzled as well.
That’s when Aldrick turned to her and bowed his large frame deeply.
”My apologies for the sudden request, Lady Elenor! For today, please, entrust this guy to us!”
”…If you’re going that far, it must be something important. Very well. I won’t ask. I’m counting on you to take care of Elliot.”
I easily restrained Elliot’s desperately struggling body as if soothing a child, dragged him along–and together we headed for the carriage.
I glanced back at the Student Council Room. Elenor and her fiancé, Bartholomeus, were remarkably calm, as if nothing were out of the ordinary.
Just because the engagement had been decided didn’t mean they’d suddenly start acting all lovey-dovey.
Incidentally, after Elenor graduated from this academy, Bartholomeus was already scheduled to become the next Student Council President. As a member of the Duke Crowley Family, his position was perfect.
–A solid political marriage.
I whispered that to myself.
Feeling a faint sting of something painful.
—
Summary:
Xenos learns of Princess Elenor’s political engagement to Bartholomeus Crowley, hiding his own pain behind logical analysis before deciding to comfort Elliot, another man who loves her. He encounters Aldrick, who joins him in dragging Elliot away from the Student Council Room, where Elenor and Bartholomeus remain calm. The chapter closes with Xenos acknowledging the engagement as a solid political move while feeling a hidden ache, with an unresolved tension between his claimed relationship with Elenor and her upcoming marriage.
—
Trivia:
Xenos has already explored the Elven Forest and obtained the rare Rainbow Moss, mentioned in the opening line.
Cecilia and Lizel are not just classmates but also Xenos’s marriage partners, showing his large group-in-waiting status.
The Duke Crowley Family controls the Dwarf Tribe, giving them big production and military advantages.
Princess Liliana was kidnapped recently and remains missing, making the situation worse.
The Holy Knights found stockpiles of supplies suggesting people were getting ready for armed uprising during their search.
Aldrick Stonewall is an attendant to Prince Liam and normally challenges Xenos to fights.
Elliot has unrequited feelings for Elenor and is described as gloomy, shy, and arrogant.
Bartholomeus Crowley is scheduled to become the next Student Council President after Elenor’s graduation.
Xenos uses the rude nickname “shitty glasses” for Elliot, showing their past rivalry.
The Academy Arcanum serves as both a school and a way to make connections for nobles.
Notes:
• Cecilia – The eldest daughter of the Vermillion Duchy and a former saint, she is Xenos’s fiancée and one of his romantic interests. Known for her flame-red hair, blue eyes, and pet, Lumiá, she possesses a cold yet playful nature. Though she rejected Prince Liam, she adores Kuuko and teases Lizel. Lilia shows no jealousy toward her. She occasionally uses a ring to adopt a revealing dancer’s disguise.
• Lizel – A petite, graceful Blanchet count’s daughter, wind mage, and academy student with pink twin-tails, purple eyes, and a signature smirk. Known for her protective, anxious tsundere nature, she is Luca Dalton’s fiancée, Grimlock’s classmate, and Cecilia’s friend. Disguised in a dancer’s costume, she walks the “Path of Light” and is one of Xenos’s devoted romantic interests whom Lilia does not resent.
• Xenos – Job: Heir to a high-ranking noble house; Relationship: Owner of Lilia; Has romantic connections with Elenor, Cecilia, and Lizel; Item/Magic: Summoning magic, [Substitution Collars]; Note: Was caught up in a Royal Palace explosion and missed three days of school. Pragmatic and calculating personality. Job: Noble of Grimlock family, protagonist; Relationship: Manipulator of Princess Liliana, pursuing Serena; Item/Magic: [Ring of Transformation]; Note: Reincarnated villain with game knowledge, calculating and arrogant. Job: Theater Owner and noble of Grimlock family; Relationship: Fiancé to Cecilia; Item/Magic: Game knowledge/metaknowledge; Note: Reincarnated villain protagonist who knows the original game script.
• Elenor – Princess Elenor, the haughty, analytical “Saint of Light” and sister to Liliana, is a silver-blonde swordswoman and healer with gray-blue eyes. Though a noble princess and Grimlock’s fiancée, she is the protagonist’s submissive, magic-sealed slave. A tsundere torn between royal dignity and affection for Xenos, she balances sharp retorts with intense devotion, often appearing in revealing cosplay.
• Bartholomeus – First son of the Crowley family and student council member, which governs the Eisen mountain range where dwarves reside. Described as a plump, round-faced, harmless-looking noble with refined features befitting his high-ranking lineage. Wears a perpetually polished, gentle smile that softens the atmosphere around him. Member of the Crowley family who provided Xenos with information about dwarf blacksmiths in the Royal Capital.
• Crowley – Bartholomeus’ family name.
• Liliana – Known as the “Angel of the Asgard Kingdom” for her golden hair and sky-blue eyes, this princess is the younger sister of Prince Liam and Elenor. While maintaining a refined, angelic public facade, she is a manipulative mastermind who wields explosion magic. As Serena’s liege and the true culprit behind recent assassination attempts, she carefully hides her dark nature behind whispered, noble asides.
• Lilia – Xenos’s fiercely loyal, trauma-resilient Head Maid is a lovely, pale, busty woman with long dark hair, a chest tattoo, and a nullified crest. Dressed in a black uniform, she maintains refined, icy elegance when disciplining others, especially Elenor. While formal and efficient with guests, she masks deep, jealous anxiety for Xenos, finding her greatest joy in serving him and sleeping by his side.
• Elliot – Elliot Valias, a tall, slender, blue-haired noble and intellectual aide to Prince Liam, masks his deep, unrequited love for Elenor with crude, condescending arrogance. A pseudo-intellectual prone to quick accusations, he harbors murderous, freezing hostility toward Xenos Grimlock, driven by intense jealousy over Xenos’s intimacy with Elenor.
• Aldrick – Job: Aide to Prince Liam; Relationship: Subordinate to Liam; Appearance: Green-haired giant; Note: Battle-obsessed and simple-minded. Job: Holy Knight; Note: Muscle-headed battle maniac.
• Liam – Liam Asgard, the golden-haired, emerald-eyed First Prince of Asgard, is Liliana’s older brother and the liege of Elliot and Aldrick. Betrothed to Elisabeth, he is an arrogant yet fundamentally kind man who speaks with elegant grace. Though he underestimates his rival Xenos’s Zero Mana status, he shows consideration toward him, even as his obsessive pursuit of Cecilia threatens his political standing.
• Grimlock – Xenos’s family name.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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