Volume 7 Chapter 1 Shifa・Secundadi
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s kindness. Being from the countryside, I am not well-versed in the etiquette of the palace. I apologize for any rudeness; please forgive me, considering I am a barbarian from the South District.”
Quickly, I decided to ask Your Majesty for permission to be rude, to silence the surrounding nobles.
Although I had mastered the etiquette skill, I hadn’t expected to come to the palace, so I hadn’t acquired the advanced-level skill.
”You are an interesting man. Indeed, worthy of being Arbalest’s son-in-law, your words are amusing. You are the first to ask for forgiveness for rudeness. Hmm, very well. I will specially overlook your etiquette towards me.”
The courtiers murmured at Your Majesty’s words.
They seemed displeased that I was exempted from etiquette by Your Majesty.
The bearded Asura Clan elder in the front row to my left shouted in a reprimanding tone at Shifa.
”Your Majesty! What are you saying? You cannot make such decisions without Lord Gwain’s approval!”
”Oh? Do you say I need Lord Gwain’s permission to make decisions? I am not Lord Gwain’s puppet! I decide what I do. Stand down!”
The bearded courtier, reprimanded by Shifa, hung his head and moved to the back of the line.
”Lord Blackdagger, from now on, you are my comrade. I trust you, Kent.”
”Hah, I am deeply moved by Your Majesty’s kindness. To be called a comrade by someone like me is an immense joy.”
I was breaking out in a cold sweat at Your Majesty’s words.
That’s because, when I consider Your Majesty’s current statement, it seemed like a widening gulf was forming between Your Majesty and Gwain.
And it seemed like Your Majesty was looking for a replacement for Gwain as a backer, too. This back-and-forth gave off that impression.
”Besides, you’re my brother-in-arms, aren’t you? My wife, Irmgard, is Miriallia’s half-sister. My father-in-law and your father-in-law are real brothers. So, you and Kent are related. Therefore, formalities are unnecessary”
”Well, I suppose that’s true. My lord, and Your Majesty, are indeed related…”
As Shifa said, I’m married to Miriallia, Gwain’s daughter. And, since our fathers-in-law are brothers, it’s understandable that we’d be considered close relatives.
But, I certainly didn’t want to be associated with him as a relative.
Being related to Shifa meant I couldn’t avoid facing Gwain.
I hadn’t met him yet, but judging by what my mother-in-law and Milly had told me, he was clearly not someone I wanted to be involved with.
I even thought he’d probably look down on me.
”Age-wise, I’m the older one… well then, Kent will be my brother-in-law. I’ve made this decision. No one can overturn it!”
”Hold on! Lord Blackdagger was a commoner not long ago, and part of the Majin Clan! To suddenly make him Your Majesty’s brother-in-law! Lord Gwain and Lady Fabulanova would be furious if they heard this! Your Majesty, please don’t speak so lightly about such a thing!”
Veris tried to rein in Shifa’s recklessness and encourage him to reconsider, but Shifa shook his head.
”I am the Demon Lord!”
Shifa had apparently broken free from being Gwain’s puppet.
But, I’d rather not be dragged into that conflict.
”Your Majesty, I am deeply honored by Your Majesty’s kindness. However, to be casually named as Your Majesty’s brother would tarnish Your Majesty’s prestige. I believe it would be more appropriate for this occasion to follow the suggestion of Prince Verice.”
”Kent, do you not wish to become my brother?”
Shifa’s composed face twisted with anger.
”No, that is not the case. However, I am content to be considered Your Majesty’s peer. Any further favor could stir jealousy among those present, so I would like to decline.”
The look of anger on Shifa’s face faded after hearing my explanation.
It seemed he hadn’t considered that.
”Indeed, my judgment was mistaken. I had not thought it through. Well said, Kent! You shall be rewarded for this counsel. Ask anything you wish.”
This might be a chance.
I immediately decided to beg Your Majesty for the matter I had been entrusted with by Garvey.
”Haha! In that case, I would like to increase the number of troops in the South District army by about 5 thousand. The South District is still plagued by monsters in the streets, and we require many soldiers for their subjugation. As a reward for this counsel, I humbly request the reinforcement of our troops.”
”Is it acceptable to increase the South District army?”
Shifa looked surprised.
However, whispers of negative opinions could be heard from the surrounding courtiers, such as ‘Lord Blackdagger is probably trying to make money off the army…’ and ‘There’s no way we can organize a regular army of 5 thousand in the sparsely populated South District.
”Yes. If the South District army reaches a size of ten thousand, it will increase the stability of the South District and, in turn, enhance the safety and prosperity of the capital.”
”…Very well. By my authority, I will establish the South District army as a regular force of ten thousand. If Lord Gwain is reluctant to fund the military expenses, use my personal fortune to cover it.”
A cry rose from the royal courtiers.
According to information from Milly, the Kingdom army had been so active in recent military actions that they had already dipped into a significant portion of next year’s military budget.
If an additional burden of forming a new regiment of 5 thousand men were to be added, it was hard to imagine Gwain agreeing to it.
However, since Shifa had declared she would invest her personal funds, it seemed feasible to secure the funds for the South District army’s expansion.
Hmm, not a bad His Majesty after all… I thought they’d be more of a tough character, what with all the Asura Clan favoritism being thrown around… Maybe Gwain is the one behind the Asura Clan favoritism, huh?
”Haha, what a fortunate happiness.”
The courtiers were still in a state of panic.
”It was interesting to meet Kent today.”
”I’m honored to have met Your Majesty.”
Shifa stood up from the throne, and a guard signaled.
”Your Majesty is retiring!”
Shifa left the throne and retreated to her private chambers.
After that, we exited the audience chamber before being subjected to the stern gazes of the assembled courtiers and returned to the palace that served as our lodging, guided by Veris.
* * *
Upon returning to the palace, an unexpected situation awaited us.
”I’m home… Just got back… Wait, who’s there?”
”Oh, welcome back, Kent. Did you get to meet His Majesty?”
Milly, who had been continuing her cleaning, asked.
”Oh, yeah, I did. He’s a good guy. Seems generous, and we seem to get along well.”
”Certainly. He’s a person of great capacity, having accepted the cancellation of our engagement with a smile. But he’s not blessed with good people around him.”
”Isn’t Veris here? Isn’t he His Majesty’s right-hand man?”
”Yes, but it’s not just about one person. There’s nothing we can do.”
While talking to Milly, I couldn’t help but glance at the unfamiliar person I kept seeing out of the corner of my eye.
”Ah, um! Dear Big Sister Milly. Is this Elder Brother Kent?”
A boy who was sweeping the floor ran up to me.
He looked at me with sparkling, admiring eyes.
”…Uh, excuse me. Who are you?”
”My little sister. To be precise, she’s the daughter of my mother’s best friend, so she’s not actually related by blood, but she’s like a foster daughter. Miriel. This is my master──Kent. Say hello.”
As she said that, Milly took off my glasses.
”Hey! Milly!”
”It’s okay to take them. But since she’s a minor, no sex. As a trade, you’re allowed to do anything. Both my mother and I, and Milly, agree to that.”
In front of me stood a young succubus girl with long hair, still retaining a hint of youthfulness, standing nervously.
Her overall appearance felt immature, but her physique was starting to show the femi9 lines characteristic of her race.
──Handsome Guy Skill activated[Milly]friendliness significantly increased
──[Milly] status: changed to favorable
”Elder Brother Kent… you are indeed the owner (master) of Dear Big Sister Milly… oh, sorry! I haven’t said hello yet. My name is Miriel. I’ve adopted by Mother-in-law Lila.”
Lila, her adoptive mother…
”To make a long story short, Miriel’s mother, Nina, was once owned by the same Gwain as my mother, Lila. But because of Gwain’s mistake, she was imprisoned and died after giving birth to Miriel. Gwain didn’t acknowledge this child, so my mother secretly raised Miriel, her best friend’s daughter, as her own. That’s why I wanted you to meet Miriel, Kent. My mother asked me to bring her here because things in the capital are getting suspicious.”
Milly gave me a brief explanation of Miriel.
It seems she is Gwain’s daughter, making her Milly’s half-sister.
”Mother-in-law should have told me sooner… Miriel, right? Welcome to my Blackdagger family. Miriel is my stepsister, then. Nice to meet you.”
When I offered her a handshake, she blushed slightly but reached out and took it.
As Miriel and I shook hands, Annabella, who had been lurking behind us, whispered,
”Sir Kent, Lady Milly, what should we do about Miriel?”
”She’s a candidate for a concubine. But until she comes of age, I plan to have her learn proper manners under Ms. Annabella’s tutelage. She’s family, but she won’t get special treatment. Right, Milly?”
Milly, when asked, nodded so energetically that it looked like her head might pop off.
”Y-yes! Dear Big Sister Milly, Elder Brother Kent, and Lila, stepmother, if I can live near you, I’ll do anything! I’ll cook, do laundry, even…anything!”
”Lady Miriel, becoming Sir Kent’s concubine means you’ll need to study many things. I will teach you about your duties.”
”Lady Annabella, thank you for your guidance.”
”…Um, she’s still a minor, so I’m worried about what the villagers will say if I…”
”Yes, Mother also said that you should learn the Dream Demon Clan’s erotic arts before you come of age.”
”…Speaking of Milly’s sisters, His Majesty Shifa’s wife is also her half-sister, right?”
”Ah, those girls? They’re only full of pride and useless. I think Miriel will be much more helpful.”
It seems Milly and her sisters don’t get along.
However, Lila, mother-in-law, has been close to Miriel from a young age.
”Elder Brother Kent, when I come of age, please make me one of your possessions.”
Miriel lowered her head slightly and shyly hid behind Milly.
”…Yeah, I will. Please book me as your master’s.”
And so, another beautiful woman came to be by my side.
Belt Veris
- Title: Count of Rakshasa Clan
- Role: Engineer, Male (65 years old)
- Background: A noble from the Rakshasa Clan, Belt Veris is a skilled political strategist who has navigated the royal court with intelligence and charm. He quickly sees the rift between Shifa and Gwain, and becomes one of Shifa’s closest confidants. Veris also has connections to the Black Dragon Dukedom and is looking to use Kent’s influence from the South District to oppose Gwain.
—
Miriel
- Clan: Dream Demon Clan (Succubus)
- Age: 13 years old
- Height: 154 cm
- Weight: 49 kg
- Measurements: B: 86, W: 57, H: 85 (E cup)
- Hair Color: Reddish blonde
- Eye Color: Blue
- Skin: Fair
- Hairstyle: Long hair with ribbons on both sides (not in a ponytail)
- Self-described: “Me”
Character Description
Miriel is the daughter abandoned by Gwain without recognition. Her mother, Nina, was a close friend of Lila, and they were as close as real sisters. During an expedition, Nina took responsibility for a mistake caused by Gwain and became a decoy. After being imprisoned, Nina gave birth to Miriel. Although Gwain agreed to raise the child, he discarded her when Nina disappeared in prison, leaving Miriel in an orphanage in the royal capital. Lila, aware of Gwain’s betrayal, secretly took Miriel from the orphanage and raised her in the royal capital.
Miriel admires Milly and wishes to be like her. Despite living in the South District, Milly continued to support Miriel, and as the capital grew more dangerous, she called for Miriel to join them. Milly learned about Gwain discarding Miriel’s mother and decided to take her under Kent’s care.
Miriel is bright, serious, pure, and has a cute, ordinary girl’s personality. Milly sees Miriel’s abilities as valuable, even more so than her half-sisters, and considers her a candidate for the next clan leader.
Miriel understands that if she doesn’t work hard, she won’t be able to stay by the side of Milly, Lila (her future mother-in-law), and Kent, who is meant to be her owner. She strives to acquire knowledge and experience, though as a concubine candidate, she’s still a minor and is not allowed to be held yet. However, she’s permitted to learn “adult” things as part of her education.
Titles:
Kent: Elder Brother
Milly: Dear Big Sister Milly
Lila: Lila (her future mother-in-law)
Miriel has never met Gwain.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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