T/N: Thanks for waiting for this update! I can’t apologize enough for this lateness, especially because the reason for the delay is that I got caught up in reading other light novels. T_T guilty

Please enjoy this chapter. I admit, I almost needed a blood transfusion from all the nosebleed scenes! Kyaaa! >_< Darius-sama is just ❤

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“About Dousha, I am thinking of bestowing it to Darius as a reward. Also, talks of promoting him into a general of the Second Army have been raised….”

“Wasn’t Darius a mercenary before? To raise his position up to becoming a General even though he is not this country’s citizen, is that alright?”

Frey reluctantly replied to Mari who was anxious, “Right from the start when the General who took command of the battlefield was dismissed from his duties by the Queen, the replacement of postings has been decided. On that point, the Queen’s flunkies, are trying to elevate Major General Darius to General in order to restore your good mood. Although there are problems with his character, if we take into consideration, his ability and this time’s achievements, it is a discussion we could assent to. There is no one else suitable anyway, and he is indifferent towards status so I think it may be good to temporarily make him a General. Although, the person, himself, might find it troublesome.”

“….. if that’s the case, then it can’t be helped, I guess,” Mari agreed, while feeling troubled.

She had told someone that she will give him territory or even gold and he had answered that he was not interested.

(….Huh?)

Thinking up to that point, something seems to be stuck in her thoughts.

(Did he not say there was something he wanted instead?)

“At any rate, Major General Darius will feel like it is troublesome to govern that territory. Let’s just place it under his name, and we will be in charge of governing it. We must return that town, and the kingdom, to normal condition, as soon as possible.”

“You’re right. We have to do our best.”

Since she completely agrees to that view, even as she felt like something was amiss, she nodded in assent.

“Yes, please do. However you’re probably tired today, right? You have to rest. What shall we do about your meal?”

Now that she was told this, Mari remembered that she did no more than go into the bath after returning from the battlefield. She was certainly tired but, she did not feel any hunger. Rather, with the scenes of the battlefield still flickering in her head, she simply could not muster an appetite.

“I don’t need to eat.”

“I guess you wouldn’t. I heard that even knights of valor, upon their return from the battlefield, would rather seek rest than a meal. The only ones who would have a healthy appetite immediately after returning from the battlefield, would be that bunch of mercenaries, starting from Major General Darius.”

“…. Darius.”

Even so, her thoughts get stuck on Darius’s name. Frey noticed Mari’s condition.

“Is there something about Major General Darius?”

Mari was thinking. At the time when she talked to Darius in the battlefield, because of the atmosphere of the place and the remnants of the Queen’s consciousness, she had the feeling that, she was not like herself. She remembers making an outrageous promise in the heat of the moment.

“……if my memory serves me right, I was asked about a reward for succeeding.”

“Reward for succeeding?”

“The reward for succeeding in the plan to capture the enemy commander alive. He said he had no interest in either gold or territory, if I’m not mistaken….!!”

‘Boom!’ as if to make this kind of sound effect, Mari’s face was dyed bright red. Being coloured red up to her ears, Mari began to be in a feverish frenzy.

“….Kyaa! Uwaa! Eeehh!!?” Mari writhed in her seat while randomly screaming.

“Mari?” Frey tried to peered into Mari, who was covering her face while screaming.

“Uhh, that… That’s ’cause! That wasn’t my… intention though! It’s not like I was lying but!! But.. at that time!” Mari had completely started to panic.

Frey clicked his tongue and gripped both of Mari’s shoulders, raised her face and firmly met her gaze.

“Mari! Please explain it in a way that I can understand.”

With a beauty’s intense close-up —- and what’s more, with chills of disgust creeping down her back in addition to that, Mari finally returned to her senses.

“I-I made a promise. To Darius. If the plan succeeds, I would let him hold me!”

Frey’s comprehension could not catch up with Mari’s statement.

“Hold…. what?”

“Me!”

“By who?”

“By Darius!”

Mari yelled as she turned bright red. Finally realising her meaning, Frey grandly clicked his tongue.

“Why would you make such a stupid promise?”

“That’s because… because, I was desperate at that time! I was thinking, we had to win no matter what. Furthermore, I did not think it was that big of a deal…..!”

Frey pressed down on both of Mari’s shoulders as she started to, once again, reveal signs of panicking.

“Please calm down. I will do something about it.”

“Huh? Really?”

Mari gazed at Frey as if hoping against all hope.

“It’s alright. If things go his way, it will hinder my plans, so, I will definitely let you avoid it.”

“…. plans?”

Was she just imagining it when she felt like there is something hidden behinds Frey’s words?
In that moment, as if it was perfectly timed, someone banged on the door.

“I will go,” while saying so, Frey let Mari sit on the sofa. He softly stroked Mari’s hair that has become disorderly in her panic.

Mari regretfully rubbed off the goosebumps on her arm while she continued to look at Frey’s back view as he headed for the door with a smile as if to encourage herself.

(Even though he’s beautiful and kind, this feeling of disgust….. they truly had a bad relationship)

Regretful as it is, there is nothing Mari can do. Frey, who just had a verbal exchange beside the door, called out to Mari, who was secretly sighing in her heart.

“Your Majesty, Major General Darius wishes for an audience.”

At the feared arrival of Darius, Mari’s face grew pale. Frey nodded as if to reassure Mari, who had gone pale.

There’s nothing she can do even if she struggled at this point. As he looked up at her, Mari answered.

“Let him through.”

Mari firmly watched the man as he entered alongside Frey. Frey stopped and stood around two meters away from the sofa where Mari sat, and used his eyes to indicate to the man that he should not get any closer than that.

Darius knit his brows in displeasure, but as expected he must have restrained himself. He came to a stop and stood alongside Frey, as he looked at Mari and smiled pleasantly. At that smile, Mari’s heart pounded as it beat faster. The destructive power of a beauty’s smile does not change even at a time like this.

What’s more, right now, in addition to Darius, Frey is here too.

Mari simply leaked out a sigh within her heart at the two contrasting handsome guys (ikemen) lined up in front of her.

With his knight uniform off, Darius had changed into plain clothes, an all-black top and pants. Slender and tall, although he was lean, his build made one feel that he had properly trained muscles. On his masculine face, floated a smile that looked like he had devoured people. Perhaps because of that, he somehow looked like a cheeky child.

It’s frightening how he does not look any less in comparison when standing next to Frey who gave off an otherworldly beauty.

In good humor, Darius smiled, “I came to take my reward.”

Mari shivered at Darius’s alluring gaze.

“About that, Major General Darius.”

When Frey interjected, Darius glared at him.

“Assistant Prime Minister Calvan. By no means did I even think that I would meet you in this room. Since when did you join in with the Queen’s flunkies?”

“I would like to return the exact same lines to you, Major General Darius. Not only that, it is a mystery that you still remain in this kingdom now that the war has ended. Were you not supposed to have preparations for running away?”

Listening to their sarcastic exchange, it was Mari who ended up feeling weary.

Darius’s face became more and more distorted.

“How do you know about that? You’re as shady a man as ever, aren’t you?….. Well, it doesn’t matter, right now, I don’t have any business with you. No matter how beautiful, I have no interest in men. Get out!”

“I, too, am not interested in you in that kind of sense,”Frey unhesitatingly continued to exchange words with Darius, “I have one important matter to discuss. For this time’s reward, will you please make do with something else in exchange?”

“I refuse!” Darius gave an immediate answer.

“We will hand over the territory of Dousha and as much gold as you want.”

“Not interested. Get out!”

Although it was a voice with enough intensity to freeze Mari’s spine, Frey just lightly shrugged his shoulders.

(Both of them are scary.)

Mari looked on, unable to interject.

“I believe it’s not such a bad deal though…. I guess it can’t be helped. Unwillingly, we’ll compromise, so can we get you to settle with a postponement of the reward?”

“How does that make you the one who’s yielding?…. and, postponement?” Darius asked in return in suspicion.

“That’s right, postponement. Actually, Her Majesty went to the battlefield, bringing the contraceptive with her, and forgot about it. If you have sexual intercourse, the Queen currently has a high probability of getting pregnant. —- Does Major General Darius have the resolve to become a royal father¹?”

Mari froze at the excuse that Frey suddenly brought out. It turns out that contraception in this world happens when the girl takes the medication. Frey is asking Darius if he is able to bear the responsibility of getting the Queen pregnant.

(Isn’t the reason to refuse him, way too far-fetched!?)

Mari screamed within her heart. The thoughts of the beautiful Assistant Prime Minister-sama were just outrageous.

“…… I say ‘No’ to getting killed.”

However, it seems like it was not that strange of a reason, for Darius. Although he was surprised, he pulled back and moaned without retorting about the reason itself, as he muttered those words in return.

(Getting killed?….) Mari was surprised.

“That’s right…. For you, being robbed of your freedom is equal to being killed,” Frey continues while nodding. “If you become the imperial father, our kingdom will grant you neither authority nor a position of power. So, even if you tried going to other countries, or become a mercenary for enemy countries, there will not be any problems. Because what matters to this kingdom is the future king, himself. However, other countries might not treat you as a mere mercenary as they did before, will they? No matter where you go, they will always see you as ‘The Father of Calculla Kingdom’s next king,’ and you might be forcibly restricted.”

Darius wore a serious face as he pondered and said, “….. I don’t need imperial power. I have no interest in politics, and neither do I intend to be shackled.”

“Even so, do you think that other countries can afford to continue treating the existence of the father of Calculla’s next king as a mere mercenary?”

Thinking that to be the case, Mari agreed. If Darius slept with Mari and she became pregnant with his child, the probability of that child becoming the next king is high. No matter what they say, it is the first child after all.

It is inconceivable for Darius to accept the resulting inconvenience when that time comes.

“Are you telling me to wait until the contraceptive takes effect? Even though it’s effects wear off quickly, doesn’t it take several weeks for that to start working?”

Irritated, Darius brushed his hair up. While he was like that, Frey dropped a bomb, “It might take a bit longer. We will have to make you wait until Her Majesty gets pregnant with my child.”

(Ehh? Ehh!? Eeeeeeehh!!) Mari’s mind went blank.

Darius wore a terrible scowling face. The aura he brought about had already gone worst.

“A sense of crisis was born among the high-ranking nobles, who found out that Her Majesty was injured in the battle this time. As a natural course of events, talks of having Her Majesty give birth to an heir as soon as possible, in preparation for the worst case scenario from here on out. There is no one more qualified than me as Prince Consort Candidate, is there?”

Even if she is asked about it, Mari cannot answer. However, since Darius does not deny it, then it must mean he is not mistaken.

“If it’s after the Queen’s pregnancy is confirmed, then you may do as you please anytime. Of course, if Major General Darius is willing to take on the position of Prince Consort, then I will immediately yield. Anyway, please accept the territory of Dousha; it’s an apology for making you wait.”

Mari held a slight killing intent towards Frey, who smoothly and carelessly said this.

(As if it’s just someone else’s problem…… Ah, but then again, is it not the case?)

“I don’t need territory,” displeased as ever, Darius answered.

“Please accept it. We’ll deal with the management. All you need to do is receive the taxes raised from the territory. In the future, if you change your mind and decide to become Prince Consort, it would be best to have numerous titles.”

“…..so it’s just my name that you want.”

“You’re smarter than I expected, aren’t you?”

Frey happily smiled in affirmation without even denying Darius’ analysis.

“It is the land that became the center for this rebellion. General Darius, the hero; it will become a restraining force for them.”

“You are as black-bellied as I expected, aren’t you?” Darius knit his eyebrows….. sighed grandly and faced Mari.

“Are you alright with that?”

His black eyes, tinged with earnestness, stared at Mari.

Mari was surprised upon realizing that those words were directed at herself.

(Eh? What? Is this person worrying about me?)

She had been confused because of how she has been tossed around by the different discussions since a while ago. Suddenly receiving concern from someone she least expected it from, both surprise and delight welled up from Mari’s heart. Now that she thought about it, after the battle ended as well, Darius defended her from Marquis Mydal.

(Well, the way he did it was a bit violent though.)

Mari spontaneously gave a gentle smile. It goes without saying, but the Queen is beautiful. After all, Mari has the same facial features as Frey, whom she thought of as a transcendental beauty.

A beautiful face that was too well-featured that it gave off a cold impression, was projecting a warm, gentle smile.

At the Queen’s never-before-seen childish smiling face, Darius’s and Frey’s eyes turned into circles.

“Thank you.”

Since it seemed like neither “it’s alright” nor “it’s not alright” would be a good answer, Mari conveyed her thanks to Darius for the time being.

(I have to say, Frey is just terrible. I’d like to think it’s just a lie he made up to manage the situation, but——- Just now, he certainly said “plan” so…..)

Mari slightly glared at Frey, filled with the intent to protest. When she did so, somehow, he was flustered in such a way that did not suit him, as he averted his gaze.

“Dammit!” Darius cursed. He roughly ruffled his hair, and walked towards Mari.

(Uwaa! D-don’t come near me~)

With what seemed like the Queen’s remnant feelings of disgust welling up, Mari desperately kept her face from cramping.

(He’s a good person, you know! Maybe?…… Do your best, me!)

As she told herself this, she instantly stood up from the sofa. Her body moved on its own because of being unable to bear being looked down on if she remained seated…… As expected, there’s a problem with the Queen’s personality.

With the gaudy room as the background, Darius, in his black clothes that stood out, drew close to Mari.

“I’ve acknowledged that I”ll wait. But I’ll have you put in some interest.”

“Eh?”

(Interest?….. or rather, you’re too close!)

With the intense close-up of a beauty, all she could feel was chills.

(Uwaaa!? In so many ways, I hate thiiiiis!)

Just when Mari tried to direct her gaze at Frey to seek for help, her face was grasped—– and his lips were on top of hers.

(Ehh!!)

Forcefully pushed down, as if to gnaw at her, she was wrapped by him. A warm tongue traced Mari’s lips repeatedly.

(M-my first kiss!?)

It may not be something to brag about but, Mari has no experience in going out with someone of the opposite sex. It may be because her uncle, who doted on his niece, was strict when it came to male-female interaction, that she was an absolute amateur in love.

Mari can be easily lead around by a skilful guy.

“Ah….”

Darius gently stroked Mari’s back as he embraced her, and used the gap when she let out her voice, to slide his tongue in. He tasted the inside of Mari’s mouth, tracing her row of teeth, teasing her tongue.

“Fuu… uuhh.. mmm…..” sounds of her gasping naturally leaked out. Something different from chills ran through her body, and her hips felt like collapsing.

(….No!)

Mari, who had gone limp and was about to entrust her body to Darius, gripped on the back of the sofa, which she had held on to before she knew it. She absolutely must not collapse.

(….. as if I would let myself expose such a shameful sight.) Mari strongly thought.

Perhaps her thoughts were transmitted through, Darius finally released her from the long kiss. Mari’s reddened face was so sensual and beautiful to the point that it could captivate any man at a single glance.

Darius thoroughly gazed at Mari’s face. There, his eyes stopped at Mari’s hands that had gone white up to her fingertips from gripping the sofa, and he laughed in satisfaction.

“I knew it, I’m fine with you.”

“—– If you’re satisfied now, then may we please ask you to leave?” Frey’s terribly cold voice reached Mari’s ears from closer than expected. When she looked, she saw Frey’s hand on Darius’s shoulder.

(By any chance, did he pull him off for me?)

Lightly brushing off Frey’s hand, Darius quickly turned on his heel.

“Hurry up and get pregnant. While I still haven’t lost my mind and decided that it might be alright to become Prince Consort,” leaving words that sounded like a parting threat, Darius left the room while waving his hand with a flourish.

Mari released a big sigh as she sank unsteadily onto the sofa.

“Are you alright?” Frey worriedly peered into Mari’s face.

“…… I’m not alright.”

“Well, of course you’re not,” Frey gently touched Mari’s stiffened hands. He gently caressed them as if he was handling a treasure.

When Mari noticed it, she quickly pulled her hand back, feeling embarrassed. Another reason was also because she believed that if she did not do it right away, she might feel the chills again.

Her own reactions were just to regrettable, that she was on the verge of tears. To make things worse, she also felt heavily exhausted.

“…… Ah! Thanks for helping me.”

Even though she’s completely exhausted, Mari properly gave her thanks. This aspect was a fruit of her uncle’s teachings.

“There is no need for thanks. I was not able to prevent the kiss, after all.”

“That was force majeure! Besides, compared to having to sleep with him, that was nothing!”

That’s right. For the mean time, Mari’s chastity—– ought to have been protected.

“….. Uhm, about me getting p-pregnant. That was just a means to protect me from Darius, right?” Mari looked at Frey with her face, beet-red. When she did so, Frey nodded with a beautiful smile as if to say ‘its alright’.

“Of course. I also do not want the position of Prince Consort, after all.”

“Ah, is that so?” Along with her relief at the readily-given denial, she felt a sense of loss.

“What I want to become, is not a Prince Consort, but a Prime Minister. The status of Prince Consort… In this country, it would be Archduke, but for this position, even though it comes with power, it is mainly from an external standpoint. It cannot easily get involved in real politics. The Prime Minister’s duty is in politics, after all. I can take a swing at anyone without reservation.”

Was it just her imagination when the beautiful smile looked dark to her? She had the feeling that the chills she felt right now was different from the unpleasant feelings of disgust she felt before.

“Nonetheless, the royals and high nobles expectantly waiting for Her Majesty’s pregnancy, is the truth. So is the fact that I have been selected to be the Prince Consort,” Frey stared at Mari while his smile grew even darker.

“Since I’ve also said it to Darius, I’ll have Mari cooperate with me.”

“Co-cooperate!?”

Nonchalantly, Frey said to Mari, who was suspicious of what he meant, “I will have Her Majesty sleep with me.”

Mari went teary-eyed from too much shock. Unintentionally, she scolded Frey, “Didn’t you say it was just your means?”

“It was my means.”

“Then what do you mean by sleep!!”

“Just lying down.”

“By, lying down….. just sleeping?”

That’s when Mari finally understood Frey’s words.

“Truly just sleeping in its most literal meaning?”

“That is what I am saying.”

“In the same bed?”

“Her Majesty’s bed is extra large in size, enough that four or five people could easily sleep in it, from what I heard.”

Mari did a final confirmation with Frey, “…. No s-sex?”

“Of course. In order to fool both Darius and those around us, let’s eat and sleep together. Please move together with me as much as you can. Making them think we’re lovers, would also be the best plan for me to be able to aid you.”

Mari was relieved that this was what he meant when he said plan.

While gently smiling, Frey’s azure eyes wavered uneasily without Mari noticing.

“Well now, let’s rest. Starting tomorrow, we’ll be busy, you know. I shall send for a trustworthy lady attendant for you to prepare for bed. I will be there once I have settled things at work. It’s alright for you to go ahead and sleep as well.”

“Thanks.”

Having evaded danger and granted relief, this time for sure, Mari was reassured. She felt like she had finally let out her breath since waking up in this world. Filled with feelings of gratitude, Mari smiled at Frey.

***************

Late that night, Frey visited the Queen’s bedroom. Thereupon, the young lady who had newly become that rooms master, had fallen asleep. At the edge of the wide, luxurious bed furnished with a canopy, her tiny body was curled up as she slept. In her arms, she was holding a box. Perhaps, she was touching it before she slept. Frey held complicated feelings toward this lady, who chose this box that could be said to be modest, in this room filled with nothing but gaudy furnishings.

This box that was small enough to fit within the palms of both hands, was the one that held within it, the crown jewel that served as proof of being the king.

There is no way she knows that though.

(Did some of the Queen’s memories remain?)

Her sleeping face was the same as the Queen before. An arrogant, and incomparably foolish second cousin. Frey loathed her to the point that he felt nauseous at the very thought of having the same blood flowing through him. As he silently climbed on the bed, Frey quietly came close to Mari. If it was before, they would both have goosebumps if they came within a two-meter radius of each other.

Frey recalled the image of Mari’s slightly quivering back every time he came closer. It made him think that somewhere within Mari, the Queen’s memories remained, after all.

Mari, who was presently asleep, had no reaction.

Frey stared at his own white arms. The goosebumps that used to be there…. there were none. Instead, what he felt was the violent throbbing of his chest that went ‘dokun, dokun’.

It did not take much time for him to see her as Mari and not the Queen. It was to the point where even he was astonished.

The woman who ended up coming to this world from another world, without knowing what was going on. How anxious and helpless she must have been. And yet, to his own selfish wish for her to help this country, she smiled and nodded.

Is there even a need for any other reason to be drawn to Mari?

No, there might not be a need for such a reason. Just by talking to her and being beside her, he, himself, was drawn to Mari.

(It was not just me.)

Remembering Darius’s state, a crease appeared on Frey’s brows. It was the first time Frey heard Darius give words of concern for another person. Even from all the information on Darius up until now, there was never a single one of the sort.

(No, there might be…… In the war situation information, something about defending the Queen when she was being scolded by Marquis Mydal.)

That, as well, involved Mari.

Freyas had an excellent information network. Naturally, Frey held information of the mercenary, Darius. He might even know more about him than Darius, himself. That is why he also knew that Darius intended to leave this country.

And that Darius had an egoistic personality. A guy like that was worried about Mari.

(What’s more, to even say, “I might be alright with becoming the Prince Consort”!?)

Even as an assumption, Frey could not have thought that a man like Darius would ever mouth those words.

Most likely, Darius might have been rapidly drawn to Mari.

And that could be said to be a symptom of those who have come in contact with Mari.

General Bastille, who adored the Queen. Reaching to Leoneil and Horg, who escorted the Queen in the battlefield, as they declined a promotion and settled for a request for reassignment to the Queen’s Imperial Guards instead.

Frey silently leaned in close to Mari’s side. He embraced her carefully, even more gently than when handling something fragile, in order not to wake her. Her small, soft body fitted tightly and completely within Frey’s arms. Unable to stop himself, he gave her a soft kiss. Remembering the rough conduct Darius had done to these same lips, he endured the violent urge that welled up. That was the first time he felt time he felt that angry. Just to hold back his urge to beat him up, how much effort did it take?

Frey truly meant it when he said he did not want to become the Prince Consort.

But at this rate, it might not be unlikely that Frey could accept the position of Prince Consort just to obtain Mari, just like what Darius said.

(Let’s proceed with the plans as soon as possible.) Frey decided. He was anxious about whether his present self can calmly proceed with his plans.

He embraced the precious person in his arms even tighter. While confident that he will not be able to sleep, Frey closed his azure eyes.

*****************

Dawn, the Queen quietly open her eyes. At a time when the sky is tinged with the indigo blue of daybreak, the sun has yet to come out. The voices of birds could be heard from outside the windows.

Beside her was the presence of her second cousin who had finally fallen asleep. All night, as if to ascertain Mari’s existence, he held her closely over and over again. Burying his face on the nape of her neck, he would get startled by the slightest movements and check if she was still asleep before feeling relieved.

Such an unusual image of her second cousin left her astonished.

She turned her eyes towards her surroundings. A white canopy, and a luxurious room she was familiar with, showing through the lace.

When she looked nearby, there was a simple box that fit in her hand.

A trail of tears fell from the Queen eyes. Once again, she closed her eyes and went to sleep.

–END OF CHAPTER–

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1. I don’t even know if this is the proper term for it. Open for ideas for 王父.

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