“I’m home…”
“Welcome back, Master.”
When I returned to the Baumgarten Residence in the royal capital, Klaus was there to greet me. Cornelia and Lily weren’t standing there imposingly, and I felt a momentary sense of relief.
“The Mistress and the young ladies are waiting for you in the living room.”
“I see…”
“From the looks of it, could it be that things didn’t go well…?”
“No, it ended up being more successful than I could have ever imagined. It did end, but… well, it’s a bit complicated.”
Passing through the door Klaus opened for me, I entered the living room, and Cassandra and the others all turned to look at me at once. It seemed the three of them had been having tea.
I also asked Klaus for tea and took my usual seat at the living room table.
“I’m back.”
“Welcome back, Onii-sama.”
“Welcome back.”
“Welcome back, Dee. So, what news from the royal palace?”
“Well, I received words of praise. Also, as of today, Baumgarten is no longer a vassal of Huebner. We don’t have to worry about what Huebner thinks anymore.”
“That is wonderful news.”
Yes. Up to this point, it was all good, but…
I glanced at Cornelia for no particular reason and felt a sense of dread.
I wonder if she’ll get angry? She’ll definitely get angry, won’t she…
Cornelia’s reaction when I married Cassandra flashed through my mind.
But I can’t just not tell them.
“Well, you see… That’s not all there is to it… Or rather, the main part is yet to come…”
“What’s wrong, Onii-sama?”
“Well, it’s just… you know?”
Beating around the bush any further isn’t good. I should just say it clearly, like a man.
“I’m engaged to Princess Claudia. What His Majesty said before wasn’t just lip service; it was real…”
“That is…”
I’m too scared to look at Cornelia’s and Lily’s faces. It wouldn’t be surprising if Cassandra also felt displeased that I got engaged to another woman.
I waited for everyone’s reaction, feeling like a criminal about to be condemned.
“Congratulations, Dee. So your engagement to the Princess has been approved. What a wonderful day! Let’s have a celebratory feast tonight.”
“Eh?”
Unexpectedly, Cassandra was beaming with joy. I’d never seen Cassandra look this happy.
Well, considering the Baumgarten family, becoming related to royalty by marriage is a very auspicious thing, but isn’t Cassandra displeased?
I was glad Cassandra wasn’t upset. However, I still had two major hurdles left.
“Onii-sama, we need to talk.”
“Hm.”
“Yes…”
Cornelia and Lily were looking at me with blank, expressionless faces. Well, you could say Lily was her usual self.
“First of all, congratulations on your engagement to Princess Claudia.”
“Ah, thank you…?”
Surprisingly, Cornelia was calm.
“You’re not… angry…?”
“Honestly, I am dissatisfied and angry. However, I also understand the situation you’re in, Onii-sama. You are charming, after all. I understand why everyone is drawn to you. But…”
“But…?”
“I’m still dissatisfied. I was the first one to promise to marry you, Onii-sama…!”
“That’s, well… we’re still only fourteen… right?”
“I know. But I can’t bear to wait until I’m eighteen. Please, at least make it sixteen.”
“That’s…”
“Clau is also marrying you when she’s sixteen, Onii-sama! So it’s okay for me too, right?”
“Alright…”
And so, I ended up promising to marry Cornelia, and Lily too for that matter, when they turn sixteen.
Somehow, the idea of marrying Cornelia is becoming more and more realistic. Even if sibling marriage is okay in this world, with my knowledge from my previous life, I can’t help but feel a strong sense of unease about whether it’s really alright.
Well, if Cornelia were to marry some other guy, my brain would probably break, so me marrying Cornelia is a realistic option, but…
There’s the problem of our genes being too similar, but I wonder if it’ll be okay? It is another world, after all.
Besides, my skin has become darker, and my eyes have turned into dragon eyes; there’s even a possibility my genes have changed.
Well, what will be, will be.
Incidentally, Cassandra seems to be in favor of me marrying Cornelia and Lily. And not just in favor. She’s strongly in favor.
My engagement to Claudia also seems to be something Cassandra greatly welcomes. Normally, wouldn’t a wife dislike her husband having multiple wives?
Or perhaps, for Cassandra, who is the daughter of a high noble, polygyny is a familiar and normal thing?
She even encouraged me to form relationships with the members of the Crimson Vow…
Or… I don’t want to think about this, but… could it be that Cassandra dislikes me?
But Cassandra always interacts with me with a smile. Is this also a form of mimicry that those born as high nobles possess?
I need to try talking to Cassandra at least once…