Chapter 77: I Tried Preparing to Greet the King.
A New Year greeted at the Duke’s Residence.
I was preparing to go offer New Year’s greetings to the King. It’s a noble’s duty, and for a Margrave like me, it’s an especially important occasion.
“Lord Serios, what about your partner?”
I was at a loss for words, not understanding what the Dukedom’s Butler meant. I had finished my preparations, and Claris was standing beside me. Seeing her beautiful posture, I believed she was the one who should accompany me to this event.
“Claris, are you ready? Let’s go together.”
When I said that, she suddenly lowered her gaze.
“…I cannot do that, Serios.”
“Eh?”
Surprised by her unexpected words, I stared at her.
“I have already been disinherited from the Everett House. I no longer hold any standing as a noble. As I have not yet been formally welcomed as your wife, I am not qualified to appear before the King.”
A quiet resolve dwelled in those words. However, I couldn’t accept it.
“No, you are my official wife! When appearing at a formal occasion, the one who should be by my side is you, Claris, isn’t it?”
“Serios… I am happy for your sentiment. But this is something I have decided for myself. Until the day I am welcomed as Serios’s wife, not as the Daughter of Duke Everett, I will not stand in the public eye.”
At her quiet refusal, I was speechless. It was painfully clear how much she understood her own position and was trying to accept it.
“I understand… Then, who should I take instead?”
“I believe Liese would be a good choice. As Serios’s attendant, she is known at the academy. Faina has been keeping a low profile by your side, but Liese has achieved excellent grades at the academy and is known by other nobles. Although she is an attendant, Liese is beautiful and would be a perfectly suitable partner for you.”
I pondered Claris’s suggestion for a moment. Liese was certainly a trustworthy person. However, I was also worried that taking her might cause some problems.
In my mind, her position as the otome game’s main heroine inevitably lingered. But I didn’t want to dismiss Claris’s suggestion outright.
“You’re right, I’ll go with Liese.”
When I made that decision, Claris gave a small nod.
◇
That evening, Claris summoned me to her room. Figuring she had something to discuss, I headed to Her Room.
“Serios, I’ve been waiting for you.”
When I entered the room, Claris greeted me with a calm expression, but her eyes held a serious glint.
“What is it, Claris?”
“Serios, there is something I want to make clear on this occasion.”
She began, then paused for a moment before speaking.
“Lord Serios, I would like you to clarify the positions of three people from now on.”
“Three people…?”
“Maria-sama, Lady Liese, and Lady Faina. What kind of feelings do those you brought on this journey hold for you, Serios?”
At those names, I was momentarily speechless. Indeed, all three were important to me. Each supported me in different ways, and we had lived together.
“When I entered this Duke’s Residence, the retainers told me, ‘As those who work for the Dukedom, we would be grateful if you could clarify the positions of wife, concubine, and any others.'”
“That is…”
“Serios, polygyny is permitted for high-ranking nobles. However, I want you to make it clear whether you will welcome them as concubines or treat them as mistresses. Based on that, those around us can also determine their attitudes.”
Claris’s words, for that reason, weighed heavily on my heart. What she was asking of me was resolve.
My position as a noble, my feelings—I had been wishy-washy and hadn’t made each of these things clear, and now I had to convey them to Claris, my legal wife.
A cold sweat ran down my back, and my throat felt tight.
“…Alright. Let me think about it.”
“Yes. I, too, will wait to see what decision you make, Serios.”
She gave a quiet bow, granting me time.
Returning to my room, I was lost in thought alone.
Maria was my first, and she supports me.
Liese purely adores me and has conveyed her feelings. She will likely continue to be a support for me.
Faina has been with me since childhood, pledging unconditional loyalty. But what should I do about the positions of these three?
(Each of them is precious to me. But how should I sort out these feelings and convey them to the girls…?)
With the New Year’s greetings approaching, a single task weighed heavily on my mind.
To answer Claris’s words, I had to show my resolve.
(This is my own problem. It’s no one else’s fault. That’s precisely why I must be the one to decide.)
Vowing this in my heart, I waited for dawn.
“I guess I have no choice but to make time to talk with each of them. If possible, before I start attending the academy, I want to decide on my own feelings and tell them. Even if I feel a certain way, I don’t know if they will accept it. They might even decide to leave my side.”
As I pictured each of the three girls’ faces, I recalled Claris’s words.
Their positions: whether to make them concubines, mistresses, or not give them such positions and continue our current Master-Servant Relationship…
The time had come to show my resolve and make a choice.