“Meaning, this brat has always been reckless like that?”
“You sure talk a lot of nonsense…”
“What?! I can handle it alone again! Are you insane coming to save me and leaving behind your beautiful wife!? What were you thinking!?”
The dining table. Sera, returned to being human, began spilling countless things she hadn’t been able to say until now.
Perhaps because she had experienced something akin to near-death, she seemed bolder than before.
Kail could only let out a dry laugh watching Sera. As much as he wanted to sew that mouth shut— Yuri sitting beside them with an intrigued expression made even that impossible.
“Right? Yuri. You think this is crazy too, don’t you?”
“Yes. If you had died saving me, I would never have forgiven you.”
“No, I was confident…”
“Nonsense! I saw everything! You almost died! Got it!?”
“What could you possibly have seen as a rock. Seriously.”
This moment was filled with laughter. Perhaps it was because they knew there was no worry left anymore. Or maybe it was the realization that this fleeting moment would never come again, making it a time worth enjoying.
The children burst into laughter. Kail did too.
The food tasted good. Conversations among friends flowed easily. Everything was a satisfying moment.
“Oh, right. Yuri. There’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“I think I need to marry the Saintess. Is that okay?”
Clang—
The moment Yuri dropped her knife and fork, the once laughter-filled dining table was enveloped in an icy silence.
Realizing his plan to casually brush it off had failed, Kail cautiously looked at Yuri. She was smiling, yet not smiling at the same time.
As Kail noticed the corners of her lips curling upwards, his head sank lower and lower.
“—What do you think I’m about to say?”
“…No, it—it couldn’t be helped. It’s part of the contract I made with God while saving this guy.”
“Sure, sure. Why not make Sera your wife too, and Arthur, and even the Emperor? Why not just take every woman as your wife?”
“…Uh, should I?”
At that response, Yuri took in a sharp breath as if hearing something absurd, then quietly sighed.
After a long silence, she finally spoke when her son, nestled in her arms, started tugging at her clothes, sensing something was off.
“—Fine. But no kids.”
“Huh?”
“As for marriage, I’ll concede considering it’s a political move—but no kids. That’s the condition.”
Yuri gave her consent. Kail promised he would never have children with any other woman.
He vowed to keep that promise, no matter what happened.
* * *
Time passed, and Kail officially received the title of Imperial Guardian Commander. Empress Izuna Hela elevated the Meyer Clan to Archduke status, reinforcing in people’s minds that the Meyer Clan was the Empire’s shield.
The public was shocked that a mere Count’s household—and a teenager who hadn’t even graduated from the Academy—had become a pillar of imperial power. But their astonishment didn’t end there.
[We will now begin the wedding ceremony between the Saintess and the Guardian Commander—]
Yes, the wedding between the Holy Kingdom’s Saintess and the Empire’s Guardian Commander. The Empress claimed this marriage was to establish the Believer Sect as the Empire’s main religion and solidify an alliance with the Holy Kingdom—but people didn’t buy it.
The Believer Sect had already fallen far, and the Holy Kingdom no longer held its former glory.
The Empire, boasting the world’s largest prosperity, had no real need to ally with the Holy Kingdom. Thus, rumors spread throughout the Empire that this marriage was simply the Commander’s sly scheme to claim the Saintess under the guise of an alliance.
“Who do they think I am, some perverted lunatic…”
“Sorry, Hero-sama. This is all my fault…”
“No, it’s not really your fault.”
Kail gave a bitter smile as he watched the apologizing Saintess. In the end, he married her. Though she said she had no complaints about becoming a concubine—life wasn’t so simple.
When Kail informed Empress Izuna of his marriage to the Saintess, Izuna sought to use it politically. Kail agreed on the condition that all the tedious ceremonies would be done at once.
Thus, today was the day Kail became Guardian Commander, the Meyer Clan was elevated to Archduke status, and Kail’s wedding day.
‘What a crazy schedule.’
If Kail had been someone driven by a sense of accomplishment or honor, eager to celebrate these achievements as his own doing, he wouldn’t have dreamed of cramming everything together like this.
On the contrary, he would have thrown month-long celebrations, slowly proceeding with the inauguration, promotion ceremony, and wedding. Everyone’s blessings would have been an added bonus.
But Kail didn’t do that. He hadn’t asked for this title or this marriage. There was no reason for celebration.
“Hmm, is it alright for someone like a priest to be so greedy…”
“Who cares. Live life doing whatever you want.”
“…But causing harm to others because of my selfishness…”
“You’ve helped countless people till now, Saintess. Hurting one person now isn’t such a big deal.”
It would have been better if it weren’t him. But Kail couldn’t say that. Seeing the self-blaming Saintess, saying something cutting like, “Why didn’t you choose someone else?” might push her over the edge into self-harm.
Sighing inwardly, Kail slowly approached the Saintess and smacked her shoulder lightly!
“Straighten up! And smile! This is your wedding. How can the bride look so gloomy? People will think the rumors are true.”
“Y-You’re right… Sorry, Hero-sama.”
After finishing her apology, the Saintess began forcing an awkward smile, still unsure of herself. Her expression hinted at whether she even belonged here.
Thinking there was nothing he could do, Kail carefully lifted her veil. Technically, her face shouldn’t be shown to the groom until the end of the formal ceremony, but Kail didn’t care about such things.
Smooch—
Kissing the Saintess, her eyes shot open, darting around wildly as if wondering what on earth was happening.
Licking off the lipstick from his lips, Kail waved casually and exited the room.
‘—She said no sex, but she never said no kissing…’
Back in his waiting room, Kail soon realized his actions had been effective when the wedding began.
How could he not, with the Saintess’s face burning red like fire?
Glancing at him shyly, then flashing a small smile, she almost looked a little mischievous.
[Under the name of God, the two pledge to continue a happy married life…]
A priest from the Holy Kingdom presided over the ceremony. Listening to his prayer, Kail felt a sharp sting at the back of his neck.
Casually leaking Aura to locate the source of the gaze, Kail silently bowed his head. His first wife sat there.
[Vow of the Kiss. Prove your love before the Sovereign God.]
The incoming gazes grew sharper. Kail forced himself to ignore them and looked at the Saintess.
She was so deeply moved by this moment that tears began welling up in her eyes.
“Why are you crying?”
“I’m happy, so happy… To think I’d be with you, Hero-sama…”
“Don’t cry.”
There would be more reasons to cry later…
Thinking this, Kail lifted the Saintess’s veil and kissed her gently.
As their lips met, Kail struggled to fend off her tongue trying to sneak in. He glared slightly at her before pulling away.
[At this moment, we proclaim the union of these two individuals and the alliance of the two nations.]
The priest’s blessing descended. Applause erupted chaotically. But Kail couldn’t feel purely joyful.
‘Oh no, this is bad.’
Turning his head toward the guests, he felt Yuri’s piercing glare. Their kiss had looked far too natural.
She was probably now doubting whether he and the Saintess had a deeper relationship. Proving otherwise would require unimaginable effort.
‘It’s supposed to be our honeymoon… But a threesome on the first night feels like a stretch, huh?’
Kail seriously considered asking the Saintess if she wanted to try something new.
***
The next day.
The Empire sent a precious Master as both a wedding gift and to guard the Saintess.
“Ahaha—Hi, Kail…”
“…Brutus. You too?”
“Eh, eh? What do you mean by that…?”
The one who came as a guard was Arthur, now the leader of the Knight Order.
