For them, the difference between Meyer and me was divided by whether they could communicate or not.
By all accounts, the former was much more willing to deal with.
Certainly, who could breathe a word of air in front of a man whose mere existence was filled with the intimidation of the most powerful man in the world if he had to fight the daring battle of being the first emperor with the prestigious name of hero?
That’s why they probably welcomed my ascension to the throne with open arms, as I looked so sweet.
A man who was talking murmured as he touched his chin.
“Come to think of it… Jun Liteitia said what kind of man she liked.”
“Uh-huh, wake up from your dream. Grand Duke Knox that he even handed over the throne, do you think she’ll take a concubine?”
An old woman older than a man gave him a hard time. The other person next to him also responded.
“And it’s Grand Duke Knox. Who’s his opponent?”
“Right. Don’t you remember that before the second Holy War, during the trial of Countess Nerus, His Excellency the Grand Duke rampaged on the issue of the hearing of Lord Liteitia?”
“No, it’s not like anyone is going to do anything right now… It’s just something to keep in mind.”
The man who spoke out awkwardly blurted out the end of his words. Then another person who was listening to the story suddenly asked.
“By the way, wasn’t it said that Lord Liteitia is lovers with Lord Axion the Flame Mage?”
“When was that a story? It’s been a long time since they broke up.”
“Really? What’s the reason?”
“What was it again… I think it was because Lord Axion only talked about magic.”
“Oh, I heard that, too. She hadn’t been going out with the same expedition since, but Grand Duke Knox would actively engage with her.”
“Well, then the type who talks too much may not be her cup of tea. She’d have to pick the quieter type.”
“Aye, you still haven’t given up on it, man!”
As such, the crowd of nobles passed through the corridor with a giggle, unaware that their dialogue was being overheard by the person in question.
When I passed the corridor, I didn’t expect to hear conversations about me.
But when I think about it, I couldn’t help it because there was no one who didn’t talk about me in the capital.
I sighed deeply when I saw the process of fabricating rumors with my own eyes.
‘I didn’t really explain why we broke up… It’s not even known that I dumped him…’
I felt a little sorry for Axion.
Furthermore, not wanting to be mistaken for the incoming emperor’s ex-lover, I pushed Axion forward as a false lover, but now Axion had become the incoming emperor’s ex-lover… I felt twice as sorry when I thought about it.
If Axion came to fall in love later, I would have to be proactive in explaining it. I made up my mind again.
‘By the way, everyone’s making it a fait accompli for Meyer and me to get married.’
Although it had not yet been officially disclosed, it was so blatantly polar that it was not surprising that everyone knew.
What was rather surprising was that Meyer would even think of allowing a concubine, knowing that they’d become a royal concubine.
Only one person took up the idea of concubine with impunity, and the others had difficulty believing that Meyer would sit still.
But the glancing look in the eyes of the others indicated that they, too, had every intention of pushing their children and nephews into the harem as soon as the opportunity presented itself.
‘I understand why Meyer insisted on getting married first…’
If, on the contrary, Meyer became emperor and they want Meyer to have a concubine…
As soon as I thought about it, I felt a shiver and the back of my neck was numb.
I decided to hurry up my marriage to Meyer with a heart of regret.
I was in trouble if I delayed my marriage to Meyer and unnecessarily inflated the hopes of the nobles.
More precisely, the problem was that their vain hope might ignite Meyer’s jealousy.
I would be the one to clean up afterward.
He was a man who was jealous even just for the sake of being jealous, and who had a very narrow view of the men around me…
It was far to think about.
I sighed once more. It was a deep sigh as if the floor had disappeared many times.
***
“Really!”
“Yes, let’s get married as soon as possible.”
Meyer was happy and pleased with my kind-hearted and dry language, which was more akin to cleaning up business formalities than being an ambassador of human ethics and taking up the fruition of love.
He obtained my permission to marry, but he seemed to think inwardly that I would put it off.
It was not a wrong guess, because it really would have been if I had not listened to the aristocrat who was talking about the concubines.
Meyer floated around with a look of excitement on his face that didn’t calm down at all. A mountain seemed to shake when he did that with his big body.
I wonder if it’s that good. So cute.
I watched happily as he leaned back on the couch and roared like a big bear.
“When can we get married the fastest?”
“First of all, there needs to be a ceremony to award titles…”
I mumbled as I recalled the itinerary.
My becoming emperor has caused quite a bit of complications with the schedule.
Originally there was to be a coronation ceremony for Meyer as emperor, followed by a title ceremony…
It seemed that the title ceremony had to be done first because the emperor’s coronation was pushed out a while later without a promise.
The fact that everyone now referred to me and the other non-aristocratic expedition members as “Lords” was only a term of respect, as it was impossible to call the heroes appropriately, and they did not receive any particular title.
Meyer nodded his head as if he had forgotten all about the title ceremony until that moment.
“Come to think of it, we’ll have to adjust the timing of the ceremony. Hm, since you haven’t reached the Imperial Throne yet.”
“Ugh.”
I bit my tongue in confusion. And Meyer asked suspiciously.
“What is that reaction?”
“Nothing… Then do we have to wait until then?”
“Of course, it’s the law for everyone to wait for you to ascend the throne.”
Meyer blinked as if he could not understand.
Come to think of it, it was customary for the new emperor to give titles in this case.
In the sense of putting new wine in a new bottle. In retrospect, it was also a contribution to the nation’s founding that helped build the empire…
I didn’t know how many years it would take for me to rise to the throne, but it was not something to talk about.
I shook my head.
“Do not even question the law in such matters. If you think about it, my becoming emperor is also far from the law. It feels like receiving an award right away…”
Besides, now that we had defeated the Demon King and everyone was covered in red, I seemed relatively incapable of rationally calculating the gains and losses, but that would change again in time.
I’m sure they’ll be left feeling sorry, that they could have more, and that they could not be deprived of more…
The throne would be safely passed down to me as there is currently no successor to the emperor, but the titles and territories of others were different.
I don’t want the nobles to rebel because they think they will be deprived of what is theirs.
It’s better to get it sorted now than to go back home so bothered for no reason at all.
Of course, Meyer seemed to think differently, and he shook his head in puzzlement.
“But.”
“If we hold the title ceremony while we respond like this, the wedding will be even faster, right?”
After all, Meyer’s continued opposition to the title ceremony seemed to be due to the idea that the wedding would be delayed. He nodded as if he had made a quick decision after a few moments of pondering with his brows gathered.
“…Ok. Then we’ll have the title ceremony in a week, and we’ll have the wedding right away.
“Right away? That fast?”
I asked back in astonishment.
I said let’s proceed quickly, but I almost never thought of the title ceremony at the same time!
When I was puzzled, Meyer stared at me as if it were natural.
“You’re the one who asked me to marry you as soon as possible.”
“No, I said that, but… after a week, it’s a bit…”
It’s not like you fry beans in lightning…
As I mumbled the end of my sentence, Meyer added hastily, embarrassed.
“Y-yeah, it’ll take a while to get ready. Then how about 2 weeks later?”
“One week, two weeks…”
“I’ll prepare it perfectly. You don’t have to worry!”
Meyer seemed to strongly misinterpret that he could not be trusted to be ready for marriage in two weeks.
Marriage preparation is not the issue, my emotional preparation is the issue…
He spewed his impassioned rhetoric about “the perfect wedding to prepare for in two weeks” for a while, and when I didn’t respond, his silver-gray eyebrows drooped.
Perhaps it was the clear presence of his eyebrows that made his change of expression especially clear to my heart.
And the warily glancing sideways was a clear sign that he was trying to figure out what to do if I said we should put off the marriage.
This human being must have made that expression on purpose…! He must have learned that I am susceptible to expressions like that!
I couldn’t hold out any longer, so I turned my eyes and waved for no reason.
“Okay, fine.”
It wasn’t until my confirmation fell that Meyer smiled broadly.
Seeing him enjoying himself like that, I was glad I hadn’t told him to put it off any longer…
Y-yes. We were going to get married as soon as possible anyway…!
I expected it to be in about three months, but when I thought about it, it didn’t look much different two weeks from now either.
‘At least it’s less sudden than dungeons on the planet…’
On second thought, it didn’t seem a bad idea to do it when we were gathered anyway, since everyone would have to disperse to their own territories after being appointed a title and receiving a sealed land.
There would be nothing that could be paid out as a congratulatory gift shortly after receiving the land anyway…
The nobles would be free to put in their congratulations.
It was an effective conclusion, comforting myself, I tried to suppress my anxiety about the wedding two weeks later.
