Proposal
“Uruka-dono.
…Please, lift your head.”
With my words, her fingers remained touching…
Uruka-dono slowly lifted her face.
While gazing into those eyes, I continue speaking.
“I do not care how you handle yourself…
Is that words of yours without deceit?”
“They are not.”
To my inquiry, Uruka-dono answered firmly.
“I see…”
I, feeling nervous, took a deep breath and then announced my conclusion.
“In that case, Uruka-dono,
Become my wife.”
……
…and with that, silence took over the surroundings.
It’s not just Uruka-dono…
Even samurais like Banho, along with everyone else, are wide-eyed with surprise, at a loss for words.
The only one unchanged in expression is Eve… as she is always expressionless like a doll.
Well, her hair, constantly changing colors, is now entirely pink; perhaps it’s a sign of her emotions…
They fell into a brief silence like that…
“Haaaaah!?”
Finally, Uruka-dono, after digesting the meaning of the words, let out a cry of astonishment.
“Whoa!?”
However, it wasn’t just her who was surprised…
I was also in a similar state.
If you were to ask what we were surprised about…
Suddenly, behind her, a silver tail with erect fur appeared, catching me off guard.
Well, to be accurate, it didn’t suddenly appear…
The tail wrapped around her waist behaved as if it had a will of its own.
I did find it odd that she was wearing a peculiar belt…
So, that was actually a tail…
“My apologies…”
I cough to hide my embarrassment and try to cover up my mistake.
“Well, it was indeed my first time encountering beastmen…
Carelessly, I had mistakenly assumed it was a unique belt from the Beastman Country.”
As I looked around…
Not only Uruka-dono, but the samurais like Banho had tails of different fur patterns wrapped around their waists.
It seems the characteristic of the beastmen race was not just the beast-like ears growing from the top of their heads…
“Due to the orders issued by the Imperial Kingdom, we were compelled to wrap our tails around our waists…
Now, it has become a habit for us.”
“I see…
The Empire seems determined to destroy the dignity of the beastmen…”
“That’s not it!”
As I pondered deeply on the plight of the beastmen under occupation, Uruka-dono leaned forward.
“S-So, about earlier, that was, that’s…!”
“Do you dislike it?”
I ask Uruka-dono directly, noticing his lack of coherence due to excitement.
“N-No… I don’t plan on taking back what I said earlier.
However, you should understand that I have no political value.
In fact, I might be a burden to Asuru-sama, who probably intends to return benefits to his own citizens.
With that in mind, why would you consider marrying me…?
If its the pleasure you seek, I cannot refuse…
In that case, there’s no need to make me your wife either…”
The last part was said in such a quiet voice that it could not be heard without straining the ears.
Yeah, if it’s embarrassing, perhaps it’s better not to say it out loud, don’t you think? I’m not good at this either.
“The reason is simple…
If I were to sum it up, I want you to be my partner…
I thought about wanting someone to support me in what I do, standing by my side.”
Expressing these thoughts in words is quite embarrassing…
I gulp down the contents of the glass I held.
“When I think about what I will do in the future, the presence of a supportive partner is indispensable.
It’s not just about having good looks…
It’s about seeing things from the same perspective as me and sometimes even exchanging opinions…
She must be a woman like that.
…In other words, it’s you.”
As I finished speaking, I met the eyes of Uruka-dono.
The girl, who seemed too young for such straightforward words of persuasion, blushed and squirmed.
“Moreover, you are cute, and in this situation, you cannot refuse.
I always want to be quick to seize the opportunity.
So, if that’s the case, I can’t overlook this kind of encounter.
Meeting a woman like you and having the chance to propose wouldn’t be surprising if such an opportunity never arises again in my lifetime.”
“But, um…”
My words must have struck a chord…
Finally, Uruka-dono, using the hem of their attire to partially shield their face, cautiously offers her thoughts, stealing glances in my direction.
“If you were to take me as your bride, that would mean turning the Fain Kingdom into an enemy.
Considering what Asuru-sama might decide in the future, it would not be a wise move…!”
That is precisely what I was worried about until a moment ago.
No, of course, I am still worried.
However…
“If I consider that as a price for making you my wife, it would be too cheap…
Moreover, judging from what I’ve heard, we will inevitably come into conflict with the Empire sooner or later.
After all, I am attempting to establish a nation on the Land of Death that has served as a buffer zone until now.
The Empire would not overlook this.”
“Is it not possible to coexist as friendly nations, walking side by side…?”
“It’s impossible.”
Before hearing the conversation, I discarded the words I had held as my own policy.
“In my opinion, the Empire is healing its own scars engraved in battle through the spoils gained from further battles.
I suspect that those lined up on the frontlines in the battle against the Beastman Kingdom were conscripts from the occupied territories they captured.”
“…Indeed.”
In response to my words, Banho, who had been silently observing, nods.
“If that’s the case, then this flow might be unstoppable even for the Fain Emperor, the supreme leader of the Empire himself.
That country has become an uncontrollable wild horse no longer restrained by the reins.”
It goes without saying…
People dislike hunger and poverty.
Currently, the Empire’s decision to halt its expansionist policies, to put it bluntly, means starving and impoverishing the people. This even applies to the Emperor himself in a sense.
…It means that not even the Emperor himself can stop it.
Ironically, the Emperor who started all this might be the one most eager to end the chain of wars.
“So, if that’s the case… marrying you could lead to my advantage depending on the situation.
After all, it would provide a legitimate reason under the name of justice for the destroyed beastmen country.
While leaders may plan the battle strategies, it’s the soldiers and the people who actually execute them.
Considering this, your existence would not be just a liability.”
I tilted the beer glass once more, this time drinking it to the last drop.
The drink, after five years… hits the spot.
Blushing noticeably, I blurted out the final words.
“I have means and reason to ensure the samurais accompanying you can also feel at ease…
In the end, I have fallen for you.
…Will you accept my proposal?”
Uruka-dono… looks at Banho, who could be considered as good as her second father based on his background.
The middle-aged samurai just nods silently.
This mannerism is mirrored by the other samurais…
Everyone’s gaze, including Eve’s, is fixed on the girl.
“…”
Uruka-dono, with determination, straightened her posture once more and joined her fingertips.
“I may be inexperienced, but please treat me kindly…”
She then bowed her head, accepting my proposal.
“Master…
Can we consider your marriage as officially established?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Eve asks this, looking at me, and I nod in response.
“Congratulations on your marriage.”
Only changing her hair color multiple times…
My subject blessed my marriage with a voice devoid of emotion.