Chapter 5: Saint, Knowing the King’s Circumstances
According to Lute,
He received an unprecedented number of marriage proposals three years before ascending to the throne. The nobles who ignored Lute when he was just the king’s muscle-brain brother have all proposed their daughters to be queen.
Lute knew he’d have to marry a queen one day. So he was initially enthusiastic about meeting the ladies.
… But none of them worked out.
“Anyway, I can’t hold a conversation with them.”
Lute sipped his tea and sighed.
“Whenever I bring up a topic, the ladies simply smile and remain silent. I wanted to learn more about them, so I asked them about their favorite sweets, flowers, and hobbies, but they simply said, “I don’t have anything to tell Your Majesty.”
“I see…”
(Oh…that reminds me, being modest and reserved is considered a virtue for aristocratic ladies.)
It is still acceptable if both parties have the same rank in terms of houses, but in many cases, the wife has a slightly lower status than the husband.
In such cases, the ladies are taught to “value their husbands’ opinions more than their own.”
From Stacey’s perspective, it seems ridiculous that they can’t even say what they want, but the truth is that many men enjoy their wives being this way.
As a result, when ladies are asked about themselves at an arranged marriage meeting, they say, “It is absurd for me to comment on such a noble man as you.” And there are a certain number of men who like such modest women.
But Lute was unlike the male aristocracy in many ways.
Lute, who had spent the majority of his life in the Order, preferred casual conversation, whether he was a man or a woman.
“And the couples I see in the Order… Wives patting their husbands on the back, and couples laughing at each other. That’s why, if I ever got married… I wanted to be in a relationship where my wife and I could laugh cheerfully together like that.”
(I see… Then it’s no wonder you don’t get along with the ladies…)
Stacey gave a small nod, knowing exactly how Lute was feeling.
“So the arranged marriage failed… Did you tell the ladies about your feelings?”
“Oh, I thought I couldn’t clear up the misunderstanding, so about two years ago I told them, ‘I want to hear your opinion,’ and ‘I want to be able to talk to the queen about anything’. But still, everyone is reserved, saying it’s a terrible thing… Eventually, one of the ladies started crying because she thought I was being mean to her… Later, her father scolded me, saying, ‘You could have said something else if you wanted to refuse. I explained that I didn’t mean it that way…”
“It’s difficult to change an idea once it’s become ingrained in you…”
If Lute was being reckless with the ladies, he would have told them how he felt. If they still didn’t accept him, then I guess we’ll just have to give up the idea that there was no chance for us. It seems that there are some misunderstandings.
Lute, who had been in a depressed mood up to that point, looked up.
“But… I met you a year ago.”
“…”
“Do you remember when we sat by the river and talked at the start of our expedition?”
“Of course… I remember.”
Because of this event, Stacey changed her mind about Lute, who she had previously dismissed as “the muscle brain king.”
“When we first met, you told me I was attractive.”
“Y-Yes, I did; I’m sorry; I could have said something else.”
“No, I’m… I was happy. For hearing you tell me how you truly feel… for letting me know.”
Lute’s lips purse, as if he’s overjoyed to hear that; a year ago, when he removed his mask as king, he addressed himself as “I.”
“And you honestly answered all of my questions. It was, after all, the first time. I could discuss what I liked and disliked, exchange ideas, and laugh out loud at the most amusing topics. Even with my own gender, I’ve rarely had a good belly laugh since becoming King. You just hit me square in the face.”
“I was happy,” Lute says bitingly.
“That’s why I wanted you to be my queen; with you, I could smile all the time, take off the mask I wear as king, and smile with my true face. I thought you could create such a place and time for me.”
(That’s so straightforward…)
Even Stacey is embarrassed to be told so bluntly.
Stacey casually covers her cheeks with her hair and opens her mouth.
“W-Well, uh, I’m honored to hear that, but I’m a saint at this point. I couldn’t marry anyone.”
“Yes, that’s why I was shocked; even a priestess, the goddess’s daughter, can marry, but the church will never let you go… My first love ended; I was about to give up and take a sensible girl for my queen… Until…”
“W-Was I your first love?”
“Y-Yes… Maybe I’ve tasted love before, but you’re the first time I’ve ever clearly thought, “I want to go out with this woman,” yeah.”
Lute averts his gaze slightly, as if speaking to himself, before returning his gaze to Stacey’s.
“But I heard you were looking for a husband—When I read the description… I honestly believed Miss Stacey Rithberth desired to marry me.”
“Huh?! That’s…”
But she came to a complete halt.
The recruitment form she sent out: half of it is genuine hope, the other half is a silly prank she didn’t think about.
However, as she considers it, she realizes that the majority of the conditions match Lute’s.
(Did I make the recruitment conditions with His Majesty in mind subconsciously…?!)
Lute leans forward a little more briskly as he notices Stacey’s face flush with embarrassment.
“Y-You did, didn’t you? — No, it does not have to be. But—if you, a Saint, want to return and marry, I will not hesitate. That’s why I ordered a large quantity of brick blocks right away and have been practicing crushing them with one hand.”
“…”
Stacey, on the other hand, has a cold sweat running down her back as Lute says confidently.
(Now it’s difficult to say! In fact, I have no intention of marrying, and I wrote a ruthless application form to discourage suitors!)
Lute appears to have prepared himself enthusiastically to be the right man for the job, whereas Stacey had no idea she would catch the king and was content to return to the church and live the life of a saint in comfort.
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