𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
Albero is troubled by the confessions of Ashe and Lapis.
Later, he couldn’t remember what happened. When he realized it, it was nighttime, and he was lying in bed in his private room at the lord’s mansion.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, which was opened without waiting for a response.
ㅤ
“You’re in the way.”
“Kid. . . . . .what is it?”
“You’ve been spaced out. Ridelle seems to have noticed something but won’t tell. . . . . .Listen, if you have something on your mind, spit it out. Don’t be bothered by trivial things before a battle.”
“. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Kid has a bottle of alcohol in his hand.
He walks confidently into the room, pulls out a chair, and sits down heavily.
After pouring the alcohol into a glass and drinking it all at once, he speaks to Albero.
ㅤ
“So, what is it? Have you found a way to defeat Shin?”
“Ah, yes. . . . . .kind of.”
“Stop being so vague. Tell me, what’s the plan?”
ㅤ
It seems Kid believes Albero has come up with a strategy to defeat Shin. However, Albero is actually preoccupied with the confessions of Ashe and Lapis. For some reason, he felt embarrassed and found it hard to say.
Kid pours more alcohol. . . . . .the scent of whiskey fills the room.
For now, he talks about the strategy to defeat Shin.
ㅤ
“. . . . . .I see. To pry away the Summoned beast?”
“Yes. It’s probably the only way.”
“On the flip side, that also applies to us. Have you fully considered that?”
“Ah. . . . . .”
“Honestly. . . . . .Do you even understand what happens to us parasitic types if our Summoned beasts are pried away? Ugh. . . . . .I don’t even want to think about it.”
“. . . . . .”
“For now, are we only betting on this 『prying away』 strategy? We need to think of a plan.”
“Y, Yeah, right.”
“. . . . . .You’re still so indecisive.”
“. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Albero turns away.
Kid takes out a pipe and starts smoking.
Although tobacco smoke is supposed to be pungent, the one Kid smokes has a sweet, fruity aroma.
Kid stares intently at Albero.
ㅤ
“It’s about a woman.”
“Huh?!”
“Hit the nail on the head, didn’t I?”
“H, H, How. . . . . .”
“It’s obvious, you. Let me guess. . . . . .Ashe and Lapis, and maybe the Scheming Princess-sama?”
“It’s not Yorha!!”
“So, it’s Ashe and Lapis then.”
“Ah.”
“Heh heh. . . . . .I see. Did they propose to you?”
“. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Kid exhales smoke and taps the ashes into a portable ashtray.
He drinks the remaining alcohol in one gulp, grinning mischievously.
ㅤ
“Well, isn’t that a good thing? You’re a hero in the Asgard Kingdom, and you could even get a title. It wouldn’t be surprising if a young lady from the Duke family becomes your wife. Plus, nobles practice polygamy. There are plenty of nobles with concubines. No one would complain about how many wives you have.”
“It’s. . . . . .not that simple.”
“What do you think?”
“Of course, they’re important comrades. . . . . .but I never thought of romance.”
“Then think about it. Make a decision you won’t regret.”
“. . . . . .”
“If thinking is too much, just embrace them. That should settle your feelings.”
“Wha?! Embrace them?!”
ㅤ
Kid stands up with the alcohol bottle, waves his hand lightly, and leaves the room.
Albero, with a flushed face, holds his head down in deep thought.
ㅤ
◇◇◇◇◇◇
ㅤ
When he realized, it was past midnight.
Albero took a change of clothes to the hot spring.
He took off his clothes, washed his body, and soaked in the bathtub. . . . . .The slightly slimy water felt good and made his skin smooth.
Women would surely love this. Thinking so, he scooped up some water and washed his face.
ㅤ
“Whew. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Looking up at the sky, a starry night could be seen.
The hot spring built behind the lord’s mansion was mostly outdoors. Surrounded by a large wall, a pavilion was built over the bathtub.
He thought of Ashe and Lapis.
ㅤ
“Concubines, huh.”
ㅤ
Kid was right.
Albero is a Baron. And he’s a hero who saved the Asgard kingdom from demons. It would be rare for anyone to complain even if Duke’s daughter, Lapis, became his bride.
And then there’s Ashe. Ashe, a commoner, would become a concubine. Albero thinks Ashe wouldn’t mind.
But, is that really okay?
ㅤ
“I don’t understand. . . . . .”
“What don’t you understand?”
“Sigh, Ashe and Lapis. . . . . .those two, they like me. Huh?”
“I see, I thought so. I noticed something odd about the two of them and thought you were involved.”
“. . . . . .Why are you here?”
“Fufu, I wanted to talk with you, bare in both body and soul.”
ㅤ
Yorha was there.
Beside Albero.
She was naked. Without even a towel wrapped around, her long peach-colored hair was neatly tied up.
The water was a bit cloudy, so her body wasn’t clearly visible. But, somehow understanding her silhouette made it more alluring.
Albero froze. Yorha spoke.
ㅤ
“It’s perfect timing, so I’ll say it. Albero, I want to have a child with you.”
“. . . . . .”
“My plan is going well. My supporters are gathering. I intend to ascend to the throne when I’m twenty, which means in five years. . . . . .I need to have my successor during this time. Officially, it’ll be an adopted child, but in reality, it’ll be our child. If we marry, you’ll have to live in the castle, and I know you hate formalities, right? Just play with the child occasionally. And of course, be with me too. . . . . .”
“. . . . . .”
“Albero, out of all the men I’ve met, you are wonderful. I was prepared for a loveless political marriage, but. . . . . .I want a child with the one I love. When the child grows up, I’ll proudly say it’s our child. So please, Albero. . . . . .I want a child with you.”
“. . . . . .”
“. . . . . .? Albero, what’s wro━━.”
ㅤ
Albero fainted and was cared for by Kid. When he woke up, it was morning.
