“The Sage’s guests?”
“Yes, could you help find a place for the lord to stay?”
“Oh, come on, you don’t even have to ask. Whose guests are they, after all?”
“Wow~ They really treat us differently here.”
“Of course — you’re practically the future son-in-law.”
Duke Layton’s family, Duke Eldwin’s family, the Marquess of Lunamic — and countless other noble families.
Yet Ruan couldn’t be included among the elite reinforcements supporting the imperial princess.
Known for being unable to use divine power, he was inevitably treated as a useless person.
Honestly, he was fine with that.
It gave him the perfect excuse to take his mother and head to the Sage’s castle.
But then, somehow, the Marquess of Arcana and Lady Reyna ended up tagging along.
It wasn’t just tagging along — it seemed like they were planning to move the entire Arcana household into the Sage’s castle.
There was no other reason for this massive relocation.
A long procession of wagons filled with servants and luggage from the Marquess’s estate stretched endlessly in front of the castle’s gates.
Seeing this, the castle lord looked on with wary eyes.
“Why not just move the entire estate while you’re at it?”
“That was the plan!”
“You wouldn’t believe how much Reyna whined about wanting to see her future husband~.”
“Mom! Please stop embarrassing me! You’re so embarrassing…!”
Despite her outburst, Reyna’s cheeks flushed a bright red as she shyly averted her gaze.
The castle lord gasped dramatically.
“Future husband…?! Then does that mean the Sage is getting married soon?!”
“No, he’s not.”
“Not yet, of course… but someday…”
As Reyna trailed off with a blush, her younger sister Elena glared at her with clear disapproval.
“Don’t worry, Sage. Thanks to the expansion work, there’s more than enough space. I’ll make sure you have a honeymoon house worthy of your stature!”
“Castle lord.”
“Yes?”
The lord, who had been getting carried away with excitement, froze at the sight of Elena’s sharp, dangerous expression.
“Mine too.”
“…Pardon?”
“My honeymoon house. Please take care of it too.”
“W-What? Are you getting married too, my lady?!”
“Why? Can’t I?”
“N-No, it’s just… I haven’t heard anything about a partner…”
Elena’s eyes locked firmly on the Sage.
“Don’t tell me… you too, my lady… with the Sage…?”
The castle lord looked utterly bewildered as he glanced between Elena and the masked man.
“Sage…? I mean, it’s not unheard of to have multiple wives, but still… shouldn’t you decide who the first wife will be?”
The mention of a “first wife” immediately sparked an intense rivalry between the two sisters as they began competing to show off their best qualities.
Despite his insistence that he had no intention of marrying anyone, the Sage now had two potential brides fighting for his attention.
His head pounded from the chaos — Reyna and the Marquess were already exhausting, and now Elena was joining the fray.
“I don’t care. I’m busy — I’m going now.”
The Sage turned on his heel and headed swiftly into the castle.
“Ah! Wait for me! I’m coming too!”
Ignoring his cold retreat, Reyna happily latched onto his arm.
Not willing to be outdone, Elena clung tightly to his other side, her eyes burning with competitive fire.
The Marquess, watching the three with an amused expression, followed behind them alongside the castle lord.
“Ruan—! I mean, Sage! Where do you stay?”
Reyna looked around the vast castle in curiosity.
The once-small border fortress had, in a matter of months, grown into the largest city near the empire’s frontier — all thanks to the Sage’s presence.
“The Sage stays at the beastfolk’s garrison.”
“Ooooh! The beastfolk! I want to see them! The ones who live in harmony with humans!”
“I’d love to see them too.”
Both Reyna and the Marquess looked at the Sage with sparkling eyes.
“…Do as you please.”
The beastfolk’s garrison was located in the outer castle — a fortified area beyond the inner walls.
There, beastfolk and humans worked together, cultivating fields and playing with children, creating a peaceful and harmonious community.
“My, they really do live together peacefully.”
“Wow, look at the kids playing with the beastfolk!”
“Ah, Sage! You’ve returned!”
Spotting the masked figure from afar, the massive beastfolk leader, Tartakan, rushed over excitedly.
“Everything going well, Tartakan?”
“Krrr! As you can see, we’re enjoying peaceful days. No longer do we need to lose our brothers in battles or resort to pillaging. We owe it all to you, Sage! Krrrr!”
Watching the Sage converse so easily with the beastfolk, Reyna and the Marquess exchanged glances of awe.
He seemed like a completely different person from the one who had been so timid at imperial social gatherings.
“I knew it — I can never give up on you, Ruan!”
Overcome with admiration, Reyna began rubbing her cheek affectionately against the Sage’s shoulder.
“Krrr! I see you’ve taken not one, but two wives since I last saw you!”
“Huh? No, that’s not—”
“The strong have that right! As long as you can take responsibility, even ten or a hundred wives are no issue! Krrrr!”
“Hear that, Sage?”
“You’ll take responsibility for us, won’t you? Hm? Hm?”
“Krrrr! Why the hesitation, Sage? Show the same boldness you did when you faced us in battle! With that spirit, every woman in the world will follow you!”
“E-Every woman…?”
The beastfolk’s… colorful words left even the two sisters and the Marquess blushing.
“Enough nonsense — get back to work, Tartakan.”
“Krrrr…! A-As you command!”
Sensing the danger in the Sage’s tone, Tartakan scampered off hurriedly.
“Amazing… That’s my Ruan.”
Smitten once again, Reyna clung even tighter to the Sage’s arm.
When they finally reached the barracks, the Sage immediately tried to send everyone back.
“Alright, everyone — it’s time to go home.”
But Reyna and the Marquess stared at him in disbelief.
“What are you talking about? Mom and I are staying here with you.”
“That’s right. Future newlyweds need to practice living together, don’t they?”
To make matters worse, Elena joined in.
“I-I’m staying here too!”
The vision of a sweet, intimate time with the Sage quickly turned into a battleground as Reyna shot a glare at her sister.
“You have a territory to manage! Didn’t you always go on about how nobles should behave properly?”
“I can manage from here. It doesn’t have to be done from my office.”
In the end, unable to shake them off, the Sage was forced to bring both sisters into his quarters.
“…Huh?”
“…What?”
“This is…”
It was only then that the Sage remembered something he’d completely forgotten amid all the chaos.
Tied to the central pillar of the room, unconscious and wearing… rather suggestive clothing, was Luciphra — his prisoner.
Desperately, the Sage tried to explain.
“T-This… this is… a prisoner. She’s just a prisoner, that’s all!”
But of course, no one believed him.
“My, my. Our future son-in-law certainly has… particular tastes.”
“So this is what you’re into, Sage…”
“Funny… I remember you liking things soft and gentle last time. Guess I was wrong?”
“Hm? Haven’t seen you around here before, miss.”
***
The shopkeeper, a burly man with a thick beard, greeted Elena.
“So, what do you need the rope for?”
“Uh… well… um…”
How was she supposed to explain that?
As Elena hesitated, the shopkeeper squinted at her and asked carefully:“…Miss, are you… one of those types?”
“Huh?!”
What did he mean by those types?
“You look like a rich young lady, and there’s only one reason someone like you would come here. Another girl like you was here just a while ago.”
Elena’s face turned crimson, feeling like she’d been caught red-handed.
The shopkeeper pointed down the street.
“Cross the street three times and turn down the alley. With all the people moving into this city lately, it seems like we’ve got all kinds of places popping up. Never thought I’d see the day, really.”
Not even looking back, Elena bolted in the direction he indicated.
As light grows brighter, shadows grow darker — and before her eyes spread a lively red-light district, glowing with colorful decorations.
Elena immediately understood what kind of place the shopkeeper had been hinting at.
Right at the entrance stood an adult goods store.
That had to be what he meant.
‘Thank you, sir…!’
Feeling like she’d stumbled upon treasure, Elena walked into the shop with excitement.
“Oh my! Another young lady today? Welcome, dear. Looking for something in particular?”
The shop’s madam still had traces of the beauty she must have been in her younger days, though those days had passed.
“R-Rope… I’m looking for some rope…”
“Rope? Right this way.”
Following the madam’s lead, Elena walked deeper into the store —“Huh?!”
“Sis?!”
“Oh? You two know each other?”
Reyna was already there, holding a pair of handcuffs and examining them with interest.
The two sisters stared at each other in shock and horror.
“What… what are you doing here?”
“What about you?!”
Two refined noble ladies — now face to face in the least refined place imaginable — locked eyes with fierce tension.
“Madam, what’s the most popular item right now?”
“Popularity’s one thing — but it’s more important to know what your partner’s into.”
The madam’s sly smile only deepened their embarrassment.
“Hmm… well…”
“He’s gentle… kind… and, um…”
“He’s not good at speaking harshly to people…”
“Ah, I see. A gentlemanly type, huh?”
The madam’s eyes gleamed with a knowing look.
“Men like that often lose themselves once they get a taste of something… stronger.”
She reached over and picked up a whip and a collar.
“How about these?”
The sisters’ imaginations ran wild, their faces flushing bright red.
“With some rope to bind him up tight… and this, too — he might like it more than you’d expect.”
The madam tapped a blindfold with the tip of the whip.
“A-And, um… do you have anything else…?”
“Why rush to the main event when you could enjoy some appetizers first?”
After dumping a mountain of items into their arms, the madam led them deeper into the shop.
Finally, she stopped and pulled something off the shelf — spreading it out with a flourish.
“Well? What do you think?”
Both sisters froze, their faces burning with embarrassment.
The lingerie she held up was scandalous — more like display pieces than clothing.
With gaping openings in both the top and bottom, it was made for showing, not covering.
***
“Come again anytime, ladies~!”
The madam waved them off happily, clearly thrilled with the fortune she’d just made in one sale.
Now heavily burdened with bags full of scandalous and risqué goods, the two sisters made their way back — constantly glancing down in fear that the packaging might tear open.
“You should let me go first tonight.”
Reyna broke the silence.
“What?!”
“You always made me wait just because I was the younger sister. It’s your turn to wait for once.”
“Absolutely not. There’s no reason I should wait now — and we’re not kids anymore!”
Unwilling to back down, the sisters argued all the way back.
But as they reached the camp, they found a woman pleading with the lord at the entrance.
“Please… please let me meet him just this once! It’s urgent — I beg you, my lord!”
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