A week later.
At the top floor of the academy dormitory.
“Hehehe~.”
In a lavishly decorated room, a girl with golden hair hummed a tune.
She was preparing to go out with the help of her maid in front of a mirror.
Her large eyes were curved with happiness.
The corners of her mouth were raised and didn’t seem to want to come down.
Seeing this, the maid who was helping her get ready gently spoke up.
“You seem to be in a good mood, Your Highness Justia.”
“Hmm, hmm. Does it show?”
“Yes. You look like a wife welcoming her husband home after a long time.”
“Ah, really? Well, today is the day the Grand Duke returns. But to say I look like his wife… Anna, you’re really something. Hehe.”
Justia blushed shyly and twisted her body.
Seeing this, her personal maid Anna made a slightly awkward expression.
‘Well, I didn’t say it like that…’
But, well. Her Highness seems to be in a good mood, so it’s fine.
Swallowing those words, Anna pondered over Justia’s words.
‘More importantly, she said the Grand Duke is returning today.’
Justia, with a consistently cheerful face, fiddled with the ring-shaped artifact on her left hand.
Anna, who knew who had given it to her, fell into thought.
Justia, the imperial princess and treasure of the Arcmenes Empire.
Now that the second prince has dropped out of the succession race, Her Highness Justia has rapidly emerged as a strong candidate for the throne.
But just four months ago, the situation was very different.
She was always caught between the two princes and left out.
However.
‘Everything changed with his appearance.’
Behirit Dibelion.
The Empire’s Swordmaster and the hero of the Demon Sword War.
Whenever she talks about him, Her Highness makes a happy expression like a girl in love.
It’s undeniable that the Grand Duke is her benefactor and someone she is deeply grateful to.
But honestly, there was one thing that bothered her.
‘The Grand Duke has many women.’
For now, it’s just a rumor.
But at least from what she had seen, it was a clear fact.
The top student of the first-year magic department at the academy and the Grand Duke’s aide.
Liliana Mapleflower.
When Anna had recently run into her by chance, she had seen it.
The ring-shaped artifact on her slender left ring finger.
‘…It was definitely the same as the one Her Highness has.’
Some might say it’s just a similar item.
But as the personal maid of the princess, her keen eye couldn’t be deceived.
The ring Liliana had was the same as the one Her Highness had received as a gift from the Grand Duke.
Leaving the same token with his women.
The Grand Duke was truly a bold man.
‘Moreover, there were eyewitness accounts that the relationship between the Grand Duke and Professor Elda Ferrenka was unusual. Just how many women does he have?’
Professor Elda, despite being from a northern tribe, was a woman admired by many male students for her beauty and strength.
But according to rumors, she called the Grand Duke “husband.”
Good heavens. “Husband,” no less.
Just how far had their relationship progressed for her to call him that?
While Anna was deeply contemplating Behirit’s romantic entanglements, Justia spoke up.
“The Grand Duke should be arriving at the academy soon, right? I can’t wait to see him.”
“He’s probably almost here. Would you like to go out and meet him?”
“Yes, of course. It’s only natural to go and greet him after he’s traveled all the way from the Starlight family.”
Justia said, looking down at the ring with honey-dripping eyes.
To greet him.
‘When the Grand Duke arrives at the academy, just how many women will end up facing each other?’
Trying not to imagine the chilling scene, Anna spoke.
“You’re all set. You look as beautiful as ever today, Your Highness.”
“Thank you. Shall we go then?”
“Yes.”
Anna bowed respectfully and replied.
And the two headed out of the dormitory.
Clip-clop, clip-clop—
Justia’s heels clicked cheerfully against the summer air.
Following the sunlit path towards the academy’s main gate, Justia and Anna.
On the way to the gate, they encountered female students who greeted Justia warmly.
“Good morning, Your Highness!”
“Good morning.”
Justia replied with her characteristic gentle smile.
The two young ladies greeting her were from families that had originally remained neutral but had sworn allegiance to Justia after the Demon Sword War.
‘Every day, Her Highness Justia’s standing grows stronger. This must also be thanks to the Grand Duke.’
Grateful to the Grand Duke for normalizing Her Highness’s succession to the throne, they continued walking.
Before long, the main gate came into view.
‘Ah, who is that?’
Anna’s gaze turned towards a green-haired elf sitting near the gate.
As expected.
She’s already here.
But sensing their presence, the elf stood up and looked towards Justia.
“Your Highness Justia!”
“Miss Liliana. Good morning.”
“Good morning. Are you here to greet Lord Behirit?”
“Yes. It seems you’re here for the same reason, Miss Liliana.”
“It seems so. We must have had the same thought.”
Liliana chuckled.
Justia smiled demurely in response, and to Anna, the scene was quite striking.
‘They’re rivals, yet they get along so well. How strange. It must be because both have such kind hearts.’
In noble families with many concubines, there are often secret battles over who will get pregnant first and bear a son.
Fortunately, it seemed such things wouldn’t happen among the Grand Duke’s wives.
But as Justia and Liliana were chatting amiably.
Another woman approached the gate.
“Oh, we have guests already. Good morning, Your Highness Justia.”
“Professor Elda. What brings you here?”
“Today is the day the Grand Duke returns, isn’t it? I couldn’t just sit still when my husband is coming back.”
A beautiful woman with black hair and black eyes, exuding a wild charm, said with a relaxed smile.
At her appearance, Justia nodded as if understanding.
Then the three women began to chat animatedly.
“So, on the day of the entrance ceremony, the Grand Duke’s escort knight…”
“That’s so like Lord Behirit. When he was with me, he dealt with a slave trader…”
“Even during the Demon Sword War, my husband rescued the hostages…”
Strangely, their conversation flowed smoothly, and the three women chatted amiably.
Watching them from the side, Anna stood there with her mouth agape.
‘Wh-what is this…?’
There were already three women here to greet him.
And each one of them was extraordinary.
The imperial princess, the top student of the magic department, an elf girl, and even one of the empire’s top ten swordsmen.
Yet here they were, gathered together, laughing and chatting.
Truly, this must be the Grand Duke.
Then, Justia spoke with a suspicious look.
“By the way, Professor Elda. Honestly, the custom of calling someone ‘husband’ in the northern tribes is a lie, right?”
“Eh? What do you mean, Your Highness?”
“It’s just too ridiculous. Calling the man you respect the most ‘husband.’ Besides, I checked, and no such custom exists.”
“Uh, um, hahaha… Oh! Look over there! A carriage is coming!”
At that moment, Elda pointed at the carriage and hastily changed the subject.
Following her finger, the women’s gazes turned.
Beyond the large academy gate.
Their eyes fixed on a single carriage.
Clip-clop, clip-clop—
“What’s that?”
“It’s the Starlight family’s carriage. Lord Behirit must have finally arrived!”
Liliana said with a face full of joy.
After a brief moment.
The carriage passed through the gate and slowly began to slow down.
Once the horses came to a complete stop, the carriage door opened, and someone stepped out.
As soon as his figure was revealed under the sunlight, the three women ran towards him.
“Grand Duke!”
“Lord Behirit!”
“Husband!”
“Huh? What’s this? Did you all come out to greet me?”
A handsome man with black hair and red eyes stepped out of the carriage, his eyes wide with surprise.
Grand Duke Behirit smiled warmly as the three women ran towards him.
‘…To think the Grand Duke would make such an expression.’
Even the man once called the Iron-Blooded Grand Duke becomes warm in the presence of his women.
The thought crossed Anna’s mind, and.
Following the Grand Duke, a voluptuous white-haired priestess stepped out of the carriage.
“Oh, who is this?”
“Ah, let me introduce you. This is Milinarize Whitewell, the high priestess of the Paless Church.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all. May the grace of Paless be with you.”
Holding her large breasts with both arms, Milinarize offered a short prayer.
As the four women exchanged greetings.
Another person stepped out of the carriage.
“Wh-who is that?”
“Hmm, I feel like I’ve seen her before…”
“Wait. Light brown hair and those eyes… Could it be?”
Elda’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Following her, the other women also couldn’t hide their shock.
Because the person who had just stepped out of the carriage was someone they knew—’Luke Starlight.’
Except he was wearing makeup and a girl’s school uniform, making him look like a girl.
No, he was a girl.
And quite glamorous at that.
“Wh-what…? The chest? And that slim waist with the hips?”
“Uh… What on earth is going on here?”
“My, my. You all seem surprised. I’d like to explain her situation somewhere else. Would you follow me for a moment?”
Amid the commotion at the gate caused by the appearance of the starry girl, Behirit calmly spoke to the women.
But then, Milinarize urgently spoke up.
“Ah, wait a moment. Miss Eileen is carrying Lord Behirit’s child, so we must be careful with her movements.”
“What?”
“Excuse me?”
“Husband?”
Instantly, the voices turned cold.
Under the blazing summer sun, an unexpected winter frost seemed to freeze the air.
Behirit scratched his head with an awkward expression.
And as he was surrounded by five women, Anna muttered to herself.
‘Ah, this is a complete mess.’