Side Story Chapter 1. The Official Couple of the Worldview (Part 3)

“……” I was momentarily flustered by the sudden topic. The other two at the table also waited for my answer with curious expressions. No one questioned the question itself.

I don’t know why everyone is like this with Tesillid and me these days.

When I didn’t answer, Ligares pressed further.

“Huh? No plans? You must have received a proposal, right?”

“……”

“What?! No way, you still haven’t received one?!”

Ligares raised his voice in excitement. I felt the attention of those around us shift towards our table.

“Your Royal Highness, mind your dignity.”

“Ah, my apologies, Sir Cheryl. But I was so surprised.”

“Actually, I was surprised too.” [The Scales that Judge Souls is pleased with the officially recognized couple of the whole world.] That’s when it happened.

“Pink Pope, you mean you haven’t received a proposal yet…?”

Suddenly, Moriphis’s eyes gleamed more intensely than when he was talking about research earlier.

“It seems your relationship with the Holy Sword’s Master is more stagnant than publicly known! Then how about me?!”

“……What?”

Moriphis’s right hand plunged into subspace. After a long rummage, what emerged in his grasp was a large, jewel-encrusted ring.

Moriphis placed the ring as a garnish on the cake and subtly pushed it towards me.

“Become my partner, my dear.”

For reference, the cake was Moriphis’s leftover.

Silently thanking Agnes, who was angry on my behalf as always, I picked up the cake plate with my hand.

“P-Pope Your Holiness?!”

“Sister-in-law?!” [The Scales that Judge Souls is astonished!]

[The Eye that Oversees All Chaos is astonished!] Ah, don’t be surprised.

I lightly flicked my wrist and overturned the plate.

Splat!

Then I called a passing servant.

“There’s something dirty on the table, could you please clean it up?”

“Yes, Your Holiness.” [The Scales that Judge Souls is relieved.]

[The Eye that Oversees All Chaos is relieved.]

“Ugh. My first proposal in 211 years… How could you, my dear.”

“Who are you calling ‘my dear’? Your mouth is only for eating, isn’t it?”

When I subtly infused aura into my knife and my voice with killing intent, Moriphis quickly whimpered.

Meanwhile, Ligares, who had been observing the situation, looked serious.

“Sir Cheryl.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Contact my sister immediately. Tell her to go through the royal archives and prepare a ring.”

Cheryl was startled.

“Surely Your Highness isn’t planning to propose to Her Holiness this time?”

“Are you crazy? I’m giving it to my brother.”

“My apologies. I heard you had a prior record and misunderstood for a moment.”

“……”

Ah, come to think of it, he did make a proposal-like gesture to me too.

I immediately began to speak to Ligares.

“What was it you said? That you might not give love, but you’d be faithful to your husband’s duties?”

“……I’m sorry, Sister-in-law. I misspoke then.”

“Treating your own brother like dowry, honestly.”

“Ah, I said I misspoke!”

It was fun teasing him, but it also made me a little sad. [The Scathing Critic of Balance says that none of the guys who proposed to you are normal.] I guess so.

‘Count Rodrigo Orsu, Unicorn King Eliniro, Ligares, Moriphis…’

I started to wish I could receive a proposal from someone normal for once. ✠ ‘Indeed, that chimera researcher should have been buried in the Demon Realm’s soil along with his mirror… Ah, darn it. I had a bad thought without realizing it.’

There was no way Tesillid, with his keen senses, wouldn’t know what was happening at Aillet’s table.

However, his situation didn’t allow him to fully concentrate on that side.

The people gathered around Tesillid’s table were currently distracting him completely.

“Come on, son-in-law. Have a drink.”

“My handsome grandson-in-law, take my glass too. Drink it all down.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Leonard and Duke Hispenril, seated on either side, continuously urged Tesillid to drink. It was daytime drinking.

“Son-in-law, some food too…”

“Eat plenty, plenty.”

They even directly fed him food.

“It makes me proud to see you eating so well.”

“Our grandson-in-law, even your chewing muscles are handsome. Keep chewing. Oh, you’re doing so well.”

Such active attention and affection from elders were new to Tesillid. Feeling bewildered by the unfamiliar situation, Tesillid ate everything he was given.

Then, at some point, he came to his senses and realized. It wasn’t just a time to receive.

“Please take my glass as well.”

“Excellent! Pour it quickly. Let’s toast together.”

“Yes, here… And I would appreciate it if you could speak more comfortably with me now.”

“W-would you? I suppose it is about time, isn’t it? I’ll do that, son-in-law!”

“Grandfather, a drink too…”

“Drinking hinders protein assimilation, but if it’s our grandson-in-law’s glass, I must accept.”

“It’s an honor. Please have a piece of chicken breast too.”

“Oh, let’s taste the food our grandson-in-law chose for us. …Mmm! Delicious!”

Leonard and Duke Hispenril showered Tesillid, who would soon become a new family member, with unrestrained affection.

Meanwhile, there was one more man from the ducal family present.

It was Printz, the pink-haired young man sitting opposite Tesillid. He was isolated, the only one unaffected by the adoring atmosphere towards Tesillid.

‘How did the table end up with this group composition…?’

Their table had become a gathering place for the men of Aillet’s family.

Contrary to his upright posture, Printz eyed the silver-haired man opposite him with a skewed gaze.

Aillet’s boyfriend.

A man who was the Holy Sword’s Master, an Aura Master, the Pope’s guard knight, a Cardinal, royalty, and even a hero who saved the world.

And what about his appearance? Silver hair seemingly without impurity, clear blue eyes like the summer sea, perfectly balanced features, a voice with a deep resonance like a cave that calms people’s hearts, and a well-trained posture that never loses its center…

He was more than just handsome. It was as if this perfect body publicly declared that it contained an upright character and a gentle personality.

‘Yes, I admit it.’

He was an excellent man, flawless as a human, and impressive even to another man.

However, Printz couldn’t just view Tesillid favorably. This was because his first impression had been too negatively ingrained, from their confrontation in the Castle of Mirrors with Aillet between them. (At that time, Tesillid had said, “But what about the two next to you? Are they… familiars?” to which Aillet had retorted, “What?!”)

Moreover, the relationship of being his close friend Raywin’s rival was also intertwined. Didn’t they say one’s arm bends inward? Printz’s heart couldn’t help but lean towards Raywin.

‘Ray is still struggling, so it wouldn’t be right for me to suddenly be friendly with this guy.’

Reminding himself of his loyalty as a friend, Printz deliberately crossed his arms and stared intently at Tesillid, trying to see him unfavorably. Just then, an opportunity arose.

“Would you also like a drink, Brother?”

“What? B-b-brother?”

Printz was flustered by the sudden intimate address but quickly composed himself.

Who gave him permission to act so friendly and call him ‘Brother’? He decided to use this as an excuse to harshly! Very harshly interrogate him.

“B-brother, you say! W-why am I Sir Tesillid’s brother?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Printz felt an urge to tightly close his eyes.

‘D-did I speak too harshly?!’

Meanwhile, Tesillid’s reaction only added to Printz’s pangs of conscience.

“Ah, I apologize. I acted hastily out of a desire to become closer to Aillet’s brother.”

Tesillid apologized courteously and plainly. It was a situation where his holy face, which could make non-existent sins vanish just by looking at it, was smiling kindly right before him.

By nature, like attracts like, and Printz, who was born with an equally benevolent character, instinctively felt a fondness beginning to bloom for Tesillid.

‘No, I can’t! Think of Ray!’

Just then, Duke Hispenril patted Printz’s back heartily and said,

“Hahaha, this Lin-tz. Always so shy, you know. If you act so hesitant, won’t your brother-in-law misunderstand you?”

“B-brother-in-law?”

“Yes. From now on, as the elder brother-in-law, you must take good care of your brother-in-law!”

“Huh? Yes…”

Pat, pat! Unable to withstand the continuous pressure exploding on his back, Printz inadvertently answered.

“By the way, grandson-in-law, you have a surprising tolerance for alcohol.”

“Indeed. We seem to have offered you quite a lot.”

At Duke Hispenril’s and Leonard’s words, Printz’s eyes widened.

‘What? A Holy Knight, and he can hold his liquor?’

Although he was now part of the Incantation Cult with its free doctrines, he must have lived under the strict Order Religion before that.

It would have been normal for him to live believing temperance was a virtue, not even wetting his lips with anything but ceremonial wine, but he can hold his liquor? Suspicious.

‘Could it be that he’s actually a delinquent? Our Ray didn’t touch a drop of alcohol for six years at the military academy, and his tolerance is still abysmal!’

As Printz sent a suspicious gaze, Tesillid offered an unexpected answer.

“Actually, I am intoxicated.”

“Huh?”

“However, my mental fortitude is quite strong, so even if I drink, my mind tends to remain clear.”

“What?”

It was hard to believe, but it was true.

He had once reached the 9th Circle as Reed. Although his magical powers were currently sealed due to a conflict with divine power, the mental achievement of having once entered the ranks of a transcendent being remained. Alcohol was insufficient to disrupt him.

But regardless of those circumstances, Printz wanted to argue.

‘If your mind is clear even when you drink, then you’re not drunk, are you? Or are you?’

Meanwhile, there were two people at the table ready to dote on Tesillid no matter what he said.

“Indeed, a healthy mind resides in a healthy body!”

“Ah, our son-in-law’s intellect is splendid too. He would have made a great scholar.”

“Thank you.”

Watching the harmonious trio, Printz sighed in resignation.

Privilege for Possessors