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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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It was time for some traffic control.
Especially when I considered the details.
Let’s see.
Roughly ten years before the regression, and less than a year since. Let’s call it eleven years.
My five brides-to-be had been vying for my attention for eleven years. There were exceptions, like Arwen and Sylphia, who’d known each other beforehand, but they were outliers.
So, what happened when rivals in love, after eleven years of fighting, suddenly became family?
Of course, I was the common denominator, the oil binding these disparate elements of water.
I’d forced them together, essentially saying, “Deal with it.”
After eleven years of love triangles and squabbles, I’d suddenly appeared and declared, “Let’s all get married! Can we stop fighting now?”
From an outsider’s perspective, it was a recipe for disaster. I knew that. I wasn’t an idiot.
But even if I could go back, I wouldn’t change my decision.
This was the best option.
I considered myself reasonably intelligent, and I couldn’t think of a better solution.
Did I want to be the center of attention, with everyone watching my “Wedding of the Century”?
Of course not.
Having five beautiful and talented wives was every man’s dream, but in this world, it just made people think I was crazy.
“Who wants to be stared at like a freak on their wedding day? I’m doing this because I have to.”
I muttered, quickly rationalizing my decision.
Ah… the world where I’m not hurt by this… complete…
I was okay with it.
My brides-to-be were getting to marry me.
So, everything was fine.
People might find it strange, but who cared?
Eileen, who’d been watching my shifting expressions with a bemused look, asked,
“What strange thoughts are you having now?”
“Nothing strange.”
“You make that face when you’re thinking something strange.”
“I was having practical, constructive thoughts.”
“…”
Eileen looked at me skeptically. She couldn’t read my mind.
And I hadn’t been thinking anything strange. This was still the best option.
As I was rationalizing my decision again, Sylphia chimed in.
“What were you thinking? You had a strange look on your face. And Eileen’s right, you make that face when you’re thinking something weird.”
“I wasn’t thinking anything weird.”
“Then tell us. Let us be the judge.”
“Hmm…”
I was about to protest, but I realized everyone was staring at me.
Elena, Arwen, and Lassiel, who’d been arguing about wedding dresses and the processional order, were now focused on me.
It was a little embarrassing to have everyone’s attention like this…
“I was just thinking that I’d make the same choice again.”
“The same choice?”
“Yes. I still think this was the best option.”
I paused, choosing my words carefully.
“This is the best outcome for the greatest number of people. Utilitarianism. Of course, I’m taking on the most risk…”
I finished, my voice firm.
I wasn’t stupid.
The initial articles about me dating Lassiel had evolved into detailed accounts of my upcoming marriage to five women, boosting newspaper sales.
I wanted to ask about my right to privacy, but this was the Middle Ages.
Even in the modern era, with its advanced human rights, celebrities were hounded by paparazzi.
We’d been openly shopping for wedding dresses and other items, so the news had spread like wildfire.
Thanks to this, I, the newly appointed Court Mage, was now the center of attention.
Elena and Eileen also attracted attention, but it was nothing compared to me.
I’d gone from being the Empire’s rising star to a notorious playboy who’d charmed five women into this absurd marriage.
‘Not that I blame them.’
Public opinion was fickle. If I tried to suppress the news, they’d accuse me of censorship.
“So, you’re saying this was the best option, even if it means you bearing the brunt of public scrutiny, because it makes everyone else happy?”
“That’s… an exaggeration. I didn’t say it was that noble.”
“You’re an idiot,” Arwen said, clicking her tongue.
I bristled at being called an idiot, but Arwen looked around, as if seeking agreement.
“It’s a noble thought, but… you’re still a child. Don’t you agree?”
“I do,” Sylphia said, surprisingly agreeing with Arwen.
Even Sylphia, Arwen’s nemesis, agreed. I felt a little wronged, but Arwen continued calmly.
“I know you don’t care about what others think, but… I know what you’re thinking. Let me guess.”
“You’re going to guess what I’m thinking?”
“You’re thinking this was the best option, and you’re trying to justify it, telling yourself it doesn’t matter because you’re the one attracting all the attention. Am I right? It’s obvious.”
Silence.
She’d hit the nail on the head.
Seeing my silence, Arwen said triumphantly,
“I’ve known you for years. Did you think I wouldn’t know?”
Silence.
“You don’t seem to remember telling me this in your past life. So, let me tell you now.”
“Tell me what?”
“Don’t shoulder the burden alone.”
Arwen’s eyes met mine.
“You don’t need to. We’re not children. Did you think we didn’t know what we were doing? Do you think we chose this blindly?”
“Yeah, our Rudrick was having such noble thoughts. But it’s a familiar pattern, isn’t it?” Lassiel added.
I couldn’t say anything.
“You’re mistaken. While I did act spoiled that one time… we all knew what we were doing. It was a conscious choice.”
“Of course. We’ll take responsibility, not Rudrick.”
“To be more precise, we wouldn’t let you shoulder the burden alone, even if you tried.”
They all chimed in, and I felt a strange mix of emotions.
Embarrassment at having my secret thoughts exposed, and gratitude that they understood.
It was all good. This was a gender-reversed world. I wasn’t necessarily the one who had to take responsibility. I’d been too self-centered.
“That’s all well and good…”
“Hmm?”
“But being surrounded like this and told how noble I am… it’s embarrassing…”
My face burned.
It was like having my fly down in public, or having my embarrassing teenage diary read aloud.
I’d never experienced either, but the level of embarrassment was similar.
Avoiding their gazes, I mumbled,
“Can we… just get back to planning the wedding?”
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