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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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There was the minor issue of my thoughts being laid bare, but I’d managed to change the subject before becoming a laughingstock.
Though, I couldn’t escape the burning sensation in my face as they looked at me with a mixture of amusement and… something I couldn’t quite decipher.
Anyway, back to more constructive topics.
Namely, the impending wedding.
As evidenced by the heated debate before my intervention, this was a sensitive topic. The discussion continued for some time.
It wasn’t exactly a civil discussion, more like a chaotic free-for-all, but we eventually reached a conclusion.
“I’m exhausted,” Elena said, looking drained.
She’d single-handedly drafted the initial plan, and it had clearly taken a toll.
While I suspected her meticulous planning and contingency preparations were excessive, I wasn’t about to say that to her face so I patted her shoulder instead.
“You’ve worked hard.”
She’d been subjected to constant feedback and revisions, which must have been stressful.
“I don’t mind, as long as you appreciate it… but now, I want a reward.”
“A reward? What kind of reward? Is there something you want?”
“There is…”
She trailed off, glancing around. I followed her gaze and saw the other four staring at us.
“What? Why are you all staring?”
“If I said it out loud, I wouldn’t survive. Your other wives are watching me like hawks.”
“…”
“So, I’ll tell you what I want later, when we’re alone.”
Elena winked, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Of course, they’d all heard her. Sylphia was the first to speak, her voice laced with annoyance.
“Rudrick.”
“Yes?”
“Is it okay to play favorites already?”
“I haven’t done anything yet. I don’t even know what she wants.”
Sylphia shook her head, as if she’d expected this.
“I knew this would happen, but it’s still annoying. And the worst part is, I’ll have to deal with this for the rest of my life.”
“I agree, but time heals all wounds. Don’t get so worked up, or you’ll get an ulcer.”
“That’s right. We agreed to this.”
Arwen, surprisingly, was comforting Sylphia.
Sylphia sighed, shaking her head again.
Elena, now the target of their collective ire, crossed her arms and said nonchalantly,
“Did you think I was obsessed with planning for no reason? I anticipated this.”
“Elena, you’re being unseemly. Stop it.”
“Well, my dear cousin disagrees, so it can’t be helped.”
Elena’s lips curled into a smirk.
Wait, was she mocking them? Was this going to turn into a fight?
My premonition of disaster intensified as Elena added fuel to the fire.
“If you’re so envious, you should have stayed up all night planning the wedding. Don’t you think? I have a valid excuse.”
“Wow, she’s insufferable,” Lassiel muttered.
But objectively, Elena had a point. She’d done all the work.
Her excuse was valid, so thankfully, it didn’t escalate into a fight.
“Wow…”
I could only gape in astonishment.
I’d known this wouldn’t be easy.
This path wasn’t for the faint of heart. If I’d been irresponsible, or if I’d tried to avoid responsibility, things would have been much worse.
Could I truly satisfy all five of them?
I doubted it.
But I’d made my choice. I had to persevere.
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After that day, the wedding preparations proceeded smoothly. It was still an Imperial wedding, albeit an unusual one.
Elena had even bragged about confronting the Crown Princess and forcing her to agree to the marriage.
“Wait, she actually agreed? I mean, my mother had no choice, but this is…”
“Rudrick, you don’t understand politics.”
“What?”
“Humans are easily swayed. If you offer them something absurd, then add an even more absurd condition, they’ll be too confused to refuse.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I gave her a choice: approve my marriage, or face a civil war. She backed down. She decided it was better for her sister to tarnish the Imperial family’s reputation than to split the Empire in two.”
Elena puffed out her chest, clearly proud of herself, which only made it more absurd.
I flicked her on the forehead.
It was a magically enhanced flick, so it must have stung, judging by the way she winced. But threatening a civil war was a bit much.
Especially since I knew about her… less than heroic actions before the regression.
Anyway, the wedding preparations were progressing without my intervention.
I finally had some free time to relax in my lab, enjoying a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper.
“Are they ever going to stop using the word ‘century’?”
I grumbled, frowning at the headline.
Sensational headlines sold newspapers, but it had been days, and my wedding was still front-page news.
I felt like a monkey in a zoo, but I’d expected this.
“Wedding dress shops, venue speculations… they’re really going all out.”
They were practically paparazzi.
I was planning to have the wedding at the Imperial Palace, and the articles speculated that Elena’s presence made it a likely choice. I couldn’t help but be impressed by their deduction skills.
The Imperial Palace was isolated.
I didn’t know what the public was saying, but the nobles and anyone who could read must be gossiping nonstop.
In a time with limited entertainment, my wedding was a juicy piece of gossip.
Seeing half the newspaper dedicated to my wedding made me feel like I was being exploited for clicks.
Some articles even subtly implied that I was the cause of all this, even though they didn’t directly criticize me.
“Well, they’re not wrong.”
Technically, it was the result of my past self’s actions, not my current self’s.
I put down the newspaper and reached for my coffee, but the lab door opened.
“I knew I’d find you here.”
“Elena?”
I glanced around the lab.
We were alone.
Elena’s expression softened, and a smile played on her lips.
“Rudrick, this might be sudden, but… I want that reward now.”
“Now?”
“No one’s watching.”
She grinned mischievously, pulling a chair up to my desk and sitting down.
Closing her eyes, she pointed to her lips.
“Kiss me.”
“A… kiss…”
I realized something.
Perhaps it was a side effect of my comforting her earlier…
Elena had become more… affectionate when we were alone. Now she was asking for a kiss as a reward.
Hmm… perhaps this was karma.
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