“And so, yeah, that’s how it all happened.”
One night, out on the castle balcony, Juno told me about her party’s disbandment. Of course, I already knew most of it from the messenger kui that had arrived shortly before she did. That was why we’d been able to have a tea party waiting for her. Liscia and Aisha were there as well.
After hearing Juno out, Liscia set her cup down and spoke with a soft smile. “I see how it is. You want to celebrate for them, but at the same time, it leaves you feeling lonely.”
“After all, you’re being separated from the people you worked with for so long,” Aisha agreed. “No one can blame you for feeling that way.”
Juno nodded, a wry smile on her face.
“Well, yeah. They were like family to me. I’m happy for them, but also sad... And I can’t imagine working with anyone else.”
“Family... That reminds me, do you have parents, Juno?” Liscia asked.
Juno shook her head. “They’ve both passed away. That’s why I was able to take up adventuring with a light heart.”
Leaning back in her chair, she lifted her gaze to the night sky, her expression troubled.
“I don’t plan to keep adventuring without them, but I don’t have a home to return to or a family trade to inherit. I can’t think of anything new I want to learn, or a path like Febral’s to follow, so I’m at a loss.”
She sounded like a student unsure which subject to major in—only her uncertainty was about a life, not a course.
“You and your party helped us during the war,” I said. “I can probably help you find work. If you want, I can even offer you a position at the castle.”
Juno groaned and considered the offer with a frown.
“Working in the castle feels too stiff for me. Besides, the guild hires retired adventurers all the time for reception work, paperwork, things like that. They always want people who’ve been in the field. So I’m fine as far as employment goes too.”
“Hmm. So what is it that you’re unsure about?” I asked.
“Um, well...you see...” Juno avoided my eyes, searching for words. “When I heard Julia and Dece talking about married life, it made me think... You know, about getting married, starting a family, and having kids. But I’d need a partner first, and the person I trust most is...”
She shot me a meaningful look.
“Huh? Me?” I blurted.
“...Mister Musashibo. The one you control.”
“Oh!”
That made sense. Juno and I had adventured together through Little Musashibo, and I knew she trusted the kigurumi deeply. Little Musashibo “spoke” using placards, but for some reason Juno seemed to understand what I meant even without them.
“You have a doll fetish, Juno?” I teased half-heartedly. What’s the right term for this? Pygmalion complex? There were people like that, after all.
She waved her hands away, embarrassed. “No, no! It’s not that. It’s the sense of humanity I feel from Mister Musashibo. Like you’re always there inside him. Even when I’m talking to you, it feels like I’m talking to Mister Musashibo.”
“U-Uh-huh...?”
Was this like how people referred to the voice actor of an anime character, or the actor who played the pre-transformation form of a tokusatsu hero, as the person inside X? Recognizing them more as the character than the individual? Kind of like how we thought of Ivan Juniro and Silvan as one and the same. Or Kagetora and Geo—no, in that case, they really were two different people. Right.
Munch, munch.
“So, His Majesty is the object of your affection, Madam Juno?” Aisha asked, pausing between bites of her snacks. She hadn’t followed the conversation closely, but apparently she’d caught enough.
“Why not become a queen?” Liscia suggested. “We’ve known you a long time. You’d be more than welcome, you know?”
“Wait, why are you so eager to suggest that?!” I exclaimed.
“Because, with how peaceful it is, a trashy rag like ParSpo will publish speculation about who your ‘eighth queen’ might be. It doesn’t come up as much these days, but some women or their parents might take it seriously and try to approach you. I think we’d have less trouble if we filled that slot with someone I already trust.”
“That’s your reasoning?!”
“We promised each queen gets one day of the week with you. If your entire week is already spoken for, then we can easily dismiss any rumors about secret mistresses or hidden children.”
“Well, yeah, because I wouldn’t have time to make any!”
Tomoe already managed my schedule with the queens’ health in mind, so there was no room for that sort of thing. Of course, the public didn’t know that, so they were free to fantasize as much as they wanted.
Juno smiled wryly at our exchange. “Well, I wouldn’t say no to marrying Souma. I’m sure he’d let me keep doing what I like after marriage. But like I said before, castle life doesn’t suit me. And being a queen is so not my style.”
Wait... You’d actually be fine with marrying me? The women around me are all so cut-and-dried about these things...
Among common folk, marriage was often less about the individuals and more about the families involved. From a woman’s perspective, being able to continue the same free lifestyle she enjoyed before marriage was considered quite attractive.
As I was mulling it over, Liscia, sipping her tea with a calm expression, suddenly said, “Then it’s simple. Just marry him without becoming a queen.”
She said it so casually that both Juno and I tilted our heads in confusion.
“Come again? Are you serious about that?”
“Huh? That’s actually allowed?”
We were doubtful, but Liscia explained coolly, “This isn’t nice to say, but in peacetime, queens don’t really have any duties. They’re expected to produce heirs, but...we already have Cian and Kazuha, so no one’s going to pressure us on that point. Otherwise, a queen’s role is mostly ceremonial—appearing with the king at festivals and formal events. Historically, they also held salons and fought among themselves, but all of our queens get along well.”
“R-Right...” Juno replied, looking dazed.
Liscia was simplifying things a little. In truth, the lack of factional strife was because each queen had her own specialty to focus on rather than wasting energy on power struggles. It also helped that Liscia, as first primary queen, managed the rest of the queens (and me too, frankly) with skill and fairness. And we all respected her for it.
No, seriously. I could never say a word against Liscia. Yes. (Why do I suddenly sound like Poncho?)
Liscia smiled gently at Juno.
“My work assisting Souma, and Aisha’s role as his bodyguard, are things we choose to do, not obligations. Juna, Roroa, Naden, Maria, and Yuriga are all pursuing what suits them too. So even if you married Souma, you wouldn’t be expected to act ‘queenly.’ I don’t see any problem with you living in town.”
“Really...?”
“Yes. Well, Souma’s bloodline is valuable, so I expect we’d assign bodyguards to any children you have, just to watch over them from the shadows.”
As she said this, Liscia turned her gaze on me. I didn’t know how to describe it, but it left me feeling uncomfortably exposed.
“The blood of old humanity is more important than that of the House of Elfrieden.”
“We want as many bloodlines that can make use of overscience as possible.”
“Every country wants your blood, and they’re already asking to adopt children descended from it.”
“The more children you have, the better. Isn’t that nice for you, Souma?”
That was what her look seemed to be saying, without her ever saying it aloud.
While I sat there feeling uncomfortable, Juno just blinked.
“Is it really okay? I can live in town and not be a queen?”
“Yes. But are you okay with that, Juno? We’ll make sure you never struggle financially, but if you stayed in the castle, you could live a life of complete ease, with maids catering to your every need.”
“No, no, that’s so not my style! I don’t like people fussing over me more than necessary. I’d much rather live a relaxed life in town. So if you’re saying I’d be allowed to do that, then I’ll seriously consider marrying Souma.”
“Yes. I have no issue with it.”
Juno and Liscia exchanged smiles. Aisha, for some reason, was nodding along in satisfaction too.
Apparently I wasn’t going to be consulted... Every time another queen was added, the women worked it out among themselves and left me with almost no say in the matter. Still, Liscia and the others always took my needs into account and supported me in running the country, so I couldn’t exactly complain.
Juno was a trustworthy colleague—a war buddy, even. I didn’t dislike her, so I had no objections to her joining us as a bride, but... Y’know...
“Are you the type who wants a big wedding, Juno?”
“Nah, I’m not into big, flashy events. But if it’s just a small ceremony where I can invite my old party members, I’d be fine with that.”
“That sounds nice. I do hope you’ll let us attend as well,” said Aisha.
“Hee hee, I agree, Aisha. Let’s rent out a church in the countryside. We’ll be very particular about the dress, the decorations, and of course the cooking,” Liscia added.
“Huh? You can actually do that?” Juno asked.
“We have the connections,” Liscia replied. “We can make Father Souji officiate.”
“H-Hey. Isn’t he the current head of Lunarian Orthodoxy...?”
“Hmm... If we’re assigning guards, too small a venue will make it difficult to protect,” Aisha pointed out.
“Then why don’t we just build a new one?” Liscia suggested sweetly. “With Souma’s pocket money.”
As the three women chatted happily...
“...”
Slurp.
I sat there, sipping my tea and feeling completely left out.
After more discussion, it was decided Juno would marry me. However, we wouldn’t publicly announce her as a queen. Only those closest to us would be told, and they’d be strictly forbidden from speaking of it.
After the wedding, Juno continued working as a guild receptionist and living in town. At her house, there was always a Little Musashibo animated by my consciousness, handling her chores whenever she was busy.
As for me, the main body, I came by once a week to see her.
A commuting husband? I felt like some noble from the Heian Period. (Although instead of arriving in an oxcart, I showed up riding the back of a black ryuu.)