“Villendorf shall choose a suitable wife for you,” Queen Catalina assured. “I assume that there will be a fierce battle for the spot, but I promise to prioritize your requests and preferences and provide you with a woman. How does that sound?”
“Your Majesty, as I said earlier, I cannot take a wife from an enemy nation,” I replied.
“If we sign the peace treaty, we’re no longer enemies. As for the conditions of the treaty, it doesn’t have to end in a decade. If desired, we can be at peace for the foreseeable future—two or three decades. In fact, I don’t mind upholding peace between our kingdoms until your death, Sir Polidoro.”
I faltered in the face of the queen’s insistence. Crap, at this rate, she can push her wishes through, I thought. But I couldn’t think of a rebuttal. What do I do? My little fellow that slumbered underneath my chastity belt seemed to resign himself to his fate, though truthfully speaking, we were rather eager to accept these terms.
Queen Catalina was busty and just my type. Hold it, Faust von Polidoro. Don’t forget that perky-tittied Zabine is trying to woo you. I compared the two women in my mind. Meaty, voluptuous Queen Catalina, or Zabine with her perky boobs… Damn, I can’t choose. They’re both good in their own ways. My guy under my chastity belt seemed to agree, and I fell silent as I weighed my options. Everyone’s so useless. Ultimately, the only thing I could rely on was my head. My intelligence was pretty useless in this world—in fact, my brain actively worked against me and made me confused at times—but every now and then, my knowledge from my past life would oddly come in handy. Come on, lead me to an answer. And I came up with one solution.
“Your Majesty, do you love me?” I asked.
This was the only question I had left.
“I do not know,” the queen answered. Her words sounded genuine. “Perhaps I’m just looking for a shoulder to lean on as we lick each other’s wounds. I’d like to lie with you, take you in my arms, and cry my heart out. Mayhap that’s all I wish. We both failed to recognize the love of our mothers before they died. Because we share the same past, I may simply want to hold you close as we comfort each other.”
Her imploring gaze was pointed straight at me.
“But is my choice wrong?” she asked. It sounded as though she spoke to herself. “Sir Polidoro, do you not want to lie with me, to soothe and be soothed in return?”
I want to! My little guy underneath my chastity belt twitched eagerly. Calm down, little guy! I don’t want my dick to hurt in this situation! Think, Faust von Polidoro! Part of me wished to just lose my virginity—I’d worked so hard until now, and surely I was allowed to indulge myself. But I knew that I had to remain chaste. My mind went a mile a minute as I managed to eke out a solution.
“How about we comfort each other in bed after I get a wife, Queen Catalina?” I suggested. “How does that sound?”
The only answer I could come up with was to put this situation on hold for now. If I flatly refused her offer, our peace negotiations would end unsuccessfully and start the second Campaign of Villendorf. This time around, I was certain that we’d lose the battle. Miracles didn’t happen again so easily. Even if I stood my ground during the clash, I’d ultimately just be dragged into Villendorf’s royal palace. I had no means to refuse her offer, and the best thing I could do was to kick the can down the road.
“After you get a wife?” the queen asked. “How long will you need to be married before your wife can accept our arrangement? And how many years will it take you to find a wife? I cannot wait long.”
From her words, it was clear that she was willing to listen and compromise. As I thought, she wasn’t completely unreasonable. I fell silent once more and mulled over an answer.
“Two years. Can you wait two years?” I asked.
“Hmm… By then, you and I would be twenty-four,” she replied.
It was also the longest I could hold myself back. I hoped that within those two years, Anhalt would present me with a wife, I’d successfully woo Zabine, or Zabine would seduce me first. I could only wait for so long. If Zabine refused to be my wife, and the kingdom failed to provide me with anyone else to marry, I’d sleep with Queen Catalina. Villendorf would then provide me with a wife, and I’d have the woman give birth to the successor of the Polidoro fief. No other solution came to mind. I was the mediator for these peace negotiations. What was wrong with me receiving a wife from Villendorf? If I didn’t calculate this far ahead, frankly, I couldn’t cope with my life in this world.
“Very well,” the queen nodded. “I shall wait. I eagerly await the day I can hold you in my arms.”
“I’m glad that you can agree to these terms,” I replied.
There was no room for further negotiations. Princess Valiele quietly held her head in her hands, comprehending the situation. She didn’t utter another word. Your Highness, you’re not at fault. It probably wouldn’t have mattered if Princess Anastasia or Duke Astarte had accompanied me instead—these terms wouldn’t have changed. Villendorf really isn’t interested in budging on this point.
“Then that’s that,” Queen Catalina said. “In two years’ time—no, Faust von Polidoro, do visit me next year as well. It pains me to be unable to see you for two entire years.”
“I shall,” I replied.
I have to visit her next year too? I mean, I don’t hate her. As a man viewing her as a woman, I like Queen Catalina. Personally, though, I feared that she’d use her power and influence to push me down and break our promise. In reality, she’d done just that to get her way. My guy underneath my chastity belt was happy, but my brain questioned the scenario that I was forced into. But what else can I do? I sighed.
“Then our negotiations are successful,” the queen concluded. “I shall sign a peace treaty that promises peace for the next decade. I shall also consider lengthening the terms of peace based on Anhalt’s wishes. Ah, and Princess Valiele, I apologize for my behavior. I didn’t intend to ignore your presence.”
“I don’t mind,” Princess Valiele replied.
Her expression was one of regret and guilt for pushing all the hard work onto me. But don’t worry, Your Highness. You still have the work of apologizing with me to Queen Liesenlotte for stealing her roses. Princess Valiele’s role wasn’t over yet, and I didn’t want her to look so down.
“Sir Polidoro—no, allow me to call you ‘Faust’ henceforth,” Queen Catalina said. “You will become my paramour—my lover, after all.”
“I shall,” I replied. I resigned myself to my fate.
“It pains me to be separated from you for even a moment, but I’d like for you to visit Reckenbell’s grave and offer these flowers to her. Where will you stay for the night? I don’t mind if you use my bedroom, but I can save the fun for later.”
The queen laughed heartily before her gaze traveled to the knights all lined up. In the last seat reserved for those of the lowest rank was a girl who looked to be around twelve years of age.
“Nina von Reckenbell,” the queen said. “Guide the two envoys of Anhalt to the grave of your mother, Claudia von Reckenbell. Have Princess Valiele and Faust stay within your manor for the night.”
“Your wish is my command,” the girl replied. “I’m certain that my manor shall allow Sir Polidoro to rest easy.”
Wait, is that girl Lord Reckenbell’s only daughter? I know a bit about her, but how can I rest easy? I’d be spending the night in the manor of the lady I killed in a duel. And her daughter will be my guide. I’ve been trying my best to be pretty considerate to Martina, you know. I wish you’d all pay a bit more attention to how I might feel about this whole situation.
“Now then, this concludes our negotiations,” the queen said. “I encourage you to spend the rest of your time enjoying what Villendorf’s royal capital has to offer.”
How can I enjoy a single thing?
“Ah, Nina von Reckenbell,” Queen Catalina called. “One last thing before you go. Could you lend Claudia’s—your late mother’s—magical longbow to Faust? I wouldn’t want him to die when he faces those nomads. That would bring me further grief.”