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There was no way Davey could be compared to those psycho heroes.

With a smile, Davey pressed Perserque’s head down. At the same time, he sensed that the woman in front of him was watching him like a hawk and assessing him. He asked, “Is something the matter?”

“Oh. nothing. I heard that you are very strong, Your Highness. I’m just a little intrigued.”

Davey smiled at Kathryn, whose speech kept interchanging between informal and formal. He knew that she was struggling to maintain her formality with him. He said, “There’s no need to be formal, Grand Duchess. It seems like this is a rather difficult situation for you to be formal, so let’s just speak informally.”

“Should we?” Kathryn replied like she had been waiting for this moment. She revealed a dangerous smile like a predator catching its prey. “Then, Your Highness, since Her Highness has left, I will give you the message from the crown prince.”

‘Since I received a lot of gifts to carry out this task,’ Kathryn mumbled quietly, then handed Davey a short document.

Feeling that something was off, Davey asked, “What is this?”

“This is an offer of engagement.”

Davey froze at Kathryn’s offer.

“Can I be honest? His Highness the Crown Prince Alberth and I have the same opinion regarding you, but His Majesty is quite stubborn.” Kathryn giggled and mumbled like a little devil setting up a trap. She went on, “Honestly, our Princess Aeria is cute, right? Isn’t she pretty? Her chest is as flat as pancakes right now, but it will blossom like apples in a few years. Here, take this. Take it.”

When Kathryn handed him a small and strange-looking bottle, Davey asked, “What is this?”

Kathryn giggled and said, “It’s a famous potion from the central continent. Take it and sleep with her. You know, it’ll be difficult to get a bride like our adorable Princess Aeria.”

‘What is she talking about?’

As Davey quietly stared at her in confusion, Kathryn slowly approached like a saleswoman trying to work him. She cooed, “Our Princess Aeria has an amazing body and such a cute voice. Honestly, you think so too, right? Right? For me, when I see her stretching in the morning, I want to kidnap her right at that moment and keep her at the Grand Duchess House.”

Davey nodded subconsciously at Kathryn’s straightforward questions. He was falling for her logic, since he always had a hard time with people like her.

“So, I’m telling you that this is a rare opportunity! Do you think royalty would hate having grandchildren? His Majesty’s initial fury will only fade away and it will only become a dinner table story later on.”

Davey froze. He was dumbfounded by Kathryn’s proposal.

Perserque, who was floating beside Davey, had her legs crossed and her hand on her chin. She muttered quietly.

—You are right on the money by calling her a dangerous psycho.

Once again, Davey realized that his instincts were sometimes eerily accurate. Kathryn was a clear reminder of that fact.

Kathryn Carabella, the foxy Grand Duchess, put more pressure on Davey with her distinct playful smile. She pressured and hurried Davey so much that if she was a saleswoman, she would be forcing people to purchase her product and not just promoting it.

When he finally regained his senses, Davey had a quill with wet ink on its tip in his hand. The pen was so close to the blank space where his signature should be.

‘I awoke one morning and found myself famous. I awoke and found myself signing. How is this any different…’[1]

As Grand Duchess Kathryn said earlier on, Aeria was definitely a charming candidate to be engaged to. Even while Aeria tried her best to control her expressions around Red and Blue Ribbon, who were still guarded against her, she had an unrealistic cuteness and elegance to her. There weren’t a lot of people like her around Davey. She was pretty charming and Davey would be lying if he said that he wasn’t attracted to her at all. In fact, he actually thought that she would be the best partner if he absolutely had to get married. However…

“This… Being allies or not, I think I’m going to have to go to war with the Lyndis Empire the moment I sign this,” Davey said jokingly.

Right now, Davey saw this document as basically signing the agreement to go to war.

Kathryn smiled bitterly before laughing alongside Davey. She said reassuringly, “Ahahahaha! Don’t worry, Your Highness. This is not only my offer, but also His Highness the Crown Prince’s as well.”

“So, are you saying the two of you are confident that you will be able to handle His Majesty the Emperor of the Lyndis Empire?” Davey asked.

Kathryn stroked her chin and answered, “I assume that His Highness the Crown Prince will do something, but… If anything happens, eh, I will give you all the support you need. You just have to care for our Princess; I will take care of the small things.”

“Is that not treason?” Davey asked.

“I am not part of any kingdom. I am loyal to the empire, but my master is always Her Highness.”

Davey wondered if this was something the Grand Duchess, the pillar upholding the Lyndis Empire, should be saying. Now, he was able to ascertain that she was much stranger than what he had imagined.

—Davey… Grand Duchess Kathryn is quite famous. Piecing together some of the things that child Illyna has said about her, Kathryn’s personality is more like a carefree mercenary than a person of nobility.

After listening to Perserque’s explanation, Davey began to appreciate Kathryn’s informal attitude much more than before. Of course, formalities were important, but people who were too caught up in them failed to see reality. The reverse was true as well. However, it was clear to him that Kathryn Carabella was not a fool who acted impulsively and thoughtlessly. This meant that her outward personality was a mere act to trick others and seize whatever benefits they had. No one knew what she was hiding beneath her mask; she could have some ulterior political motives beneath that easygoing attitude.

“The more I think of the engagement with the Princess, the more I realize the downsides and losses for her,” Davey said.

“Ahahaha! What are you talking about? If you are okay with it, those small things won’t be a problem anymore. Or, what, do you want a political advantage? Money? Just name it, and we will be more than happy to support you.”

“...”

Kathryn basically blocked Davey’s only way out of this mess. Her offer was something that regular nobility or royalty would never be able to refuse. As she had more information than he expected, Davey decided to put an end to this situation. He asked directly, “Actually, does Her Highness even know about this document?”

“Oh… About that…”

“See? I knew it.”

It was true that Aeria was an attractive princess, but Davey decided that he wouldn\'t be able to fulfill Kathryn’s expectations in this current situation.

Davey ripped the offer right in half and said calmly, “Is there a reason for the Princess to be desperate for an arranged marriage? Offer this to me again when she actually wants it, not anyone else.”

“Wow… So, is the rumortrue?” Kathryn asked.

“Rumor?”

“Um… It might be quite a rude question, but…”

“Don’t ask the question if you already know the answer.”

Kathryn was stunned, but her expression soon gave way to a beautiful smile.

‘What is she so delighted about?’

Without hiding it, Kathryn giggled out loud. She put out her hand for a handshake and said, “Well, alright. I personally like to take care of things immediately, but it’s good to take it nice and slow at times. However, I ask you to take good care of Her Highness.”

“Hm…”

“If you do that, His Highness and I will become your allies. This allyship is separate from His Majesty.” Kathryn smiled playfully. “Our adorable Princess Aeria is not interested in anyone other than you right now. All she can see is you.”

Kathryn spoke cheerfully and slightly informally, and that got Davey feeling more comfortable.

“If it is really a problem… Even a mistress would be fine. His Majesty would go crazy, but having a lot of wives isn’t illegal, and even His Majesty has more than seven wives.”

Davey found it ridiculous that Grand Duchess Kathryn and Crown Prince Alberth were determined to partner him up with Aeria even if he chose to take her as a mistress. However, he couldn’t do anything about how much they truly cared for Aeria.

“A mistress… It doesn’t seem like a good arrangement for either of us.”

“Oh my, I didn’t know you are such a romantic. If so, I can’t force you. Aww, our poor Princess Aeria… Boohoo.”

Kathryn even pretended to cry. She really was a difficult woman for Davey to handle.

‘A mistress…’

Davey scoffed. He had experienced what unresolved jealousy could do when one had too many wives, so he would never find a similar arrangement acceptable. It was right for him to decline everyone as firmly as possible until he wanted to talk about righteousness and find a way to change the customs of this world.

“Sorry for wasting your precious time,” Kathryn said.

“No, that’s alright. I should be satisfied since I’m meeting the empire’s famous hero,” Davey replied.

“Do you really think so?”

“Pardon?”

Kathryn’s expression changed all of a sudden, like a beast eyeing its prey. There was no way Davey wouldn’t be able to recognize the thirst in her eyes.

‘Well, it’s actually a good thing since I needed someone…”

“Let’s do it,” Davey spoke.

“Pardon?”

“Sparring. Isn’t that what you wanted to do? Let’s do it, since I also want to feel your power myself, Grand Duchess.”

Kathryn’s eyes opened wide like she was surprised. She then nodded her head and said, “Then, please.”

* * *

The sudden visit of the Lyndis Empire’s Princess Aeria and Great Duchess Kathryn Carabella, along with the news that Kathryn Carabella had requested Davey for a sparring session spread far and wide.

Soon, a large crowd showed their faces at the dueling stadium located behind the seigneur’s palace. There was Winley, who had been learning magic, Yulis, who had been teaching her, Elder Goulda, the dwarf who had been overseeing the festival, and Yuria Helishana. On one side, Davey could even see Rinne and Red and Blue Ribbon, who were both pulling Rinne’s cheeks in delight. He could also see Myuu giggling and smiling with them.

“Your Highness. I sent away all the helping hands in the area. I also activated all the shock-absorbing artifacts as well.”

“Good work. Make sure to keep your distance.”

“Yes, sir!” Amy, who nodded and scuttled away, stared at Davey with sparkling eyes. “Your Highness! Please win!”

Davey silently nodded at Amy, who pumped both her fists and cheered him on cutely. Then, he kicked the nearby wooden sword up to his hands. The durability of this wooden sword was no joke, since it was made from wood that he had obtained from the large branches that Yggdrasil had pulled up from the ground the day before. Thanks to that, Davey didn’t need to make use of a metal rod to prevent it from breaking.

“I heard that you use magic, Your Highness,” Kathryn commented with a giggle. “I’m confident that I can take most of your attacks, so you can attack all you want.”

Davey smirked, then threw the wooden sword on the ground.

‘This woman doesn’t know what she’s up against. If you want, I guess I have no choice but to show you something almost supernatural.’

Davey scanned the training weapons stand, then picked something without hesitation.

“Hm?”

Kathryn had a curious expression when Davey said, “Let’s go with this.”

“Huh… That is…”

“It’s a balance patch.”

Kathryn’s smile deepened when Davey provoked her with a grin. The weapon he chose was none other than…a handheld fan. It was a pretty big one.

1. A reference to George Gordon Byron’s famous quote about becoming famous overnight. ☜