Chapter 8 | The Assassin Makes a Vow
I’d elected to make the celebration a standing buffet, placing a trio of small bar tables in the middle of the room and the food along the walls. This setup allowed everyone to grab the food they wanted and speak with whoever they pleased while eating.
“Start by filling your plates. We’ll toast after that,” I announced.
“Wow, there’s so much food I don’t even know where to start. Ah, gratin! You put it in the shell of a crab. That’s so cute. Thank you for making my favorite food, Lugh!” Dia said excitedly.
Gratin always looked sloppy and gross after being picked at. I didn’t want that to happen, so I poured it into small crab shells and baked them together. To keep the rest of the crab from going to waste, I cooked the meat into the gratin and used crab butter for the sauce, creating a high-quality crab gratin. The appearance and the taste complemented each other well.
“Everything looks so delicious that it’s hard to choose,” Tarte expressed.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten your cooking, dear brother. I could think of no better feast than one prepared by you,” Maha stated.
“This looks incredible, Cian,” my mother said.
Grinning, my father answered, “That it does. Let’s grab some food.”
I chose this format for the party even though there were only six attendees because my parents said they wanted time to speak with each of my fiancées individually. If this had been a seated party, we would’ve had to change seats frequently, which was an unpleasant notion. Dia had also mentioned that she hoped to talk to Maha alone, and Tarte and Maha were great friends and likely had a lot built up to talk about.
They truly are beautiful. I observed my fiancées again. The dresses Maha had selected looked stunning on them.
Dia’s dress was primarily white and had many frills. She resembled a lovely fairy. Tarte was draped in a puffy yellow dress that showed a bold amount of cleavage. The red accents on the outfit suited her warm personality. It was also sexy. Maha wore a mature purple dress that she pulled off flawlessly. Slits revealed her legs. She was beautiful, stylish, and alluring.
Each garment had been crafted by an elite designer with the very best materials. That Maha procured them on such short notice was truly impressive.
“Looks like everyone’s gotten some food. I’d like to give a short speech before the toast. First, I want to thank Dia, Tarte, and Maha for falling in love with me. All three of you are beautiful and talented. You each could’ve chosen any man, and I am happy you all picked me. That selection wasn’t a mistake, and I’ll prove that to you every day of our lives moving forward.”
I’ve always hated humility. It was common at times like this to be self-deprecating as you thanked your fiancée for choosing you. “I don’t know what she sees in me,” “I don’t deserve her,” and the like. However, that would be like telling the girls that they lacked a discerning eye for men. I wouldn’t insult them like that.
That was why I declared that choosing me was not a mistake. I realized that I was only making things harder on myself by saying that, but if I couldn’t follow through on that promise, I didn’t deserve them.
“I will make all of you happy. I do have one request, though. Please do your best to bring me joy as well. If we all work together to bring bliss to each other’s lives, we’ll build a greater future than I could achieve through my efforts alone. Mom and Dad are the perfect examples. I want to make a household as warm as the one they have.”
Before my reincarnation, I’d existed only as a tool for killing. I knew nothing of the preciousness and warmth of life.
I’d considered familial and romantic love as nothing more than methods to help my assassinations. I’d bedded too many people to count and whispered sweet nothings into their ears, but my words were always hollow. It was only after I was born into the Tuatha Dé family under my loving parents that love became real to me.
My parents changed me from a tool into a person. I was grateful for that, and I admired them deeply.
“Of course, Lugh. I don’t want this to be a one-sided relationship,” Dia responded.
“I am yours, Lord Lugh. Our engagement does nothing to change the fact that I live for you!” Tarte declared.
“I feel the same way as Tarte. I am going to loosen my self-restraint a little, though,” Maha replied.
That was what I wanted to hear. I was deeply touched. That I could feel such excitement without a hint of unease proved that they were the perfect partners for me.
“That’s all from me. Let’s move to the toast,” I said.
We all raised our glasses. The alcohol I poured was a local one made in Tuatha Dé. The main ingredient was maple syrup. Maple syrup could only be harvested during a very small period of time in winter, and a single tree didn’t produce that much of it. It was used up before it ever made it out of our domain, making it a luxury only citizens of Tuatha Dé got to enjoy. That was why I chose this alcohol for the toast of our engagement party.
“Cheers!”
We clinked our glasses together and smiled. With that, the true festivities began.
My parents got right to work on their interviews with my fiancées, summoning Maha first. Given this, Dia, Tarte, and I sat at one table, while my mother and father took another with Maha.
Grinning, Dia said, “Heh-heh, I think I’ll start with the gratin you made for me.”
“Some things never change,” I said.
“I, for one, think it’s weird how you always save the best for last, Lugh. Food tastes the best if you eat it while you’re hungry. Wow, this crab gratin is incredible!”
We clearly had different preferences when it came to dining. I’ve always liked to save my favorite part of the meal for last.
“Um, what is this fluffy fish?! This is the most delicious fish I have ever tasted!” gushed Tarte.
“That’s eel. This is the best way to eat it.”
The food was well received, and enthusiasm swelled in the room. Dia and Tarte were eating much more than usual. I glanced at Maha and saw her enjoying a lively conversation with my parents, despite their having never met before. Her social skills were unrivaled. Mingling in high society and enduring its rampant wickedness on a daily basis as the proxy representative of Natural You was something not many could pull off.
“Maha is so pretty,” Dia commented.
“I’m jealous. She’s so mature. I can’t believe she’s the same age as me,” Tarte lamented.
Maha’s appearance, manner, and way of speech were all elegant. Much of that was natural, but she wouldn’t have achieved this level of refinement without hard work as well. People became recognized as adults at fourteen in this country, and while most retained some childish behavior at that age, there was no sign of that with Maha. It gave her an edge.
“While you two aren’t on her level, you can both act mature enough on formal occasions. You do have a habit of letting your true personalities emerge at times, however… What sets Maha apart is her ability to keep it up all the time.”
Dia and Tarte were very attractive, and more than looked the part for high society. They were both perfectly capable of utilizing that; Dia had received thorough drilling in the art of etiquette as the daughter of Count Viekone, and I’d trained Tarte to serve flawlessly as the maid of a noble without embarrassing herself or me. Even then, they couldn’t maintain it at every moment.
“I just lose all desire to put on the act if I’m not in that kind of situation,” Dia admitted.
Tarte nodded. “Me too. I think being able to keep it going twenty-four seven as Maha does is a talent.”
I wasn’t about to disagree. That said, Maha behaved like an ordinary teenage girl when we were alone together, but I kept that a secret.
Maha returned to our table, and Dia stood to join my parents.
“Welcome back. What did Mom and Dad say?” I asked.
“They asked me to take care of you,” Maha answered.
“You were able to gain their approval, then?”
“They approved of me from the start. They said that they trusted your judgment in women absolutely. They only wanted peace of mind. I told them what kind of person I was without holding anything back.”
My parents really had faith in me.
“That’s good to hear.”
“Yeah. I’m relieved that they seem like good people. I think it went quite well. I do have one problem, however. I want to continue managing Natural You, but we can’t exactly uproot the family from Tuatha Dé… Finding a way to live together is going to be difficult.”
That was true. We couldn’t abandon the Tuatha Dé domain, and Maha couldn’t quit Natural You. The company did business all throughout the country, or rather, all throughout the world, but its center was still the flagship store in Milteu. As the largest port city in the country, Milteu was a hub for information and distribution. Moving from there was a lethal blow for a merchant.
“I’ll go to see you as often as I can. How about I bring Mom and Dad next time so we can go sightseeing together?” I offered.
Maha sighed. “…I’ve been able to put up with it until now, but living apart after marriage would be miserable. So I have a proposal for you.”
“I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Let’s move the flagship store of Natural You here.”
“What do you think you’ll be able to accomplish after migrating the flagship store to a rural region like this?”
“I’m going to develop Tuatha Dé into an even greater region than Milteu. If I can do that, then the store won’t be out of place here at all.”
I couldn’t believe what Maha was saying. Milteu had become what it was largely because of its advantageous location. It was right in the middle of the nation, making it easy to travel to. The surrounding highways were well-maintained, and it was the country’s largest port, making transport of goods very easy.
Tuatha Dé, on the other hand, was located on the western edge of Alvan. It possessed no access to the ocean. There wasn’t even a river large enough for ships to pass through. Even traveling here by land was difficult because of the mountains in the way. It was an incredibly unfavorable headquarters region for distribution.
“Developing Tuatha Dé into a city of commerce is unrealistic,” I stated.
“I’m aware of that, but I have a plan to make it possible. You’re going to be impressed. It will likely take more than a decade to achieve, though,” Maha replied.
“I suppose you intend to keep the details of this scheme a secret from me.”
“Yes, it’ll be more fun that way.”
Well, knowing Maha, I doubt any bad will come of it. She wouldn’t change Tuatha Dé in a way I disapproved of.
We continued to talk until Dia’s conversation with my parents finished. Dia walked…to the food along the walls, not back to us. This time she picked out some fried lobster. Tarte went over to my parents after my mom beckoned to her. Dia returned to my table shortly after.
“Wow, this is tender and sweet. The sour sauce is amazing, too. Ahh, this is bliss,” Dia said, very clearly delighted.
“…So? What do you think?” I questioned.
“It’s absolutely delicious.”
“I meant your talk with my parents.”
“It was fine. They got all excited, pressing me to have children as quickly as possible, and made sure I knew that even though I’m the first wife, the heir may not end up being mine because the most talented child will be chosen. You know, typical stuff.”
“Sounds fairly heavy to me.” Only a trueborn noble like Dia would regard such discussion so lightly.
“It’s only logical that the most talented child will inherit the house. Besides, I’m pretty confident it will be one of mine. The women of House Viekone always bear strong offspring. You’re going to love our kids. I’ll work hard as your wife!”
That wasn’t some unfounded belief but the plain truth. After all, my mom—a Viekone woman—gave birth to me, the greatest Tuatha Dé in history, and Dia was once targeted by prominent nobles in Soigel who wanted to kidnap her.
I was born as Lugh Tuatha Dé because the goddess judged him to be the most gifted child among all of humanity. It was astounding that my mother gave birth to a child who surpassed any of House Romalung, which had performed centuries of selective breeding. The Viekone blood was what made that possible.
My mom was once targeted by nobles just like Dia was, and my dad was the one who took her to safety. I couldn’t believe it when he told me that story. He’d displayed a passion and recklessness that I couldn’t imagine from him now, and I didn’t know that side of him ever existed.
“You don’t have to worry about that. I just want my kids to be happy,” I said. I wanted to treasure all my children, regardless of how talented they were.
“I’ll love my kids no matter what, but they’ll be safer the more capable they are. Nobles inevitably lead difficult lives. I’m going to raise them to be strong, for their own sakes. I’ll be a strict teacher!” Dia declared.
“Don’t be too hard on them.”
“Hmm, I don’t think you’re one to talk, Lugh. You’d push them way harder than me. You turn into a demon during our training sessions.”
“I don’t think I’m severe, though.”
All I did was analyze Dia’s and Tarte’s bodies and push them to maximum efficiency within their physical limits. I wasn’t overworking them.
“Whatever you say, Lugh. Ah, Tarte’s back.”
Tarte returned to our table.
“Did it go all right?” I asked.
“Y-yes. They, um, gave me lots of advice about becoming the wife of a noble. They said I should be prepared for comments regarding my birth when attending functions in high society, and other stuff like that. I will keep what they said in mind,” Tarte answered.
My parents focused on giving her advice rather than judging her for their approval. Tarte had lived with us for years now, and had basically been a member of our family. My mother and father probably had nothing left to test her on at this point.
“They also said that you are passive regarding women, so it would be best for me to take the lead. Mom said that she would, um, teach me a really effective trick to…get you in the mood,” Tarte continued, blushing deep red at that last part.
I couldn’t believe that woman sometimes.
“…You don’t need to think about that too much.”
“Yes, my lord. I will do my best!”
I was extremely worried about that. I would need to be careful around Tarte for a while. I didn’t dislike sexual advances from her, but I had my pride to think of.
My parents summoned me next. What did they want to discuss?
I walked over to my parents’ table. They both wore serious expressions. I was used to that from my father, but it was an unusual sight from my mother.
“Your fiancées are all wonderful people. It appears you have great taste in women, in addition to all your other talents,” my father said.
“You did great, Lugh! I’m so happy I’m gaining three wonderful daughters,” my mother cheered, giving me a thumbs-up.
“Yeah, they’re all great girls,” I agreed.
“That said, taking all of them as your wives will be difficult. Esri alone has been more than enough of a handful for me,” my father stated.
With a shallow smile, my mother asked, “Whatever do you mean by that?”
“Ahem… Suffice it to say, marriage is a difficult endeavor,” my father cautioned.
“I am aware of that. I made this decision with the resolve to make all of them happy. No matter how hard our lives turn out to be, it will be better than seeing them snatched up by other men,” I responded.
Marrying all three of them hadn’t been my initial plan. I thought I would pick one eventually, and that I would support any of them if they chose another husband.
But when I watched someone propose to Maha while I was already bound romantically to Dia and Tarte, I was overcome by intense feelings of loss, fear, and anger at the thought of having her stolen from me. It was at that moment that I made up my mind. I wouldn’t let any of them go. I would make all of them happy.
I was convinced that the joy we gained would make up for any difficulties we encountered. I also decided that if I was going to persist in this selfishness, I needed to give them better lives than any other man in the world could.
“It’s good that you’re going into this with the right mindset. Now you must follow through on your word.” There was a stern look in my father’s eyes.
“Naturally. I know I am capable of it. That’s the kind of person you raised me to be, after all,” I assured him.
“Goodness, my little Lugh has become such a fine young man. I want to see my grandchildren’s faces as soon as possible, so I expect you to get right to work!” my mother said.
“You’ll have to wait a little longer for that.”
My plan was to not have children until after I saved the world. In addition to being my fiancées, Dia, Tarte, and Maha were essential in my battle against the demons.
“Meanie,” Mom said, glaring at me. She wasn’t going to bend on that desire.
We talked about the future next. Both my parents were smiling. At the next table, my three fiancées were having fun chatting without me. Given this warm family environment, I knew things were going to go well. They were all such good people.
I would give my all to protect this happiness. And as I mused upon that determination, the engagement party ran late into the night.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login