On the day of the wedding.

When it comes to a noble's wedding, it's less about personal memories and more of a ceremony or a spectacle.

It was a ceremony to show everyone that the Banfield family, having absorbed the Claudia family, would now become a ducal house.

For that reason, Rosetta and I, having finished changing, were waiting for our turn.

The guest list was basically limited to the nobles of the same faction who fought on the battlefield and those affiliated with the Banfield family.

I would have liked to gather more guests, but—since I no longer had the luxury of messing around, I decided to be selective about who I build relationships with.

I don't have time to deal with people who are just cozying up to me for my fortune.

In any case, including my previous life, this is my second wedding.

"You seem nervous, Rosetta."

"Darling, why don't you sit down?"

"I'm calmer when I'm standing."

I was planning to tease the nervous Rosetta, but for some reason, I'm the one being worried about.

Everyone around me seems to be concerned about me.

Marie is ignoring Rosetta and fussing over me instead.

"Lord Liam, you can just act as you normally do."

"I am acting normally."

"I-Is that so? You've been so restless, I couldn't help but worry."

—Why am I getting so strangely nervous when I was the one who wanted to tease Rosetta?

Ah, this reminds me of my past life.

I think I was considerate to my ex-wife, telling her she was beautiful and all that, but looking back now, it was all a waste.

That's why I had resolved in my heart to never say such things to Rosetta, but—

"Darling."

"What is it?"

"Your outfit is lovely, Darling."

"This? I had Thomas prepare it for a large sum of money. I even had a spare made, even though I'll only wear it once. Wastefully extravagant, isn't it?"

The outfit glows with a faint, natural light, and since it uses mithril, it's apparently a good luck charm with some kind of holy protection.

—I wanted something more flashy and golden, but Amagi told me, '—Please match it with Lady Rosetta's attire,' so I gave up.

Rosetta is complimenting my appearance.

"It's not a waste. It's perfect for you, Darling. I'm the one who's worried if I'm a good match for you."

—What's this? Am I the one being cared for?

Since Rosetta seemed down, I tried to follow up.

"Th-That's not true. We should be a good match. Right, Marie!"

"Huh? Ah, yes."

Marie showed a dissatisfied expression, as if to say, 'Why are you dragging me into this!?'

—This girl, showing dissatisfaction towards me is unforgivable.

Just as I was about to yell, the door opened and Amagi entered the room.

"Master, it is time."

"I see."

My turn came first, so I left Rosetta behind and exited the waiting room.

◇

After Liam left the waiting room, Rosetta let out a small chuckle.

"Is something the matter?"

When Marie asked out of curiosity, Rosetta recalled Liam's behavior and explained.

"I never thought Darling would be so nervous. Watching him actually calmed me down, and I found it rather amusing."

Marie nodded in understanding, saying that she too was surprised by Liam's earlier behavior.

"You wouldn't see him like that even on the battlefield. It's a privilege reserved only for you, Lady Rosetta."

"That's not it. The number one reason is probably—"

◇

I left the waiting room and walked down the hallway.

Amagi followed slightly behind and to my side.

This is normal in the mansion, but today feels strange.

"With this marriage, I'm a duke. Amagi, it took me a hundred years to get this far. —It's thanks to you."

The Guide's help was a factor, but Amagi has also supported me for many years.

When I thanked her for that, Amagi replied with a blank expression.

"I have only provided support to you, Master."

"Thanks to you, I've climbed this high. I couldn't have imagined it without you."

When I was handed that desolate territory, I was truly at my wit's end, but thanks to Amagi, I didn't have to struggle with managing the domain.

Many difficult things happened, but it was a relief that I wasn't alone.

"I'm counting on you in the future, too. Stay by my side forever."

And in the future, Amagi's presence will continue to be important to me.

When I said that, Amagi's tone of voice changed slightly—truly, just slightly.

That subtle change, which only I could discern, sounded somewhat sad.

"You no longer need my support, Master. Even regarding the domain's problems, you achieve better results than I do."

"Well, I have been a lord for a long time."

I've been a lord for over a hundred years, so I've gotten reasonably competent.

"The work I can do is replaceable. From now on, you should rely on Lady Rosetta."

"Even if my work can be replaced, there is no replacement for you. Stay by my side in the future. Didn't I tell you that before?"

When I turned around, Amagi showed a slightly happy expression.

And then, she smiled at me.

"I will serve by your side for as long as possible."

It was the same answer as before.

But that 'as long as possible' part bothers me.

Do I think she'll change her mind?

"Do you think I'll treat you coldly?"

"There are no absolutes in this world, so I cannot guarantee the future."

Hearing such an AI-like response for the first time in a while made me want to laugh.

"You're right. But don't worry. You and I will be together forever."

"—Yes."

◇

Looking down on the Banfield family's home planet was the Guide, his face twisted as if he'd bitten into a bitter bug.

"Don't you think it's over, Liam!"

The Guide, looking down on the planet from space, could see Liam holding his wedding ceremony with Rosetta.

"That bastard, he's saying all sorts of things but he's actually happy. What happened to your mistrust of women!"

When the Guide peeked into Liam's heart, he saw that despite his words, he was genuinely happy.

For the Guide, who wanted Liam's misogyny to worsen, this was not an amusing development.

So—he decided to play a prank.

"I'll unleash all the negative emotions I gathered on the battlefield on you! I can only manage a little prank right now, but there's no way I can let this slide!"

Having absorbed the negative emotions generated during the proxy war, the Guide had regained a little of his power.

Sadly, however, against Liam, who already had one foot in the realm of the inhuman, a prank-level revenge was the best he could do.

Furthermore, there was the demerit of losing a significant amount of power if he took his revenge here.

But the Guide couldn't forgive the happy-looking Liam.

He should have just let it go and stored up his power, but he couldn't resist and decided to get his revenge.

"Embarrass yourself in front of everyone, Liam!"

A black haze emerged from the Guide's body and began to rain down on the Banfield family's home planet—towards the wedding venue.

The Guide could see Liam and Rosetta, at the very moment they were about to kiss.

"Don't think it's over! —Huh?"

However—in response to the Guide's curse-like attack, the mithril outfits the two were wearing began to shine brighter.

The holy silver, which repels wicked power, protected the two from the Guide's attack—and even returned the curse.

The haze was dispelled by the mithril, and its radiance—fueled by the blessings of the populace and many others—further amplified Liam's power.

Before he knew it, a holy silver sword had appeared, its tip pointed at the Guide.

Taking aim, it closed in on the Guide at the speed of light.

The moment he cast the curse—the silver sword had appeared right in front of the Guide.

With a squelch, the silver sword pierced the Guide's head, causing his body to decay.

"Gyaaaah!! My body is crumbling!!"

As his body crumbled and scattered, the Guide, now reduced to just a hat, fled the scene.

"You'll remember this, Liaaaam!"

In the end, the Guide would have been better off not interfering.

◇

The wedding ceremony was over.

My key vassals, led by Klaus, were gathered around, singing my praises.

Being an employee must be tough.

They're forced to attend the wedding and have to praise me.

"Lord Liam, on behalf of all your vassals, we offer our heartfelt congratulations."

Klaus delivered the congratulatory words on their behalf—but I've already heard it dozens of times.

I've received congratulations in the hundreds of millions via letters, emails, and messages.

"It's just a wedding."

Loosening my collar, I leaned back in my chair with a look of dissatisfaction and decided to talk to Klaus and the others about the future.

"More importantly, we won't be able to hold many extravagant ceremonies from now on."

Since I'm shifting to investing everything into the territory, my policy is to not hold any ceremonies other than the bare minimum necessary.

Tia stepped forward.

"Regarding that matter, I have a proposal for you, Lord Liam. If you are to practice frugality, perhaps we vassals should also take a pay cut? We find it unbearable to let you alone endure hardship."

"Huh?"

I instantly became displeased.

Thinking she had offended me, Marie stepped forward in Tia's place.

"The treatment of our house's knights is superior to that of other houses. However, this is straining our finances. We should reconsider it—"

Are these people really—saying they're fine with a pay cut if I'm going to live frugally?

What a beautiful story! —is something I would never say.

In the first place, I don't trust people.

"Are you idiots? If you do that, our talented personnel will just flow to other houses. Why is there any need to do that?"

"B-But..."

"What I demand from you is work that's worth your salary. Nothing more, nothing less."

I don't trust people.

It's fine as long as the work is rewarding, even with low pay? That's foolish.

That's just a convenient story for the employer's side. Talented people will simply flee to places with better conditions.

As a result, only the incompetent remain.

I don't believe in things like loyalty.

As Tia and Marie looked dejected, Klaus tactfully changed the subject.

"Setting aside the matter of compensation, shouldn't you be heading back, Lord Liam?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, Lady Rosetta is waiting, so you should probably return soon."

Being told by Klaus to go back, I straightened my posture.

"No, look, you all must have things you want to say, right? I thought I'd listen."

As I said that, Kukuri bowed his head deeply.

"It is your wedding night, a matter of great importance to the house. Please don't worry about us and spend your time with Lady Rosetta. And rest assured. We will stand guard."

"That's just peeping!"

When I yelled at Kukuri, Tia made a presumptuous face as if she'd figured something out.

"Could it be that you're anxious? If so, then I, Christiana, will volunteer to be your practice partner, Lord Liam!"

When Tia said that, Marie jumped in as well.

"Back off, you minced-meat woman! Lord Liam, please use me, Marie, for practice. I have a pure body, so I don't carry any strange diseases."

"You bitch, what's that supposed to mean!"

Watching Tia and Marie start a scuffle, I gave them a cold look.

"Both of you, shut up."

As the two of them quieted down, Klaus offered me some advice.

"Lord Liam, I believe Lady Rosetta is just as anxious."

"I'm not anxious."

"In that case, you should probably alleviate Lady Rosetta's anxiety."

"I-I see. —Then, I'll be going."

As I stood up from my chair, the four of them each called out to me.

"Lord Liam, do your best. I, Christiana, will also be praying for your success tonight!"

"It's a wonderful night for you and Lady Rosetta to be united! I, Marie, am so happy I could cry!"

"Leave the guarding to us. We will secure the perimeter with female personnel, centered around Kunai."

"This is also an important matter for the house, after all."

—Are these guys actually teasing me?

"All of you, shut up."

◇

When I moved to the bedroom, Rosetta was waiting with a nervous expression.

"Darling! U-um, well, h-how do I look?"

Dressed in a suggestive outfit, Rosetta made an awkward gesture on the large bed.

It was probably what you'd call a sexy pose, though I don't know where she learned it.

However, it was clearly clumsy.

When I got into bed and sat in front of Rosetta, I somehow ended up sitting in the formal seiza style.

Rosetta copied me and also sat in seiza.

—What is this? A-anyway, I have to explain some things to Rosetta.

"Rosetta."

"Y-Yes!"

"S-Sorry, but due to various circumstances, we'll have to live a frugal life for a while."

"Yes! —Huh?"

"You may have many complaints, but this is a final decision. You probably wanted to live a luxurious life after marriage, but that's an unattainable dream."

In order to fight the Empire, I intend to seriously pour my efforts into developing the territory.

This is different from the games I've played until now.

I'm getting serious for the sake of the future.

Hearing this, Rosetta thought for a moment before nodding.

"Th-that's right. Extravagance is not good."

"That's right."

It was good that Rosetta readily agreed, but time just passed as we faced each other.

"Um, Darling? Was that a conversation we needed to have right now?"

"No, not at all."

Without even thinking about it, it wasn't the kind of conversation to have in this situation.

Finding something funny, Rosetta let out a small chuckle.

"Hey, why are you laughing!"

"Because it's funny that you're nervous too, Darling."

"I'm not nervous!"

"Oh, really? Are you used to this, then?"

"Of course! I've been with all sorts of women—all sorts of—"

"Darling?"

—Even though over a hundred years have passed since I was reincarnated in another world, the only woman I've been with is Amagi.

I was crushed by this fact.

"What have I been doing for the past hundred years?"

I was supposed to become a corrupt lord and surround myself with women, but before I knew it, I was surrounded by nothing but disappointing people.

Rosetta is only the second person I've been with.

"This isn't how it was supposed to be."

"Darling, don't cry! Here, let me comfort you."

As Rosetta hugged me, I finally realized the reality that one of my goals had not been achieved at all.

For now, I decided to act more like a corrupt lord in the future.

But right now, I have to deal with Rosetta.

"Enough! Rosetta, I'm going to take you!"

"—Yes."

Seeing Rosetta blush and smile happily—I thought she was a little cute.