Taming The Villainesses-Chapter 372: The Dilemma of a Political Marriage (2)

The noblewomen who had come to the forward base were first guided by the messengers to tour the facilities and grounds.

Lastly, they ascended the tall and sturdily built watchtower and took in the surrounding terrain at a glance.

“So this is the garrison set up beyond the barrier. It’s surprisingly well-formed and organized, more so than I’d expect from something seized in such a short time.”

“Unni, look over there! You can see the fortress! The walls are super high, and it’s huge!”

Swish.

Where Narmee was pointing, there stood a large and imposing fortress. Even from this distance, it was so massive that it seemed to ignore the laws of perspective.

Gargarta.

Long ago, it was said to be the final stronghold of the Demon King's army. As if she had some knowledge about it, Stella—who was fiddling with a telescope—added a few words.

“It used to be a tiny rural village. But after the monsters of the Shadow Army began garrisoning there, it was reborn overnight into a massive fortress. Seeing it like this really brings it to life.”

Click-clack.

“Opal seriously tried to charge into a fortress like that? It looks completely impregnable. And it’s crawling with monsters—hardly looks like an abandoned fort.”

“Professor, I want a look too!”

Narmee took the telescope from Stella and stared at the distant fortress. Then she suddenly shuddered.

“There really are tons of monsters on the walls! But I heard the Demon King is dead. Why are monsters still guarding that fortress?”

Of course, I knew Narmee was wrong.

The Demon King Solomon isn’t dead.

He lived ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) in the past. With divine eyes that pierced through time, he manipulated his forces and the world from past to present.

He likely already knows we’ve established a stronghold near Gargarta. Perhaps he’s even deliberately luring us in.

Ayra lives in the present while seeing the past.

Solomon lived in the past while seeing the future.

Is this a war that transcends time between the two?

Throb.

Just then, a sharp ache flared in my ankle. It was the same spot where I had once been grabbed on the observation tower Ayra described as a place that observes the flow of time.

Though the scar had disappeared without a trace—

The pain lingered.

Because it was a wound engraved not on the body, but on the soul.

Saaaaa—.

A breeze blew, making the watchtower creak. Though it was a solid structure and wouldn’t collapse from mere wind, the unsettling air made me gently press my palm against the women's backs.

“Let’s go down now.”

And so, we descended to ground level and entered the tent prepared for me as envoy and court magician.

A spacious tent, large enough for multiple people to comfortably enter. I liked the space quite a bit. Of course, it wasn’t my doing—soldiers had built it.

Rattle. Rattle.

The women pulled out chairs in front of a broad table and took their seats one by one. Watching them all gathered in one place gave off an intense presence.

A moment of silence fell as they exchanged glances, until the first to speak was Mirna Draco.

“So, I presume you had a justifiable reason for sneaking out of the infirmary and acting on your own? You have no idea how shocked I was last night.”

Mirna seemed a bit upset that I had come to this forward base without informing her.

But I had little choice—if I’d told the truth in advance, she would’ve surely prevented me from moving at all, considering my condition.

Then Stella cut in.

“Before that, I have a lot of questions, actually. Honestly, I think I have the most to say here. There’s a pile of things I want you to explain, Teo.”

Hearing that, Narmee added her two cents.

“I’m thirsty! I’ve been holding back since earlier, but I can’t anymore. Where can I get some water? I need to give Yingying water too!”

—Yingying-yayeeeng.

“Yingying’s angry ‘cause she can’t drink water!”

What chaos.

Naturally, it got noisy when you seated such strong personalities around the same table. I’d expected this, so I was relatively calm.

“All right, I know everyone has a lot to say. But I think I need to sort things out a bit first. Starting with the most urgent...”

Swish.

I looked at Stella. Her brow was furrowed, as if she had plenty to say but was holding it back. Truthfully, I had nothing to say in my defense to her.

That incident during Ayra’s duel—when Stella had stepped forward with the crown and confessed to me—was a completely spontaneous act. No plan at all. Stella had every right to be stunned. I’d have to accept all her reproach.

“I think this is the right time and place to finally tell you everything, Lady Stella.”

***

“So, you’re telling me all of you knew?”

Stella sighed deeply, covering her face with one hand.

I wasn’t sure how she’d taken my explanation, but it definitely wasn’t something you could just accept and move on from in a day.

“Uniting your houses into one? And you all just went along with that plan? I really can’t keep up with how you young folks think these days. Is this that generational gap thing?”

I didn’t think it was a generational gap issue. So I stayed quiet. Stella, on the other hand, began to spill her thoughts like a broken dam.

“But really—who would’ve guessed you’re that Isaiah’s son? You don’t resemble him at all. And now I look like some shameless woman who went after her friend’s son!”

Elga added a comment.

“Elves live so long, it’s not uncommon for them to marry the children of their friends. There are tons of stories of elves raising much younger brides or grooms and marrying them.”

“That’s exactly the problem. I don’t want to be just like all the other elves. This is a serious blow to my delicate fairy sensibility!”

Fairy sensibility was an important matter. Perhaps because of that, Stella couldn’t calm down. She muttered to herself endlessly, prompting Elga to throw a pointed jab.

“Just accept it. What’s done is done. You can’t undo it. A person needs the heart to accept the irreversible.”

Mirna narrowed her eyes at that.

“Lady Leones isn’t one to talk. Who was it again who caused a panic during the nymph flu coronoi fiasco?”

“...That was in the past, wasn’t it? There’s no point clinging to what’s already happened. What we should be talking about is the future.”

Elga’s words were quite valid, so Mirna didn’t argue further. Of course, Stella still looked utterly shocked, and I felt deeply sorry for her.

Maybe when we’re alone later, I could stroke her head or back? No, that wouldn’t really fix it. Either way, I’d need to find time to soothe her.

Then Mirna asked,

“So, Sir Teo, I assume you’ve met with the Queen. How are things progressing? Technically, you are married on paper. Though I can’t accept the fact that she was the first to be listed.”

Everyone turned to me. All of them clearly eager to hear what I had to say.

Most men might hate talking about another woman in front of others—but as members of a harem, these women had either adapted or evolved past that.

Or perhaps, they were starting to enjoy dragging other women into the same situation as themselves...

So I spoke for their sake.

Chatter, chatter.

By the time I had finished telling them everything—

“So it’s a political marriage issue.”

“I thought so too!”

“There’s even a technical term for it. It’s called the ‘Dilemma of Political Marriage.’ There’s a whole academic paper on it.”

Mirna, Narmee, and even Stella all spoke almost simultaneously. Their conclusion was swift and simple, making me curious.

“What’s the Dilemma of Political Marriage?”

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All eyes turned toward Stella, the one who’d brought up the paper. As a professor, she seemed the best suited to explain.

Stella looked flustered.

“I have to explain? I’m still emotionally overwhelmed right now, you know? And you want me to lecture too? You people have zero fairy sensibility.”

Mirna frowned sharply.

“Quit the fuss and just explain already.”

Stella, faced with Mirna’s stern glare, went silent for a moment. Then she started absentmindedly running her fingers along the table before opening her lips.

“It’s a common scenario for families united by political marriage. So basically—”

According to Stella’s explanation, my situation with Ayra wasn’t all that unusual. It was a typical, well-documented case.

The awkwardness between noble men and women united in a marriage not born of love.

Since they hadn’t courted, didn’t know each other well, and had no foundation of affection, the problems of being suddenly tied together under the title of ‘family’ naturally emerged.

That’s what they call the Dilemma of Political Marriage.

“You’re not sure if you’re truly family. You can’t even believe you got married—it all feels surreal. Especially when it comes to physical intimacy, it becomes a big issue.”

“I feel like Lady Stella just read my mind.”

“In particular, when a man marries a high-status noblewoman, the first night tends to be extremely difficult. He doesn’t know how to initiate. Noblewomen often receive conservative, repressive education around sexual matters and become very guarded.”

“That... sounds familiar.”

When I nodded, the women all turned to Stella with a flicker in their eyes. Though they didn’t say it aloud, I could tell they were impressed—“She knows her stuff.”

Mirna spoke.

“Professor Stella, I award you 10 points toward primary consort status.”

“...It’s been a while since I was graded like this—feels like thesis defense all over again.”

Still, the fortunate part was that, being a common case, there were also well-researched solutions.

“The best way is simple: spend more time together. The more time you share, the better it gets. You naturally start to build affection. Things improve. Do something together. Or go on a honeymoon.”

Of course, that assumes both people are willing to try—Stella trailed off there.

At the same time, the noblewomen all murmured in unison, “Honeymoon.”

Did they all want one too?

Of course they did.

In any case, the solution was simple.

Some kind of collaborative task with Ayra...

It was then—

BWOOOOOOOO—

A loud trumpet blast echoed outside the tent. Drums pounded. Shouting erupted on all sides, shaking the very ground like an earthquake.

—Move the supplies! Quickly!

—There’s no time to space out!

What was going on?

We all rushed outside. Before us were heavily armed soldiers and adventurers on the march.

Swish.

Narmee grabbed one of them.

“What’s happening? Where are you all going?”

“We’re advancing on the Fortress of Gargarta. The order came suddenly.”

Advancing?

That meant war. Though I had come all the way to the forward base, I hadn’t truly felt the reality of war before.

But hearing the pounding drums, shouts, and marching troops now—my heart began to race.

Elga furrowed her brow.

“Didn’t they say the advance was scheduled for this afternoon? Everyone agreed on that. Why is it still morning, not even ten yet?”

Of course, we knew who had abruptly changed the schedule.

So we went to ask.

“What’s going on?”

“It was a sudden decision. If I can think of it, then that man can too. But if I make a decision without thinking, then that man won’t be able to read my intentions or prepare for it.”

That was what Ayra said about this morning’s advance. Her reasoning for pulling the timeline forward was to throw Solomon off.

It made sense.

Maybe Ayra’s fickle temperament and unpredictability were like calluses formed from mental chess matches with the Demon King in the past.

Ayra said,

“You’re coming with us too. We may need your help breaking through the Fortress of Gargarta. We’re abandoning this outpost anyway. By this afternoon, we’ll have reclaimed the fortress and made it our base.”

Ayra’s resolve was clear.

And so we advanced, along with the long procession of soldiers, toward Gargarta Fortress. We hacked our way through overgrown jungle-like thickets.

Until finally, we stood before the massive, towering fortress—easily ten meters high.

Ladders and hooks were already in place, soldiers climbing up and screams echoing everywhere.

—Climb! Climb up there!

—These bastards—there’s so damn many of ‘em!

The smell of burning oil, sulfur, and blood. In the heart of the battlefield filled with fury and fire, I paused—momentarily overcome.

Such devastation.

Then Elga slapped my back.

“Get it together. This might be your chance.”

“Chance?”

I feigned ignorance, but I had a good idea of what Elga meant.