Echoes of Fire and Shadows

Chapter 91: The Princesses and the Tower of Lovers.

—Julius's POV—

“Umm… Your Majesty, where are we going?” I asked the older woman pulling me by the hand.

“You'll see it soon enough.” Said the Empress, Lady Eleonora, as she turned to look at me. “Calling Eleonora or aunt is fine by me, young man. You're Marina’s friend, so you can call me something more casual while we are in private.” The Empress smiled innocently before focusing on the path ahead.

It had been a few minutes since Lady Eleonora saved me from my in-laws at the party. She had taken me away from the main hall and was presently guiding me through the castle toward an undisclosed location. 

Marina and Alicia were following closely behind. Both looked rather awkward as they seemed to want to say something but they were too nervous to do so.

So all of us were traversing the humongous castle in silence mostly. The only constant source of noise nearby was the Tenth Princess, Rose, who was resting on her mother's arms.

As we traveled through the castle, I couldn't help but focus on all the paintings and artworks decorating its halls. I was left speechless more often than not due to the quality of art stored in this castle.

In my opinion had these pieces of art been created on Earth, they would have definitely belonged to the Louvre or any other important museum.

“Julius, do you like the paintings? Are you an enjoyer of the fine arts?” Lady Eleonora asked as we walked.

“I don't consider myself an expert, but…” I replied. “I can obviously see the quality behind such works. All of them are simply breathtaking.” I shared my opinion with the empress.

“Indeed, these paintings are simply treasures that I cannot get tired of admiring. You have some good eyes, little one.” The woman smiled happily.

“Thank you, your Majesty.” I smiled back rather awkwardly.

“I just told you that you could call me by my name or call me aunt. You can even give me a nickname if you want… In fact, I insist on it.” Lady Eleonora was determined for me to act more casual with her.

“I'll try my utmost, your… I mean, Eleonora.” I spoke somewhat nervously.

“That's good enough, I suppose. I was hoping to be called auntie, but I'll leave it be for now.” The Empress was happy despite my awkwardness. “Hopefully, you will be calling me Mother soon enough…” She whispered loud enough for me to hear. A part of me believed that she did it intentionally.

Ah… I think I have an idea of what's going on here…

“We are about to reach our destination.” Lady Eleonora said.

She had taken us through a long hallway after leaving the party. At the end of the hallway there was a steep flight of stairs leading somewhere above in the gigantic castle.

“May you lead the way, Julius? The stairs are very steep and slippery, so I don't want to trip over the steps, especially with a baby in my hands.” Lady Eleonora asked with a pleading expression on her face. 

The Empress had let go of my hand so I was free once more.

“Ah, sure. No worries.” I said as I positioned myself in front of the stairs. 

“We'll be counting on you then.” Eleonora smiled as she grabbed my shoulder for stability with one hand while holding her baby with the other.

“It is no big deal.” I replied.

I then began climbing up the flight of stairs with the Empress and her baby in tow. Marina and Alicia were following closely, both still silent since we left the hall the party was held in.

“You're pretty reliable, Julius. I can see why Marina likes you so much.” The Empress's words confirmed my suspicions. 

This was, without a doubt, a trap…

(Took you long enough to figure it out. Whatcha gonna do?) Thiasis asked with amusement. It seemed that Lia had split herself once again.

(We all know how this will end.) The logical part of Lia spoke in her usual cold tone.

(This will be entertaining. I got my popcorn prepared and everything!) Catris was a little too excited.

(While I do not like to meddle too much in the lives of others, I can give you some advice if you need it, Julius.) Unlike the other three, Yraura spoke with kindness and some worry instead of amusement.

“Not at all. This is the bare minimum.” I replied to the Empress while listening to the goddesses in my mind.

“And it appears that you're humble as well. I quite like it, but you could also act a little more arrogantly given your most recent achievements.” Lady Eleonora spoke gleefully.

“True. But I am a believer that arrogance can become one's downfall if left unchecked. I'm confident in myself and I obviously have some pride in my abilities, but I prefer to remain as humble as possible.” I said to the Empress while climbing up the stairs.

“You're also wise for your age. Truly… Is there something that you don't have? Do you have any flaws at all?” The Empress asked after giggling.

“Of course I do. Just like any other, I have my fair share of flaws and weaknesses, my lady.” I replied while laughing awkwardly.

“Oh my, is that so? I wouldn’t mind learning those over a cup of tea.” Eleonora replied in a very coquettish manner. She seemed to be enjoying herself teasing me.

Shortly after that exchange, we finally reached our destination at the end of the stairs.

Unlike the rest of the castle and its halls which had been lit with light magic, our destination was not. The place was illuminated dimly by countless candles and torches.

The place that the Empress had brought me to was an old tower. Right in front of the staircase, there were three rooms, two small ones and a big one, which was a bedroom.

“Alright, we are here. We should be able to have some peace and quiet in this place. After all, there's a lot that we need to address.” The Empress said as she once more took the lead.

Lady Eleonora quickly moved toward the door of the bedroom. The baby princess in her arms was acting adorably while demanding attention.

“Julius, if you may. Marina, Alicia, you too.” Eleonora beckoned us to enter the room with a smile on her face.

Both princesses immediately did what they were told. The two of them looked rather nervous as they went into the room.

Yep… It is definitely a trap. Sigh… What should I do? It is not like I can precisely leave now and return to the party. That would certainly make both Marina and Alicia cry…

Welp, I guess I'm going to allow the Empress to fool me this time around.

“Is something the matter, Julius?” Eleonora tilted her head rather cutely. That single gesture reminded me a lot of Marina.

Like mother like daughter I suppose.

“Not at all. Just got a little lost in thought… I was thinking about what was the purpose of this tower.” I didn't lie. I was genuinely curious about this place.

I quickly walked toward the door after following the princesses’ footsteps. I was stopped by the Empress before I went into the bedroom.

“Oh? This old tower? It certainly has a very long and interesting story.” Eleonora smiled with delight. “This tower was the first thing that the Hero Rokkshar made as he began to build up this majestic castle and the Empire. You could say that this tower was the original royal quarters. Interesting, is it not?”

“Hmmm… This place had such history behind it?” I asked while looking inside of the room in front of me. Marina and Alicia were standing awkwardly while looking at each other.

The insides of the room were nothing special. There was a huge bed, a simple desk as well as a small table nearby And also a wooden closet. There were only a few candles in the room as it was sufficiently illuminated by the moonlight coming from the ample balcony.

“Yes! This is one of my favorite places in the castle!” The Empress nodded happily. “Another interesting fact is that even after the castle was finished, Rokkshar and Marenna shared this room until the end of their days. That is why this tower is known as the Tower of Lovers.” Lady Eleonora smiled.

“I see… It is a very romantic idea if you think about it. To share a place like this for the rest of your life with the person you love. Very romantic indeed.” I shared my thoughts with the Empress.

“So you like romance? Well, I figured that would be the case, especially considering how many girls you got chasing after you.” The Empress giggled. “Make sure to treat your fiancées with utmost respect and love. No girl likes a cold and uninterested man.” She gave me advice.

“Of course, that is the plan, my lady.” I nodded in response before deciding to go into the room with the princesses.

“That’s very good. You’re a good kid Julius. I’m certain that you will grow up to become a splendid man.” Eleonora said with respect in her voice.

And here comes the trap…

“Please make sure to treat my daughters with the same respect and love you would give to your fiancées. They love you just as much if not more.” Lady Eleonora said with a huge smile on her face.

I simply watched with a deadpan expression as the Empress quickly slammed the door shut and locked me up inside the room with the two princesses.

Oh no… Who could’ve seen that one coming? Ah, the irony. For me who has such a powerful demonic eye to fall prey to such a well-thought stratagem…

Alright, I’ll stop now.

“Now, please don’t panic, Julius. I want you to have a serious conversation with Marina and Alicia, so I brought you here so no one will interrupt you.” The Empress explained herself. “I’ll let you out once I confirm that I will be a grandmother!” Eleonora's voice grew distant as she decided to tease us as she left.

Sigh… Did she forget that I can teleport out of here?  Or perhaps did she assumed that I probably wouldn't use it to escape? Doesn’t matter, I guess.

I couldn’t help but let out an exaggerated sigh as I turned around to face the princesses. I was a little taken aback when I saw that both were standing directly in front of me.

Because of my growth spurt, the difference in height between Marina and I was barely noticeable. She was still ten centimeters taller than me, but it wasn’t a lot considering how small I used to be before the tournament. Though I was way taller than Alicia now, almost thirty centimeters taller than her.

“Umm…” Alicia seemed at a loss for words. Her whole face was flushed and painted red.

“Julius… Do you remember what I told you during your birthday? That you could ask me for anything and that I would move heaven and earth for you and you said that you would do the same for me?” Marina asked. She was blushing just as much as her younger sister, but she had a determined expression on her face.

“Yes, I do remember that.” I nodded.

“Do you remember that you jokingly asked me what would happen if you asked for my hand in marriage and to rule the Empire with me…?” Marina seemed like she wanted to avert her gaze from the shame but she stopped herself from doing so.

“Ah… I did say something like that…” I also began to blush a little. I had forgotten that I asked such an embarrassing thing as a joke.

“What would you say if I told you that I don’t want that to be a joke anymore…?” Marina asked with a somewhat worried expression.

Ah, I know what’s coming… I thought I was prepared for this moment, but I don’t think I am fully prepared now…

“You mean that…-” I was about to speak but I was interrupted.

“I love you.” Marina admitted with an even more determined expression. The blush she had all over face made her look truly beautiful.

“I imagined that would be the case… I had some slight suspicions.” I tried to act as if I wasn’t feeling extremely awkward, but I was not particularly convincing.

“Y-Y-You knew?” Marina asked nervously.

“More than knowing, you have been acting way more affectionately with me since the award ceremony… It was difficult not to notice how many times you were touching me or getting close to me in general. It was way more than you usually do, so I was starting to wonder whether that was the case or not.” I admitted. “And… I guess it was also because it is not the first time I have been conscious of you in that sort of way…” I was honest with Marina yet even more awkward than before. It was almost as if all of my confidence had evaporated.

“Do you mean…?” Marina’s eyes widened as she gasped from the surprise.

“That I might be a shameless bastard and I'm also in love with you too. Honestly, you shouldn't have fallen for a guy like me…” I smiled awkwardly after being honest about my feelings.

Yet another one for the count… Mom always teased me about marrying Marina due to the fact that we are both royalty, but I never expected this kind of outcome… 

Was this the fault of the succubi charm too? It was way too late to answer that question as I had genuine feelings of affection for the princess in front of me.

I’m really a shameless bastard, aren’t I?

“You’re in love with me? You mean that you love me in return?” Marina looked at me with a flabbergasted expression.

I nodded while scratching the back of my head. I was happy that Marina had feelings for me but I also felt like the biggest piece of shit in the world. After getting so many fiancées during my short stay in Mutm, it was difficult not to feel like that, even when polygamy was a common thing in this world.

“I see… I see… You love me back… I’m relieved…” Marina smiled happily after letting out a sigh. She wasn’t jumping around with joy or anything, but I could see genuine happiness in her eyes. “But, I’m curious… Why do you think that I shouldn't have fallen for you? You’re always present in my thoughts and you're the first person who treated me like an equal in spite of the difference in our social standing. You were the first to become my friend, Julius. I tried to deny these blossoming feelings I had for you for a while, but I don’t think I can do it any longer. I simply love you.” Marina was surprisingly straightforward with me.

“I can understand that. Thinking of you also makes me happy and you were also one of my first friends. But you shouldn’t have fallen for such a playboy bastard like me… I have eleven fiancées now… You’re very special to me, Marina. You should have someone who could only focus on you and make you the happiest person in the world. As much as it pains me, you will never be able to get one hundred percent of my attention and my love…” I decided to be brutally honest with Marina, even if it hurt the two of us in the process. I wanted to hide my face due to the shame I felt.

I had been doing some thinking during the days after I woke up. I thought deep and hard about the whole situation with the girls back and the tournament. While it is good that I decided to take responsibility for my actions and the fact that Mia approved of the situation with those girls, I am undeniably a bastard. Even if polygamy is a thing and my fiancée approves of me getting more girls, I just can’t help but feel like trash.

I know that I told Golden Awakening that I would be more selfish and honest with my desires but I just still can’t fully shake away the morality of Earth. If it was back there, there would be no doubt that I would get stabbed or worse if I was getting girls like this left right and playing with their feelings.

That is why I at least want to be honest with Marina so she knows what she’s getting into.

“You were worried about that?” Marina asked with a soft smile. Her composed expression suddenly reminded me of Lady Eleonora.

“Yes. That’s how I feel. I love you, but perhaps you would be much happier with someone other than me.” I couldn’t help but lower my head due to the shame.

Ash… Being greedy and honest with my desires is way more difficult than it seems… As much as I want to have Marina by my side forever, I want her to be happy. Truly happy. I want her to have someone who can give her everything without fail… I just feel that I might not be that person…

“It is weird to see you like this… You’re usually more confident in yourself and your words, Julius.” Marina suddenly grabbed my chin and forcefully made me look at her again. “Thank you for showing me another aspect of you. I think I love you even more.” Marina smiled from ear to ear.

“Marina, I…-” I was about to speak but the princess placed her finger in front of my mouth to make me silent.

“Just so you know, I don’t have an issue sharing you. In fact, it would be weird if that wasn’t the case. Everything would feel incomplete without the twins and Mia. Even the other noble girls and Karen… It just feels natural for all of them to be by your side, don’t you think? At least, that’s what I think when I look at you. That’s the place I want to belong. To be by the side of the one I love and those he loves.” Marina smiled warmly while staring into my eyes.

Her kind and gentle words were enough to put my heart at ease. She made my insecurities disappear in the blink of an eye just like that…

“But if those words aren’t enough to convince you, then…” Marina closed her eyes as she grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and pulled me toward her.

Just like Luna had done previously, Marina decided to pull me in to steal a kiss from me. The kiss was short and tender, like something you would expect from a fairy tale, like a reward from a princess to a courageous knight for saving her…

“Was that enough for you?” Marina asked with a cheeky expression on her face. Her cheeks were completely flushed. “That was my first kiss. I know that you cannot give me your first, but I hope you will treasure mine forever.” She smiled while averting her gaze.

“I will.” I nodded while blushing a little. I felt a little awkward too. “Thank you, Marina.” I said while feeling my confidence coming back rapidly.

“Just for the record, you having eleven fiancées is not an issue. I don’t mind sharing, as I said. After all, my father has over thirty wives and about one hundred concubines. He also plays around with some maids from time to time from what I heard. It is a wonder that we don't have any other siblings other than my sisters.” Marina suddenly said something outrageous while giggling.

Hold up… What the fuck?! The Emperor has a harem of one hundred and thirty women?! First, what the fuck?! Second, just how much stamina does he have?! Third, what the fuck!?

“Honestly, I wouldn’t care if you were to get a thousand wives and concubines or more. I  have the feeling that you could definitely pull it off somehow.” Marina giggled, completely ignoring my expression of shock. “Though… There’s a problem. My father won’t ever let me become a part of that number.” Marina's expression visibly darkened within a moment. There was an immense sadness in her eyes.

“What do you mean? Then why did your mother bring us here?” I asked with concern.

“Aunt Eliana has been trying for the last few weeks to convince my father to allow you and I to marry, but he was completely against the idea. Mother is of the opinion that I should be allowed to marry whoever I love, but my father disagrees. He thinks that because I’m the heir to the throne, I should only marry someone who would bring benefits to the Empire and the crown. He just wants me to be a pawn for a political marriage.” Marina lowered his head. I could see that tears were beginning to appear in the corner of her eyes. 

I was filled with a myriad of emotions… Disappointment, confusion, and some mild heartbreak. I knew what Marina was trying to tell me with those words alone. For as long as her father lived and she was the heir to the throne, she and I would never be able to be together openly.

I knew that she could abandon her responsibilities and leave the throne to one of her siblings like Eliana once did with Marina’s father, but I know Marina better than that. She has a strong sense of duty toward the Empire and its people. If it is for such a cause, Marina would definitely sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of the country.

As a crown prince myself, I could relate to those feelings. To stay true to your responsibilities or true to their own feelings… A difficult choice, but not an impossible one.

It seems it is my turn to comfort her.

“Marina… It isn’t like you to get this unconfident and sad. The bratty girl I know and love would’ve been throwing a tantrum by now until her father gave up. You’re not the kind of girl who would give up just because her father said no.” I said as I pulled Marina into a hug. I made sure to embrace her tightly.

“Meany… I’m not that bratty anymore…” Marina spoke shyly as she wrapped her arms around my neck. Her tears were drenching my left shoulder. “Julius… I love you but we won’t be able to be together… Once my father makes up his mind there is no way that he would change it. Honestly, it is you who shouldn’t have fallen for me…” Marina began to sob loudly in my arms.

Hmmm… This will prove to be difficult. I suppose I have no other choice.

“Marina… I’m sorry about your aunt. While she and I may have not gotten along, I’m thankful toward her. She was a patriot, a great warrior, and a great woman in spite of her questionable decisions.” I whispered in the princess’s ear. “I will be forever grateful to her. It is because of Eliana and those same questionable decisions that you and I became friends, and because of that, we’re standing here in each other's arms today.” I said with a smile as I looked toward the night sky through the door to the balcony.

Due to my words, Marina said nothing. She just began to cry harder. The death of her aunt was still too fresh for her. It seemed like she had been bottling up those tears and her sadness until now

“If Eliana was here she would tell us not to give up over such a small matter. I believe that she would even tell us to come up with a stupid scheme to get the Emperor to approve of us.” I giggled to myself as I remembered the woman who tried to kidnap me.

Again, Marina said nothing. She did a mixture of crying hard and having a fit of laughter at the same time.

“I think she would tell me to bid my time and become strong enough until no one in the Empire can defy me, not even your father. Then she would tell me to crash your wedding with whatever poor bastard your father chooses to marry you in my place. Then she would tell me to grab you and run toward the sunset, to a place where no one would find us.” I said in a half-joking half-serious way. “I think she would even encourage me to rebel openly against your father.” I whispered to Marina.

“Yeah… That sounds like her alright…” Marina said between sobs. 

“Right? She was very annoying with all her schemes and lies, but I will truly miss her.” I smiled bitterly.

“Then… Can you promise me something, Julius?” Marina spoke after composing herself.

“Of course.” I nodded.

“If father never approves of us and forces me to marry someone else, then… Will you come to take me away?” Marina took a step back and stopped hugging me. The sight of her teary blue eyes was way too beautiful for me.

“Even if the whole world is my enemy, my princess.” I replied as I kneeled in front of her like a gallant knight would. “I am your knight as well as the person who took your first kiss. I will take responsibility and whoever tries to snatch you away from me or hurt you shall face my unending wrath. That is my vow.” I said as I kissed her hand.

When I looked upward, I saw Marina crying once more. It was a mixture of sadness toward the death of her aunt and happiness for the vow I had just made.

“Then… I will wait patiently for the day where you and I can openly be together, my knight… No, my prince.” Marina smiled at me as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Did she just say my prince? Does… Does she know about my identity? There’s no way she would know. I don’t think the twins or Mia would say anything… Huh… Why am I still hiding that fact about me from her? I should tell her everything. If we both genuinely love each other then she deserves to know it all about me…

“Marina, there’s something you must know about…-” Before I could begin to explain myself, I was interrupted.

“T-T-That was so beautiful… Bwaaa!” A young girl nearby began to cry loudly. “I never thought I would see such a scene play out in front of my very eyes! I’m moved! My heart is aching! An impossible love and a vow to make it a reality!” It was Alicia, Marina’s younger sister. She was looking at us with tears in her eyes as if she found this scene adorable and heartwarming.

It makes me feel bad, but I had completely forgotten that she was here… I blame Marina’s kiss for that…

“Ah… I had forgotten that you were here…” Marina mumbled while staring at her younger sister. She had begun to clear her tears while she was at it.

Oi… Don’t say it like that, Marina…

“Older sister… Isn’t that a little cruel? How could you forget about my existence?! Especially when you said that we were in this together!” Alicia got extremely offended. It was also the first time I had seen her get so worked up about something.

“Sorry… We just got too caught up in the moment…” Marina smiled awkwardly as she apologized to her sister. She decided to pat Alicia’s head as an apology. 

“I suppose I can accept your apology considering that you gave good material for my book. It was a very beautiful scene and I’m dying to add it to my book! Hehehe! I also have great plans for a new saga too!” Alicia smiled confidently while puffing her chest.

“Your book? Are you a writer by any chance?” I asked Alicia, trying to erase the previous incident from her mind.

“She is! She’s also very famous too.” Marina answered in her sister’s stead. “She writes using M. N. Grapes as her pseudonym. Have you read her works? Ah, the pseudonym actually means Malicious Naughty Grapes. I was the one who came up with it, isn’t it childish? I’m a little embarrassed about it, but Alicia seemed to love it so much that it just stuck around.” Marina happily explained while blushing.

Hold up… Hold the fuck up! All this time, Alicia was that famous author?! Presently the most famous author in our country? The one who has supposedly revolutionized storytelling in the Empire? The one that the twins and Mia are always gushing about?

Damn, that’s actually pretty shocking…

“Don’t tell him anymore! Don’t go around revealing my identity! Older sister, what's the purpose of a pseudonym if you’re going to tell people who I am?!” Alicia shouted while blushing furiously. She looked deeply embarrassed.

“But what’s the problem? Were you planning to hide that from Julius? I thought that you wanted to be open with your feelings toward him and such. You said that you would use your talents as a storyteller to declare your undying love in the most romantic and shocking way possible. Although, Mother ruined that part of the plan…” Marina suddenly decided to tease her sister.

“Shut up! Don’t tell him that!” Alicia covered her face due to the shame she was feeling.

A plan huh…? It seems I was bamboozled by these princesses… Clever girls, they were behind this all since the beginning. Well, I might as well give them what they want since I have already fallen into their trap.

“Marina, is Alicia also…?” I decided to ask the crown princess even though I already knew the answer.

“In love with you? Yes. She told me that she already thought that you were cute when she met you at your grandfather’s house, but that she fell hard for you during the tournament. In her own words, she had never seen such a gallant, brave, and strong boy before. That her heart was moved like never before. That the mere idea of talking to you made her shiver with anticipation. And that she felt butterflies in her stomach whenever she remembered the way the two of you met. Ah! She also said…-” Marina suddenly got too excited while teasing her sister.

“Sister, I beg of you… Please don’t say another word! Stop! Don’t make it more embarrassing for me! I want to die!” Alicia ran toward the bed and jumped into it. She quickly hid beneath the covers, seeking refuge from her sister’s embarrassing onslaught.

“C’mon! Don’t be like that Alicia! We are having a serious conversation with your beloved! Tell him how you feel! It is quite easy!” Marina giggled as ran toward the bed too.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of Alicia hiding and Marina chasing after her to get her out of the bed just so she could tease her more. It might have been a little mean on my part, but I was happy to see how well they were getting along. After all, Marina herself was always telling me in her letters that she loved her sisters more than anything.

In fact, the whole scene was like a breath of fresh air for me. To see the two princesses be able to act like normal girls.

Well… It is time to take responsibility for this too… I really overdid it this time. I charmed two princesses and a bunch of noble girls… The succubi charm will be sealed until further notice… I don’t want to suddenly end up with another ten fiancées if I decide to visit the capital again…

While watching Marina wrestle with Alicia to get her out of the covers, I took my sweet time to walk over to the side of the bed. 

When I arrived, Marina was mercilessly tickling Alicia. I could see the cute face she was making while laughing uncontrollably. Her hair had become messy and her glasses had slipped to the side.

Though, Marina and Alicia immediately stopped playing as soon as I sat beside them. Marina simply smiled at me with a faint blush on her face while Alicia just stared at me mouth agape, almost as if she was mesmerized.

“Marina. I have something to ask.” I said while smiling at Alicia.

“What is it? Do you want me to kiss you again?” The bratty princess was suddenly very straightforward.

“I would love that, but that’s not what I wanted to ask…” I replied somewhat bashfully. “I wanted to ask… Would it be alright with you if I also marry Alicia?” I asked the crown princess.

“Ah…” Alicia’s expression became one of shock. She was blushing way more intensely than before.

“Sure. As long as she herself wants that, I have no problem with that. I already told you that I don’t mind sharing.” Marina winked at me before smiling at her sister. “So? Isn’t this what you wanted, Alicia? You got your knight in shining armor. Your very own prince charming. Well, it is our prince charming, but the point stands.” She decided to tease her again.

“Please don’t tease her anymore, Marina. I think she’s already embarrassed enough.” I scolded the princess a little before changing my focus toward her younger sister. “What do you think Alicia? Would you like to marry me too? I don’t have a ring and I cannot give you a proposal suitable for a princess at the moment, but at the very least I can swear to love you and protect you until the end of my days.” I said to the younger princess.

Alicia was caught off guard by my words for a moment. It didn’t take long for her to hide half of her face with the covers due to the awkwardness and shame she was feeling. Only her eyes were peeking out of the covers, staring at me quite intently.

Marina had understood what I wanted to do and decided to remain silent on the sidelines, at least for the time being.

“I don’t want a proposal…” Alicia mumbled.

“You don’t want to marry me?” I asked in a somewhat teasing tone.

“I didn’t say that…” Alicia spoke shyly. “I… I really love you and I want to be with you, but…” Alicia was getting more bashful than before.

“What is it? If there’s something you want then I shall do my best to grant it to you. I am your knight as well, aren’t I?” I said after remembering what she had told me on our first meeting.

“Ah…” Alicia’s face suddenly lit up when she heard those words. She had suddenly raised her upper body making the covers fall to allow me to look at her face. She was blushing quite intensely. “Then… If I asked to do the same thing that my sister did… Would you do it?” Alicia was twiddling with her thumbs while averting her gaze.

“You want a kiss? If that is what it takes for me to have the hand of such a wonderful and pretty princess, then so be it.” I smiled at Alicia and nodded.

Before I could do or say anything else, I found myself with my lips temporarily stolen from me once more. The seemingly shy Alicia had taken her chance faster than I could think of… Just like the kiss I shared with Marina, this one was very innocent and cute.

“Umm…” Alicia seemed a little shocked toward her own action. “Kissing isn’t like what I imagined… It feels different, but I don’t dislike it…” She was touching her lips while bashfully staring at me.

In return, I just couldn’t help but stare at the adorable princess in front of me. Her bashfulness just made her look cuter in my eyes.

“I didn’t think you’d be as bold as I was, Alicia. Truth be told, I was expecting you to kiss him on the cheek.” Marina said while patting her sister’s head. “I’m proud of you though. You did a good job conveying your feelings.” Marina smiled cutely.

“I should be the one saying that… If I remember correctly, there was a certain someone who couldn’t sleep a wink last night after Mother told us that we would bring Julius here.” Alicia suddenly decided to tease her sister back. This was her revenge.

“I-I-I don’t know what you’re talking about… I slept like a log last night.” Marina suddenly blushed and averted her gaze.

Was she that nervous about telling me her feelings? That’s actually pretty adorable.

“Right… It isn’t like my older sister was nervous about this or anything!” Alicia loudly exclaimed. “What were the things that you were saying last night? Oh, right. You were basically rolling around the bed and panicking about what would happen to you if Julius rejected you. It would have been fine if only you hadn’t invited me to sleep in your room. Just like you, I didn’t catch a wink of sleep last night.” Alicia was on the attack this time around.

“That didn’t happen… It was all part of your very vivid imagination.” Marina said while looking at me with an awkward expression. She was a terrible liar.

“Were you that nervous to talk to me about this?” I asked with a caring smile. I was slightly amused and very flattered.

“Maybe…” Marina averted her gaze.

“You don’t have to be nervous anymore though.” I giggled.

“True…” Marina nodded in agreement.

“It is such a relief… I thought I was going to pass out from the embarrassment of it all…” Alicia let out a cute sigh. She looked far more relaxed than before. “Well, now that we know that our feelings are reciprocated. I think we should give that to him, older sister.” Alicia said to Marina in a rather peculiar tone.

“Ah… I almost forgot!” Marina jumped from the bed and ran toward the closet. “Julius, close your eyes and don’t open them until we say so! If you open them, I will hate you forever!” Marina shouted in a rather childish tone.

“I will steal another kiss from you if you do open them!” Alicia said rather boldly.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time, princess.” I laughed before doing what I was told. My eyes were suddenly covered by a pair of soft and small hands.

“Just for safe measure.” Alicia spoke with caution as she covered my eyes.

“I wonder what you want to give me… Is it a sword?” I was extremely curious about what they were planning.

“Why would it be a sword? Why is that your first guess?” Alicia asked with disbelief. “You are not even close at all! All I can say about it is that it is a token of our appreciation. A symbol of our love, if you will. Mother said that a gift like this would be enough to win your heart.” She explained with excitement.

“You don’t need to give me anything though. I already love you.” I spoke with no shame whatsoever. It was fun to tease the two princesses.

“I-I-Is that so…? Still, you need to accept this gift! We went through a lot of trouble to get this!” Alicia was caught off guard by my words again.

“Alright. If it is from you, I will gladly accept it then.” I said.

It didn’t take long for Marina to return with the gift the two princesses had prepared for me. I could sense Marina crawling toward us on the bed until she placed something rather heavy directly in front of me.

“Julius… You may open your eyes.” Marina spoke nervously.

“Alrighty.” I once again did as I was told after Alicia stopped covering my eyes.

What welcomed me once I opened my eyes was Marina, who looked quite concerned. She was staring at the things she had placed on top of the bed… A couple of books and a folded white long coat which seemed to be made of fur.

“All of this is for me?” I asked as I timidly touched the coat.

“Yep.” Alicia said in a nonchalant way. “ I believe I said that our gift was a symbol of our love, didn’t I? Ah, the gift is only the fur coat.” Alicia explained to me.

“And the books?” I inquired.

“Those are books you asked for from the National Library. She left a letter instructing us to give them to you. Apparently, she paid extra for them to be copied as quickly as possible.” Marina said.

“I see… She really fulfilled her part of the deal.” I whispered to myself as I examined the books for a bit. With my special eyes, I could tell that they were genuine. 

Though, it didn’t take long before my focus returned to the coat that the princesses were giving to me. To put it simply, it was quite an overpowered and ridiculous thing…

“Do you want to try it?” Alicia asked.

“I was about to ask if I could.” I chuckled in response.

I quickly put on the fur coat only to find that it fit me like a glove. The insides were quite warm, but not overwhelmingly so… It was exactly at the right temperature to be comfortable. The furs inside felt soft, but I wasn’t deceived by that. My eyes could see that the furs served as protection and that they seemed to be harder than steel… I could see that there were a myriad of effects enchanted onto the coat.

“How does it feel?” Marina asked timidly.

“It is pretty great! It feels soft to the touch and it is not too hot to wear.” I smiled at Marina.

“Isn’t it amazing? We found this in the royal treasury! No one knows how it was made or to whom it belonged, but it is wonderful! Not only can you wear it during any season as the coat adjusts its temperature with magic to be comfortable for the user, it is also as hard as any plate armor around and more! It can also alter its own shape and colors to match what the wearer’s desires! Isn’t this just an awesome magic tool?!” Alicia suddenly got extremely excited about the coat.

“I see… Is it fine for me to have such a thing? Won’t anyone notice that it is missing from the treasury?” I was dumbfounded by what they had done.

“Mother gave us permission to give it to you as a reward for serving us… And to get you to love us back.” Marina was embarrassed due what she said last.

“I already told you that I love you, didn't I? You didn't need to give the coat in the first place.” I decided to tease the princess a little.

“We know that. But wouldn't it be a waste to leave such a useful object stored forever in an underground vault? I'd much rather the one I love to use it.” Alicia spoke as if it was the most natural thing.

“I agree… I would like you to have it.” Marina spoke rather meekly.

As I adjusted the coat, another chuckle escaped my lips. I couldn't help it due to how cute the princesses were.

“If that is the will of the princesses then I shall humbly accept this proof of their love. I shall forever treasure this gift.” I smiled and bowed jokingly. “And I also promise to give you a suitable gift for our engagement the day when we can finally openly be together.” I was serious about the last part.

“I wonder what you're going to get me… The scale of a dragon? A ruby from the depths of a volcano? A pearl from the bottom of the oceans? Honestly, I don't care as long as it is from my knight!” Alicia suddenly launched herself at me with excitement, hugging me quite tightly.

“I'll see what I can do.” I was slightly troubled by her requests, but I was certain that I would be able to manage somehow. “What about you, Marina? Is there something you want?” I asked the older princess as I hugged Alicia back.

“There's nothing I particularly want… Well, there's one thing.” Marina said as she averted her gaze.

“Let's hear it. I'll try to give it to you as long as it is within the realm of my possibilities.” I decided to inquire about what my beloved princess wanted.

“You won't laugh at me if I ask?” Marina asked timidly.

“I promise I won't.” I replied with as much seriousness as I could muster.

“Then…” Marina looked at me dead in the eye while blushing. “I want a big family.” She said without missing a beat.

“Oh…” I was taken aback by the nature of her request. I started sweating bullets. “It is a little early to talk about that, but I'll see what I can do…” I replied while blushing.

“Wait! You misunderstood what I meant! I meant that I wanted your family to live with us and accept us! Whether it is in this castle or somewhere else, I want us all to be one big family!” Marina clarified on her request.

“Ah… So that's what you want.” I was relieved that the request was more innocent than I initially thought. “Then you don't have to worry too much about it. Everybody already thinks of you as family, you know?” I smiled at the princess.

“Well, that's a relief…” Marina smiled back. “I hope that the day where we can live together as a couple and as a family arrives soon.” She said while looking outside toward the starry sky.

I was completely unaware that she meant all of my family, including those who were outside of Marcel.

Chapter 91: The Princesses and the Tower of Lovers.

END

EXTRA: Marina’s Status

Name: Eleonora Aurelia Marcel

Race: Human

Age: 36 years old 

Ability Points: 302 points

Titles: First Empress of Marcel / Unattainable Perfection / Mediator / The Sapphire of Marcel / Noble Daughter of Clirontia / Wise-Woman / She Who Shakes the Earth / Number One Cause of Earthquakes / Former Troublemaker / Renowned Adventurer / Spearmaster of Calamity

Jobs: Empress Lv.10 MAX / Master Diplomat Lv.6 / Master Caretaker Lv.10 MAX / Master Nanny Lv.10 MAX / Master Chef Lv.10 MAX / Wise Sage Lv.3 / Supreme Earth Magician Lv.2 / Spear of Calamity Lv.10 MAX /

Level: 74

EXP: 30,303 / 90,296

  Attributes

HP: 7,554

MP: 34,101

DEX: 980

STR: 710

VIT:  11,510

DEF: 640

RES: 851

LUCK: 608

SPD: 754

INT: 330

 Common Skills 

Appraisal / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL!

Cartography / Level 7

Childcare / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL!

Cooking / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL!

Fishing / Level 4

Enhance Magical Attack / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL!

Hunting / Level 2

Riding / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL!

Superior Stealth / Level 6

Superior Focus / Level 7

Trap Detection / Level 8

Combat

Advanced Archery / Level 1

Armed Combat: Daggers / Level 5

Superior Limit Break / Level 4

Superior Fighting Spirit / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL!

Spearmanship / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL!

Swordsmanship / Level 5

Throwing Weapons: Knives / Level 3

Unarmed Combat / Level 4

Second Wind / Level 9

Magic

Superior Mana Manipulation / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL!

Superior Mana Perception / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL!

Magic: Earth Element / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL!

Magic: Fire Element / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL!

Magic: Wind Element / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL!

Magic: Water Element / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL!

Magic: Light Element / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL!

Magic: Dark Element / Level 6

Resistances

Charm Resist / Level 1

Elemental Resistance: Earth / Level 9

Elemental Resistance: Fire / Level 8

Elemental Resistance: Wind / Level 9

Elemental Resistance: Water / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL! 

Elemental Resistance: Light / Level 6

Elemental Resistance: Dark / Level 9

Pain Resist / Level 5

Paralysis Resist / Level 6

Poison Immunity / Level 10 - MAX LEVEL!

GodlyKamui

Heya! Author here, back with a new chapter! First of all, happy new year! I know that it took some time for me to release this chapter, but let's be honest, I was either working or drunk out of my mind thanks to my family friends. Other than that, I also caught a nasty cold and a terrible back pain, so I've been resting for the last few days. Still, I once more wish you a happy new year!

As for the chapter, I dunno what to say other that the Empress has one hell of a scary status... No wonder the nobles seemed scared of her. I'll try to continue making more of these status windows for other characters if I have the time. Can't wait to be able to write more of the next arc!

Anyway... As usual, please don't forget to comment and leave some hearts since that motivates me to continue writing the story! Don't forget to join the discord: https://discord.gg/uH6APbzrFR