Part 4

That night I ended up unable to sleep. How, you may ask? Well, neither my brain nor body could calm down being surrounded by the four most influential, most gorgeous women of this empire, cuddling up to me at the same time!

Who I also grew up with... Back then we used to do it all the time. But now they have grown!

After yesterday’s negotiations we concluded on... Though, it’s more so that they came to an agreement.

Miyuki will check out Midgard’s security and how it’s currently handled.

Sakura’s going to resolve our collapsing trade and economy.

Tsubaki already sent out an order to gather information on our current justice system. Apparently it’s not just corrupt but also getting misused nonstop.

Aiko headed out herself to visit all the fields and use her mana to restore the soil. While also teaching the farmers a few tricks to guarantee better yields.

It felt weird, though. I should be happy about the kingdom getting saved... about it being in better hands. Yet-

“So you’re just leaving everything to your childhood friends?”

“Oh. It’s just you, Sebas.”

“How odd, usually you would have screamed like a girl.”

Hmmm...

“I guess so.”

“How pathetic, you really aren’t worthy of their love or effort.”

“...”

“While they are out there fixing your problems, you’re just sitting here sulking like a princess that’s getting saved by her princes.”

“I didn’t want to involve them to begin with!”

Shooting up from the bed, I glared at him.

“Oh. Yet, they still did.”

“And I don’t understand why they would go so far...”

“I can think of two reasons.”

Smiling, he placed down a cup of tea in front of me.

“Tell me!”

“One, just to help the people of Midgard. Two... for you.”

“For me? I doubt it-”

“Do you even realize that they seriously want to marry you?”

“They are just trying to be nice... It’s always been like that.”

“God, are you dense...”

Huh!?

“Even if it’s true, I could never accept it! Just look at me... I’m unworthy of their love.”

“So you’ll just continue being their little princess?”

“...”

“Must be nice... do nothing and just let them handle everything-”

“No! I’m not a little princess!”

I clenched my fist, determined.

“Then take responsibility.”

“How?”

“You know exactly how.”

He’s right... as he has been the entire time. It’s about time I do something! For once I’m grateful to Sebas... Though, I’ll still get revenge for the other times!

And with my mind made up, I set my plan in motion.

First, I met up with Miyuki, and we went over her findings so far.

“The remaining soldiers are undertrained and completely demoralized.”

“How could we change that?”

She threw me a sword and hugged me from behind, showing me the right form to swing the sword.

“Simple, we’ll train them and offer rewards. Especially with bandits running rampant, we should set bounties.”

My face flushed bright red from feeling her against my back.

“M-M-Miyuki...”

Slapping my upper thigh, she tightened her grip on my wrists.

“Focus, Shunpei! Your men are watching.”

How am I supposed to focus like this!?

“Once we have the knight order rebuilt, we’ll be able to establish security and gain back the trust from the villages. Until then, I’ll lend you some of my men.”

Gulp.

“You’re right! Let’s do this!”

With that, she continued to train us, using me as an example... over and over... but the soldiers seemed more motivated than ever!

Next, I followed Sakura and worked with her. Or at least I tried to... but we just ended up sitting in my room reading parchment after parchment.

Catching glances of her reading reminded me of the letters she used to send. She mentioned having read many, many grimoires.

“If you’d rather do something else, then just say so.”

“No, no, no. I’m sorry.”

Putting the parchment down, she came over to me and leaned close.

“Yet you keep staring at me... And with such a naughty expression...”

Her face came even closer to mine, making my cheeks blush.

“I did stare! But I didn’t have any naughty thoughts!”

Her nose brushed against mine, making my heart skip a beat.

“Are you suuure?”

“Yes!”

Breathing against my ear, she whispered.

“You know, I already have a rough draft on how to fix your economy.”

“T-tell me more...”

Pushing me down onto the couch, she straddled me.

“We lower the entire tax as much as possible and focus it entirely on stabilizing the necessities for survival first.”

“M-makes sense...”

How is she able to focus and tease me like that at the same time!?

Placing her hands on my shoulders, she leaned in closer.

“No escape for you now... S-h-u-n-p-e-i.”

“A-aren’t you taking this a little too far?”

Her hands explored my chest.

“It’s my reward for helping you... We’ll also offer lower taxes on all exports and imports.”

“B-but will that be enough to get more merchants?”

Breathing heavily, she responded.

“Just strengthen the key trade routes.”

Leaning even closer, she nibbled on my ear.

Agh.

“T-then they won’t get attacked by monsters or bandits... smart...”

“Ah-huh.”

Slam.

The door shot open, and Tsubaki rushed in.

“I knew it!”

Grabbing my arm, she dragged me away with her while Sakura sat there pouting.

“I almost had him... Just a little more...”

We headed downstairs, where she pulled me into a small closet.

Ehm.

“Tsubaki?”

“Shunpei, big meanie!”

“How-”

Before I could finish, she bit into my arm... again... though this time it didn’t hurt.

Looking up at me, her eyes teared up. Instinctively, my hand moved to pet her, especially around her fluffy ears.

“I’m sorry, Tsubaki.”

“I’ve been working so hard! Yet you’ve only helped Miyuki and Sakura!”

She even knows about that time with Miyuki!?

“...”

“My spies already investigated and located all of Midgard’s corrupt nobles... We even found some powerful families that are strong-arming the current laws to their advantage!”

“Impressive... and so quick as well...”

“All we have to do now is get rid of them publicly to restore everyone’s trust in the King’s justice!”

She isn’t wrong... yet, I feel even worse now, since I’m the reason she’s dirtying her hands...

“H-how can I make it up to you?”

Pressing herself tighter to me, she whispered.

“Give me a reward.”

“Reward?”

“Yes! A reward!”

She pressed herself flush against me... I could feel every part of her body! As well as her racing heart.

“W-what would you want?”

“Can I request anything?”

I owe her way too much, so-

“-Of course.”

Her tail wagged uncontrollably, hitting both my legs.

“Anything!?”

“Yes-”

Suddenly, a bright flash appeared between us, but when I opened my eyes again, I found myself in Aiko’s arms!?

“Aiko!?”

“Oh my, oh my. Seems like they’ve been teasing you quite a bit, huh?”

“Yeah... But, I also owe all of you so much... Without all of you, who knows what would have happened...”

“Shhh. Don’t even think about that. For now, it’s my turn.”

“Your turn?”

I tilted my head to the side.

She knelt down and patted her lap.
“What-”
Grabbing my head, she pulled me in onto her lap.
“I-isn’t this t-too-”

She’s too close! What is she trying to do!? She smells so nice... I don’t even know where to look!

My mind raced just as quickly as my heart.

“Relax, Shunpei. This is called a lap pillow.”

So even Aiko!? How do they manage to stay so calm!? Is only my heart racing like that?

Aiko took out an ear pick and gently started to clean my ear.

Was that bright light earlier maybe a sign of me dying? Reaching heaven... it for sure feels like it...

Her cleaning my ear calmed me down, yet I still heard my heart racing. Wait... that’s not my heart! So, Aiko...

“You missed it, Shunpei. But earlier I went around and restored the soil with my Holy Magic.”

“Aweshooom.”

“Afterwards, I arranged for new tools and worked with Miyuki to recruit more workers for the farms.”

Burying my head deeper into her lap, I felt so blessed that I couldn’t hold back my thoughts from spilling out.

“I-I don’t deserve any of you...”

“Is that so?”

She hit a weak spot in my ear, making me squirm.

“Yeeeeeeesh.”

“None of us think so, and shouldn’t we be the ones to decide that?”

“But-”

“No buts, it’s our choice.”

“...”

How can I be constantly so wrong... I didn’t even think about their feelings.

“If you really feel that way, then just man up and become someone ‘worthy of us’.”

She whispered into my ear. Since she had just cleaned it... her voice sounded way more intense.

“I’m trying...”

“Though you already are... trust me.”