Suddenly, I found myself about to become a married man. After much deliberation, I finally decided to tie the knot.
In this kingdom, the lord's judgment is generally respected, but for serious crimes, the kingdom's laws must be followed. For example, if I captured a mad lesbian serial killer who raped dozens of women in a trade city and castrated and murdered dozens of adventurers on a voyage, I couldn't just pardon her on a whim.
The kingdom would leave her treatment to me while she was in my custody, but if I pardoned her outright, they'd intervene immediately. So, I needed a valid excuse to pardon Eve. Fortunately, I had the title of a "Hero's Party" member, having defeated the Demon King again alongside the hero.
Since I'd defeated the Demon King, there was no reason the kingdom would refuse my request to pardon her and a mermaid.
Asking for Eve's pardon was easy, but I needed a reason. Simply asking for mercy would leave the kingdom in a bind, so I had to provide a plausible explanation. The reasons were twofold: her conversion to the Grand Divine Church and the fact that she was going to marry me. The first reason—her conversion—was met with outrage, so Eve marrying me was the only option.
Capturing a beauty and then executing her would be such a waste. Someone as stunning as Eve was worth the title of a married man.
Who would stop the Hero's Party member from being obsessed with lust and wanting to sleep with a mermaid? Fortunately, the Grand Divine Church's doctrine didn't forbid sleeping with mermaids, nor did it state that humans could only marry other humans.
With that, I confidently sent letters to the Grand Divine Church and the royal palace. Summarized, they read:
"I want to marry Eve, a mermaid hybrid. However, she's committed heinous crimes and is currently a criminal. As a reward for defeating the Demon King as part of the Hero's Party, I request a pardon for Eve and her mermaid mother. Also, please build a swimming pool at our estate."
"Why a swimming pool?"
Eve, standing beside me, asked. After an enjoyable night of sex yesterday, I'd removed her chains, allowing her to roam freely within the estate. The servants, having heard rumors about Eve, trembled as if a mad dog had been unleashed. After much persuasion that Eve was safe, they reluctantly started working.
Of course, the servants still avoided Eve, not daring to approach or speak to her. They treated her like a plague, which seemed to annoy Eve, though she didn���t comment.
"We can't keep Sellu in the bathtub forever."
Sellu herself was bored, and the servant bringing her food looked annoyed. This issue needed resolving quickly. Building a swimming pool with the estate's budget would raise questions, so requesting it from the kingdom was best.
"True, but you keep calling my mom..."
"She's our mom now."
"...Damn, I can't get used to it."
Eve scratched her head. She leaned against me, watching me work all day. Thanks to her presence, A.A., who usually tried to seduce me, stood trembling in the corner.
Days passed, and the response came quicker than expected. Just as quickly, rumors spread across Peta Territory that I was sleeping with a mermaid. When it came to Siery and A.A., secrecy was maintained, but apparently, people couldn't resist gossiping about me and a mermaid.
As a result, while letters poured in from all directions, bizarre rumors circulated in the territory—that I'd gone mad from my ascetic lifestyle, or that the mermaid was so irresistible she'd corrupted even the lord.
Three letters arrived: one from the Church, one from the Kingdom, and one from the Elf Kingdom of Ahildern. The Grand Divine Church's letter read:
- The Southern High Priest's decision beautifully upholds the Church���s motto. We acknowledge that love knows no borders or races and respect your choice. However, it's regrettable that the social repercussions and controversies weren't considered.
The royal palace's letter stated:
- The palace accepts Peta Lucius's request and pardons the murderer Eve and her mermaid mother. However, if Eve divorces Peta Lucius or commits crimes of a similar nature, this pardon will be revoked, and both Eve and her mother will be executed by boiling.
"Executed by boiling?"
"Yes, boiled alive."
"Damn, that's brutal..."
A letter also arrived from Erina of the Elf Kingdom of Ahildern, and its contents were outrageous:
- Peta Sirius in heaven would bless you for choosing better than bestiality.
Bitch.
Peace returned to the territory. The guild master of the trade city, Esta, sent a letter condemning my insane decision, which I promptly ignored. The villagers, initially shocked, gradually accepted the situation.
Since I hadn't changed much beyond sleeping with a mermaid or indulged in extravagance, it remained a brief scandal. Gossipers still talked about my bizarre lust, but no further commotion arose. People could whisper behind my back, but no one would dare insult me to my face.
No one would call me a "mermaid-fucker" to my face, knowing I could crush their skull with my bare hands.
Life at the estate seemed peaceful. Sellu was satisfied with the swimming pool under construction, and Eve, though annoyed at having to learn manners as the lord's wife, was content.
Even A.A. seemed to be getting used to Eve after some time.
But Siery was the only one visibly anxious about Eve's arrival. I hadn't called Siery to my room recently, and the rumors about me and the mermaid made her insecure about her position.
She blatantly visited my room on my day off, asking if I needed comforting, and often interrupted my conversations with Eve. That night, I didn't sleep with Eve or Sellu. I stayed up late in the study, finishing paperwork before heading back to my room.
I noticed a suspicious shadow lurking near my door and silenced my footsteps. Approaching cautiously in the darkness, I suddenly grabbed the intruder from behind.
"Eek!"
Slim shoulders, a cute voice, and the scent of incense favored by Grand Divine Church nuns tickled my nose. Soft hair brushed my cheek, and in the light seeping from my room, I recognized the shadow.
"Siery?"
It was Siery. She froze in my grasp, her arms and neck held firmly, looking flustered. I couldn't understand why she was outside my door at this hour.
"Siery, what's going on?"
She glanced at me, then looked away, stammering,
"I... heard you're... getting married... to... the mermaid..."
I took her hand and pulled her into my room. Siery entered cautiously, hugging herself nervously.
Closing the door, I asked,
"Siery, did you come to congratulate me?"
"I... now that you're marrying... I wondered if... you still needed my comfort..."
Siery's face turned bright red as she fumbled her words. I stroked her hair and pulled her close. She buried her face in my chest and asked again,
"I... forgive my impertinence... but why are you marrying... that criminal...?"
She struggled to speak, each word a challenge for her gentle nature. Holding her tightly, I whispered,
"Siery, everyone sins. There are no innocents. I've done many things against the Grand Divine Church's teachings while ruling this territory."
"I... didn't mean..."
Siery tried to clarify as I blamed myself, but I held her face tighter, silencing her.
"Eve is a sinner, but she's also a victim of rejection and abuse. Siery, does the Grand Divine Church demand harsh punishment for all sinners?"
"No... sinners should be given a chance to repent..."
"Exactly. I want Eve to reflect on her sins and integrate into society. But her crimes were too severe for my pleas alone to save her. I needed a reason. So, I appealed to family bonds. By marrying her, I asked for one chance, as she'd become my wife."
"Then... your marriage to her..."
Siery's eyes widened, tears streaming down her face. Were they tears of repentance for her misguided thoughts, or tears of realization? Either way, it didn't matter to me.
"It doesn't matter what you think, Siery. Just know that you're the one I cherish most."
I stroked her face, saying this. Siery blushed and nodded. Slowly, I pressed her against the wall and kissed her. Our lips parted, tongues entwining. After a long kiss, I gripped her pants and said,
"I need your comfort, Siery."
"Yes..."
She gasped, breathless.