“No problem at all, if you will also allow a number of our people to enter into marriage with the Shield Hero,” came the reply. This was my chance! If I made things seem bad for Melromarc, I could get this whole silly idea thrown out completely.

“I refuse!” I stated flatly.

“Perhaps that is to be expected. How about allowing us to arrange marriages with your children, Shield Hero?” the delegate continued.

“I refuse!” I retorted again.

“We can always wait to decide this after the waves have been resolved,” the delegate said, changing his approach. “You do seem open to marrying people from your own territory, I have heard.”

Ah. Considering how depressed I had been after losing Atla, and the way I had been acting when recovering from that, I could see how I might have given that impression. I wasn’t going to change my tune now. For the sake of the future, it might be best if those from the village did have . . . but just thinking the thought made my face red.

“I think that is enough on this topic—” Just as Melty also tried to steer the conversation onto other matters, Trash spoke up.

“If you don’t desire to marry Hero Iwatani, I have someone else I might like to suggest to you, Queen Melty.” The old man was looking at Fohl as he spoke.

Wait, Fohl? What?

“Huh?!” Fohl froze as though his spine had turned to ice with Trash’s eye upon him, and then he visibly recoiled. So he wasn’t up for it. I could understand that.

The old genmu, also clearly having worked out who Trash was talking about, gave his own approving nod. “A forgotten remnant of the hakuko, the brother to Atla, and the Gauntlets Hero. He would also make a fine choice to serve as the bridge between our nations.”

“Brother!” Fohl looked at me with pleading eyes. Seriously, he looked quite pathetic. As a white tiger demi-human, he looked a bit like a weepy kitten.

“Naofumi!” Melty joined him in looking at me—the eyes of the pair who would likely end up being forced together if I turned down this marriage. It wasn’t like anyone would have to sleep with her, anyway. The marriage could just be for the sake of appearances.

It seemed as though Trash had a sister, and Fohl was the child of that sister. So he was just trying to give his nephew a helping hand.

“In which case, and in recognition of his deeds alongside Hero Iwatani, we must also give Master Fohl a suitable rank—something that lets everyone know he is worthy to run this nation. If anything was to happen to me—” Trash continued.

“Brother! Please, I’m begging you! Say something!” Fohl interjected. I shook my head, seemingly left with little choice.

“Okay, okay, just calm down. Taking Queen Melty’s age into account, she isn’t in a position to bear children yet, I presume?” I asked.

“Hey!” Melty immediately glared at me again. Like I said, I didn’t have any choice. If I didn’t think up some kind of reason, I was going to be forced into this engagement.