Chapter 30

"Your Highness, I have failed to notice you."

After finishing the red bean soup, Prince Aruana, Plat's brother, bowed his head.

"The power to command dragons, such a vast warehouse, and the wisdom to prepare unknown dishes. None of these should exist in this world. I must assume you are a renowned sage or saint."

"Oh, no, I'm not that kind of person...!"

"I can understand why my sister is so smitten. Please take good care of her for the rest of your life!!"

That's how it went.

Plat had barged in forcefully, and since then, we've been living together informally.

We are practically in a common-law marriage, and I have countless things that would be very troublesome without Plat.

However...

"Are you really sure about this?"

"What are you saying, my lord?!"

"Plat"

I called out to her.

"I only just found out today that you are a princess of the mermaid kingdom. If you are in such a position, shouldn't you be careful about choosing a marriage partner? Wouldn't there be a lot of people's interests involved?"

"No, there wouldn't!!"

"Whoa?!"

I was surprised by his strong tone.

"My marriage is only between me and my lord! I don't care about other people's interests! No, I absolutely won't let them get involved! My life is mine!!"

"Calm down, Plat...!"

Prince Aruana tried to calm Plat down.

It felt like he was finally acting like a brother.

"From the looks of it, Your Holiness, you don't seem to know anything about my sister's situation."

I'm not a saint!

I wonder why everyone keeps calling me a saint.

"Since Plat didn't want to talk about it, I didn't pry..."

"You were considerate. You really care about my sister. However, if you truly wish to marry her, there are issues you cannot avoid. If she won't talk, I will."

And so, it was the tumultuous story of the mermaid princess Plat.

* * *

To cut to the chase, the princess of the mermaid kingdom was incredibly talented.

In the field of alchemical magic, which mermaids excel at, Plat was a genius who could create magical potions, a talent that comes around only once every 333 years.

Why 333 years? I interrupted to ask, but according to Prince Aruana, 333 is a sacred number for mermaids and is used frequently.

Getting back to the story.

In any case, Plat was a genius in potion-making, overturning many conventions in the field.

She was the daughter of the current king, a princess, and also very beautiful.

It was only natural that proposals would come.

To make the mermaid princess, who possessed ability, lineage, and beauty, his wife.

Such proposals were sent to the palace one after another.

At first, the mermaid king was pleased that his daughter was so sought after.

But that changed.

Among those who wished to marry Plat, there were also non-mermaid races.

Humans, demons.

Not just one powerful faction on land, but many sought the hand of the famous mermaid princess.

It wasn't just about having a beautiful and wise wife. There were ulterior motives.

The real goal was to incorporate the mermaid race, a major power, into their own ranks.

* * *

"Land dwellers have been engaged in a futile war for hundreds of years. It's a conflict between humans and demons."

So it seems.

That was also the reason I was summoned to this world.

"Over the dominance of the land, they continue to fight until one race is destroyed. To be honest, it has nothing to do with us mermaids!"

The realm of mermaids is the sea, a different world from the land. It doesn't matter who rules the land.

Do as you please.

The mermaids took a neutral and non-interventionist stance in the conflict between humans and demons.

This state of affairs continued for hundreds of years.

What changed this balance was none other than Plat.

"By marrying Plat and using that connection to ally the entire mermaid race... Both humans and demons have the same goal. To use their own race and the mermaids to attack the enemy from both sides and destroy them."

"Wow..."

"Through the marriage proposals, the land dwellers are pressuring us. 'Humans or demons, which side will you choose?'"

"What if we choose neither?"

"They will consider us enemies of both and launch a concentrated attack... The country is in chaos, debating which race to marry Plat into."

The debate has escalated to the point of almost leading to civil strife.

"If this continues, the mermaid kingdom will collapse. As a princess, Plat must have disappeared to try to resolve the national crisis she caused...!"

"O-oh...?"

"If she disappears, both the demons and humans will lose their pretext for intervention, and the mermaid kingdom will be safe...! Plat is a mermaid princess, and as a member of the royal family, she has a strong sense of responsibility and a deep love for her country. That must have led her to take such drastic action."

Such a tragic resolve from Plat...!?

...Yeah.

No way.

"And after fleeing to the farthest reaches of the sea, even crossing the coastline, Your Holiness, you met her on land. Now, I understand why my sister chose this place to hide."

"Do you understand?"

"I still don't quite get it."

"Your Holiness, you live a life completely removed from the secular world and the wars between races. My sister also wants to cut ties with the secular world and be free from the political turmoil. ...As her brother, I want to fulfill her wish!"

Prince Aruana slammed his forehead on the table.

"I beg you! Please formally marry my sister Plat and protect her! Make her happy!!"

"Sure, I will."

"Thank you!!"

I answered immediately.

Given that we are already living together, knowing her complicated situation doesn't change what I should do.

I just need to continue living here as I have been.