After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 202

Chapter 202: The Day to Return is Near

The cruel treatment was so overwhelming that I could only swallow my words.

“My sister probably wanted to make that incident ‘disappear,’ didn’t she?”

In her expression as she spoke, I didn’t sense any anger. What was there seemed to be a deep resignation.

So, Cornelia-san, who completely severed ties with her hometown and threw herself into the imperial military, had her extensive combat experience recognized, quickly rising to the rank of a junior officer… and that’s how she ended up on the front lines of that war.

“Ah, Lutz-sama, you don’t need to make such a face. What my sister did was morally wrong, but… at the core of her actions was the instinctual desire of a mother to protect her child. And I’m sure Princess Beatrix shares that strong desire.”

“Eh, Beato too…?”

“Although Her Highness is called a ‘porcelain doll’… I understand. Someone who hides their emotions like that has a heart that burns hotter than most. That’s why they erase their feelings from their expressions.”

“I see… that might be true…”

It’s certainly true. When Beato removes her doll-like mask while with me, she is a far more devoted and pure girl than one would ever imagine from her usual demeanor.

“Her Highness has said that even without magical power, Franziska-sama is ‘a treasure.’ She will do everything in her power to ensure the happiness of her daughter. Regardless of the throne, she will desperately forge a path where the princess can experience the joy of life. Princess Beatrix is one of the highest-ranked mages on the continent, a person chosen for greatness… surely, good results will come from her efforts.”

“Yeah.”

“So, Lutz-sama, there’s no need to worry. Just leave everything to the woman you love. She’ll handle it. You can trust her fully.”

Hmm… Is that really okay? I’ve learned over the past two years how the power dynamics of this world work… but my sensibilities, shaped by sixty years in my previous world, make me feel guilty for thinking that way.

“Lutz-sama, you are a wonderful person. You have already given many women irreplaceable happiness… and now, you’ve given me hope for a new life. In the future, you will give happiness to many more women…”

No, no. I really don’t want to be on a path of mass-producing lovers. But… I do feel a bit relieved. I came here intending to listen to Cornelia-san’s backstory, but somehow, I ended up being encouraged… This world’s women really are strong and dependable.

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“Tomorrow’s the day we return to Baden, huh?”

“Yeah, I’m sorry we couldn’t be together for longer. After everything with Franziska…”

“Hmm? Oh, you mean the magic power thing? Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out.”

Beato’s confident attitude is reassuring, but I don’t really understand what she means.

Three days later, I had finished preparing to return to Baden and was visiting the royal palace to say my goodbyes. I was accompanied by Michaela… Unlike Cornelia-san and others, who are commoners and former slaves, they cannot enter the royal palace, but thanks to Gretel’s arrangements, Michaela, who was adopted by the House of Baron Rueneburg, is now a proper noble lady and can be brought along here without issue.

I do have to wonder about Gretel constantly pushing Michaela as my lover, though. But having someone with noble status among the bodyguards is a job well done… at least I don’t have to feel too lonely in the royal palace, where allies are few.

“Well, Lutz, just focus on your… work… Hmm, Michaela looks healthy too.”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

Whenever Michaela has free time, she’s been learning noble etiquette from Gretel, and she’s starting to pull it off. It’s amazing how far Gretel has managed to shape this former adventurer girl, who couldn’t even write a few months ago. I can’t help but admire her… though, I’ve always had to.

“It seems like Michaela is taking care of you every day, Lutz, making sure you’re safe. I’ll leave it to you. By the way… has Lutz’s child already been conceived?”

Beato casually dropped that bombshell, and Michaela’s healthy cheeks turned bright red in an instant.

“Eh, n-no, we haven’t… yet…”

“Hmm, ‘yet,’ huh. So ‘eventually,’ I take it?”

“Ahh…”

Beato’s relentless teasing left Michaela frozen. She must’ve figured out through the “Spirit’s Eye” that we haven’t done it yet, so I don’t understand why she’s making her suffer like this. But help came from an unexpected direction.

“Beato-sama, please, let’s leave it at that.”

There, standing in travel attire, was a beautiful woman dressed in men’s clothes. With her short, deep purple hair and a little beaver hat on top, she looked strikingly different from her usual elegant noble attire, yet still quite cool. She seemed to have regained her figure despite having just given birth, so she should be able to manage the journey…

“Hey, Adele, where exactly are you headed?”

“Lutz-sama, where else would I be going? Only to Baden.”

“Huh?”