The Villainous Aristocrat's Efforts Led to a Genuine Harem - Episode 48

Episode 48

“S–, that was a strategy!”

“Strategy?”

“To deceive the enemy, you must first deceive your allies… is that not how the saying goes…? The truth is, I had intended to return for support after that…”

My father smiled as he lied to the king.

In a sense, it took great nerve. But the king’s expression was cold.

“Silence. You… you were not like this in the past, were you? Why have you become so disgraceful?”

The king raised his voice. He sounded genuinely disappointed.

…The past version of my father was never spoken of much in the game. But maybe he really had been admirable.

If that were the case, I too might be disappointed to see a friend fallen into such ruin.

“I will hear no more excuses. This incident has made it clear. If your family is entrusted with that land, it will become a great loss to the kingdom.”

…So, it really comes to losing the title here.

Well, it can’t be helped. They were that incompetent, after all.

That means I’ll be parting ways with Reem too. Inaesia had said she wanted to follow me, but… what should I do?

“Y–, you don’t mean to… strip our title…!?”

“Yes. Stripped. As of today, you are no longer nobles. From now on, live as you please.”

The king’s cold words made Roubel burst into tears. He clung forward desperately.

But the guards blocked his way to the king.

“Your Majesty! This is madness! Please reconsider! I–, I will do better from now on!”

“Silence. …Now, onto the next matter. Reis Validor.”

The king called my name. And everyone gathered there turned their gaze on me.

My father and brothers glared at me with hatred. My brother shouted furiously.

“You! It’s because of you that we’ve been made the villains!”

They vented their absurd rage on me.

“Damn you! How dare you ruin our way of life!”

…Eh.

I’d be troubled if everything were pinned on me like that.

The king left the throne and walked toward me. He shot a sharp glare at my brothers.

“You fools. Reis is the heir of the Validor family. How dare you treat him with such disrespect?”

“Huh?”

Huh?

My brothers voiced their confusion. And I felt the same.

The king stood before me and smiled.

“Fylia has told me of your deeds. That despite your youth, you had the strength to single-handedly defeat the monsters of the Forest of Rebellion… splendid. And you are also the sole surviving member of House Validor. …Will you not inherit the Validor family?”

…Ah, so that’s how it is.

In the king’s eyes, the four of them are already as good as dead.

And now, he wants me to take over.

Perhaps this is also a reward because Lady Fylia had spoken well of me.

When I glanced at her, she was smiling happily. Her eyes narrowed.

Honestly, I hadn’t expected this at all. So I needed to think it through.

But… this was a clear sign that the future had been changed.

I nodded firmly.

“…Understood. I accept.”

“Oh! Good, good! I’m counting on you, Reis!”

The king beamed and patted me heartily on the back.

“Wh–, why…?”

I glanced aside and saw my family staring at me in despair.

…Never thought it would turn out this way.

With this, one part of my future has changed.

…And in a far bigger way than expected.

After the audience at the royal castle ended, since my injuries hadn’t fully healed, I was allowed to return at once to Vale.

When I went back to the estate with Reem and told everyone what had happened… they were wildly excited.

…They really must have hated my family that much.

Well, that takes care of the people in the mansion for now… but from here on, as lord, I’ll have to earn the goodwill of the people in the territory too.

Thinking that, I rested in my small room once again.

My family was no longer in the house. So I could use any room freely, but… for now, this place still felt the most comfortable.

I gazed out the window. I confirmed my body was still safe, when—

“Reis, do you have a moment?”

“What is it?”

“…Well, congratulations.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Reem lowered her gaze. She was looking just a little sad.

Since she had never shown such a complicated expression before, it felt strange. Then, as if steeling herself, Reem spoke.

“…Reis, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about our engagement.”

Ah, right. In the game, my engagement with Reem ended the moment my family lost their title.

But now it’s continuing. What will happen?

I urged her to continue. And she spoke smoothly.

“My engagement with you… it was arranged between Roubel—your father—and mine. …It was because you were the third son that it was decided, wasn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

My engagement with Reem had been largely because of my family’s harassment.

Normally, it would be difficult for the daughter of a viscount family like Reem to be engaged to the third son of a marquis family unless there was special favor.

Well, with Reem’s beauty, it was more than possible other families would have sought her.

“And so, regarding my future—”

I realized why Reem had looked so uneasy earlier.

“That’s why… I ask for your continued support.”

To dispel that worry, I spoke up first.

“Eh?”

…It was thanks to Reem that I’d been able to fight this far.

It was because I could consult her on so many things that I am who I am now.

…If our engagement ended, maybe it would make sense for her to join the main story naturally in the game.

But… that no longer matters.

Just as I avoided ruin, I can lead the main story to a perfect ending with my own power.

“As for me, I want to continue being with you, Reem. What about you?”

At my reply, Reem widened her eyes in surprise. She then smiled.

“…Of course, I want to stay with you too.”

“Then I’m glad. Let’s continue together.”

“Yes, please take care of me.”

As we shook hands, what ran through my mind was… what to do from here.

Since Reem, as a character, will no longer exist in the main story… well, I’ll think about the complicated stuff later.