Future Wife

The night before our departure.

It was when I was about to go to bed while being lost in thought,

thinking about how even this country had its own problems.

Knock knock, the door was knocked all of a sudden, and Zana

entered the room. "Do you have a moment?"

"What's wrong? Having trouble sleeping?"

"Yes, there's that too, but more importantly, there's something I want

to tell you."

"Something you want to tell me?" I tilted my head.

Zana nodded and said, "Yes. I—would like you to allow me to

accompany you all on your journey."

"Well, we'll gladly welcome you to our party with open arms, but… are

you sure? I mean, you've finally been reunited with the Queen. And

the King, too, has returned to the past him that you loved, right?"

"True. I surely want to spend more time with the two of them. But I'd

like to give that chance to my 'little sisters'."

Sisters—meaning, Iris and co.

"Those girls grew up without knowing 'love' unlike me. And of course,

the responsibility for neglecting them lies with me, too. So, although

it's very late, I'd like to give them the love of 'family' to atone."

"I see. You sure are kind."

Zana slightly shook her head, "No, I'm not kind. I'm just a selfish

woman."

I softened the corners of my mouth and said, "Even so, you're

reflecting on yourself and trying to give your family time to Iris and co,

right? That's amazing, you know? There are a lot of people out there

who never reflect on their mistake, I tell you."

"Is that… really the case…?"

As Zana suddenly smiled self-deprecatingly, I nodded vigorously and

said, "Yeah, you bet. You're an amazing and very kind woman."

"…I see. Thanks, Exa." Zana averted her gaze, slightly embarrassed.

"Ou," I nodded again, "anyways, welcome to our party. Looking

forward to working with you, Zana."

"Yes. I'm also looking forward to working with you, Exa."

We shook hands and smiled at each other.

Alright, now let's get a plenty of sleep for tomorrow, was what I

thought, but,

"Then…"

Rustle rustle, Zana started taking off her clothes all of a sudden.

"Eh, wai-, what're you doing!?" I naturally became flustered, unable to

get what was going on.

Zana gave me a seductive smile and said, "Well, isn't this the

ceremony for a saintess to become your companion? That's what I

heard from Ophir."

Ophiiiir!?

"Besides, I don't mind being embraced if it's by you, so there's no

problem."

"Nonononono!? I'm telling you… hm?"

If she got no problem with it, then it's fine… I think?

As I was contemplating inwardly, Zana closed the distance between

us. "But this is my first time, so please be gentle with me."

"Eh, ah… yes."

And so, I couldn't get a wink of sleep.

◇ ◇

The next morning.

It seemed that from Zana's obvious change in attitude towards me,

the girls immediately saw through the situation.

"You, you embraced her, didn't you?"

"You embraced her, yes?"

"Dahaha! That's our husband!"

Excluding Ophir who burst into explosive laughter, the rest of the girls

stared at me with half-closed eyes.

Because I'd been busy lately, I hadn't had time to spend with them.

Looked like they'd pent up some dissatisfaction.

"Well, isn't it fine? Exa is everyone's Exa, after all." Zana snuggled up

to me.

Needless to be said, a vein popped out on Arca and Magmell's

foreheads.

"Indeed, I agree with that. But the one who have the right to be on

that spot is me."

"Oh my?"

Shove, pushing Zana aside, Arca came in between us.

"What are you talking about? The one who is suitable to be in that

spot is me."

"Muu?"

Pushing Arca further aside, Magmell wedged herself in beside me

this time.

"I must say, why doesn't one of ya just go for his other side?"

"""…"""

At Ophir's calm retort, the three became silent for a moment, but then

they resumed the dispute over who got to be by my side without

paying it any mind.

"Ha, well fine. You gals fight it out between yourself, then I'll beat the

hell out of the winner and take that spot for myself."

"Please, anything but that…"

My face twitched at Ophir puffing up her breasts.

◇ ◇

Anyways, the time for us to depart came.

Our next destination was the southern large country—Lastall.

The reason being was that at this rate, it seemed that Lastall would

be invading Berqua in the foreseeable future.

There was the fact that the person who had taken Lifia-sama's life

was a higher-up of Lastall, too.

The 'Giant' that King Zestgard had mentioned worried me, too.

Hence, I figured that we should head for Lastall as soon as possible.

"Then, take care of yourself, Iris. I'll come back to see you again."

"Yes, you too take care, Exa-san. —And Onee-sama."

"What is it?"

"Please leave the other sisters to me. Some of them are still not used

to the new condition, but I will support them."

"Yes, thank you, Iris. But make sure you get spoiled a lot by Mother

and Father as well, okay?"

"Yes, I understand."

Nodding, Iris looked towards me again and said, "Actually, I want to

accompany Exa-san, too. But I don't want to waste the opportunity

that Onee-sama gave me."

"Yeah, I think that's a good decision."

"Yes. So, after your journey is over—please take me in as your

concubine, Exa-san."

"Eh!?" I became startled.

Zana laughed amusedly and said, "Fufu, well said. As expected of my

little sister. You have very good eyes for men."

"Yes, of course."

Peace, Iris made a peace sign with her fingers.

She had surprisingly become a lot more expressive.

"To get such a cute wife, I'm glad for you."

"N-nonononono!? This is not a laughing matter!?"

If it put my hand on such a young girl, I'd definitely be condemned!?

But.

"…Do you not like me?"

"Ugh…!?"

At Iris who made a very sad look, I ended up caving in. "…Okay. At

that time, I'll make you my wife, so can you wait for a while?"

"Yes!" Iris vigorously nodded.

Her smile was the brightest than the ones she'd shown until now.