alwaysunqualified

  Chapter 31.3 - Dynasty

  After reading through the book I had compiled for the sixth time, I closed it and set it down in front of me, knowing I would revisit it again.

  ‘I managed to include everything, but it cks so much detail. I wish I could have found someone with a writing Blessing,’ I mented silently. I had included everything I knew that wasn’t restricted by my contract. I was tempted to spread the information across several books, but I was uncertain about the specifics of my future husband's inventory ability and didn’t want to overburden it.

  'Future husband,' the thought still felt strange. I had always assumed I would be forced to marry whoever the princess chose, given that I was practically her property. I had never given it much thought, but now that the prospect was imminent, I found myself quite nervous.

  I have researched the boy extensively, but all I find are contradictions. He is easily annoyed yet patient, dislikes being the center of attention yet revels in it, and is ignorant of even the most basic information yet seemingly knows many things he shouldn't.

  Perhaps I am misreading him, or maybe it's the princess who is mistaken. I still remember the conversation vividly, even though I hadn’t pced much importance on it at the time. I was summoned unexpectedly to the princess's private rexation room, where she greeted me with a broad smile, her legs swinging back and forth as she drew.

  As I entered, escorted by her Shadow, who remained outside, I began to show my respect, but she quickly interrupted. "There will be no more of that after today, Seraphina. We will be sisters soon."

  I was unsure of what she meant, but I obeyed and remained standing, unsure of what to do next, I just stood there awkwardly.

  "Come sit down, sister," she said as she put down her pencil and finally looked over at me, her smile widening. Following her instruction, I moved to the seat prepared for me across from her and sat down.

  "Isn’t he handsome?" the princess excimed, picking up her drawing to show me. It depicted a silver-haired humanoid I didn't recognize.

  "Yes," I replied, unsure of myself and not wanting to offend her.

  "This is Liev, our future husband," she stated matter-of-factly.

  "Yes," was all I could manage, surprised by the suddenness of it all.

  "He is fated to die," the princess decred nonchantly.

  "Um, I do not understand, Princess," I said, gently probing for more information.

  "It's simple," she began, leaning forward earnestly. "I will allocate all the resources I can to you, then facilitate your transfer from serving me to serving Liev. I've observed your managerial skills and believe you would make an excellent first wife for him. When Liev defies his fate, he will become a legend in this city. As his first wife, you'll be too valuable for us to hold to the terms of our contract, effectively rendering them void. You will be free, except for your sworn loyalty to Liev, which is to be expected from a wife, anyway," she eborated.

  I wanted to interrupt her when she mentioned defying fate, but I held my tongue until she finished, then I voiced a undeniable truth: "No one can defy fate."

  “I'm sure you know of the legend of the far-sighted fool,” she asked, already knowing the answer.

  He was a man Blessed with an ability to foresee the future. From birth, it was said he could predict his own demise. He spent his life maniputing events to amass the power he believed necessary to overcome his fate, accomplishing feats many deemed impossible. In his era, he was a legend, but today, his story serves as a cautionary tale. Despite all his efforts and the obstacles he surmounted, he met his death as foretold. I failed to grasp her point.

  "You seem confused, but if he had survived, people would still be celebrating his legend. Our Liev knows what is coming, yet he smiles at his fate as if it’s a mere trifle," the princess said, affectionately stroking her painting.

  Observing her, I couldn't help but see a delusional woman. I considered excusing myself to seek healers to examine her. The likelihood that someone could manipute the princess, given her extensive protections, was slim but not inconceivable.

  She ughed, reading my thoughts. "I've been examined by every healer in the castle; I'm perfectly fine. Just a girl in love, watching a legend unfold before her eyes. You know, you're quite adept at storytelling. You should start documenting his legend. So many stories begin in the middle. It would be wonderful if his entire life was chronicled."

  I spent the rest of the time conversing with the princess but made no commitments. I still had the freedom to refuse the transfer, so she couldn't force my hand, only requesting that I keep an open mind. I had almost forgotten about our conversation, dismissing it as a peculiar episode, until the tournament came around and the princess instructed me to attend.

  It was a rather dull event, with most of the key figures in the city unable to participate, so I spent much of my time poring over documents. Eventually, I had the chance to observe Liev, the object of her apparent obsession, but his performance was underwhelming. He relied heavily on exploiting weaknesses in opponents' Blessings to secure victories, and when faced with someone he couldn't counter, he barely managed to scrape by.

  Even as he advanced to the adult tournament, I remained unimpressed. He showcased some stronger abilities, but these completely depended on the cooperation of others. Perhaps that was fitting for someone blessed by the Goddess of Connections—or Love, as she is referred to in this city. However, it was hardly impressive.

  My skepticism persisted until I saw his Blessing falter against a truly formidable opponent, the only real challenge in the tournament aside from the tier six champion. My interest waned, convinced the match was effectively over, yet it dragged on, his opponent growing increasingly exasperated. I set aside my documents, and even the crowd began to quieten as we watched. Liev fought on, like a flickering fme in a storm, and as I observed, I was reminded of the first passage of Elexis the watcher’s legend.

  The legend tells of an ordinary girl who ascended to greatness. A greedy noble had acquired an artifact that, unbeknownst to him, contained a Divine Spark and a will to dominate. The artifact bided its time, waiting to access another artifact that would amplify its power. When it finally did, it unleashed a wave of domination across the city, subjugating all its inhabitants.

  However, one girl, a mere tier three, who spent her days joyfully pying with her younger sister, resisted its influence. The artifact intended merely to control the city and streamline its governance under its rule, nothing that would trigger her Divine Spark. It seemed that even she was ready to succumb, until she considered her little sister's future—a future where she might not have the freedom to grieve from her own mistakes or rejoice in her own triumphs.

  Summoning her strength, she stood up to the artifact, which then focused all its efforts on trying to subdue her. But every time she fell, she would rise again, slowly but determinedly. While accounts of how long her struggle sted vary, they all agree on her defiant words: "You can control this city, you can control me, but don’t you even think about touching my little sister." She, too, was blessed by the Goddess of Connections.

  Watching Liev struggle to his feet, I couldn't help but see a parallel to that legend, his ordeal even more remarkable given his youth. With that artifact eventually in her possession after their confrontation, no one could match her willpower, and she continues to rule her city to this day.

  After the tournament, I used my connections to delve deeper into his background. It soon became clear that the queen had maniputed events to showcase him, ensuring that anyone who could have defeated him prematurely was removed from the competition.

  ‘Wait, that's not right. Some of those schemes go back thousands of cycles... wait, what was I thinking about?’ My mind felt bnk as I struggled to recall what was crucial. My alertness spiked, sensing something amiss.

  I picked up the book and read through it again. ‘Something is wrong.’

  I knew there were inaccuracies. ‘Something is…’

  "That's right, I must check everything to ensure it's fwless. Tomorrow is the day I meet him." After reviewing the book I had compiled for the seventh time, I closed it and set it down in front of me, knowing I would examine it again.

  My investigation reminded me of our family's origins. Our ancestor, known as Misty the miracle worker, with only our family's support, defeated a monster that had consumed an entire city, a feat everyone thought impossible.

  "No one can change fate," I believed firmly. History showed that, regardless of the legends, when fate caught up, there was nothing one could do. Yet, this was also my only opportunity. I couldn't help but wonder if this was how my ancestors felt when they decided to follow Misty in an attempt to recim the city.

  I spent the rest of the night meticulously checking the book for any errors, determined to ensure everything was perfect to showcase what I was offering.

  It was my seventy-eighth time checking when my guard reminded me it was time to leave. I walked out of the castle, through the noble area, and into the commoner district, making sure my steps were loud and deliberate so they would hear me coming.

  As I reached his quaint home, the door swung open before I could knock, and a woman who I quickly identified as Miki greeted me.

  "Oh my, what a delicious-looking girl. You must be here for my son, but if you wake my twins, I will eat you before he gets the chance," she said, licking her fangs, making me realize just how loudly I was about to knock.

  I quickly lowered my hand and curtsied in greeting. "Hello, mother, I come with a marriage proposal."

  "I'm afraid you'll have to get in line behind a whole city full of girls," she replied, causing me to remember that my future husband had become quite popur.

  "I have multiple sections of nd avaible for building, so accommodating them will be no trouble," I expined, trying to demonstrate my value.

  “Really now? And we were just worried about what to do about housing, with our son being so popur,” Miki remarked, her interest piqued by what I was offering.

  "Don't worry, Mother. Although I am no longer a noble, I've utilized our former connections to establish multiple business ventures here," I responded. I noticed her rex at my words; clearly, housing had been a significant concern.

  "Looks like the man of the house is here to take over," Miki said, ughing, now much more at ease.

  I turned to greet my future husband, noticing him only then as I had deliberately refrained from extending my senses into the house. Beside him stood a white-haired girl with a small fairy perched on her head. "Greetings, future husband. Greetings, sisters," I said.

  After my greeting, the little fairy flew from her head and hovered proudly in the air before me. She was quite adorable, but as we locked gazes, I wasn't sure what she expected from me.

  Before I could react properly, she flew away in tears, leaving me perplexed by the interaction. "I apologize if I did something to offend," I said quickly.

  "Don't worry, she just got her pride hurt a bit.” he expined.

  "I see… I will endeavor to restore her pride when I am presented with the opportunity," I said, understanding how important pride was. I resolved to acquire as many books on fairies as possible to ensure I did not repeat this mistake.

  "Don't worry about it, I'll cheer her up ter," he reassured me.

  "I see, then I shall do as I'm told," I said, but I still pnned to thoroughly study love fairies. It would be my responsibility to ensure harmony in our household.

  “I humbly ask for an opportunity to sell myself,” I said, and then extended an invitation to share a meal. Normally, I wouldn't go through the entire formal spiel, but I wanted to set a good precedent—though I do wish people would choose shorter names.

  After he agreed to join me, it seemed that all the extra effort had paid off, and he had indeed recognized my sincerity.

  As I was moving aside, I noticed he hadn't followed.

  “His mother is stopping him, my dy. She is probably worried about his safety with you…” she said, her voice trailing off, but her point was clear.

  It dawned on me that I hadn't anticipated this, but fortunately, I had guards I could offer. If today went well, they would be his anyway. “These are my retainers, both are tier 10 and will prioritize his safety.”

  I waited patiently until he stepped out, then began to lead the way to our meeting, careful not to disturb his mood before I had the chance to really showcase myself. I had thoroughly researched all his favorite foods and ensured the restaurant was prepared. I aimed to have him in the best possible mood for our discussion.

  Once we arrived, we were quickly seated, and I id out my case for him. The exchange was brisk, and I did my best to show my strengths, even offering to build a mansion that Mother Miki had hinted at.

  I stumbled when he tested my ability to see through his acting, but I didn’t resist when I felt an ability probing me, which felt simir to the little fairy's but stronger.

  After seemingly passing all his tests, he finally asked about the terms. I brought out the book I had studied all night, allowing him to thoroughly review my assets and my abilities to both gather and manage information for his future needs.

  After much deliberation, he accepted with only a minor alteration to the contract. I just had to learn to care for him to a predefined degree, and then I would be allowed to marry him. I assume he wanted not just my loyalty but also my Love, quite fitting for someone under the eye of the Goddess of Love.

  He left me with the directive to not report on his family in the future. I was quite relieved; I had managed to secure the agreement. I fully expected him to falter, yet at the same time, I finally had hope, and in some way, a weight was lifted from my shoulders. Everything was now set in motion, no more uncertainty. He would either succeed or fail. All I had to do was follow his orders and manage his family affairs.

  I hadn't noticed that he left behind the book I had crafted for him until my guard handed it to me. By the next day, he was gone. I assigned my guards to his family as instructed and began transferring my assets into his name over the following days. During this process, I was surprised by an unexpected visitor.

  Angelica entered my new office, I was no longer permitted in the castle, accompanied by my husband's twin.

  “I am okay from here, Yuno. Thank you for the escort,” she said, patting the head of the girl who had been intently observing me before she departed.

  “Don’t worry about Yuno; she’s just a little annoyed with you because you made our brother mad,” Angelica expined.

  Surprised, I responded, “I will endeavor to not repeat such an error in the future.”

  “Hehe, don’t worry, you’re family now. The most my brother will do is grumble. It’s Sakura you need to be careful of. She can be petty, and you did take the first wife spot from her, but even she will come to realize that you did her a favor,” she said with a knowing smile.

  “I see,” I acknowledged, realizing I would have to accept the consequences and apologize. Although I no longer owned anything, I could perhaps find a way to buy her a gift as an apology in my own time.

  Angelica walked over, ughing, and lightly ran her fingers through my hair. “Alice was right, you are just like brother. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  It was an odd experience to be treated this way by such a young girl, but I allowed it, not wanting to do anything that might upset my husband.

  Angelica pced a rubix on my desk. “This has all the information I have gathered.”

  Taking that as her cue, I quickly scanned through the data. While it wasn't as detailed as mine, it was well organized and quite impressive, especially for someone without any resources or Blessing to aid her.

  "That bad, huh? Guess I'm really not cut out for this," she remarked, even though I hadn't voiced any criticism.

  "No, it's quite impressive, sister," I reassured her, handing her back the rubix along with a book containing all my information and the pns for the mansion I was pnning to build.

  "I see, but this won't suffice; it's too limited for the future. We'll need many more servants. Hmm, make sure to recruit all of them, especially the vibrating vagina girl. We should also look into acquiring the surrounding nd," she said, quickly digesting the information.

  Once she finished, she handed me pns for an area eight times rger than what I had initially proposed, situated between the noble and common areas.

  "Why do we need such a massive expansion? This is already a mansion suited for a generational house. It seems excessive to invest in something we won't need for many cycles," I questioned, not seeing the need for such vish spending.

  Her hand softly ran through my hair again as she smiled reassuringly. "For someone who is banking on him achieving the supposed impossible, you sure are underestimating my brother. We're not just building a house; we're ying the foundations for a dynasty."

  A dynasty, a family that ruled multiple cities as if they were merely branches of their family tree. Seeing my new sister's confident smile, I was beginning to believe more and more that the princess was right, and we truly were in the midst of creating a legend.