Royal Palace, King’s Bedchamber.

When Shien, Lucy, Lia, and Charl arrived and saw Ancil, his state surprised them.

“Did you have trouble sleeping, Your Majesty?” Shien asked bluntly.

Ancil, sitting in his room waiting for them, looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes, practically a walking advertisement for sleep deprivation, like someone who had pulled an all-nighter.

Aldia, standing beside him, was as indifferent as ever, silently holding his sword, but he also seemed to have dark circles under his eyes.

This made Shien wonder what these two men were doing all night, not sleeping. Practicing their swordsmanship? How refined…

Before Shien could let his imagination run wild, Ancil glared at him, his eyes filled with killing intent.

“So, Earl Buztout finally decided to grace me with his presence?” he asked, his tone sharp.

His tone made Shien stunned, while Lucy and Lia exchanged glances. Why was their father so resentful? Was it because of Lucy, blaming Shien? But it seemed more than just resentment, closer to hatred. They couldn’t understand.

They didn’t know how terrible Ancil’s mood was. He had been waiting for Shien all night, unable to sleep. He had drunk countless cups of tea, gone to the toilet countless times, sometimes even holding it in until his bladder almost burst, yet Shien never appeared. Naturally, his mental state was on the verge of collapse, and it would be strange if he still had a pleasant expression.

Shien, although unaware of this, could somewhat guess his mood.

Therefore…

“Seeing how tired you are, I don’t want to disturb you. Perhaps I should visit another time.” Shien said considerately, preparing to leave.

“Wait!” Ancil stopped him. Visit another time? Meaning he had to wait again? No way! (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

“Just say what you want to say, I can still handle it,” he said, forcing himself to appear more dignified, despite the dark circles under his eyes that ruined the effect, making him look somewhat comical.

“Pfft,” Lia chuckled, unable to hold back her laughter.

“…” Lucy maintained her aloof image, but the slight trembling of her shoulders betrayed her amusement.

As for Shien, he showed his considerate side again.

“Are you sure you can handle it? Don’t faint from excitement if you hear something too stimulating.” He seemed to be genuinely concerned.

Ancil didn’t want to talk to him, he wanted to throw something at him. Although this was the Hero, an incredibly talented individual whom he had tried so hard to win over, Ancil now regretted it. Why did he keep such a troublemaker in the Kingdom? Wasn’t this just asking for trouble?

At this moment, Aldia, who had been silently observing Shien, suddenly spoke.

“You’ve become stronger again,” he said. This knight, known as the strongest human, suddenly addressed Shien.

Hearing this, Ancil, his mind slightly sluggish from lack of sleep, also focused on Shien.

At first glance, this Earl Buztout seemed unchanged, his appearance ordinary, like any other young noble. But upon closer inspection, a faint pressure and an indescribable presence emanated from him, unnerving to behold. Coupled with the sword at his waist, although without any magic power fluctuations, its appearance luxurious and extraordinary, incredibly familiar to Ancil and the others… Anyone with keen senses would recognize him as a powerful and extraordinary being.

This Shien was completely different from the one who left the Royal Capital two months ago. Moreover, considering his deeds in the Empire and his journey to the Demon Realm, anyone could guess that he had grown stronger.

“What’s your current level?” Ancil couldn’t help but ask.

Shien didn’t answer directly.

“What level I am isn’t very important for the Human Race, is it?” he said with a smirk.

Ancil understood. Two months ago, Shien had already defeated Aldia, the strongest human, becoming the true strongest, a fact known only to a few. And now, even stronger, he was still the strongest human. For the Human Race, the difference wasn’t significant.

“What about you, Commander Aldia? You also seem to have become stronger.”

Shien looked at Aldia, his eyes flickering slightly. He had already noticed upon entering that Aldia’s level had increased. Yes, this top-tier Legendary expert, originally at level ninety-eight, had now reached level ninety-nine, no weaker than Gray, only one step away from the fabled Limit Level. This Knight Commander had actually improved again. This truly surprised Shien.

Aldia, however, remained indifferent. “I simply reflected on my defeat last time,” he said. He hadn’t gained nothing from his defeat against Shien. He analyzed his mistakes, learned from the experience, and after some training, successfully increased his level.

“I originally wanted revenge,” he said, looking at the Holy Sword at Shien’s waist, his tone turning serious, “But now it seems, you didn’t even use your full strength in that battle.”

Everyone knew the power of the Holy Sword and how much it could enhance one’s abilities. A powerful Unique Skill alone could change the tide of battle, and the Holy Sword, a Hero’s true weapon, was no less potent than an incredibly powerful Unique Skill. It was precisely because they possessed both a powerful Unique Skill and the Holy Sword that Heroes had such an advantage, surpassing countless experts.

But Shien?

He was the Hero, possessing the Holy Sword, but he didn’t use it in his battle against Aldia. And yet, he still won. Therefore, he had hidden his true strength, and hidden it well. If not for the rumors that his Unique Skill allowed him to freely adjust his level and skills under certain conditions, allowing him to fight against higher-level opponents even at a low level, and if they hadn’t noticed him using his Unique Skill in that battle, Aldia would probably be incredibly disheartened.

Of course, no one knew that Shien’s Unique Skills were actually support-type, not combat skills, unable to provide any direct assistance in battle.

However, he didn’t use [Samsara of Heaven’s Decree] either, which was comparable to a powerful Unique Skill, so he was indeed hiding his true strength. And now, having reached Limit Level, his level was even higher than Aldia’s, let alone his actual strength, which was half-step Transcendence even in his normal state.

Therefore, Shien didn’t try to provoke Aldia. “In that battle, I only wanted to test my growth and abilities, nothing else,” he said.

“…Is that so?” Aldia was silent for a moment, then nodded, not saying anything more.

Ancil’s mood, however, inexplicably improved. After all, this young man was an incredibly talented individual. With such a Hero, the Mitra Kingdom might not be able to dominate all of Omnipotence, but at least the Human Realm. From this perspective, his and his daughter’s judgment was indeed good, having kept him in the Kingdom. Thinking of this, the resentment in Ancil’s heart dissipated, and he looked at Shien more favorably.

“You came to discuss the matter of the engagement, right?” he asked, getting straight to the point.

Everyone’s attention turned to him.

“That’s right,” Shien nodded, then asked, “I want to know the Kingdom’s opinion on this.” There were no outsiders here, so he spoke frankly, without beating around the bush.

Ancil, also a straightforward person, told him the Kingdom’s thoughts directly.

“We don’t think your engagement to the Dragon Demon is a bad thing. On the contrary, it’s a great thing, both for our relationship with you and from the perspective of the Human Race.”

The implication was that for a human to marry a Demon Lord was a glorious achievement. And for the Human Race to establish such a deep connection with the Demon Race, the potential benefits were immense. Although obtaining these benefits depended on Shien’s goodwill, he was still human, one of their own, and they could negotiate with him.

Therefore, from the Human Race’s perspective, Shien’s engagement to Airi was beneficial.

However…

“From the Kingdom’s perspective, we don’t want our proud Kingdom’s Treasure to become a mere accessory to another person, or even another race,” Ancil said, looking directly at Shien.

“If it were an ordinary princess, it wouldn’t matter, compared to a Demon Lord, she wouldn’t be much, but you understand how special Lucy is, don’t you?”

Indeed, Lucy’s status in the Kingdom, even in the Human Race, couldn’t be compared to other princesses.

She was blessed by the Goddess of Fate, favored by the God Race, a miraculous being capable of wielding the power of fate, even possessing the potential for Transcendence, and recognized by the Holy Sword.

Her future was limitless, possibly even surpassing that of a Demon Lord. For such a person to become a secondary wife? What a waste!

The problem arose precisely because of Lucy’s identity. If she were just an ordinary princess, there wouldn’t be any comparison with a Demon Lord.

But Lucy wasn’t ordinary.

Not only was she the chosen inheritor of Hero Mitra’s Holy Sword, but she had also inherited the power of the Goddess of Fate, even a part of her existence transforming into a goddess, making the Goddesses of the God Race see her as one of their own, even as the successor to the Goddess of Fate.

Such a Lucy was backed not only by the Kingdom, but also by the God Race. In terms of strength, she had the potential to rival, even surpass, Airi, and in terms of backing, Airi had the Demon Race, while Lucy had the God Race.

They were equals. If such a Lucy were to marry, any man in Omnipotence would be willing to give up everything for her, and the Kingdom would treat her as their most precious treasure. How could they allow her to be a secondary wife? Even Lucy herself, considering her position, wouldn’t compromise on this matter.

Of course, she was still determined to marry Shien; not marrying him was impossible. She had already invested everything in this man. Not marrying him would be a true loss. Moreover, Lucy didn’t think anyone else in this world was worthy of her. Not to mention her status, strength, and potential, even considering her personality, marrying anyone else would mean the end of her carefree life.

Therefore, Lucy’s stance was clear.

“You can discuss amongst yourselves and come up with a solution that satisfies everyone, but our engagement cannot be broken.”

This was Lucy’s message to the Kingdom. If not for this, during Shien’s absence, those nobles with ulterior motives would have already started scheming. And by the time he returned, it might have been too late. Now, Lucy stated her bottom line clearly.

“Lucy…” Ancil’s face fell. My dear daughter, stating your stance so clearly only gives that brat more leverage. If he makes some unreasonable demands, what are we supposed to do?A married daughter is like spilled water, no longer under our control. Ancil’s heart sank.

He didn’t know that Shien already had leverage. Even without Lucy’s explicit support, he wouldn’t be intimidated by Ancil.

Under such circumstances, Shien said casually,

“Let me state my stance first, Your Majesty. Personally, I don’t want to rank my women. I will treat them all equally.”

This didn’t need to be said. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be a harem protagonist, but a scumbag.

Ancil nodded, not objecting. As a king with multiple wives, he naturally understood Shien’s feelings.

However…

“That’s your own business. You can decide for yourself,” he said, “But publicly, a proper title is necessary. This isn’t just a rule, but also a matter of custom and tradition. Others might not care, but Lucy is a member of the royal family, a true princess. She can’t disregard such things.”

This concerned the royal family’s face and the Kingdom’s dignity. If not handled properly, it would lead to more people disrespecting the law, and the country would become chaotic. This was something Ancil wouldn’t allow.

Gray was a prime example, a once brilliant and legendary figure, who shamelessly became a simp for a demon, disgracing the Kingdom. If this made the citizens think that the Kingdom was subservient to the Demon Race, their disappointment and the sense of inferiority they would feel before the Demon Race were unimaginable.

Therefore, the former king decisively stripped that once-brilliant prince of his title, no longer recognizing him as a member of the royal family, and even forbade anyone in the Kingdom from mentioning him, treating him as a disgrace.

Face and reputation, although seemingly insignificant to some, could have a substantial impact on a nation or a faction. Shien knew from his previous life how many companies suffered plummeting stock prices and financial ruin due to image problems.

Therefore, he didn’t forcefully impose his views on the Kingdom, disregarding their concerns.

But he still said,

“The Dragon Demon doesn’t care about this, believing it’s a human custom, unrelated to her as a demon. She won’t mind or compete with Lucy, and she even told me it’s fine to marry Lucy first.”

“Is that true?” Ancil perked up. If that were the case, then Lucy’s position as the principal wife would be secure. If Shien married Lucy first despite being engaged to both her and Airi, then everyone would naturally see Lucy as the principal wife, even acknowledged by Airi.

Even a Demon Lord willingly giving way, the positive impact on Lucy’s reputation, and the Kingdom’s, would be immense.

Just as Ancil was feeling excited, Shien poured cold water on his hopes.

“It’s true, but I don’t want Airi to be seen as inferior to Lucy, allowing the Kingdom to use her reputation to elevate their own,” Shien said meaningfully, “You understand what I mean, right, Your Majesty?”

Ancil was speechless. He knew this was a warning. If the Kingdom exploited this matter and made everyone think Lucy was superior to Airi, that Airi was just a secondary wife, although the Kingdom would gain prestige and benefits, Shien, and the Demon Race behind him, wouldn’t let it go.

Therefore…

“I won’t officially designate anyone as the principal wife or the secondary wife,” Shien finally stated his decision, “I will marry both Lucy and Airi at the same time. This is my decision.”

That was how it was. Although Airi said she didn’t mind, it didn’t mean Shien could disregard her status. Airi, the Dragon Demon, an apex being of the Demon Race, deserved the highest respect, not to be treated as a secondary wife.

He didn’t want any of his women to feel wronged.

Now it was Lucy and Airi, and later, he would also properly marry Diere and Melika, one by one.

Moreover, he also had to consider the Demon Race’s stance. Even if Airi didn’t mind, it didn’t mean the Demon Race would be willing to see their proud Demon Lord treated as a secondary wife, used to elevate Lucy’s status. This might cause more trouble.

“Marrying them at the same time?” Ancil frowned, “That’s against the rules.”

“Then please find a way to make it comply with the rules, Your Majesty,” Shien said, clearly not compromising, “I don’t think the Kingdom wants to offend the Demon Race over this matter.”

Ancil was speechless. It was true.

“Whether Lucy is the principal wife or Airi is, it might displease the factions behind them,” Shien said, “I know the Kingdom has the God Race’s support and isn’t afraid of the Demon Race, but if the God Race and the Demon Race clash, what impact would that have on the upcoming three-race meeting? I think Your Majesty can understand this.”

Shien didn’t want to be caught between a rock and a hard place. Therefore, on this matter, his stance was firm.

Those who had been listening finally voiced their opinions.

“I think Earl Buztout’s words are reasonable, Father,” Lia said, supporting Shien, “Offending the Demon Race over this matter and causing conflict between the three races isn’t wise.”

This princess was quite sensible, still supporting him despite her resentment.

“Lucy, what do you think?” Ancil, his frown deepening, turned to Lucy.

Lucy’s expression remained unchanged, but she was screaming inwardly, My opinion? My opinion is that I’ve lost my position as the principal wife! She was upset, but couldn’t show it.

She had anticipated Shien’s decision. The concept of principal wives and concubines wasn’t important to him, someone from another world. Moreover, she also didn’t want to openly take advantage of Airi and offend the Demon Race. Therefore, she chose to accept it. After all, if neither of them was the principal wife, she wasn’t at a disadvantage. She could always compete with that Dragon Demon later after she became stronger. Being carefree was one thing, but she wouldn’t allow herself to be wronged.

Thinking of this, Lucy nodded. “I’ve already said, as long as the engagement isn’t broken, you can decide on a solution that satisfies everyone,” she said. In other words, as long as she could marry him, she had no other requests.

“…” Ancil wanted to say that this outcome might not satisfy everyone. But what else could he say? It was better to avoid offending the Demon Race. Otherwise, even with the God Race’s support, the Kingdom alone would be vulnerable.

Thinking of this, he sighed and finally nodded. “I’ll find a solution.”

Hearing this, Shien smiled.

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