The Ultimate Lich King of the Multiverse

When Yoru returned to the dining room, Jubstacheit was no longer there. Only Irisviel sat quietly in a chair, head bowed, looking somewhat shy and awkward.

"Where's Mr. Jubstacheit?" Yoru asked curiously.

"Um... Grandpa has gone to rest in the inner room. He's old, after all, and can't stay up late," Irisviel answered hesitantly.

Yoru nodded in understanding and sat down to continue eating. The two of them finished dinner while sitting face to face in a painfully awkward silence.

"Well then, if there's nothing else, I'll return to my guest room, Miss Irisviel," Yoru said, rising from his seat.

"Actually... that room isn't a guest room. It's mine," Irisviel said suddenly, which caught Yoru off guard.

"Eh… it's your room? Then where's the guest room?"

"Wh-why would you need a guest room? That's strange... Don't you like me, Yoru?"

Irisviel's face turned bright red as she looked at him and asked.

"How could I not? Who could dislike someone as beautiful as you, Miss Irisviel?" Yoru replied awkwardly, sensing the atmosphere becoming even more tense.

"If that's the case… then why do you ask? Aren't we husband and wife? What's wrong with sharing a room?"

Summoning her courage, Irisviel looked up at him with teary eyes. Her expression was so affecting that even Yoru, who was used to beautiful women, found it hard to resist.

He couldn't help but imagine—if Riveria ever looked at him like that, what kind of wonderful sight would that be?

But quickly, guilt washed over him. Thinking of another woman in front of someone who was, or was about to become, his wife… it was disrespectful—not only to Irisviel, but to Riveria as well.

"Yoru… why are you looking at me like that?" Irisviel asked in confusion.

"I'm sorry, Irisviel."

"Eh? Why are you suddenly apologizing?" she tilted her head in puzzlement, then seemed to realize something and gave a faint, knowing smile.

"Is it because… you're in love with someone else? That's nice. I'm sure she must be very happy."

"I'm sorry, Irisviel. I know it's extremely rude of me."

"It's alright, Yoru. Because you'll eventually return to your world, right? For me to spend this time with you, to be your wife, is already a blessing."

"Ten years, you know? We'll be husband and wife for ten years. I should be the one apologizing to the girl you love."

She gave a strained smile.

"Even if it's only for ten years, I still want to do my best to make you happy as your wife."

Even if Yoru didn't return to his world, their time as husband and wife would only last ten years. Because in the end, as the vessel for the Holy Grail, she would surely die. That was the fate decided for her from the moment she was born. An unchangeable destiny.

"No, not just ten years. I'll make sure you live on with me, Iris, forever—as my wife."

"Forever…?"

Irisviel was stunned. Then, she gave him a bitter smile.

Of course… he didn't know. He didn't know she was an artificial human, created to be the vessel for the Holy Grail.

But he would find out eventually. When that time came, would he still say the same?

After all, his wish was to return to his own world—to the side of the one he truly loved. If she could be the vessel that helped him achieve that wish, that would be enough.

Even if her fate was sealed, in the last ten years of her life, she just wanted to take care of him… even if it was as a substitute.

Thinking that, a gentle expression came to her face. She walked over to Yoru's side and wrapped her arms around his.

"Let's go, Yoru. No more guest rooms. We're husband and wife—we should be sleeping together."

"Ah… you're right," Yoru nodded.

He didn't seem particularly opposed to the idea. Perhaps he'd grown used to sleeping beside Hestia?

Though Hestia was never exactly well-behaved in her sleep—her favorite thing was using her chest as a weapon.

When comparing the two, Irisviel's chest wasn't small… but definitely a size below Hestia's.

Earlier, Yoru had emerged from this very room. While they were eating, the maids had cleaned it up thoroughly, restoring the spacious room to its tidy state.

The room was ridiculously large. But aside from the massive bed, it was sparsely furnished, giving it an empty feel.

The two of them sat on the edge of the bed, staring at each other in silence again.

Why was it so awkward?

He never felt this awkward with Hestia. So why now, with Irisviel?

Yoru couldn't understand. He looked at her quietly. Irisviel shyly turned her face away.

Both were equally uneasy.

Even though she had prepared herself mentally, becoming the wife of a man she had just met less than a day ago was still overwhelming for Irisviel.

Especially when it came to what came next…

As husband and wife, weren't they supposed to… do that?

Thinking of the knowledge stored in her mind, Irisviel's cheeks burned bright red.

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