Chapter 319 - Episode 311: Eternally
After dismissing the attendants and becoming alone in the room with Matilda, Noein turned toward her.
"Matilda, I have something important to tell you as well."
"...Yes, Noein-sama."
Upon hearing those words, Matilda stood before Noein with a solemn expression.
"It has been since I was cast out of my family home that I last spoke of this. Now that my position is changing significantly, I want to say it one more time... If you wish, Matilda, I intend to release you from your slave status and welcome you as my wife. I want to hear your will, what you wish to do."
Once he became the ruler of a nation, Noein would no longer need to worry about the reputation of foreign nobles as much as he had until now. There was nothing to be done about people speaking ill behind his back, but there would likely be no noble who would dare to insult Noein to his face as a "pervert who has a beastman former slave as a wife" and attempt to harm him.
That was precisely why Noein questioned Matilda once more.
Matilda closed her eyes and appeared to think for a while, as if confirming her own feelings—then she quietly opened her eyes, gazed at Noein, and spoke.
"I... wish to continue staying by your side as Noein-sama's slave."
"...May I ask the reason?"
To Noein's gentle inquiry, Matilda nodded.
"One is a promise with Clara-sama. We swore to each other that we would support you in ways that could only be done from our respective positions—Clara-sama as a wife who stands equal beside Noein-sama to rule this land, and I as an attendant who always stays close to Noein-sama's side."
Clara would stand beside Noein as his wife. She would stand in political and social settings as an equal to Noein, and at times serve as the acting lord in Noein's stead. If Noein were to fall on the battlefield, she would inherit his will and protect this land.
On the other hand, Matilda's position was one of simply devoting herself to Noein. Rather than standing beside Noein, she was in a position to become a part of Noein, supporting him as he stood. To lighten Noein's mental burdens, to heal Noein's body and soul, to live with Noein, and to die with Noein. It was only that, and for that very reason, it was a position Noein needed.
Matilda had no intention of stealing half of Clara's position, nor did she intend to hand over half of her own position to Clara. That was why she and Clara were comrades, family, and best friends. They could share Noein's love in different forms. This was the thought Matilda expressed.
"The other reason is... as I thought, I want to feel secure by remaining Noein-sama's slave."
All the happiness in Matilda's life had been obtained while being Noein's slave and staying by his side.
The status of a slave means that everything about oneself is held by the owner. For the vast majority of people, that is undesirable and something to be avoided, but for Matilda, it was different. Entrusting the entirety of her body and soul to Noein and obtaining absolute protection as "Noein's thing" provided her with unsurpassed peace.
If Matilda became Noein's wife, they could not remain in their current relationship. There are many roles required of the consort of a nation's head. It would not be possible to always stay close to Noein, to affirm everything about Noein, and to offer her body and soul exactly as Noein desired. Matilda did not wish for such days.
"In other words, this is my selfishness. I simply want to persist in this selfishness... to remain in the one and only position where I can be spoiled by Noein-sama at any time, in any way."
Saying so, Matilda let a faint, bitter smile cross her lips.
"I cherish my current position. Not a mere simple slave, nor a formal wife—I feel unsurpassed joy in this position of my own, for which there is not even a word to describe it correctly. I love Noein-sama from the bottom of my heart for granting this to me. Therefore, please, let me continue to stand by your side."
"...I understand. I will not speak of this again. You have the freedom to choose your own status and position. If the position you chose with that freedom is to always stay by my side as my other half... then I will keep you by my side forever. Matilda, you are a one-and-only existence to me. I will continue to protect your happiness."
Noein answered while returning a smile to Matilda. What Matilda felt as happiness—the interior of that heart belonged only to Matilda. Noein would simply accept and protect the happiness she had chosen.
"...Yes. Thank you very much, Noein-sama."
Nodding to Matilda, whose eyes were moist, Noein continued further.
"On top of that, I want to give Matilda one gift... an honorary baronetcy."
At those words, Matilda gasped.
"...! That... is that possible? For a slave to hold a peerage, would that not be a contradiction in the system?"
"Ahahaha, it would be a contradiction. But I want to create a guarantee so that Matilda, who will be with me forever from now on, will absolutely not be looked down upon by those around her. A guarantee that Matilda will not be treated crudely, regardless of which country or in front of whom."
Noein answered with a faint, bitter smile at Matilda's reaction.
"If the head of state or a noble of another country harms a slave who is my property, on the surface, it can only be treated as a matter of compensation. However, if they harm someone who holds a peerage, it immediately becomes a diplomatic issue and could develop into a war. Knowing that, no one will carelessly harm Matilda."
As he spoke, Noein stood up from his chair and walked toward Matilda. Then, he looked up at her with a mischievous smile.
"Besides... as a man, I want to look cool. I want to give a special gift to a precious woman. I want to show you that I think of Matilda as so special that I'll push through systemic contradictions with absolute power. I want to show everyone around us that Matilda is that special to me. This is a selfishness that I will push through using my own authority. The one whimsical selfishness of the great, fair, and kind Grand Duke... considering your hard work until now, this much should be permitted, right?"
Matilda's eyes widened, a single tear fell, and she laughed while gazing at Noein.
Then she dropped to one knee and bowed her head to Noein.
"...Noein-sama. I humbly accept the title of honorary baronet. I will strive with all my heart and soul to be an attendant worthy of the special honor bestowed upon me. Eternally, from now on, I offer all of my body and soul to you."
"Thank you. I swear to protect all of you as a part of myself... Matilda, lift your head."
As told by Noein, Matilda lifted her head and looked up at her master's face.
"Come here, Matilda."
At those words, Matilda stood up and hugged Noein with a spoiled expression. Noein also held her.
And so, for a while, the two felt the warmth of the partner they loved.
"...Well then, shall we work hard toward the founding of the nation? For our happy future."
"Yes, Noein-sama."
As Noein took his seat at his executive desk, Matilda answered while taking her seat as his assistant.
Toward independence as the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, the work to be done from here on was piled high.