Chapter 1: ② An Instant Proposal to My Favorite Queen!?

A heavy silence descended upon the summoning chamber.

Her golden hair swayed ever so slightly as Queen Celine blinked once, then twice.
Those beautiful lips moved just barely.

“…Pardon?”

The black cat Kokuyou covered her face and struck a pose of utter despair, as if grinding her head into the floor.

“It’s over meow… All my fur’s gonna fall out meow…”

“Wait, Kokuyou-san!? Don’t be so harsh! My hair follicles are already dead anyway! I’m telling you, I said that with complete resolve!”

“What kind of resolve does a man have when he meets the Queen for the first time and casually says ‘Let’s form a party meow’ like it’s some kind of game meow…”

“Look… it’s not like a game, I’m being serious, the timing was just awkward…!”

“If that wasn’t awkward, then what was meow!? That was the definition of awkward meow!!”

What flew from his mouth was something like a proposal but not quite, something like a confession of love but oddly visceral in its earnestness.
However, at this moment, no one could have known that this single statement might—just might—send shockwaves through the entire kingdom.

Celine remained rooted to the spot, even forgetting to blink.

(Those words… were they meant for me?)

Celine caught her breath. Before her stood the boy—the hero, Yuuri Ravelt—looking straight at her.
His face bore the expression of someone who had spoken with complete sincerity.

(I am the Queen. I wed the former King and now hold this nation in trust.)
(So why… why is my heart in such turmoil right now?)

This feeling was unlike anything she had ever experienced.
It was as if a hot droplet had fallen upon water’s surface, quietly spreading ripples through the depths of her chest—

He is the one who should become my daughter’s husband. I am her mother, and the Queen who holds this nation in trust.
(…And yet—why does my chest feel so… hot?)

She understood this, and yet something deep in her heart ached.

(Even so… if only I could reach out this hand, how much easier would that be?)

Suddenly, her gaze fell to his hands.
Not hands meant to wield a sword, not hands meant for governance, but simply the hands of a man—one who wished to protect her.
However foolish, however immature—that straightforwardness dazzled her.

(If only… I were this nation’s rightful Queen.)
(If only… there were no one in this nation to compete for him.)

The fact that she found herself wishing for such “impossible what-ifs” was embarrassing and sorrowful.
But more than that—her chest felt suffocating.

He is the one who should be united with Princess Lieselotte.
The foundation of a new bloodline, worthy of inheriting this nation…

She understood.
She should understand better than anyone.

(…Then why… why does his voice touch my heart so deeply?)

Echoing in her ears was that strong, clumsy—yet warm voice.

“Form a life party with me and create the greatest Happy Harem Kingdom in history!!”

…It’s ridiculous. The content is completely absurd, so why… why is my heart racing like this?

In that moment, a voice slipped out.

“Y-Yuuri-sama…”

After speaking, she was startled by her own voice.
It trembled, almost hoarse—like the voice of someone clinging to another.