I Was Reincarnated as the Prince in a Villainess Story, so I’ll Use My Cheat Knowledge to Create a Noble Lady Harem and Make Them All Happy - 43

Chapter 43: The Maiden of the World Tree※

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

The office was wrapped in the dim light of twilight. The setting sun streamed through the high windows, casting long shadows across the bookshelves.

Valis rested his elbows on the desk and activated the Solitaria Scripta. Sheets of parchment slid out one by one under the faint glow of magic. The handwriting was neat and precise, calmly recording the course of the nation’s actions over the past half year.

“…It’s been half a year since The Auxiliary Keystone Dispersal Plan went into operation. Production through the limestone spirit furnaces has stabilized. Especially the creation of limestone through the extraction of spirits of water and earth… That was completely unexpected.”

Valis flipped through the parchments, a faint smile touching his lips. The limestone supply problem had been resolved, allowing the lime furnaces—structured with fire and wind—to process the newly generated material in a stable cycle. The issue of lime procurement, once considered a critical bottleneck, had been completely overcome. Moreover, the by-products had dramatically improved sanitary conditions and agriculture across the realm. It was a result that went far beyond simple infrastructure development.

“…Combining water and fire to distribute heated water. From decentralized to supply-based systems. I had envisioned it as an ideal, but to see it this complete…”

When he lifted his gaze, his eyes fell upon the map hanging on the wall. Drawn upon it was the Circle of Spirits—connecting the twelve auxiliary keystones, the World Tree, and the royal capital in lines of light, encompassing even Silva Haruna. A reform that, if one were not careful, might have advanced the clock of national history by decades. And yet…

＊＊＊

“The current spirit supply network depends far too heavily on the World Tree and Amon. Without an alternative system, the nation could be paralyzed in an instant.”

It had been Duke Balmuth who first raised that point during the recent audience with the King.

“If it were me, that’s exactly where I would strike. If the focus of our defenses isn’t placed there, then there’s no point in guarding it at all.”

That heavy, resonant voice still echoed in Valis’s ears.

At present, the village of Ryui near Silva Haruna was being rapidly transformed into a fortified stronghold. Margrave Klaus Everett had been appointed as its overseer. He was a man well-versed in harmonizing military strategy and civil engineering. Under his direction, the village was already taking shape as a new base that combined both defense and supply.

Meanwhile, in Silva Haruna.. Amon, once the very symbol of spirit rampage, now lay quietly slumbering in his vast form beneath the roots of the World Tree. His control rested in the hands of the Elf Princess, Marie. According to her, even the divine oracles of old had failed to manifest Amon and yet, Feril had possessed the innate potential for manifestation from the very beginning.

“I only offered her guidance. That person was born capable of touching Amon.”

Marie’s eyes shimmered in a mixture of pride and astonishment that surpassed even kinship. Furthermore, the manifested Amon represented only half of his full power. The other half still slept within Feril herself, perfectly restrained without any sign of spiritual overflow.

The mere fact that the spirit network functioned through the World Tree using only half of Amon’s strength filled Valis with awe, if not outright fear. The management of both Amon and the World Tree had been formally entrusted to Silva Haruna’s royal family, specifically to Michel and Marie.

An agreement had been signed stipulating that half of Alveria’s profits derived from spirit distribution would be paid to Silva Haruna as a usage fee. The pact was bound by both law and magical seals, establishing a new foundation for bilateral relations. On that same day, diplomatic relations were officially restored, accompanied by a formal military alliance.

At the top of the signatures listed on the treaty was Valis himself. He had drafted the original text through the Solitaria Scripta, and the scroll bearing both the royal and spirit seals still rested upon his desk.

Feril Everett.

She had surpassed even Marie’s teachings, becoming a wielder of Spirit Arts, the magic that freely commanded all four great elemental spirits. Her true distinction, however, lay in her ability as a conduit for spirits. By channeling her power into any one of the twelve auxiliary keystones, she could reconstruct a Circle of Spirits equal in scale to the World Tree itself—in other words, she possessed the potential to become a living World Tree.

Naturally, her existence became a matter of national importance for Alveria. Ordinarily, the most practical course to solidify diplomatic relations with Silva Haruna would have been to marry her to Michel. However…Feril was human, and Michel was an elf. Any child born of their union would inevitably be human, severing the royal bloodline. Thus, that option was dismissed.

As for Michel and Marie, though they had long called themselves “siblings,” they were in truth of the same race but born of different parents. Recently, they had formally entered into marriage, becoming a bonded pair. Michel, who was bound by duty to continue the royal bloodline, and Marie, who had once been fated to sacrifice herself to maintain Amon’s seal without bearing children.

Once, they had loved each other yet resigned themselves to separation. Now, they could finally walk into the future together and Valis celebrated that from the bottom of his heart.

With Feril’s marriage to Silva Haruna ruled out, pressure mounted from her family—the Marquisate of Agreia, the main branch of the Everett line—as well as from several high-ranking noble houses, including the Ducal House of Elfein. They collectively petitioned for Feril to become Valis’s consort.

Though the Kingdom of Alveria had no formal institution of secondary wives, an exception was made. Feril was recommended as a second queen candidate, ranking directly after the First Queen, Reina.

This extraordinary recommendation received the solemn approval of King Ars himself, and the decree was read aloud before the assembled ministers in the royal audience chamber. Immediately afterward, Ars turned to Valis—not as a king, but as a father—and with a wry smile, silently mouthed, “You’d better take responsibility for this, you hear?”

Valis could still recall that expression vividly. It had been the same look he’d seen back then—with Milia. Now that Feril had become such a crucial figure, marrying her to any high-ranking noble’s heir would have risked upsetting the delicate balance of power among the aristocracy.

Thus, uniting her with Valis—already Crown Prince and a statesman of unparalleled record—was the cleanest and most stable solution. And the one who had conceived that grand strategy, personally persuaded each of the powerful nobles one by one, gathered their signatures of recommendation, and presented the proposal to the King…

Was none other than Reina, the First Queen herself, and daughter of the Marquis of Agreia.

＊＊＊

At that moment, the door to the private office was knocked once.

“Come in.”

When Valis called out, the door quietly opened, and the person who entered was Feril, her silver hair swaying.

“Welcome back, Feril. Did you come from your territory?”

“Ah, I suppose so, but…”

Feril stopped, looking annoyed, then turned on her heel and came up to the executive desk.

“….?”

Before Valis could ask, Feril placed her hands on the desk and leaned over.

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

“…Go ahead.”

“Were you planning to just leave me alone after taking my virginity?”

“…Huh?”

Faster than he could comprehend the meaning of the question, Feril had already slipped under the desk.

“W-wait, Feril…. What are you—”

Her skirt billowed softly, and a gentle warmth entered the space between Valis’s legs.

“….!”

His spine tingled. Feril’s fingertips deftly undid the clasp of his attire. Right after, the tip of her tongue touched the now hardening flesh. It was enveloped in a cool film of saliva, and a slick warmth coiled around it.

“….Fe-Feril…. Wait….”

“Mmm?”

A sweet, muffled reply. She pushed her chin to take him deeper into her mouth, then ran her tongue along the shaft toward the base.

Picha… chupu… chupo, chupo…

As her wet mouth moved up and down, lewd, wet sounds dissolved into the heavy atmosphere of the office.

“…Ugh, not there….”

The sensitive underside was rubbed as if being gouged by her tongue, and he desperately held back his hips from rising.

“I… I’ve been waiting for you, you know?”

Feril took her mouth away and, while kneading him with her hand, glared up at him.

“Or did you think you were satisfied with just Reina-neesama and Milia-sama, and you could just ignore me?”

“…There’s no way that’s true….”

“Then, prove it. With your body.”

With that, she returned her mouth to him. The inside of her lips enveloped the hardness of his flesh, and her tongue sucked at the tip, fondling him.

Kopo, juru… chupu…

Her breath, touching the back of his knees, was hot. He felt as if he would choke on the spine-tingling pleasure alone.

“Feril, I’m going to… I’m going to come….”

“…Nnfu, it’s fine. Do as you like.”

As he was taken to the back of her throat, his body, reaching its limit of stimulation, jerked.

“Ugh, ah…!”

Feril received the semen that was ejaculated into her mouth, not letting a single drop leak out, and let out a ‘kuh’ sound in her throat as she swallowed it.

“….Hah. I feel a little better now.”

When Feril finally looked up, a faint residue of semen glistened at the corner of her lips. As Valis was speechless, Feril stood up, fixed her clothes, and asked.

“There’s something you need to say… Right?”

“Ah… A-ha. Of course, I was going to say it.”

“Then say it now, right here.”

Her eyes, though seemingly playful, were utterly serious. And he also heard her whisper, 

“-Reina-neesama told me to ‘make him say it with your charm.'”

This sudden action is from Reina. Honestly… The final push is always as harsh as ever.

But that was also so like Reina. With a wry smile, Valis stood up from his chair. He gently took Feril’s hand and knelt before her.

“Feril Everett. I cannot say ‘only you,’ but I love you. Will you live your life with me, Valis?”

At those words, Feril’s expression crumbled for a moment. Tears seemed to well up in her eyes, but in their place, a full, blooming smile appeared.

“…Yes. I, Feril, love His Highness Valis and I want to live alongside Reina-neesama and Milia-sama.”

Feril murmured and embraced Valis’s face as he knelt, holding it against her chest.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー