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 - 9

Chapter 9: Reunion, and the Signs of Temptation

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As they crossed over the hill, a landscape of sunlit spring fields unfolded before them. Newly maintained farm roads winding between plots of tilled earth, and beyond them, clusters of wooden rooftops belonging to a small village.

The policy scheduled for implementation would begin here, in this village and several others nearby. Though the area still struggled with issues such as irrigation stability, soil quality, and securing sufficient labor, it was nonetheless an important site with vast potential for development.

Valis stepped down from the carriage and caught sight of a young girl standing at the end of the road. Her chestnut-colored hair was tied high in a ponytail, adorned with a red rose accessory that accentuated her bright smile. A white blouse, a deep crimson skirt, and a ribbon tie set with a green gemstone gave her an elegant yet approachable look. She looked so warm and lively that the word “saint” felt almost unfitting for her.

“Yoo-hoo, Your Highness! Welcome back~!”

She waved energetically and ran toward him with light steps.

“…It’s been a while, Milia.”

Valis answered with a calm smile. But behind her cheerful tone lay a weighty presence. This girl was the heiress of a ducal house, an awakened wielder of Divine Arts, and the “Princess Loved by God” once nominated as a future pontiff of the theocratic state of Verdia.

And yet, the girl standing before him now gave no sign of that gravity whatsoever.

“Valis-kun, you’ve gotten more mature, haven’t you? Look, your face, your shoulders and everything.”

“…After ten years of administrative duties, that’s to be expected. You, on the other hand, haven’t changed at all.”

“Eeh, that actually makes me happy. Oh, but don’t worry, my chest has grown properly, see?”

She lifted her ample bosom lightly with both hands in a teasing gesture.

“…Please restrain yourself in front of the villagers.”

“Fufu, fine, fine. Switching to ‘duke’s daughter’ mode now~.”

She winked playfully and then, in the very next moment, her expression tightened.

“Allow me to express my gratitude for your visit, Crown Prince Valis. The Ducal House also considers this undertaking highly meaningful.”

Her tone, her words, even the air around her changed completely. The innocent girl of moments ago vanished, replaced by a noble successor radiating both refinement and political acumen.

“I appreciate the duke’s cooperation. Especially since this region may become the foundation for future rural revitalization. Ensuring population stability and improving labor motivation require the swift establishment of welfare and sanitation infrastructure.”

“Indeed. In fact, our house has been planning to expand cultivation into the uncultivated territories of this area. However, the retention rate among young workers has been poor, and many have left farming altogether. In that respect, the construction of public baths and the introduction of a regulated prostitution system will be extremely effective. A stable lifestyle built upon safety and pleasure ultimately supports labor retention.”

“…You’ve thought that far ahead.”

“But of course. Despite appearances, I am the heir of Elfein, after all.”

Milia smiled softly. Her smile was gentle, yet filled with confidence.

I see.

This girl truly wasn’t ordinary. Though a religious symbol, she possessed the intellect and vision to see through economic and social systems with composure and the skill to convey her ideas without arrogance. Despite her innocent demeanor, she was calculating in matters of state. That contrast stirred a quiet respect within Valis.

“Oh, right. About Reina…”

She changed the subject suddenly.

“…Hm?”

“I’ve been close with Reina since long ago, you know? There was a time when she thought you were avoiding her, and she got a little depressed about it.”

“…That was never my intention.”

“I know. That’s why, when she came back from her studies abroad, I was so relieved to see her looking happier than anyone else. When I saw her smiling like that, I thought, ‘If she can smile like this, then that’s enough.’”

Milia smiled gently. It wasn’t the smile of just a friend. It was the serene pride of someone who had prayed for another’s happiness and watched over it longer than anyone else.

The briefing session was held in a large tent erected at the center of the village. Before Valis stood over a dozen local representatives. The village chief, the church delegate, the youth association leader, and others. As crown prince, he spoke to them with dignity yet warmth.

“Our goal is not to bring licentiousness into the village. It is to provide a place of health and rest. We aspire to build a foundation for a community where people can live in peace.”

“Pleasure is not a sin.”

That principle, established ten years earlier, still faced misunderstanding and prejudice. Even so, Valis continued to speak his truth with unwavering conviction.Milia supported him from beside. When the explanation ended, the meeting moved into a Q&A session.

“Um… This ‘prostitution system’… Does that really mean, uh, they’ll come here?”

It was a blunt question from the youth leader. As the air grew tense, Milia rose gracefully to her feet.

“Please rest assured. In the royal capital, the system has operated successfully for ten years. Health management and contractual structures are all governed by law. The ‘profession of sex’ is not shameful. It has been institutionalized as a specialized and socially recognized skill.”

Her voice was clear and bright. Her words carried weight. And because they came from the saint loved by God, no one dared to deny them.  It wasn’t coercion. It was gentle persuasion through conviction and dignity.

Toward the end of the meeting, Milia quietly sat down beside him. Her formal skirt rustled softly, her shoulder brushing his.

“Fufu, you’re doing great, Valis-kun♡”

Though she spoke his name formally, her tone was far too familiar and it drew him in.

“Of course. You, on the other hand…”

“Hehe, was that a compliment?”

Beneath the table, her fingertips traced lightly along the fabric.

Pito.

They glided across the inside of his thigh. A slow, caressing motion through the cloth of his slacks.

“…M–Milia. What are you doing…?”

“There’s a question coming in, Valis-kun~ How are you going to answer it~?”

Her face stayed forward, her voice as bright as ever. Knowing full well that no one could see them, she…Once again, slid her fingers.

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