The Villainess Who Was Dumped Got Married into My Family, a Mob Noble from the Frontier, and Turns Out, She's an Amazing Capable Wife? - Chapter 72: The True Appointment Ceremony

Chapter 72: The True Appointment Ceremony

“No student will engage in such foolish duels anymore.”

“That’s right, those without resolve shouldn’t duel.”

As the one who mercilessly beheaded Castor, I would likely be seen more as a symbol of fear than just a figure to be avoided.

That’s fine by me.

I wanted the students at this academy to realize that dueling could lead to such outcomes. 

This should serve as a deterrent, preventing any strange dueling disturbances.

“We could take this opportunity to advocate for a ban on dueling through the student council.”

“Everyone would agree.”

Her response felt somewhat cold. 

Maybe killing Castor in front of her wasn’t such a good idea, but it couldn’t be helped now.

Given the current sentiment, a ban on dueling would likely pass unanimously, and taking on this role would improve Alicia’s standing too. 

Based on the deadly duel that occurred, Alicia, having experienced a duel herself, could convincingly argue the case to everyone.

“But you’ll always be feared.”

“That’s fine by me.”

If it can overwrite the trouble Alicia caused with the duel, that’s fine by me. 

She is my fiancée, and we might both be feared together, but the worse my reputation becomes, the more likely it is that Alicia will be pitied. 

Actually, it’s almost certain based on my actions. 

This world is so twisted that such thinking is normal, and the Brave family exists within this distortion.

No matter how tough the situation, Alicia can make friends. 

She’s that charming.

If restoring her image results in her getting better treatment, even if it means breaking off our engagement due to the Duke’s family circumstances, then I’m okay with that. 

It’s sad, but I don’t have to be close to protect her.

I could even protect an entire country if needed—that’s the role of the Brave family, determined from birth.

“I hate it.”

Alicia said, stepping in front of me.

Her face looked like she might cry, but she looked straight at me and said,

“If that’s the case, I’d rather choose to be feared with you, to be disliked with you. I’m not as strong as you, but I still don’t want to leave you alone.”

Alicia grabbed my sleeve.

“Don’t push me away, or I really won’t be able to catch up.”

“Alicia… that’s not what I mean…”

“Being protected doesn’t feel bad, but I don’t want to be behind you; I want to be beside you. I can endure the hellish training, so please, don’t let go of my hand just yet.”

Her words resonated deeply, not just in my mind, but in my heart as well.

I wondered if anyone else, in any lifetime, had ever chosen to be feared and disliked together like this. 

Probably not. 

It was simply heartwarming.

Her kindness was familiar and comforting, almost as if she was a saint—no, more like a holy mother. 

If Mariana is a saint, then Alicia is truly like a holy mother. 

If the world wasn’t so twisted, if Edward wasn’t foolish, she would have been the perfect woman to lead a country.  

That’s how I felt.

I knelt before her. 

“Alicia… put a collar on me.”

“Haa?”

She looked puzzled, which made me smile, reminding me of the moment I vowed to protect her.

“I mean it as ‘I’m yours.’ Put that collar on me, for good.”

It’s no joke; I’m happy to be hers.

“I won’t push you away or let go. I’ll always be there when you call. Words might seem cheap, so…”

I promised not to build any walls between us, to reconstruct any barriers.

“I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“I’m sorry for being so selfish… I’m really not upset about the duel commotion, it’s just thinking about what comes next…”

“Don’t worry, we’ll be together forever. But thinking about it, it seems like I’m the one being protected by you, Alicia.”

This twisted world could use a guide for the crazed hearts, I suppose.

If challenged with a life on the line, I would not hesitate to kill.

That will be the same going forward.

But knowing that there’s even just one person who really sees me and accepts me just made me truly happy.

“…Aren’t you going to kiss?”

When we were silently embarrassed together, Mariana, who I thought was asleep, suddenly spoke up.

“When are you two going to kiss?”

“M-Mariana, you were awake?”

“I was just pretending to be knocked out because of the mood. This is making me itch, so please just kiss already. I can’t stand it. Hmph, hmph!”

Mariana was getting excited.

Her loud breathing was annoying.

“A-a-a kiss? It’s too soon for that, I mean, we are students, you know, we should keep things proper, and we’re only engaged, it’s too sudden to just—”

Realizing Mariana had heard everything, Alicia’s face turned bright red, flustered.

“Putting on a collar and then kissing would be too unusual, you know.”

“Yes, it would.”

I agreed.

Definitely unusual.

“But isn’t there a time when something unusual is good? Something different from the norm?”

I agree with that, but doing it in front of others is a bit much, right?

“If you’re awake, get off.”

“Bunya!”

Since there was no need to carry her if she was awake, I just dropped her on the ground.

“Doesn’t that seem anti-climactic? As usual.”

“Ragna, it’s because you say such outrageous things…”

Is it really that outrageous? 

If we’re in this together, then so be it.

From now on, as Alicia’s guard dog, I’ll confront the students head-on!

And as the student council’s mad dog, it’s fine if they hate me; I’ll impose my rule on those who underestimate us.