I Married the Beautiful Female Protagonist In Order To Survive

47. Big Arse (Happy New Year!)

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope for your continued support in the coming year. May you prosper and flourish, and may the monthly votes pour in. Wishing you success in all endeavors, and smooth sailing with your in-app purchases!

The projection backdrop should be installed soon. With luck, it should be ready around the 15th or 16th. If not, I fear we’ll have to wait until after the New Year celebrations.

—

Zerola’s departure also brought a pause to the “chessboard.” With everything frozen in place, my gaze was forced to detach from the board and return to reality.

Except, this time, it wasn’t I who initiated the pause, but the fairy hovering opposite me – Horus – who actively chose to do so, and… the moment my gaze left the chessboard, she was already glaring at me.

“What are you doing?”

She held a chess piece in her hand, resembling a chess player deeply troubled by an uncharted territory, hovering her piece, hesitant to place it, seeking some sliver of information from her opponent’s face.

It seems my recent moves have left her utterly bewildered. This expression of doubt and suspicion is, indeed, a first on her countenance.

“What, does your ‘game’ allow for discussions beyond the playing field?”

I carefully retrieved my chess piece, chuckling softly. “Any game that delves into outside matters, that’s considered a foul, isn’t it? Our focus should be solely on the Royal Academy of the Great Ying Empire on the chessboard, correct?”

“…”

The fairy didn’t respond, simply narrowing her eyes, trying to “extract” something from my gaze. All her suspicion and scrutiny coalesced into a single sentence: “Cheating is not allowed in my game, oh, Controller of Order.”

Immediately following, the fairy’s long hair, formerly two-toned black and white, was suddenly completely consumed by black. Her demeanor, too, turned all the more “peculiar.”

“Otherwise, I’ll retaliate with methods you deem ‘cheating’ as well. Euclid, you’re currently trapped in a dead end. Do you think this ‘mystifying’ silence will frighten me? Heee hee hee hee…”

One moment benevolent, the next sinister; one moment hopeful, the next despairing. Previously, I admit I was thoroughly deceived by the hidden depths of this fairy. However… I’m gradually discovering how to handle her.

Simple, yet difficult.

Just don’t listen, don’t look at her. That’s all it takes.

In a true game of chess, there’s no need to concern yourself with the opponent’s appearance or taunts.

“Cheat? You provided the board, the pieces were chosen in front of us all, and you even demonstrated the moves at the beginning. You know everything I’m doing now, so what tricks could I possibly pull?”

I paused, then lifted my head. “Or… is your ‘hope and despair’ only meant for others, and when someone threatens *you*, it suddenly becomes ‘cheating’?”

“!”

If that were the case, then this wasn’t even a “game.”

If what this fairy was doing to us didn’t even qualify as a “game,” then… what excuse did she have to keep me here in this realm?

I felt like I’d found a way to break through the Hope Fairy’s domain, but right now…

“Continue, Horus.”

I chose to keep playing with her!

“Whether I’m cheating, or using legitimate tactics, isn’t up to you alone. Soon… you’ll see how I ‘attack’.”

“Continue, fairy. Why have you suddenly become so chatty since our last break?”

My gaze returned to the chessboard first. As for how long the fairy floating across from me stared before deciding to continue, I couldn’t be bothered to care.

After sensing that “something wasn’t right,” Zerola decided to immediately return to the Academy, find Filora, and “escort” her back. However… strange things started happening immediately after that.

Just as Zerola was about to slip away, the Queen, who shouldn’t have had any further reason to interfere, unexpectedly rose to her feet, wanting to keep her there.

“Zerola, wait a moment…”

“There’s no waiting with this, is there? Ah! Your Majesty, did I forget to properly say goodbye? I believe there’s something like that in Great Britain’s law? Well… goodbye then, Your Majesty!”

Bowing her head, Zerola intended to make a hasty exit.

Yet, even after the bow, the Queen still hesitantly grabbed Zerola, looking like she was struggling to speak.

If Zerola hadn’t already been certain that the Queen and Henry III’s secret romance seemed to be progressing smoothly, she would have started to suspect that this blonde-haired beauty, who shared a certain resemblance to Filora and embodied the Great British ideal, had strange feelings for *her*.

“Er, Your Majesty, I’m in a hurry. Anything you need can wait until tomorrow…”

“Just stay here for a while.”

The Queen’s words made Zerola shudder, but she at least understood that it was just the literal meaning of the words.

However, just as Zerola was about to make some excuse and continue to insist on sneaking away, a chill ran down her spine. Zerola suddenly realized: was the Queen delaying her, to keep her from going to the Academy!?

Wait, it wasn’t just that. Even the fact that she was spending the day with the Queen! What business did the Queen of Great Britain have, other than nagging me like an old woman about how to be a couple with Filora? When she herself hadn’t even figured things out with Henry III!

So, even today’s “invitation” might have been part of a prepared plan, with the purpose of… Zerola naturally concluded: temporarily separating her from Filora, or rather… leaving Filora alone in the Academy!

An unpleasant feeling welled up. Zerola… didn’t even care how noble the girl in front of her was, wrenched her hand free, took a step back, and lowered her voice.

Out of gratitude for the girl in front of her “bringing her and Filora together,” Zerola hadn’t immediately stormed off, but instead, asked with suspicion.

“Your Majesty, what are you considering?”

“…” After a brief moment of surprise, Queen Louise III shook her head and gave a wry smile. “Just don’t go. This is for your own good, for both of you. Zerola, I can already see how outstanding you are, but you’re still just a student at the Academy, some things… are better if you don’t interfere.”

“So, what exactly is going to happen to Fiora!?”

Without even realizing it, Zerola’s tone had become subtly hostile.

Her respect for this Queen stemmed solely from her being “Fiora’s cousin,” and if even that relationship was tainted by the Queen having ulterior motives toward Fiora, then… Zerola wouldn’t bother caring whether the person before her was a Queen, or just some commoner.

However, a Queen was a Queen after all; you couldn’t just punch her, could you? So, having failed to get the explanation she wanted, Zerola opted for the most decisive course of action.

“I’ll tell you later. Just stay safe in my little haven here… Ze…”

Before she could finish, Queen Louise III could only watch Zerola turn on her heel and leave, without a hint of the hesitation she’d shown moments before.

Finally, with a helpless smile, she muttered to herself.

“It almost makes me envy my cousin.”

“But… you two must be careful.”

“Because… the opportunity is ripe, it’s almost ‘time’. If only… I didn’t have to use this method, trying to keep those young people here.”

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Happy New Year, and I hope everyone continues to support this book, thank you.