The Ultimate Lich King of the Multiverse

When Yoru returned to the dining room, Jubstacheit was no longer there. Only Irisviel sat alone, her head bowed and her posture shy and reserved.

"Where is Mr. Jubstacheit?"

Yoru asked curiously. Irisviel hesitated before replying.

"Grandfather... already went to rest in his room. He's an old man, after all. He can't stay up late."

Yoru nodded in understanding and took his seat to continue eating. The two sat across from each other in an awkward silence as they finished their meal.

"Well then, if there's nothing else, I'll return to my guest room, Miss Irisviel."

"Um... that room is actually my room, not a guest room."

Just as Yoru stood up to leave, Irisviel's words made him freeze.

"Eh... it's your room? Then where's the guest room?"

"Why would there be a guest room? That's strange. Could it be... Yoru, do you dislike me?"

Irisviel looked at Yoru as she asked, her pretty face blushing deeply.

"Of course not... how could anyone dislike a beautiful woman like you, Miss Irisviel?"

Yoru replied awkwardly, feeling the atmosphere grow even more uncomfortable.

"Then why would you ask something like that? Aren't we husband and wife? Isn't it normal for us to share a room?"

Irisviel mustered the courage to lift her gaze, her teary eyes glistening. Her expression struck Yoru harder than he expected—it had a dangerously powerful effect on any man.

Even Yoru, who had seen many beauties, couldn't help but waver. He found himself imagining what it would be like if Riveria looked at him with such a face—what a breathtaking sight it would be.

But he quickly snapped out of it and looked apologetically at Irisviel.

Longing for another woman in front of someone who was about to—or already—become his wife… that was too low.

Even though Yoru's heart belonged to Riveria and he didn't yet have feelings for Irisviel, he never once considered her a substitute. That kind of thinking would be a betrayal to both women.

"What's wrong, Yoru? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I'm sorry, Irisviel."

"Huh? Why are you apologizing all of a sudden?" Irisviel tilted her head in confusion. Then, as if realizing something, her expression softened with understanding.

"Is it... because of the person you love? That's nice. I'm sure she must be very happy."

"I'm sorry, Irisviel. I know this is incredibly rude of me."

"It's okay, Yoru. Because you're going to return to your world eventually. Just being with you for this long and being called your wife… is already a blessing for me."

"Ten years, you know? We're going to be husband and wife for ten whole years. If anything, I should be the one apologizing to the girl you love."

Irisviel said this with a strained smile.

"Even if it's just for ten years, I still want to fulfill the role of your wife in a way that you're happy with."

Ten years… Even if Yoru didn't return to his own world, they would only have ten years together. Because ten years from now, as the vessel of the Holy Grail, Irisviel would surely die. That had been her fate since the moment she was created—an inescapable destiny.

"No. Not just ten years. I'll make sure you and I live on together—forever—as husband and wife."

"Live on forever?"

Irisviel blinked in surprise, then looked at Yoru with a wry smile.

Of course... he doesn't know yet.

That she was a homunculus. That she was created solely to act as the vessel for the Holy Grail.

But he would find out eventually. When he did, would he still say such things?

After all, his wish was to return to his own world—to the woman he truly loved.

Being the vessel that granted him that wish should be enough, right?

Her fate may be set in stone, but in these final ten years of her life, she simply wanted to care for him… even if only as a substitute.

With that thought, a gentle expression bloomed on Irisviel's face. She stepped beside Yoru and gently wrapped her arm around his.

"Come now, Yoru. Stop thinking about guest rooms. We're husband and wife—of course we sleep together."

"Ah… you're right."

Yoru nodded softly. He didn't seem to resist the idea of sleeping together—perhaps because he had already gotten used to sharing a bed with Hestia?

And Hestia had always been a restless sleeper, with her favorite nighttime move being her infamous "chest attack."

Comparing the two, Irisviel's chest wasn't exactly small, but compared to Hestia's… it was a level lower.

Not long ago, Yoru had stepped out of this very room. It seemed the maids had cleaned it thoroughly while he was eating—restoring the large, spacious room to a pristine state.

The room was almost absurdly large, but aside from a single bed, there wasn't much furniture. The minimalism made the space feel even wider.

The two of them sat at the edge of the bed and, once again, silence fell between them.

Why is this so awkward…?

Yoru couldn't understand it. He'd slept next to Hestia countless times and never felt this way. Why was it so uncomfortable now, being alone with Irisviel?

He stared at her, and she shyly turned her face away.

Yoru felt awkward—and Irisviel wasn't faring any better.

Even though she had mentally prepared herself, suddenly becoming the wife of a man she had only just met… left her feeling at a loss.

What do I do next…?

Since they were husband and wife, they obviously couldn't just go to sleep.

Husbands and wives… were supposed to do that, right?

As those thoughts filled her mind, Irisviel's cheeks turned a deep crimson.

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