Chapter 22: And Finally, the Sincerity

"……Huh?"

This time, the members of Bronze Star had completely shut down.

Yous, who had arrived late, was clad in platinum armor.

There wasn’t a single person in Bronze Star who didn’t recognize it.

Hell, among adventurers, no one who heard the word "platinum" wouldn’t think of that.

The symbol of Alfrihit Platinum—leader of the party Platinum.

And then, Rinaria had called him Yousrid Platina.

If that name was correct, then Yous was the son of that Alfrihit.

Even Sonariya and Parareya, who had vaguely sensed the two were hiding something, were stunned.

Rinaria was one thing, but they never expected Yous’ background to hold such a massive secret.

"Hehe, looks like we made it just in time~"

"L-Leader?!"

Standing beside the utterly bewildered party members was their grinning leader, Golem Randolph.

"Sorry~ I was acting as Yous-chan’s bodyguard to get him here quickly, so I ended up late~"

"W-What do you mean, Leader?!"

Anna, flustered, turned to him with the desperate hope that he at least knew what was going on.

And of course, she was right.

"Just what I said. Rin-chan’s a duke’s daughter, and Yous-chan’s the hero’s son."

"W-We had no idea…"

"They both worked really hard to keep it a secret. This is the result of their efforts~"

As the leader giggled happily, Anna could only stare at the two in disbelief.

—Are those really the same Yous and Rinaria who goof off with me all the time?

Right now, they looked nothing like that—this was a noble lady and a prince.

Even their usual selves were a perfect match, but now, in a completely different way, they still fit together flawlessly.

"You can kinda guess why they went through all the trouble to hide it, right?"

"For Rinaria, it’s obvious… but for Yous, was it so people wouldn’t think he’s riding on his father’s coattails?"

"More precisely—so he could use those coattails at the most dramatic moment possible."

Ah. Yeah, that made sense. Anna nodded.

Rinaria wanted her insufferable father to acknowledge her relationship with Yous.

And to do that, the most effective way to leverage his father’s prestige was to reveal it after reaching S-rank without relying on it. The nobles here—and even they themselves—were proof of that.

"B-But now that it’s out, Rinaria’s father will have to accept it, right?"

"Well, the others will, at least."

Rinaria had declared Yous her fiancé.

And from the looks of it, there wasn’t much opposition.

Some of it was just her overwhelming presence, but Yous did have the achievements to back it up.

As a noble girl who’d once been a fan of Yous, Anna might’ve normally protested—but when the highest-tier noble lady, a duke’s daughter, was the one declaring her love, there wasn’t much room to interfere.

Either way—

Yous had more than enough accomplishments to silence the crowd.

So then, what was left?

"But—in the end, the one who really needs convincing is Dorest-chan, y’know?"

"……D-Drest-chan?"

"Oh? Did I not mention it?"

With a loud, exaggerated wink—

"—Me and Drest-chan used to be adventuring buddies. We were in the same party~"

"Y-You mean…?"

A terrible premonition crept in as Anna asked—

"Hehe. ‘Platina.’"

—And this time, without a doubt, Anna and the others were left utterly speechless, mouths agape.

---

——The Fundamentals of Dealing with People: Forcing a Choice.

The basic strategy is to present the opponent with two options—one they dislike, and one they despise even more—forcing them to choose the lesser evil.

This applies to both combat and negotiation.

For Father, the worst possible choice would be to ruin this moment.

He doesn’t want to disrupt the occasion—he just wants me back.

He wants to tear me away from Yous.

The White Blessed constitution dictates that if fate’s chosen pair are separated, their bond weakens rapidly.

That might seem contradictory at first glance, but I’m already past twenty years old.

Realistically, the time I have left… is no more than a decade.

Even if Yous were to disappear now, it wouldn’t change much.

Of course, I refuse to accept that.

I don’t want to be separated from Yous—and I have no intention of dying.

So, I’ll strip Father of his choices.

He has only two options left:

—Accept our relationship here and now, preserving the dignity of this moment.

—Ruin everything and deal a devastating blow to the ducal house itself.

The method to corner him? Simple—turn the audience to my side.

Anna once said that in theater, success hinges on the protagonist shining.

The audience’s eyes are drawn to the lead.

Then all I need to do is make everyone here my audience.

I’m not the best at speeches, but…

There’s no reason not to do it.

——Right now, I’m recounting the story of how Yous and I met.

With some embellishments, but no outright lies.

We met as children, grew close, and vowed to stand together despite the gap in our status.

Yous promised me he’d become worthy of me—without relying on his father’s name.

And the result? Well, you can see it for yourselves.

(I’ve omitted the messy details, like us becoming adventurers together. Unnecessary. No one would believe it anyway.)

But the core of the story is true.

The details sell it—like how we first met in the Austroheim flower garden.

Every noble who’s visited this estate knows about the meticulously curated gardens.

And the other key detail?

My feelings.

How desperately I’ve wanted to stay by Yous’ side.

"I—"

Now that I think about it… I’ve never laid my emotions bare like this before.

"I admired you… for never changing."

…I was afraid of changing.

Afraid of losing the “me” from my past life to the “me” of now.

Honestly, the reason I call myself “atashi” isn’t because I changed—it’s because I didn’t.

Men say ore. Women say atashi. That’s just how it is.

If I’d truly wanted to change… I would’ve kept calling myself ore.

But everyone—Father, the servants, noble society—pushed the idea of “atashi” onto me.

They treated me as a girl, even though I’m neither man nor woman at heart.

——Except for one person.

Yous was the only one who saw me as me.

He ignored all the assumptions.

He never said things like, "Girls shouldn’t train with swords," or "A lady shouldn’t speak so crudely."

But—

"To you… I’ve always been me. From the very beginning."

——Yous still doesn’t know about my past life as a man.

Even if I told him, it wouldn’t matter. He fell in love with me as I am now.

In the end, Yous loves me.

I realized it when he bowed his head for my sake.

And I accepted it—the night I became his woman.

That was…

"I want to answer your feelings. I want to be the best me for you."

——My resolve.

I made him wait so long.

Ten years, maybe.

After all that time, that night… we crossed the line.

I still can’t remember it clearly.

But I think… that was the moment I truly decided to move forward.

I really kept you waiting, didn’t I?

"And so, Father… I’ve chosen to stand with him."

It’s been so long.

This is the end.

Everything will be settled now.

Go on, you shitty old man.

You lost. To me and Yous—to everything we’ve built together!

"……Rinaria."

Father calls my name.

I turn to him, confident in my victory, and meet his eyes—

——And still, they burn with defiance.

…No.

This can’t be happening.

Father was supposed to be cornered.

There are no other options left!

Then why? What could possibly give him this much confidence?!

It’s impossible. There’s no way he can turn this around—

"——Then prove it."

His voice cuts through the silence.

"Show us your vow—here and now."

——A flawless move. The best possible play.

The crowd erupts in a collective "Ooooh!"

What the hell?! Don’t cheer for him! Wait, no—I’m the one who set this up!

Father has no options left.

But still—forcing us to kiss in front of everyone?! Is this some kind of public execution?!

——Yet, I can’t refuse.

If I back down now, everything I just said becomes meaningless—!

"……Tch!"

I immediately throw myself at Yous.

The audience stirs, but I ignore them—ignore them!

I switch to wind magic, ensuring only he can hear me.

"K-K-K-Kiss… Did we… back when I was drunk…?"

"If my memory’s correct… no, we haven’t."

"……That’s not the right order, dumbass."

It’s not hard to guess why we avoided it.

Even now, it’s this embarrassing! Or is it more embarrassing now?!

…Wait, back during the play, I almost kissed him because of the mood, right?

If I could do it then—No, I can’t remember a damn thing.

Why was it okay then but impossible now?

Or…

——Did I never have the courage to go through with it, even back then?

"…Hey, Rin."

"What, Yous?"

"Maybe it’s just me, but… I don’t think your father demanded this just to turn the tables."

Yous glances at Father.

"I don’t hate him. I just want his approval. So maybe…"

"…Is that so?"

I… can’t say the same.

I’ve hated him for too long.

But then again—Father, doesn’t that go both ways?

Just as I resent you, you must resent me too.

And if that’s the case—

"…The final step in negotiation is sincerity, huh?"

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing."

——Just like the leader said.

In the end, what pushes a decision isn’t logic—it’s emotion.

Unless you feel it’s right, you won’t act.

And if that’s what Father’s words meant… I think I understand.

He needed this.

Who needed it?

——Both of us.

For Father, it’s obvious. To accept the relationship of the daughter he’s spent years rejecting, he needed a ritual.

And for me?

I never cared about his approval in the first place.

Being acknowledged by someone I hate brings no joy.

But even so—

We needed a resolution.

And if this kiss is what it takes—

…Yeah. It settles something inside me.

So—

"…Mm."

"Haha. Understood, Princess."

I close my eyes and wait.

I never thought I’d be doing something like kissing.

But here we are.

I met this idiot. I chose to live my life with him.

So if this is what it takes—

——Then I’ll do it.

As my thoughts race, heat brushes my lips—

And the two of us become one.

——Ah.

Now I realize.

I’ve… really fallen for him.

"—Behold! Let us celebrate the future of my daughter and the hero!!"

Father’s voice booms through the hall.

No amplification magic—just sheer presence, carrying a mix of detachment and… satisfied defeat.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

The applause that follows drowns out all else.

Did… the leader orchestrate this?

My speech. Our kiss.

And Father’s acknowledgment.

——An indisputable victory.

And so, I—

Finally shake off the last of my fears.