Well, there's an entertainment district just outside the capital.
　I thought there was no such area in the capital ruled by a serious princess.
　It's a miscellaneous mix of taverns, brothels and other shops.

There's a certain amount of relaxation that's necessary for everything.
　Today's dinner was just the two of us, as Fujiyan said, "We need to talk".
　Fujiyan, perhaps familiar with the geography of the area, continued onward and upward.

　We arrived at a bar with a good atmosphere and a hiding place.
　Upon entering the bar, the dimly lit interior was filled with smoke.
　Cigarettes....or is it cigars?
　I'm used to the smell of cigars in McAllen's stall, but the cigars in this shop smell awfully sweet.

"....Mister Tuckey. Let's not run this place.
　Frowning, Fujiyan said.
'I wouldn't mind a little cigar smoke, though, would you?
　Did they take care of me?
'No, I don't think you should be here.
　Fujiyan changed shops without giving a reason.

　The next restaurant was also a quiet one with a similar atmosphere.
　I have a feeling it was fine at the one I went to earlier.

''Cheers,'' he said, clinking his glasses together and taking a breath.

　We ordered our meals, and after chatting with each other while drinking for a while, Fujiyan blurted out.
The shop I saw earlier was filled with smoke.
Yeah, there were a lot of people smoking cigars.
Didn't it smell a little different?
Hmmm, that's kind of a sweet smell.
　It wasn't an unpleasant smell, though I thought it might not go well with the meal.　

　Fujiyan moved his face much closer to mine and said in my ear, "That cigar is commonly known as 'weed'.
It's also known as 'weed'.......it's a drug.
What?
　Suddenly, I sobered up.

''Perhaps it's the anxiety caused by the rumors of the resurrection of the Great Demon King, but it seems to be all the rage these days.
...Yeah, I see.
　I had no idea.

''Well, Lord Tuckey, if you are advised to do so, please refuse. The physical effects can be managed with detoxification magic, but we can't cure mental dependence, you know.
I think I'll be fine.
　To be honest, I'm not interested in it, or rather afraid of it.
　I don't think I'll ever be related to him.

'By the way, I thought you wanted to talk to me today?'
"Yes, that's right.... Actually, it's about Nina-dono and Chris-dono.
Oh, those two don't get along.
　And Chris asked you to marry him, didn't he?

Why don't you just marry them both?
　And in this world, bigamy seems to be accepted.
　Financially, Fujiyan would be able to afford it.

''Considering the difference in status between the two of you, it's not likely...''
　For what it's worth, it's not good to be called a nobleman and a beastman race.
　I mean, Fujiyan. You don't hide your desire for a harem, do you?

'What are you talking about!　It's a man's dream!
That's very masculine.
　I don't need one.

I don't know what you're talking about.　You must be the one on the verge of a harem, Mister Tuckey!
''In case you're wondering, you're talking about Lucy and Sa-san, right?
　Well, I feel like the favor is directed at me somehow.

''Hmph, I wanted to talk about that at length today.
What? I thought you were talking about Fujiyan?
　It's nice to listen to people, but it's a little embarrassing to talk about yourself. No, it's quite embarrassing.

Think of it as a drinking game and say it all!
Well, you don't have to tell me.
　You're not going to tell your best friend anything.
　Well, I guess we'll just have to be honest with you today.
　We've got a long night ahead of us.

　We have a long night ahead of us.

- Nina's point of view.

Huh....
　The master went out with Takatsuki-sama.
　After all, they had something important to talk about between the men.
　They seemed to be having a lot of fun.

"Master is going to be a nobleman, isn't he....
　When I'm alone, I remember Christiana's conversation at dinner.
　She said that she would welcome her master into the McAllen family.

　In the land of water, to make it big as a merchant, you have to have a certain status.
　The reason he had refused the title in the royal castle was probably to make sense to Christiana.
　Then what would happen to me?

"I'll be a betting man in the land of fire again...
　I'm sorry. Those scarred days again.

　Fujiwara Store treats the beastmen well.
　In other shops, the beastmen, who were not very good at remembering things, were paid about 70% more than the humans.
　In the worst shops, they would be cut in half.
　That's why Fujiwara Store is full of beastmen, and everyone is working with a smile on their face.

　That was before.
'Lord Nina. The children of the beastmen race should be given an extra ten percent for having beast ears.
'Master, I don't know what you mean,'
　This is indeed a stopgap.
　We don't want to pay the beastman tribe too much salary and have our shop go out of business.

　However, if the master joins the McAllen family as a nobleman, it won't be the same as before.
　Especially since Christiana hates me.
　There will be no place for me........
　A sigh escaped me.

--Kong, Kong.

　There was a knock at the door.
"Yes, yes, who is this?
　I wonder if Sasaki-sama has come to practice his martial arts.
　Yes, moving your body might make you feel a little better.

''This is Christiana. Nina-san, is this a good time?
....
　I should have used my voicemail.
　I couldn't pretend to be gone now and open the door.
　Instead of the smile you usually show your master, Christiana was there, expressionless.

What is this?
'We need to talk. I'll go inside," he said, and sat down on the bed in his room without refusal.
　There are no guards. Isn't that uncautious?

'Please sit down,'
　He sat down on a chair in the room and faced the lord's daughter.

　At the opening, the woman said.
'You don't like me, do you?'
...so what is it?
　Would it have been better to deny it?
　No, it's too late.

"I don't like you either,
I know. So do you want me to get out of here?

　The woman in front of me didn't say a word.
　She takes a deep breath and comes much, much closer.
　Her face is close to mine. I don't like it, but she has a beautiful face.
　After all, the master is more human than beastman race.....

''Nina-san, you must marry Fujiwara-sama.
What?
　What does he mean by that?

'However, I am his first wife. You are my second wife. This is non-negotiable.
I'm either a mistress or a slave, huh?
　I have never heard of a nobleman having a beastman race as his wife.

''That doesn't sit well with Fujiwara-sama. You and I must be on equal footing.
All the noblemen in the land will laugh at you, won't they?
　Even I am not well versed in worldly affairs, but I understand.
　As a nobleman, Christiana and I, a beast race, can't be equals.
　But there, her expression changed to one of desperation.

''If this continues, Fujiwara-sama will gain the title on her own!　The only thing I can give to Fujiwara-sama is my status as a nobleman!
That's not true...
　She is the second daughter of the Lord of McAllen.
　She should have plenty of wealth and connections.
　However, Christiana huffed, powerlessly.

''Fujiwara-sama, you have been developing new businesses in McAllen one after another, and you are also close to the incoming chairman of the continent's largest Franz Chamber of Commerce,'' she said, ''My little fortune and connections are useless. My meager fortune and connections are of no use to you.......
　I was amazed.
　I thought she was always so confident and always smiling.
　I didn't know I was so vulnerable.

'But to be married at the same time...'
'It wouldn't be a bad deal. There shouldn't be any disadvantages for you.
　That's right.
　The master gets to be a nobleman and I get to be with whomever I want.
　I wouldn't have a problem with that.
　But.

"You're only interested in your master's wealth and abilities...
　She marries a man whom she doesn't like for the sake of her family's prosperity.
　It seems to be the norm in the aristocracy, but it's hard for me to accept it.

That's the one!　I don't like it! Chris shouted out.
'What?'
'Why do you always deny my feelings of love for Fujiwara-sama?
You really like him?
...Yes.

　I'm a beastman.
　The beastmen love a strong man.
　The master is the most successful man in McAllen, although he doesn't have the strength to fight.

　He appears to be a good-natured young man, but all the unscrupulous merchants who have approached him in an attempt to deceive him have run away penniless.
　No amount of clever con artists or black-hearted scoundrels could fool the master.
　Despite appearances, he is a shrewd businessman and the most successful man in McAllen.
　That's what I was fascinated by.
　But what did Christiana fall in love with her master?

What's that about, by the way?
　Christiana must not have seen her master's work that closely.

'My family has always fought with my sisters. There is a family tradition in the McAllen family that the child who has made the city most prosperous will be the heir.
'So we need to look good to the people of the city, we need to sell our debt to various people and get them on our side.
But there are a lot of people who come close to using me...
Most of all, what I didn't like was the fiancé my mother had arranged for me.

　I've heard the story.
　He's a nobleman from the neighboring Fire Nation (Great Keith), and he's the second son of a bad character.
　The noblemen of the Fire Nation weren't good guys.....

The one who saved them was Fujiwara-sama.
"For clearing out the scoundrels who came near me and rebuilding my sluggish business.
"My fiancé looks down on me and reaches out to me when I'm feeling down.
He's my prince!
　Christiana spoke enthusiastically.

'Oh, prince-sama?'
　I opened my big mouth in surprise.
　As expected, I've never thought of my master as a prince.
　A prince would be someone like Prince Leonard, whom I met today.
　Well, that one is a prince himself.

'What's your complaint?'
No.
　Everyone has their own values.
　Apparently, I was mistaken.
　Christiana was not a cunning woman who was after her master's wealth.
　She was simply a love interest who fell for the same man.
　Moreover, she said that she would marry me, the beast race, on an equal footing.
　It's an unbeatable deal.
　I said what was on my mind.

''It's just........in the first place, what if you both get dumped?''
Ugh....
　Christiana steps back.
　Honestly, I don't know what my master is feeling, I don't know what I'm feeling.
　I've tried to seduce him, but he hasn't been on board for a bit.

'If we both get dumped then we're going to drink ourselves to death in the morning!　You're going to have to go out with me, Nina!
　I couldn't help but laugh when I heard that.

'Very well, Lady Christiana,'
　What a nobleman's daughter!
　I've never seen such a noble before.

"Call me Chris!　Well then, I'm going to wait in my room until Fujiwara-sama comes back!　I will propose to you both at the same time.
Today is the day.
The fastest is the best timing for these things!　
　That's great, this guy is great.
　I might be able to get along with this guy.
　That's what I thought.


- Makoto Takatsuki's point of view -.

　The Fujiyan next to me shuddered, blubbering.

'What's wrong?　Do you have a cold?
I'm getting a chill.
I think we should go home.
　It's almost past midnight.　
　Today was another fun day.

　I won't know what I've been up to until tomorrow.