Ai Is Our Daughter!

The Summoning Chamber we rushed to was shrouded in an abnormal miasma unlike anything I had ever seen before.

The dark, sinister aura was enough to make me feel sick just breathing it in, and I instinctively covered my nose. The knights who had arrived before us were grimacing in pain.

“Ai!? Why are you here!?”

It was His Majesty’s voice. When I looked, I saw Ai standing before a large black vortex, clutching His Majesty’s clothes with a worried expression.

“Ai! It’s dangerous! Come over here!”

Just as I grabbed Ai’s arm and tried to lead her away, it happened.

With a strange, high-pitched ringing sound, the space before us twisted and warped, and a pale, bluish hand thrust out of the vortex.

I instinctively scooped Ai into my arms, shielding her with my body. Even if a monster attacked us, I had to protect her at all costs!

“Protect Ederine and Ai! Don’t let either of them suffer so much as a scratch!”

His Majesty’s furious command rang out as he drew his sword. The knights immediately formed a protective circle around Ai and me. Then, right before our eyes, something slowly emerged from the vortex. A monster—or rather, a human being.

“Ma…ma…?”

Ai murmured softly against my chest.

“Huh?”

I looked at the people emerging from the vortex.

A man and a woman had appeared. Both looked older than me. They wore the same strange clothing as Ai, but their eyes were bloodshot, and they exuded an air of hostility and bitterness.

While I was still staring in astonishment, the two apparently noticed Ai.

“Ai, you little brat! Where the hell have you been all this time!?”

“Exactly! It’s your fault the police caught us! If this keeps up, we’re gonna get arrested! Come on, we’re going home right now!”

They shouted things I couldn’t make sense of as they tried to approach us.

“—That’s far enough. If you lay a hand on Ai, I will show you no mercy.”

His Majesty stepped into their path, the blade of his sword gleaming as he drew it smoothly.

“W-What the hell are you supposed to be!? Wearing those weird clothes… I’ll call the police on you!”

“That girl is our daughter! Give her back right now!”

But His Majesty remained completely unfazed, fixing them with an icy glare. The woman recoiled before shouting toward Ai.

“Ai! Come here! Let’s go home with Mommy, okay!? There’s delicious cake waiting for you at home!”

Ai trembled and clung tightly to me. I shouted.

“Silence! You have no right to call yourselves this child’s parents! Ai is our daughter!”

“Who the hell do you think you are, acting all high and mighty…!? You’re nothing but a kidnapper! Ai! Stop being such a selfish brat and hurry up! We’re going home!”

My blood boiled. Unable to contain myself any longer, I entrusted Ai to one of the knights and marched straight up to the woman. Then I shouted.

“Fine, call it kidnapping if you like! We’re going to spoil Ai rotten, shower her with affection, and make her happier than she could ever imagine, so you needn’t concern yourselves! Now kindly get out of here!”

Then I shoved the woman with both hands as hard as I could. If they’d come through that vortex, they could go right back through it!

“Eek!”

Just as I’d intended, the woman lost her balance and toppled backward, sinking into the vortex.

“You bitch…!”

The man standing beside her raised his fist to strike me. But before he could throw a punch, His Majesty drove his fist into the man’s solar plexus. Then, in one swift, fluid motion, he delivered a magnificent roundhouse kick that sent the man flying into the vortex.

His Majesty shouted.

“Ai! What do you want to do!? Do you want to become our daughter!? Or do you want to return to your own world!?”

Ai was crying. Through her tears, she shouted with all the strength her little body could muster.

“I-I want… I want Ederine to be my mommy! And I want His Majesty to be my daddy!”

—The instant Ai shouted those words, the vortex exploded with a deafening roar and dissipated. The people who claimed to be Ai’s parents had disappeared as well. All that remained were the people of this kingdom and Ai herself.

“Ai!”

I immediately rushed to Ai and wrapped my arms around her tiny body. Ai clung tightly to me. His Majesty gently stroked her head.

“…Ai, forgive me for forcing you to make such a painful choice. In return, we will cherish you. We will make you happier than your real parents ever did—no, many times happier than that.”

At his words, Ai nodded as tears streamed down her face. She let go of me and, somewhat timidly but firmly, wrapped her arms around His Majesty.

As I watched them with a smile, His Majesty turned to look at me.

“…Um, Ederine. Would you also be willing to become Ai’s parent alongside me?”

“Of course, Your Majesty. Even if I’m merely your wife in name, I am still your wife. I shall devote myself wholeheartedly to this duty.”

But at my answer, His Majesty hesitated, struggling to find his words. Oh? Was that not the answer he’d wanted?

“Well… about that… I was hoping we could put an end to this arrangement of you being my wife in name only. What do you think…?”

“Huh?”

When I stared at him blankly, His Majesty’s face suddenly turned bright red.

“No, well, I know I’m asking something terribly convenient for myself. …But I want us to be husband and wife. A real married couple, bound by love.”

His Majesty, who was usually so calm and composed, had turned red all the way to his ears.

As the meaning of his words sank in, a gentle warmth gradually spread through my chest. Unable to contain myself, I smiled.

“Of course I will—Yuri-sama.”

Ai watched us with a delighted smile before suddenly reaching out and firmly grabbing my arm with her little hand.

—At that very instant, another sharp jolt shot through my body.

“Mm!?”

“Hm? Ederine?”

Once again, letters came flooding into my mind.

…Wait, what is it this time!?