I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship, so I Became a Space Mercenary

wo of you exchanged vows as a couple already?”

“Uh, what do you mean?”

If what she meant by vows was the physical kind, then the answer was a resounding yes.
But it would be improper to say something like that in this situation.

“We haven’t made our marriage official yet.
But my family already acknowledges our relationship.
I suppose you can say we’re already engaged.”

“……I see.
Then what about Mimi-sama?”

“U-Um, err……”

Mimi’s gaze was swimming around the room.

It certainly did feel that I’ve already gained the acknowledgment of Elma’s family, but it was a bit more complicated when it comes to Mimi.
Well, Mimi did decline to join the imperial family and stayed with me instead.
And I also want to stay together with Mimi as well.

“Mimi-sama and Master are already legally married in accordance to imperial laws.”

“”……Eh!?””

I and Mimi yelped in surprise at the same time.

Eh? What the heck? The ones involved have no idea though? When I turned a questioning gaze toward Mimi, she also gave me the same confused look.
You didn’t know, Mimi? Really? I see.
Yeah, that makes sense.
She wouldn’t have been surprised earlier otherwise.
What about Elma? Huh? She’s making a face like she already knew about it?

“The two of them seem confused though.”

“It’s because we didn’t tell them about it.”

“Now just hold on a minute.
That’s strange.
Really strange.
Rather, just when did that happen anyway? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“……”

Mimi’s completely frozen up in shock.
Hey, you okay, girl? You look like you’d fall over straight away if someone lightly poked you.

“……That’s news to us too.”

“……Yes.”

Tina and Whisker’s gazes turned piercing.
Well, uh, yeah.
It’s your first time hearing it too huh.
Me too.
So stop looking at me like that.

“So what is all this about?”

“To put it simply, it’s a measure against the meddling of other nobles.”

“Um?”

“When we stayed in the imperial capital, you gained a lot of attention from various nobles due to the peculiar circumstances at the time, Mimi-sama.
Your civil status is an imperial commoner.
And furthermore, you no longer have any known relatives.
There was a possibility of a noble using their privilege to forcibly become your guardian.”

“I see?”

“Therefore, we arranged for you and Hiro-sama to have a legal marital relationship to prevent that from happening.”

“I understand now.
But why didn’t you guys tell Mimi and me?”

“It was my decision not to tell you.
And it’s not like anything would change whether or not you did know, right?”

“Just why…… Well, I guess that’s true, but–”

Even if I’m now legally married to Mimi, it’s not like anything between us would change, and I don’t think it should.
I want to stay together with Elma and Mei for as long as I live, and that goes for Mimi as well.
And regarding Tina and Whisker……

“……”

“……”

The pressure oozing out of their gazes was amazing.
But I won’t yield.
Don’t think I’ll yield to pressure just like that.
If I was so weak to pressure, I would have succumbed to Lt.
Col.
Serena and Chris already.
I’m a guy who can say NO.

“I haven’t entered into that sort of relationship with these two for now.”

“For now, is it?”

“I’m not sure what’s going to happen in the future after all.
And I don’t want to talk about things like that lightly.
I know my limits.”

“I see.”

Tinia-san suddenly displayed a broad grin.
It seemed to say ‘So you’ve laid your hands on two women already, have you?’ or something to that effect, but I didn’t comment on it.
I’m a man of endurance after all.
Even if things turned out like this, I’m someone who places importance on picking my partners.
If my decisions solely depended on the urges of my lower body, I would probably already be an imperial soldier or knight working directly under Lt.
Col.
Serena or a vassal of Earl Dareinwald.
Or maybe I’ve already become Chris’s husband by now.

But before all that, I would probably be done in by Marquis Holz and Earl Dareinwald though.

“We’re also scheduled to enter such a relationship with Boss y’know.”

“A big family is nice, isn’t it, sis?”

“Did you guys even listen to a word I said?”

Tina and Whisker began saying they’ve taken inspiration from the fact that Mimi and I were already legally married.
Just calm down, will you? Here.
I got you some alcohol, so drink up first.
Cool down a bit, okay? Tinia and her attendant’s sharp gazes hurt.

For the time being, I’m just gonna keep my mouth shut.

I didn’t do anything wrong!!!