It happened at a banquet celebrating the hero’s defeat of the Demon King.
The grand feast in the great hall of the Royal Castle of the Kingdom of Roselant was a prestigious gathering attended by nearly every major dignitary in the realm. First, the king announced the rewards for the heroes.
On stage sat the king, the queen, the first prince, the second prince, the third prince, and the fifth princess, while the five heroes knelt in respectful attendance.
The king—a man with platinum hair, green eyes, and an imposing physique—spoke in a solemn tone:
“Hero Dagan, I bestow upon you the title of Duke and grant you leave to wed my daughter, Stella Lilis. My adopted son, hold your head high; ascend the steps and come join my closest attendants.”
At the king’s words, a shock ran through the hall—and the fifth princess, Stella Lilis Roselant, felt it most keenly. Only eighteen years old, the golden-haired, green-eyed princess stiffened in surprise, and her body nearly faltered.
Gently supporting her was a nobleman with long platinum hair and pale blue eyes—a young man of merely twenty-two, the Third Prince Lunarsion Roselant, whose beauty was often likened to the moon.
“Lord Dagan…” Lunarsion murmured, his voice tinged with disbelief as he gazed steadily at Dagan.
While the queen, the first prince, and the second prince remained unmoved, several other royal relatives who had not ascended the stage along with the high-ranking nobles glared at Dagan. Once a knight in the king’s service, Dagan had risen from commoner to viscount, gaining a noble family name—but he’d long been at odds with most of the aristocracy. When he set out on his journey, they had forced him to renounce his status. And now, not only was he being elevated to a duke, but he was also betrothed to a princess. It was only natural that hateful glares were cast in his direction.
On the contrary, the knights and other martial officers looked upon Dagan with envy, respect, and hopeful anticipation, while those outside these circles watched the unfolding drama with anxious curiosity.
Exposed to countless stares yet unruffled, Dagan lifted his head and rose to his feet. From every corner came faint cries of, “The royal blood is being tainted!” and “A mongrel!”
Hero Dagan was tall and powerfully built, with black hair, golden eyes, and a reddish-dark complexion. His face bore the marks of a life as if seasoned by fifty years, etched with a wild, rugged intensity. Proudly, two twisted horns sprouted from his head, and his canine teeth had developed into fearsome fangs.
He was a half-demon—the offspring of a demon and a human.
Standing his ground, Dagan’s rich, forceful voice rang out:
“This honor is far beyond what I deserve. However… I must respectfully decline.”
At his words, nearly everyone in the hall froze. The king, though a benevolent ruler, was also a fearsome pugilist with a finely honed physique—and he was merciless on the battlefield or when punishing anyone who would slight the queen and his children. As expected, his green eyes flared in anger and he stepped forward, his sharp voice demanding:
“What objection do you have to Stella Lilis?!”
“Because she’s a woman,” came the curt reply.
“Huh?”
“I can’t marry a woman!”
“Eh?”
Now, every eye in the hall locked in stunned silence. Then, Dagan’s demeanor and tone shifted dramatically. With an exasperated sigh and a ruffle of his hair, he roared:
“I only get hard for men!”
A wave of upheaval surged through the hall, and murmurs arose even among Dagan’s own band of heroes.
The Saintess, with a touch of incredulity, murmured, “Oh dear—are you losing your mind?” The Sword Saint sympathized, saying, “My poor Lord Dagan… you’ve been fighting for five years straight, haven’t you…” Meanwhile, the magician stuttered, “S–Stella is m–my… my…” in a faltering cry, prompting the Pugilist to bellow at him, “Your voice is too soft—speak up properly!”
The queen trembled, unfurling her fan to hide her face; the first prince sat agape before managing a wry smile; and the second prince’s face twisted in anger. Even the king’s composure and tone began to crumble.
“Eh? What the hell are you saying? Have you lost your mind? This isn’t what was agreed upon… Hey!”
Ignoring the king’s outburst, Dagan strode onto the stage and stood before Stella Lilis and Lunarsion, his gaze cold and appraising. Stella Lilis shrank back in alarm. In contrast, Lunarsion—standing protectively by the princess’s side—remained unshaken. Despite Dagan towering more than a head above him, the third prince looked straight up at him.
“Yeah. Since it’s not the princess you want,” Lunarsion remarked coolly. “I guess we should forget about the hero’s offspring— you want to find someone you truly love. Well… if it’s with this prince, I’d be honored.”
At this, Dagan’s thick fingers reached out toward Lunarsion. With wide eyes and a hand entering into Dagan’s palm, Lunarsion replied:
“I’ll be delighted to marry you! Do as you please!”
A stunned “Huh?” escaped Dagan before he realized what was happening.
And so it was that Hero Dagan married Third Prince Lunarsion Roselant.
Author: Yohan O
A bit of this, a bit of that, a bit of everything except straight
