A Flat-Chest Believer Reincarnated in a World Where Women with Small Breasts Aren't Treated as Women ~ I Ended Up with a Flat-Chested Harem. - Chapter 7

I bow deeply before His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen as they sit upon their thrones.

“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to be granted an audience with Your Majesties. I, Folca Gles Gustique, have had new garments tailored. From today onward, I pledge to continue serving as both the shield and spear of the Rolique Kingdom, fulfilling my duties as your loyal subject.”

“Indeed. It is heartening to see the next generation of the Gustique family, one of the founding houses of this kingdom, thriving and strong. Folca Gles Gustique, I will continue to rely on you,” the King responded in a calm voice after I recited the customary formal greeting.

I was wearing a coat bearing the family crest, standing in the royal audience chamber. The room, about the size of three school classrooms, was lavishly decorated. The floor was crafted from geometric patterns made of differently colored stones, the walls adorned with marble statues, and the pillars inlaid with gold. Above us, ceiling paintings depicted the sun god. If preserved well, this would be a prime tourist attraction in about 300 years.

Behind me, my father and mother waited patiently.

“Now, let us continue our conversation with the Gustique family in a more relaxed setting. Let’s move to a more private room,” the King said.

For regular nobles, the greeting and conversation would take place entirely in the audience chamber. However, as one of the “Six Founding Families” that were essential in the early days of the kingdom’s formation, the Gustique family was treated differently. It was customary for us to move to a private room within the royal family’s living quarters.

We made our way through the castle and arrived at another room. Across a long table, the royal family and the Gustique family sat facing each other. In addition to the King and Queen, the royal family’s side included the first prince, Prince Kefin, and the first princess, Princess Risty.

I glanced at Princess Risty. She appeared tense, her expression stiff. Today, she was wearing a cream-colored dress with silver thread embroidered in geometric patterns along the hem.

Prince Kefin, Risty’s older brother, had a gentle smile on his face, and the way he looked at me was warm. It seemed that he, too, had no objection to the potential engagement.

Tea and sweets were brought in.

“Once again, it’s a joy to see how much you’ve grown, Lord Folca. The Gustique family remains secure,” the King said.

The Queen added to his words, “The Gustique family has not only increased cotton production but also iron production and wheat yields. It’s quite impressive.”

“I’m honored by your praise,” I replied, bowing slightly as I sat, and the King chuckled, his expression softening.

“The young Lord Folca resembles you quite a bit, Marquis Gustique, except for the eyes. But he seems much more composed than you were at his age.”

Honestly, I’m not composed at all. My mind is completely preoccupied with what’s going to happen later today.

“You’re not wrong. When I greeted the previous king, I was much more rigid,” my father responded.

The conversation drifted into lighthearted chatter, with the King comparing my father and me, discussing how we were alike or different. The atmosphere was amicable and relaxed.

But then…

“Marquis Gustique, on the matter of the Kingdom of Thier, I have a somewhat complex issue to discuss,” the King said after a brief period of casual conversation. This was the cue for the prearranged charade to begin.

“Understood… In that case, shall we adjourn for now? The children should be excused,” my father said, playing his part.

“Yes, let’s continue this discussion with just the four of us,” the King agreed.

“Folca, you may leave for now,” my father instructed, and I nodded with a simple, “Yes.”

“Let Kefin and Risty leave as well,” the King added.

The three of us—Kefin, Risty, and I—left the room. Once the door closed, Prince Kefin quickly excused himself, saying, “Well then, I’ll take my leave,” and hurried off.

That left just Princess Risty and me standing in front of the door.

“…Lord Folca, there’s something I’ve been meaning to consult with you about regarding holy magic. Would you have a moment?” Princess Risty asked in a restrained voice.

“Of course,” I replied.

“Then, may we talk in the tearoom? It’s this way,” she said, leading the way.

The room she brought me to was a charming space with a white table—it was where Princess Risty often hosted tea parties with her friends. But more importantly, it was connected to her bedroom by a secret passage that served as an escape route.

Once again, we sat across from each other at the table. A servant brought out tea and sweets—different from those served earlier. This time, the tea had the soothing aroma of herbs known for their relaxing properties.

“Lord Folca, I believe you’ve been involved in healing activities in your territory, correct?” Princess Risty asked.

“Yes, though unlike Your Highness, who saves those suffering from severe conditions that others cannot heal, most of my work involves creating ‘Holy Water,’” I replied modestly.

“Please, don’t downplay your contributions. You’re doing what’s most efficient. I’ve also heard that you support the ‘germ theory’ hypothesis. About that… No, now that I think about it, this might be classified information,” Risty said, quickly catching herself. “I’ll dismiss the servants. All of you, leave the room.”

At her command, all the servants left the room. When the door closed, it was just the two of us.

A heavy silence filled the air.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed that Princess Risty was trembling slightly. There was a hint of anxiety in her sapphire-blue eyes.

I stood up and walked over to her, gently taking her hand.

“Princess Risty, are you still certain about this?” I asked softly.

“Y-Yes, of course. But… Lord Folca, are you sure? I mean, I… my chest…” she trailed off hesitantly.

“At least to me, you are a wonderful woman,” I responded, silently adding in my mind, I adore small chests.

I helped her to her feet, our hands still entwined.

Leaning in, I pressed my lips to hers. Her lips were soft, and the warmth of the kiss spread between us.

When I pulled back, her eyes were glistening with unshed tears. How adorable.

A brief silence followed. We both knew what was coming next. My heart raced with a mixture of excitement and nerves.

“W-Well then… let me show you the way,” Princess Risty said, her voice quavering slightly.

She reached for a candlestick mounted on the wall and twisted it. The wall shifted with a soft grinding noise, revealing a dimly lit secret passage.

I followed behind her as we walked through the hidden corridor. At the end, there was a small handle on the wall. Princess Risty turned it several times with a few clicks, and once again, the wall moved.

“Please, come in. You can hang your jacket over there. And just place your shoes by the side,” she instructed.

The room was furnished with a single bed, a side table, and a sofa. It was a refined space, with high-quality but understated furnishings. Even though it was still daytime, heavy curtains covered the windows, casting a soft, dim light—perfect for what was about to transpire.

We moved toward the edge of the bed.

“P-Please, be gentle,” Princess Risty stammered, her face flushed bright red as she bowed her head.

“Lord Folca… please, don’t hesitate to tell me anything… Whatever you want, I’ll do my best,” she said, her eyes filled with determination. She was offering to comply with whatever was necessary to make this work, even suggesting she’d try any kind of play. Of course, I couldn’t tell her, “You don’t need to try so hard—just having a small chest is enough for me.”

“There’s just one thing… Could you call me simply ‘Folca’?” I asked.

“Yes… Folca. Please, call me Risty as well. And you don’t need to use formal language,” she replied.

“Alright, Risty,” I said, smiling.

◇◇ ◆ ◇◇

I took a deep breath to calm myself.

Aside from the fact that I might have been a little overeager, everything went smoothly. The marriage was now confirmed.

“Risty, you must be exhausted,” I said awkwardly. I couldn’t think of anything more elegant to say.

She responded with a soft, “Yes,” her voice barely audible, and then her eyes began to fill with tears.

“I’m so relieved… We actually did it…” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Her tears spilled over, streaming down her cheeks.

“We did it… we really did it…,” she sobbed, unable to hold back anymore.

Without any pretense, she broke down into sobs.

I gently wrapped my arms around her shoulders, holding her close.

She must have been carrying an immense burden. It’s only natural. As a child, she had been revered for her perfect aptitude in holy magic, praised as the first princess with a bright future. But as her chest failed to develop and her engagement was broken off, she must have been deeply hurt.

I held her gently until Princess Risty’s tears finally subsided.