A Paladin And A Wife, Mother, Cousin, Sister, Daughter?

Marus laughs, “That is a rather far leap of logic. I thought you said you are leaving.”

“You keep showing up in my life.” Mira smirks.

…

There is a long pause of silence as Mira listens to Marus’s heartbeat like a metronome. “Why did you let me go?”

“I made a bet, and I lo-“ Mira lightly punches Marus’s kidney and he winces, “Bullshit, you could have twisted your words around. You are an incubus and a Demon Lord, I know you could have snared me easily.

“I have killed your wives, your friends, your children, your family. You have as much reason to hate me as I do you.

“However, you treat me like a Queen; like your equal. Even as, you treat others like toys. I see that you are in love with me, ever time you look at me… So why did you let me go?”

Marus winces as if the topic is difficult for him to address, “ A’hikoji helped me see that what I want, fails to be compatible with threatening your safety and liberty in any way. Admittedly, this is alien to how I have lived my life in the past… I want something different from my past.”

Mira thought for a moment and recompiled a mental list she made earlier. Her list of demands if she decided to capitulate to Marus’s desires for her. Now the situation is a little different but not by much. Brides still have dowries and marriage gifts.

Actually, the King granted Mira a Duchy on the front lines of the war with Marus. It has been very profitable as of late. It makes Mira one of the few women in the world who actually owns land and money.

“I agree to marry you if you, if you expatriate all of your slaves as indentured servants. The amount owed being something they can easily work off with their existing skills and have a long life of freedom ahead of them.

“Cease the war with the Kingdom of Arlain and sign a mutual defense and Fair Trade treaty.

“If I am your woman… or I guess if A’hikoji and I are your women then get rid of your harem. I refuse to compete for my man’s attention with slaves who are too ignorant to know what they are.”