Book 1 Chapter 11 The Reason to get Married
“The reason I wanted to marry you……is because it was one of the goals for my dream.”
Irene spoke with full seriousness in her eyes.
“You see, my dream……is for this city to be properly recognized by the government.”
“By the government?”
“We want those who have lost their places in society to know about our city, to know that there is such a place that will still accept them in this world.”
“Do you mean to say that our marriage is one of the means for it?”
“I’ve been thinking If I should just go on like this, living a life at a minimum. The government won’t annoy us, and we’ll be at peace, but……”
“You met me, and it rekindled your passion.”
“Yes. Together with you, I want to create a future with our own two hands……Unpleasant, isn’t it? To use our marriage like that.”
“That’s not true!”
I shook my head right away.
“Isn’t that wonderful? If we’re officially recognized as a city, our life will be easier in so many ways. Plus, you’re the mayor of this city. It is your duty, after all.”
Our marriage will bear an even greater significance.
Though marriage in form is already good for me, for Irene, it is not good enough.
“I’m happy that I can be of use. After all, I still have to repay you.”
‘You are really a nice person. Thank you, Tomo.”
“As long as it’s for your sake. So? Is there a way?”
No matter how much we aspire, we can’t make progress without a concrete way to do so.
I asked Irene if she had any ideas.
“I have only just one.”
“What is it?”
“At fixed intervals, government officials visit this city from time to time.”
“Government officials? Why?”
“For tax collection.”
“What the……!”
I was speechless.
Although they are not recognized as a city, they still pay taxes. And as I dwelled further to the story, it seems that they are even charged twice the amount than usual.
Irene kept silent about this, but I could see that tolerating this must have been painful for her.
She plans to take action while taking full advantage of our marriage.
“In other words, we have to convince the visiting officials first. Am I right about this?”
“Yes, I don’t know if we can do it right, though.”
“You’ll never know until you try. So, if the city recognizes us, we’ll get married for real and…”
‘Yes. If things go well.”
“And it will. After all, I want to do my best for me and Irene’s happiness.”
“Thank you.”
Irene gave me a bright smile.
“But that issue is for my own. there’s something else I want you to do, that only you, Tomo, can do.”
“Please say anything.”
At this point, not answering to her bidding will be ungrateful of me.
“That is……”
With a smile,
“I want you to love other women besides me.”
That’s what she said.
“……Eh?”
Another set of words that I couldn’t believe my ears.
However, I was sure I didn’t mishear it this time, as Irene is wearing her serious expression once again.
“What……do you mean by that?”
“The girls in this town have never known what love is…… Yesterday, I was loved by you, and from there, I learned to know how wonderful it was.”
“And I’ll be doing it for the others as well?”
“That’s right. ……Of course, your feelings are the priority. If you want to love someone other than me, you’re free to love them. I don’t want you to be unable to love that person because you’re worried about me.”
“Are you really fine with this?”
“I might feel a little jealous, but it should be fine. After all, polygamy is the norm in this country.”
“……, I see.”
I was surprised, as it was too sudden, but I could tell that Irene was serious about this.
So, there’s no way I could interpret this as a joke.
As for me, if someone loved me, I would only want to return the same.
I still don’t know if anyone else will like me, though, and as much as possible, I want to take this love seriously. If not, that would only be playing with everyone’s feelings, and I don’t like that.
“As expected of my Tomo. Your faithfulness is really incredible.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
‘Fufu, now that we talked about all that I wanted to say, I felt like doing it again.”
“Gulp……”
I unconsciously drank my saliva.
“Hey, Tomo? Can we make love again?”
“O-of course……!”
And so, Irene and I went to the bedroom once more.
