46 Marriage?

After delving into the memories tied to this identity, a few things became clear.

I am the eldest son of one of Midgar's Dukes.

Yet, here I am once again, the infamous pushover everyone knows. It's a bitter realization, and I couldn't help but sigh.

How does someone born into such wealth end up like this? Indulging in fleeting pleasures like drugs and prostitutes may offer momentary happiness, but isn't it just an empty facade, void of any meaningful connection?

I can't comprehend squandering the only life you have in such a foolish manner.

This time around, the atmosphere in this family is more rigid and steeped, just like you'd expect out of nobility. As anticipated, they've compelled their young heir to conform to certain standards, but perhaps the child yearned for something different. In an act of rebellion, he spiraled down a destructive path.

While I don't condone such a lifestyle and absolutely disdain it, I can at least fathom the reasons behind his choices.

Nonetheless, it's not my style. I'll navigate this my own way. Compared to the First Trial, the family doesn't seem particularly amiable, and that suits me just fine. Fewer headaches to contend with.

So, I delved into this guy's memories, mostly because I was baffled about tackling the other Tasks on my plate.

Destroying the Cult of Diablos? Sure, bring it on. But what about these other gems?

Marry into the Midgar Royal Family.

Well, isn't that a grand idea? Shall I schedule the wedding for next Tuesday and, while we're at it, pop out an heir or two? Brilliant plan, right?

I let out a sigh. Seriously, why in the world would that be a task?

I care little for the act of marriage itself, but if I foolishly do such a thing because it's easy, given my position as a Duke's eldest son, I may end up with trouble when I am forced to leave.

Fairness, in this case, is way too easy to manipulate. How is it fair for me to be forced into marriage?

Since I can't die or it's game over, the woman I marry would end up with someone else after I'm gone, which is ridiculous.

If I grow too attached to her, I'd find myself back in this world, itching to throttle the current owner of this identity, consequences be damned.

And that's a dilemma. I don't even know if that's a viable option, to begin with.

So, how do I tackle this mess?

I've got a handful of options on my plate.

At first, I considered the classic get-married-then-divorce strategy, but I'm betting the System won't let me off the hook that easy.

I can already imagine the System dropping the "Fairness" hammer the moment I pull a stunt like that, slapping me with heavy penalties.

I still remember Luna Azentine's words. The System is always on standby, itching to invoke Fairness to make things more difficult for me.

Even if, by some fluke, I manage to turn Fairness to my advantage, pulling off a task with a 'barely' label instead of acing it will probably tank my Rating.

Through my Sixth Sense, I can tell having a not so high Rating will be really bad. Perhaps, if I end up with bad Ratings, then I will have a much harder time from the next Trial.

Deliberately making choices to lower my Rating to defy the System is a slippery slope. It could also keep snowballing until passing the next Trial becomes impossible.

The idea of a quick marriage and divorce? Not feasible anymore. I have to brace myself for the possibility of being 'coerced' into a lengthy marriage, possibly spanning decades.

What seems simple at first glance is actually a terrible Task.

The alternative of becoming the worst husband imaginable seems enticing, but it's a double-edged sword. If I drive my wife to despise me, that comes with its own risks – she might demand a divorce, which would backfire on me.

So, where does that leave me?

The only viable path to complete the task while maintaining a favorable Rating is to wed one of the two princesses, all the while emphasizing that it's a marriage of convenience.

Once married, I can swiftly traverse the world, eradicating the Cult of Diablos without lingering in places where unnecessary interactions with her might occur. This way, I avoid developing any emotional attachments, complete my tasks with the required Rating, and spare everyone from harm.

Additionally, I can include a prenuptial agreement granting my wife the option to request a divorce after fulfilling specific conditions. This arrangement would be advantageous for a princess who wishes to pursue her own path after our marriage.

A divorced woman is no longer subject to arranged marriages, unless she happens to be relatively young. But given the potential decades I might have to spend in this situation, that's not a concern.

There is just one problem.

'Lead your faction to victory in the War of Succession'

Yeah, this task was just made to make me waste time.

The most expedient approach would be to eliminate 'my' younger brother without hesitation, seizing the Dukedom for myself. With a bit more strength, I'm confident I could pull off such an act.

However, this choice holds significant weight.

Am I truly willing to transform into someone capable of cold-blooded murder, sacrificing an innocent life for my own benefit?

The resounding answer is no.

I won't hesitate to kill my enemy, but I'm unwilling to harm someone who might be nothing more than an innocent bystander. While the memories of this identity paint the younger brother as a sensible individual, someone with a clear head on his shoulders, I prefer to investigate this matter firsthand.

After all, putting trust in the recollections of this fool is out of the question.

For all I know, these memories could be nothing more than elaborate fabrications. I've never relied on such recollections to pass judgment, and I don't intend to start now.

In any case, my determination is to uphold my principles for as long as possible.

The System can attempt to lure me into the convenient path, but I won't succumb to it. I might not be some once-in-a-billion-years genius, but at the very least, I'm not dumb... maybe.

"...Young Master, have you woken up?"

I heard such words from the other side of the door. After a quick match-up with that idiot's memories, I associated them with the owner behind it.

It's butler Zeppeli.

"Yes. What is it, Zeppeli?"

There was silence for about a second, before the butler continued

"I apologize for the inconvenience, especially considering your state, but could you perhaps go to Sir Adam? He has been patiently waiting, and his dissatisfaction is evident. If you are still unwell, I can infor--"

I interrupted him.

"Oh, no need. Convey to him that I will be prepared for our lesson shortly."

There was a matter I needed to confirm, and besides, I dislike being treated as a pushover. Regardless, engaging in combat with someone from this world is an opportunity in itself. For these reasons, I was actually eager to meet 'Sir Adam'.

Although my body hadn't fully recovered, and the lingering effects of [Overload] were still present, engaging in a challenging bout with him held its own appeal. It would test my ability to fight even under adverse conditions, preparing me for similar situations in the future.

I am not ready perfectly, after all.

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Author's Note:

For those who have seen JoJo and/or The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious, this is for you <3.< p>