"Huh?"
Wait, did I hear that right?
Wasn't this obviously heading toward a 'yes'?
Didn't the atmosphere feel like Mother was being understanding and letting the whole thing slide?
Or maybe my ears had just failed me at the worst possible moment?
"Mother, could you say that one more ti—"
"I said, I refuse."
"Ah, yes ma'am."
Her lips were curved into a smile, yet her eyes were colder than a Void-corrupted glacier!
Faced with Mother's unwavering resolve, that was the only response I could muster.
Perhaps I had overestimated how quickly her anger would dissipate.
Or rather, it was because she had heard every single word I'd said earlier.
Well, to be honest, that outcome was actually what I had intended.
"Mother..."
"Dear. I don't know what you were thinking when you agreed to this, but as your mother-in-law, I simply cannot accept it."
"I'm perfectly fine with it."
"No, from where I'm standing, you aren't 'fine' at all."
At those words, my wife's lips twitched as if to protest, but she ultimately remained silent.
It was a silent admission.
...So, I was right.
"...Does that mean you would have allowed it if she were truly okay with it?"
"Even if she were genuinely alright with it, I had no intention of granting my permission."
As she spoke, Mother shot me a piercing glare—the kind that asked whether she should boil me or fry me first.
As I nervously scratched my cheek, she let out a heavy sigh. Seeing this, my wife asked tentatively:
"Why is that?"
"Because a marriage cannot function smoothly that way."
In fanfiction and creative works, it's often packaged as some ultimate male fantasy, but in reality, polygamy is a logistical nightmare. It certainly doesn't paint a permanent picture-perfect future.
There are several systemic issues, starting with the economic burden.
Anyone who has moved out of their parents' house knows the truth: just living independently consumes a staggering amount of Honkai Credits.
Housing, groceries, clothing, hobbies—blink once, and you'll find your wallet has thinned considerably.
So, what happens when you're supporting an entire household?
From the dowry to the moment a child is born, you don't just cut back on your own spending—you have to work your fingers to the bone.
On top of that, you have to expend constant emotional labor to ensure there's no discord in the home.
But in a polygamous setup?
Beyond the immediate financial strain, you have to deal with inheritance and asset distribution.
And the taxes? Don't even get me started.
Even within Schicksal, there are those who have managed multiple partners. Before I married my wife, I once naively commented, 'Wow, having multiple wives must be incredible,' only to receive a grim, heartfelt lecture from a senior.
He told me to never, ever harbor such fantasies.
A harem is only entertaining in games; in reality, it's a hellscape of logistics and stress.
Thanks to those warnings—and the strict 'education' I received from Mother since childhood—I never even dreamed of polygamy.
I hadn't shown even the slightest hint of wanting it.
So why... why am I standing here today, begging for permission to enter a bigamous marriage?
Internally, my tears wouldn't stop.
Aren't women usually the ones most opposed to the idea anyway?
"I don't know what this immature brat said to you, but polygamy almost always leads to a negative outcome. Who would actually want to be just one of several wives or a concubine?"
She was right.
If the roles were reversed, I wouldn't allow it for a second.
That was why I had asked my wife so many times before coming here.
Even if she was finally showing her true feelings now, she hadn't given any indication of this resistance before.
Mother's sharp intuition certainly played a part.
But... as sorry as I was to my wife, this was exactly why I provoked Mother's anger and created this scene.
That's right. I never actually intended to get Mother's permission for a second marriage here.
I staged this for one reason alone.
I thought that by pushing things to the limit, I could finally hear my wife's true heart.
And if she really was sincere, I was prepared to take the fall and let everyone think I was the scum of the earth.
"No, Mother."
"Hm? What do you mean 'no'?"
"The truth is, my husband never wanted a second marriage."
"Honey?!"
I called out to her instantly. This wasn't how I wanted this to play out.
Even if her heart didn't truly want this, it should have ended with me as the sole culprit.
But my wife shook her head, looking at me with a sorrowful expression.
"I'm sorry, my love. But I don't want you to ruin your relationship with Mother because of this. No, I'm sure the others feel the same way."
"But still...!"
"It's okay. To tell you the truth, this was a decision we all discussed and reached before coming here. To see if you were truly resolved to love us through everything... No, the truth is, you weren't the one at fault. My heart simply wasn't broad enough... Despite it being my own burden, I couldn't admit it and acted out like a pouting child."
"...Dear, what on earth are you talking about?"
Sensing the shifting atmosphere, Mother turned her focus back to my wife.
No, that's not it.
If the roles were reversed, there's no guarantee I wouldn't have felt the same. In fact, I would have done everything in my power to stop it.
"Mother. The truth is... I was the one who suggested polygamy to him."
Mother's eyes widened in total shock.
"No, Mother! It was me! I forced her—"
"You, be quiet for a moment."
"Ugh."
Mother stopped me with a single hand gesture and turned back to my wife, looking completely baffled.
"Are you telling me the truth?"
"...Yes, it's true. As he said earlier, he didn't want a second marriage. He kept questioning me right up until we arrived here. He asked if he really had to go through with it, if it was actually okay for him to do so."
"Why would you do that?"
Silence fell. My wife hesitated for a moment, appearing as if she were finding it difficult to reveal the actual reason.
Why was she reacting like this all of a sudden?
"The reason is..."
"And that reason is?"
Prompted by Mother, my wife let out a small sigh. She placed a hand on her cheek, looking troubled, and lowered her gaze before finally confessing:
"Because it's just too... exhausting... to handle him at night."
"...Pardon?"
"What?"
Excuse. ME. WHAT?