Volume 2 Chapter 15-2 Vacation Request
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Back when I was a student in Japan, I used to think anyone in their thirties was just an old lady, but Ms. Floria is a beautiful woman no matter how you look at her.
She’s the kind of grown woman with charisma, and she’s smart too.
Being Ms. Nina’s teacher, she has a good personality in many ways.
”First, I want you to remember that in this world, cheating on a married woman is not really a problem as long as both parties agree. Especially for the nobility, once you’re married, it’s almost like free love.”
Huh?
Nobles can cheat?
”Well, rather, Lord Hero is basically only allowed to mess with married women. Do you know why?”
There’s no way I could know that… On Earth, you can’t go after married women.
Is it reversed in this world?
Tell me, Miss Floria.
”For example, let’s say Lord Hero falls for a girl from somewhere in the territory and goes after her.”
I definitely don’t have the guts for that, probably.
”In this case, if you get her consent, then you can happily get married. But even then, you have to buy the lord’s right to spend the first night with her for an outrageous price.”
So, basically, if you go after a virgin, you have to marry her, right?
But what’s this first night right?
Well, I kinda get it, but…
”If you rape a virgin and she doesn’t agree to marry you, the church will label you a rapist. You’ll end up being a target for extermination like the demons.”
What’s that?
I’m glad I asked.
Virgins are scary.
”The church requires that all unmarried women must be virgins, so anyone who disrupts that order is committing a serious crime. However, there are loopholes.”
”Loopholes?”
”If the girl is a peasant’s daughter, as long as you can buy the first night right from the lord, it won’t count as a crime. But in such cases, it’s common for the lord with the first night right to keep jacking up the price.”
If you can’t buy it, you get labeled a monster and face ruin.
Sounds like they’d take advantage of you big time.
”So, even for royalty and nobles, it’s dangerous to carelessly go after unmarried virgins.”
”I understand that very well.”
”But the world isn’t filled with saints, right? What do you think happens when someone with power wants to take a young girl for themselves?”
What’s up with that applied problem?
Every world has its share of bad guys with power, right?
In historical dramas, it’s a given that a daughter gets used as collateral for debts…
”Buying the right to the first night before making a move, is it?”
”That’s half-right; if you go that route, you have to marry her if she wants it.”
Is marriage that bad?
I heard polygamy is allowed.
Well, in the case of those with power, there are class differences and inheritance issues and all kinds of stuff.
So what do we do?
I don’t know, I give up.
”The correct answer is to set up a fake marriage with someone suitable first, and then do what you like.”
”I see, so cheating with a married woman is permitted… but isn’t that a terrible story?”
”Yes, it’s not exactly something to brag about to people from another world. There are many cultural differences that can’t be explained openly like this. The management only tells the summoned heroes nice things. Do you know how much trouble that causes? Half my job is cleaning up after that.”
Ms. Floria has gone into complaint mode.
”So, you’re doing all this to make sure I don’t get caught up in such troubles?”
”That’s part of it, but aside from work, I only do this for gentlemen I genuinely like.”
Ms. Floria’s warm breath sends shivers down my spine.
Is that nice minty scent from the drink?
”Do you know what it means for a noblewoman with a decent status and power to ‘initiate’ a boy she likes?”
I can’t help but imagine a queen-like play I saw in an anime, but it’s definitely not that.
”I can’t even picture it.”
”It’s an old custom among the nobility; a lady in such a relationship is called a ‘thoughtful princess,’ and the boy is called ‘the knight of love.’ Back when there were no schools, ladies often acted as educators for young knights, so it was common for romantic relationships to develop and for them to teach in that way.”
’Thoughtful princess’ and ‘knight of love’… it feels like they’re just prettying up an affair with fancy words.
”The thoughtful princess not only teaches her loyal knight manners and knowledge, but also acts as his backer and offers financial support. Meanwhile, the knight swears loyalty mainly to her. It’s romantic, but really, they’re bound by quite practical interests.”
For a noblewoman, it’s a benefit to have a reliable little subordinate she can count on when it really counts.
For a poor young beginner, having a dependable backing isn’t a bad deal either.
And if the young guy manages to climb up the ranks?
That’s good for both sides.
”I see, it’s like a sort of political marriage.”
”More like a godparent relationship than a marriage. How about it? Would you become my knight of love?”
”Was it Ms. Nina who arranged all this?”
She’s probably trying to set up a solid support for me.
”Actually, that girl probably wanted to be your princess of thoughts… or maybe she truly wants to be your wife?”
Wife, huh… sounds heavy when I hear it like that.
A special bond between a man and a woman, more than just friends──like a shared fate or luck.
About marriage customs, Japan and other places have a lot of differences, but basically, it’s about a couple who loves each other, gets married, and raises children.
Not much changes.
At least the folks in Toyata Village lived pretty normal lives.
”I think Ms. Nina sees me kind of like a little brother.”
She said that herself before, so she probably has good feelings even if it’s just as a little brother.
Better than being hated!
”Oh? So it’s forbidden love, huh? Women find that stuff pretty sweet.”
When she whispers in that alluring, shivery voice right next to my ear, I just burst with excitement, practically swelling up.
It’s like I’m gonna explode.
Women really are daemons, huh.
”Even if I become some sort of knight of love… I probably wouldn’t do much useful.”
I’m weak.
I don’t have the strength to repay the kindness Ms. Floria offers me.
Relying on connections or pity alone for support feels unfair.
”Oh, don’t you want me to make that delicious curry again?”
Fingers as gentle as tentacles wrap around my hand.
This person is coming closer without being sticky or indifferent, with a perfect sense of distance.
I might not be much use in a fight, but some of my skills as a producer could be considered cheating.
In a peaceful daily life, it’s folks like me with my skill set who get more chances to shine.
There’s no need to be humble; this benefits both of us.
”Heh, I may be a bastard, but please treat me well.”
That’s the line that just popped out.
Damn… what am I even saying.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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