NOVEL NEXT chapter 34
34 – Here and There (3)
“You went out and came back… How was it? Did you have fun?”
It was after the evening meal. Charlotte had called her younger sister Marie to her room to have a conversation.
Most of the conversation was about the date they had today.
She, like many other women in the continent, was also very interested in men.
“Yes. It was fun. Although it was a bit less amazing than I expected.”
“Compared to that other world, it might be less amazing.”
Charlotte nodded as if she understood everything.
She knew that the world she was born and raised in was familiar, which could make it feel boring in comparison to the new world.
“I see. Are you going back there soon?”
“Yes. I plan to leave as soon as someone from Dakiya comes. I can’t leave my position empty for too long, after all.”
“Is the person you’re going to be with famous?”
“Well, if you call it famous… it is.”
Marie smiled, thinking about the stories that had stirred up the world, claiming that she had dated a criminal. He had been proven innocent in the end, but there were still many who misunderstood him as a criminal.
“Sigh. That guy must have gone through a lot. I’ve heard that men’s jealousy can be quite sinister…”
Charlotte also looked at Marie with a disappointed smile as her expression darkened.
“It can’t be helped. Nevertheless, as long as you respond confidently, there’s no need to worry too much.”
“I see… If you say so.”
“Yes. By the way, when are the representatives from Dakiya and Matap coming?”
Marie, who was growing tired of the current atmosphere, brought up the topic openly.
Charlotte, after clearing her throat for a moment and adjusting her expression, spoke slowly.
“Well, I can’t say exactly when… but maybe in about two weeks?”
“Two weeks…”
After arriving by ship to White Baron’s Landing, and from there, driving a carriage to the location with the crack.
Marie heaved a sigh, thinking she had spent too long on this side. If it weren’t for the slaves, her home and all her belongings would have been a mess. She felt fortunate that there were those who called themselves slaves.
Charlotte remained silent for a moment and then, with a sudden realization, quickly spoke up.
“Oh, and I’ve prepared the items you asked for. I’ll probably give them to you separately when you leave.”
The money used on the continent can’t be used in the other world. They used coins made of gold, silver, and bronze with the royal seal engraved on them. So, she had prepared some gems and artifacts to make up for the shortfall. Those were the items Charlotte was referring to.
“Really? Thank you, sis.”
Marie held Charlotte’s hand and smiled, and Charlotte responded with a smile as well.
“Don’t mention it. I didn’t do anything. It was all arranged by Mother and Father.”
“Aren’t you being too humble?”
Even though she said that, Marie knew very well that Charlotte had also put in the effort. Her sister was that kind of person. So, with an expression that seemed to apologize, Marie expressed her gratitude.
“Marie.”
In the midst of the warm atmosphere, Charlotte looked at Marie and asked.
Marie knew that what she was about to say would upset her younger sister, but she couldn’t suppress her greed.
Marie looked at Charlotte’s voice and expression and gently let go of the hand they were holding.
It was a sign that they were going to have a serious conversation.
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Back in the old days when many men died, what happened?”
Dakia and Garia boasted a long history as empires.
As a result, they maintained good relations at times and went to war at others.
It all depended on who was leading the country or what the recent historical flow was like.
There were times when Garia invaded first, and times when the other side did. And for the past 120 years, peace had been maintained.
Being a princess, Mari was well aware of this trend, and she replied in a calm voice, “I know. There were many women, and men were too few, so one man was shared by several women. Perhaps due to those repercussions, even now, such a tendency exists.”
“I see. You know it well.”
Why did she suddenly bring up this conversation?
As Mari pondered Charlotte’s intention behind the words, she eventually reached a conclusion.
“Surely… Sister?”
“You seem to be already guessing. Yes, that’s right.”
You want to share the same man.
More precisely, his offspring.
The moment Charlotte expressed her vague unease, Mari’s face contorted in shock.
“Sister… Are you serious?”
“Yeah. Because he looked too good to pass up, like no other men. He’s strong and yet gentle, almost like a father.”
The noble, Alberto, is a man strong enough to wield a sword on a mission.
Having observed such men up close, Charlotte regarded a man like the noble as an ideal male, despite most men in this place generally being modest and tender.
What should one call this?
Initially, it was bewildering, confusing, and made her head spin.
Mari thought with a cooling head that one could make such considerations.
She, too, was a woman born and raised on the continent and was familiar with the culture of polygyny or polyandry.
However,
“Are you serious?”
Inevitably annoyed, Mari’s brow furrowed delicately.
“I am serious. I’ve already discussed this with Mother.”
“Stop it, will you?”
“Of course I will. You’re coveting your younger sister’s man, and it’s a situation that requires me to officially take a mate.”
“But still?”
“Since I wouldn’t yield, in the end, he told me to do as you wish. To negotiate with you.”
Charlotte recalled the emperor that day, waving her hand as if in frustration, wearing a bitter smile.
Marie turned her gaze away, as she couldn’t possibly sigh in front of the person who would become the next emperor.
“So, I was wondering, could we share the same bedroom tonight? You and I.”
“…What?”
Marie raised her voice in disbelief.
Seeing her older sister suggesting something so frightening, she couldn’t understand it, and it made her apprehensive.
It didn’t seem like she was originally this kind of person…
It was strangely terrifying.
“You haven’t experienced it yet, they say. So, you should be the one to go first. And I will have a child in front of you.”
“Sister… Were you always like this?”
“Time changed me.”
No suitable man in sight.
Growing older, and having to produce an heir.
Then, a good man caught my eye, so I considered bringing up that old precedent that smelled of dust.
“Does it have to be a successor?”
“…Yes, just like you.”
“What if I object?”
“Then… allow me to receive the seed, even if it’s from a commoner. Since it’s the seed of a good male, we should be able to produce a good child.”
“Oh my…”
Marie, who felt disoriented for a moment, groaned while pressing her forehead.
She also knew she wasn’t ordinary, but her sister had taken it to another level.
Marie briefly wondered if someone else was wearing Charlotte’s disguise.
“I’m sorry. I know this must make you uncomfortable, but I had no choice.”
“It’s just… so sudden and unexpected.”
“I agree with that too.”
When Charlotte spoke in a somewhat apologetic tone, Marie also sighed and lowered her head in thought.
What should I do about this?
Marie pondered, wrapping her head with both hands.
Should I just provide the seed as Charlotte suggested?
Or should I engage in a physical relationship? Or should I simply refuse?
No matter which path I choose, there will be regrets, but I had to go with the one that would lead to the least regret.
It would be too pitiful to receive the seed and become pregnant on my own.
There’s no anger building up to fight…
“Tsk.”
After repeated contemplation, Marie finally raised her head, clicking her tongue in frustration.
As siblings, she couldn’t refuse the request of the future heiress to the throne, even if she had no intention of doing so.
Even if she knew she didn’t intend to do that.
“Do you really know what you’re asking, sister?”
“I’m sorry.”
As Marie expressed her complaint with that meaning, Charlotte lowered her head, seemingly embarrassed.
She realized too late how much pressure she had exerted in her haste.
“I’m sorry, Shiho looked like he felt sorry for nothing.”
Though she sometimes considered polyandry among siblings, that order was led by Marie.
So she didn’t mind much, but now things were different.
Because Charlotte’s rank was higher than Marie’s.
She was lucky that she didn’t completely monopolize Ushio.
If not, there would have been a huge fight between the sisters, and perhaps even a war.
Marie calmed her emotions and spoke calmly.
No matter how she thought about it, it seemed a bit too much to just rush into the bedroom right now.
“Sister, no matter what, not today. Let’s wait for tomorrow. It’s already late today.”
“Ah… you’re right. I’m sorry. I was too impatient.”
“It’s okay.”
Charlotte lowered her head deeply, as if truly sorry.
Gripping the fabric near her chest, her dress top, which was already tight on her body, squeezed her breasts even more.
“Then let’s end this conversation here.”
“…Okay.”
As Charlotte scribbled on the grass and Mary rose from her seat, she thought to herself that she would surely recover by tomorrow. However, it seemed certain that she would reflect on today’s events as well.
“Oh.”
Mary got up and was about to leave the room, but she stopped herself. Charlotte, who had been sitting there silently, asked inquisitively.
“Hmm? Why?”
“It’s about the artifact. I promised to give it to Sihoo. Is it here in the palace right now?”
“Oh? We did gather them separately. Why…?”
“Just curious. Could you tell me where it is?”
It could be possible. Charlotte, feeling a strange unease, still willingly shared the location of the stored artifacts.
After all, she had no inclination to steal something from her husband.