Chapter 195 - Marina and Patricia
I was at the Starunion estate, Marmie's home. Incredibly, both the façade and the gardens had been perfectly restored. It had only been four days since our attack had left them in ruins, but with everything that had happened since, it felt like a distant memory.
Right now, I was in the room of Marmie's mother, Marina. The windows were open, letting in the morning sunlight and a gentle breeze. She stood there, gazing at the scenery outside. Her hair, the same silver as Marmie's, billowed softly in the wind.
A round table large enough for four sat in the room, with two cups of tea steaming upon it. I was the only one seated, occupying one of the chairs. Behind me, Patricia stood in attendance.
There were only the three of us. The other members of my party were in Marmie's room. Tursa had already left; it would have been inappropriate for the captain of House Wanland's personal guard to be seen entering the Starunion estate.
"Patricia, what about tea for you?"
She was the one who had brought it, but she had only prepared two cups.
"N-no, I do not require any."
"Sit here."
I gestured for her to take the seat next to me.
"I will remain standing."
As I took a sip of my tea, Marina turned to face me.
"It's about Patricia…"
I decided to get straight to the point.
"I want you to release her from her slavery."
"Wha—"
The cry of alarm came from Patricia. Startled by her voice, I glanced back to see the hand clutching the silver tray trembling uncontrollably.
"Mash-sama… did I do something to offend you?"
"No, you haven't done anything. That's why I want you freed."
I kept quiet about the numerous times she'd punched me, as that would only complicate matters.
"B-but… I will do my best to be of service, so please, may I not be allowed to continue serving by Mo-sama's side?"
"Hm? I don't follow. I just want to free you from slavery. After that, I'd like you to keep working by Mo's side, just as before."
"…If that is the case, could I not continue to work while remaining as I am? You may have heard from Mo-sama, but I cannot return to my Flower-Kin town. I am deeply grateful to House Starunion for taking me in. I do not wish for your concern for me to create friction between the elven race and the Flower-Kin. Please, I beg you, leave my station as it is."
Seeing her bow her head so deeply left me at a loss for words. It sounded noble to say she was protecting the peace of her hometown and the relationship between the Flower-Kin and the elves at her own expense, but in reality, she was simply the one being sacrificed.
"The Flower-Kin town she is from is not even a tenth the size of Migul. If you were to go there, Son-in-law, and summon Racshell-sama, you could have things your way."
At some point, Marina had gracefully seated herself across from me. She brought the teacup to her lips for a sip. It was a picture of elegance, a stark contrast to the way Fam guzzled down her Ayran.
"If you say so, I'll give it a try, but it's at the western edge of the continent, isn't it? It's a pain to travel that far."
It had taken us over a month to get from Richelle to this city. The Great Forest was even farther west. As I pondered this, Marina's brow furrowed and she fixed her gaze on me.
"I was under the impression, Son-in-law, that you disliked standing out and have avoided summoning Racshell-sama for that reason."
"Hm? I certainly don't want to stand out, and being praised as some messenger of the gods would be a problem. But I'll do it for Patricia."
When I said that and looked at Patricia, I saw her cheeks flush red.
"Patricia, bring another cup. And then, take the empty seat."
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
At Marina's words, Patricia scurried out of the room. It seemed that while she stubbornly refused my requests, she would obey Marina without hesitation.
"You would not summon the goddess for the sake of House Starunion, would you?"
As I watched the door she had exited through, Marina spoke in a quiet tone.
"About Fam…"
Now it was just the two of us. The steam rising from the tea carried a rich aroma that filled the room.
"I heard from Mo about your attempt to perform the dispelling at the Grand Cathedral."
"So, what's the verdict?"
I waited for her next words, my heart filled with prayer.
"You can see the curse, Mash. I, too, could see the curse upon her. However, you said it did not react to the dispelling magic. In other words, there is nothing that can be done through magical means."
She explained that the church's 'miracles' worked by channeling immense magical power to strip away and wash off a curse. In contrast, Marina's method involved channeling magic into the curse to read its reaction and understand its mechanism. From that information, she would then create a specific spell to undo it. Both methods required a reaction from the curse to magical power.
"There is a stagnation of magical energy, yet it does not react to magic itself. If it is not magic, then perhaps it is a blessing."
"A blessing… you mean it's the power of a god?"
She nodded. I recalled the circumstances of my first meeting with Fam and found it impossible to believe. But… could it be possible that her illness was what protected her from being sold into slavery? As long as she lived in her village, her symptoms wouldn't worsen, and one day the curse was supposed to be lifted. It only got worse because she was abducted. What was the master of that curse thinking, trying to bind the villagers to that land? I couldn't possibly see that as a blessing. Was it all set up so that she and I would meet? I shook my head, trying to dismiss the thought. A blessing this cruel was unbearable.
"There are beings besides the Fifty Gods who possess power close to that of a deity. Their thoughts are beyond the imagination of those of us who live in this world."
"Didn't you hold a negative view of the church?"
"What I reject is the notion that the church's miracles are performed by a god. I do not deny all of their activities, nor do I deny the existence of divine power."
"I guess I'd better go to Fam's village after all."
Life in the village was no longer what it once was. And just visiting wouldn't immediately lift her curse. But if she were there, the curse wouldn't kill her, and one day she would be freed. The problem was, when the curse was lifted, someone else would supposedly be afflicted in her place. And now, there was no one left to take her place.
"Another possibility, however remote, would be Zeno Leafclout…"
"Mo's fiancé?"
If I remembered correctly, he was from a family that specialized in magic affecting the mind and was also researching immortality. It would be unreasonable to steal his fiancée and then ask him to take care of Fam. He might even do something to her out of revenge.
"He has returned to his own estate for the time being."
Patricia returned to the room. Three cups now sat on the table. After refilling our tea, she sat down, positioning herself slightly closer to me.
"Now then, let us move on to my business,"
Marina said with a small cough.
"Son-in-law, you spent the night before last, and last night, in the same bedchamber as Mo, did you not?"
At those words, I choked on my tea and spat it out. Patricia recoiled, covering her face with her hands as her eyes widened in shock.
"W-well, yes…"
I managed to answer between coughs.
"And you did not engage in the act?"
I had no idea how she was privy to that information. I had been dragged off to the dungeon by Tursa first thing yesterday morning. Marmie was with me the whole time, so she couldn't have had a chance to report to Marina. The only opportunity might have been when I was talking with Tursa, but there was no way for information from last night to this morning to have been passed along. Besides, I couldn't imagine Marmie telling her mother something like that. Especially since our marriage was approved, she herself seemed to be holding back from deepening our relationship.
Does Marina have a spy at the inn? The buildings in this world were far less soundproof than the ones back home. I'd been completely careless.
"That's because Fam, Mizuki, and Maira were there…"
It just felt awkward.
"That is a lie. I heard from Aira. She told me you do it regardless of who is present, and in fact, you rather enjoy it."
Patricia's eyes grew even wider. She shifted her chair, moving slightly closer to Marina. Seriously, Aira, what the hell are you coming to this mansion to 'study'? Next time I see her, I'm going to grope her breasts relentlessly.
"Wait, 'enjoy it' is a misunderstanding. I get incredibly nervous."
"…"
Patricia moved her chair even closer to Marina.
"Well, I understand that you get nervous. We can set aside your particular tastes for the moment. Why will you not do it with my daughter?"
"Mo is still a child. At least until she's around Fam's age…"
By that time, I felt like Fam might even give her blessing.
"You do not understand women. Mo has been a woman since the day she was born. You told her you loved her, did you not? Can you not imagine how she would feel if you suddenly stopped seeing her in that way, even for a short time?"
"Well…"
I was at a loss for words. I didn't understand women's feelings well enough to answer, nor did I have the experience.
"Furthermore, we need you to consider our circumstances as well."
'Our circumstances' meant the fact that Marmie might be the last child of the elven race. I had won her by arguing that the elves were merely trying to preserve the purity of their species.
"Wait, are you planning to make Mo bear a child? That's way too soon!"
"It is not too soon at all. For us, we cannot afford to waste a single moment."
"I get that, but… are you going to make her bear that burden alone?"
"Son-in-law, did you not take on that burden with her?"
It was an irrefutable point. I couldn't argue back and fell silent. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was too early for her to have a child. Besides, she said she wanted to go on adventures with me. If she had a baby, adventuring would be out of the question. And, though it was unfair to her, I had a strong desire for my first child to be with Fam.
"You seem hesitant to have children, but Marianne-sama may already be with child, you know?"
"Wh-what did you say?!"
With that, Patricia moved her chair right next to Marina's.
"You spent a night together in that cell, did you not? You would have had no opportunity to give her a contraceptive. She is past the prime age for marriage. Do you truly believe she would willingly take a contraceptive after being released from that cell?"
Marianne was only twenty-three. The fact that I thought that was early was probably due to my old world's sensibilities. In this world, the age of adulthood was younger. And for nobles, political marriages were the norm, so it was likely common to marry at a young age, just as Marmie had been expected to.
"I understand your thoughts, but please, consider Mo's feelings, the position of House Starunion, and the future of the elven race."
As I remained silent, Marina delivered the final blow.
"…I think I understand. But still, a child is too much for Mo right now."
Hearing my words, Marina gave a small nod.
"Very well. In that case, once fertilization is confirmed, I shall take Mo's ovum."
"…? Take it and do what?"
I had no idea what she was talking about. How did she plan to confirm fertilization, and how would she 'take' the egg? Was there some kind of magic for that?
"I will receive your and her ovum and bear the child myself. We will install that child as the heir to House Starunion and formally revoke Mo's right of succession. As you wish, Son-in-law, she will be allowed to live with you as she pleases."
Patricia's chair moved to the spot right next to mine.
"…"
Patricia and I stared at Marina, our eyes wide. Our throats both made a gulping sound in unison.
"I-In that case, wouldn't it be better if you and Mash-sama just did it, Marina-sama?"
Patricia muttered under her breath.
"Wait wait wait wait, she has a husband. I don't want to be resented."
"That means you would be fine with it if Augustus-sama were not around, Mash-sama, correct? If you do it secretly, no one will know. Besides, if you receive the egg and give birth, wouldn't that child be considered your child, Marina-sama? In the end, isn't that the same as the two of you doing it together?"
Now Patricia was spouting nonsense. A few tulips had sprouted on her head.
"Mo would probably resent me too."
"…You have a point. I had forgotten Mo-sama's feelings. But setting Marina-sama aside, would Augustus-sama be able to treat the child as his own?"
Patricia, while agreeing on one strange point, continued to press the issue. I understood how she felt. My own head was starting to spin.
"Publicly, the child will be mine and Augustus's. But in reality, it will also be our first grandchild. My master's blood will be in its veins. There is no reason we could not love it."
With that, she took a sip of her tea. Patricia and I followed her example, trying to calm our nerves, but the tea had already gone cold. I had a feeling that no matter what his personal feelings were, Augustus would ultimately follow Marina's wishes. Just as I was being forced to.
"…Alright. I'll be proper with Mo."
She gave a small nod at my words.
"You can ride a horse, can you not? I shall lend you one. Take Mo and ride east. Less than half a day from here, there is a lakeside surrounded by trees, where the Starunion family has a villa. Spend the night there."
"…"
It seemed I had no choice in the matter. I could only nod.
"Marina-sama, I shall accompany them to ensure they have a wonderful evening."
"Patricia, are you an idiot? Leave the two of them alone."
At Marina's words, Patricia's shoulders slumped in disappointment.
"Finally, let me give you this."
Marina stood and walked over to a writing desk adorned with exquisite inlay work. She unlocked a drawer, took something out, and returned. She placed it on the table.
"Th-this is…"
I gasped. It was made of a deep navy blue crystal. I'd never seen anything made of this material before, but I recognized the shape. Not that I'd ever seen one in real life, only in pictures online. It looked something like a corkscrew, if the metal parts were all made of crystal and the screw itself was a teardrop-shaped object.
"Um, may I venture a guess as to what this is?"
I asked Marina cautiously, using polite language. She nodded, so I shifted my chair a little farther away from Patricia to avoid getting punched.
"It looks like an anal plug."
The moment the words left my mouth, Patricia's fist came flying.
"Stop it, Patricia."
At Marina's command, her fist stopped just inches from my head. After observing this, Marina cleared her throat with a small cough.
"I heard about your hobbies from Aira. This is an anal cleaner. Insert it and pour in magical energy, and all impurities will be swept away."
I couldn't begin to fathom what she was saying, so I decided not to think about it too deeply.
"In my world, there were stories of people who journeyed to space to obtain one of these… so where do the impurities go?"
"To another dimension."
I wondered if that would be a nuisance to the residents of whatever dimension they were sent to. Assuming there were any residents, of course.
"That's incredible. So, have you ever… played with this with your husband?"
Patricia's fist flew again. This time, Marina didn't stop her.
"I have never used it. However, the theory should be sound."
"…"
When she said she'd never used it, was she referring to her own rear end, or this item? I wanted to ask, but I was too afraid of Patricia's fist.
So it's a prototype? It seemed cruel to use this on Marmie right off the bat. What in the world did she think of her own daughter? Besides, even if we used this on Marmie, it wouldn't produce a child. Marina, too, seemed a little off-kilter. But that was an unnecessary thought, so I kept it to myself.
In any case, I decided that Mizuki would be the first to test it.
I took the object and placed it in my storage. Aira, I take back what I said earlier about groping your breasts as punishment. Now, I shall grope them as a sign of my gratitude. I muttered this in my heart.
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