Chapter 232 - Backyard of the Stray Priest ⑨
This is a continuation of the previous interlude.
Once the tour of the main street and the downtown area was over, we went to buy the item Mary was looking for.
Her target was an aphrodisiac.
According to Paul-san, an aphrodisiac is something made by alchemists or pharmacists, and it's not magic.
"Those things are just expensive and not very useful. There are many fakes, too."
He was waving his hand dismissively.
"In other words, you've tried it, haven't you?"
When Beatrix smirked, he looked away.
Apparently, it hit the bullseye.
"Hey, Paul-san. Where did you buy it? I want you to tell me."
Mary was acting spoiled toward the hero of the night who was living it up at the brothels of Nakanohara.
"Hey, please," she said, taking Paul-san's hand and looking up at his face with moist eyes.
It was Mary's finishing move that had completely smitten many boys in Nakanohara.
Paul-san said there should be some if they went to a brothel, and he took out his wallet to check the contents.
He might be misunderstanding something.
"She's amazing, that girl."
"Paul-san has completely fallen. He'll definitely be made to buy it."
Beatrix and Lyudmila were putting their heads together and whispering.
Gladys-sama joined in there.
"Um, is there really such a thing as a, a, an aphrodisiac? If, if possible, um... that... I, I also want to try it on Roberts once..."
What is a living aphrodisiac saying?
I want her to look closely in a mirror.
"Oh? Gladys-sama. Could it be that Roberts-sama is being unresponsive?"
As usual, the brazen mage was asking without reservation. I felt like the ears of Paul-san, who was looking away, grew larger.
"It's not like that, but since I've been unrelated to such things until now, it's more like curiosity..."
Her face was bright red.
This won't do. She's like a maiden about to enter a path she's better off not knowing. She mustn't be made to grab something strange. As a priest, I can't overlook this.
"Hey. If it's just expensive and has no effect, let's stop."
I stepped in to stop them, but...
"That's true, too. Paul-san. About how much is it?"
Beatrix asked for me. If they give up, nothing could be better.
"About one gold coin for a small vial."
He spread his right thumb and index finger vertically. It must be a bottle of a size that fits within that range.
"Ugh..."
Even Mary froze. There are more than twenty sisters at the brothel. She hadn't received a reward, and it wasn't something she could afford at all.
"Is that so? It's unexpectedly cheap. If it's the real thing, I don't mind buying everyone's share too."
It's no good.
It was foolish of me to have expected anything from the sense of money of a princess of Medioland and a current member of the Sertoria royalty.
Mary's eyes sparkled, and it was decided that they would go buy it.
Paul-san said that among the several brothels in the Royal Capital, he had a connection with the proprietress of the best shop.
"Why do you know such a person? Do you come here often?"
"That's what you call masculine charm."
When Beatrix asked, he was puffing out his chest.
I don't really know what masculine charm is, but he must have dodged the question with some appropriate words.
He said his masculine charm would drop if they suddenly barged in, so it was decided to go to an introduction office. It was right nearby since it was in the downtown area.
We entered an alleyway on a street lined with pubs.
It was a small shop with a narrow entrance and no sign.
He told us to wait outside, so we had Paul-san go in alone.
"Hey, isn't it Paul-san? It's been quite a while."
He was greeted at the same time he opened the door. Since his name was remembered, he seemed to be a regular after all.
The door closed just like that, so I don't know what kind of exchange took place inside, but apparently, a messenger ran from the back door. By the time Paul-san came out a little later, the deal was settled.
We went immediately.
The brothel they were looking for wasn't exactly on the main street, but it was relatively close to the Royal Palace. I found out later that it was also close to the district where ambassadors and merchants from various countries lived; in other words, it was a super high-class brothel used by foreigners and those working at the Royal Palace.
Since it was daytime, it was before opening, but since it was afternoon, the sisters should all be awake.
When we entered from the back door, we were welcomed grandly.
Of course, it was because Gladys-sama was there.
When we went inside, the proprietress and everyone else were on one knee.
"Gladys-sama. Welcome to such a place."
The sight of more than thirty beautiful sisters attending was spectacular.
Being the best shop in the Royal Capital, beautiful women were lined up.
"No, today is incognito, so please do not be so formal. I have just dropped by with the friends I have here."
Being called a 'friend,' Mary looked like she was about to turn her eyes white, but Lyudmila supported her and she held her ground.
Since she said, "This way, please," we were shown straight to the hall.
On the floor of the hall, a carpet with luxurious embroidery was laid, and on the walls, several tapestries depicting men and women were hung. The chandeliers and furnishings were also clearly expensive items, all 'kinkirakin.'
The pillars of the staircase handrail were carved in the shape of women. Customers would probably go upstairs together with the woman of their choice.
When we were allowed to sit on the sofas at a large table, wine was served.
Paul-san, who had increased his masculine charm, was alone at a counter seat, drinking beer with one of the sisters.
To my surprise, the proprietress remained on one knee beside Gladys-sama, and the other sisters were all standing at a distance.
I'm not used to this kind of atmosphere, so I couldn't settle down.
"Um, everyone. Could you please sit down?"
"No. We must not be discourteous when welcoming a noble guest."
Even when Gladys-sama said so, she was lightly parried with just a smile. Only Gladys-sama was noble; we were just commoners...
"Gladys-sama. It's fine if you become a customer here. You just have to order some alcohol temporarily and become a customer. If you do that, you'll just be a customer, so royalty and everything else won't matter."
When Mary whispered to Gladys-sama, she made a grand gesture, saying, "Then, let's have it for private use for a while."
"We do not mind, but since this is a brothel, private use would be for one night, and we will also order food and alcohol. The price will also be accordingly, however."
When a flustered Mary asked the proprietress for the price, it was apparently one hundred gold coins for one night.
"I do not mind. I only have about thirty coins on hand, but I will definitely have a messenger deliver it by tomorrow. If you can send a messenger, then right now."
Seeing that her face was slightly twitching, it seemed that as a member of the royalty, once she had said it, she couldn't back down. Being a princess is also hard.
Since it's cash-only at the brothel, credit doesn't work. When a messenger was immediately sent, Eleanor-sama and the Queen arrived in the evening.
The one who turned pale was Gladys-sama.
In these times of expenses for the Demon Lord subjugation war, there's a somewhat self-restrained mood in the air. Perhaps expecting to be scolded for being imprudent, she fell to one knee before the two of them.
"Mother-in-law, Sister-in-law, I apologize for saying such extravagant things as private use of a brothel, ignoring the times."
She lowered her head with sweat on her forehead.
"What are you apologizing for, Gladys? What the country is regulating is the waste of public funds. If it is private funds, there is no problem. It will be enough if the Queen gives forty coins, you give thirty, and I give thirty. The men are somehow spineless, and just because one or two Demon Lords appeared, they have even stopped coming to shops like this. Let's take this opportunity to have a banquet with the women and liven up the shop so that many customers come."
"Heh?"
At Eleanor-sama's unexpectedly kind words, Gladys-sama made a silly face, and the Queen looked down and stifled a laugh.
"As expected of Eleanor-sama. It is only natural for one who was once the best customer of the brothels in the Royal Capital. And, Her Majesty the Queen, who is currently the best customer, is also as expected."
"Haah?"
At the proprietress's words, it was our turn to be surprised.
Apparently, it was a tradition of the women of the Sertoria royalty created by Eleanor-sama.
I have heard stories that sometimes royalty and high-ranking nobles would take over a high-class brothel for a huge commotion. I had thought it was about the men, but that seemed to be the story of other countries.
Eleanor-sama apparently threw in all of Henry-sama's and her own pocket money for banquets, and once a month, she would take over various brothels in the Royal Capital for a banquet.
The Headmistress and Jennifer-sensei were also apparently called as guests when they were in the Royal Capital.
No wonder she's usually penniless.
"Gladys. Since you married into our family, I haven't heard a single romantic rumor from the Eastern Plains, so I was concerned, but it seems it was an unnecessary worry. As expected of the one Roberts chose."
When the Queen beckoned toward the door, the ladies-in-waiting arrived.
While Gladys-sama and the rest of us were wide-eyed, the proprietress stood up and clapped her hands, 'Pan-pan.'
"Now, everyone, let's do it grandly."
"Yes!"
The sisters moved about, 'Kyaa-kyaa,' luxurious food was lined up, and bottles of alcohol were set out.
I went outside once and also called Dune and Mel.
With the toast proposed loudly by Gladys-sama, who had regained her spirits, the banquet for women only, excluding one male, began.
Surrounded by the sisters, Gladys-sama was being asked about everything from her first meeting with Roberts-sama to their marriage.
Without letting her tell the fine details herself, they asked for the truth of the rumors.
Every time Gladys-sama affirmed with a "Yes" or "That's right," they would sigh or go "Kyaa-kyaa." Before I knew it, the Queen, the ladies-in-waiting, and Mary had joined the sisters and surrounded Gladys-sama.
Eleanor-sama and Paul-san were sharing drinks with the proprietress and the older sisters while talking calmly.
I was wondering what had happened to the crucial aphrodisiac, and as soon as the question corner for Gladys-sama was over, Mary brought it up to the sisters.
"Aphrodisiac? What? You, are you going to use it at that age? Those things are a bunch of lies. If there's a real one, it's like a stamina booster. It's not necessary while you're young."
"Is that so? But, the ones who will use it are the sisters at the brothel in Nakanohara, not me."
Gladys-sama, who heard the conversation between the sister and Mary, was disappointed. For the world's strongest Roberts-sama, a stamina booster wouldn't be necessary.
On the other hand, the Queen was leaning forward. She must be concerned for the King, who has been through many hardships.
"Oh, you. Are you a girl from the brothel in Nakanohara?"
One of the sisters asked.
"Since my mother was a Priestess, I grew up in the brothel until I went to the orphanage at twelve. I'm still indebted to the sisters at the brothel, so I thought if there was an aphrodisiac as a souvenir, it might help the shop's sales."
Hearing these words, the proprietress leaned forward.
"You. What's your name?"
"It's Mary."
"Mary. From Nakanohara... Could it be, your mother's name is Emma?"
"Yes. Do you know her?"
I was surprised. I had heard she was an excellent Priestess, but I didn't think her name was famous even in the Royal Capital.
"Emma was in this shop until she was twenty-four. Of course, she was number one both as a Priestess and as a shop girl. And I was number two. We were the two star attractions of the shop, and we were a bit famous."
I wonder if there was a fierce battle between women?
"But, you see, as soon as she turned twenty-four, she said she was going to Nakanohara. Since she was born in Nakanohara, she wanted to repay her debt of gratitude. I stopped her while crying, but she went."
"Wait a moment," she said, and went to the back.
When she came back, she had a single portrait.
"This is the proof. Your mother and me. We had it drawn as a memento. There were two, and we each had one."
When she showed it to us, I had seen the same picture. It was one of the pictures Mary had decorated on the wall of her room.
"Could it be, Isolde-san?"
"I've retired now, and my professional name is Megan, though."
"Kyaa! I wanted to meet you!"
Mary jumped and hugged her.
She had apparently heard the stories often from her mother. Since the proprietress was one year younger, she was like a little sister figure.
Her mother and the proprietress apparently exchanged letters occasionally, and Mary has kept them all.
"I wanted to go to the funeral, but you see, it was during the war, so I couldn't get permission to travel. After the war ended, I did go to visit the grave. But you weren't there at the time."
"No. It's okay. I heard from the Headmistress... Bishop Catherine. I still have the money you left at that time without touching it. I thought I would return it when I became a full-fledged adult and Megan-san grew old."
"Thank you. As expected of Emma's daughter."
They were hugging each other while crying.
When I looked at Paul-san, he looked away. He must have known.
"You have a good side, don't you?"
"What are you talking about?"
He was turning red and feigning ignorance at Beatrix's words.
At the conversation between the two, the sisters suddenly felt like it.
After waiting for Mary and Megan-san to finish talking and settle down, they asked the proprietress, "We'll borrow her, okay?"
"So you were the daughter of the legendary Priestess. Leave it to us. We'll pick out something much more useful than an aphrodisiac for you."
I don't know what it was, but she was led away to the back.
"Um, as part of my studies, I also..."
Gladys-sama followed.
"Hey, hey, what are they talking about?"
Even though she shouldn't, the curious mage was asking.
The Queen beckoned us, 'Choi-choi.'
"What is it?"
The Queen, laughing with a "Ufufu," said, "It's undergarments that make a man feel like it."
"Ah, I see."
It's the risqué kind. In the Royal Capital, unlike a countryside like Nakanohara, it seems they are advanced in that area too.
"Not as much as those in the brothel, but I also wear them occasionally."
The ladies-in-waiting were giggling.
"Could it be, Eleanor-sama too?"
"Beatrix! That's rude!"
Watch what you say depending on who you're talking to.
I reflexively poked her shoulder.
"What is rude? Even though I look like this, I'm still very much active."
"As expected of my mother-in-law."
"Such things are part of a woman's etiquette. They aren't as risqué as the ones for young people, but I win with the shades of color."
She was puffing out her chest.
My apologies.
"Jeanne and Lyudmila aside, Beatrix, you go and study."
She pointed to the back, and with a "Yes!" she went in.
A short time passed, and a smiling Mary and the sisters with dark faces returned. For some reason, Gladys-sama and Beatrix had red faces.
"Oh, what's wrong? You guys. You don't look energetic."
When the proprietress asked, one of the sisters glanced at Mary.
"Because, the showdown lingerie Mary is wearing now is much sexier than the ones we're wearing."
"Pffft!"
Paul-san spat out his beer.
The proprietress and Eleanor-sama reflexively looked at each other.
"My!"
The Queen and the ladies-in-waiting were also wide-eyed.
"As expected of Emma's daughter. You guys should learn from her too."
"We already learned. The key points of the lingerie Mary made herself are to make the xxx into xxx and xxxxxxxx, and then to make the xxx into x and xxxxxxxx, she said."
At the too-shocking words, the Queen and the ladies-in-waiting reflexively covered their mouths with both hands and breathed heavily with red faces. Paul-san was covering his ears.
"Impossible..."
At Beatrix's words, the proprietress and Eleanor-sama laughed loudly.