/
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
——————————-
“Come to think of it, isn’t Linos turning 20 soon?” Rico murmured during dinner.
“Yeah, I’ll be 20 soon too. I want my 20s to be a good decade,” replied Linos.
For me in my previous life, my 20s were a dark age. No job, and when I finally got one, it was demanding. I couldn’t go home, couldn’t take a break, and couldn’t collapse. I was rejected by women, and before I knew it, I was in my 30s. Ah… I don’t want to remember.
“The Niza farmland has already been restored, and now it’s just waiting for the harvest. So why don’t we have a party for my birthday?” suggested Linos.
“Another party?” asked Mei.
“Are you against it, Mei?”
“Of course not, I’m in favor of it,” replied Mei.
“I’m also in favor! This time, I’ll cook!” said Rico.
“I see. How about Ferris becomes the head chef this time?” suggested Linos.
“Eh? But then I can’t eat anything,” objected Ferris.
The dining room burst into laughter. We continued to discuss party details, such as going shopping, until Rico suddenly spoke up.
“Rico, what’s wrong? What’s the request?” asked Linos.
“I have one request for Linos. Please listen, everyone,” said Rico calmly.
“What is it, Rico?” asked Mei.
“I want Linos to take another wife, one or even two more,” said Rico.
“What? What do you mean?” I asked shocked.
“Rico-sama…”
“Miss Rico!” cried Mei with tears in her eyes. However, Rico’s expression did not change. She continued calmly.
“Linos and I have been married for three years, but we have not been able to have children. Neither of us can continue like this. So I want him to take a new wife.”
“It’s only been three years since we got married, isn’t it too soon to rush things?” protested Linos.
“I’m already 26 years old,” replied Rico.
In my previous world, it would have been a perfectly acceptable age, but the average life expectancy in this world was 50 years. Even if Rico were to conceive, it would almost certainly be a high-risk pregnancy.
“For nobles, if they don’t have children after three years of marriage, it’s normal to consider a new wife or concubine,” explained Rico.
“I have no intention of taking a new wife,” declared Linos.
“Master,” said Mei, relieved.
“Linos, this household is a noble family with the title of marquis, and furthermore, it is a family related to the emperor of the Hideita Empire. The issue of succession is important,” explained Rico.
“I have no interest in the problems of noble families. As long as I have Rico, Mei, and everyone here, I am content. I have no complaints. I am happy enough as it is. I don’t want anything more. If we can’t have children, then so be it. Let’s all grow old together,” said Linos.
“LINOS!!!!!” screamed Rico in a shocking outburst that silenced the dining room.
“Don’t you feel gratitude towards the Basam family and their kindness? Wouldn’t repaying their favor mean continuing their family line? Wasn’t their intention to adopt you in order to preserve their family name?” argued Rico.
“It’s true that I was supposed to be adopted by the Basam family in order to become a court magic user under the command of the Regent. But that was just a means to an end,” explained Linos.
“I heard that in the letter sent by the Basam family to Prime Minister Gremont, it said they were happy that their family name could be continued,” added Rico.
“For nobles, it’s a natural desire to pass on the family name they inherited from their ancestors to future generations,” concluded Rico.
“I understand. Then, when I´m old, I’ll adopt a child. That way, the family name will continue,” said Linos.
“Linos…”
“Not being able to have children is not Rico’s fault or Mei’s fault. Maybe the problem is with me. So, Rico, Mei, please don’t blame yourselves,” said Linos, trying to diffuse the awkward tension in the room.
The atmosphere became even more tense and everyone silently cleaned up and went to their respective rooms. Mei went to the lab, and Rico went to her own room.
For the first time in a while, Linos took a bath alone and slept alone in a spacious bed. Normally, either Rico or Mei would be there next to him, but today, there was no one. Linos had trouble falling asleep.
The next morning, the awkwardness between them remained. Everyone treated thi delicately, as if they were handling a fragile object.
As an experiment, Linos consulted with Genaha and Illymo about Rico’s situation. Both of them were positive about having a new wife. In their society, it was common sense to have a new wife if one couldn’t have children.
Curious about others’ opinions, Linos brought gifts and alcohol and went to visit the fox princess. Sandyu the fox princess´s court lady was delighted to see the alcohol and snacks and ushered Linos to another room. While drinking with the old fox, Linos discussed the earlier conversation.
“Hmm, to me, the lady is not someone to be looked down upon. It’s not something easy to talk about,” Sandyu said.
“I see…”
“However, you have changed too. Normally, any man would try to have a mistress without being asked, but you seem to have no complaints with your wife,” Sandyu observed.
“Well, for now, I don’t feel the need for a new wife,” Linos replied.
“I understand, but even if I say that you don’t need to a new wife, it won’t solve anything,” Sandyu said.
“Well, that’s true,” Linos conceded.
“Lord Linos, the princess is calling for you,” a servant announced.
The voice of the court lady Chie could be heard from outside the room. As expected of the fox princess, she seems to have realized my visit. Since there’s no point in hiding it, I follow Sandyu’s urging and head to the princess´s chambers.
“I’ve heard about it. Why did you come to consult with me, a mistress? It’s fishy,” the princess says.
“Do you have a solution for this, princess?” I ask.
“You fool. You’re the one who has to solve it. I understand the lady’s feelings well, so she wanted to convey them to you. She must be troubled because you don’t understand her feelings,” the princess replies.
“I see…”
“The lady is prepared for this. Think about it. Who would willingly offer another woman to their husband? But she still wants you to take another wife, because she wants your descendants to continue. It’s difficult to change that intention. You need to talk to her and consider her determination and feelings. Without doing that, the distance between you two will continue to increase,” the princess advises.
“It’s difficult,” I reply.
“If you can have a child with the lady, then there’s no problem,” the princess suggests.
“Do you have the power to grant a child?” I ask.
“No!”
She answered immediately!
“If it’s about having a child, isn’t it a request for the dog god?”
“Who is it?” I ask.
“That’s Blanc. He lives quite far away from your estate… about half a year by horseback,” the princess answers.
“That’s impossible,” I reply.
“Anyway, understanding the lady’s feelings is the most important thing,” the princess concludes.
“Yes, thank you,” I reply.
With a mix of understanding and confusion, I returned to the mansion.
Rico and Mei were still the same. It was unusual for them not to talk for two days straight. They both avoided me and went into their rooms. So once again, I took a bath and went to bed alone.
And then that night, I had a dream.
Someone was angry with me. It was Eril. Long time no see, Eril. What’s wrong? Why are you angry? Hold on a moment, please, Eril. I don’t understand why you’re so angry. Please tell me the reason…
I desperately tried to talk to her, but her anger wouldn’t subside. She put her left hand on her hip and pointed at me with her right hand while she was angry. This was her style of getting angry when she was defeated in an argument.
For some reason, I couldn’t hear Eril’s voice. If it were the usual Eril, she would have drawn her wooden sword and attacked me, but she was just angry for some reason.
While still angry, Eril pointed to my right side. What’s that? There’s nothing there, it’s just a forest? Eril?? Hey, Eril, what’s wrong?
…I woke up. What did Eril want to say? She was pointing towards the forest? Was there something there…? While I was thinking about it, I considered Rico and Mei’s resolve and feelings.
Rico was a possessive woman. Just allowing Mei to be my wife must have taken a lot of courage. On top of that, adding a new wife would be like denying Rico’s existence. But even so, she chose to do it…
Even though I thought about it while tossing and turning in bed, I still couldn’t find the answer. It was already beginning to get light outside.
“…I see. Instead of thinking about it, I should act on my feelings, huh. That was Eril’s catchphrase. If that’s the case, then maybe I shouldn’t do anything daring.”
I got out of bed and headed towards Rico’s room. A dim light was leaking out of her room.
I knocked on the door, but there was no answer.
“Rico, are you awake? I’m coming in.”
I quietly opened the door and went into the room. Rico was still in bed, facing away from me.
“Rico, I’ve been thinking…I think I should just do what you want,” I said.
…
“However, I can’t choose a new wife. I love you, Rico, so I can’t do that. So, please choose the new wife with Mei. If you both agree on a woman, then I will accept her,” I continued.
…
“…Rico?”
Riko’s shoulders were shaking slightly.
“…That’s cruel,” she said.
…
“I can’t do that…Please choose the woman you love. It’s just too much for me…” Rico said, her voice trembling with tears.
“You can’t choose? That’s okay. We can all stay together for a while, right? A man can still have children no matter how old he is. We don’t have to do it right away. Actually, I would rather have someone else choose for me,” I explained.
“What do you mean…?” Rico asked, sitting up and looking straight at me with red, teary eyes.
“Well, you were introduced to me by His Majesty the Emperor, and Mei was recommended by you as my wife. I didn’t plan to get married because of you two who are such wonderful wives. So, please take your time and choose a new wife with Mei. If she’s the right person for both of you, then I will accept her,” I said.
“Linos~” Riko buried her face in my chest and burst into tears. I gently hugged her.