Chapter 191: The Arrival of Mother
While Rest and Yuri moved to the eastern side of the plain, on the western side, Viola and Primula were meeting with a certain individual in their cottage.
“It’s been a while, my beloved daughters.”
“…It’s been a long time. You look well, Mother.”
“…When did you come here, Mother?”
The one who had arrived at the cottage where the Rosemary Sisters lived was none other than their mother, Airish Rosemary. With a youthful appearance that belied her status as the mother of two daughters, Airish smiled as she sat with her legs crossed in a chair, facing her daughters whom she hadn’t seen in months.
“I’m relieved to see you both looking so healthy. By the way… where has your husband gone?”
The term “husband” naturally referred to Rest. In response to her mother’s question, Viola spoke up.
“If it’s Rest, he’s gone to the eastern side of the plain. He was asked by the daughter of Baron Lavender to exterminate some monsters.”
“I see… Your husband is on good terms with the Lavender Barony, isn’t he? Just as one would expect from my son-in-law.”
Airish smiled proudly. With her strong preference for powerful individuals, she held Rest, a formidable magician, in high regard. This was something that delighted Viola and Primula, yet it also filled them with a sense of unease.
“So… Mother, what brings you here today?”
“For you to come all this way… is something the matter?”
“Oh, right. I almost forgot.”
Airish tossed a bundle of papers onto the table.
“What is this…?”
“I brought a list of candidates for your husband’s mistress. For now… I’ve selected about twenty.”
““A mistress!?””
Viola and Primula exclaimed in unison. What kind of conversation was this for a mother to have with her daughters?
“You understand the meaning of the word, don’t you? I’m talking about concubines.”
Airish said this as if it were the most natural thing in the world, then began flipping through the stack of papers. There were names and detailed backgrounds of daughters from the branches of the Rosemary Marquis House and lower noble families. The list included a widow in her thirties and even a young girl just over ten years old.
“I was going to show this to your husband right away, but… it’s a shame he’s not here. Well, managing his mistresses is also the wife’s job, so you two should read through this carefully.”
““……””
Viola and Primula were left speechless by the bluntness of her words. What mother would suggest a mistress for her son-in-law? Well, they knew all too well that Airish was the type of person who wouldn’t bat an eye at such matters.
“Let me make it clear… neither you nor your husband have the right to refuse. If he has been granted a vast territory as the head of a count’s family, then it’s even more necessary.”
Airish explained. Rest had been given a vast territory in the northern part of the Subnock Plain. In terms of land size, it even surpassed that of the Rosemary Marquis House. It was not favorable for the head of a count’s family to hold such a large expanse of land. Concentration of power in a specific noble family was not something the royal family would appreciate.
(That’s why they provide a mistress. By distributing the children born from the mistress, they can alleviate the concentration of power and territory, thus signaling to the royal family that there is no intent to rebel.)
(Over several generations, they will mix blood with the royal family and central nobles… ultimately serving the royal family as a different noble house from the Rosemary Marquis House. That’s the plan, isn’t it?)
Viola and Primula were both daughters of a noble family. They understood this line of thinking and were prepared to accept it, albeit reluctantly. Even without considering the territory… a powerful magician was a national asset. Increasing the number of Rest’s children was necessary to counter the increasingly precarious situation with the Eastern Empire and the long-standing adversaries, the Northern Barbarians. Still… emotionally, they were astounded that their mother could discuss such matters with her daughters.
“By the way… why did Father marry you, Mother?”
“Viola, why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?”
“Well… I was wondering if Father was also encouraged to take a mistress. After all, your theory is that an excellent magician should leave behind many children, right?”
Their father, Albert Rosemary, was the chief court magician. He was said to be the most talented magician of his generation. If they were to bring up their mother’s theory, it would be strange for Albert not to have a mistress.
“Oh… that’s true, but Albert is unable to have children.”
““Huh…?””
“After you two were born, he contracted a fever. It seems he was afflicted by a terrible disease during the campaign against the Northern Barbarians. He can still perform the act, but he has lost his seed.”
Airish crossed her arms and, for once, pouted in displeasure.
“If it weren’t for that… he had planned to have seven or eight more children. What a pity.”
“Is that so…”
“That explains it…”
The two exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of discomfort and understanding.
Albert and Airish. Their personalities and ways of thinking were polar opposites, yet they were a loving couple. It was puzzling that Airish, who believed in having many children, had not had any besides Viola and Primula.
“I even thought about having another man father children and raising them as Albert’s… but he would have cried, so I decided against it.”
“I think that was the right choice… Mother.”
“I’m glad there are no half-siblings…”
The two exchanged uneasy glances, nodding in agreement.