第２０３掘：王者としてのハーレムとは (Part1)
Chapter 203: What a Sovereign’s Harem Truly Means
What a Sovereign’s Harem Truly Means
Side: Jessica
"Come now, please wake up."
"Mmm... just a few more minutes."
It was morning, and for the very first time, I found myself gazing at Yuki’s sleeping face as I tried to rouse him.
Or rather, we were still lying tangled together beneath the sheets, entirely unclothed.
...Yes, last night had been a tempest of passion. It was the moment I truly became a woman, an awakening to a profound joy... Everything about it had flooded me with pure happiness.
"Goodness... I never imagined I would see you looking like this."
I leaned closer, studying the features of the man sleeping beside me.
Freed from his usual burdens, his expression was serene, carrying a youthful innocence that perfectly suited his age.
Normally, by the time I opened my eyes, Yuki would already be busy preparing breakfast. Even on the rare occasions he remained in the room, he was always wide awake.
I had simply never had the chance to see him asleep.
"Oh dear... So this is what it feels like."
A sudden, overwhelming wave of affection washed over me.
Was this what people called unconditional love?
A fierce urge rose within me to pin him down and lose myself in a continuation of last night’s passions.
Yet today, as always, a mountain of duties awaited us in the town of Baetan.
Reluctantly, I chose to soothe the temptation by gently running my fingers through his hair.
"Mm, morning, Jessica... Thanks."
He had finally awakened—though part of me wished he would have stayed asleep just a little longer.
"Good morning," I offered softly.
"Yeah, morning."
Our greetings exchanged, our gazes locked for a quiet, lingering moment.
"I'm in your hands from now on, my wife."
"Yes, I am in yours as well, my Lord."
Indeed, I had been blessed with a wonderful husband.
An impulse surged through me to shout to the heavens that Yuki was the greatest husband in the entire world.
Goodness, perhaps I too possessed the innate quality to become a devout devotee of Yuki, just like his other wives.
"We should probably get dressed. If we stay like this, I might end up ravishing you first thing in the morning."
"...Quite right."
The urge to beg him to do exactly that was nearly irresistible.
...Given how many of us there were, my next turn would be a long way off. I would either have to join in with someone else or find a way to steal him away during the day.
Honestly, while he was a man entirely worthy of commanding a harem, he really ought to indulge in carnal pleasures a bit more. At this rate, we were all going to end up thoroughly unsatisfied.
I wasn't suggesting he emulate those fools who hoarded slaves merely to satisfy their lust, treating women like interchangeable objects.
But surely he could dedicate at least one day a week to doing nothing but making love to his wives.
The simple truth was that we were all suffering from a severe Yuki deficiency!
"Well, well, if it isn't Jessica. Tell me, how was your first night?"
Yuki had left me behind to hurry off and prepare breakfast. Left to my own devices, I had lingered for a moment to savor his lingering scent upon the pillow before stepping outside, only to run straight into Latz. As expected, she immediately pried into last night's affairs.
"Well... to put it plainly, it wasn't nearly enough."
"I figured as much. Sharing a bed with Big Brother only at night is far too brief, isn't it?"
"Exactly. In fact, he should dedicate an entire day to taking care of all of us around the clock."
"Ohh, that's a brilliant idea! Shall we propose it at the wives' summit?"
"The wives' summit?"
"Ah, I suppose you wouldn't know about it yet. It’s a gathering strictly for Big Brother’s wives. We share details about the kind of intimacy we shared, how many times we did it, and so on. It helps us keep things fair. Of course, everyone has their own preferences they like to keep private, so sharing is entirely voluntary, but it really expands our horizons and makes things much more exciting."
"...That sounds deeply intriguing. What sort of intimacy are we talking about?"
Just as I was about to press Latz for details, a different voice chimed in from the side.
"I like to cradle him with my breasts while watching his sleeping face."
"Oh, that is classic Labyris. Though I suppose I have the size to pull that off too."
As Latz noted, the speaker was Labyris, the succubus. Despite her youth, she possessed a remarkably mature aura, and her bust size was impressive enough to rival my own.
"...While watching his sleeping face?"
"Yes. Yuki is so defenseless and adorable when he sleeps. The more you pleasure him, the more delightfully he reacts."
"Ah, I know exactly what you mean," Latz agreed. "He’s much more honest—or should I say sensitive—than when he's awake."
"Exactly," Labyris nodded. "When he's asleep, he doesn't try to hide how good he feels."
"...So, you take advantage of his slumber to experiment and find his weak spots?"
"That's part of it. But for me, just seeing him lose himself in pleasure while asleep brings me immense joy."
...Fascinating.
It was true that because Yuki constantly dealt with troublesome figures, his expressions were often hard to read, even if he didn't maintain a strict poker face.
To watch those expressions shift solely because of my touch... Yes, I would definitely have to try that next time.
"Hey! Stop talking about such scandalous things first thing in the morning!"
"Breakfast is ready~!"
"It is, yes!"
Ah, it seemed Yuki and the others had finished cooking.
"Lord Yuki, this isn't a scandalous conversation at all," Shiela chimed in.
"Indeed, Lady Shiela speaks the truth," Kirue added. "This is our home, and we are among family. There should be no issue in discussing our intimacy with our Master."
"Look, Kirue, when you say it with such a straight face, it's hard to argue... but it’s a matter of setting the right tone for the day. Morning is when the day begins, you know?"
"We understand your perspective, Master, but since we have already discussed it this far, it is only natural that you should attend to us after breakfast."
"...I don't have that kind of stamina."
"""Don't worry, we'll revitalize you!"""
When we answered in unison, Yuki’s shoulders slumped in utter defeat.
"...What is going on here? Something is definitely wrong. Or is it just my own common sense that's flawed?"
"Likely both, Master. Your position is exceptionally distinct and unique. As for your sense of something being wrong, the roles of pursuer and pursued are traditionally reversed; you are simply far too passive when it comes to marital relations. King Gartz has seven official children, including Lady Shiela, but counting his concubines, they number around thirty. The total number of his wives and consorts, even discounting casual dalliances, easily exceeds fifty."
"Isn't that way too many?!"
"No. Among them, only about twenty are officially recognized as primary or secondary wives. There are times when one must bed a woman purely for diplomatic reasons. Therefore, as you can see, it is absurd for our Master, who is tasked with the very salvation of the world, to have fewer romantic entanglements than King Gartz."
Kirue made a perfectly logical point.
A monarch is frequently forced to bind themselves to partners they do not desire for the sake of diplomacy. Sometimes, they spend a single night together merely to establish a political fact, never to see each other again.
Yet Yuki was a man destined to aim for heights far above any king.
Though he claimed sixteen wives, the vast majority of those arrangements held no political weight.
In normal circumstances, a mere knight like myself could never become a formal wife; it would be dismissed as a passing fling.
Unless those standing at Yuki's side possessed substantial political power, it served little strategic purpose. While our combat prowess was undeniable, we ultimately did not transcend the role of bodyguards.
"However, taking into consideration the ideals you pursue, Master, the wives have managed to content themselves with the current count of sixteen."
"Wait, sixteen isn't a lot?! It's more than enough! Seraria, Shiela, Rurua, Eryll, Ria, Elis, Latz, Millie, Tori, Riel, Kaya, Labyris, Aslin, Filia, Kirue, and now Jessica. That is plenty!"
"Goodness, I wondered why you were taking so long, and here you are gossiping in a place like this."
Deryll strolled in just as Kirue was explaining things to Yuki. She feigned helping carry the breakfast, only to swiftly whisk it away.
"Come along now, the others are waiting. Move it."
"...Right."
"Indeed. We shall continue this after breakfast, Master."
"Oh, come on..."
In any case, breakfast concluded amidst our usual lively chatter. True to her word, Kirue immediately began lecturing Yuki in front of everyone on the true nature of a harem.
"Listen closely, Master. You seem to regard the act of maintaining a harem as something negative or wicked."
"Well, yeah..."
"That perception is fundamentally flawed. You see..."
The other wives watched the exchange with great interest. Naturally, Lady Seraria, his primary wife, observed the scene with an amused smile.
"Say, Deryll, what has gotten into Kirue? To think she'd start lecturing Yuki on the finer points of a harem at this late stage."
"Hmm? Ah, well, Yuki was babbling about how the sixteen of us are more than enough."
"Ah, Yuki really is dense when it comes to these matters. Monogamy might be the norm for commoners in some places, but..."
"No, even among commoners on this continent, polygamy and polyandry are hardly rare. They were perfectly ordinary sights in the villages and towns I visited during my travels."
"Hmm, then it must be due to Yuki’s homeland."
"Well, considering he forced us to throw our own common sense out the window, it's only fair he discards a bit of his own."
"True. He showers all of us with plenty of affection, so he easily passes that mark."
"But that itself is part of the problem. Yuki’s status now eclipses that of ordinary royalty. Circumstances will eventually demand actions completely divorced from notions of love. Yet when that happens, Yuki will only frown, won't he?"
"Frown? He'll outright refuse. He claims to be a realist, but he's far too soft on individuals."
"Exactly. And because he's entirely too clever, he instantly concocts a workaround that avoids the bedroom altogether."
"And a meticulously adjusted solution at that, ensuring it won't cause problems down the line."
"It's a terrible habit. By all rights, Yuki shouldn't be wasting his intellect on such trivial matters."