Chapter 27

While Zenjiro was being questioned by Aura, who had a mischievous smile, in the harem, in the capital mansion of the Gijen family, General Pujol and his sister Fatima were quietly conversing in one of the rooms after returning from the palace.

"Um... Brother, was that really okay?"

The strong expression she had shown at the standing reception was nowhere to be seen; Fatima huddled on the sofa, shrinking her body and looking up at her brother with a timid gaze.

General Pujol accepted Fatima's attitude, which reminded one more of a master and a dog than a brother and sister, as a matter of course, and nodded slightly.

"Yes, it was quite good. There's always room for improvement, but it was certainly a passing grade. Well done, Fatima."

"Yes! Brother."

Praised by her brother, the sister looked genuinely pleased and let out a sigh of relief.

Fatima's sigh wafted over to the candlestick on the table, causing the dim flame that faintly illuminated the room to flicker.

In this world, the main source of nighttime lighting is a dish with a wick dipped in plant oil. While candles, being solid, are easier to handle than oil dishes and have high practical value, their production and import are limited, so only a select few wealthy noble families use them for daily lighting.

The Gijen family is one of those select few wealthy noble families.

Still, even the combined light of the small candlestick on the table and the four tall candlesticks in the corners of the room was not even half as bright as the LED lantern Zenjiro had brought. Nevertheless, it was enough light for the brother and sister sitting opposite each other to see each other's faces.

General Pujol looked back into his sister's eyes, which were gazing up at him with a pleased expression, and replied in a matter-of-fact tone, as if talking to himself.

"In any case, Lord Zenjiro should now be aware of your existence. At the very least, he should remember your face and name, and from the looks of it, the first impression wasn't too bad."

"Yes."

Especially, the fact that she had made an impression in front of the majority of the nobles at the standing reception was significant. The nobles present should have understood Pujol's stance: that Pujol Gijen wishes to have his sister Fatima enter Zenjiro's harem. Knowing this, how many people would still try to send their own women to Zenjiro?

Of course, it's unlikely that all the cunning nobles would suddenly withdraw, but a considerable number of them would likely steer clear of conflict with the Gijen family.

Furthermore, Fatima had received a considerable number of marriage proposals, and this incident would serve as a good deterrent against such advances.

Pujol Gijen, the head of the Gijen family, wishes to have his sister enter Zenjiro's harem. Conversely, this could also be interpreted as a statement that Pujol will not marry his sister off to another family unless they offer a marriage condition as good as or better than becoming a royal concubine.

"..."

"Brother...?"

Pujol, with his gaze fixed on his sister's face illuminated by the candlelight, continued to think.

(Hmm. Even without bias, I think she has grown into a rather beautiful woman, but Lord Zenjiro's reaction is still a bit unclear.)

By clearly stating that he cannot draw the gift 'Dragon Bow,' Zenjiro seems to lack any martial qualities, but his response to suggest giving it to a skilled and loyal soldier indicates that he is not unintelligent.

(If he were a foolishly ambitious person, things would be simpler, but that's too convenient.)

From his responses, Zenjiro is not a fool. But if he is not a fool, why does he content himself with being a convenient puppet for the queen? Anyone but a complete fool should understand that the position of the queen's companion is one where a little effort can lead to significant power.

(Maybe he just dislikes taking risks.)

General Pujol, who is aware of his own ambition, also understands that not all men in the world are as ambitious as he is. Some men are content with a certain level of status, wealth, and honor. Perhaps Zenjiro is one of those men.

As the queen's companion, he is bowed to in the harem and lives a life of luxury, which may satisfy his immediate desires. This is a possibility.

(If that's the case, it's troublesome. The plan to drive a wedge between him and Queen Aura is unlikely to succeed.)

It's difficult to incite someone who is content with the status quo. One must either worsen their current situation or plant ambition in their heart to make them feel hungry. Such operations are far more labor-intensive than simply fanning an existing spark of ambition.

Pujol directed his gaze to the ceiling, dimly lit by the candlelight, and continued to think in silence.

(The best outcome in the current situation would be for Fatima to enter Zenjiro's harem and for her child to become the next king, but the likelihood of that happening is low, isn't it?)

Pujol has no intention of giving up on having Fatima enter Zenjiro's harem, but the issue is time. As long as Queen Aura and Zenjiro share a bed, it's not impossible that Aura is already pregnant.

Even if that's not the case, if their relationship continues as it is for a year, it's only a matter of time before a legitimate child is born. Fatima's first child, if she enters the harem, would be younger than the queen's first child. If the queen's first child is a boy, the possibility of Fatima's child, even if a boy, ascending to the throne is low.

(Then, I should consider how to position myself if a child is born to Queen Aura and Lord Zenjiro.)

Fortunately, Pujol is still in his early thirties. If a boy is born to Aura and Zenjiro soon, he will reach adulthood in fifteen years. At that time, Pujol will still be in his forties, still in his prime as a general and court noble.

(In the Kingdom of Kaupa, the queen's ascension is seen as a temporary measure. If there is an adult male with sufficient knowledge of statecraft, the transfer of power is only a matter of time.)

If a child is born to Aura and Zenjiro and is recognized as an adult at fifteen, the crown will be passed from Aura to the child. This is a likely scenario if things proceed smoothly.

While it is natural to strive for a desirable future, it is also important to prepare for a likely future. Even as the kingdom's highest-ranking general, Pujol is ultimately just a powerful noble. Not everything will go as planned.

"Hmm, perhaps I should align myself somewhat with Queen Aura."

Pujol muttered this so softly that it was inaudible to Fatima, who was sitting opposite him, and then lowered his gaze from the ceiling.

The world of politics is complex. There are virtually no absolute enemies or absolute allies.

While General Pujol, who aspires to the highest military rank of 'Marshal,' and Queen Aura, who wants to keep the national army under royal command, have conflicting interests in principle, the situation changes when viewed from a broader perspective, such as the conflict between the 'national army' and the 'provincial lords' armies.'

Both Queen Aura and General Pujol, who aims for the highest rank in the national army, agree on the need to strengthen the national army and reduce the provincial lords' armies.

After organizing his thoughts, Pujol, with a serious expression, looked into his sister's dark eyes, who was gazing at him intently, and said:

"Fatima, I intend to have you enter Lord Zenjiro's harem, but the situation is fluid. Depending on the circumstances, there is a possibility that you may have to marry into another family. Be prepared for that."

While having her enter Zenjiro's harem is the first choice, Fatima is currently seventeen, the prime age for marriage. With her appearance, abilities, and the Gijen family name, she won't lack for suitors even if she passes the prime age, but the rank of her suitors will definitely decrease.

For Fatima's happiness, it would be wise to set a time limit and, if the situation remains hopeless, to give up on entering the harem.

General Pujol also wants his sister to be happy. However, the happiness of the Gijen family's prosperity and the fulfillment of his own ambitions take precedence over his sister's happiness, and the 'happy marriage' he envisions for her is somewhat problematic, but in this case, it is not a significant issue.

"Yes, Brother. I will serve diligently and not bring shame to the Gijen family, no matter which family I marry into."

Fatima nodded with a dreamy expression in response to her brother's words.

"Indeed, I expect much of you."

"Yes!"

Fatima Gijen, who reveres her brother Pujol, takes pride in being a Gijen, and has been taught the significance of political marriages since childhood, did not find the content of Pujol's words particularly objectionable.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

Late at night, in the large bed of the harem, Zenjiro and Aura, naked and entangled, were breathing lightly and heavily.

To be specific, Aura was breathing lightly, while Zenjiro was breathing heavily. The difference in their breathing was due to the difference in physical exertion during their bed activities and their individual physical conditions.

Not long ago, Aura had been questioning Zenjiro about his 'being captivated by Fatima' on the sofa, and Zenjiro had been answering her. The sequence of events that led to them ending up in the bedroom for a bout of passion was not particularly long or complicated.

Just as Aura was playfully questioning Zenjiro, a maid announced from the other side of the door that the bath was ready. Zenjiro and Aura temporarily paused their conversation and went to the bath together, prioritizing washing off the sweat and fragrant oils.

After returning to the room in their light post-bath attire, Aura resumed her questioning, but she wasn't really angry. She just wanted to enjoy a conversation with Zenjiro and get his first impression of Fatima.

When Zenjiro, in a flustered tone, said, "No, it's a strike, but at most it's a low middle. Definitely not a dead center. Knowing that a dead center strike is coming next, I wouldn't swing at such a ball," it was hard for Aura to maintain a mischievous expression.

Aura burst out laughing, and Zenjiro, realizing he was being teased, pretended to be angry. When Aura apologized, Zenjiro pushed her away. As Aura hugged him while apologizing, Zenjiro kissed her to silence her...

Before they knew it, the two were passionately making love on the bed.

"..."

Zenjiro, holding his naked wife close to his chest, stroked her red hair and smiled. The bed, cooled by the breeze from the electric fan, was comfortably cool, and the warmth of their skin touching felt pleasant.

"Mm..."

Zenjiro, lying on his side, tightened his arm around Aura.

"Hehe..."

Aura, without any resistance, pressed her sweaty body against Zenjiro. The closeness was such that they could feel each other's heartbeats through their skin. The tickling sensation of her breath on his cheek and her hair brushing against his skin was also pleasant.

As he held her, stroked her hair, and patted her back, Zenjiro felt Aura start to snore softly in his arms.

"As always, you fall asleep so quickly..."

Under the starlight streaming in through the window, Zenjiro stroked his wife's red hair, which was illuminated, and smiled.

With his left arm still under Aura's neck, Zenjiro slightly raised his upper body and thought.

If he could trust Aura's words, it seemed that he had managed to navigate the standing reception without any major issues.

"Despite being exhausted, it might have been a meaningful time for me."

Recalling the gazes of the nobles at the standing reception, Zenjiro muttered to himself.

The gazes directed at the queen's husband from another world were far from pleasant. Most were curious and appraising, but when Zenjiro stated to General Pujol that he was "powerless and could not contribute on the battlefield," some openly showed disappointment or contempt.

This was to be expected. No matter how much Zenjiro tried to stay out of the way and be careful with his words and actions to avoid hindering Aura, there would always be people who disliked him.

"The problem is that the best course of action is not to avoid being disliked."

Zenjiro was, after all, Aura's companion, her ally, and someone who shared her fate. It would be disastrous to lower his reputation to the point where he was considered unsuitable as the queen's companion, but raising his reputation too much was also a concern.

In a country where the idea of a wife being in the spotlight more than her husband is strongly resisted, if Zenjiro were mistakenly perceived as 'capable,' it could undermine Aura's position.

The ideal perception would be that he is "harmless, incapable of anything but making children, but has enough knowledge and education to not embarrass the country in public."

It's a delicate balance, but compared to the hard work his wife puts into running the country, it's a minor inconvenience. If he were to shy away from such a minor inconvenience, he wouldn't deserve to stand by Aura's side.

Of course, Zenjiro, who had only graduated from a second-tier university and worked as a salaryman in a small to medium-sized company, didn't think he could achieve results that would make him seem 'capable.'

"Aura..."

Zenjiro looked again at his sleeping wife, who was breathing softly in his arms. Her peaceful expression, almost defenseless, made Zenjiro feel a deep sense of trust from her.

The marriage came first, then they shared a bed, and only then did they get to know each other and build love and trust. This sequence might seem strange to modern Japanese accustomed to love marriages, but considering it as a form of arranged marriage, it could be seen as an ideal progression.

Especially for Zenjiro, who had almost fallen in love with Aura at first sight, it could also be considered a love marriage.

"Aura..."

Zenjiro carefully removed his left arm, which had started to go numb, from under Aura's neck.

"Mm... Mmm... Ah..."

Aura let out a soft snore, but she didn't wake up. Zenjiro, relieved, gently lifted her long hair, which had been disheveled when he removed his arm, and placed it above the pillow.

"I'll go to sleep too."

Then, lying down to face Aura, who was sleeping on her side, he closed his eyes and remained still until sleep came.