Chapter 216: Various Problems Arise at the Place We Stayed
Chapter 216: Various Problems Arise at the Place We Stayed
The lodging in the village was the village headman’s house. That was as expected, yet the lodging was a separate building of the headman’s residence, arranged for receiving distinguished guests. Although called a village it seemed to possess a fair capacity; our carriage and the escort soldiers, as well as merchants who looked wealthy, could all lodge inside the village. Those without money camping outside the village was the same everywhere. As expected, because it was the highway leading toward the Marie Kingdom there were lodging guests matching the volume of traffic, so there was corresponding capacity. Naturally.First the village headman came out to greet us. Here a bit of trouble arose.
The headman asked Lily,
"Does this prince require a woman for night service?"
Oohhh, this is already a welcome! I do not think my feelings showed on my face, yet Lily shot me a single glare and declared coldly,
"That will not be necessary! We have no need."
The headman was overawed by Lily and flinched.
"However..."
he said, so inwardly I was sending cheers of "Do your best! Headman, try harder!!", yet
"We do not need it!"
Lily said in a voice that made me think the room might freeze.
"Is that so..."
The headman’s voice was regretful. It was fine that Lily refused, yet when I thought about it something was strange. A prince from the neighboring country whose background is completely unknown (well, the background is known, but what becomes of him afterward is unknown, right?) suddenly arrives, a village daughter is sent to serve him, and what happens to that partner girl afterward? Could it be that if one lays hands on her one is simply to take her away? Is that girl, or woman, an unwanted child of this village and therefore "take her away!"? Have they not considered whether an unwanted child of the village is someone I need? I thought this and that, yet perhaps the idea is that if one is pleased with her one leaves a corresponding sum of money?
Perhaps realizing what I was thinking, the captain of the escort approached with brisk steps and spoke in a low voice,
"Prince Robin, there is no need to think too deeply. This is about the level of pocket-money earning for the village women. Because this village has many travelers the demand on that side is also large, and there are women who make it their livelihood. If they serve as partner to Prince Robin they can receive a corresponding sum, so they have come to make the offer. Of course, because they will be serving noble personages their looks are of a corresponding level, and I am certain you will be satisfied."