Sunbathing
“Whoa… The sun is extra harsh today…”
“That’s because you stay holed up inside the darkness of your study for days! You need to see the sun more often, Hui. I mean, look at you–All scrawny and pale like this! You should take pauses to breathe the fresh air outside and let your skin enjoy some sunlight”
Inside the residence, Yin had brought Hui to the currently largest open area of the entire household–A place dedicated to nothing in particular at the moment. Edrick had said that he planned on constructing a medium-sized interior pool here that would be heated up by sunlight during the summer… Or any other time the sun decided to show up strong for one reason or another.
The pool had not yet begun construction, however... So this area was instead used to relax. There were chairs where one could lie down, so Yin had convinced her bookworm friend to come out of her private study and attempt to get a tan alongside her.
However, Hui–Like a vampire–Felt as though the sun was trying to murder her by shining its light down upon her.
“I will definitely get burnt…”
“That’s where this little thing comes into play–Behold! An alchemical creation that protects skin against the rays of the sun when applied! I had Luxuli check it–It is efficient and totally harmless. With this, even you will be able to stay under the sun’s warmth without catching ablaze”
“Oh… What a peculiar invention. How does it work, exactly?”
“It is very simple, you open it up, pour some onto your palms, and then you rub it all over your body. Once this is done, we’ll be able to enjoy the sun without a problem. I wonder how much we can tan. Do you think Edrick will like it?”
“Of course, Lord Lucien will love it. He is planning on bringing in that Haoyu as the sixth wife, and I am sure that he’ll greatly enjoy some change… Besides, tanning is temporary anyway”
“Then let’s get going”
The third and fifth wives began undressing. The latter had a much easier time doing so, considering that her usual attire ever since becoming Edrick’s wife was a black, comfortable Tangzhuang. This was the typical attire worn by martial artists. It was usually worn by males instead of females, but the tomboy rocked the attire without issue.
One advantage of wearing this was that it was very easy to put on and take off at any given time... Hui's attire, though? Her traditional, noble woman attire, with several layers and belts keeping everything together, was much more complicated in this department.
Nonetheless, they both got it done, covered themselves in the protective substance, and soon simply lay on their back with their eyes closed… The physiques of the two friends were like night and day.
Yin looked like she had been carved out of stone, while Hui was true to the stereotypes of a library rat. She was thin, frail, and scrawny. She did have some meat on her bones, but she clearly wasn’t the sort to be capable of putting on much weight even if she were to try.
“Say, Yin… Do you think Lord Lucien will impregnate us once Fanqia’s twins are born?”
“Mmh…? Are you looking forward to bearing his children for the first time?”
“O-Of course, I am! I just don’t know if I am built well for this… I don’t really have the hips, and whatever else is usually expected, you know?”
“You are a woman, that’s the only thing that’s needed to get impregnated, Hui”
“I know… I just worry that I will mess up, somehow. It is a big responsibility to bear Lord Lucien’s offspring… It’s like… It’s like being tasked with carrying something fragile belonging to a king! Can you imagine accidentally tripping and being responsible for shattering it?”
“You worry too much, Hui. Besides, Edrick wouldn’t blame you even if something were to happen. Remember, he chose us as his prized possessions. He says it often. It means a lot to be his wife”
“You’re right… Though, since we are on this topic. Would you prefer a boy or a girl?”
Hui asked, and Yin took a few moments to think of an answer.
“Well. Boys are usually stronger, but girls, even if not strong, can make themselves useful in other ways… I think I would prefer a girl”
“Why a girl?”
“I hear that children like to defy authority, and that boys in particular tend to feel the need to either measure up to their father, or not disappoint him–And Edrick is incredibly authoritative, strong, charismatic, handsome, et cetera… I doubt even his own flesh and blood could come to surpass him. I feel like this would create conflict down the line”
“It isn’t certain to happen”
“True, but with how much Edrick is going to breed us in the future? I think it is inevitable. Education is important, but we are all born certain ways. Some are born superior, and some are born inferior. Such is life. If a descendant is unfortunately born into the latter category, but feels the need to be like his father, what do you think will happen? That desire will eventually produce resentment”
“I suppose you are right. I never really gave this much of a thought, to be honest. I never imagined myself in a relationship to begin with, but now I am married to Lord Lucien, and it probably won’t be long before I am pregnant with his child… Or hell, his children, like Fanqia with her Simis! Can my small body even fit more than one? It is a bit scary to think about, but… I know everything will be fine since Lord Lucien is here”
Yin opened one eye.
“What do you say about asking Edrick to impregnate us both at the same time when the time comes? We’ll support one another throughout our first pregnancy, and when our children are born, they can be raised together”
Hui was silent for a moment.
“This is a genius idea! Maybe we could time it with Luxuli as well? Speaking of which, where is she?”
Yin scratched her chin.
“I tried to invite her, but she can not get any tan, no matter how hard she tries… She is helping Yaling with the interviews. Apparently, the second batch is complete, and they are doing the selection right now”
“Ah, I see… Is she trying to train her eye of appraisal on living people?”
“Mmh, she just told me that she wanted to see what the new meat looked like firsthand. Honestly, I think she is going to try casting some of her lust spells on them… Luxuli told me that she had managed to develop a few prototypes in need of testing”
“Ah, then don’t look any further than that. Luxuli is definitely going to be doing exactly that”