Chapter 348: They Are Chatting on Good Terms, But

After that, somehow the talk became about Her Majesty’s youth. No. Natural. If they reveal both ages and look at each other, there is a clear difference.

Agnes’s mother did not trust from the start Her Majesty’s comment that she does "nothing special," and tried somehow to draw it out. That is a natural reaction. Each time Her Majesty glanced at me. A person with a sharp hunch would know I am involved in something!

So I backed away slow and left Her Majesty. I put out my presence and withdrew with care so I would become one of the many. After that too Her Majesty and Agnes’s mother talked on good terms. Whether that is from diplomatic courtesy or they truly opened, I do not know.

I had meant to hide, and still I was caught by Agnes and set in front of the clan chief.

"Grandfather, this boy is Lord Robin Marie, whom I am teaching the bow in the royal capital! A prince of a neighboring country, posted to the royal capital as ambassador. Even looking like this his sword arm is considerable, and at the bow too I taught him and he improved in a blink. Very excellent. I invited him thinking to take him as a husband, and I was refused. Hahaha!"

Agnes talked open. Is she trying to make an established fact by saying that? Hearing that the clan chief laughed kara kara too.

"Hohou. This is Lord Marie. Agnes took a liking and you throw her over. A thoroughly troublesome person! Ahahaha! But a man Agnes saw enough in, you may make a child in the Eisleben tribe. The Eisleben tribe is a matrilineal society, so even without a father the mother raises the child. Women live together with mothers and sisters and raise children. Men live alone and go to the women they like. So if it is excellent seed we welcome it. Sow as much as you like! Only if Agnes says yes, you must marry! Even if I say thaaat she is my granddaughter. Hahaha!"

The clan chief brought his face close and said it to me. Of course I have no will to marry Agnes. But a matrilineal society is enviable. If a man only has means, he only goes to the woman he likes, and does not have to raise children! But does that become a situation where the child does not know the father’s face?

"No no no. I am not a man who matches Lady Agnes, so it is a very welcome talk, but I will decline. I am sorry!"

Here I refuse politely.

"I see. That is a shame! Well. While you are here do as you like! I also want to hear about the thing called a play that Agnes was in. Ahahaha!"

He slapped my shoulder bam bam and laughed loud. I cannot think he is the same person as the one who greeted long in the day. That was over-tension after all.

Suddenly the clan chief put his mouth to my ear.

"Lord Marie, if there is a girl you like tell me. I will fix the talk. Among the women here there are no husband-holders. All unmarried or widows. If you pass the talk through me you may do as you like, yes?"

and so on. Hm? All unmarried or widows? Meaning,

"Then Lady Agnes’s mother is a widow too?"

I asked because it suddenly bothered me, and the clan chief seemed to misunderstand.

"Oh. You like Sonia? The age is a little apart, but Sonia is a widow too. She lost her husband several years ago. I cannot have Marie take that one to wife, but if Sonia is fine, while Lord Marie is here you may do as you like. That is so. Shall I ask? Look, So..."

I do not think that is a talk you may say so easy, Clan Chief!

"S-please stop! I did not ask thinking that!"

"Is that so? I think Sonia would not mind if the other party is Lord Marie. Sonia has made a child once, so it is certain she is not barren. I thought the place you put your eye was rather good?"

Make a child, that is Agnes, yes? If Sonia gets pregnant now a brother or sister twenty-plus years apart will be born, yes? And in this world that would be an extremely late birth, so I cannot have such a dangerous thing done!

"No no no. Such a thing is too fearful, out of the question. If a child of a man like me, whose bones no one knows, were made, what then!? And one day she suddenly comes to me in the royal capital and says this is your child! I would be troubled."

"You need not care about such a thing. If a child is made the Eisleben tribe will raise it to adulthood! We will not trouble Lord Marie! Lord Marie need only sow seed at ease."

"Eeeeh. Please do not say such a thing easy." ℯℯ𝑙.

"No. It is an easy thing. Only one word I will say. It is not that anyone will do. Lord Marie will do. Look. I do not want seed left by men who chatter over there. This is talk because I see something in Lord Marie! And stop calling her Mother. Then it is as if you are Agnes’s husband, is it not? Call her Sonia. You need not use that much care."

Please do not say sow seed, leave seed that much.

"Thank you for valuing me that much. But I am not that great a thing."

"Hoh? Then is the talk the minstrels tell a lie?"

Toward the clan chief with a disappointed face,

"I do not know what talk the minstrels tell, but that kind of talk is almost all exaggerated. So I cannot say anything, but I think it is better not to trust it too much."

I assert it so I will not be misunderstood saying something vague. Then the clan chief grinned.

"I see. After all Lord Marie has not heard it. In fact I thought so. I had heard that royal-capital nobles do not hear the songs of low people such as minstrels. And in fact I have called that minstrel. I think to have that person tell it here. How would that be?"

The people who had been listening to the clan chief and my talk raised a voice, ooooh! Is that glad? I have to refuse somehow!

"Clan Chief, your words, but considering Her Majesty’s safety as well..."

He cut my words partway.

"It is all right. I guarantee that minstrel’s identity. Well. That minstrel is my grandson, likes talking and singing before people, and became a minstrel. Look. If Her Majesty approves it will do, yes? Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

The clan chief called to Her Majesty chatting with Agnes and Agnes’s mother, no, Sonia, and spoke about the minstrel. Her Majesty’s face brightened all at once.

"I want to hear it no matter what! Different from a play, I had wanted to hear a minstrel’s chanting once. It was a wish that could not be granted in the royal capital, and I never thought it would be granted coming here. Clan Chief, I thank you!"

When Her Majesty thanked him the clan chief reddened and looked glad. Then he smiled at me with a look-at-that feeling.

"Then can you wait a while? I will have it prepared at once!"

The clan chief instructed someone nearby. Agnes of course, and Sonia too, seemed not to have heard it and looked glad.

"Clan Chief, among my attendants I would like those who wish it to hear. Is that all right?"

Her Majesty asked the clan chief full of spirit, and,

"Oh. That is fine! If they hear and are satisfied, when my grandson goes to the royal capital I want them to favor him! From this side, please!"

The talk grew large, and the clan chief looked glad too.

"Understood. If you like I will introduce him to acquainted ladies as well. But if you like! Ufufu."

"What! I am certain they will be satisfied!"

My stomach started to hurt. Can only I leave early?