After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 42
Chapter 42: One More Time, as Promised
In the dimly lit bedroom with only one oil lamp, Susanna and I sat on the bed.
“Well then, Lord Lutz, please.”
“Um… excuse me, but considering your recent loss of your husband, I imagine your feelings must be complicated. It might be better to take your time, organize your thoughts before…”
“Thank you for your consideration. Indeed, my heart has not yet healed. However, if I don’t conceive this month, at the latest by next month, it won’t be in time.”
“I’m not familiar with the details, but what do you mean by ‘won’t be in time’?”
Susanna cast her eyes down to the floor and slowly explained the circumstances.
Two generations ago, when her grandmother was the head, the Altner Trading Company was just a local store, a small grocery. After the death of the head, there was a dispute over which of the two daughters would inherit the shop, and it escalated to the point where a servant was seriously injured trying to intervene. Seeing this, the local lord intervened and a contract was drawn up, specifying various promises. In exchange for the older sister inheriting the store, the younger sister was to receive a payment of two thousand gold coins. If, in the future, the older sister’s family had no heir, the store was to be passed on to the younger sister’s family, and so on.
The sister who gained control of the business took a bold step, expanding the store to the capital, transforming it from selling goods to the citizens to becoming a distributor between the capital and regional cities. Although they faced the brink of bankruptcy initially, with natural talent and sponsorship, they succeeded over the course of a decade and are now one of the top three merchants in the kingdom – the grandmother of Susanna.
By the time Susanna’s mother became the head, relatives from the branch family that had passed on the store frequently begged for money. Their argument was that their ancestors handed over the store to Susanna’s ancestors, so their current prosperity was due to that, and they had the right to ask for money. Initially, Susanna’s mother generously gave them gold coins, but as their demands escalated, she finally couldn’t bear it anymore and banned them from the premises. It was inevitable.
With this background, during the recent attack, Susanna’s husband and child, who was supposed to be the heir, were killed. Visiting the grieving trading company during the successor’s funeral, a descendant of the sister’s family presented an ancient contract. It stated that if there was no successor, the store should be handed over to the sister’s family.
“However, I consulted with legal experts, and in cases like this, the term ‘successor’ is limited to direct descendants. That is, the child of the husband.”
“That’s…?”
Certainly, that would be a predicament. I involuntarily furrowed my brow.
“However, the specialists also gave me a glimmer of hope. If a child is born to the wife within ten months after the husband’s death, it will be legally recognized as the husband’s child, regardless of the actual father.”
Ah, I see. Indeed, in this country, a child born to the female head through a “stallion” is officially treated as the child of the head and her husband. In this world where DNA testing doesn’t exist, legally distinguishing the period after death is not incorrect.
“So, even in the worst case, I want you to have a child in my belly by next month. Otherwise, the trading company, which is my mother-in-law’s raison d’être, will… Please, please…”
Susanna desperately pleaded, and I couldn’t help but pull her into a hug. Kissing her trembling lips and slowly wrapping my arms around her back, I laid her on the bed.
Dangerous, I’m too susceptible. Tonight, at least, I want to help her forget about her husband… I’ll do my best.
***
Feeling a pleasant fatigue, I repeatedly ran my fingers through her brunette hair. The owner of the hair, who had been using my left arm as a pillow, finally opened her eyes languidly and murmured.
“Thank you… It was really wonderful. I feel sorry for Kurt, but I might have forgotten about him during that time.”
“I’m glad you say that. I also enjoyed it.”
Well, I’ve been researching various things in that department with Ayaka lately, so I guess I’ve improved a bit in that regard. I hope Susanna feels a bit better.
However, something bothers me. Earlier, I was swept away by Susanna’s earnestness, and my reason flew out the window as I acted like a fool. But now, in sage mode, the story of the misfortunes that befell her husband and daughter that I heard from her—somehow, the timing seems too perfect.
Generally, it’s strange that the branch family, supposed to be banned, quickly caught wind of the funeral. If this was planned from the beginning… Suspecting this, my fingers tightened, and Susanna noticed, directing a surprised look at me.
“Oh, sorry, Susanna. I know it’s tough, but could you tell me that story again? One more time, before we proceed.”
Her face turned a deep crimson in no time. Oops, it seems like I added something unnecessary with that last remark.
In the end, we did it one more time, though. That’s the truth.