After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 175
Chapter 175: Another Mistress?
“I’m relieved. Lady Tzeli has decided to serve Lord Lutz,” Ayaka said with a gentle smile. While her smile was pleasant, I couldn’t help but feel a bit conflicted about having a wife who was happy to see my number of mistresses increasing.
“Well, she certainly won’t betray you. I’d say it turned out for the best, wouldn’t you?” My childhood friend with strawberry-blonde hair chimed in, adding to the pressure. Then again, Gretel has been fiercely pushing Michaela for the mistress role, so I suppose she’s one of my more unusual wives.
“However, her abilities as a light attribute mage are still lacking. To truly protect Lutz, she’ll need more… You’ll need to get her pregnant soon.”
So it comes to this again. While I appreciate that they’re putting my well-being first, it’s quite the strain to keep adding women I have to emotionally invest in. It’s not just a fleeting one-night affair; these are women I need to care for long-term, which isn’t easy for someone as unskilled in relationships as me.
At present, I already have three wives. That’s manageable, I suppose. There’s the ever-vibrant Gretel, the doll-like beauty Beato, and Ayaka, who envelops me both physically and emotionally. I love them all and want to cherish them.
But lately, “mistress candidates” have been multiplying without my say. And it’s becoming a bit overwhelming.
For instance, there’s no way I could leave out my sister, Liese. She’s been so devoted that not reciprocating her feelings would feel wrong. To be honest, she’s exactly my type, and if she weren’t my sister, I might have made her my third wife.
Clara has already been acknowledged by Her Majesty as my mistress. It seems there’s no escaping it. I had hoped she’d marry someone else and find happiness, but when she insists I’m the only one for her, well… as a man, I can’t say no.
Among them all, Adele is the least complicated. Her true inclinations lean more towards girls, and I suspect she sees me as just a convenient man who can offer pleasure and power. Maybe I should find her a suitable female partner—perhaps Gretel can help with that.
But beyond that, it gets confusing. I never asked for this, yet my wives keep introducing new mistress candidates, and I can’t help but think deeply about it.
First, there’s Michaela, who Gretel highly recommends. That innocent, puppy-like cuteness combined with her tragic background certainly stirs a protective instinct in me. But I see her more as a little sister than anything else, and I don’t feel right doing “this and that” with her. Besides, while she’s become fond of me thanks to all the spoiling, I don’t think she actually wants a romantic relationship.
Then there’s the “Lila Society,” a group of women that my childhood friend assembled on her own. Apparently, silver brooch members only need to spend one night with me if they accomplish something significant, but those with gold brooches are considered officially recognized mistresses. For now, it’s just Michaela and Nicole the appraiser, but Gretel has declared, “I’ll get you up to ten mistresses.” That’s going to be a real headache.
And now, Tzeli, the priestess who almost killed me, has also joined the lineup of mistresses. The day we brought her family back from captivity, Tzeli, overwhelmed with emotion, knelt before me in the prayer position and declared:
“I, Cecilia von Westhofen, servant of God, hereby swear to forever serve Lord Ludwig von Stuttgart as my eternal master, offering my body and soul in complete devotion until my last breath. I will protect you with my very life.”
Um, saying that you’ll offer your body and soul right in front of your parents is… a little too much. I glanced awkwardly at her family, but they were all looking up at me with the same reverent gaze.
“Lord Ludwig, the Apostle, please consider accepting our daughter’s devotion. She is intelligent and capable in many ways, and I’m sure she’ll be of great help to you. Of course, if she could also receive your affection… it would be most welcome.”
Oof. Even her knightly mother is saying this, so there’s no way I can refuse. I’ve learned after living in this world for some years now that if a noble offers their daughter for such purposes and is rejected, it brings shame upon their family for generations.
So for now, I’ve assigned Tzeli to serve as a priest at the church in the Baden territory. The church, which had been understaffed with just a priest, a deacon, and one apprentice, can finally function more smoothly. As for any improper relations… well, that will have to wait. I’m not quite mentally prepared for that yet.
“At this point, it doesn’t matter how many more join, does it? I’ve already made peace with it,” Gretel sighed, sounding resigned. The same woman who used to get so jealous when I glanced at another woman had become surprisingly mature. It’s a bit bittersweet.
“But remember, Lutz, there will only ever be three ‘wives’ to share your life. If you forget that… you know what will happen,” she said, raising her eyebrows sharply, her gray eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. Yikes, I could be in serious trouble if I get too serious about anyone else. Even though my childhood friend has grown, some things never change. That, at least, is a bit of a relief.