Ch.215Side Story: Conquer Me in Bed

There was one fact that Abel was overlooking.

Most romance novels of this era were created primarily for women who rarely had occasion to go outside—noblewomen and wives of aristocrats.

Therefore, their content generally fell into two categories: either a man trying to possess a woman, or conversely, a woman subduing and possessing a man.

Most romance novels didn’t stray from these two basic frameworks.

The books Kartina typically read were no exception. If there was any difference, perhaps it was that Kartina mostly read romance novels where men possessed women.

There wasn’t any particular reason for this preference. It was simply because the maid who ran Kartina’s book errands had such tastes, so she naturally brought back many novels of that genre.

Having developed misguided values from reading romance novels since childhood, and then suddenly becoming a lord, she had lived several lonely years as a single woman.

In other words, from Kartina’s perspective, she had genuinely offered her best advice by mobilizing all the knowledge she possessed. She had no intention whatsoever of flustering Abel.

Even if that advice was completely unexpected from the listener’s standpoint.

“…Did I perhaps mishear you?”

“No? I believe the adventurer heard me correctly.”

Kartina’s expression was so confident that it made me even more bewildered. Was she really giving me serious advice rather than joking?

It was something I never expected to hear. Who would have imagined that the delicate and seemingly innocent Kartina would utter words about subduing women in bed?

Though it might be prejudice, Kartina’s appearance suggested someone completely inexperienced in such matters. In fact, most rumors I heard about her while in the city were overwhelmingly wholesome.

I was beyond dumbfounded—I was actually amazed.

“If it’s not too presumptuous, may I ask why you said such a thing?”

“Pardon?”

Kartina blinked her eyes in confusion, as if she couldn’t understand my question. It was a blink filled with genuine puzzlement.

“Um… don’t all women like men who can subdue them in bed?”

“Excuse me?”

This time, I couldn’t help but ask her to repeat herself.

Christine immediately came to mind when I heard those words. If it were Christine, she would have demanded that I treat her thoroughly as an object in bed and break every part of her that could be broken.

But that certainly couldn’t be a sexual preference that could be generalized.

“Or perhaps those women are stronger than you, Mr. Adventurer? Maybe you can’t handle them?”

Are all four of them stronger than me? That was a difficult question to answer definitively. Depending on the situation, the answer could be yes or no.

Fundamentally speaking, those four were indeed much stronger than me.

That was an undeniable truth. What talent did I possess that would allow me to defeat beings who could twist laws, create worlds, and cut through concepts? It was absurd.

However, if I were determined to crush those girls, that would be a different story.

The soul bond between the five of us—almost a relationship of subordination—was still maintained without the slightest wavering. This was because those girls reinforced the bond whenever they had the chance.

In other words, it meant that I could still draw upon the powers of all four without limitation if I wished.

I could use Serena’s swordsmanship while channeling Christine’s divine power, and cast magic by mixing Charlotte’s blue mana with Olivia’s black mana.

I much preferred growing stronger myself rather than borrowing others’ powers, and I had no particular use for drawing on their strength anyway.

“That’s quite an ambiguous question. Well, it is true, but…”

“Then that settles it! Just do as I advised, Mr. Adventurer—firmly subdue those women in bed!”

Kartina clapped her hands together and flashed a bright smile. Though it was surely a smile born of her usual untainted innocence, somehow it didn’t look innocent at all.

“…I see.”

So I just smiled vaguely in response.

Perhaps Kartina’s words were close to the truth. If I kept those girls firmly under control, I wouldn’t have to worry about the world flying apart in my absence.

Olivia had already given similar advice. Kartina’s words had driven a wedge into my wavering heart. I couldn’t keep the other three waiting any longer.

“Yes, that’s right.”

With those words, our conversation came to a halt. What came next was each person’s own domain. I couldn’t very well ask Kartina how exactly I should subdue women.

What followed was entirely my responsibility to resolve—both how to handle the four of them and how to embrace them.

As I was contemplating my approach, Kartina casually spoke up.

“Ah, that’s right. Mr. Adventurer, I have one more extremely important piece of advice.”

“Important advice?”

“Yes. It’s really, really important.”

“What is it?”

As she mentioned this important advice, Kartina’s expression became exceedingly serious, which made me tense up in anticipation of her next words.

“You need to decide in advance the order in which you’ll take those women.”

‘Ah.’

I had been wondering how to resolve that very issue. Even during the cooking competition last time, they had fought fiercely over who would go first and who would go last.

The cooking competition ended with just minor squabbles because even the last position was in demand, but if this escalated to a formal relationship, the story would be completely different.

It would likely end up being much more than a simple fight.

“I’m aware of that. I’ve been thinking about how to determine the order.”

“Simply knowing or thinking about it isn’t enough. Are you planning to establish a hierarchy among those women? If so, then there’s no need to worry about it.”

“No, that’s not the case.”

I answered immediately. I had no intention whatsoever of creating a hierarchy among those girls.

“Then it’s even more important. If you directly choose one woman as your first partner, her status will naturally rise. Conversely, the status of the woman chosen last will plummet.”

That was exactly what I had been worried about. It was also related to why I had deliberately avoided taking my relationship with those girls beyond physical contact until now.

The moment I chose one of them, there would be no turning back.

“It’s much better to establish clear criteria. So you can say that while you love all those women equally, you had to determine an order based on those criteria.”

“I’ve given it some thought too. The problem is that such criteria are difficult to establish.”

“Then may I make a suggestion?”

I nodded. I certainly welcomed it.

“The order in which they undress. It’s the most objective, clear, and straightforward. There’s nothing to dispute. ‘You undressed first, so I’ll embrace you first’—simple, isn’t it?”

It was a fairly reasonable proposal. There didn’t seem to be any flaws in it.

If there were any potential issues, they would be if the girls undressed faster than my eyes could follow, or conversely, if they requested to keep their clothes on…

But surely that wouldn’t happen.

“And one more thing. This isn’t advice but a request of mine. Would you be willing to hear it?”

Bright red eyes met mine. Those eyes were calm and composed. As I nodded once more, her small lips moved to form words.

“Love them all equally. Make sure none of them ever feels left out.”

Kartina’s expression was as serious as could be.

“They’ve probably given up a lot for the sake of loving you. So you must also do your utmost to reciprocate their love. No matter what happens.”

Given up…?

I tilted my head in confusion, recalling the four who had been fighting to monopolize me just days ago, but Kartina’s words weren’t wrong. It was true that if I accepted all four of them, they would have to give up exclusivity.

“I understand.”

My answer was already determined.

“Then my advice ends here.”

Kartina smiled brightly.

“Do you have anything else you’d like to ask, Mr. Adventurer?”

“There is one thing. It’s a question I’ve been curious about since hearing your advice. Would that be alright?”

“Yes, of course.”

“How exactly did you come to possess such knowledge? When I was in the city, I never once heard that the lord had married or was in a relationship with someone.”

“…”

Her lips formed a small, round ‘oh.’ Kartina rolled her eyes around and then slightly averted her gaze from mine. It seemed she had some circumstances she couldn’t talk about, so I decided not to press further.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I’m sure you have your reasons.”

“…Thank you, Mr. Adventurer.”