Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: New Family - 1
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A woman with cold features and brown hair tied back in a ponytail came looking for me. She stared straight at me and declared confidently.
"Please take responsibility."
"Pardon?"
Suddenly?
...
With winter right around the corner, the weather had turned chilly, so I invited Elsia, who had shown up at our door, and her daughter Elin inside our home for the time being.
Chloe served them some herbal tea, and I sat down across from Elsia before asking,
"What do you mean by 'take responsibility'?"
"As you know, Sian, there's no man in the village willing to take responsibility for my family."
"Ah, yeah... sure."
The orphaned children had been taken in by relatives or Carlson. But for some strange reason, no household had stepped up for Elsia and her daughter Elin.
I couldn't understand how a grown woman who could pull her own weight and a fifteen-year-old girl could be seen as more troublesome than clueless little kids, no matter how bad their reputations were.
She provided the answer to my unspoken question herself.
"As you're aware, my husband became the owner of the mill thanks to the village chief's consideration."
"I know."
"But my greedy husband embezzled funds as the mill owner."
"I know that too."
"So most of the villagers don't look kindly on my husband. The same goes for me and my daughter."
"I get what you're saying for now. But I don't understand why it has to be me taking responsibility."
"It's because you built the waterwheel."
"The waterwheel?"
"Yes. Even as a widow without a husband, I could run the mill without issue. But no one wants to use it because of the waterwheel you built."
The windmill-powered mill had been too inefficient anyway, and I didn't like the guy running it, so I'd made the waterwheel and lent it out to the villagers for free this year.
Of course, the old mill going under was a natural outcome.
"So because the mill failed partly due to me, I should take responsibility?"
"Yes."
Just like Tom had said, Elsia was no pushover.
Not only did she speak without a shred of conscience, she was the type to throw every card she had into play without hesitation.
But it didn't particularly annoy or offend me. She was just struggling to protect her daughter in her own way. I could understand that much.
"Give me a moment for a family meeting, and then I'll let you know."
"Pardon?"
"I can't decide something this big on my own."
"Are you consulting with Leon?"
"No, with the whole family."
Elsia looked utterly baffled by my words, but explaining it to her seemed like too much hassle, so I headed to the living room and ignored it.
Clia was lounging there, sprawled out in the warmth of the floor heating.
"Clia, could you fetch Sylvia and Leon to my room?"
"Huh? Sure."
Clia hopped up like a cat and soon gathered the family, and once they were all in my room, I explained the situation with Elsia and her daughter.
"So, what do you all think?"
"Even if you ask us..."
Chloe looked a bit flustered as she spoke.
"You're the head of this household, Sian. We'll follow whatever you decide."
"But what if my choice makes you uncomfortable, Chloe?"
"It might. But I'm your wife. I'll respect your decision."
"Thanks."
Chloe seemed determined to uphold her role as a wife and not oppose whatever I decided.
I appreciated it, but it felt a little too heavy a burden.
"What about you, Sylvia?"
"I don't mind either way... It'd be nice to have more family members, but since you're the one shouldering the responsibility, I'll go along with whatever you say."
Sylvia's opinion matched Chloe's.
"Clia?"
"I like it! I've wanted to get close to Elin for a while now."
Clia shared her thoughts like she was excited to live with a friend.
"Leon, you?"
"I don't really care."
"Alright then?"
In the end, with everyone abstaining, it came down to my choice.
"So what do you want to do, Sian?"
"Me? Well..."
Honestly, who in their right mind wants to take responsibility for someone else's family?
If I could, I'd dodge it like the other villagers. My own family was already more than enough to handle.
But one thing nagged at me.
"That girl Elin... her leg seems to be bothering her."
In this era—especially in a rural village—a bad leg meant there was nothing she could do.
Not only would she be no help with labor, even basic chores would be a struggle.
If I turned them down, the future looked bleak for a mother and daughter with nowhere else to go. Sure, it could be called meddling, but once the worry took root, it wasn't so easy to shake off.
"Then do whatever you want."
"Chloe?"
"I can tell it's weighing on you. But I believe you can handle it."
Chloe's words gave me courage. If everyone was willing to follow my lead, what was there to hesitate about?
"Got it!"
Having made up my mind, I went back and told Elsia my decision.
"I'll take responsibility."
"Thank you."
Elsia teared up at my response, deeply moved. She might have looked cold on the surface, but she'd clearly been harboring a lot of anxiety inside.
She pulled her daughter Elin into a hug and then looked at me, saying something odd.
"Though my body may be lacking, as your concubine, I will serve you with all my heart and soul."
What? Concubine?
...
It wasn't uncommon in these parts for a widow to become a concubine to find a man who'd take responsibility for her.
And that's exactly what Elsia had approached me for.
"N-no, not as a concubine."
"Pardon?"
Elsia had planned to become my concubine to protect her daughter.
But that's not what I'd meant by taking responsibility.
I'd simply wanted to help the mother and daughter out of pure altruism—no base desires involved.
But Elsia seemed to interpret it differently. Her expression hardened as she said,
"Does my appearance displease you, Sian?"
"It's not that..."
Elsia was a beauty who didn't even seem like a mother, much like Sylvia. It made sense that she'd have such confidence in her looks.
But to me, with my modern sensibilities, the whole concubine concept felt too alien.
I already had Chloe—did I really need a concubine?
"Then was your promise to take responsibility a lie?"
"No. I will take responsibility. It's the truth."
"How can I believe that when you're not even family?"
"Can't we become family without that kind of relationship?"
"Pretty words."
Apparently, my modern values came off as empty platitudes here.
"I never imagined you'd refuse like this."
"That's not it."
As I racked my brain for how to respond to her misunderstanding,
"Sian. Have some of this while you talk."
Sylvia suddenly brought in some dried mountain fruits as snacks.
"Sylvia..."
"Oh my, Elsia. Long time no see."
Sylvia acted delighted, like she'd run into an old friend. In contrast, Elsia's once-expressionless face gradually stiffened, as if she were looking at her mortal enemy.
"I heard from Sian. We're family now."
"Don't get all chummy. And you're mistaken—your son-in-law refused to take me as a concubine."
"Huh?"
Sylvia glanced at me with a puzzled look. Then, reading my expression, she seemed to catch on and apologized to Elsia on my behalf.
"Sorry. Sian grew up in the forest, so he's a bit lacking in common sense."
Mother-in-law?
Me, lacking common sense...?
"Is that so? Well, raised by Ian, it makes sense..."
Elsia started to nod along with Sylvia's words.
"For your sister's sake, at least, could you cut Elsia some slack?"
"I'd rather not because of you, but since I'm the one who asked, fine."
In the end, Sylvia's intervention cleared up the misunderstanding.
However, Elsia and Elin ended up living with us not as family, but as boarders.
For the time being.
...
That night.
"Hee hee hee, so that's what happened?"
"Yeah."
After making love with Chloe in our marital bedroom, I told her all about the day's events.
"I don't need a concubine. But everyone looks at me like I'm some weirdo."
"Darling, I wouldn't mind if you took a concubine."
"No thanks. I've got you, Chloe."
"Kyaa~"
Today, too, I buried my face in Chloe's breasts, savoring the bliss, and we made love.
Chloe, now skilled at pleasing her man, slipped my member between her breasts and lavished it with her tongue and soft mounds.
Urgh, when your wife serves her husband like this, any man would lose his mind!
As always, my seed erupted onto Chloe's face, and like a seed thief, she greedily took it into her mouth and swallowed.
"This time, I'll be on top."
Aroused by her lewd expression, I swelled below as Chloe straddled me.
Woman on top.
It was the position where the woman took the lead—a pose Chloe, shy as she was, hadn't particularly liked. But now her face brimmed not with embarrassment, but confidence. With her plump hips and skillful waist movements, Chloe urged my seed forth, and I matched her rhythm with thrusts of my own.
"Chloe!"
"Haah! Ahh!"
As climax hit, I grabbed her breasts and released deep inside her once more. Exhausted, Chloe collapsed onto my chest.
We lay there in silent afterglow, communing wordlessly for a while.
Then I noticed her belly gradually swelling.
"Chloe, have you gained weight?"
"Pardon?"
Clia had once said Chloe's old nickname was "Big Eater" because she'd eaten so much back then. Anyway, Chloe was blessed with a body where everything she ate went straight to her chest.
Her belly swelling?
A chill ran through me. Just to be sure, I took her wrist and checked her pulse. Why did my gut feelings always hit the mark?
Careful not to startle her, I spoke gently.
"Chloe, just relax and listen."
"Okay, darling."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"And our baby too."
"???"
At my words, Chloe went silent for a moment, staring down at her belly, then back at me. Her voice trembled as she asked,
"It's... here?"
"Yeah."
Tears of joy streamed from Chloe's eyes at my confirmation, and I shed tears like a fool myself.
I was thrilled at the thought of our child, but sad too.
A long stretch of abstinence ahead...