Chapter 6: Supporting Polyandry
As I watched everyone at Kristina’s tea party recoil in shock, it became abundantly clear that even the maids standing by to serve us were equally horrified.
The House of Kanelva, the family Kristina married into, was considered a rising noble house that had long maintained a neutral position — neither useful nor troublesome to either faction.
However, Kristina’s husband, the current head of the house, was an exceptionally capable man, so naturally the maids serving there were likely quite competent as well.
There are many people in this world who view maids as nothing more than living furniture, but I think that’s absolutely absurd.
They have friends.
They have families.
And here in the Kingdom of Lahti, if two or more people gather together, it is only natural for gossip to bloom.
A woman who desires polyandry?
What a fascinating story!
‘I should tell so-and-so about this next time we meet.’
‘I should tell that person too.’
Since they are competent women, they would never spread rumors by directly saying:
‘There’s a young lady named Yuliana being raised by the ducal house—’
No.
Instead, they would skillfully frame it as:
‘I heard something rather interesting from my lady the other day…’
And from there, the story would amusingly spread even among commoners.
After all, this was about ‘polyandry.’
“I heard there’s some outrageous noblewoman out there!”
They would absolutely say it like that and have a wonderful time doing so.
Of course, I highly doubted anyone here would commit the taboo of spreading the story while naming me as the source.
Still, one must protect one’s own position properly.
Which is precisely why I added this:
“I thought it would be dangerous to judge based solely on what I personally observed, so I also asked the opinions of people working within the ducal residence.”
“And according to them, Lady Yuliana often takes evening walks alone with Lord Niklas.”
“Yet during afternoon tea, the three of them gather together intimately.”
“At the moment, many people seem to think Lord Olivier is simply suffering from unrequited love…”
Well, during my wedding ceremony, he stared at her longingly while completely ignoring his bride.
Naturally, many people preferred to wrap the whole thing up as a beautiful story of hopeless love.
But—
“I don’t think that’s the case.”
And I had absolutely no intention of allowing it to become such a romantic tale.
“If Lord Olivier were merely pining after her alone, then I don’t believe the three of them would sit pressed together during tea.”
“If he truly suffered from unrequited love, shouldn’t he instead be gloomily watching the happy couple from behind a pillar somewhere?”
“““That… actually makes sense.”””
Thank you very much for the unanimous agreement, ladies.
“And furthermore, although Lord Niklas and Lady Yuliana apparently take romantic evening walks together, it’s entirely possible that Lord Olivier and Lady Yuliana meet privately somewhere beyond the servants’ sight.”
The ducal residence was enormous.
There were undoubtedly countless places where two people could secretly meet.
“If Lady Yuliana were an ordinary young lady who truly loved only Lord Niklas, whom she walks beside in the evenings, then surely she would also hold afternoon tea with only him.”
“Otherwise, wouldn’t that be disrespectful to both Lord Niklas and Lord Olivier?”
“And yet Lady Yuliana does no such thing.”
“And both brothers openly permit it.”
“In other words, the sons of the ducal house have accepted Lady Yuliana practicing polyandry!”
“““Eeeeeehhh?!”””
At last, unladylike noises escaped from the three of them.
But as a proper lady myself, I shall pretend not to have heard anything.
“One wife and two husbands.”
“That is precisely why such tea gatherings can exist!”
“However, according to what I have investigated, it appears Lady Yuliana’s husbands are not limited to only those two.”
“““Whaaaat?!”””
I had never personally seen Lady Yuliana at social gatherings before, but apparently the deeply adored young lady attended tea parties and smaller evening gatherings hosted within the ducal faction.
“This is something I heard from the maids, but apparently Lady Yuliana is especially fond of handsome men.”
“And even if those men already have fiancées, she casually approaches them anyway.”
“She is apparently extremely affectionate physically, so the men she speaks to become utterly captivated almost immediately.”
After all, Lady Yuliana excessively touched even the butler Glen.
Once I carefully observed her behavior, it became obvious.
Toward people she deemed useful, she was highly affectionate and charming.
But toward lower-ranking maids, she barely even looked at them.
She clearly judged others based entirely on whether they benefited her.
“I don’t think noblewomen normally touch men so casually.”
“Exactly!”
“We absolutely don’t!”
“Well, Lady Yuliana is apparently allowed to do anything.”
“She really was very cute, after all.”
“Yes.”
“That’s exactly it.”
If Lady Yuliana had possessed an utterly ordinary appearance, the sons of the ducal house likely would never have become so infatuated with her.
But she was dazzlingly beautiful.
She possessed eyes that inspired protective instincts.
She spoke charmingly.
And she carried an atmosphere that made others feel inclined to forgive absolutely anything she did.
“What I’m about to say now truly is only for you three, my closest friends.”
“I haven’t even told my parents, so I want you to keep it locked in your hearts.”
“““We absolutely won’t tell anyone!”””
“After the wedding ceremony, Lord Olivier never came to me on our wedding night.”
And there it was.
I dropped the heavy truth directly onto the table!
“Perhaps he’s already sharing a bed with Lady Yuliana?”
“I believe he simply cannot bring himself to sleep with another woman because he only wishes to be with his true wife.”
Naturally, this was merely my speculation.
But oh, what a glorious bombshell it was!
“You see, I fully support polyandry!”
I declared with a radiant smile.
“Fortunately, a marriage in name only suits me quite well too.”
“After a divorce, I could always enter a convent and devote myself to the gods.”
“Or perhaps work as a governess.”
After all, I was raised to be considered the perfect lady.
The lady among ladies.
So perhaps becoming a governess would suit me.
“But you see…”
“If there are other women like me whose partners are merely one among Lady Yuliana’s many husbands…”
“Then I believe those women must be living very painful lives.”
After all, if Lady Yuliana was their partners’ true love, then just like me, they were likely being utterly ignored.
“If women like me truly exist, I would like to save them.”
“So… would the three of you help me?”
That was the true reason I attended Kristina’s tea party today.
“I am surely being watched carefully, and therefore cannot freely investigate Lady Yuliana myself.”
“And if I, Lord Olivier’s wife, were to begin investigating Lady Yuliana openly, people might suspect I’m plotting something improper.”
“In the worst case…”
“I might even be killed.”
“Killed?!”
“Isn’t that a little dramatic?”
“But they are a ducal house, aren’t they?”
“If it’s to prevent a scandal from spreading, perhaps they really would go that far.”
I looked around at my three friends as I spoke.
“The three of you have wide social connections.”
“So I would very much like you to investigate the people around Lady Yuliana.”
I said it all with a bright smile.
“I believe we can openly declare that we fully support polyandry.”
“And if there are victims suffering because of that polyandry, then I believe we should warn them.”
“Warn them about what exactly?”
Mariana asked, and I answered firmly.
“They absolutely must never offer up their bodies.”
“After all, if multiple men are sharing one woman, who knows what kinds of diseases she might be carrying?”