Once the sun began its descent in the west, the wind became markedly colder. We decided it was too chilly to remain outdoors any longer, so we moved into the hut.
Of course, before we did, I opened all its windows and used wind magic to air it and blow all the dust outside.
Magic was so handy.
But as useful as it was, I wouldn’t clean my own house that way. I was pretty sure all my furniture and anything small and light would get blown away. I was only able to clean the hut with magic because its owners hadn’t left anything inside.
Given our current circumstances, we deemed it best for me to store the prince’s set of garments, including the cape that he’d covered me with as a makeshift blanket, in my Pocket Dimension for safekeeping. Apparently, he’d lost his sword at Tachyrinn, so I tucked his empty scabbard and belt away as well.
By virtue of being lodged in my gut, the enemy transmigrator’s scimitar had come along with us. Wald had left it in the little hut, so I tossed that into my storage too.
It wasn’t like the sword itself was cursed or anything—and besides, it was a nice, fancy S-rank weapon. While the weapon wasn’t grand enough to have a name inscribed on it like Scatterbloom, its ex-owner must’ve been grinding his teeth over its loss.
After things cooled down, I’d sell it off. It wasn’t like I could use it to its full potential anyway.
Once I placed items at the four corners of the hut to create a barrier, we’d be protected from both monster attacks and drafts. I suspected that the entire orange orchard was protected by a magically constructed barrier, though, so the one I was making now was mainly to keep the wind out.
Now that the ramshackle hut was clean, I unloaded several pelts from my storage and laid them out on the floor. Then, I placed a feather duvet on top of the pile of furs. That duvet was my absolute favorite blanket. It was looking a little rough around the edges from use, but its warmth was still second to none.
Ah, wait, I guess I’ll have to make another blanket.
Part of this shack must’ve been used as a workspace, as there was an area that lacked the wooden flooring used in the rest of the building and had been left as bare earth. Since that spot was relatively large, I decided to place a table there.
If we cooked using a fire, the rising column of smoke would alert people to our presence, which we couldn’t let happen. So our dinner ended up being something from out of my storage too. I’d pulled out a stew that had been simmered until the vegetables in it were meltingly tender, as well as some white bread I’d received from the kitchen at Tachyrinn. To top it off, I brought out some wine I diluted with hot water.
Since fifteen years of age was considered adulthood in this world, Wald was old enough to drink. I was hoping it would help warm him up.
I pulled out a lamp and hung it up on an overhanging beam. By the time I had dinner ready for us to eat, the day had long since passed into dusk.
Once we finish eating, we’ll probably just turn in for the night.
At least, that’s what I had thought. But it looked like the prince had something on his mind.
“Kariya, I’d like to talk to you about something important. I also have a request.”
“What is it?” I looked at him questioningly.
Wald, who had remained seated in his chair, straightened his back and squared his shoulders.
After taking a moment to center himself, he began to speak. “First, I’ll explain Heraldries, which can only be used by the natural people of this world, and bloodlines. The Ivory Veil, passed down in House Tiuccia; the crowns belonging to each royal family; and Scatterbloom, which belongs to House Cautley, are all examples of Heraldries.
“They are exceptionally rare artifacts that can only be used by members of the lineage that claims ownership of the Heraldry. Transmigrators like yourself cannot be bearers of Heraldries...” He paused, then corrected himself. “Well, actually, that’s not entirely true. Transmigrators can use them too, but only once they fulfill certain requirements.”
A small smile tugged at his mouth as he looked at me. My countenance had grown stern, but he didn’t remark on it. Instead, he continued with his explanation.
“Heraldries demand that their users be members of the lineage designated as their owner. But in the case of the royal heraldries, the accepted lineage is traced through the male side of the family. The reason for this is that if a princess of a royal family marries into another house, she’ll gain the right to use Heraldries from her new house, but she’ll lose the rights to the Heraldries of her old house. This happens because her bloodline will be overwritten on a physical level.”
Huh?
I noticed he was explaining the subject in a somewhat convoluted manner, and I began to have an inkling of why.
In my old life, I wasn’t exactly a diehard homebody obsessed with video games and light novels, but I could guess I was about to be hit with some sort of light novel-esque cliché.
“So,” I began tentatively, “basically once the marriage is consummated, she’ll become a member of her partner’s—er, her husband’s lineage?”
“That’s right.”
“And to swap lineages, they’d have to do the deed all the way to the end?”
“Yes. This is why ceremonies, such as consummation on the wedding night, are necessary to validate a marriage.”
“Is this just the case between royals?” I asked.
“Not at all; the passing of a lineage only requires a man. But, while concubines and even casual courtesans can gain the right to a Heraldry after engaging in sex, they cannot actually use it unless they have also been registered as a member of that house. In the case of a royal family, engraving that person’s name upon the Right of Rule would mean that they are registered.”
At this point, the prince’s tone shifted.
“Male transmigrators cannot have children, which means they cannot pass on their bloodline. Even if they were to marry into a royal family, and even if they were acknowledged by the royal Heraldry as being a valid bearer, they would never be eligible for kingship,” he explained. “A female transmigrator, on the other hand, will obtain the rights to a Heraldry once she has intercourse with a man of the royal family and, as his wife, has her name engraved on the Right of Rule. However, were she to have sexual relations with another man, she would lose those rights.”
So essentially, since male transmigrators were infertile, they couldn’t be recognized as the king of an established kingdom. A woman could become royalty if she married into the family and consummated her marriage. But cheating would invalidate her royal lineage and claim to the Heraldry.