The Principal Wive’s Forethought — New Foundations Sprouting in the Town
In Akio’s town, where the grand goal of building a waterwheel had been set, the whole village brimmed with energy. Papermaking and ironworking had taken off, and everyday life was steadily growing richer. Meanwhile, in the women’s lounge tucked deep inside the Central Hall, Sylvia, Ayane, Kina, Celestina, and Leonora had gathered once again for a “wives’ meeting.”
This time, however, their discussion was even more delicate—and deeply tied to the shape of Akio’s and their future family.
“Everyone, please listen,” began Celestina, surprisingly the first to speak. “Sylvia-sama’s pregnancy is the greatest joy we could share. And every day, I feel deeply—almost painfully—how much Akio loves each of us.”
She had stepped beyond her once-fragile demeanor, speaking now with the calm intelligence of a princess and the resolve of Akio’s wife.
“But… if someday, besides Ayane-san, the rest of us—Sylvia-sama, Kina-san, Leonora, and myself—were to conceive around the same time… what should we do to continue supporting Akio-sama during that period?”
Her words instantly brought tension into the room. The physical strain of pregnancy and the recovery that followed meant that their nightly rotation with Akio might no longer be possible. It was a concern they had all quietly shared, though none had dared voice it.
Kina scratched her head with a sheepish grin. “Heh, yeah, that’s true. If all of us end up with big bellies or get busy taking care of babies, Hubby might start feelin’ pretty lonely…”
Leonora nodded gravely. “Considering Akio-dono’s vitality… having no one able to properly receive his strength might indeed become an issue.”
Even Ayane, though not directly involved in the matter yet, listened with held breath—her heart tight at the seriousness of her sister-wives’ discussion.
Sylvia listened to them all, then spoke gently but firmly.
“Yes, this is a very important matter. Akio’s fulfillment—body and soul—through our love is vital not only for him but for the very growth of this town. It is our duty as his wives to ensure he never feels lonely, and that he is always surrounded by our affection.”
She paused, lowering her voice slightly.
“Even if we were all to become pregnant at the same time—or if one of us were unwell—there are many ways to express love beyond the night’s embrace. We can use words to convey our hearts, touch him with warmth, and tend to his weariness through other acts of devoted care. What truly matters is that Akio always feels loved.”
Though Sylvia avoided explicit phrasing, her words carried both deep resolve and unwavering love. The other wives understood her meaning well; cheeks flushed, they nodded earnestly.
“And,” Sylvia went on, “if ever the day comes when Akio truly feels unbearable loneliness… he may seek new help—or perhaps we, for his sake, might consider welcoming a new member into our family. Of course, that is a matter for the far future. For now, our duty is to support him with all our hearts, the five of us together.”
The idea shocked everyone present, but in Sylvia’s steady gaze they saw the depth of her devotion. And perhaps, they thought, such a future was not impossible after all.
Once that heavy topic had run its course, the discussion shifted toward the town’s tangible development plans.
“Akio-sama mentioned that once the waterwheel is complete, lumberwork will become much easier,” said Ayane. “If we want to expand the schoolhouse or build new homes, we’ll need plenty of good-quality boards. I think using the waterwheel to power a sawmill is an excellent idea.”
Alto, who was studying metalwork under Dolgan, had mentioned that with iron saws, lumber processing would become far more efficient.
“Yeah. If we can use the waterwheel to drive a big saw, it’ll save us a heap of labor pulling logs by hand. The sawdust could even be used for fuel or animal bedding.” Akio had said once
Celestina then brought up brick construction.
“Brick houses are wonderful and durable, but if we had something like ‘cement’ or ‘mortar’ to bind them and seal the floors, we could make them even stronger and more airtight. In my homeland, they used powdered limestone or soil mixed with volcanic ash.”
“Oh-ho, limestone, eh…!” Akio had shown great interest at the idea. “If we can find limestone in the nearby hills, we might be able to make plaster or even something like concrete. But we’d need a way to crush stone into powder—and special kilns to burn it…”
Everyone agreed that Dolgan might be the one with the right knowledge for that.
Thus, the wives’ secret meeting, which began as a reaffirmation of their love for their husband, blossomed into a grand vision for the town’s technological and cultural future.
Their wisdom, devotion, and determination to support Akio would no doubt become the driving force that made “Akio’s Town” even richer and more vibrant.
Unbeknownst to him, his beloved wives were already, quietly and resolutely, laying the foundations of that bright future.
What do you think about this chapter?
