#1141 A Courtesan Used to Living Anywhere

I am Rita-Shiera.

A human courtesan from the royal capital.
That said, I was shipped off to this backwater site at the whim of those in power.

This land is still completely undeveloped, with no roads or infrastructure.
We’ll have to start from scratch if people are to live here, which means surviving will be anything but easy.

All of us came from a cushy life in the capital, pampered like we were wrapped in cotton. How on earth are we supposed to manage in a place like this?

We arrived with heavy hearts, worried sick…but our worries were shattered in a way none of us expected.

What on earth is going on here with this so-called development site?

I braced myself for a wild, half-formed settlement, only to find…they’ve built this place up like crazy?!

The home we were shown is a massive mansion big enough to mistake for a royal palace.
It’s not just slapped together from timber, either. It’s plastered and polished with this air of luxury.

Surrounding it are untamed forests and meadows, so the mansion sticks out like a sore thumb.
...The kind of extravagant villa a country lord might build?
No, it’s way too grand even for that!

The real shock came when we stepped inside.
The interior is downright gorgeous; it was more like a noble’s estate than anything else.

“Wow…! It’s even fancier than the brothel I used to work at…!”
“Eek! That vase looks expensive!”
“That statue over there is top-quality. Speaking as someone who’s been in this trade for a decade, I’d say it’s fit for a royal palace. Every high-end courtesan needs an eye for fine art!”

All true.

I expected some backward hovel at the far edge of the world, but this place is cutting-edge. I feel like I’ve stumbled into another dimension.

Then we took a peek at our individual rooms, and my jaw nearly hit the floor again.

I’d heard each of us would get our own room, so I just assumed we’d be crammed in tiny cubicles like a bunch of bees in a hive.

Instead, each room is spacious enough, furnished with a proper bed, a closet, and even a small desk—everything we could need.

There’s more: each room has a basic shower and its own toilet?!

All this equipment, out here in the wilderness?
Even the highest-class courtesans back in the capital don’t get such a lavish setup!

“This is…there’s too much comfort…!”
“Happy to hear it!”

The man who’d been showing us around pokes his head in.

“You see, this is the first time we’re welcoming a group of women to the development site, so everyone wanted to make it extra special. Individual bathrooms are a pretty rare concept in our world, so this is our little experiment! We just toss a few Starfish Critters into the toilet tank and purification’s a breeze, and for hot water we had Horkosfon dig us some hot springs. Seriously, you can’t dig a hole in this world without hitting a hot spring!”

I have no clue what half of that means, but one thing’s clear: this mansion...no, this entire estate was built using some advanced techniques I can’t even begin to grasp.

Unbelievable.
I guess venturing into the unknown really does bring all sorts of surprises!

Anyway, it’s all a bit overwhelming, but at least we won’t starve or freeze to death here.
The bed frame is sturdy, and the blankets are obviously top quality.

A bed fit for royalty or high nobility must guarantee excellent sleep.
And I’m sure…our clients will be more than satisfied, too.

I think I get the picture now.
Why anyone would build such a lavish place out here in the woods?

Considering our profession—courtesans—there’s only one logical answer.

This building must be a brand-new brothel.
In other words, our new workplace.

Brothels sell dreams, after all.
To deliver the perfect fantasy, you have to pay attention not just to the “product” but to the venue as well.

Back in the capital, the brothel I worked in took those details to heart.
Its interiors could’ve passed for a nobleman’s home, full of fine furniture and imported trinkets, crafting an escape from everyday life.

This mansion does the same. To make it an ideal brothel, they’ve turned the place into something lavishly luxurious.
Clearly, they understand how our line of work actually functions, so I guess that’s a good sign.

...But even so, it doesn’t change what we’re expected to do here in the end.
Well, at least there’s some comfort in knowing the job’s the same as always, not something worse.

“Not quite.”

Huh?
I hear a voice behind me. It’s a woman I’ve never seen before.

Sure, most of the women from the capital’s group are about the same age, but...

She’s definitely not one of us.
How do I know? She’s holding a baby in her arms.

“As you can guess, I’m on the welcoming side. The name’s Platy. That guy showing you around is my husband.”

You mean that plain-looking, ordinary-seeming guy?
Him?

“Despite appearances, he’s the one in charge here, and he’s going to be king someday. I’m not telling you to grovel, but do try not to offend him.”

Obviously.
We’re in the service industry, after all.

Only amateurs would judge a customer by looks or first impression.

“Anyway, let’s clear up your little theory: you’re way off. This isn’t a brothel.”

What?!
So that “not quite” earlier was about that?

No way! This modern, glamorous mansion in the middle of nowhere...
If it’s not a lord’s villa or a brothel, what else could it be?!

“I’m telling you, it’s something else. Look around, if this place really was a brothel, do you think we’d have kids running around like that?!”

Huh?!
Following Platy’s gaze, I spot two little children, maybe four or five years old, squealing and chasing each other through the new arrivals.

“Shu-chi-ni-ku-rinnnn!”
“Taaai-bon-hou-rakuuuu!”

They’re so cute.
...But that’s beside the point! Brothels are off-limits to minors, period!

“They’re my eldest and second-oldest sons. If this truly were a brothel, there’s no way I’d bring them here. Even I’m not crazy enough to let them ‘sample the goods’ at that age.”

Er…right…
She’s got a point so strong I can’t argue.

So if it’s not a brothel, what is it then?
I mean, if a mansion that welcomes courtesans isn't a brothel, then the very definition is falling apart!

Why exactly were we brought here in the first place?

"You must have heard the reason already. The settlers working here have been starved for women. And well, we’re not naive little girls, are we? A ruler who ignores such basic human instincts wouldn't be much of a ruler at all."

Haa... I suppose that level of consideration is... admirable.

"So, that's why you ladies were invited here. Though, from the looks of it, the higher-ups from each country all sent courtesans, huh? A reasonable response, I suppose."

What are you getting at?

If the issue was as simple as lonely men, then obviously you'd bring in professionals to handle it.
Then, set up a proper establishment, let business run its course, and problem solved.

"That’s exactly why this isn't playing out the way you'd expect. My husband oesn’t operate by normal rules. You'd best get used to that."

Pardon...?
So, if we weren’t brought here to be courtesans… then what were we brought here for?

“That’s simple…!”

…

She’s really drawing this out.

“…You’re here as potential brides!!!”

Huh?!

“A short fling isn’t enough. We want lasting partners who’ll raise morale and help everyone work more efficiently in the long run!!!”

They jumped straight to marriage proposals?!
Who does that?!

“My husband’s mind operates on an all-ages-friendly setting.”

There’s no way government officials back home could have seen that coming.
They assumed they’d fix a shortage of women by sending in courtesans like us, right? Which leads to this massive disconnect.

They sure missed the mark!