A Flat-Chest Believer Reincarnated in a World Where Women with Small Breasts Aren't Treated as Women ~ I Ended Up with a Flat-Chested Harem. - Chapter 17

While Folca and Risty were enjoying their time together, many homes in the royal capital saw an increase in consumption of alcohol and tea.

The marriage between Risty and Folca had been entirely unexpected for the citizens of the capital. However, most people figured it wouldn’t have much of an impact on their daily lives. Still, it made for excellent gossip over drinks.

In one particular home, two male friends, both merchants, were getting quite animated in their conversation. They weren’t exceptionally wealthy, but they were well-educated.

“I can’t believe Lord Folca actually married Princess Risty… I guess the Marquis of Gustique couldn’t refuse the royal family’s request. Poor Lord Folca,” one of the men said, expressing his opinion.

It was well-known, even in the city, that Princess Risty had been previously engaged, only to have the engagement broken off due to her lack of curves. And now, she had suddenly married the famous Folca Gles Gustique. To say the least, it was strange.

“Come on, it’s Gustique we’re talking about—a family that’s flying high right now. There’s no way he’d get forced into it like that. Lord Folca probably wants this. If we’re talking about the Gustique or royal family, they could easily arrange for a ‘busty beauty’ to be involved behind the scenes. As long as strong magical children are born, it’s all good for the family,” the other man countered.

Conversations like this couldn’t be had in public, even at a tavern. If someone overheard and reported them, they could be charged with lèse-majesté. To talk about something like this, you’d have to gather at someone’s home. Most taverns would be pretty empty tonight.

“Still, it’s a rough deal for Lord Folca. Having to force himself to make children like that… He could’ve had busty beauties from the start,” the first man lamented.

“Yeah… Let’s just hope he doesn’t end up like that count from another country, who went gray from the stress,” the second man replied.

The story was well-known: a man from a foreign country, a count, had been forced to have children with a flat-chested woman to secure his lineage. He supposedly took a lot of stamina potions, and even arranged three busty women around him to block his view of the woman he had to sleep with, just to get through it. The stress and hardship turned his hair completely white at a young age.

“Yeah, nobles have their own set of problems… Here’s to hoping Lord Folca finds some peace of mind,” the first man said as they clinked their wooden cups and downed their beer.

—

In another house, two young women sat across from each other at a small round table. One had pink hair, the other blue. Judging by their attire, they were well-off, even though they were commoners.

“Did you see it? Lord Folca’s kind expression and Princess Risty’s look of pure happiness? It was beautiful! That’s what true love looks like!!” the pink-haired woman gushed, her words full of romantic fantasies. She lived in a prime location along the main street, so she had a great view of Folca and Risty’s mini-parade from her terrace.

“Uh… how on earth did you come to the conclusion that it’s ‘true love’? Princess Risty was engaged to someone else just a few months ago,” the blue-haired woman responded, giving her friend a deadpan look.

“That’s exactly why! The engagement was broken off, and they moved quickly. Proof they were in love all along!” the pink-haired woman insisted.

“…I don’t even know how to respond to that logic. It’s impressive, really,” the blue-haired woman sighed.

“It’s not that far-fetched! Listen, during the Pomeis War, Lord Folca protected Princess Risty from the enemy. They must have fallen in love right then and there!” the pink-haired woman exclaimed.

“Just to ask, but why?” her friend asked, bracing herself for the answer.

“Because it’s obvious! A princess and the handsome noble who saves her in the nick of time? How could they not fall in love? And don’t forget, the princess was already engaged to someone her parents picked out! There’s no room for doubt!” the pink-haired woman declared with certainty.

The blue-haired woman massaged her temples, genuinely wondering why she was friends with this person.

“Sure… You go ahead and think that. Personally, I have a hard time believing any man would want to marry a woman with no chest,” she said.

“But that’s what makes it so amazing! Even though she has a small chest, his feelings didn’t change. It means their souls are connected!” the pink-haired woman countered enthusiastically.

Faced with her friend’s unbridled imagination, the blue-haired woman let out a long sigh.

“Honestly, I’m just glad you’re only a friend. If you were family, I’d have an ulcer by now,” she muttered.

—

Meanwhile, in a small room in a tenement, a man dressed in shabby clothes was laughing heartily.

“Hah! Even the nobles have their troubles, huh? Marrying a flat-chested princess for the King’s pride! What a joke!” He chugged cheap liquor as a woman, likely his wife, smiled wryly at him.

“Careful there. It’s not right to laugh at other people’s misfortunes. Though, I get it. I mean, I understand that it wouldn’t look good for the royal family if the princess stayed single forever, but still… that’s a tough one,” she said.

In places like this, Lord Folca was generally pitied.

—

However, in the Noble District, some people weren’t treating the situation as casual gossip. In a large mansion, a certain count’s daughter was crying uncontrollably. She was one of the women who had been aiming to marry Folca herself.

“Why… Why…?” she wailed.

Apart from the count’s daughter, only a single maid was present in the room.

“This… this can’t be happening!” she sobbed, barely holding back from saying “That flat-chested girl!”

“Mistress, you’re making a scene,” the maid said calmly.

“But it’s not fair! How could this be? Can you believe it? I can’t!!” the young lady screamed.

“Whether you believe it or not, it’s true. As far as I could tell from the parade, it was definitely Lord Folca and Princess Risty,” the maid replied nonchalantly.

“I didn’t see it!” the young lady cried defiantly.

“Well, you didn’t see it because you ordered me to go watch it in your place while you hid under the blankets,” the maid pointed out.

“Ugh… I feel so bad for Lord Folca!” the young lady moaned.

“He looked pretty happy to me. He was smiling the whole time,” the maid remarked.

“That’s impossible. How could the Marquis Gustique allow this…” the young lady mumbled.

“If the goal is to prioritize magical talent, it makes sense. If they can make it work, then there’s no issue with having children,” the maid explained logically.

“Why are you so calm about this?!” the young lady exclaimed.

“Because I’m not the one involved,” the maid replied bluntly.

“Ugh, can’t you at least cry with me?” the young lady pleaded.

“I can try to fake it, if that helps. Boohoo, boohoo,” the maid said, deadpan, barely trying to imitate crying.