Deal with it

You clear your throat, trying to regain a sliver of dignity as you stand before the giggling crowd of women.

"Right," you say, coughing into your hand while trying to ignore the heat burning in your cheeks. "Well, since you're all awake, we might as well get to work."

To work they go, and you as well. Leaving the sleeping Shizuka, you put on your clothes and go to put your house in order.

Later, the merchant from the northern coast arrives right on schedule. He is a stout, well-dressed man with expensive silk robes and an entourage of guards carrying heavy luggage. He steps off the ship with a wide, confident grin, eager to claim his new bride.

You stand on the balcony of the newly christened Uzumaki House, watching the scene unfold from a distance. Shizuka steps up beside you, fully dressed in her travel attire, her dark hair neatly tied back. She looks down at the merchant waiting below and then turns to you with a soft, knowing smile.

"Well, Uzumaki-sama, it seems my new life has finally come to collect me," she says quietly, reaching out to gently touch your hand.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" you ask, looking down at her with a hint of reluctance. "You know you can stay here if you want."

"I am sure," she replies, her dark eyes steady and resolute. "A deal is a deal, and my bond is cleared. But I will never forget these last two nights, or the seed you left inside me."

She leans up, pressing one final, lingering kiss to your lips before she slips away down the hallway to meet her new future husband. You watch as she joins him by the docks, her expression calm and composed, completely hiding the wild, uninhibited nights she spent in your bed.

Later that afternoon, after the merchant's ship sails out of the harbor and into the horizon, Kaede finds you in the courtyard. She holds a ledger of the household contracts in her hands, her expression a mix of amusement and careful consideration.

"The merchant has taken Shizuka, and the transition is complete," Kaede reports, stepping closer to you. "However, there is something we need to discuss regarding the rest of the women."

You cross your arms, turning your full attention to the matron. "What is it?"

"After witnessing what happened in your suite over the last two nights, the household has quite a few strong reactions," Kaede explains, letting out a soft sigh. "Some of the women felt deeply intimidated by what they saw. Your stamina and the intensity of those sessions were... staggering, to say the least."

"I'm not forcing them," you note wryly. "Besides, it's their fault for watching."

Kaede smiles and continues. "But quite a few others are completely thrilled and excited by it."

"Excited?" you ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Very much so," Kaede nods. "In fact, a few of them have come to me with specific questions. They want to know if they can share your bed for sex only, without the risk or intention of getting pregnant. Would that be alright with you, Uzumaki-sama?"

You lean back against the wooden railing, a lopsided grin forming on your face as you process the request. "As I said before, I'm not forcing anyone, but if they want to experience it without having my kids, there are ways to manage that. It's fine by me."

Kaede smirks, her eyes twinkling with worldly amusement. "I thought you might say that. But that isn't even the most interesting part."

"What else?"

"Those who felt intimidated have been talking among themselves," Kaede says, leaning in a fraction closer. "They realized that facing you alone is a daunting task. So, they've been discussing the idea of approaching your bed together, as a group, to share the burden and the pleasure at the same time."

The sheer scale of the proposal hits you, leaving you momentarily speechless as you realize that Uzumaki House is turning out to be far more lively than you ever could have imagined.