Heading back to the hut I am not sure how to describe my emotions. Still excited from what I just experienced, bit guilty, but mostly worried what the others might think. Most of it seems rather unreal to me. I agreed with Mara to keep our enjoyable deception from her daughter. It is not a secret a little girl should have to keep. I convinced Mara it would be best to tell the other girls, but I am kind of regretting it now. Especially considering the conversation I am about to have with them. I could just blurt out what Mara discussed with me, but I suspect it would be better for them to open up themselves.

Everyone looks up at me the moment I stick my head in the door. As I slide in, Mara sticks her head in and asks her daughter Naomi to come out. "To give you all some privacy." She explains her action and leaves us. My map tells me that they are heading over to the shallow cave that has become Bambi's home. Turning towards the girls, I notice a suspicious look in their eyes. Don't tell me they all figured out what happened outside.

To stop any awkward questions I start the conversation I need to have with them. "I am glad you all seem to have calmed down. Thanks to Mara I have a much better grasp of what is going on, and why you all reacted the way you did earlier, but I want to hear it from you all directly. Lawra, please start by explaining yourself." Lawra hesitates before talking, probably the first time I have seen her do that.

"I meant what I said about marrying you. I know I am very impulsive, and that has gotten me in trouble before. Despite knowing that, I feel certain about it this time. I liked you from the first moment I met you. I don't know how you feel about it, but I can make you happy, and do all sorts of things for you." the last part is accompanied with what I can only describe as seductive eyes and body movements. Checking my skill menu, I notice that I have just learned a new skill from observation, seduction.

"Stop it Lawra, give the rest of us a chance." It is Lynne interrupting Lawra's attempt at seducing me. Part of her comment sticks out; the rest of us. I look to Kira, she seems to be controlling herself, but I suspect Lynne's comment came just in time. "Kira, could you explain the reason for your anger earlier?" Unsurprisingly Kira explains that she felt that Lawra was trying to trap me in a marriage oath before I knew the consequences. I assure her that I know of the oath works, but also ask her: "Is that the only reason you were angry with Lawra's proposal?"

"I didn't want Lawra to be the first one to marry you. You seem nice enough that you would accept her regardless of how impulsive it is, but I don't want her to marry you before me. I mean I am not emotionally ready, but I want to be. Am I being selfish?" There seems to be importance attached to who is the first wife. "Do you want to be the first wife yourself?" Kira looks a bit troubled. "Not necessarily, but it shouldn't just be the first person to throw herself at you. The first one should be special."

Polygamy can be a real pain. "My understanding of marriage is that it is a bond to ensure the lifelong security of the woman, so for someone to be special she would both need to be someone who needs my support and who I want to support. Is that an acceptable definition Kira?" She seems to agree.

Turning towards Mari, who has been sitting next to me the whole time, I address her while looking directly into her eyes. "Mari, before I left to take care of the rest of the goblins, you asked me to make you my slave. I understand that you are worried that I will discard you or leave you behind. Since you have nowhere to go and limited skills, you feel totally dependent on me. I also now know the stigma attached to someone who has been through what you have been through, and I think it is wrong and cruel. It was always my intention to take care of you, and to give you that assurance, I want you to marry me."

Mari is not the only one smiling. I think she nodded a yes. The other girls all seem very accepting and emotional. Before they can start to think about themselves, I continue. "I will marry Mari immediately, but I am open to marry all of you in the near future. Raise you hand if you are interested." I am not sure if raising your hand is a thing her, but they all comply. Lawra with both her hands. "I don't want any of you to rush it. You all have achieved a level of independence on your own. I don't want you to tie yourself to me without first considering the options. When all three of you know for sure what you want, I will marry you all at the same time. If there has to be an order, Kira will go first of the three of you."

Everyone seems happy with the solution. I feel relieved until Lawra drops a bomb. "So give us some details, what is going on between you and the old lady?" Darn, I was thinking of not telling them what happened earlier. After checking that Mara and Naomi are still in the cave I have a shot at explaining. "Firstly, Mara is not an old lady. I can assure you that she is every bit as stunning as you girls." That drew some smiles. "So what happened? You were out there for a long time." Lawra is relentless. The other girls are grinning at my uncomfortable body language.

After admitting to the quickie that took place outside not too long ago and explaining why, they all seem to accept it. No one judges me at all. It all feel unnatural to me, so I ask them directly how they feel about it. "Mara has told me her background, so I think the old father in-law deserves it." Kira is misunderstanding my question for meaning that I want to know how they feel about deceiving the old nobleman. "I never liked nobles in the first place." Lawra's outburst is quickly followed by a correction. "Except for one person I know." The last comment was clearly a peace offering to Kira.

Lynne adds to the conversation by suggesting I save my seed for Mara for the next few days, subject to Mari's approval. She also offers to distract Naomi while I sneak off with Mara. The girls all chip in with their thoughts and comments approving of the plan. The scene looks surreal to me. I don't seem to have any say in the plans, but they are all made to help me get Mara pregnant in the short window we have. I got my soon to be wife delaying the wedding night so I can impregnate another woman, and three more wife candidates conspiring to keep it a secret. This world is crazy.