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In Chapter 2, when Eto is wondering what she could do for Iono-sama (seeing how everyone has unique skills that served her and she didn't have anything), Iono-sama suggests reading fairy tales to her at night, which prompts Arge to call Iono-sama a Horny Queen.

Now at first I would have thought it was the suggestion of Eto being with Iono-sama at night which the explicit nature of the suggestion, but Eto asks Arge if "fairy tales" has that sort of meaning.

Iono is horny

Later when Eto and Aida are talking, Aida mentions reading fairy tales to Iono-sama and Eto gets all flustered and says she looked it up suggesting that it's not the fact that it's at night but that Eto would be reading fairy tales which makes it lewd.

fairy tales are lewd

After reading the liner notes of Maria Watches Over Us some time ago, I know that some humor in Japanese language comes from puns on how words look very similar but have vastly different meanings only because of one character of the placing of a space.

So I am wondering, why is fairy tales so lewd? Is this some sorta of Japanese language pun?

Aki Tanaka
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Memor-X
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  • Could be a refference to erotic fairytails such as [the little mermaid](https://myanimelist.net/manga/56833/Ero%E2%99%A5M%C3%A4rchen__Ningyo-hime) or the often [implicit symbolism of erotics](https://www.mayastarling.com/little-red-riding-hood-moral-warnings-and-sexual-implications/) in fairly common fairytails – Dimitri mx Jan 09 '18 at 15:31

1 Answers1

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The original dialog use お伽話 (otogibanashi), commonly translated as "fairy-tale".

Iono-sama suggested otogibanashi to Eto

The Japanese-English online dictionary, Jisho only states 1 meaning which is the most common usage:

fairy-tale; nursery-tale

However, when referring to the Japanese-Japanese online dictionary, Kotobank, it states 2 meanings:

  1. A story (legend, folklore, etc.) for children to listen to. "Momotaro", "Kachi-kachi Yama"-type. Alternatively, as a trope, a fantastical story that ignores realism.
  2. A story which takes place while doing otogi.

In fact, when Aida told Eto about "doing otogibanashi at night", Eto was surprised, realizing it's about togi. (The translation is wrong, Eto didn't shout otogibanashi, only togi)

Aida suggested otogibanashi to Eto

Now, what is (o)togi? Otogi is basically o (honorific prefix) + togi. Jisho states:

  • Otogi: attending (upon); keeping another company​
  • Togi: nursing; nurse; attending; attendant; entertainer​

While Kotobank states:

  • Otogi

    1. Accompanying other to kill time during the night. Alternatively, the person who does that.
    2. Attending someone's bedroom. Alternatively, the person who does that. Concubine; mistress​.
    3. [...]
    4. [...]

  • Togi

    1. Become a chat partner, humoring and entertaining them. Alternatively, the person who does that. Otogi.
    2. Attending someone's bedroom. Alternatively, the person who does that.
    3. [...]
    4. [...]

So, yes, it means Iono-sama invites Eto to accompany her at night, possibly also in her bedroom as a concubine, which is Iono-sama's objective from the beginning. Considering the nature of Iono-sama, it's not really surprising if it has something to do with lewd things...

Aki Tanaka
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  • the Otogi second definition would also be of note considering that for the plot [wikipedia says](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iono-sama_Fanatics) *"The series is about Iono, the queen of a small European kingdom with a fetish for black-haired women, who comes to Japan to recruit "sobame" (側女), which can mean both "lady-in-waiting" and "concubine" in Japanese."* – Memor-X Jan 10 '18 at 09:49