Chapter 492
A few days before the wedding, I was summoned by the Emperor.
What a pity. I had gotten used to communicating through the communication network and avoiding direct meetings; just as I feared the vacation ended, I was called in.
“Ow!”
“It’s been a while, Crown Princess Your Highness.”
However, I couldn’t refuse, as they pulled the excuse of “You should often see your benefactor’s face.” Honestly, even if the reason was as crazy as “I was bored,” I wouldn’t have the ability to turn it down.
In any case, the reason I was summoned was to play with the Crown Princess, so despite the Emperor’s call, I ended up in the Empress’s Palace instead of the Sun Palace’s office. At least I avoided the workroom that felt like a dungeon.
“Uh?”
“Your Highness?”
But something felt off. The moment the Empress handed over the Crown Princess to me, she started flailing her hands near my chin.
Wondering if she wanted to be laid down on a bed, I subtly lowered my arms, but she recoiled with a loud pout, showing her displeasure.
It was confusing. In just a few months, she had developed a peculiar habit.
“Don’t mind it, Minister. She’s just flailing because there’s nothing for her to grab.”
The Empress, watching the spectacle, chuckled softly and gently spoke.
“Occasionally, His Majesty also holds the Crown Princess, and every time that happens, the Crown Princess tugs at His Majesty’s beard. Since you don’t have a beard, it’s probably confusing for her on where to grab.”
“O-Oh, I see.”
As a mere subject, receiving such information felt too lavish, and I couldn’t help but awkwardly smile. I had heard before that the Emperor donated his beard to the Crown Princess, but I never expected he’d still be getting tugged at even after all these months.
Could this really be the same man who looked so cold and serious that he’d bleed blue if stabbed? To think he could casually hold his granddaughter and have his beard pulled! What a dissonance.
‘Is grandfather really a grandfather, though?’
Thinking back, the Emperor never really showed any paternal affection. The legitimate firstborn son, the wayward crown prince, and the youngest, overshadowed and turned into air by the wayward child—all three received no equal share of affection. I didn’t know if it was due to his personal character or the responsibilities of a leader.
However, ever since stepping down from his position as Emperor, he seems to be showing traces of that paternal affection he had hidden away. If that’s the case, then it seems he had suppressed his emotions all this time due to that sense of responsibility. It’s fortunate that he can fully love at least his granddaughter.
“Ta-da!”
“Oh my!”
As I mused about that fatherly scene reminiscent of feeding chickens, the Crown Princess, who had barely been flailing at my chin, let out a loud cheer.
And then she grabbed my collar.
“Seems like the Crown Princess has managed to grab something before I could.”
At that moment, the Emperor, who had been watching with his arms crossed, spoke with a tone of admiration.
What are you admiring, you crazy man? Your daughter learned to grab collars from her benefactor, didn’t she?
‘This kind of habit shouldn’t be encouraged.’
If, just hypothetically, the Crown Princess develops a habit of grabbing a minister’s collar, that would indeed be troublesome. No matter how kind and capable she is, having the sentence “if things go wrong, she grabs her minister’s collar” attached to her would give off a tyrant vibe.
Of course, she’s still just a baby who hasn’t even reached one year; it was probably just a coincidence. But if this coincidence continues for years, it could truly become a habit. For the sake of the Empire, that can’t happen.
That’s why, as the Crown Princess’s benefactor, I steeled my resolve. If the Emperor allows this collar-grabbing nonsense to persist, I’ll have to step forward and firmly advise against it—
“Pyaa~”
I made eye contact with the laughing Crown Princess.
…
‘Well, kids will be kids after all.’
It’s not like her tugging on my collar is going to rip my hair out; I can certainly let her have that much.
The Crown Princess fell asleep after grabbing my collar, which forced me into a hasty escape, shedding my outer coat.
“Sorry about that. I unexpectedly took your attire away.”
“It’s alright. After all, the uniform yields plenty spare.”
I gently shook my head at the Emperor, who was smiling in amusement. I’m not walking around in robes adorned with gold; I’m just wearing the simple uniform given to me by the Information Department, so there’s no need to feel sorry.
I’m just concerned my slightly used clothes won’t carry any illnesses to the baby Crown Princess.
“True to your title, you seem generous. I believe you’ll make a good father to the children.”
“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”
Although it was an unexpected compliment, I instinctively lowered my head. What kind of nonsense is he starting with a compliment?
“It’s flattery.”
Upon hearing my reply, the Emperor fell silent for a moment.
“If the Minister isn’t a good father, that would be troubling, wouldn’t it? So instead of calling it flattery, let’s call it an honor.”
At his continued words, I raised my head again.
I think I understood the Emperor’s concerns. If I were to teach my children through fantasy or pursue self-study, I would regrettably be a disaster from the Empire’s standpoint. What if the next Imperial Count and Young Lord of the Empire had twisted personalities? Even the next Count of Weiridia who would control the North?
‘That’s terrifying.’
Just imagining it a little, I could catch glimpses of Sodom and Gomorrah—what a horrific future it would be if the second prince I dealt with was replicated.
“Oh dear, I was trying to say something nice but ended up saying something heavy.”
“It’s alright, Your Majesty. Your valuable words have pointed me in the right direction.”
I offered a formal response to the Emperor, who seemed a bit embarrassed after belatedly realizing it sounded heavier than intended.
No, in fact, my response wasn’t just formal; it was sincere. I’d obviously never intended to neglect or abuse my children, but realizing that even a slight misstep could result in a disaster for the Empire made a huge impact.
Moreover, any child born between Trixie and me would be one-fourth elf. Given elves have a maximum lifespan of about a thousand years, that means they’d live for 200 to 300 years on average. If such a child grew into a cruel noble, they wouldn’t be able to hold their head high in front of the commoners.
*
Although I brought up something that could make the atmosphere awkward, the Minister didn’t seem too concerned.
Seeing that made me feel more at ease. With a minister like him, the chances of my worries coming true were minimal. At the very least, the second generation of House Krasius he’d educate would likely be far from tyranny or arrogance.
‘That’s good enough.’
Feeling reassured, I reflected on why I had summoned the Minister right before his second wedding. While it’s a joyful occasion for a duke who went from being single to having a partner with a potential heir, I wanted to stress that having children doesn’t end things there.
Seeing the Minister’s reaction, I could tell he’d likely handle it well, even without my interference. But since this matter concerns the Duke’s House and not another family, I wanted to be certain.
“Ah, Minister. While you’re here, you might as well take this.”
Now that the Minister has given me confidence and relief, it’s time to reward him for this probing session.
“Your Majesty, what is this—”
“It’s a gift. It wouldn’t do for the royal family to congratulate the marriage of the Imperial Count and the Duke empty-handed, would it?”
I presented him with a music box the size of two fists that I had just taken out of my pocket.
With a blue background outlined in gold and adorned with pure white jewels, it was a splendid music box. Furthermore, the interior was made from materials sensibly responsive to mana, ensuring that the budget and technology invested in this box were quite substantial.
‘It was indeed quite a sum spent.’
As I recalled the budget funneled into the music box, I couldn’t help but smile wryly.
The duke is the pinnacle of the Empire’s nobility and the descendants of the one who established the heavenly mandate. Naturally, the royal family respected them, and gifting a thoughtful present with both money and effort for occasions like weddings was customary. Surely, the Imperial Household has a set budget specifically allocated for dukes.
However, it’s been over 100 years since the Katovan Duke has celebrated anything. In contrast to Oldiden Duke who, thanks to the Gold Duke’s vibrant activities, had their budget depleted twelve times over.
That’s why I poured in a budget far beyond what was predetermined. I thought of this as a way to make up for all the gifts the Katovan Duke hadn’t received and treat the devoted minister who has dedicated himself to the Empire.
“…I’m truly humbled by such an extravagant gift, Your Majesty.”
It seemed the Minister recognized the value of the music box, as he bowed his head again.
As long as he liked it, that’s what mattered.
*
The day before the wedding, we moved ahead to the Servette Principality.
During the last wedding, moving from one capital to another was fine for day-of travel, but this time the wedding was being held outside the capitals. No matter how much teleportation magic you have, it’s easier to prepare in advance.
Most importantly, the magical society’s heavyweights, those recognized as titans, were gathering in the Servette Principality. Of course, the wizards wouldn’t dare stir up trouble in Trixie’s territory, but if guests were arriving, it would make sense for the host to be present.
“Looks like a lot of people have come.”
Seeing the guest list handed to me by the butler, a laugh escaped me. It was merely a list of wizards and their affiliations, yet it felt impressively thick.
Amongst the names listed at the front was Duke Kilanas’s. Of course, I figured this guy would be the first to arrive.
“Honestly worried there won’t be enough space.”
“Do not worry. The thicket near the villa has been cleared, so it won’t be crowded even with a large number of guests.”
States confidently, the butler assured me.
His abundant confidence turned out to be trustworthy. If the loyal butler is confident, there’s surely no problem.
“With all the retainers, I think we can have a beautiful wedding. Thank you.”
“Thank you? No, it’s rather us who should be thanking you.”
Bow after bow, the butler vanished, saying he would check the wedding venue again.
The more I see it, the more worrisome it becomes. If he’s this devoted to someone who isn’t an official husband yet, how loyal could he possibly be once I officially become the husband? Others might mistake that butler for a slave rather than a servant.
“I need to be careful with my words around the retainers.”
From now on, I must be cautious about my wording around the butler and the other retainers. Who knows if my offhand comments could possibly turn into commands out of my memory?
“……”
“Trixie?”
As I turned to speak, I noticed Trixie staring silently at the floor.
‘She’s tense.’
There’s something cute about that, making me chuckle. I suppose she’s nervous about tomorrow’s wedding.
…Hmm.
“Wah!”
When I suddenly grabbed her ears, Trixie shrieked and recoiled.
Her reaction was instantaneous and satisfying.
“W-What are you doing, Carl!?”
In an instant, Trixie’s face turned red, and she protested in a tremulous voice.
Ever since we learned about the significance of touching elven ears, Trixie has avoided having her ears touched. I still didn’t quite understand what it meant, but since Trixie hesitated, I had been refraining from doing it.
“What’s wrong between us?”
But now, does it even matter? We’ve already spent five scorching days together outside. I can’t imagine anything more intense than that.
“We are a couple now.”
With that bold declaration, I grabbed Trixie’s ears together.
“P-Please, stop… Seriously, stop that…”
Watching Trixie melting into a puddle was decidedly satisfying.
I had missed this playful interaction for so long.
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