Chapter 509
The wedding with Trixy, the resurrection of the World Tree, the reappearance of Konstantina, the Pope’s invitation to participate in the council, the unexpected news of Trixy being pregnant with triplets during our honeymoon, and the uproar caused by job postings across the continent.
After all these events, summer vacation still wasn’t over.
‘Is this a dream?’
I couldn’t help but think that way. It felt like I was living life in the fast lane, with so many things happening, yet I checked the calendar and summer vacation was still on. There’s even about a month left before school starts.
It’s quite bizarre. Back in the day, vacation felt like it zipped by in the blink of an eye, but now it seems like this holiday is stretching on three times longer than usual. Did the Principal decide to be generous and tack on some bonus time for what might be my last break? How thoughtful of him.
‘Last vacation, indeed.’
I picked up a cookie as I watched Titi playing in the garden with Yuris and Sophia.
I didn’t realize it during the vacation ceremony because I was too busy with wedding preparations, but this vacation is technically my last hurrah. Once this break ends, second semester kicks off, and when that’s done, all the members of the pastry club will graduate and go back to their respective homelands.
At that point, there will be no need for me to stick around the academy as the Executive Manager. The academy, which had become a powder keg with all the key figures from various nations gathered, would revert back to being a normal academy.
‘Last…’
The more I pondered, the more I felt a mix of relief and emptiness. When I first took this position, I wished for it to end quickly, but as the time draws near, I find my emotions getting tangled. It feels like I’ve developed bonds at the academy.
I had definitely formed decent enough relationships with competent and normal people like the Principal, the Vice Principal, and Villar. We shared a commonality of being the subordinates who got caught up in the struggles beneath our superiors.
And because I was at the academy, I managed to reunite with Mar and also meet Rizie and Lynn again. Getting closer with Erich, who had a somewhat awkward relationship with me, was also a nice outcome.
‘Not too bad.’
Looking back over the past two and a half years at the academy, it was a significant time that greatly impacted my life. If I hadn’t taken on the role of Executive Manager and had just stayed as the head of the Information Department, who knows what kind of person I would be now? At the very least, I probably wouldn’t be as fun or happy as I am now.
‘Should I thank those guys?’
I chuckled to myself as I took a sip of coffee I had set beside the cookie. If those bumbling club members hadn’t come all the way to the Imperial Academy, I would have had no reason to come to the academy myself. Perhaps, in a way, I owe my current self to those guys—
‘Forget it.’
Just as I was about to indulge in a warm and fuzzy reminisce, thinking of the season 77 club members sent chills down my spine. I almost romanticized how quiet they’ve been lately, but—
No matter how positively I think about it, expressing gratitude towards them is just wrong. Every time they pulled off their antics, I had to clean up their messes; it’s only right to think that the happiness I’m experiencing now comes from the price I paid for dealing with them. It’s a thorough exchange, not some one-sided favor.
‘Live as normal people back in your homeland.’
Even so, having that bond as advisor and club members made me whisper a small prayer.
Having a reputation for their antics at the academy is enough; I sincerely hope that once they graduate and return to their homelands, they’ll act like decent princes and the next holy ones. That is likely the road to preserve their dignity and their country’s honor.
“Titi! You can’t eat that!”
– Kiiing…
“Making that pathetic face won’t help!”
In the midst of this, it seemed Titi had picked some flowers to munch on in the garden, and now she was getting scolded with a sullen face.
Noticing her eyes subtly turning towards me for help, it seemed she hoped I would intervene. But this was clearly her fault, so I turned a blind eye. I give her delicious meals every day made from the finest ingredients; why on earth would she want to munch on innocent grass? Anyone would assume she’s starving!
‘Could she be a vegetarian?’
If that was truly the case, I could understand. If she has a preference she doesn’t impose on others, it’s only natural to respect it. I’ll have to try giving her both meat and vegetables for dinner tonight.
“Not even hiding it.”
– Woof!
Then that evening, Titi, without any hesitation, devoured just the meat and sprawled out on the ground.
Why go through all that trouble in the garden, then?
The sun, the sky, and the greenery settled right in Trixy’s arms, barely radiating any presence, but it was evident that First Snow was sprouting robustly day by day.
“Carl, can you get some strawberries?”
The rapidly growing child was bound to be quite the eater.
“Strawberries? Sure, I’ll be right back.”
It seemed the First Snow that had been peacefully sleeping in Mar’s arms woke up, as suddenly Mar requested strawberries while peacefully sipping tea.
Finding spring fruits in summer is tricky, but with money, money, and more money, what’s impossible? In a world with magic, the word “in-season” merely means “the time to get it cheaper.”
“Do you need anything else?”
“Um, I’m good for now.”
“Alright? Just let me know if you think of something.”
“Hehe, you got it.”
Seeing Mar smile brightly almost made me let out a bitter laugh. When was the last time “right now” felt so frightening?
I know well enough that a pregnant woman’s taste buds can fluctuate all over the map. Whimsical cravings and morning sickness are like fates all pregnant women must endure, and no matter how hard one tries, it’s something beyond their control.
But knowing it and doing it are two different matters. There was that one time I brought back an apple because she craved it, only for her to change her mind the moment I stepped in with a tangerine. Right now Mar wants strawberries, but in five minutes, who knows what she might feel like?
‘She’s quite fickle.’
Before embarking on my strawberry expedition, I gently caressed Mar’s belly where my lovely First Snow resides.
It would be a lie to say this fickleness is not exhausting, but I don’t actually mind it. Mar, who had rarely asked for things, was relying on me thanks to First Snow, and as an expecting father, it’s only natural to fulfill her cravings.
…But I hope she can hold off on asking for steak at dawn. While it might be good for First Snow, it’s a nightmare for Mar. Just imagine drifting off to sleep after a midnight steak feast and waking up a wreck in the morning!
“Oh, Carl.”
“Yeah?”
“Uh, can you also get kiwis?”
Mar’s face turned a tad red as she requested that. After saying she didn’t need anything else, she changed her mind about thirty seconds later, clearly feeling a bit embarrassed.
Of course, I wasn’t upset in the slightest. In fact, it made me happy to think that First Snow was considering her dad’s preferences, making Mar’s cravings spurt forth like a fountain.
‘Already showing filial piety before birth.’
What a charming child, truly.
*
Seeing Carl quickly disappear upon hearing my request made me feel both grateful and guilty.
Normally annoying tasks like this, he willingly takes them on so easily; it’s as if he’s habitually complying to my whimsical demands.
‘You don’t have to go yourself.’
Plus, even though he’s a nobleman who can easily command servants with a word, he still makes the effort personally.
Unless cooking is on the agenda, Carl never hands over my requests to someone else. No matter how distant, he moves on his own, and he seeks out whatever is precious personally.
At first, I was both amazed and overwhelmed by this, so I tried my best to hold back my desires. How could I ask him to zip out in the middle of the night when he’d leave the comfort of his sleep at my mere utterance?
However, the more I forced myself to endure, the more it became evident, and eventually, Carl caught on.
“The child is a treasure for both parents. It wouldn’t be fair for only Mar to suffer. Besides, if First Snow is to hear that Dad fed and raised you, this much should be expected.”
Widening his smile, Carl tousled my hair, and at that moment, I found myself just nodding absentmindedly. I came to realize that it is possible to fall in love with the same person multiple times.
Mom always said the most charming moments of your husband come during the honeymoon phase, but even considering that, Carl was exceptionally suave and gentle. How on earth can a nobleman possess such traits? Who would suspect this person to be one of the empire’s heavyweights at such a young age?
“Don’t you think so?”
As I caressed my belly while talking to First Snow, she kicked in response.
In that strange moment, I couldn’t help but laugh. Although I can’t be sure if First Snow understands my words, I know it’s highly probable this is just a coincidence.
Yet for some reason, I could feel that First Snow was sharing my feelings, that this little one loved their father.
“…Ah.”
After a while of caressing my belly, I let out a quiet sigh.
Now, I have one more thing I want to eat.
*
I quickly found the kiwis, but strawberries were surprisingly nowhere to be found.
– For the common folks of the capital, isn’t it just a step above the provincial middle class? Do they really look for out-of-season fruits when they’re all living together? Even if it’s just a trivial dessert, they care about the taste!
Faced with this utterly useless response, I had to reach out to the 2nd Section Head, who was now my senior in the newlywed department.
It was a baffling answer, but I accepted it. He’s been through his wife’s morning sickness long before I ever did, and given that his family is deeply rooted in the distribution market, it’s not too strange for him to have that information.
– But still, it’s not like there’s no demand, so if you dig a bit, you might find something.
“What about the quality?”
– Of course, it’s good. If someone peddled shoddy products in the capital, they wouldn’t even be able to keep a foot in the ground here.
His confident response put my mind at ease. So, there’s still some strawberries around somewhere. That’s good to know.
– Oh right, Your Grace.
“Why?”
– Instead of digging through the capital’s market while bothering yourself like that, why not just sign a contract with our family?
This got me thinking for a moment. If I contracted with the 2nd Section Head’s family, it could facilitate finding foods I had yet to locate.
But it did feel a bit demeaning to contract with a noble family over something every retailer should be able to procure for me. How much food could Mar possibly eat during this pregnancy to necessitate a family-level contract?—
– Given that your wife has six of them, I reckon this might go on for several years.
“Send over the contract.”
– Yes, Your Grace.
A sudden realization came when the 2nd Section Head pointed out that aspect I had momentarily forgotten.
With six pregnant wives, and since it will likely extend beyond just one delivery, as the 2nd Section Head predicted, I’d be doing this whole troublesome search for years.
‘Is this the burden of being the head of a household?’
It weighs so heavy.
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