Chapter: 613
Whether the Crown Princess gains flight abilities or the Eternal Blue Sky decides to chat, time flowed endlessly without a hitch. Just because some weird stuff was happening doesn’t mean my day-to-day life had to hit pause, right?
“Ah, Friedrich, goo-goo ga-ga!”
“That’s right! Our little Friedrich can babble now!”
These days, I live for the sound of Friedrich’s adorable babble during my daily routine.
In a few months, when the next baby arrives, he’ll be yesterday’s news, but for now, our youngest is still little Friedrich. True to his name, he has an impressively warm pink hair, reminiscent of cherry blossoms, just like Rizie.
Plus, he’s got Rizie’s blue eyes, making him the male version of her.
“Our little one will be quite popular when he grows up.”
I poked Friedrich’s nose with a chuckle.
Rizie was the Academy’s idol for three years, adored by nobles and royals alike. If Friedrich inherits not just looks but characteristics from her, he might just burn many young ladies’ hearts. Stretching it a bit, he might even become the first love of the Empire.
‘First love of the Empire, huh.’
That’s a strange phrase that made me chuckle. In this medieval-smelling world, can you really have such a thing?
But if he’s Rizie’s child, it just might be possible. I’ve given Friedrich a background that nobody can ignore, while Rizie probably passed down her universally likable looks and personality.
“Let’s hope he doesn’t take after his dad’s personality, though.”
“Goo?”
Friedrich looked up at me curiously, probably not understanding a word I just said. It’s totally normal; while it’s surprising how expressive my triplets are, most babies are typically like Friedrich—still figuring it all out.
Anyway, I genuinely hope he doesn’t take after me. Let’s be real—I wouldn’t say I’m stellar when it comes to dating or social cues. Imagining the national heartthrob having my dating life? The Empire’s social scene would turn upside down.
And not in a good way.
“Maybe I should get him a good match early on.”
“Goo-oo!”
As I mumbled to myself, Friedrich flailed his arms adorably as if to scold me for worrying about something so far off.
“Big brother.”
“Hmm?”
While I was amusing myself poking Friedrich’s nose with my fingers, Rizie, wearing a puffy outfit, approached.
“Oh, is it already mealtime?”
I moved aside, staring blankly at Rizie. Our little Friedrich has unbelievable timing; it’s right around meal time for him, where he starts his hungry wails.
“Waa!”
Sure enough, as soon as he spotted Rizie, Friedrich stretched out his arms and whined, right on cue. It’s like he was saying, “Perfect timing! I was getting hungry!”
“Alright, let’s get you some food, little one.”
Rizie gently scooped up Friedrich.
It’s a familiar sight that fills me with warmth. Nowadays, I gauge how far the day has gone by watching Rizie nurse Friedrich. He’s so predictable I can tell the time without checking a clock.
“…Hey, big brother?”
“Yeah?”
“Um… it’s a bit embarrassing when you stare so hard…”
I might have been staring a little too intensely; Rizie’s face turned slightly red as she swatted at her clothes.
“Come on, we’ve seen everything already, haven’t we?”
“O-Oh, big brother!”
“Alright, alright. Sorry.”
I mean, we’ve gone through all that already, what’s there left to be shy about? But as a husband, it’s my duty to protect my wife’s innocence. So, I discreetly turned my head.
Still, a part of me feels a little down. Rizie must have something she hasn’t shown me yet. I’m over here laying it all on the table!
‘And by the way, she’s back to calling me ‘big brother’ again.’
When Friedrich was born, Rizie was calling me ‘darling.’ But at some point, she started mixing ‘darling’ with ‘big brother,’ and now it seems she’s comfortably gone back to ‘big brother.’ That’s a massive heartbreaker!
I could understand mixing it up, getting used to ‘big brother,’ but going back is just too much.
“Rizie!”
“Please don’t sneak glances like that.”
“Why not call me ‘darling’ anymore?”
I turned back to her and asked directly. Where did my lovely spring days disappear to? Where’d my heart-thumping sweet titles go?
“W-Well…”
Rizie stuttered at my tone filled with longing.
“I want to hear you call me ‘darling’ too.”
That was a heartwarming plea, but unfortunately, I’m not trained in mind-reading.
“If you keep calling me ‘big brother,’ then what happens when Friedrich grows up? He will definitely call me ‘big brother’ too!”
Even I thought that was a crazy thought, but Rizie, ambushed by the sudden realization, was left wide-eyed.
Good. If I push this just a bit more, I might just see progress.
“Of course, our love isn’t bound by a title, but wouldn’t it feel better to call each other something warmer and softer?”
Let’s be honest, ‘big brother’ is a title anyone younger than me could use. But ‘darling’ is something only six people in the whole world can address me as. The weight of those words can’t compare.
“Well, that’s true…”
Rizie’s resistance started to wane against my perfectly logical argument.
Honestly, I had the upper hand in this debate from the start. Isn’t it normal for a husband to want his wife to call him ‘darling’?
– Hey, is it a good time?
Unexpectedly, a third party interrupted our little debate.
‘What’s up?’
Disappointing, but I had to respond to the Eternal Blue Sky’s words.
That’s fine; no matter when I play my cards, I’ve got the winning hand. No problem waiting for another chance.
To be real, even if it was an unfair situation, I wouldn’t lose a war of words to Rizie.
– A saint from Enen’s side is here, do you know anything about it?
‘…Huh?’
The calm demeanor I had shattered at the Eternal Blue Sky’s news.
A saint from Enen’s side? That’s Tannian, isn’t it? What’s Tannian doing at the Eternal Blue Sky’s domain? Over in the land of the other races, the symbolic World Tree where Constantina resides?
Why…?
“Big brother?”
As I stared blankly into space, Rizie, sensing my distraction, gently spoke up.
I shared a glance with Rizie and wrapped my arms around her and little Friedrich simultaneously.
“Rizie, please call me ‘darling.’”
I’m just trying to sort out my chaotic thoughts here.
Even if the Dawn Sect accepted other faiths, why is a saint from the Dawn Sect visiting the heart of an alien faith? Is he going there to hit on them or something?
‘What a nightmare.’
As a civil servant, there’s nothing more terrifying than unexpected variables.
Especially if they’re variables created by acquaintances.
“Please just say ‘darling’…!”
“Y-Yes, dear! Calm down!”
And just like that, my anxious heart began to settle.
*
As soon as we entered the interspecies protection area, I expected to be bombarded with countless gazes.
Humans strolling into a region inhabited by countless other races, and not just a couple, but a whole group! We’d deserve those wary stares for sure.
But surprisingly, that wasn’t the case. Instead, the moment we entered the area, the other races simply greeted us politely, offering no other reactions.
‘Is it because they’re used to humans already?’
This place is somewhat of a tourist site. With plenty of humans coming and going every day, I guess it makes sense the other races would be indifferent.
But we weren’t just any humans; we were priests. If the other races hold on to their traditional beliefs, they surely must feel uneasy.
“Brother!”
While I pondered this, a man in priest robes sprinted towards us from afar.
The bishop of the interspecies protection area!
“Welcome! We’re thrilled to have you here, dear brothers and sisters!”
“Ah, Bishop!”
“I hadn’t seen you in ages, and now you’re here! How about taking some oranges with you?”
The bishop was stopped every few steps by the other races who offered him gifts.
What a curious sight; those other races unhesitatingly pouring gifts on a human priest.
“My apologies for the delay! I just meant to do a quick clean-up, but it took longer than expected!”
The bishop, happily holding a pile of gifts stacked nearly to his head, greeted us with an awkward smile.
“No need to apologize. It was our sudden visit, so we should be the ones to apologize to you.”
As he spoke, I helped carry some of the gifts he was holding; I didn’t want him tripping over them and falling.
“You seem to get along well with the locals.”
“The duty of a priest is to blend with the locals. I simply fulfilled my responsibilities.”
His classy words made me even more satisfied.
In a time where there are priests who cannot fulfill their duties, here’s a priest treating the local non-humans without prejudice: a precious asset for the church that should be cherished and a devout person with whom I can discuss serious religious matters.
“Brother.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“If you don’t mind, could I visit the World Tree?”
Before diving into a relaxed theological debate with the bishop, I decided to first lay out my request for guidance.
“The World Tree, huh.”
Upon hearing my request, the bishop thought for a moment before nodding enthusiastically.
“Sure! While outsiders can’t just approach freely, the elders will surely grant me permission for you. He maintains a good relationship with this parish.”
The mention of an elder reminded me of the elf I met previously. She’s definitely the grandmother of the Marcilio sisters.
“By the way, may I ask what brings you to the World Tree?”
At the bishop’s inquiry, I smiled warmly.
“To offer prayers from the Son of the Sun to the sacred plants.”
On hearing that, the bishop froze in place.
For the Son of the Sun to pray to another being is no small thing.
*
Ever since I hounded Rizie to call me ‘darling’…
– Right now, messengers from Enen’s side are gathering in front of the World Tree. Your family is also there!
‘…Are you talking about the Wise Duke?’
– Ah, right. I just called him the Wise Duke, huh?
I groaned internally at the Eternal Blue Sky’s friendly real-time updates.
What on earth is happening over there?
But I’m scared that if I see or hear too much, I might get tangled up in whatever’s going on.
‘Crap.’
Tannian, what the heck are you doing over there?
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