Chapter: 633
After finishing my outing, I returned to the mansion.
“Oppa?”
As soon as I opened the front gate, I saw Pedi zooming around on Titi.
How heartwarming! The first one to greet me was my adorable firstborn. Was he just hanging around because he wanted to see his daddy? Or maybe?
Honestly, I didn’t care if that wasn’t the case. What mattered was that Pedi was the first to welcome me back.
“Our Pedi! Daddy’s home!”
“Oppa!”
– Woof!
As I stretched my arms towards Pedi, Titi naturally moved in my direction.
I’m always grateful for Titi’s remarkable sensitivity and intelligence. Thanks to that, I have a playmate and a friend for Pedi, who also carries him right back to my arms.
“Master?”
“Has the Master returned?”
Soon, the holy beings scattered around the mansion began to show up one by one.
It felt oddly nice to see them again after just a few days apart.
“Anything happen while I was gone?”
“The Crown Princess’s powers are getting stronger. If caught wrong, your whole body hurts.”
“Seems like nothing much happened, then.”
“Then why ask in the first place?”
Amid their humbly miffed protests, a chuckle escaped me. No matter how strong the Crown Princess gets, it’s not like it’s anything really terrifying.
“Yup. You all did a great job.”
Still, there was no denying these critters were actively engaging with the Crown Princess and my kids. Thanks to my eleven holy beings, the difficulty of parenting has dropped significantly.
So I ensure they get the best food and accommodations. It’d be a disaster if they ever left due to mistreatment.
“By the way, I brought a friend for you all.”
“A friend?”
“Is there another sealed god apart from us?”
“No… as far as I remember… there shouldn’t be any other god-like beings…?”
At my words, the holy beings began to whisper amongst themselves.
Seeing that made my heart ache a bit. They automatically assumed their friend would have to be a divine being as well.
“But it’s just a horse, not a god.”
When I gently interrupted their serious discussion, the hushed whispers stopped like a lie.
“…Just a horse? You mean a regular beast?”
“Yup.”
“Why would that be our friend? At least it should be something of similar value to be a friend!”
At those words, I subtly glanced at Titi.
If they’re talking about value, even Titi stands out in her own right. Still, I was treating her as a friend, too!
“Um, that thing has known the Master for a long time. We wouldn’t disrespect a senior like that.”
They nodded quietly in acknowledgment of the excuse.
It was a defendable statement, but arguing back would surely cause emotional wounds. I didn’t see the need to add unnecessary suffering to our children’s playmates.
“A horse?”
In the meantime, Kindness, taking the form of a horse, muttered with a face as if the world had collapsed.
“You mean to say someone who overlaps with my image has arrived?”
That deeply despairing voice made me cringe a bit.
That’s how melancholy and desperate Kindness’s expression and voice were, like a poor soul facing goons with steel pipes in a redevelopment zone.
“How hard have I worked for the Young Master’s happiness…! Now, a different horse?!”
“That horse is way bigger, so it’ll be difficult for Pedi to ride.”
“Oh, then that’s fine.”
At my explanation, Kindness’s expression quickly brightened.
It seemed they had completely wiped the memories of being a demon god out of their mind. They were just here as Pedi’s loyal steed now.
“Ma-al?”
However, unfortunately, our conversation caught Pedi’s attention, and he perked up.
“Mal, more?!”
The twinkling eyes of Pedi caused Kindness’s mood to darken again.
I found myself unconsciously glancing at Kindness. Given their past as a demon god, it felt a bit pitiful, but they had also been the one who had run through the hall for Pedi. They had truly worked hard for Pedi’s happiness.
“There’s a black one as well. Do you want to see it?”
“Yeah!”
But more important than my sympathy for Kindness was Pedi’s curiosity.
Understand this; that horse is too big for you to play with anyway. Ultimately, you’ll have to ride on it.
“Why must fate bring forth a new horse even when I exist…!”
As I took Pedi outside through the main gate, I heard a voice filled with anguish from behind.
It was a bit scary when the former demon god acted like that.
I put the black horse in the rear garden for now.
Of course, there is a separate stable in the mansion, but it was already full of other horses, so I had no place to keep it. Until we can expand, it’ll have to stay in the garden.
“Mal! Black! So big!”
– Neigh?
Thanks to Pedi’s voice, the black horse, who had been dozing under the tree, slowly lifted its head.
It looked around blankly at Pedi before turning its gaze to me, as if asking who the kid in my arms was.
“My son.”
– Wiggity whee!
At my short answer, the black horse shot up in surprise.
This creature is surprisingly sensitive to power dynamics.
“Wow! Wow!”
Anyway, when the black horse stood up, Pedi couldn’t contain his excitement and let out a series of jubilant exclamations.
The black horse was larger than any animal Pedi had seen before, and now that it was stretching its legs, the sheer size was something completely out of this world for him.
“Oppa! Daddy!”
“What’s wrong?”
“I! I! Wanna ride the black one!”
Just like that, the black horse got a name: Blackie, after Pedi’s wishes, and it lowered its body for him to climb on.
What an astonishing sight! A noble steed that had once chosen riders so delicately was now willingly letting a child ride.
‘That Count Yudher will be crying tears of blood.’
Blackie, who had previously refused a rider, would escape if sold to someone else and acted indifferent when training began—yet here he was, submitting to a child’s whims. Count Yudher must be tearing his hair out over it.
There’s no helping it; let’s just increase the supplies we send to Count Yudher by 40%. I’m curious about how far this situation will go.
“Since Blackie is big, let’s ride together!”
“Yeah!”
Pedi eagerly nodded at my suggestion.
Thank goodness. I was worried that he’d throw a tantrum over wanting to ride alone.
“Ugh…!”
As I mounted Blackie, Kindness let out a sorrowful whimper.
But I chose to ignore it. I trust the other holy beings will console him—
“Wow, is this guy really crying?”
“How does it feel to have your precious Young Master taken from you? Speak up!”
“Why is it that only you’re acting like this? The others are fine!”
Best not to expect any comfort from them, I guess.
“Daddy! I’m riding!”
“Do you like it?”
“Yeah! Yeah!”
With Pedi’s cheerful voice, Kindness’s moaning only grew louder.
It’s such a sad situation.
“But still! I like you more, Kindness!”
“Huh?”
“Ugh…?”
Kindness’s sobs suddenly ceased at Pedi’s words.
“I like Kindness! Let’s play together at home!”
That was surprisingly practical thinking, and I almost burst out laughing.
Blackie might be larger than other animals, but he can’t roam around the house. On the other hand, Kindness is small enough to enjoy indoors.
Plus, it’s only natural that Pedi would lean more towards Kindness, who he had played with before instead of the newly arrived Blackie.
“Y-young Master!”
Thanks to that, Kindness, who looked like they had lost their world, started scraping the ground with their front hooves in excitement.
I’d have a hard time ever explaining that this one used to be a demon god.
*
A few weeks had passed since Oppa returned from the North.
“Is it delicious?”
– Wheehee!
And it had been several weeks since the black horse Oppa brought back from the North—no wait, the one Pedi named Blackie—had settled into the stable.
Blackie was an unexpected new family member. After all, Oppa had gone to the North for some quality time with sister Fine; who would’ve guessed he would come back claiming he received Blackie as a gift from Count Yudher?
Blackie’s intelligence and abilities were impressive, even to those lacking knowledge about horses. If Blackie didn’t belong to my brother, many nobles would have tried to snatch him up.
‘They said he must be from the same bloodline as the one ridden by the earth conqueror.’
Northern horses are renowned to be superior to typical horses of the continent. Even those who despise and belittle the nomads acknowledge this truth.
But a horse once ridden by someone who unified the North and fought against the Empire for two whole years? That horse has a pedigree so magnificent that it wouldn’t even have the audacity to raise its head. Having a connection to such bloodlines can hardly even be expressed in terms of treasure.
Maybe that’s why I was intrigued from the moment Blackie came to our mansion. If not for the fact that the sea was expecting, I would have asked my brother for a few rides.
“Next month, I’ll be relying on you a bit.”
– Neigh!
In response to my words, Blackie nodded as if to say, “Sure thing!”
That made me smile naturally. This month was the expected due date for the sea to give birth. So, next month, I should be able to ride Blackie.
I’m excited. I can just imagine the feeling of riding this magnificent beast. Since it’s a horse from the North, its speed and endurance would be exceptional, and with its high intelligence, riding it promises to be an absolute joy. Or perhaps, it might be more lively than any other horse out there.
Either way, it’s bound to have its own charm. Whether it’s calm or boisterous, I’m ready to embrace it all with a grin.
‘Just in time for our sea baby to be born, a precious little one has come along.’
I gently rubbed my belly. Although my brother probably didn’t intend it, the arrival of a noble steed right when the sea is about to give birth feels like a good omen. I can see our sea growing up as healthy and spry as Blackie.
“I wonder, when the sea is able to ride, will you let her?”
– Neigh!
It sounded like Blackie was agreeing, so I petted its mane.
The sea often kicks around quite a lot while in my belly. I’m sure it’ll grow up to have a lively spirit, so they’ll likely become good friends with Blackie.
I’m certain of it.
*
—Or so I thought.
“Uugh…!”
“Ma’am! Just take deep breaths slowly!”
“There’s no need to panic! Everything will end smoothly without any issues!”
I never thought that I would think that and the next day, I’d be hearing signs of the sea about to arrive.
She’s such an impatient little baby. Or maybe she just can’t wait to see her mom and dad’s faces.
“Lynn!”
“Master! You shouldn’t make any contact right now!”
“What about just holding hands? Isn’t that fine?!”
“Still, we must avoid it!”
I smiled softly when I caught a glimpse of my brother surrounded by the staff from afar.
This might be sudden, but it’s all right. I know the timing of childbirth is up to the baby—after all, Pedi, the triplets, and Friedrich arrived in their own ways, too.
So I’m okay. I’ve steadied myself, and I’m confident that the birth will go smoothly.
Our sea will be born healthy and find her way into my brother’s arms with a smile.
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