Chapter: 723
The honeymoon that took place after three years wrapped up quite warmly.
Even though there was a minor commotion during the trip, it was just a little mishap you might encounter while traveling abroad. Looking back, I can laugh it off now, thinking, “Oh yeah, that happened.” I even feel grateful to Alice for gifting me such a memory.
With a satisfied heart, we returned to the Empire.
“Mary, Daddy needs to go to the bathroom.”
“Waaaaah…”
“I’ll try my best to hold it in.”
I was finally getting this payback for leaving my newborn child behind while going on a honeymoon!
As soon as I returned, I was bombarded by a pale-faced Peena. Nestled in her arms was Mary, crying her eyes out. The moment Mary spotted me, she wailed even louder.
“M-Mary missed Daddy so much…”
“Just give her to me…”
The moment I heard that her reason for crying was longing for Daddy, an indescribable wave of guilt hit me. While I was having fun, our Mary was looking for her dad!
Well, at least it’s a relief that Mary didn’t start looking for me right away. If she had been crying her eyes out this entire trip, I might have bitten my tongue by now.
“Is she just startled because there’s no familiar voice around?”
I patted Mary, who clung to me tightly, forcing a wry smile.
Newborn babies don’t really focus well, so they can’t see much. Because of that, Mary knew my voice but hadn’t seen my face.
Then, as her focus finally started to sharpen, she could spot the figure of her ever-caring mom, but not Daddy, whose voice had suddenly gone mute? This was a complete disaster worthy of tears!
“I should be more careful going forward. I thought it would be okay since she’s just a newborn, but who would have thought Mary would remember Carl’s voice?”
Mar, who was right beside me, muttered with a somewhat gloomy face.
I bet Mar felt guilty too. After all, it felt like she stole Daddy away from the little one who deserved all the affection in the mansion. Even if the reason was because of the honeymoon we hadn’t enjoyed three years ago, considering Mar’s personality, she might hate herself for what happened to Mary.
That simply shouldn’t be. I was the one who suggested the honeymoon and set the date and place. I’m the one who did wrong to Mary, and I’m the one who did wrong to Mar too.
“It’s just that Daddy is still inexperienced and made a mistake. I hope Mary can forgive me.”
So, I put on a faint smile and took the blame for this predicament.
After all, Mar had just returned from an intimate trip, and I didn’t want to sour that mood with bitterness and guilt. Just as Mary is my precious child, Mar is my beloved wife.
“It’s common for children to cry when they miss their parents. It just happened that Mary was crying at a time when Daddy was far away. So don’t take it too hard.”
Luckily, Peena offered some small comfort to Mar.
It truly was a heartwarming scene. That little support was evidence of the good relationships between the wives.
“But still…”
“Besides, it’s my first time taking care of a child, so I’m still clumsy at it. If you don’t mind, could I get help from Mar? She has the most experience as a mom among us.”
Peena suggested that if she felt bad, she’d settle it by getting Mar’s support. Mar blinked a few times, then finally managed a smile.
“Of course. If it’s my sister’s kid, it’s like our own, right?”
“Thank you, Mar.”
How odd. It should be a beautiful sight, but I felt like the view in front of me was getting blurry.
For a moment, I thought that maybe the glow coming from the two ladies was blinding me, but seeing my eyes oddly damp, it seemed that wasn’t the case.
“Is this my heart crying?”
Tears of joy should flow when you’re happy, but I felt this gift was far too precious and made me wipe my eyes for no reason—
“Waaaah…”
“Okay, okay, I’ll hold you for a little longer.”
The moment I removed one hand, Mary’s eyes started to get teary.
I wasn’t trying to put her down; I merely wanted to wipe my eyes for a second! I thought I’d just wipe my eyes a bit and then hold her again…
“This is my karma.”
But there was no way I could complain. Mary’s attachment to Daddy’s hand was because of me.
If I hadn’t gone off on that long journey, Mary wouldn’t be crying or clinging to my hand like this. Let’s not forget this incident and strive to be a better dad.
*
The Minister and Countess returned to the Capital.
I wondered if it was really necessary to have the honeymoon abroad, but the Minister already had a history of visiting the Holy Kingdom with Marcilio. If one of the wives enjoyed a trip abroad, it was only proper for the others to enjoy it too.
“Now, four trips remaining?”
A laugh slipped out of me. They’d gone once with the daughter of Duke Valenti, and once previously with Marcilio, so out of six, four were left. I could hardly wait to see where we’d go with those four.
Of course, considering the Minister’s personality, it wouldn’t be strange if they all went to the same place, but there’s a chance the Minister might show unexpected consideration. He might not want to make half-hearted memories with the wives and could just as easily take them all to different countries.
“Looks like it’s going to be a real discipline session.”
Thinking about what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had notified Jerano, I couldn’t help but chuckle again.
The Minister’s visits were purely private, hence the warning not to make contact in a personal capacity. It was the Empire’s way of providing assistance for the Minister and Countess to enjoy a peaceful trip. But in another light, it also established the structure of “the kingdom’s administration bowing down to the Empire’s words.”
But to have that structure happen four more times? That was a strong country chosen as a honeymoon destination?
“Awesome.”
It was satisfying. While it might be an act of aggression for the Empire to provoke another country’s diplomatic office without reason, it was reasonable to issue a warning based on the visit of a prominent figure from their own country.
Honestly, it required a bit of stretching to justify, but who cares? That degree of stretching can definitely be covered by national power.
“Should I suggest the next travel destination?”
I briefly indulged in that delightful thought. If I sent the Minister to a country that needed a bit of discipline, it would automatically establish a hierarchy between the Empire and that country. How delightful!
But where would be best to send them? Given that Armein or Yuben are large, trying to discipline them could lead to backlash, while the Winter Triad has already been faithful friends of the Empire.
Leon? Southern Leon is already an extension of Empire territory. Quoranus? After the last Leon incident, Quoranus was also laying flat before the Empire and Armein.
“Rutis or Balkros would be just right.”
Excluding this and that, I picked out two representative countries.
Ruth Kingdom, located in the southern part of the Winter Triad, and Balkros Kingdom, known for its culture in the northeastern part of Jerano. Both fit the bill nicely, and I think I’ll ponder over the other two slowly.
…
“Even if I recommend it, they’d probably ignore me.”
I put an end to those joyful musings quickly.
While the Minister might shed tears of frustration over an official command, if I were to make personal requests or suggestions, he would disregard even the Emperor’s words. If I suggested a honeymoon destination a thousand times, his likely response would be, “So you go there then.”
Thus, let’s be satisfied with those brief, pleasant thoughts. We can treat this as a way to tidy up the countries where the Empire needs to assert its authority.
At least, that’s what I thought for just a moment.
“Jerano announced a new national treasure?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Before hearing the report from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“That national treasure is the sword of the Director of the Information Department?”
“To be precise, it’s the sword with the signature and phrase of the Director of the Information Department.”
In that instant, my head began to swirl.
Not the sword used by the Minister, nor the one he owned, but just a sword with a signature. How on earth did that become one of Jerano’s national treasures?
“Why are they using a noble’s signature from another country?”
I was dumbfounded, but I tried hard to understand it.
For one, the Minister is a Blessed One. Not the one posthumously beatified, but a living Blessed One who received divine blessings during a wedding ceremony. Besides, he’s also confirmed to be canonized after his death.
Moreover, the Minister is renowned as the finest swordsman in the Empire, even calling him the best on the continent. He carries both religious authority and the respect of martial artists, so from Jerano’s perspective, they might see him as more than just a foreign noble but a continental hero.
Of course, that conclusion only emerged after going to great lengths to make sense of it. Normally, I couldn’t understand it at all.
“What the…”
I rubbed my temple and sighed.
In reality, it’s not just Jerano that’s strange; the Minister is even weirder. What on earth did he do in Jerano that a sword with his signature ends up in Jerano’s royal hands? Did he simply forget to bring money and decided to get by with a signature? “Hey, take this instead of money?”
No way, that wouldn’t work. What noble would use something like that instead of money?
“Minister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Has the Jerano Kingdom been in touch with you separately?”
“The Jerano administration maintained silence for the sake of the Director of the Information Department and Countess’s trip. In fact, the only action the administration took was to maintain order in the travel destination before the Minister arrived.”
That was even more perplexing. If the Jerano administration didn’t initiate contact, then how on earth did the Minister’s sword end up…?
“Is it the administration?”
Something felt off. Did some other organization reach out that wasn’t part of the administration?
“Check on Jerano’s nobles as well. It seems there’s a possibility that someone has stepped outside the administration’s control.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll report as soon as I have confirmation.”
With those words, the Minister of Foreign Affairs took his leave.
Noting his swift steps, it seemed he too had an inkling that the local nobles might be going rogue.
*
The following evening, the Minister of Foreign Affairs returned with two pieces of news.
“The person who contacted the Minister is Alice Newder, the first princess of Jerano.”
“Not a member of the administration, huh.”
“Also, just a few hours ago, there was a request from the Kingdom of Armein. They wanted to know if they could also have a sword with the signature of the Director of the Information Department…”
“Ridiculous.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the dizzying news.
Truly a ridiculous situation.
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