Chapter 554
Since the end of my business trip to Leon, the Emperor’s demeanor has noticeably softened.
To be precise, he started easing up the moment I was tossed into Leon, but the pressure he exerted on Koronoz, which nearly caused a coup, seems to have earned him extra points. It wasn’t necessarily intentional, but hey, I had crushed a nation under the Emperor’s watchful eye.
“Your Majesty, I greet you.”
“Welcome. It’s another beautiful morning, Minister.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. Your grace blankets the sky.”
Thus, the Emperor had no reason to call me for work. Our interactions were limited to my visits to see the Crown Princess, where a few words of greeting sufficed.
‘Why is he always around when I come by?’
One small mystery remains: the Emperor, busy as he is, always seems to be near the Crown Princess.
Does this guy even work? If I’m coming only at certain times, that would make sense, but whether it’s morning, lunch, or evening, I see his face every time!
But that’s just a minor issue; it’s not something I can’t understand.
“Um—uh—Mom… Mom!”
“Yes, I’m here, sweetheart.”
The Crown Princess, now well over a year old, was capable of walking on her own and could awkwardly call for her mommy. If I were her dad, I’d want to see that beautiful sight a little more often.
Right now, isn’t she waddling over to her mother, calling for her? It goes without saying how her typically serene mother’s expression brightens even more.
“Mommy~!”
“Uhu-huh.”
The Crown Princess nestled in her mother’s arms started babbling, making the Queen chuckle with a slightly flushed face.
It’s really a heartwarming sight, isn’t it? In just about six months, I wonder if our Pedi will be like that too?
“It’s about time you call me Daddy.”
In that moment, the Emperor’s sad mutterings almost made me burst into laughter.
Regrettably, my desire for the Crown Princess to say ‘Godfather’ before ‘Daddy’ went unfulfilled. However, the Emperor was still waiting to hear ‘Daddy’ from her.
That’s enough for me. As long as I can’t win, I’ll be satisfied if the Emperor can’t win either.
‘This is the best result.’
In fact, if the Crown Princess says ‘Godfather’ before ‘Daddy,’ that would be a problem too. I can’t be sure how the Emperor would react to some outlandish customs he suddenly brings up due to his inability to accept rapid change.
So, our pretty little darling, just keep your old man waiting for about a month more and then call him Daddy, will ya? That’ll make your papa all misty-eyed.
‘A little teasing is beneficial.’
That’s definitely a virtue the future Crown Princess should learn.
“By the way, Minister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Have there been any updates on the Katoban kids?”
“Not yet. It seems they don’t want to leave their mother’s side.”
I awkwardly chuckled at the Emperor’s glum inquiry as he gazed at the Crown Princess.
I have no idea when those kids will decide to come out. I keep asking Trixie to make a move whenever she’s struggling, but clearly, they’re cozy inside and aren’t showing any signs of wanting out. In fact, they hardly kick at all.
‘Pedi was like a tornado at night.’
Maybe it’s because they’re all cramped up in there, they’ve agreed to keep their flailing to a minimum.
They must be wise kids, already looking forward to what’s ahead. I just want them to come out and show their faces to their dad already.
Please.
“The Duke must be having a tough time. Carrying three kids isn’t no easy task.”
“The happiness waiting for me is enough to make the struggles bearable.”
“Haha, well, that’s true.”
The Emperor let out a brief chuckle and patted my shoulder.
“Well, kids can be so temperamental. They can pop out even today, just like you said, so let’s keep waiting… huh?”
As the Emperor offered kind words, his gaze lowered to my chest, and he fell silent.
‘What’s going on?’
Following the Emperor’s line of sight, I lowered my head and saw the communication device I had tucked into my pocket glowing brilliantly like never before.
“Take that, or you might go blind.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
With the Emperor’s permission, I quickly activated the device.
My hands trembled involuntarily. This communication device, specially modified by Trixie, pulses with brighter light and stronger vibrations the more urgent the message is. For it to radiate like this—
– Carl! Your sister is in labor!
‘Oh.’
It’s a family issue at play.
“…I honestly didn’t expect today to be the day.”
I nodded absently to the Emperor’s mutterings.
I never imagined those babies would suddenly cause a scene after we had just left the mansion all tranquil.
I hurriedly bowed to the Emperor and Empress and dashed back to the mansion.
“Trixie!?”
“She’s in the room with the medical team!”
Relief washed over me at the butler’s swift report. During that brief moment from hearing the news of Trixie’s labor to arriving at the mansion, the staff had all been moving busily.
‘Will she be okay?’
A surge of anxieties I had been holding back began to rise. Fortunately, Trixie had no issues other than feeling uncomfortable during her pregnancy. At least it felt like our three divine protectors were watching over her intensely.
However, the differences between a complicated threefold pregnancy and an even more complicated childbirth can’t be underestimated. Even in this modern-day world of advanced medical technology, giving birth to triplets is a significant challenge.
Of course, in this world, we’ve gone beyond the terrible medical standards of the Middle Ages, with the added variables of magic and divine power at play. Given it’s a Ducal birth, the Empire is sure to have the finest medical care at the ready.
Still, that doesn’t erase my anxiety. What if something went wrong with Trixie, Tae-yang, Ha-neul, or Cho-mok?
‘Please.’
So when I found out Trixie was having triplets, I chose names inspired by the three divine protectors.
I thought that perhaps invoking their authority would help ensure our little ones were born healthy. It felt like even a fraction of the divine attention would find its way to them.
‘Please.’
An Enen church is already under construction in the Count’s territory of Hwiidia to celebrate Pedi’s safe birth. The Eternal Blue Sky is benefiting from my efforts, receiving divine royalties from the World Tree, and Constantina has even successfully reincarnated.
So divine protection is surely on its way to our children. Tae-yang, Ha-neul, and Cho-mok will be born healthy. Trixie will lose some energy for a bit but will recover and get back on her feet.
Yes, it must be that way.
*
I could hear the whispers of mana.
From beyond the door, Carl was fidgeting, the other kids were trying to calm him down, the staff were moving without rest, and the retainers from the Katoban family had all gathered. Even the mages outside the mansion were praying. It all flowed into my ears intertwined with the mana.
‘Mages praying.’
Amidst the turmoil, a smile crept onto my face. Mages are known for asserting that one should uphold their reason and rationality, not the divine beings above. While not all mages distance themselves from religion, quite a few remain indifferent to it.
Yet here are those typically indifferent mages all praying together. For me, for my little ones.
‘They’ll be born safe.’
So, I felt a certainty arise in me. I was sure my kids would be showered with love from the world.
I’d naturally be right there with them. We don’t need any tragic stories of a mom dying after childbirth in our family.
“Your Grace, are you alright?”
“Of course, I am. Don’t worry too much.”
Despite my effort to smile calmly, the doctor, perhaps feeling concerned seeing me smiling instead of screaming, cautiously approached me.
I never knew this before, but among the magic I possessed, there was one that could alleviate even the pains of childbirth. I guess it takes centuries of birthing experience to figure that out.
“…Hngh!”
“Y-Your Grace!”
“Everyone gather! It’s starting!”
Still, that was just soothing, not completely erasing the pain.
‘Even with magic, it still hurts this much.’
I felt a rush of fear. What would it have been like to give birth to triplets without magic?
I don’t want to know! Right now, I should just be thankful I’m a mage.
*
I could hear the buzz outside the mansion, but I didn’t stop them. I knew they came with good intentions, and the more prayers there were, the higher the chances gods would listen.
“You’ll be fine. Constantina will bless Trixie.”
But even with the increasing prayers, as I struggled to contain my anxiety, my grandmother arrived to pat my back.
“Right, it must be so. It definitely will.”
I forced a smile despite feeling her hand tremble as it patted me.
My grandmother usually dislikes getting involved with the human world. Because of that, Trixie had her wedding once in the Servette Duchy and then again in the interspecies protection zone.
Yet she came all the way to the mansion. She put aside her reluctance to help her granddaughter and great-grandchildren.
‘I need to calm down.’
So every time my heart raced, I’d glance at my grandmother to steady myself. If I couldn’t keep my cool, no one else would.
‘It seems there aren’t any major issues.’
I strained to grasp the situation with the slightest presence of mind.
Comparing to when Pedi was born, the intermittent cries and busyness I heard felt more like a good sign. Those sounds are perfectly normal at times of delivery.
If something wasn’t right, the medical staff would’ve warned me already. Without any ominous signs, it surely was a good omen.
‘It has to be a good sign.’
I repeated this to myself dozens, hundreds of times. I was afraid that if I had bad thoughts, they might actually come true.
One hour passed, then two, then three, and my resolution didn’t falter. It could take time since there are three of them.
And perhaps my will was so touching that, at last, the securely shut door swung open.
“It’s over! The mother and the children are all safe!”
With those words I had longed to hear…
“Three beautiful daughters!”
A smile naturally spread across my face.
Our Pedi has just gained three little sisters in an instant!
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